Fun day of tubing!

There are firsts for everything for me up here. Today was another first...tubing! How much fun is that? TONS! We headed for this ski resort called Sawmill on the recomendation our our friend, Tony. Besides ski/snowboarding trails, they have these three trails for tubing. For $6 an hour you can choose your tube (the "hard bottoms" are fastest) and get hitched to the tube lift and head to the top of the chute. How nice is that? You do not even have to hike your patoot up the hill!?

Once you are at the top you can go alone or hook your tubes together and go down in groups. For the first few runs, we hooked our tubes together and flew down! I was really whooping and holleing! The first one we went down was pretty fast and we ended up crashing through the "hay block" meant to slow the tubes down.

Charles decided he wanted to try it on his own, so I got to be the official photographer. When he got to the bottom, he was REALLY flying and ended up crashing into the snow wall meant to stop the tubes!

Once you are done you return your tube to the pile of tubes and go stand in the que for another turn!
Charles wasn't sure this morning if he really wanted to go, but being our official social director, I made him go. After a few trips down the hill he said, "I'm glad you told me that I had to come today. This was great!" Afterwards on our drive home we spotted an honest to goodness "general store" located in the tee-tiny town of Morris. We had to check it out and all I can say is WOW! It was like walking into a movie set of what a classic, middle of nowhere general store would look like. It was a real trip! Very good day, now we are off in search of some evening fun!

Snow

Those glist'ning houses that seem to be built of snow
Snow
Oh, to see a mountain covered with a quilt of snow
Snow
I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow
Snow
I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow
Snow
Oh, to see a great big man entirely made of snow
Snow

Those lyrics come from the movie White Christmas. It's from the scene where Bob and Phil are taking the girls on the train to the Vermont lodge where they'll put on their show. They are looking forward to seeing all the snow and like any good movie musical, they break out into song about it! That is the song that has been going around in my head over the last few days....SNOW!

Since we decided to move up here and started to tell friends and family that has been the number one thing people most warn us about...SNOW! People who have lived in snow warn that we will hate it. People who have just visited snow worry if we will adjust. People who live up here wonder if we will make it though the winter. After hearing much negativity about the subject of snow, I did find myself a few times this fall feeling like I was moving inexorably towards something to be worried about. I was always optimistic about it, I mean really, it IS just a different kind of weather than I am used to. I am flexible. I was sure I could adjust to the "horror" of snow. Honestly I was looking forward to learning about snow-living.

I got my coats, scarves, sweaters, long johns, hats, gloves, tires... I took snow & ice driving lessons from Charles. I learned how to work the pellet stoves. I took the advice of locals and stocked up on groceries before a big storm hit. I installed a Weather Channel icon on my desktop. Then waited for the mounds of snow. And waited. We had our first snowfall in mid October. Everyone said that it was too early for snow and that was a sign that our winter was going to be harsh. I braced myself. And waited. We lost the fall leaves early and I was sad about that. Then waited some more. By the end of November we really hadn't had any more snow. Now the locals were wondering if our winter might not be so bad after all. The first week of December is when we got a good blanket of snow. I took tons of photos, shared my giddiness with my friends, used all those new clothes and accessories that I had purchased and waited for it to turn yucky. Through December and January it would snow a bit and then melt. We would watch all the areas around us get hit with blizzards while I waited. I had a lovely white Christmas and some hilarious drives with my mother-in-law through the snow! Then the snow melted. By the end of January and through most of February when it snowed it would stay on the ground longer, but still, there was nothing to complain about. There were actually only a few days between all three months that we could have made a decent snowman or sled down the hill. I convinced all my family and friends that snow and me were getting along just fine. The snow fall has been so light that there have been many days that Charles will look around as we are driving and say, "This is the dead of winter. Where is all the snow?" Mild winter. That is what folks are calling it. Places that get no snow at all are breaking records and here I am all prepared for the big, evil snow and we get a "mild winter". I am not complaining. Just saying...

So here I sit today, the Weather Channel has warned of a big snow storm (Storm? That's what I've been waiting for!), I stocked the kitchen with lots of food, refilled the pet meds, checked on batteries, filled the gas tanks and got extra bags of pellets. The snow started yesterday. It has really been piling up. The last time Charles and I measured it, the ruler read 17". Last night when Charles came home he could only get the car half way up the drive before the tires were spinning and he had to spend an hour and a half laying cinders and salt and shoveling out tire ruts before he could pull his car in the garage. Yesterday & today they closed the schools, so I didn't have to go into work. Today Charles and quite a few others from his office worked from home. The predictions are that it will continue to snow through the weekend and ever more snow will be piling up! Tomorrow we are going tubing. And Sunday I have plans to make a snow family in the front yard. Let me say again-me and snow are getting along just fine!

