I had a dream last night which was almost I would consider a nightmare. Outside were gunmen holding my dad hostage. I locked the front door, but they busted it in and I was starting to scream and I woke up. This probably occurred because I watched too much local news. The local news is loaded literally with shootings, fires, car crashes, shark bites and bodies. The bodies are lucky to have a name and to top it off the anchor person man or woman is usually smiling and ready to go on to the next story. Last nights news was making my mom cringe, because of the car crash on State Road 415 where the guy fell asleep behind the wheel and hit a girl head on and killed her. This is the road I travel to work everyday. I try to be extra careful and remember what the instructor said in driving class. " If you are heading for a head on collision veer to the right."

It is later than I normally would write, but it is Sunday. I like having the little extra time to catch a few more sleepy zzz's. The weekend is always full of fascinating things like garage sales, art shows, vegetable stands, and to find out where the Republican headquarters are located. My mom is helping out with the Democrats and I guess she will keep up on the latest news happenings from there. I talked with my two Aunts yesterday and they were glad and able to keep in touch with me and my mom. My Aunt from North Carolina especially likes to talk with my mom. The other Aunt from Port Richey is bored most of the time. She doesn't get involved in Senior activities. I still think I brighten her week by talking with her.

My friend and former co-worker Dick had to put his little dog Pawnee to sleep. It was a very hard experience for him, because he was so emotionally attached to his dog Pawnee. Dick had many good years with his dog Pawnee and he didn't realize that she had aged and was an old lady with many health problems. The deciding factor was her back legs had given out because of arthritis. It would have been too much trouble to take Pawnee home only to have to bring her back again. Dick wasn't that emotionally strong. He is going through the grieving process and it will take a long time before he gets things back emotionally in a proper place.

Music Concert

I got a taste of music culture thank to a friend named Mike Diamond. He is a big Sarah Brighton fan and he made a copy for me to see Sarah Brighton in concert on DVD at the Royal Albert Hall. I was fasinated by how big her eyes were and how she used her hands during the concert to enhance the songs she was singing. She also brought out Andre Bocelli for one song " Time to say Goodbye" and that is the only one where I remember he looks at the audience with his eyes. Andre has been blind since childhood but has a golden tenor voice. Mom said the concert was very rich in music. I think we both enjoyed it.

Rainy Evening

Coming home on 17-92, the Casselberry Police did an excellent job at directing traffic at the intersection of State Road 436 and 17-92. The traffic pattern flowed like it usually does when the light is working only smoother. They were brave people to stand out in the rain and stormy conditions and serve the general public. At least the worst of the storms held off until I got home where it lightening and rain somewhat. I knew when the lightening came that I would have no evening outside. My evening was spend eating KFC for dinner and watching America's Got Talent on tv.

Drive home

Mom handed me an article which I haven't read yet. It talks about people who sing in their cars. I enjoy singing, but sometimes I would encounter strange looks if I am doing this in a crowded backup of cars in Orlando. I find this a pleasant distraction from the time of waiting in line to get someplace. On my way home, I do pass Club Juana which has finally shut down for good. It was an adult entertainment club that had been there for 43 years. I wonder what will go in it's place?I also heard that the Club Juana sign would be donated to the Orlando Historic museum as a part of history. This doesn't get rid of Circus, Circus which is just down the road. Casselberry, has a long ways to go.

Daily Routine

I just got my coffee brewed and I am going to get a cup. It is steamy hot and I put honey into it for a sweetener. It goes down real smooth. Mornings seem to go to fast before going to work. Once there , the time seems to slow down and it takes forever before lunch finally arrives. After coming back from lunch, it is let your food digest time and some work and then around 4 in the afternoon time slows down again. The most unproductive hour is the last one before five. I kind of mentally wind down, after gearing myself up in the morning to get the task done.

my favorite turkey (Puffer)

Monday is starting and I got my coffee. I still feel ripped off from watching the Miss Universe pageant last night. I wanted Miss Switzerland to win, but she came in third. Miss Porte Rico
won. It rained alot last night and the weatherman says the same today. Lots of rain everywhere, but I just hope it lightens up while I drive home.

