tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62891568507154003712024-03-13T03:41:54.384-07:00Whine Is Cheaper.....A look at life through whine colored glasses....Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-74115115221479965092016-08-29T16:00:00.000-07:002016-08-29T16:00:41.309-07:00Happy New Year!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A former co-worker recently contacted me with a request. He was pretty far into the interview process at my current place of employment and wanted my take on the current culture.....</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Hmmm.....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yeah....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>In good conscience, I suggested that, unless he was desperate for employment, he run - run fast, run far, keep running...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And lest he think I just do not want to work with him again (because why am I still there if things are so bad?), I explained that those of us not actively looking to get out are on the older side - hoping to hang on and ride out the storm. Maybe after the storm there will be a package that includes some monetary compensation along with a placement service option.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>How sad is that?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The ride has been very rough lately. I am not sure how much longer I can hang on.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I wish I could be more like some of my coworkers who just let things roll off. They do whatever they are asked whenever they are asked - not caring that the priorities changed 3 times today or that they will probably have to redo what they are doing 5x before it is accepted, or that they have so many priority 0 tasks in their inbox that they will probably not reach a single priority 1 task before the New Year - 2018....</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Sigh....</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I wish I would not think about all the things I should be doing on the weekend to make the coming week's workload more manageable. I wish last weekend I would have remembered that the last 4 times I caved to my guilty conscience and worked lots and lots of hours over 40, priorities changed immediately the next work week and all that extra work was put on hold - indefinitely...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Deep Sigh...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I wish I could get used to power tripping #@@3$ rejecting change requests and submissions for the lamest reasons. I live for the day that someone (anyone) in management has the cajones to question the #@@3$ actions to their face. I wish I would learn to just keep my mouth shut instead of telling said power tripping #@@3$ what I think of their f-ing non-value added way of working.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Deep, Deep Sigh...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I wish that this had not happened this morning...</b></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I took my time getting into the office - took the scenic route around all of the construction rather than sitting in it. Because sitting in traffic on the way to a job that is stressful adds to the stress. </b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>When I walked into the office, a half hour + later than my usual start time, the first person I encountered was a co-worker who I help quite a bit because most of his team has been pulled onto a special project and he is left with a lot to handle that he does not always understand. In fact, one of his team members on this special project gave me a directive late last week to put aside my current workload to gather information that the business needed immediately. No problem. I am now 2 days behind with the work I was working on before being pulled away, but whatever...</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yeah, whatever...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But, I digress. </b></span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Back to the encounter...</b><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Him: Good morning. Thank you for your help last week. I need a bit more of your time when you get settled.<br />Me: Ok. You seem happy this morning. Good weekend?<br />Him: Oh, just happy to hear that they are giving us Friday and Tuesday off to extend the holiday weekend to thank us for all the extra effort we have put in this summer!<br />Me: Seriously? That is awesome. Did an email come through this morning?<br />Him: Ummm. Oh, not everyone gets off. Just our team and the people on that special project.<br />Me: ....<br />Him: Oh yeah, we are suppose to keep it on the down-low.<br />Me: ....<br />Him: ...<br />Me: Yeah, so all of us who are doing our work and some of yours and supporting the "special" project whenever summoned.....<br />Him: Well, I will stop by later to see if you can help me....<br />Me: Yeah. I'll be here....</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I left the office early today - I am not feeling so well.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I have decided I need to consider taking my own advice...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Run!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Run Fast!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Run Far!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I am also considering taking a friend's advice. She sets her New Year's Resolutions on her birthday rather than the first of the calendar year. </b></span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My birthday will be here in less than 3 weeks. I intend to be on a beach in Belize on the day. I also intend to have set some goals for the next year by then. </b><br />
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<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Career goals...</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Life goals...</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy New Year!</b><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-9441670678995071012016-07-27T19:27:00.000-07:002016-07-27T19:27:05.180-07:00Time to End the Slugfest<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>It has been a lazy summer for me.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Actually, the laziness set in before summer even began.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>It was about mid-May when I realized that I was so far behind on my 12750 per day average step goal for the year that there was no way I was going to catch up. Ok, maybe I could catch up, but I decided it was not worth killing myself trying.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>So I quit counting. Just like that. I gave up.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>And I have been feeling guilty ever since. Damn that Catholic upbringing.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I have a lot of excuses to ease my guilty conscience. Work is stressful. Life is not all roses. The summer heat/humidity plays havoc with my sinuses and gives me migraines.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>This morning I was getting ready for work, feeling guilty about not getting up with the first alarm to ride my bike, when something dawned on me. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>On mother's day, at the end of the 5k, my son and I agreed to participate in the Natatorium 5 K this September. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Damn, September is not that far off.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I could opt out. He may not be available anyway, with his busy schedule and all- or so I tried to tell myself.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>And then I made a decision. Just like that. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I decided that I would participate in the NAT 5k - whether his schedule allowed or not. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>And to be able to finish the 5k without embarrassing myself, I know I need to start walking again, right away.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Maybe not 12750 steps every day - since that proved to be a bit too much - but with some consistency.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>So, I have decided to try for 10000 steps a day, but not getting upset if I do not make it every day.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>And not worrying about doing more the next day to make up for the day before.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I have decided to try to walk for 30-45 minutes at a time 3x per week.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>And I have decided to try to do 15 minutes of HIIT training on my bike 3x per week.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>But most importantly, I have decided to end this summer slugfest that I have wallowed in for the last two months.</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://fontmeme.com/graffiti-fonts/" target="_blank">Font Meme</a> </div>