Here is my puzzlement. What's the big deal? I've lived in a climate that was so hot you often decided not to do outdoor activities because the AC was much nicer. I've had the back-of-the-leg sweat glue my legs to a car seat. I've been through two hurricanes-and "battened down" for many more. Been through hurricane clean up. Watched as my dad's greenhouse was carried away by a tornado. Was caught in an undertow. Have worn shorts on most of the Christmases of my life. Walked the dogs at 8 in the morning and come inside soaking wet with sweat. Driven through torrential rains when I knew I should have pulled over. And lived with flying cockroaches!!! There is nothing that dreadful about snow. I have to dress for it. So? There is shoveling involved. I'm good with that! I have to do a bit of prep work for the big stuff. Not a problem! Sometimes it might be easier or safer to stay in rather than go out. OK, fine!

Snow is fluffy, wet, cold, slippery, beautiful, dirty when it's driven over, a bit of a pain to drive over (with our "all season" tires), fun, glittery and makes for great photo ops. What snow isn't? Snow isn't bad. Or scary. Or too much for this Florida native to handle.

So, wishing my life were more like a movie musical, I'll break out into song now...
Where it's snowing
All winter through
That's where I want to be
Snowball throwing
That's what I'll do
How I'm longing to ski
Through the SNOW!!!

Why?

"Why?" That is a tough question to answer for someone else, but I'm gonna try...

Tonight I heard on a blip of information by the local news station about the fatality of the orca trainer at SeaWorld in Orlando. The announcer wondered, "Why the whale had a history of violent behavior." Why? Let's see. This is a sentient being that is taken from it's known environment, forced to live it's days in a too small habitat that is totally foreign, hand fed and forced to perform tricks that are not natural. However "humane" that training might be, an orca isn't meant to lift humans out of the water and twirl around on command.

In the wild orcas are social mammals who live in pods with family members and communicate with each other using echolocation. Orcas can swim up to 100 miles a day, swim as fast as 30 miles per hour and dive hundreds of feet below the surface. But in captivity they are enclosed in aquariums where they would have to lap their tanks something like 2,500 times a day just to get enough exercise. They are made to live with not only "non-family" members but also other species. The tanks they swim in do not allow their communication system to work well with competing noises from crowds, filtration systems, etc.
In the wild they also use their echolocation to hunt prey. They are not meant to rise to the water's surface, open their mouths and wait for dead food to be dropped in.
In the wild orcas can live to be between 50-80 years old (males vs. females) but in captivity if an orca survives the capture and relocation process (many die during this time) they have to live in "treated" sea water and often develop bacterial infections. Their life spans are greatly shortened because of their captivity, on average they live 6-10 years.
And very important to understand...in the wild orcas are not considered a threat to humans. But when you imprison a living thing, restrict it's movement, force unnatural behavior upon it, quell any natural instinct, impose an unnatural environment and take it away from it's family let's see if it does not go stark raving mad. Let's see if it doesn't display aggressive, depressed and abnormal behavior.
My heart goes out to the family of the trainer. She didn't die because the orca did something wrong. She died because tons of people pay money to SeaWorld so they can "ooh" and "aah" over the tricks and water splashes from these beautiful creatures. There are currently 42 orcas in captivity. For me, that is 42 too many.

So "why"...? My guess would be that it's whole life it has been pushed...and it finally snapped.



"There is about as much educational benefit to be gained in studying dolphins... in captivity as there would be studying mankind by only observing prisoners held in solitary confinement"
- Jacques Consteau

Dude!

The boys sang tonight and I liked the boys better than the girls. There seemed to be more to remember. Anywho, I have four (possibly five) boy favorites. #1-Andrew. I do not care what the judges said, I love him. I like his back story...he was raised by two parents who were active into gang culture, he is a stay-at-home dad and most important, he can sing and is very original. Love his voice and he DID nail that "Straight Up" song in Hollywood week. #2-Casey. He is simply adorable. I mean really, really good looking. Honestly. BUT the boy can also sing. At some point he needs to tell them to stop drooling and carrying on so much about how pretty he is! I really liked the song he picked and how he sang it. I actually closed my eyes while he sang so that I wasn't swayed by his looks! (I am funny to me!) #3-Lee. His voice is just plain 'ole cool. Just a couple of odd notes, but I liked him too. #4-Michael. He is one giant teddy bear who happens to rock. I have really liked him from the beginning I just hope he can pick a better song next time. Possible #5-John. Cool, but needs a better song. Will reserved judgement until next time. (Shania can work the phone lines for him tonight!)