Enjoying music

I was listening to some music, which was a melody of guitar, last night on my little tape player radio. The music was soft and a beat I had bought a while back to go walking around when I had some extra time. I enjoy music a lot. I feel as though I have a well rounded variety of songs I know and older songs that I am rediscovering. I have a singing session with Italian opera singers in the car driving to work and back home. I need to listen a bit more to Bing and the cd I bought so I can point out my favorite pieces of songs. I enjoy the melodies that my friend Lew sends through the internet on his e-mails. I listen to some modern stuff on the radio and at work I am having an introduction to Country K-92 music. I compared Long Tall Texan to Red Neck Woman, because I though the melodies were quite similar. I went to the movies and had my movie fix with "My Super-Ex Girlfriend." I thought the movie was cute.

Saturday has arrived

Berry and Holly left last night with their mom and dad who are back from vacation. What a joyous reunion. They like totally forgot who we are. My mom is glad the dogs have gone home. Both of us can concentrate on other things like I have to get an oil change this morning and my mom will probably shop for vegetables at the farmer's market. There shouldn't be any big crowds at the beach, because there are no special events going on over here. All week it seemed like forever to get to Saturday. I am going to enjoy it.

Friday is here

I just noticed with yesterday's writing that I used Berry's picture twice. She is a very popular girl dog. My coffee is just finishing perking. I got up around 4:30 this morning. The dogs are partly up. They start stirring after five waiting for mom to get up. She is the focus of their affections. They slept real good overnight without any trouble at all. They may be gone today or possibly tomorrow. My drive to work and back was trouble free and nothing different. I had my music going and I had bought gas in Ocoee for 2.82 a gallon. I found no place cheaper. The dogs have started to get up so I must take care of their needs for maybe the last time until their owners go on vacation again.

Week is coming to a close

I am late writing on the blog today. Time just seemed to slip away with all the stuff to do. Doggies will possibly be gone tomorrow if not Saturday. They will be missed, but mom and I will love getting our freedom back. I can't believe they are watching the door waiting for mom to come back in. The week started out real slow and now it is speeding up. Wow!!

Sailing through the middle of the week

The coffee is about ready to drink. It will be good with some honey in it. This is the middle of the week and only a couple more days before the owners come back for Holly and Berry. It is nice having the overnight hours when Holly and Berry are at their most quiet time. They are very well behaved and usually don't stir around unless they see you moving around. The weather was real nice coming home. I didn't encounter storms and that is a good thing. I truly enjoy coffee time in the morning, because that is the most creative time. I do think a lot at night, but I usually forget by the morning and everything is like fresh and new.

Picture of Berry

This is Berry with her toys. She is the one who tells you what she wants. She will yep bark when she wants walks and when she wants someone like my mom. She walks with a wiggle and she wags her tail when she walks. She also doesn't like to look at the camera.

Why is war more important than improving the human living condition? How anti-productive and pointless is destroying one another. When something or someone is destroyed there is a price to pay. If you destroy someone, their family lives with the grief of loosing someone they love. If you take trees away from the environment, it makes the earth hotter and more prone to bigger storms. The trees has always acted as kind of a barrier from damaging winds. There is so much good that can be done with alternative energy sources like solar, wind, water. Electricity can be produced and can be harnessed to run appliances that would cost less than, if it came from the power companies. The technology is there to change salt water into fresh water. If we could come up with a generator that could harness electricity from solar and have a device for converting salt water to fresh water, this could benefit Africa's drought. People could have fresh drinking water, the animals could have fresh drinking water and irrigation could be done so plants and crops of plants can be grown. This is just an idea that I had a number of years ago when I visited the Florida Solar Energy Center. It is the greed of money and power that prevents good deeds like this from happening.