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-76382771760761125502016-06-12T17:26:00.001-07:002016-06-12T17:26:10.667-07:00In my (not so humble) opinion....<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I am saddened by the tragic killings that took place in a nightclub in Orlando this weekend.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I am also saddened by the postings on social media pointing the finger of blame... </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>...at all Muslims (the killer had ties to ISIL)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>...at Obama (he is too easy on ISIL) </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>...at Democrats (the killer was a registered Democrat) </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>etc., etc.,....</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Now for my two cents (you asked, right?)...</b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The killer is dead. I am not sorry or saddened by that. I am thankful that he can no longer inflict pain because of his beliefs.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I believe that there is good and not so good in every philosophy one chooses to call their "religion". </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I believe that individuals or groups of individuals, brainwashed as they may be, choose to act (or not) on their chosen interpretation of their "religion's" teachings. </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>In my small mind, a radical Christian* is no better than a radical Muslim/Atheist/Democrat/Republican or radical any one/thing. </b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just saying...</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> *I used Christian as the premise because that is closest to what I have been most of my life:(</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-66085155176491615412016-04-04T12:25:00.001-07:002016-04-04T12:25:34.141-07:00The word of the day: DelayI am on a much needed vacation.<div><br></div><div>In Belize...</div><div><br></div><div>with palm trees and pool bars...<br><div><br></div><div>It <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">was a bit rough getting here.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div>My flight out of Akron was delayed 6 hours which would get me to Atlanta too late to catch a same day flight to Belize.</div><div><br></div><div>Do I rebook for Monday or make an attempt to get out of snowy Ohio?</div><div><br></div><div>Larry to the rescue- he booked me on a flight out if Cleveland and got me a ride to the airport. I was on my way....or so I thought.</div><div>First there was a short mechanical delay ( I think the pilot needed breakfast) followed by an indicator malfunction that required a plane restart . </div><div>And the plane needed de-iced.</div><div><br></div><div>But even with all those delays I would still get to Charlotte in time to catch my flight to Belize.</div><div><br></div><div>But it was not meant to be.</div><div><br></div><div>Enter a family with three small children.</div><div><br></div><div>Three small unruly children who refused to sit in their seat so the plane could take off.</div><div><br></div><div>The crew finally asked the family to deplane so the rest of us could be on our way.</div><div><br></div><div>But they refused. Dad physically throws one of the children into the seat but is not able to get said child buckled in.</div><div><br></div><div>Enter security. Family deplaned.</div><div><br></div><div>Luggage crew called in to find and extract their luggage from the cargo area. </div><div><br></div><div>There is still a slight chance I can get a connecting flight to Belize.</div><div><br></div><div>Enter couple who decides they want to take catch another flight because they are not going to make their connection with this one. WTF? Flight crew tries to no avail to change their mind.</div><div>Couple deplanes. Luggage crew called back as I lose all hope if getting to a beach this day.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>There are no beaches near the Charlotte airport.</div><div><br></div><div> <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Airline books me on an early next morning flight to Miami and sets me up in a comfort Inn. The comfort inn should have to change their name due to false advertising. Not going to say any more about that.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I did get a nice long walk In and I and enjoyed dinner and cocktails at a local Chili's.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And This morning I made it to Miami in time to run to my connecting flight to Belize.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I am writing this in the air as we are making the descent to Belize City.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Almost there.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Update....</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">There:)</font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">With a drink by the pool:)</font></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-88063327093711455872016-03-31T06:12:00.002-07:002016-03-31T06:12:40.089-07:00Putting it in perspective...<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: navy; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A reminder from a co-worker today:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-size: 10pt;">This place is not normal. </span><span style="color: navy; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: navy; font-size: 10pt;">Once we are out we will need to purge ourselves of this toxic mind boggling environment...</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span dir="ltr" style="color: navy; direction: ltr; font-size: 10pt; word-wrap: break-word;">...and start anew....</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>Here's to finding a place to start anew!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>But first things first.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: navy;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Two more days of the madness before I head to B</span></span><span style="color: navy; font-size: 13.3333px;">elize for 10 days.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>I can make it.</b></span></span></div>
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-41464749432615312322016-03-25T07:55:00.000-07:002016-03-25T07:55:07.723-07:00Change is good, right?<div>
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I got a new boss this week. </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>This is my 6th new direct supervisor since March of 2015.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>6 different bosses in 12 months. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But it may be ok. This could be a good change; "c</b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ould" being the key word.</b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Apparently, the organization is not willing to let me give up the work I have been doing that is not part of the new role so that I can take on the challenges of the new role.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Damn.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I even proposed a transition plan that I felt was reasonable.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But my workplace is not always reasonable.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I tend to forget about their unreasonableness at times. Here are a couple of reminders.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>This is the same workplace that gave a lot of us a decent sized surprise bonus in early February and then said oooopps mid March. And proceeded to take it back over the next two pays so it would not be a hardship. Not a hardship? For who??? WTF????? Way to raise workplace morale. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And this is the same place that fired several long term employees sans package a few week ago for behaviors that suddenly were no longer acceptable to upper management anymore. Seriously??? I was not sad to see some of them go, but honestly, their behavior was accepted and fostered by the organization for the past few years. And no package. Way to mess with people's livelihoods. WTF??? Way to raise workplace morale, again. </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yeah, WTF???? That was my question to HR about both incidents. Sometimes I am surprised I am still employed. I do tend to say what is on my mind before I consider the possible repercussions.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But maybe more employees actually expressed WTF sentiments.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And maybe management listened....