A Job Well Done

We all piled into the car and headed South to St. Cloud. Upon getting to our destination, we were greeted with hugs an kisses as she was leaving for the Osceola Heritage Park for the services. Soon after, we once again piled into the cars and headed there too! We pulled into the parking lot, which by the way was packed full of cars, and parked. We all got out of our cars and walked down to the entrance to join the many people standing in line! In about 20 to 25 minutes, we were finally allowed to go in and find seats. Now,... here we all sit, saying goodbye, with tear filled eyes and a glint of pride, to yet another chapter, and "HELLO" to all the new challenges as she embarks on the next phase of her life! My granddaughter, Tiffanie, graduated from high school Thursday May 27th. It doesn't seem possible! It just seems like yesterday that she had started school! Where did the time go?
  
Tiffanie came into this world on July 4 1992, and has been our firecracker ever since! Now,.....here is where I get to invoke Grandparents rights! That's right,...I get to brag about her! lol This firecracker has graduated with honors! Mu Alfa Theta and National Honor Society for this year. Out of 377 students in her class, she was the 10th highest in grade point average with a whopping 4.38! (The highest was a 4.7). There was a total of 72 students that had a 3.5 or above grade point average in her class.

Tiffanie has been in JROTC (Junior Reserves Officers Training Corps) since first starting high school, and finished in the position of Battalion Commander, the highest rank available cadet officers in the program can achieve. She was crowned Queen at the military ball, and has donated over 250 hours of community service through the JROTC program. She was Social Chair Officer of this years Honor Society, and was on the JROTC Drill Team, Raiders Team, and Sabers Team! She was awarded Cadet of the year, Superior Cadet, and Over-all Leadership Cadet. She has already completed 6 college classes, 2 in her Junior year and 4 in her senior year! In addition with her Bright Futures scholarship, her scholastic ability has earned her $38,000 towards her college education. Tiffanie has been accepted at and will start in August. Her major is going to be in forensic analyst, and her minor will be in psychology. Kudos to her! Don't know where she found time for everything!

Tiffanie,...keep following YOUR dreams, honey, and don't settle for second best in anything! Set your sights High! Reach for the stars! Always remember your family and friends wish you the very best that life has to offer. We love you and congratulate you on the, Terrific job that you have done! We Are Proud Of You!
                                             
                                               Love,
                                                 Grams

May 18th Surprise attack!

Well, after reading Danna's (my GOOD FRIEND and Neighbor) remarks about what her doctor told
her about taking better care of herself, I decided to take action! Neither one of us went to
bed last night until after 1:00am. We were both working on our perspective endeavors, seems
like we have another thing in common, we are night owls! Upon awakening at 7:30, I got up,
left Bandit out (my Shih Tzu), fed him and my outside dog, fixed myself a cup of coffee, and
preceded to map out my agenda for my SURPRISE attack! After all, what are friends for, Right?
 :)

About 8:17am, I gave her a call. Needless to say, she didn't answer her phone. I figured she
was STILL in bed! WHAT SANE PERSON WOULDN'T BE! But,... she called me back about 9:00
and she asked me if I had call her. (She was trying VERY hard to sound as if she had been up!)  :)
I told her I did and asked if I woke her up, knowing full well I had, which she confirmed. I said to her,
"Get dressed, drink your coffee, cause we are going walking.  No procrastinating!" She had the
option to say she couldn't for one reason or another, but, she was a trouper and said, "I'll meet
you outside when I'm ready." A few minutes later, she was walking across the street. I locked
up, and met her. We started off, first down our street, then over to the 2nd street. Now mind you,
we were walking at a good pace. By this time, Danna started to slow down. I mentioned this to
her, an she said to remember that she wasn't use to walking at that pace! So I slowed down a
little....don't want to make her toooo tired and sore! Now, we only have 4 streets in our allotment, so
when we got up to the end of the street, we went down the street we missed and came up our street.
So in all, we walked 3 of our 4 streets! Not bad for a first walk! Unfortunately, I didn't time us.
Oh well, can't remember everything! Lol