Sunday morning

Sunday comes too fast. Mom and I took the doggies on a morning walk and they got to explore all new smells. Mom and I both like taking one dog ; instead of, holding on to two dogs. Berry loves to go walking and exploring all the time. Holly likes to come back home. She is like a small locomotive when she wants to go back home chugging on her leash.
We got Sunday morning on the television and finding out the news a half a world away. I am glad to be here and not in the pathway of war. This is a picture of the vegtable stand where they grew giant pumpkins.

Saturday with Holly and Berry

It is Saturday and I know I am a bit late with writing on the blog. Instead of my usual routine of getting a cup of hot coffee with honey in it. I got the coffee and kind of crawled back asleep on the couch. Saturdays are wonderful for spending more time with the dogs and watching tv. Holly is like the class clown. I took her and Berry out in the back yard. Holly rolled and rolled on her back like she could do this all day. On the other hand, Berry is like a drama queen who must be the center of attention. She makes it seem like she is focusing her attention on someone by yapping at them. In reality, she wants them to be at her beck and call. She wants her walks when she is ready and she wants to eat when she is ready and you dare not to leave her alone. Her motherly type of instinct shows when she moans and wines, until she is assured that everything will be ok in her world.

Doggies on Friday

Doggies are a handful of energy. They want to walk when they want to walk. I won't have to leave them tomorrow. I do today go to work and mom is in charge all day long.

Yesterday, I bought a cd with all Bing Crosby songs. There were a lot that I never had heard before, but there were some I have heard like" Don't fence me in." I enjoyed most of the music. It match a lot of the songs I listen that are more current. Plus, I will always love the vocal quality of Bing Crosby's voice.

Short of time

It is the middle of the week again and I would like to stop time for a little while. I guess if I saw the movie Click, I could fantasize about changing things. I got the doggies out in the yard so they could have a break until mom gives them a morning walk. I get to see my favorite group of Brama Bulls all cuddled together in the middle of a Pasture on State Road 415. I missed the free yesterday Slurpee day where it was 79 years old. I hope they have this again next year. I would like to catch the 80th.

Doggies are here

New day with the doggies. I took them for a short walk, but mom will have to walk them more before the rains come. I hope not to drive in heavy rain. There is a full moon outside which makes the pre-morning look beautiful. It should be an interesting day.

Starting up Monday

It is Monday morning and a new work week. I had my first cup of coffee and saw the Pirates movie yesterday. The movie leaves lots of loose ends so I believe there will be another one to hopefully tie it all together. I hope the weather will be ok to drive in and the rains won't be too bad. Mom gets the two guest doggies today for a bit of time. I forgot how long they will be here at the house. I will find out.

I still haven't seen the Pirates movie yet, but I had an enlightened time with the Democrats at Gemini Springs park. I got to meet the two candidates for Governor of Florida. Jim Davis was the candidate from Tampa who had the support of Bob Graham and Rod Smith was the candidate from Alachua who had fire in his belly as related in his speech. This was like a barbecue lunch with speeches from all different people running for office and entertainment from a guitar singer/player and Hispanic school kid dancers. I tried to take pictures with my digital camera, but when I got home and tried to download on the computer the pictures weren't there. The pictures didn't take on the camera. It was hot yesterday at Gemini Springs, but I discovered it would be a nice place to visit again when fall and cooler weather comes. It has a large walking trail and what little of the nice spring swimming area. It was a neat time.
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Sailing into Saturday

I am so glad Saturday is here. We had the Fourth of July off, but it still seemed like a very long week. My friend Lillian who works close by was my lunch relief getaway from my work routine. We would pick all different restaurants around the neighborhood and have a time to get away to eat and talk. Now that it is the weekend, it is the Pirates of the Caribbean movie and what ever else is possible in two days.

Weekend

Friday, I have waited all week for this day. I am looking forward to a couple of days off for the weekend and seeing the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Happy Birthday to a friend

My friend and former co-worker Dick is having a birthday today. I hope it is good and he has lots of fun with his other friends. This picture was taken at the Indian Pow Wow a while back. He got something at the Pow Wow to beat his Indian drum.

