Share Four Somethings...

 Good morning...the last day of May. How in the world did this happen? (rhetorical, lol)

Share Four Somethings for the last day of May...

I loved...the afternoon storms we have had in the last week or so. Although, it has not cooled off, but nonetheless, there is just something about it when it rains. It did not rain yesterday-it sure looked and sounded like it wanted too.

That sustained me...as corny as it may sound...but God's word. No matter the nonsense, the hate, and such going on in the USA and world, His word has kept me grounded. 

**I am also reminded of my husband's favorite saying, "Wanna make God laugh? Tell him your plans."

I am carrying forward to June...that sustainability of God's word. No matter how hard it is out there, no matter how much people or circumstances make me angry, politics, etc... God's word, plain and simple. 

 

I am making space for...ok just something lighter...because the above thoughts were getting a little too serious...this really should be NOT making space because honestly, my closet is so full. But yesterday hubby thought I needed to go out and buy a new blouse and 'presentable' shoes for the conference---he said I needed to be more 'business professional' than my usual 'business casual' look. Ugh, had to get dressed and put on makeup and look presentable --on a Saturday🙄😉😒.

2 new pair of suede sliders/mules. Ultra comfortable, no heel...and they will wear nice with the slacks I have. Ugh... slacks, in 100* weather...hubby, "Linda, you will be inside ac all day. You'll be just fine." No, I'm going to die of suffocation. LOL

A beautiful silk blouse. The sleeves flair out. The photo really doesn't do it justice. The color and material are just fabulous.

and the other one is a cotton one...but I won't wear it at the conference, I have another silk blouse in my closet that I don't normally wear because it is quite too formal for my everyday business casual wardrobe. I am making space of- in my head🤣, to clean out my closet. It's time. I keep saying I am going to get rid of all the northern clothes I bought down no need for them here. 

My boss said the other day, "Nice flip flops." I buy Sketchers and they come in all colors-I try to match my outfits, and I also bought a new pair of leather ones. I said to him, "Well, my feet gotta breathe." He thought that was the funniest thing in the whole wide world.😁😉🤣--I thought he was going to fall out of his chair.

Wishing you a lovely day.

Last Saturday in May...

 Good morning. How can it be the last Saturday in May?

Weather...well, swampy LOL. 75* at 6:25 am. Calling for 100% chance of rain today, let's hope so.

Watched...let's see, last night, Fox News, Jesse Waters, then Lottery Dream Home. Then the inside of my eyeballs, by 9:30 I was just done.

Listening...can I count Ms. LilyBelle? She is just snoring away at my feet.

you know, she has a bed right there, but nope...the floor is cooler. 😁

Poor thing, she has an exhausting day already, LOL. I also hear the crows outside, and hubby is still sleeping, the ceiling fan is on, and the central ac just came on.

Eating/Ate...nothing so far. Last night we had pizza from one of our favorite places, 484 Pizza. There are plenty of leftovers, so pizza for today.

Thinking...y'all...I know it's Florida, but come on, this is just ridiculous: 🤣

snapped this yesterday while sitting in traffic

100*, every single day it has been reaching 100* and that is pretty much humidity.

--also thinking...heading to Jacksonville Tuesday for a conference. Staying at a beautiful hotel on the riverfront. More on that later stay tuned. 😉 

---didn't snap a photo, but we had so much rain the other evening, the water was nearly covering the electrical on the well. Hubby said he is going to need to get some sandbags if this keeps up. Nothing new, during the hurricane season, we do have to keep sandbags over there due to the low-lying area.

----speaking of hurricane season, that starts Monday.

Feeling...alright. It doesn't look like any pool time today due to the weather...its ok, we desperately need the rain.

Looking forward to...nothing in particular, nope, not even Jacksonville. I do not enjoy being away from home or even enjoy conferences or even having to dress professional and wear real shoes. I have been told flip flops are not real shoes. (there not?) sigh

Making me smile

an oldie of Walter. He will be going with me to Jacksonville. He asked to go and promised to be on good behavior, LOL. Usually its Harriet the purple hippo, but not this time, she talked way too much in Orlando LOL. 

A good laugh...

