Day 31 brings an Anniversary and the Hodgepodge

 Good morning...Day 31 brings our 37th wedding Anniversary. Where has 37 years gone?

Sigh...so young and full of ambition...

1. Did you make resolutions or set goals for the year we're waving goodbye? Nope...well...goals...either selling, trading up or fixing the house. How did that work out for you? None of it has happened...with the prices of everything going up...one can dream, right? Will you set any goals for this new year, new season, or new month? Same as last year. Can I add win the lottery? Wishful thinking? Getting closer to the beach? Instead of the 45 min drive? Yeah...well...🏖️🌴🏄

2. When did you have the most fun this year? Most fun? Anytime I can cross that bridge to get to the ocean...

with that said, definitely living and being married to a very funny person who keeps me in check, makes it all worthwhile.

3. What's a song or song lyric you'll associate with 2025? Tell us why. 

Because I am virtually on island time, a lot. At least in my head. LOL

4. Best (or a favorite) bite of something delicious you tasted this year?

I don't remember the name, but it was like some deep-fried Mozzarella sandwich we shared as an appetizer.

We go many places...and taste all kind of different foods...I really don't have a favorite. But the last time we went to Milano (Christmas Eve) it was so good. It always is.

5. What do you want to do more of in the new year? Umm...

yes, that is Daytona. I was standing on a pier when I took this.

Shouldn't be a surprise. Daytona or any beach here in Florida. But Daytona is a short drive, so we always go there. Less of? Ummm...work? lololol 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm personally going to work on this for the upcoming new year. Not to mention, I am going to work really hard on not being so stressed out about my job. I need to learn to let it go, period. Because all of this stress, is not good. Stay tuned for my 2026 word.

Have a great day all.

Day 30th...Tuesday Meme

 Good morning, joining in on the Tuesday Meme. Day...it is presently 39*...you read that right.

January is named for Janus the two-faced god who looked into the past and future. Some believe he was Noah who may have been worshipped by his progeny. He certainly looked into the pre flood world and the new world. The Anglo Saxons called January Wulfsmoanth meaning Month of the Wolf and the Wolf moon appears in January.

1. January 1, 1892, Ellis Island opened its doors.  Did any of your relations enter the United States through Ellis Island?  No, for some odd reason they came in through the west. If not, do you know your family's history? Yes. My paternal grandparents/family came from Yugoslavia right after the Civil War and my maternal grandparents from Germany and the Netherlands in the early 1900's. There are no reports of either coming in Ellis Island. 

2. January's birth stone is garnet, and the flower is the carnation.  Do you have favorite gemstones or flowers? Aquamarine is my birthstone, and I do wear a lot of that. I love all flowers, especially roses.

3. January 6 is Epiphany. Many take that day as the final day of the Christmas celebration and take down their decor. What about you? Hubby took everything down yesterday while I was at work. It kind of makes me sad...Christmas is done and over with.

before and after

The outside lights remain.

4. There is some scientific evidence that January can set the tone for your entire year. What do you think of this? Do you make resolutions, etc? Do you pick a word of the year or have any traditions like that? No on resolutions, but yes on a word and I can't remember on why or how I started doing that. Stay tuned.

Day 29-Let's Try it Again...

 Good morning, I thought I was being smart about posting my friend Kim's video from the Gulf of America on YouTube, apparently, I was not very smart.

So, let's try it again, shall we?

So relaxing and I love the sound of the waves. Anyways, spent the day yesterday watching Cheap A$$ Beach Houses on HGTV. I love that show, just saying...I still don't have anywhere close to above $300,000 to afford a Florida home, but one can dream.

We stopped for gas the other day on the way home from the store and it was $2.56-$2.59. WOW. cheap.

Have a great day all.

Currently Day 28...

Hello, another foggy morning here in Central Florida.

Currently...

Weather... 63* and dense fog. Bracing for cold weather late tomorrow. The temps. are supposed to start dropping and by late Monday into Tuesday the highs will only be 50* and the lows 30.

Watching...sat and watched House Hunters, Maine Cabin Masters, Beachfront Bargain Hunt and coming to realize folks are high on crack--who can afford such homes? Seriously? 🤣😉

Thinking...

1. Having a conversation with the husband about house hunting or just putting money into this place or trading up because I / we surely can't afford any of the houses out there right now and I certainly don't want a cookie cutter that are popping up everywhere. What is that saying, champagne on a beer budget? Something like that. ---I am getting that "itch" to get going again. 

2. Of just letting go of people who don't want us around. It's been tough and I am reminded of this every single holiday. My folks didn't want us around and politely told us so because my brothers and their families were coming around and would let us know Sunday when to come around. 