Last night I had 2 (possibly 3) girl favorites and tonight there were more boys. I think that the Idol folks got it wrong. It might just be a boy year. So far out of all of them my two top favs are Lilly and Andrew. Gotta go vote!

American Idol is back....

In case you didn't know this about me, I am a huge AI freak!! I watch every season from the beginning. I remember when Ryan Seacrest was just a co-host with Dunkleman. Poor Dunkleman... I have been known to phone a friend when locked out of my house on AI night and make her hold the phone up to the TV and supply a running commentary on clothes, etc. I've been to almost every AI tour show. I have almost all of their CD's. (Yes, I own a Justin Guarian CD) And I am usually a bigger fan of the second place person than the first. I mean...what has anyone heard of Kris Allen other than those Ford commercials that run during AI? With all this AI "street cred", I think I am up to the challenge of picking some of my early favorites from last night.

Well, with all the hype I was thinking that the girls would be putting on a better show than they did last night. I was watching on my DVR so I could fast forward at will and let me tell you, the will was there a few times last night. Firstly, I am sick of the Ryan Seacrest banter. He tries way too hard and comes off looking like a schmuck. I hate it when he forces himself into the celebrations outside the door when contestants get their Hollywood tickets, etc. I do like Ellen though. She has said more than once that she is not an expert, and usually comments on their presence and if she liked their sound. She sounds like I would if I were up there-only much funnier! And, I am sad that this will be Simon's last season. I hope he changes his mind. For me, the standouts from last night were Lilly and Crystal. Lilly was the true original of the evening. The song she sang was a Beatles song that would be considered a B-side song (I'm Fixing a Hole)and put her own flair to it. I love the Indie sound, so I really enjoyed her. Crystal has a fantastic voice and personality but her version of Hand in my Pocket sounded too much like Alanis' version. I don't think that copy cat versions will win. Siobhan seems to be a fun one to watch. Simon said, "You really are a funny little thing." I couldn't agree more. I am looking forward to more from her. "Sounds like the original" seemed to be very popular last night. If I wanted to hear a song just like the original, I would go listen to the original version.

Listen up boys! You guys better be paying attention! Please do not copy the original song. Stand out! I am really looking forward to hearing Andrew tonight. With the Hollywood songs to go by, I think he'll be my favorite.

Between the Bachelor season ending next Monday (he'd better pick Tenley!), the announcements during that finale of the next season's contestants on Dancing with the Stars and American Idol ramping up I am in reality TV heaven!

P365/Pics from Florida visit

The boys check out the pastry at Panera.

Kathryn playing "What's in Aunt Jenny's Purse".

Spectacular spinach and artichoke dip and pizza roll ups that we served during the crop's "mocktail hour". (Recipes to follow)

The super cool project Dianne was working on during the Cupid Crop.

Benigets from Nolas, a great little cafe in downtown St. Pete.

Nico eating the good "dip" from Bombay Masala. Gotta love a kid who LOVES Indian food as much as his folks and I do.

The prize table at the Cupid Crop.

Miss Barbara and Dianne cutting up at our great SU card class.

One half of the crop room in full swing at The Doodle's Cupid Crop.

Dark chocolate fondue with tons of great "dippers" from The Melting Pot.

Scotty, my welcome wagon, at Chez Jenkins.

The meat, cheese and fruit tapas plate at Cerviche. (You would think that all I do when I am down in Florida is eat and drink good stuff. Close...pretty close!)

Cloudy and overcast...but still a fine view!

One of these drinks just doesn't belong...

Chocolate Malt Cupcakes with a cherry vanilla buttercream frosting. Divine! (Recipe to follow)

My responsee to Sisterdear when she asked how much further we had to go before we were in Hastings.

Mixing cocktails at the Cupid Crop. YUM!

We went to the gelato place again! Oh my! But I do love that place. I think I wanna get a gelato machine and try my own.

Ginger walking in the 5" of snow we got while I was gone.