Have you ever tried to change a light bulb around 2:30 in the morning? This happened to me last night as I was going into the bathroom. The bathroom fixture is actually a two light with a cover on the front. The other light bulb had burned out and I neglected to get it fixed right away. I went into the bathroom and the one light remaining blows like a small pop as soon as I flip on the switch and everything in the bathroom goes dark. I go into my bedroom to get the flashlight radio which has a flashlight that can guide me into replacing the light bulbs. I first get the step ladder and then take off the cover with lots of dust and some dead bugs. Afterwards, I unscrew the lightbulbs and find out they are 60 watt so this is what I have to get for a replacement. Fortunely, I do have some fresh lightbulbs and I do screw them into the light fixtures. I turn on the light switch and they work perfectly. I then wash the cover and stick it into the sink strainer to dry for a couple of hours. I know when I get up this would be my only remaining task. When I got up later I got the cover placed on top of the lights and the end piece screwed in and the whole fixture was fixed. I got up this morning and made my two pots of coffee. One regular and one with Chocolate Cherry cordial flavor. The world seems ok in front of the computer. Mom and I did see the shuttle launch at the beach yesterday and neighbors setting fireworks on our street last night. It was two spetacular shows right at home. I am glad the shuttle crew made it ok into space. This made it a good Fourth of July.

Mom and I are over at the beach hoping to see a space shuttle take off for the space station. I wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July!!

3rd day of July

This pumpkin isn't up to my sister's standards, because it isn't rounded enough. It is kind of squashy flat underneath. It was on display at the vegetable stand and weighs 200 pounds. It is the 3rd. of July and the shuttle hasn't left yet. Also, I have to go into work today in the rain and storms. I am off tomorrow so I can declare that an extra day of rest. The shuttle is also scheduled to try again to get to the space station. I hope it goes and is a real crowd pleasure to those who drive all the way over to the beach just to get a view.

The great pumpkin of Florida

Here is a 700 pound beautiful pumpkin raised out in the vegetable fields and planted around the end of March and the beginning of April. This is not a native pumpkin to the State of Florida. This was grown here, but the seeds came from a prize winning pumpkin grower in Conneticut. The prize winning grower told the Florida grower that in Conneticut they normally grow to 1500 pounds. The Florida grower got an Agriculture person from the City of Deland to come over and tell him , the seeds needed to be planted in August so they would be ready by November. This makes a lot of sense to me, because the Florida heat is so intense. However, I believe this farmer has done extraordinarily well with heat, soil conditions and the rainy weather which we have endured this summer. He also has some other pumpkins still growing on the vines. He trims the leaves back and the other flowers back to give the pumpkin a chance to grow on the vine. He has one displayed that is 200 pounds at the vegtable stand. This pumpkin here we were told is starting to rot underneath so it won't get any bigger. It still looks like something that should be displayed at a grocery store or taken to the county fair where it could win a prize for biggest and fatest pumpkin grown in Florida. A long time ago, I went to my Uncle's funeral who lived in North Carolina with my dad. On the return trip home we stopped at this house which had a pumpkin patch outside. I took my dad's picture sitting in the middle of a pumpkin patch. Non of the pumpkins were 700 pounds like this one. Afterwards, we went inside where this lady who was a wife of a preacher was making homemade pumpkin pies from scratch. The kitchen had such a heavenly scent of fresh baked pumpkin pies, my dad bought one which we ate at a park on the way back to Florida. I think my dad would have been impressed by the size of those pumpkins. I think also he would have like to have tried planting a few to see how large they would grow. Unfortunately, he passed away many years ago, but I know this would have been the kind of thing that would peak his interest. Traveling to the vegtable stand, I also saw yellow flowers growing along the side of the road. My mom ask "Is it fall yet?"

Happy July

It is July first and the start of a new month and the weekend. The Fourth of July falls on Tuesday. I was glad to spend my last twenty getting gas on the way home. I paid $2.76 a gallon for gas. I saw at other stores where the price of gas was higher. I wish everyone a Happy Weekend and Happy Fourth of July. I hope the shuttle goes successfully and the grills make some great food.