Well, after we got home, Danna wrote on my Facebook wall. " Danna Crawford  Thank you Donna for
dragging my butt down the street and getting me to start walking! {{{{Donna}}}}!"  Now I ask you
truthfully, does that sound like she really was sincere??? HaHa. I simply wrote back saying, " No problem! I enjoyed it! Do it again Thursday am around 8:30ish."  To that she promptly replied, "Oh wow, you mean we have to do this again???? ;) I have it on my calendar but if it rains we will cancel! **praying for rain** lol Joking, I am giving thanks to you as my friend! {{{Donna}}}} I wrote back, "Ha ha! Twice a week! Tuesday and Thursday if you aren't busy! Now don't you go and book something! LOL  :) It is cooler in the mornings!"

All an All, she was a pretty good egg about the whole thing! The Yolks on you! But in my defense, she had mentioned to me about walking with her sometime! So Danna,.... little did you know that, YOU would be the next topic for my blog!

I thank you! I had fun planning  your surprise attack, and had a WONDERFUL start to my day with you!
Enjoy the rest of your day!

HUGZZ to you!  :)

To My Mom

Mom, I love you and miss you more than can be expressed. You were my best friend, my confidant, my inspiration, my role model, my rock, but most of all, the best mom I could have had, and you were mine! You were always there for me no matter what. Through thick an thin, I always knew that you would be there for me to lean on! So with that said, I repeat what I wrote for you on your memory card:


                                                         
In Memory of Mom

When God calls someone special
To dwell with Him above,
We mortals sometime question
The wisdom of His love.
 
He saw that she was getting weary
Of the struggle and the fight,
So He wrapped His arms around her
And He took her home that night.

A golden heart stopped beating
As she closed her eyes to rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
That He only takes the best!

Until the time we meet again,
On those streets of gold,
You'll always live within our heart
And all the memories that it holds.

               I love you Mom

Saturday Outing 4/24/2010

Good evening! Today my daughter, Denise, and I had a wonderful day! We decided to go the the Market of Marion! It is a very nice flea and farmers market just South of  Belleview, Fl. on U.S. 441. I think everyone could find something to buy there! We walked around and looked at a lot of nice items! Pretty jewelry, kitchen gadgets, books, clothes, cook ware, baking items, games, food, and etc, etc. They even have fresh fruits and vegetables. Everything at a very reasonable price! I don't even think the guys would get bored walking around, as they have tools and gadgets for you too, so don't you guys get upset!  You just might want to go along so we women don't spend to much money! Ha, Ha!  I bought some delicious strawberries, beautiful Red Delicious apples, sweet as sugar green seedless grapes, and some vine ripened Big Boy tomatoes! Yummy!

After we were through walking around, we decided to come back to Ocala, and go to Olive Garden for lunch.  We both got soup and salad with unlimited salad and scrumptious bread sticks! Oh my goodness! I was so full by the time we left! When I finely got home, it was close to 5:00pm! We had spent the entire afternoon on our outing! Oh how time flies when you are enjoying yourself!  Am looking forward to another excursion with her!

Ode To Tinkerbell

Who is Tinkerbell? Let me introduce her to you. She was born on April 21, 1998, and passed away April 18, 2010. She was a beautiful chocolate and tan Pomeranian! Both her mom and dad were champions. At the time of Tinkerbell's death, she was almost 12 years old. (That's 84 in dog years so I've been told), and weighed 6 pounds. My mom got her in 2001 after the death of her Pomeranian. By this time, Tinkerbell was an adult and had one puppy and could not have anymore. When mom first saw her, she felt so  sorry for her and couldn't let her go back. Tinkerbell was so afraid of everything, and her beautiful chocolate coat was matted and shaggy! Mom's heart went out those sorrowful looking brown eyes, and she fell in love with her. Tinkerbell was underweight, and had a mouth full of bad teeth.. After seeing the veterinarian, mom was told she had to have 18 pulled on the bottom. That left her with only 9 teeth there!