3. Looking around and coming to another realization how far we have come in nearly 37 years of marriage and then also realizing above...how things really don't change.

Listening to...hubby was on the phone with his brother. I haven't a clue on what they are talking about all I heard was, "Well, you can't take it with you. And I have never seen anyone pulling a U-Haul behind you when you die."

Loving...there goes that champagne thing--love being home but have to go back to work to make a living---well, another short week, just Monday and Tuesday.

Well..., look at me, figured out how to upload a video. Kim sent me a video--she is at the Gulf of America up near Pensacola (376 miles west of here). I might have told her to be quiet. LOLOLOL

Jealous, yes, I sure am. Rough seas. Well, that is all I have for now. Wishing you all a beautiful day.

Day 27...

 Good morning from a very foggy central Florida.

Day 27 has brought a lot of this:

Just laying round watching tv. As I was sitting there, I started looking at the cookbook I got for Christmas.

Someone asked about my "new" cookbook. It's not "new" as its from 2008.

This Pull Apart Bacon Bread looks really good, and I will have to try this.

Frog Pond Stew? No frogs in there.🤣

actually, the whole book looks really good. 

I know some of you are experiencing horrible winter weather and I do feel for you...but I wanted to mention, although we don't get snow (very rare, not unheard of though), we will be getting extreme cold starting next week, and the temps will drop 50-60 degrees. Well, I better muddle along as we have to go get haircuts and head to the store. 

Have a beautiful day all.

Day 26...that's a wrap

 Good morning...Day 26 finds us in a "It's a Wrap" mode.

Do you know, I did not take one photo of our meal yesterday. I made two huge pans of Lasagna, one with ricotta and the other plain. One half of our friends showed up, just Kim...the other half, well, he is very much a bah hum bug and decided to spend the day in bed. So, Kim drove out here by herself and had a nice day regardless of her husband's general bad attitude. She wasn't very happy, after multiple years of her better half being a bah hum bug, she just had enough and decided to do something for herself. Anyways, sent her home with leftovers, gave our neighbors some as well. Will see our godchildren sometime next week, they both had to work. So, anyways...it's a wrap. Christmas came and gone.

Coach bag, Black Opium & Boss perfume, a purple pearl Pandora Charm (Ursula), Ursula, a glass octopus, a furry/soft octopus (two joke gifts🤣) and a Gooseberry cookbook.

I know most of you saw on FB what I posted. We sure have had some lean years in our nearly 37 years of marriage. This year was a tad bit different...and I will just leave it at that. As another year approaches, we have multiple goals for 2026, waiting mortgage interest rates to drop, travel more, and of course, less worrying about this or that. We shall see where 2026 takes us. My new word is ready, and I will reveal that next week. In the meantime, 

---have a great day everyone. We have chores to do such as take the garbage out. Oh, what fun.😁

Day 25...brings a photo overload recap

 Good morning, another balmy one here in Central Florida, no worries, I see by New Years Eve, it will be darn right frosty here.

Brings the true meaning of Christmas, that the Lord Jesus Christ was born, not necessarily on this day, but nonetheless, he was born.

...and a photo overload.

We started off Christmas Eve at our favorite Italian restaurant for pizza and hubby's favorite salad-Salmon. I know most of you know that story and why we keep with the tradition of pizza on Christmas Eve...we were in an awful accident 36 yrs. ago on Christmas Eve and the only place open was a small pizza place...anyways, it was a very warm and balmy 78* last night.

look at that beautiful Florida sky.

then we headed to downtown and patiently waited for the lights. I can't get the video to upload, but I assure you, hubby and some random strangers were just sitting here having a conversation, LOL.

you can see the Lodge in the background, it's a restaurant now, but it used to be Gordon's Jewelry store and that is where hubby bought my engagement and wedding band from nearly 37 years ago.

Patiently awaiting...and for once, I was patient. 

you can see Grandpa Joes Candy Store.

...and then, magically, it got dark and the lights started really showing. I love palm trees and was gleefully happy to see they were also lighted.

in front of the Hilton downtown. More palm trees.

above and below was taken from the parking garage in front of City Hall-downtown. I did mention how I love Palm trees, lol.

Below downtown square

same

above standing at the Hilton looking at the Square.

lol more Palm trees...Silver Springs Blvd. The sky was gorgeous. And truthfully, the skies here in Florida usually are.

I loved the sky on this glass building on Silver Springs Blvd.

My photos wouldn't be complete without Grandpa Joe's.

that store is like Willie Wonka on steroids. However, they closed at 5.

one last look before we started back to the parking garage. The lights downtown were so magical. Even hubby was awed.