 Good morning from a true swampy Florida as it rained for a good 6 hours last night until about midnight but thunder stormed, wow. ANYWAYS...Wanted to share something I saw over at Billie Jo's lovely little blog.

LOLOLOL I about spat out of my coffee this morning as I was laughing so hard. A coworker was outside just hamming it up in the sun saying stupid things such as, "Oh isn't this lovely?" LOVELY? ITS A 100* HUMIDITY. As a matter of fact, I did call her cuckoo for cocoa puffs...if you like this sort of thing, most definitely a freak. You can't tell me you're not sweating like a pig. 😁😉

I wish I would have taken a photo of Lily last night...during the thundering and lightening she was looking at me like above, "So, are you going to do anything about this?" She is so funny. German Shepherds are known for not liking thundering and lightening and she is definitely one of those.

Wishing you all a beautiful day.

Naming Hodgepodge

 Good morning, time for the Hodgepodge. Another brain tester. LOL

1. Do you like your name? I suppose, never really ever gave it a thought. Are you named after someone (grandparent, etc)? Well, I have told this story before. My birth name was Jennifer Lynn and when my mom had me, my dad was in Vietnam. ANYWAYS, she had already named me, had the birth certificate etc. done when the news came that my dad had been shot down. My dad's last request was to name me after the nurse who saved him-kept him alive until he got to Guam and then later Hawaii, Linda was her name. The rest is serious history, and it practically took a congressional thing to get my name changed. If you have children, how did you choose their names? Well, he was supposed to be named after my brothers Michael David. While I was laying there, I fell into a sepsis coma, my husband knew I loved the Irish actor, Liam Neeson...and so, that is how our son was named, after the Irish actor. Again, the rest is history. Plus, my husband is of Irish background. 

2.  A piece of red velvet cake, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a slice of blueberry pie? You can only have one...which will you choose? Red Velvet. My son's favorite cake, smiles. If you could pick any red, white, or blue dessert other than those listed here, what would you choose? 

Chantilly cake. Publix makes the best.

3. What's a job you'd like to try for just one day? Hmm...librarian or work in a museum.

4. Any patriotic decor in your home currently or coming up this summer? Not yet...I am seriously lagging behind, well, if you count the napkin rings I put on the dusty bottles. I did, however, decorate my classroom with banners etc. Sorry no photos, because I am not allowed to bring my phone in, believe me though, it is looking festive.

5. It's the end of May, so let's exercise our brains. Sum up your month with an acrostic using the word MAY. We can do it!! 

My I retire to the beach? LOLOLOL 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Not much to talk about.  Oh, the weather? Here you go...

Hurricane season starts on June 1 and there looks to be a rainmaker happening.  We desperately need rain/water. Have a great day all!

Tuesday Meme

 Good morning, back to work. Just 2,555 days left to retirement, lol. Whose counting, right? This time next week I will be in Jacksonville for an education conference for the week. I thought I might add, It is already 74* at nearly 5 am.

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4...

1. Do you have a favorite day of the week and how about a favorite month of the year? Why? Probably Friday? lol--knowing that I don't have to work for 48 hours, just keeping it real. I probably like the 'Ber months. No reasons, well, probably because of the holiday seasons.

2. What’s the most beautiful or magical thing about each of the four seasons? Well, when we lived up north, it was the change of seasons, not so much here in Florida. Usually, it's year around sunshine and warm temps.

Spring: the beach

Summer: the beach

Fall: the beach

Winter: the beach.

Just playing around...but in all seriousness, there really is not that much difference in weather. June-Nov. is hurricane season, Jan.-Feb. we have a couple/few of weeks of chilly weather. 🤷🏽

3. Summer is coming... what does this mean in your life? Nothing really. How will things change, stay the same, etc.? We are entering hurricane season and to be quite honest, we do get a little apprehensive from June-Nov. But we are also in a severe drought, and we need to get all this humidity and such out of here. So, not many changes to be honest. We both have been noticing the county getting ready for said hurricane season; trees are being trimmed off the powerlines, roadways are being cleaned/cleared etc. Just subtle stuff. My job is also getting ready...that is a whole different ball of wax, so to speak. Where do you move 1,200 prisoners? That is a common thought-provoking series of issues that every prison and jail face from June-Nov. as we do live on a peninsula.