After all mom's love and tender loving care, Tinkerbell finally wasn't quit so afraid and become a very pampered little girl! She never learned to play with toys, but she gave you enjoyment and comfort only a dog can.She never expected anything, but gave you her loyalty and love.

In 2004, I retired and went to help mom with my step-father. After he passed away, mom and I became  "Snowbirds"! On one of our trips to Florida, I acquired a 1 1/2 year old Shih Tzu. His name is Bandit, and he treated Tinkerbell like she was his mother! She was the boss, even  though he was bigger and out weighted her. They would play and run around around  the house! When Tankerbell had enough, she let him know it! If she wanted his food, treats or anything else he had, Bandit would let her have it! Both dogs traveled great in their kennel when we drove back and forth from Ohio to Florida.

Mom passed away in 2008, and I became Tinkerbell's owner. I worried about her because I was afraid she would mourn herself to death over mom's passing. Both Tinkerbell and Bandit took it hard, but we all got through it without to many problems. I think it helped that Bandit and myself were already a part of her pack. Tinkerbell was still being spoiled, but not quit as much! I couldn't just sit and hold her like mom did. LOL She still knew she was loved and pampered.

Bandit looks for her all over the house, and I know time will take care of that as it will for me. Its just that he doesnt understand where she is. Tinkerbell is missed by Bandit and myself very much, but will live on in our hearts just as mom does.

Las Palmas Latin (Cuban & Columbia) Restaurant

Today my neighbor,Ms Danna and I went for the first time to a Latin restaurant in downtown Ocala, Fl., called Las Palmas. It is located at 506 S. Pine Ave. in the plaza next to the Ocala police department. Neither Danna or I have ever been there before. We were invited to attend a meeting with some of the local business professionals who meet there every Wednesday at 12:30pm. We were seated at one long table. I was surprised to see that many in attendance. We ate and had our meeting.

Our waiter was very professional and friendly. The service was good and the menu is very reasonable. Ms Danna had the grilled chicken breast sandwich served with onions,peppers,lettuce,tomatoes,and cheese. I had a Cuban sandwich consisting of ham,pork,Swiss cheese,pickles and mustard. They were both served with a 1oz. bag of chips. YUM,YUM! Are you hungry yet? We both were full by the time we ate one half of our sandwiches! We had to get to-go boxes. (Cant waste GOOD food)! They also have INTERNET so you can eat and work on your computers at the same time!

We both are looking forward to another visit! If you like Colombian and Cuban cuisine, this is a good place to eat. If you've never tried it before, stop in and try it out. You might be pleasantly surprised!

African-American Festival

The African-American Festival, at the Appleton Museum of Art is GREAT! My good friend and neighbor, Danna Crawford, and myself spent a most interesting, educational as well as enjoyable 2 1/2 hours there!

We were entertained by the FANTASTIC folk and traditional storyteller, J'miah Nabawi, who captivated us with his telling of stories that included games, props and audience participation in the auditorium. We enjoyed stories about Bruh Rabbit, river rocks, and sweet potato pies and more!

We then strolled through the African-American exhibit, marveling at all the artworks of more than 50 African-American artists from the 1940s to today. They describe the chronological history of the southern culture in their works of art. Many of these were from personal and/or family experiences.

We then went upstairs and was thoroughly inspired by the BEAUTIFUL paintings we found there! We ended our excursion at the exhibit of O.L.Samuels, where he entertained us with his own story telling of his inspired hand carved wood sculptures of many colors, paint and glitter! O.L.Samuels,taught himself wood carving in the early 80s. His works are found in several permanent museum collections including the Arkansas Arts Center and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and in many private collections.

Thumbs up for this experience!