</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Maybe...</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Last week at a town hall, management actually did an about face on their "we have more to do" attitude and suddenly, supposedly, got serious about employees maintaining a healthy work-life balance. To prove their good intentions, we were told to "just take next Friday off - we do not want to see any of you here or online working." <Insert controlled, skeptical applause></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Next Friday is today. I am taking the day off, hoping there is no hidden agenda - r</b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">eminding myself that change is good.</b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Right?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> Happy Good Friday - however and for whatever reason you are celebrating!</b></span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-82531261506115913252016-01-06T00:00:00.000-08:002016-01-06T06:53:57.150-08:00Lessons learned - or not...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>2016 is off to a whopper of a start.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Here is a list of some things I now realize I should have learned earlier in my life that may (or may not) have helped this year get off to a better start...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>When two family members (parents, adult children, adult siblings) are not getting along, DO NOT:</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Listen to anything either of them has to say about the other one as this will be construed as taking sides with the other one by each of them - no matter which one you are listening to at the time.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Try to get each of them to see the other one's side as this will be construed as taking sides with the other one by each of them - no matter which one you are talking to at the time.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Try to figure out for yourself WTF is going on (because, are they listening to themselves when they talk???)</b></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>When two family members are not getting along, DO:</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Stay far far away. </b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Understand that no matter what you do (including talking, thinking, making faces, coughing, sneezing, smiling, laughing, or nothing at all) will be construed as taking sides with the other one by each of them - no matter which one you are doing this around at the time.</b></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In preparation for the point in time (because it will come) when two people you love with all your heart decide to not like each other and you end up the middle...</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Maintain a spreadsheet that you created at the point when the first contender came into your life (at your birth when the contenders are your parents or your parents vs your siblings; their birth when the contenders are your kids). Each contender needs a tab on this spreadsheet on which you track everything you ever did for said contender including date, monetary value, level of emotional support. Because, when anyone of the contenders decide to accuse you of having done so much more for the other contender than you have for them, the line "I do not keep tabs, I do for each of you what I believe you need at the time" does not fly. Tabs are required.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Realize early on that there is an epic fail in the works. There will be no winners and you will be the biggest loser.</b></span></li>
</ul>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-41692829178471675052016-01-01T08:36:00.000-08:002016-01-01T08:36:03.012-08:00Happy 2016!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It is that time of year again....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I am going to make this easy. My 2015 resolutions have been re-packaged for 2016. Look closely and you will see the subtle differences.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My 2016 resolutions:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do not make as many resolutions that I have no chance of keeping.</b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Participate in at least three organized 5k events this year.</b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stay active. Average 12750 steps of activity per day throughout the year and 10 minutes of HIIT workout 3x per week.</b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do not worry about getting 25 NAT lap time down to 45 minutes. </b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Continue to work on socializing more; do not give in to that tendency to sit on the couch with a book rather than accept invites to outings that I would feel better about if I had someone to go with. </b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Organize my spare room, including scanning and archiving bins of photos. Hang the art/pictures/items that are waiting to be hung in my apartment. ALERT: Total repeat...maybe there is a chance this year.</b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Continue to foster healthy friendships while letting go of unhealthy relationships. </b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stay the course on my get-out-of-debt plan: debt free by my 59th birthday! Celebrate with a me-time vacation in 2017.</b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Don't worry...be happy. I still tend to worry too much over things I have no control over. </b></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yes, most of these are reworked 2015 resolutions.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But it is ok. These are good resolutions for this time in my life.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>2016 is going to be a good year. There are moves and weddings and vacations happening in our family. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Make the best of your 2016!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-36458075990855800752015-12-31T08:11:00.001-08:002015-12-31T08:11:55.895-08:00Back to reality...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I have been home from my Belizean vacation for almost three weeks now.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It seems like an eternity.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Life is so relaxing on a tropical island.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I came back to:</b></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YHbX4chY1X8/VoVJa7m_uCI/AAAAAAAABbQ/v7hIbyd9iqo/s1600/Arlo_dec2105.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YHbX4chY1X8/VoVJa7m_uCI/AAAAAAAABbQ/v7hIbyd9iqo/s200/Arlo_dec2105.jpeg" width="150" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Look at me Grandma Mary</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My Beautiful Grandbaby - Yes, he was the deciding factor for my return. (Ok, and I have a job I kind of need.) If I stayed on the island I know my kids would visit often, but I am not sure I could handle not seeing that grandbaby in person at least once or twice a week. He is so cute. And he loves his grandma.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Training Grounds</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Jingle Bell Run- I registered to walk this run in November; I trained for it in Belize by walking to town and around the island and doing laps in the resort pool. It was tough, I tell you. But it was worth it. I walked the 5k in 48:51. A record for me (if I forget about the flat course I did last May in 47:13). This course had the most inclines of any I have walked so far - or at least it seemed that way. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A Wonderful Christmas with Family - I did not start holiday shopping until I returned to the states; so I power shopped, mostly online, for a few things. I held myself back this year, because I am on a good plan to be debt free in 2016 and did not want to undo that. Besides, my kids do not need presents from me to know I love them. I came back from that tropical island to be with them - that should be present enough, right? I do love Christmas time - not for religious reasons. I love family gatherings and giving and sharing the family love. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Good Friends - I have a few good friends that I cherish so much and would miss terribly if I decided to stay on that tropical island. Friends I walk with, play with, dine with, share good times with...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A Madhouse at the Office - Of course there are some reasons I wish I could stay forever on a tropical island. Corporate America is one of them. Ugh. I love what I do for a living and the people I do it for. The authors and teammates that I release documents for are pretty awesome for the most part. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But the bullshit that falls from above is not pretty. Enough said.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Cranky Parents - Apparently I have done something to piss my parents off to the point of them not wanting to see me for awhile - even through the holidays. Hopefully they will get over whatever it is soon. I apologized for what I thought I did. I know they are older and forgetful, so maybe they forgot that I apologized. Or, maybe they really do not like who I am. I am who I am. Enough said about that, too!</b></span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-28160036368253408872015-12-10T04:38:00.001-08:002015-12-10T04:38:09.496-08:00Lessons Learned...in Belize...<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I learned a couple of things over the last couple of days....</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Grand Caribe Pool Bar Guys<br />