4. What do you look forward to in each season? Hmm...well, we do live in Florida and can wear sandals or flip flops year around except for those couple/few weeks from Jan.-Feb. I used to look forward to the change in seasonal sweater weather; jacket and snow boot weather...not so much anymore, lol. No matter how much I might start complaining about the humidity, I much prefer the warmth now.

P.S. These questions have been pretty thought provoking lately, Annie, my brain needs a rest, LOL.

Have a great day all.

Memorial Day

 Good morning from the swamp.😉

Not much else to say...freedom is NOT free.

Bi-Polar Weather Sunday Chat...

 Good morning...just a "Bi-Polar" Weather Sunday Chat at 8:45 am.

Weather...it's 77* and sunny with 93% humidity, so far. Don't count on that staying sunny. It's going to be another "Bi-Polar" event today. 80% chance of nasty weather. 

Why? Aren't you glad you asked, lol. Well, yesterday it was a "Bi-Polar" weather day. It lightly rained all morning and into the afternoon. It was dark and the clouds were nasty and it was 99*!!! Ripe for a weather event. By 3:00 the sun had come out, so out I went to the pool. Like I said, it was 99* and the pool said 85*. Within an hour, the storm clouds were back with a vengeance. Nasty weather until about midnight. Wow, did it ever storm, the lightening alone was something else. "Bi-Polar" is the word. 🤣

Listening...hubby just came in from outside (he was wiping the trucks down) and he said "Lake Linda" was in full force. No photos, sorry...our road always floods, especially since we have been in a drought, no we don't live on a dirt road. It's just Florida. No, "Bi-Polar". 🤣

Speaking of drought...Marion County is 2 feet under the rain table. We have been noticing sand in our water/well--NOT GOOD. Pray tell-LET IT KEEP ON RAINING. Marion County is under a water restriction. Maybe if I keep speaking those words out loud (RAIN) it will keep raining. I see there is something out in the Caribbean...we shall see.

Backgrounds...Faith asked me where I get the backgrounds for the blog. This one is from Blogger, and you can go to your Layout, click on Theme Designer and then go to your Background Theme. Usually, I get the backgrounds from Vintage Made for You and Designer Blogs or Cute N Cool. There not too many designers left. sigh.

So, what is a girl gonna do on a stormy evening?

Light a candle from Yankee Candle (Shore Breeze)

Make a cup of coffee from her secret desert stash.

One brand is from Austria and the other Turkey. Gluten free.  

Try to decide which jelly sandwich to make and I decided on Apricot, which I already had open. 😉🙄😁

Watched...so, hubby decided he wanted to watch a documentary on George Bush so off he went to the 3rd bedroom. I stayed in the living room and decided to be a lazy daisy and binged watched Living Big in a Tiny House

and The Mennonite Mom

and then the news hit that the Secret Service shot someone outside the White House...this world is just filled with bat crazy people, just saying. So, then I was glued to that for a couple of hours---the storm raged on outside. Finally went to bed around 11.

Thinking...not much...hubby is suggesting if we are going to go out to the pool, we might want too soon. The rain is supposed to start after 1 pm. 

Making me laugh...

...and we live where it says horses. lol

Have a great day all.

Saturday Post...

 Good morning, already 75* at 7:30 am. The Weather Channel is calling for 60% chance of rain this afternoon, and something is cooking up in the Caribbean for late next week. I hope so, we are in a 100% drought here in our county. It's sad that we are so excited for the hurricane season, lol.

UPDATED 10:40 AM ---it has been raining since 9:30 am, or so, there has been no sun whatsoever, not complaining, it is beautiful to see the rain. Never got a chance to get in the pool yet. lol

Currently in these parts...

Watching...after coming in from the pool yesterday, we got caught up on all three episodes of Dutton Ranch, the Yellowstone spinoff. Then we went back out to the pool at 9 pm, it was 85*. Yep.

Reading...still nothing. Have little want too truly sit and read anything.

Listening to...the hubby, he is sweeping the floors and discussing the sad state of the world. Since we have a German Shepherd, she sheds, a lot. Enough said about that.