Our walk back to the parking garage...the sky, which I have mentioned, was just something else last night. Beautiful. I was sitting there thinking last night, how much Ocala has changed since I lived here as a child. Sadly, we all have to continue to grow with it or we will be left behind...unfortunately, Ocala/Marion County is getting pretty expensive to live. Tomorrow will be a recap of this morning/ Christmas Day.

Day 24

 December 24? Christmas Eve? Already? Christmas Eve brings a Daybook, of sorts.

Weather-it's clear and 52* at nearly 7 am.

Looking out the window-well, the drapes are still closed here in the 3rd bedroom. 

I just went and refreshed my coffee and it's still dark out.

Feeling-better. Just not 100%.

This morning-well, last night, I got the sauce made for the lasagna and I just took it out of the fridge and going to warm it up so can put it all together for tomorrow.

Yesterday--besides getting the sauce ready, I did absolutely nothing. I we actually spent the whole day and evening watching various movies: Oh, What Fun, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Red Zone, Candy Cane Lane and some other TV shows.

From the phone/camera-

the latest James Patterson book about Marylin Monroe, a commemorative 250-year Marine Corp coin and ornament, a new USA and Marine Corp flag and a Charlie Kirk Freedom t shirt.

I did get presents wrapped. It might not look like much, but it's just the two of us. 

and then I went to fill his stocking and look--my stocking is filled. Say what? I might had said a bad word like h-e hockey sticks.

Then-around 7 or so got a call from my mom and I had time to roll that conversation around in my head and have come to the conclusion that once again, it was a polite way of telling me us to stay away as my brothers and their families are coming for Christmas Eve and staying until Saturday. I did invite them to meet up with us to see the lights downtown and have dessert somewhere. She declined. All that talk my brother did a few weeks ago...just talk people, just talk.

Neighborly-our neighbors Bo and Greg, the brothers who live across the street, came by and asked if I was alright as they haven't seen my truck move in a couple of days. That was nice of them. They gave us a Christmas card and bag of treats for Ms. Lilybelle...sure, go ahead and feed her, friends for life. LOL-trader. LOL

Doing today-heading out for our annual Christmas Eve late lunch of pizza and then head over to downtown to look at the lights. I think hubby mentioned something about Publix this morning; he forgot to get salad for the lasagna tomorrow.

Last thought- thinking- we sure have had some lean and rough Christmas's throughout the years. But somehow, the magic always prevailed. I was thinking all this yesterday while watching the Christmas movies...even though we constantly tell each other no presents, and such, somehow there is always something under the tree. 🎄🎁

wishing you all a beautiful day.

Day 23 brings a Resolution...

 Good morning. How can it be the day before Christmas Eve? Today brings resolution to the work situation.

Day 23 also finds us not getting any Powerball numbers😁🤣. Sigh--staying monetary poor is the destination; however, I wouldn't really want to win $1.6 Billion, no thanks. Talk about having to disappear. I do have some updates about the work situation, if you're interested, then read on.

To make a long story short, well, sort of short...the bossman and I had a long conversation yesterday morning when I got into work. He wanted to know if I was open to having such a conversation and then he noticed I wasn't feeling well (laryngitis) and promptly told me to go home. I sat back down and told him to continue because I didn't want to leave for the Christmas break with this nonsense hanging over my head. Much against his judgment, because I wasn't feeling well, we had the conversation. Needless to say, it was much of my thinking that it really wasn't directed at me, I just caught up in it--for whatever reason. After reading the reports that were written and having discussions with whomever, and him getting chewed out by whomever, and my reports confirming my side, my reports will not be filed and will be shredded. He apologized profusely (this is becoming a habit, and he should know by now I am brutally honest --and I did say that--my mouth has an issue, right? We all know this). ANYWAYS, my job is safe, I'm not going anywhere, however, it seems two other people will not be so safe. And then he kicked me out told me to go home and rest. So, that is what happened, had the talk, came home and been on the couch trying to rest. The laryngitis persists, no fever etc. Just can't talk. I really need to wrap presents...oh, speaking of presents, the secret Santa gift from work?

we all know Hippos are my favorite animal, which constantly brings comments from the bossman "should he be worried because hippos eat people"

meet Hyacinth from Disney's Fantasia. She comes with multiple interchangeable pieces. You can watch the video below if so desired.

and who was my secret Santa? The bossman. Which was a reason why he didn't want to leave the issue unresolved either. He was super happy that he drew my name and for one little moment on Thursday, when I opened it at the meeting, I was pleasantly surprised and happy then I remembered I was supposed to be mad and I did see the moment of happiness in his face and then the sadness when my mood turned dark. So, I knew I couldn't leave for the long weekend without clearing all this up and he agreed with that as well.

If you made it that far. I do truly appreciate all of you who take time out of your busy days to read this little blog.