"Another damn picture for the tourists???"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The Grand Caribe pool bar crew are the best around. They took good care of all my pool bar needs - and were very understanding of my random loss of mathematical skills. Resort bar/restaurant prices are listed in $USD. They accept payment in $USD or $BZ. Change is almost always given in $BZ. Figuring out the $BZ cost, or the $BZ tip - because after a day or two you have lots of $BZ money you got in change that you want to use up - can be fun. Or not. Yesterday morning, right before morning happy hour ended, I ordered a $7USD drink to go , handed the bartender $10 BZ, and walked away thinking I gave an ok tip. Ooops. He did did not bother to correct me until I finished the drink and was returning the pool bar glassware. Which may or may not have been a good plan, because after the drink I lost all currency transfer capabilities.</b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lesson #1: I should figure out the amount of tip I want to leave in both currencies (just in case get surprised in the change department) before I consume the drink(s).</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In case you missed it, there were drinks. I went back to the pool bar for afternoon happy hour - because, why not? I am on vacation on an island and drinks are half price in the hot afternoon sun by the pool. I had intended to have just one LI because I did not want to feel like I had after two earlier in the week. I do want to enjoy my evenings. Well, there were a couple of young girls at the bar waiting for their husband/boyfriend to return from a fishing charter. We started talking and somehow they convinced me that I should try a panty ripper, because, as they explained, we were in swimsuits so there were no panties to rip, so all was safe. I had just about finished my LI and happy hour would be over in 4 minutes, so I had to decide quick. With a little encouragement from the pool bar boys, I added a happy hour panty ripper to my tab. Even tho there were no panties to rip, I felt those two drinks well into the night. </b><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lesson #2: Just because the second drink is not a LI....you know the rest.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the drink that started it...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDGtYnnQONM/Vmlg4WBRPyI/AAAAAAAABWU/dYqVvXQMX1Y/s1600/File_001%2B%25285%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDGtYnnQONM/Vmlg4WBRPyI/AAAAAAAABWU/dYqVvXQMX1Y/s320/File_001%2B%25285%2529.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pretty lil thing can be quite dangerous.</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By the way, I had a (one) Belikin with my pool bar lunch today. It is almost 9:00 PM and I am still awake and feeling good enough to walk out to the dock to look for sting rays and barracudas. Which brings me to...</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Lesson #3: It may be terribly buggy out at night, but nighttime is fun time and I should have been covering myself in bug spray, taking a couple of preventative benadryl, and walking out toward the dock in the late evenings to see what is happening out there. (Update: Not a lot going on. I was the only human out there. I did see a few stingrays jumping around and a barracuda that I hope was sleeping, because, otherwise......)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>But let's back up a few hours. I was determined to visit Caye Caulker this trip. Since today was my last full day here, it was now or not till next year. So, I took the early morning Coastal Express to town and the Belize Water Taxi to Caye Caulker.The taxi goes to Caye Caulker and then on to Belize City. At the Caye Caulker dock, no one was getting up to get off; so I assumed everyone was waiting for the crew to tell us when to disembark. And then the taxi started pulling away from the dock. Ooops, I assumed wrong. I jumped up and made it known that I had missed my stop. How embarrassing. They crew mates were kind, redocked, and helped me ashore. </b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Caye Caulker from the <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And from the other side of the dock...</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And then I walked onto Caye Caulker and realized why no one else got off. It was too damn early in the morning for anything to be happening on that island. I had hoped to have an early lunch at Lazy Lizards, but there was just not enough happening in the town to keep me there for two hours. So I did some quick math and figured that the next scheduled ferry back to San Pedro could not possibly be the same ferry (crew) that got me here. I could cut this trip short and save myself having to face that same crew again today. And so I did. The ferry from Caye Caulker to San Pedro was packed - and everyone disembarked at San Pedro - including yours truly.</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lesson #4: I should attempt to understand water taxi protocol and island time before I make plans that include each.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning at the Lazy Lizard</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>And finally, I have tried all week to take a beach selfie - just in case someone back in Ohio wants proof that I really was in Belize the last 10 days. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I am not photogenic. </b><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am happy to be here, really - despite what my face is saying in these pics. Believe me, these are the best of them..</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to be in Belize!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Lesson #5: I do not need smiling pictures of myself to prove to myself (or anyone else) that I had a great time in Belize.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Focus on the sunrise...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I've learned my lessons.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Disclaimer: I started writing this last night, but am finishing now as I am drinking my coffee on the porch, enjoying the morning sky through a light rain...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Much love, from Belize....</b></span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-56803047380583991752015-12-07T18:20:00.001-08:002015-12-07T18:20:24.313-08:00I'm on Island Time...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5mWCunCdgE/VmY38YpyGZI/AAAAAAAABSQ/uERUEc1YPiY/s1600/File_000%2B%25286%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5mWCunCdgE/VmY38YpyGZI/AAAAAAAABSQ/uERUEc1YPiY/s320/File_000%2B%25286%2529.jpeg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yesterday morning I woke up bright and early intending to walk to town for breakfast at Estel's. A quick look at the weather forecast made me rethink that adventure. I opted for a quick walk along the beach instead.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Breakfast was self-made - eggs and a bagel with coffee - and enjoyed on my patio.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Once the rains cleared a bit, I made my way to the pool bar for my morning dose of Mimosa.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I headed inside when the rains returned, and actually did a little bit of studying for a Project Management Certification I am hoping to test for in a few months. Studying seemed a better option than watching the Browns lose. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The skies cleared a bit again again just in time for lunch at the pool bar at the tail end of happy hour. I held myself to one Long Island Iced Tea with a Mozzarella Shrimp Sandwich. Even one LI kept me feeling good for a couple hours.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfDjEsVqwjg/VmY4kflfdDI/AAAAAAAABSs/FBm_iA2Weo8/s1600/File_000%2B%25288%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfDjEsVqwjg/VmY4kflfdDI/AAAAAAAABSs/FBm_iA2Weo8/s320/File_000%2B%25288%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a bird in this photo - doing a happy dance.