Eating/Ate...hubby was kind to go to Publix yesterday and get some Mardi Gras chicken wings--he was already out filling up my truck for the week. Where was I? Yeah---lazy daisy floating the morning away in the pool. Just saying ---oh and I did make a homemade butter cake with chocolate frosting late in the afternoon when it got too hot outside---yes, 🔥. Even the pool was warm at 84*.

Thinking...

...He parked both trucks, locked them and the gates up and that is where we are. Not doing anything, not going anywhere etc. 

...really need to get painting the kitchen and cabinets. Am I? Nope.

...will be heading back out to the pool soon.

...I posted the Saturday 9, but it just wasn't working right.

...maybe sausage and eggs for breakfast.

...about the phone conversation I had with my mom yesterday, she called, actually several times, but since we were out in the pool, sigh. She was also a lazy daisy yesterday while my dad was gone with my one brother and the grandkids ballgame (why do you want to sit out in 97* weather? Just saying). My mom needs another breast cancer surgery for a tumor, it's not cancerous, nonetheless, she has to have another surgery. She and I were talking, because honestly, I think its heredity...and it's really sad that they found hers so late in life, as did they with my aunt (her sister). I was 35 years old and yes, it was miserable. That was 24 years ago...wow, where did the years go?

Feeling...Relaxed. Came in last night and took a hot shower, just to wash the chlorine off.

Giggling at...

100% true. Unfortunately, I know what snow tires are. LOL

Wishing you all a beautiful Saturday.

Woohoo Friday!

 Good morning! Just some thoughts on this Friday heading into the holiday weekend.

nope and I was ready to go yesterday, believe me. WAS READY TO GO! 4 day weekend! I took today off.😉

Weather...already 73* with 98% humidity. Yep, already uncomfortable at 6:40 am.

Reading...if you can count online news, ok. Other than that, nothing.

Watched...I might have been dozing yesterday evening and made the comment about NASCAR driver Kyle Busch that he was hospitalized, and the news broke he had passed at age 41. Shocking. Some of you might remember my husband was part of the racing ministry and we had met this young man and his brother...just shocking. I think we sat there for a couple of hours with our mouths hanging open.

Listening...not much...the central ac came on; the ceiling fans are on. That is about it.

Eating/ate...hubby had made beef tips and gravy with rice last night. I wasn't quite hungry as our monthly luncheon was yesterday at work. I did have way too much to eat. There are leftovers from dinner, so we will eat on that.

Thinking...

...The mischief I plan on getting today, is pool time. We were going to go to the beach, and well, nobody wants to fight the holiday traffic, or any traffic, plus the rising cost of gasoline. So, pool time it is. As soon as the sun fully gets up.🌴🏖️😉

...Hubby bought lights for the pool. They can change colors...after the storm last night, he asked me to come outside and pick a color, and I picked green as in alien green. LOL

Yes, the pool has to be cleaned.

Feeling/Celebrating/Enjoying...so happy I am not working today...those inmates' aka girls...gosh, I had had enough. My patience has been tested this week...and frankly, we all know that is not one of my virtues.

Making me laugh...

Well, now, this is certainly true, LOL.

Wishing you all a beautiful day.

Not Complicated Hodgepodge...

 Good morning. Apologies for not posting or even visiting your blogs. I have not felt like posting or even doing much of anything. I did mean to post the Tuesday Meme and forgot. More like a brain fog, but I'll blame it on the humidity. 😉

1. What do you make more complicated than it needs to be? Hmm...I have to think on that one. I try very hard not be a complicated person, but my husband tells me all the time I am. LOL--more like indecisive at times.

2. What impresses you? Humility, courage, being truthful, bold outright faith.

3. On a scale of 1-10 how picky of an eater are you?  (1=extremely and 10=not at all)  hmm...it just depends...probably or a 5-6. If you had to eat a meal made entirely of one color what color would you choose? Hmm...red? strawberries, raspberries, apples, watermelon.

4. What does balance in life mean to you? Coming home knowing that hubby is handling things, it used to be unbalance because I spent the majority of married years taking care of everything...now it's the other way around. I have learned there is no sense in getting mad, trying to control or whatever...just let it go. Does your life currently feel 'balanced'? Hmm...can one truly feel balanced?

