Because He's So Darn Cute

Sam wasn't feeling too hot for a while. You know, off and on---not really sick but just not himself. Brooke took him to the vet who said nothing was wrong, but he may have sprained a muscle or something. They prescribed him an anti-inflammatory and gave him a shot of the same. Now we have our grand boy back. He's been his feisty old self ever since. We didn't want to see him in that docile state, plus he looked as if he was hurting. Thank goodness he's Samson again!

He IS a pretty little man. Of course, I'm not partial.

But he's the only boy in the family as far as grand dogs go.

Look at that face. He's ready for his close-up.

Kate's Ladybug Room

Before and prep

More before and prep



Now midway

Midway the workers, dirty but happy.
I worked too, but you'll have to imagine my paint-covered self.

Fini One

The border and colors of Kate's room

More finished product

I Can't Post What I'd Like

A 21 year-old Cast Member died early this morning in a crash of the Monorail. I worked today and we were dealing with comments from "Guests" regarding the fact that the Monorail was shut-down so that a complete and thorough investigation of the incident could be performed. Remember---a Cast Member died. This is not news, it's everywhere on the news.

What I can't say, because someone would track my hiney down and walk me (Cast Members know what I'm saying---pink slip to everyone else) if I told you the reactions we heard from Guests "inconvenienced" by the Monorail shut down. I came home and cried. Just bawled. I'm crying now just thinking about it. I looked at Austin Wuennenberg's picture and it broke my heart.

One day, I'll post what I heard from "Guests." For now I'll just ask you to say a prayer for Austin's family and friends.

Rest in peace Austin.

This is an American flag.

They are for sale everywhere.

Get one, fly it, wave it, love it.

It still stands for everything that is right in the world.

A Salute to Mollie Sugden

Our Young Men Pics

Our Cory

Our Donnie W

I'm A Dork or Nerd, I Know This

Every day I book reservations, modify reservations, cancel reservations or answer questions about vacations at WDW. It's my job. But I have to tell you, I'm just a guest when it comes to making reservations for me. It's a BIG WOO HOO for me. That's when I TRULY feel the magic. (grinning really)

Last night I made reservations for Disney's Polynesian Resort for August to celebrate our wedding anniversary. (Too many years to admit to publicly, so don't ask.) We're making our way around the world and we've never stayed at the Polynesian. How could that be? you may ask. Well, we just never got around to that one, I would answer. I had already consulted with my Reservations Salesperson Jennifer/Faustina previously to making the call today. Upon Jennifer's recommendation we chose the Poly.

Then I got the pleasure of doing my online booking for our dinner reservations for the stay. I gotta tell you, it's much easier on the guest side of booking dining than the agent side of online booking. Lots of small print, but that's what we're for when the guest is on the phone. I picked one restaurant for me and one I think Dwain will like. I chose Akershus and The Coral Reef. Princess Storybook Dining doesn't sound like something Dwain would be thrilled about, but I'm not a seafood fan so I think we each got a smattering of delight here. Le Cellier at Canada was of course hopelessly booked. Oh heck, who likes steak that much anyway?

Dwain's Room

The flowers don't go, but the room turned out pretty well.
OU football central

Dwain picked out the furniture and TV. Brooke and I selected the drapes.

It goes together a bit better than it looks here.

May Visitors

Tre and Brendan at Sea World

Aonica, Tre, Brendan, Brooke (Kate not visible) at the Country Bear Jamboree

My Tre in the sweet shop on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom

In front of Cinderella's Castle on Main Street at MK

Sweet Brendan hanging out in the truck with Aunt Karen

WOW! It Was Really November

Now that I take a moment to notice, I really did stop blogging after November 2008. I thought I carried-on throughout March, but that wasn't the case.

One thing of interest the family also says I'm preoccupied with is my service in January on a first degree murder trial. Yes, however, the death penalty was not an option in this murder case. Here's the deal: I've been called to jury duty every 18 months like clockwork since we moved to Florida. Dwain, on the other hand, has only been called to serve ONCE. Previously, I had never made it through the voir dire process so I never got to serve on an actual jury. Not this time.

I was asked one question by the defense and then to my surprise was actually selected. We served for five days and part of the last night deliberating.

The defendants looked just like any other men., except perhaps for the dreads. Not all that many dreads nowadays, right? Other than that, all American looking men. Turns out, they went after a man trying to buy drugs in the wee hours in the McLaren Circle area of Kissimmee. They shot the fellow to death. The defendants didn't testify on their own behalf and the prosecution witnesses all but recanted the terrible stories they told the Grand Jury. It's amazing the amount of memory loss that occurred between the Grand Jury testimony and trial. It was an epidemic. Mostly the prosecution read directly for GJ testimony and the witnesses couldn't remember saying that or seeing or doing anything to that effect. Frankly, I think they had been intimated by the defendants and their cohorts still on the streets. (Everyone had gang names. Some of those were rather entertaining.)

We found them guilty on all counts. In addition to murder, the charges included assault with firearms, kidnapping, attempted robbery, etc. charges. They were sentenced to life in prison.