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Not so good that I did not feel the bugs biting on an attempted beach walk. I actually had to leave the beach path and walk along the road because my dance skills are not enough to make constant smacking at mosquitoes and flies appear graceful.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>All in all it was a lazy Sunday.</b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This morning, I did get up early and walk to town. I had a shrimp omelet with fruit and fryjacks and, of course, a tall Mimosa, at <a href="http://ambergriscaye.com/estels/" target="_blank">Estel's Dine By The Sea</a>! It was as awesome as I remembered from my last visit. I sat at a table on the beach and enjoyed looking out over the Sea.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach at the North end of town</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my table at Estel's</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I shopped for an hour in town but still had an hour before the 10:30 water taxi back to Grand Caribe. So I stopped in and visited with Eduardo at the famous<a href="http://fidosbelize.com/" target="_blank"> Fido's</a>. Eduardo made me a Bloody Mary just the way I like it - vodka and V-8 and olives - that's it. No spice...at all. I am a wimp, but I know what I like. I took a picture at Fido's, or so I thought. Apparently the Bloody Mary kicked in and the photo I thought I took was a short video of the steps leading from Fido's to the beach. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Back at Grand Caribe, I spent sometime in the lap pool before the rains returned. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And then I napped, because that walk to town wore me out today.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I intended to revisit the Truck Stop for dinner, but apparently they take Mondays off. So dinner was a lobster quesadilla and a couple of Belikins from the pool bar.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And that's my story - from my dining room table in Grand Caribe, Ambergris Caye, Belize, CA.</b></span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-19437284897430938912015-12-05T18:10:00.001-08:002015-12-05T18:10:07.733-08:00Happy Hour has that affect on me..in Belize...<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Yesterday morning started out with a goal of finding <a href="http://www.marbuckscoffeehouse.com/" target="_blank">Marbucks Coffee House</a>, I had seen signs pointing from the beach and from the road but was not quite sure where (in between the road and the beach) it could be. Yesterday, I decided to quit being wimpy and follow the signs. Apparently, there is a road in between the main road and the beach, which I should have remembered from my last visit. It was the less bumpy road Larry took because the unpaved main road was full of ruts.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast at Marbucks Coffee House</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The adventure was worth it. I enjoyed a delicious breakfast bagel sandwich with coffee and decided that I now have another beach breakfast option.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Boca Del Rio Bridge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I then took a walk (all the way) into town. I followed the main road to the Boca Del Rio Bridge. After the bridge, I took a left to the beach and followed the beach to the town square. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>From Grand Caribe to the town square it is about 2 miles - two hot, sweaty miles. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">I walked around the square a bit and then hopped the water taxi back to Grand Caribe's dock.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I might should have stopped at 1 LI...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I did a few laps in the pool and then heard happy hour calling from the pool bar. And what a happy hour it was. A lobster quesadilla and two long island ice teas later and I was feeling no pain the rest of the day and into the night. Who knew happy hour Long Islands could be so strong? </b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stella's in the morning</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">First thing this morning I headed to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Stellas-Smile-534148959961706/" target="_blank">Stella's Smile</a> Wine bar. Margo told me about Stella's and their bottomless Sangrias. It is a fairly new place about a quarter of a mile south of Grand Caribe. In addition to the bottomless Sangria in the evenings, they offer a bottomless Mimosa on weekend mornings. What better way to get over a Long Island hangover than imbibing in a few mimosas? Oh, and their crepes are pretty awesome, too. I enjoyed a lobster crepe because, when in Belizin in lobster season, I try to take advantage.</span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>After breakfast, I took another walk into town. I did a little shopping before returning via water taxi. </b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stella's in the evening...</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><b>A few laps in t<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-18BTQcwcniU/VmOVG9jjQzI/AAAAAAAABQY/YAXt7NxM-ZI/s1600/File_003%2B%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1"></a>he pool and back to Stella's to try the famous pizza night with bottomless Sangria. I opted for the white pizza with shrimp topping. It was sooooo good. I have enough for lunch tomorrow - or maybe a late night snack tonight because I am getting hungry thinking about it sitting in the fridge. </b></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><b><b>After I asked for a box for my leftovers, the staff moved a chair to their dock so I could continue to enjoy my bottomless Sangrias and a good view of the lagoon. And, a few Sangrias later, when I was ready to leave, they poured one for the road. Bottomless really is bottomless at Stella's</b></b></b></div>
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<b>On a sad note, I am missing the tree trimming party happening tonight at my son's place back in Ohio; I do love a tree trimming party when it is not my tree to trim. But on the flip side, I am in Belize. </b><br />
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<b>Disclaimer: There may be typos, misspellings, bad grammar in this post- it's the Sangria doing the writing.</b><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-66421270885843222732015-12-03T17:05:00.002-08:002015-12-03T17:05:28.143-08:00Belize me....I started writing this while sipping on a Mimosa at the pool bar this morning. But then breakfast came and got in the way. I could get use to this life.<br />
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Yesterday, I started the day with a walk North along the beach. <br />
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I thought I might make all the way to the bridge leading to town,but about 3/4th of the way, I realized I should have eaten something before I started out. So, back to the pool bar for breakfast and a not-spicy Bloody Mary that ended up being hot n spicy. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Favorite Lap Pool</td></tr>
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After breakfast and a few laps in my favorite lap pool, I hitched a ride to town with David, during his lunch break.<br />
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I walked around town a bit, visited a couple of gift shops and a few landmarks I remembered from my last visit, and then took the water taxi back to Grand Caribe. I hope to get back into town at least once this visit to dine at Estel's Dine by the Sea and take the ferry to Caye Caulker.<br />
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This morning, I woke up feeling under the weather. My head does not like the Belizean humidity any more than it likes the Ohio humidity. So after my morning walk, poolside breakfast, and a few water-walking laps, I gave in and took a couple hour nap. I hate wasting daylight napping, but the clouds and rain made the guilt a little easier to handle.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I opted for the naturally mild Mimosa this morning!</td></tr>
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When I woke up, the clouds were still lingering, outside and in my head. It was not raining so I took a walk to the truck stop for dinner. I enjoyed Shrimp Diablo and a Beliken on their deck overlooking the lagoon.<br />
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It started to rain a bit on my walk back - just enough to create a beautiful rainbow.<br />