5. If you could travel the world for a year what would be your first destination? I would hit the Maldives first, and then every beach in between...or Ireland or Scotland. See, that's indecisive.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Lawdy, let me tell you about the monsoon we had yesterday at work. Wow, walked out and it was just darn right monsoonal, got soaking wet, of course, I wear flip flops to work and had to take them off, because you know, you just can't walk in wet flip flops. It took a good 10 min. to get to my truck; soaking wet is the word. The umbrella did not help at all. I had to laugh though, why? Because you know, it's ok. LOL--unfort...I was cold driving home because I was soaked to the bone. I must have looked like a drowned rat, actually, I think hubby did mention that when I finally got home. It had not rained at the house, nope, it thundered and lightened...where I work is 20 miles north near Gainesville and the weather is very different up there.

Wishing you all a beautiful day, I hope to get caught up with your blogs sooner than later.

Random Ramblings on a Sunday...

 Good morning. It's only 6:40 am here in central Florida, we never did make it to the grocery store yesterday, we did get haircuts and did some antiquing and using my gift cards at Marshalls/HomeGoods. By the time we got home it was thundering so no pool time and yes, it did rain really good unfortunately, the water table is down by 2 feet (so says the newspaper) ... I will try to come up with a post--how about just random stuff?

Random Thought #1: Ms. Lilybelle, in all her glory. Some of you might remember she is a rescue dog. After our late sons' dog, Coffee passed away, we weren't sure if we truly wanted another pet. Then along came a mutual friend who introduced us to Ms. Lily's owner who had to give her away due to not having a suitable living arrangement (the owner was homeless)

So, yeah, she is one pampered family member. She does not like the humidity at all, and she is rather a very spoiled indoor German Shepherd. We can leave all day and come back, and she will be in the same spot. We believe she is at least 70 in adult years. When we got her, she was really malnourished and now she is pretty healthy, actually, the vet said she has to 'push away from the treats', lol. She is slowing down. But aren't we all? She is definitely the boss, that is for sure. 😄

Random Thought #2:

I have used Cetaphil pretty much my whole adult life. Ever since I had an accidental 2nd degree burn on my face, actually, so, yeah, pretty much my adult life. I do have face discoloration due to the burn, and I have to be careful what I use. I also use Clinique toner, it's very mild. Can you believe I have also been always allergic to Ivory soap, yep, Ivory.

Random Thought #3

We went antiquing yesterday in the Villages and hubby found these to add to the collection...exasperation on my part. Seriously, dude, I no longer have any use for green depression ware. Two bowls, a decanter, measuring cup and a fridge. butter dish. 

Random Thought #4: Have you ever wondered about people? When we entered Marshalls/Home Goods (all in the same building) yesterday, the store was pretty empty. Then all of sudden, it wasn't. Have you ever wondered what makes people "tick"? Some just have a sour disposition on life, it just makes you wonder.

Random Thought#5: Sticking to my rule. A coworker was having a get together at her house yesterday. Apologies, but I see you every single day, although I do see my husband every single day, my time is precious with him...sticking to my rule of keeping work and family separate. Love you guys, but I just can't do 6 days a week. I only get 48 hours of "free" time. No, a couple of hours wouldn't "kill" me per say, but no. I am afraid I have made her mad at me.

Saturday Thoughts...

 Good morning, another hot one on tap...it is the middle of May, so, yeah...

Temperature...70*, 61% humidity, 67* dewpoint. Yeah, a little sticky.

Watched...absolutely nothing. I was in bed by 6:30 and slept 11 hours straight. That lingering cough is just about done. 

Have had enough...the ac in the portable where I work is on the blink. By 8 am my room read 79*, I let both classes go very early.  No sense in dealing with 26 different angry personalities, just saying. Keeping.it.real.

Listening...hmm...the hubby is feeding the cat and talking to it. The dog is lying next to me and is hmming and hawing because she wants her "spa" treatment (brushed and sprayed with coconut dog spray). 

😉

--hubby took her the other day and got her nails done, if you know anything about a German Shepherd, they have to be pampered--as they have quite a personality. LOL

Thinking...about nothing in particular. Learning to sleep without a fan directly on me.

Needing to...

--to shower and get around.

--get haircuts today. Never did go get it done. Really need to. Shaggy DA is the word.