After the trial was over I drove past the crime scene a couple of times. Life goes on there. Selling drugs, sad, hopeless people, with a few old folks trapped in a neighborhood of people they don't want to know. I was witness to details I had only seen on TV and in films. It's still with me.

Lost But Now Found

I had misplaced these pics I took of Caylee Anthony's temporary memorial I took before they scraped it away. I won't get started now on Casey Anthony. But I follow this truly awful story to the point of obsession.

Here's a good site to follow for the latest: http://www.cayleedaily.com/

The Bosses Dropped By

And the gray is going away tonight. Doesn't even look good as a grandmother-to-be.

My work gang and Mickey and Minnie all kitted-out for the
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Bringing Back An Old Friend

It's not a big deal. I'm not going to re-design the wheel. I'm not going to start over. I'm going to get back to the blog I had been faithful to for so very long. The blog didn't desert me, I deserted it. I guess I just didn't want to do the political thing anymore. However, I'm more political than ever and find I'm not venting. Venting was good, even though it didn't make a smattering of difference to anyone but me.

So I'm back. I don't know what this new incarnation of "the Blog" will be. But I do know I liked the record keeping aspect of it.

I'm going to be a grandmother. Brooke is blossoming nicely. Baby Kathryn Anne is healthy and is due in November on my birthday, I expect.

I've been back at DRC for over a year. Everyone here is employed. Brooke got good news on that front this very day. She's happy. Dwain works as steadily as ever. Cory works hard at a job I can't imagine doing. Donnie W and Danielle do too, for that matter.

May dad and I say, no news is good news and it's more true than ever. Today is my brother's birthday. He's my OLDER brother. Lie.

Mollie Sugden passed today. I know she doesn't reach the Michael Jackson pinnacle of notice by the media. But I noticed. I'm saddened by her passing.

I'm blessed with good friends. Our lodger Heather is a dear young woman. Dwain has been working on the yard or garden as we say in the UK. It's rained so much in Central Florida lately we're a little jungle-like.

I'm totally loving Twitter. They say I'm obsessed. I love following the news makers. It is quite habit forming. I Tweet day and night. However, I wouldn't have restarted the blog if I didn't find the limited amount of text rather binding.

I'll try to post a few pics as I can that I've accumulated since I was last here. I still love all things weather. All things British. All things Conservative. All things family. I can't wait to see our new girl. She will be coming into a world of change, but luckily she'll also be a baby that is loved by so many people even before she takes her first breath.

There are many things I'm leaving out for my re-entry, but all good things take time. I'm back with baby steps. God bless America!

Long Time Coming

Yes, I've forsaken my old blog. Year after year, I faithfully made notes about what I was reading and thinking. Needless to say, I've been disheartened by the events in Washington. I'm disappointed beyond words, I'm concerned about the future for my children and my children's children. I don't see it getting better, I see it getting worse. Millions are filled with hope, but I'm feeling dread. (Not personally, mind you, I'm a contented, peaceful old cow.) But you understand why I don't see fit to express in writing my fears and worries about the United States of America. It's not just President Obama. It's the Democratic congress. It's banks. It's Wall Street. Too many to enumerate.

Here's what I've decided to do: right now we are on our yearly marathon of overtime at work, 50 hours a week or more is about 25 hours more than this old gal wants to work. But after we are out of OT and things are back to normal, I'm going to start a new blog. The new blog won't be political, it won't refer to the events or news of the day. It won't lament about how I think Casey Anthony is the most famous child murder in the country. The new blog will be about family and friends, trivial non-controversial stuff.

Sea-changes abound and I'm ready to talk about everything that is good in my life. I'll be sending a link to my buds who occasionally visit me here. It'll be healthier all around. Catch you on the new blog one day soon. Peace out.

As It Was, So It Is

''A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its boots on.''

~Mark Twain

Three Out of Four

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

It's All A Matter of Perspective

As In Years Past

No matter the outcome in today's election about half the nation will be disappointed with the results.

Remember:

"We know what our policy is regarding the territory of Israel, Kosovo, Bosnia, Macedonia and even Nagorno-Karabakh. What is our policy regarding the territory of the United States? No nation in history has ever been as willing to accommodate those who would dismember it as has the United States of America. Trying to get a straight pro-U. S. comment out of a U.S. elected official is like trying to nail a custard pie to the side of a barn."

~Barry Farber

Gird up your loins conservatives.

Maybe I Can Get That Reading Job

Election Day Lament

I'm SO glad it's over. No more snarky campaign ads. No more polling. No more signs littering-up the landscape. This campaign as lasted TWO YEARS. I'm exhausted. I'm almost (but not quite) to the point of not caring.

Yes, I voted by absentee ballot a week or so ago. I hate lines. (Yeah, right, Karen, you go to Magic Kingdom at the drop of a hat yet you don't want to stand in line to vote? That's big of you.)

Sure, I'll listen to (I really don't watch, but the TV is always on in the background) all the election coverage. I'll read all my favorite pundits as I always do. But, really, I could NOT be happier that we've reached this day.

Uh oh. What? The 2012 campaign begins tomorrow?

DO NOT GO THERE. DO NOT!