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And now my head is hurting again, so I am going to see what I can do to make it stop. I want to feel like walking to Marbucks coffee house in the morning.<br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-42368110007319532112015-12-01T16:25:00.002-08:002015-12-01T16:25:49.681-08:00A perfect vacation day...I did not get up early this morning.<br />
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I did not go for a morning walk, but instead enjoyed coffee and a toasted bagel on my porch.<br />
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I did spend a lot of time lounging by the pool - until the dark clouds brought showers early this afternoon. I took the showers as a sign that I should take a nap - and so I did.<br />
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I did manage to get in an afternoon walk along the beach.<br />
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I returned to find this guy welcoming me back to Grand Caribe...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rx7lFjuJNA/Vl44PAw9K6I/AAAAAAAABLY/QjXPLInzsjs/s1600/File_002%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rx7lFjuJNA/Vl44PAw9K6I/AAAAAAAABLY/QjXPLInzsjs/s320/File_002%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
...pointing me to the pool bar where they serve those awesome shrimp and mozzarella sandwiches and funky monkey umbrella drinks:)<br />
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Ah yes, a perfect vacation day!<br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-85904303756649126242015-11-30T17:38:00.004-08:002015-11-30T17:38:59.377-08:00Outtakes from Belize - Part OneI<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>n case you have missed my blog...it's back...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What brings it back?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Well, I am on a much needed vacation in Belize and having a totally relaxing and awesome time.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But.....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I am too cheap to pay for International Cellular service so I cannot post to FB like I usually do when I am out and about doing something fun or wanting to share an opinion or two or three. (Which is all good, because, honestly, I do stop whatever I am doing to share to FB a lil too much when it is readily available.)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And another but....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I expect the sun to shine longer in warmer weather. The Belizean sun does not live up to my expectations - it gets dark here just as early as it does back home:( </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And then there's the mosquitoes - lots and lots of mosquitoes - OMG!!! American mosquitoes do not bother me so much, but these Belizean mosquitoes - they love me tooo much. Tho after retreating indoors and downing a couple of benadryl tabs - all is well.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Rest assured, I am not complaining - just explaining why my blog is back. Rather than waste parts of my days FBing, I have decided to try to just post my adventures once each evening after the sun stops shining and the mosquitoes start biting. (Maybe I can carry this practice back to the States with me. Ok, probably not - who am I kidding?)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>This morning, I walked along the beach to <a href="http://akbol.com/" target="_blank">AKBOL </a>for a delicious beachside breakfast of coffee with a ham and cheese fryjack. I was tempted to sign up for the free morning yoga class, but then I remembered how much I do not like to sweat, so I opted for water walking back at the <a href="http://www.grandcaribebelize.com/" target="_blank">Grand Caribe</a> lap pool - no class needed:)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Then I sat by the beach for a bit before water-walking a </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>few more laps.</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-153LvzPKHrk/Vlz3vfZXpFI/AAAAAAAABKU/gA7GYYBmaU8/s1600/File_000%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-153LvzPKHrk/Vlz3vfZXpFI/AAAAAAAABKU/gA7GYYBmaU8/s200/File_000%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" width="200" /></b></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The best part of the day so far was the long walk north along the beach </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>past Captain Morgan's. I definitely reached my step goal today.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Along the way, I met this guy...</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--eWhlej4ZKQ/Vlz2OKrxzPI/AAAAAAAABJ0/IHE7K98VGic/s1600/File_006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--eWhlej4ZKQ/Vlz2OKrxzPI/AAAAAAAABJ0/IHE7K98VGic/s320/File_006.jpeg" width="320" /></b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>and revisited this tree...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-skpoLUrCblo/Vlz1_WummXI/AAAAAAAABJQ/cjayBvn31_A/s1600/File_000.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-skpoLUrCblo/Vlz1_WummXI/AAAAAAAABJQ/cjayBvn31_A/s320/File_000.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And then, back at Grand Caribe, I made myself a tuna steak and enjoyed a beer on the porch.</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSdGfjU_tls/Vlz2N0cHRuI/AAAAAAAABJw/Fe0t9UkVJSY/s1600/File_004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSdGfjU_tls/Vlz2N0cHRuI/AAAAAAAABJw/Fe0t9UkVJSY/s320/File_004.jpeg" width="240" /></b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Now I am thinking of heading over to Rain and having another beer or two...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Cheers!</b></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-64213435201952388802015-08-24T00:01:00.000-07:002015-08-24T00:01:00.119-07:00Romantic as Hell, Funny as Hell...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Romantic as what????</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Oh hell, yes.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>When I first started blogging a few years ago, I somehow happened upon this...at <a href="http://www.midgetmanofsteel.com/">http://www.midgetmanofsteel.com/</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AOKOD0JZ1bg/VdqJE8e2ddI/AAAAAAAABEo/NAOSfKhk9LA/s1600/poobanner2%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.midgetmanofsteel.com/" border="0" height="67" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AOKOD0JZ1bg/VdqJE8e2ddI/AAAAAAAABEo/NAOSfKhk9LA/s400/poobanner2%255B1%255D.JPG" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_575967994"></span><span id="goog_575967995"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yeah, that.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Moooooog35 is irreverent, to say the least. And s</b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>omething in the reformed Catholic girl that I am loved it and could not get enough of it. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I caught up on previous posts and continued to look forward to his daily bits of mental poo.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Back to the present, my life has been a little hectic lately - filled with work and grand puppies and a new grandbaby and kids planning weddings and relocations and on and on - everything except romance.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But that is about to change, because of this:</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8SIFMH0xJ8Q/VdqKnLMJroI/AAAAAAAABE4/xNOx7uDUR3c/s1600/Romantic-As-Hell-front.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8SIFMH0xJ8Q/VdqKnLMJroI/AAAAAAAABE4/xNOx7uDUR3c/s320/Romantic-As-Hell-front.gif" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Moooooog35 (aka Rodney Lacroix) writes books, too. For months Rodney has claimed that his latest masterpiece contains some of the best romance advice of all time ...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Which may or may not be true...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It seems that snorting, lauging out loud, choking from laughing out loud, farting and/or peeing your pants in public (even if from laughing out loud) tends to counteract any chance of a romantic encounter.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Who knew????</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I do know that this book is full of tried and tested (you really did that???) hilarious do's and don'ts for initiating, holding together, and maintaining a relationship.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The how - to lessons begin with a a couple of teenage horror stories (the don'ts), and continue through a few steady relationships, a few proposals, a marriage, a divorce, post divorce on-line dating, and a second marriage (with kids and step-kids). </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Seriously, no matter where you are in life, there is something in this book for you - something to laugh at, or cry about, or to be embarrassed for Rodney about. You may even learn a thing or two. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I found a few ideas to try on my next husband, assuming the relationship initiation ideas actually work well enough to get me a date that turns into a few dates that lead to a steady relationship that ends in a proposal in the not-to-distant future. That is a lot of assumption, I know. But I have faith in Rodney.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>If you prefer a little theatre with your humor, Rodney provides that as well. I am not sure why, but he felt the need to treat each chapter as an Act - complete with an an opening scene. Whatever, Rodney. I could have done without that, but I am an just one reader among thousands. I am sure a few hundred others are loving it...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And just to make sure you are grasping the main ideas, Rodney provides a Progress Checklist at the end of each act.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I have now completed all eight checklists and am ready to embark on a romantic adventure of my own - to test my real-life understanding of Rodney's lessons. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Wish me luck.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>While I am doing that, I challenge you to pick Rodney's brain (or better yet read his book) and learn to " make your relationship a little more squishy in the heart parts" because " squishy hearts lead to harder <i>other things </i>on the regular." Yeah, those are Rodney's words, not mine. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Let me get you started. Follow the links below to Amazon or Barnes and Noble.</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://mybook.to/GetRomantic" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank"><i>Romantic as Hell</i> Paperback: Amazon</a></div>
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<a href="http://getbook.at/RomanticAsHell" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #338fe9;" target="_blank"><i>Romantic as Hell</i> Kindle: Amazon</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/romantic-as-hell-rodney-lacroix/1122505428" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank"><i>Romantic as Hell</i> Paperback B&N</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>After reading Romantic as Hell, I am pretty sure you will want more Rodney. Lucky for you, there is more. He has two previous books: </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> "Things Go Wrong for Me" and "Perhaps I've Said Too Much." Take my word for it, if you like funny, they are both worth the read.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can purchase all three of Rodney's books in all formats, including autographed copies, at <a href="http://www.rodneylacroix.com/" target="_blank">Rodney Lacroix</a> or at <a href="http://www.rcgpublishing.com/" target="_blank">R C G Publishing</a>.</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Enjoy!</b><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com1Stow, OH 44224, USA41.1729114 -81.4388857999999841.0767804 -81.600934299999977 41.2690424 -81.276837299999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-21313330078003757482015-07-19T06:23:00.001-07:002015-07-19T06:33:24.285-07:00Words of encouragement...<p dir="ltr">I am making myself walk this morning around the neighborhood. ..</p>
<p dir="ltr">...despite the heat.</p>
<p dir="ltr">...despite not feeling so great.</p>
<p dir="ltr">....despite feeling grubby - why shower before I sweat?</p>
<p dir="ltr">...while listening to Meatloaf:)</p>
<p dir="ltr">A neighbor who I had not met before stopped me to offer words of encouragement...</p>
<p dir="ltr">She encouraged me to keep it up. She told me how she dropped from a size 20-22 to 10-12 over the last 5 years just by making healthier choices...not killing herself:)</p>
<p dir="ltr">And she looked close to my age...</p>
<p dir="ltr">So glad I took this morning walk...</p>
<p dir="ltr">Kudos to you, Betsy. Thanks for the kind words.<br></p>
Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-5591594717687043492015-07-18T15:52:00.000-07:002015-07-18T15:52:37.522-07:00Sleep is not always a good thing....<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My head does not seem to get along with the summer heat -at all.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Damn head...what is not to love about summer?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>This morning, unwilling to heed my head's low warning, I ventured into thegreat outdoors to run some errands. I planned to end the errand run with a nice long walk in the park (since there are no beaches close by). </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But my head would have none of it...</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By late afternoon, the low warning was a blasting fog horn.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So I laid down for a bit, thinking that might help.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>NOT...GRRR....</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I fell asleep and woke up two hours</b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> later...</b></div>
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My head hurts worse...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And the dreams I am remembering...ugh! </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am afraid to write about them for fear they will come true.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I am sitting here crying.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Partly because of the dreams but mostly because of the Vick's vapo-rub face mask I have applied.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I think Mrs. Grass may be hiding in my cupboard. I am going to coax her out and team her up with Vick to beat the hurt out of my head.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Results to follow...</b></span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-71722534830221148232015-07-10T06:05:00.001-07:002015-07-10T07:19:48.557-07:00Excitement Overload<p dir="ltr">So much going on in my life this week...</p>
<p dir="ltr">My youngest started a new job Monday doing what he does best - convincing people to do things for themselves.  </p>
<p dir="ltr">My oldest proposed to the love of his life and she said "yes" :)</p>
<p dir="ltr">My daughter and son-in-law are expecting my first grandchild (a boy) any day now:)<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">New jobs, engagements, and babies....oh my:)<br>
</p>
Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-77243169026713032412015-06-27T06:16:00.001-07:002015-06-27T06:29:21.205-07:00#lovewins<p dir="ltr">Yesterday SCOTUS got it right IMHO.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I was saddened to see so many hateful and negative posts on social media.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The self-righteous posts angered me the most - especially those from people citing the word of their god.</p>
<p dir="ltr">These posts strengthened my belief that we need to teach our children and grandchildren to think for themselves.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I could go on and on here, but I won't.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Because this morning I woke to posts of pictures of rainbows all across the country...</p>
<p dir="ltr">And news of friends getting married....</p>
<p dir="ltr">Love wins!</p>
Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-2459349759693213502015-05-21T19:48:00.001-07:002015-05-21T19:48:09.509-07:00Giving Back<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I love when I hear about regular people sharing their talents with their community. I do know a lot of people who do that. I decided I wanted to use this blog to share some of their stories.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Today, I bring you Jim, technical writer by day, movie producer by NightWine.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I have been meaning to share Jim's story for a few weeks now, but I have been too self-absorbed in my own life to actually do so.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Seriously, when I see this guy at work, I think about how I want to write a blog post or at least share some info about his awesome project.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And then I leave work, and I forget about Jim...until I see him the next day. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And then I feel like an idiot because I realize I forgot to write a blog post.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And then I leave work and the cycle repeats.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The cycle is not about Jim, tho. When I leave work, I try to leave everything about work at work. Obviously, I am getting pretty good at it. Too bad for Jim.