--need to fill up my truck--yesterday the gas price for $4.03. Oil closed yesterday at $101 a barrel. Rumor mill (aka the market) has it that if oil closes or gets above $111 a barrel, gas will be near $6 a gallon. NO ONE WANTS THAT. Me thinks, these companies are playing games. sigh.

--get in the pool at some point. I have not been in it all week. I have been coming home and just going to bed. I am just exhausted with dealing no ac at work; mentally worn down.

--needing to look into getting a dehumidifier for the bedroom. Why?

because my little sound / clock machine states 68* and 58% humidity and that is at 7 am.

Feeling...ok. Just hot, although the central ac and the ceiling fans are on. This humidity here, is just something else. You would think after 4 years of being back here, I would get used to it, nope. I haven't.

Making me laugh...

Wishing you all a beautiful day.

Hodgepodge

 Good morning. Wow did we ever get rain yesterday. I meant to post this and forgot. Onwards to the Hodgepodge.

1. What's one piece of advice you would you give a recent or soon-to-be graduate? 

Well, I have several...I know, it said only one...but here we go:

--there is no such thing as a "forever" job anymore.

--do what you love-or want to do.

--Keep your work and family life separate.

--It's ok to say NO.

--Have principals/ morals and values

--Get a job with health insurance, life insurance and whatever. 

2. May 15th marks the birth date of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. At this point in time are you more in need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain. I just wanna go home---err---stay home. LOLOL

3.  "There's no place like home" is an oft repeated line from Baum's book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement? Every single blasted day. If you all really truly knew what I deal with every single day....sigh.

4. May is National BBQ Month...do you own a grill? Yep Who does the grilling at your house? The hubby What's your favorite thing to throw on the grill? Chicken What's the last thing you grilled?  He grilled up some steaks.

5. What's a memory you replay in your head when you need a little joy? 

Well, there are plenty of memories...but it's usually memories of my son, but the beach is a close second. LOL

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Not much to report on. It's humid and we have been getting afternoon rain, however, the ac is on the blink in the portable where I work...maintenance hasn't a clue on what etc. It was 79* in there yesterday, plum miserable--has been for several days. Luckily, I only have one class this morning, the afternoon class is testing. Oh hey, 8 out of the 10 students I put up for the GED, passed! Woohoo!!!

Speaking of talent. I get to leave early today as I stayed late yesterday due to a talent show. One of my students was participating and she got second place for singing a gospel song...wow, was it ever so powerful. 

Tuesday Meme...

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4! Life can be tough.  Especially when dealing with traffic, government or just people!

this graphic is just so adorable, smiles.

1. What pet peeves bother you the most? Liars. I can't stand to be lied too.

2. Do you air your grievances or keep things to yourself? It depends on what the situation is. For instance, when the issues at work got so out of hand and manipulative, then I aired my grievances.

3. What government ordinances, city requirements or mandates or just plain red tape annoys you? Property taxes. I own this property (ok, the bank owns it). Just being taxed to death. Also, waiting in line at the DMV. I need proof of whatever to get my license and tags, so, why don't illegals need the info? So much hypocrisy.

4. When the annoyances of life gang up on you do you take it to the Lord in prayer? Of course, prayer is 100% part of my daily routine. What else helps you gain your equilibrium...music, a movie, a treat? Hmm...probably music and sometimes a treat. A good chocolate bar usually does the trick, LOL. 

P.S. Hubby made a Devil's Food cake with Buttercream icing, so good.

Monday Thoughts...

 Good morning, its already 75* at 4:53 am.

Mother's Day was just another regular day...oh, hubby tried to make it special...bless him. He gave me such a lovely a card:

He decided from now on, that Mother's Day will be called Honey Day. Because that is what my son called me, Honey. We also had a short Bible lesson on Mother's.

inside of card

and I went to put the cake together and he took over. We were in the pool for about 1/2 hour then the clouds rolled in, it never did rain and we had leftover tacos. So, that is about it for our Sunday. Truthfully, since I was sick a couple of weeks ago, a cough is just--lingering. Hanging on...I do have a dr. appointment. Don't think it's anything serious, my own mother said it took about 3-3 1/2 weeks to get over what crud it was. This humidity is definitely not helping.