Toss Ten Tuesday

Ok..ok...I know that I am REALLY late on getting this post up! I had all my stuff pulled, my photo taken, the stuff put in boxes or trash. As I was working a full week in Lunch Lady Land, I got a cold which put me down. I was scheduled to leave for a full 2 weeks in Tampa and I was miserable from a blasted cold the whole time that I was there! I tried to get Charles to email me my photo so I could post from down there, but he could never find it. So, once again, I'm sorry, but I hope that lots of you got your stuff tossed this month!




ADIOS-ONE LONELY, FREEZER-BURNED WAFFLE. I LOVED ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS, BUT SOMEHOW YOU'VE GONE UNNOTICED AT THE BACK OF THE FREEZER FOR FAR TOO LONG.

ADIOS-STACK OF OLD CHRISTMAS CARDS. I DO SAVE SOME OF YOU, BUT I HAVE LIMITED THE AMOUNT THAT I CAN KEEP AND SINCE THAT WAS FULL, SOME OF YOU HAD TO MOVE ON. SADLY, IT'S THE BURN BARREL FOR YOU.

ADIOS-LOCAL PAPERS. I LOVE READING YOU, BUT I'VE BEEN CLIPPING THE "FUN THINGS TO DO" THAT I WANT TO SAVE, AND DON'T SEE A REASON TO KEEP THE WHOLE PAPER.

ADIOS-BOX OF SUGAR FREE CREAMSICLES. SUGAR FREE? YOU ARE HONESTLY GROSS AND I'VE TRIED TO LIKE YOU A FEW TIMES, BUT I JUST DON'T. DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY, BUT I LIKE MY POPCICLES WITH SUGAR.

ADIOS-BOOK OF MORMON. DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT YOU. DON'T THINK I'LL BE READING YOU SOON. MIGHT BE A PA LDS THAT NEEDS YOU, SO OFF TO THE GOODWILL YOU GO.

ADIOS-OLD CHRISTMAS BOWS. I USED TO STUFF YOUR LOOPS WITH PAPER TOWELS TO KEEP YOU PERKY, BUT I STOPPED THAT A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND YOU HAVE STARTED TO DROOP. SORRY. I GOT SOME REALLY GREAT CLEARANCE RIBBON THAT WILL TAKE YOUR PLACE NEXT YEAR.

ADIOS-HELLO KITTY TAGS. YOU ARE NOT MINE. I DO NOT FEEL COMPELLED TO HOLD ON TO YOU. I'M SURE YOU WILL GO ON TO BRIGHTEN SOME LITTLE GIRL'S DAY.

ADIOS-YUCKY CHRISTMAS CANDLES. WHY DO I HOLD ON TO YOU YEAR AFTER YEAR WHEN I THINK YOU ARE TOO YUCKY TO PUT OUT? THERE IS NO MORE ROOM IN THE TUB FOR Y'ALL.

ADIOS-CLAY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS. WHEN I GOT YOU AS A GIFT YOU WERE JUST A BIT TOO CREEPY FOR ME....SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR HAIR...GO CREEP OUT SOMEONE ELSE'S TREE!

ADIOS-PINK-LIDDED BOX OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES. I HAVE TONS OF LIDDED BOXES. TONS OF OFFICE SUPPLIES. YOU WERE LEFT BEHIND AND I THINK SOME KID WILL USE YOU. I DO NOT NEED TO ADD A LAYER OF DUST TO YOU BEFORE I GET WISE TO THAT IDEA!

I must tell y'all once again, that I am committed to this mission to rid my household of unused, unnecessary, broken and expired junk. Coming face to face with a hoarding situation has just brought home the fact that I cannot let a moment pass to toss out or donate anything in my house that will cause clutter and chaos. Keeping so much stuff that it causes another family member to live uncomfortably or for people to pity you for the state your house is in, for me, is unimaginable. I promised myself that I would never, ever let that happen to my house. I have been guilty of being lazy, depressed, disorganized and very close to embracing a hoarding mentality so I know what a slippery slope it can be. I grant anyone reading this that may see my house one day getting out of hand, permission to take me to task. I realize that alone I might not be able to do it, but with "a village" behind me, I can! Thanks for being part of my "Toss Ten Village"!

Much love!!

Hey all!

Sorry for the no-posting thing. I've been at The Doodle for a week now and they have been working the dickens out of me! (I'm enjoying every minute of it!) When I am not working, the girls are taking me out for drinks...dinner...gelato...all SO much fun! When I get back home, unpack and sleep off some of this blasted cold I will update y'all with all the news!