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But, back to Jim's story. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Jim freelances as owner of <a href="http://www.nwntv.com/Main.html">NightWine</a>, a video production company. Check out the company's services, including the <a href="http://www.nwntv.com/JimboTron.html">JimboTron</a> at <a href="http://www.nwntv.com./">www.nwntv.com.</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The story I really want to share is about Jim giving students at Rootstown High the opportunity to be a part of a movie. Jim learned that the school drama department did not have the resources to put on a play this year, so Jim worked a deal with the school to produce a movie. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>How cool is that?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Jim has put in long hours (after he puts in long hours at his day job) to write, cast, film, edit, re-film, etc., etc.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I love hearing his stories after long nights of filming. You can see some of the behind-the-scenes action on his site.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>He has also worked with a local theatre to have a world premier showing in early June, with red carpet treatment for the cast. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Again, how cool is that?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Jim has worked with community sponsors to make this all happen.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I am proud to know Jim. And I hope this blog post earns me the right to purchase a ticket or two to the world premiere of Zombie High.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Prepare to be eaten!</b></span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-72469443698568467192015-04-23T19:22:00.002-07:002015-04-23T19:22:34.540-07:00Who knew?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I learned a couple of things this week....</b></span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Pre-gaming is the way to go before company sponsored social events.<br /><br /></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>When given two free drink tickets at the door of a company sponsored social event, each of them can be exchanged for one item, including a pitcher of beer...</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Good times...</b></span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-80055381504264083752015-04-19T19:14:00.000-07:002015-04-19T19:15:58.893-07:00Like a kid in a candy store...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My weekend started with an awesome surprise. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Larry and Margo and Guy are visiting from Belize for a month.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And I had no idea they were coming in....they were not supposed to be back til mid-July</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>In hindsight, I should have guessed they were coming in sooner. Gary has been doing a lot of things for Larry to get his place ready for their "July" visit. Yes, I am clueless at times.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Saturday, I joined Larry and Margo for a shopping trip. It was the most fun I have had shopping for awhile. Having lived on a tropical island for the past six months really made them appreciate the one-stop venue that is Target. </b></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Larry: Mom, come quick. Look at this. (He was staring at peanut butter.)</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Me: Yeah....</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Larry: Look at all the choices. In Belize, there are <i>maybe </i>two choices, and one is expired. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And they have Citrus Flavored Red Bull. I love that stuff.</b></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So much has changed in the six months since they left for Belize. Larry's office space was converted to an apartment which he now shares with his brother when he is in own. And, more importantly, there is an App to order Sheetz from his phone. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And some things haven't changed. He can order Papa John's as often as he likes. And the Internet is lightning fast ...or so it seems, after dealing with Belizean speeds.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So for a few weeks, Larry and Margo will rekindle their love of American consumerism and spend some time with family and friends. And we will get to spend some time with them.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>As much as I appreciate that all 3 of my kids have an entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit that sometimes takes them to other cities, states, and countries, I do love when they are all in town.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I will try not to be too much of a pest the next few weeks.</b></span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-86501102688652986902015-04-11T08:42:00.001-07:002015-04-11T08:44:21.615-07:00What doesn't kill you...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The following information has been shared on Facebook more times than I can count in the last week. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://distractify.com/beth-buczynski/i-like-mine-with-a-little-moo/">People Who Eat Steak Well-Done Don't Just Have Bad Taste, They're Also Going To Die</a></b></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>In celebration of this proclamation, I went out to dinner with a friend last night and ordered a steak - medium rare. Talk about heaven...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And today, from another articled shared on Facebook, I learned that eating bacon may prolong my life.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<blockquote 0px="" 1.4em="" 24px="" baseline="" border:="" class="tr_bq" color:="" font-size:="" font-stretch:="" line-height:="" margin:="" normal="" outline:="" padding:="" text-transform:="" uppercase="" vertical-align:="">
<a href="http://coed.com/2015/03/27/bacon-prolong-life-study-new/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>NEW STUDY CLAIMS EATING BACON MAY PROLONG YOUR LIFE</b></span></a></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I think it is time for a bacon wrapped filet. </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Right now...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Before another study is shared claiming how bad bacon and rare steak may be for me.</b></span></div>
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6289156850715400371.post-7346198545691370392015-04-01T01:24:00.000-07:002015-04-01T01:24:00.085-07:00April's Fool<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My gullibility has no bounds...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Seriously. ..</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Once bitten, twice shy? Not this girl.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me? Fool me ten times - who's counting?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tell me you want me - I believe. Ooops, you were just kidding???</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tell the world how well you are doing; tell me it is not at someone else's expense; tell me you have changed your ways - I believe. Ooops, it doesn't count because you think it is owed to you????</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tell me the job was created for me; tell me I am the most qualified - I believe. Ooops, the qualifications have changed???</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tell me there is a place for me in your heart, in your life, in your world - I believe. Ooops, that place was temporary???</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I believed because I wanted to believe.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I am the fool of fools.</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Post pics of great whites in the sea near Belize - I am not sure I believe. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I do not want to believe. I was swimming in those waters not too long ago - I call photo shopped.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yes! Look at me not believing...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am through believing.</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ha! Your love has bounds...</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ha! Your gains are ill-gotten...</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ha! I do not want your job...</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ha! I will not be your fool.</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Starting tomorrow.</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today may prove a little difficult.</b></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04192447572959433580noreply@blogger.com0