Archive for the ‘Places I love’ Category

Simple Moments

September 6th, 2010

The hint of fall is definitely in the air here, and I found myself unable to sit inside yesterday and work, so I took the laptop outside and worked instead. It was wonderful and even though I found myself distracted several times, I did finally get everything finished and got dinner cooked for myself. Marcel was at Sunday dinner at his mom’s (I don’t go any longer because my allergies can’t handle the smoke smell from them smoking) and I had some time to myself.

Last night as the sun was going down, I decided to brew myself a cup of coffee and sit outside and enjoy the sunset. In the western skies the blue was so bright, and I noticed at one point that there were six planes flying through the sky. The ones flying in the western part of the sky were the ones I noticed most. The sun reflected on their vapor trail and it literally glowed a beautiful, bright white color. As the plane would move across the sky, the vapor trail would slowly dissipate and follow behind it. I found myself thinking about this man that goes to church with my parents. His name is Jack, and I remember him telling us several years ago that clouds come from airplane vapor trails. I couldn’t help but smile when I watched them move across the sky and slowly disappear. Sorry Jack, no clouds were formed.

It was a moment of simplicity. The cool, crisp air as the sun slowly made its way beyond the horizon, which would mean sunrise in another part of the world. The beauty of a bright blue sky and a vapor trail- of planes flying to destinations unknown. A cup of my favorite coffee and nothing but the sounds of the outdoors.

Simple, but yet so filled with peace and beauty.

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5 O’ Clock Friday’s Submissions

June 19th, 2010

The following pictures for this week’s 5 O’ Clock Friday’s were submitted by none other than my mom.   Usually she will send one or two pictures and she tells me to choose between them, but this week, I’ve decided to share them all.

They were obviously not taken at 5 since it shows several images of her trip from Mobile to home.    These are all places that are familiar to me, since they ALL represent ‘home’ to me.  A place that I’ll be visiting a few months from now. 

Lately, I’ve been feeling the pull to move home, and even though I know it isn’t possible at this point in time, the urging is still there.   I guess you could consider it more of a longing.    I was telling a friend a few days ago that there are two things I don’t miss about ‘home’ and that’s the temperatures in the summer and the banana spiders.   The rest-  (including the people) I miss more than words can describe.

I know it may hard to imagine, but this body of water is part of the water supply for Mobile and is reported to have fish the size of men.  Of course, it could be one of those old tales-   but it’s beautiful in its own right.    I’ll never forget the first time I saw this body of water.   I was going to Mobile with my boyfriend at the time (Garrett) and we rounded the curve and there was this huge body of water.   I remember being SO excited that there was this larger than life (or so I thought at the time) body of water and I called it the ocean.    Obviously, it wasn’t but I didn’t expect it.  It’s one of those little surprises in life that become a part of our memories.    Even now when I think about it, I can’t help but smile.  

I’m pretty sure this picture was taken on the road leading to my parents road, but if you look closely, there is a boy standing on a barren branch.   I have NO idea what he’s doing, but according to mom, she sees him standing there quite often.

Maybe he’s observing the passers-by.  Honestly, that’s what I hope he’s doing, but I’ll admit that when I first saw it, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’s plotting to jump in front of a car that is flying past.   In this day and age, nothing surprises me, so mom and dad- be careful when passing by this guy.   (Note to self-  remember to do the same when you go home.)

Last, but certainly not least is the view of ‘home’ from the end of the field.    That field is the object of desire of many local rednecks who try time and time again to trespass during the winter months to headlight deer.   The gate you see in this picture is one that we walked to late one evening during our last trip while the ‘tresspassers’ were riding up and down the road on 4-wheelers with their lights out.    They have no regard to another persons property, and since the deer have been feeding and sleeping in this field for years, it’s a place that the hunters would love to get their hands on.     At the other end of the field is the house- and the barn (that diddy build himself, board-by-board).

These pictures make me smile, and the last one leaves me with the urge to climb the gate and run across the field to the house.   There is NO place like HOME.    I suspect if I can talk them into it- there’s going to be a bonfire held there this coming trip.   Provided I can talk someone into chopping wood and getting the fire ready so that diddy doesn’t have to.   I think I know just the people.

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Red-Nosed Girl

June 17th, 2010

This morning Desere sent me a text message bright and early- (well actually it was bright, but not so early – 8:52 a.m.)  and asked if I wanted to go with her to Aloha for coffee at 10.  I knew it would mean me scrambling out of bed to get JJ out for his walk and than a mad dash to get my steel-cut oats made (I’m on the last bag *pout*) and then into the bath.    It was so gorgeous outside though that I just couldn’t say no.   I told her I’d be ready at 10 and I scrambled and she arrived to pick me up right as I was taking the last bite of oatmeal.  I ran to the bathroom and brushed my teeth and away we went.

When we arrived at Aloha it was pretty quiet.  I think there were only a couple of other people there and we enjoyed the emptyness.   The weather was perfect and we sat facing the sun for about three hours.      Those of you who know me know that my sunbathing days stopped years ago and even though I love sitting outside, it’s usually in the shade or if it’s in the sun it isn’t for long periods of time.   The result was a red faced girl with a ridiculously red nose.     I also had on sunglasses which also means that I have a raccoon face.  

Marcel told me it looks silly, but tonight after dinner I tossed on a little make-up and headed off to the movies to see Killers with Desere.    The color seemed to agree with me, so I think having a red nose isn’t such a bad thing after all.   The red lips- well that could be another story.  At least I don’t need lipstick.

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Looking Forward to a Long Weekend Away

May 10th, 2010

It’s the beginning of yet another great week here in the land of Never, and if all goes according to plans, Marcel and I will be heading out on Friday for a long weekend away.  We’ve been talking about it for quite some time, and the time has finally come where he has an entire weekend free, plus he was able to take one extra day off, allowing us to spend three nights away, coming home on Monday afternoon.

Since it’s a last minute trip, which will mean fantastic prices, we won’t know for certain until sometime later today, or at the latest Wednesday.  Since we don’t have anything else pending if we don’t go away this weekend; we are more than happy to wait and see what happens.   One thing I wish that I had was a bathing suit since the resort we’re looking at has a great tropical inside pool.   I hate to invest in one right now, especially since I won’t get much use out of it since I’m still losing weight, but I would love to spend some time in the water.    I wonder if my old suit will fit me?   Something tells me there isn’t a chance considering the amount of weight I’ve lost, and if my memory serves me correctly, I think I tossed it anyway.

If we go, we’ll be leaving computers behind, although I will have the ‘eye’ and will still do 5 O’ Clock Friday’s, only the submissions may not get posted until I return home.   I’m looking forward to it, so I definitely hope it works out so that we can go.  After the past few months, I could use the break.

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Great For Travelers (FREE Guides to Major Cities)

April 20th, 2010

I know I usually bring y’all great deals on “Friday’s – hence Freebie Friday’s”, but this deal won’t be here on Friday, so I need to share it now. Plus, it’s so great that I wouldn’t have waited until Friday anyway.

This morning my friend Suzy pointed out a really great deal for those of us (such as myself) who are owners of ‘eye’ series (iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad). Most of us have heard of the Lonely Planet Guides… and their city guides are usually priced around $16.00 each BUT because of the volcano erupting in Iceland and SO many people finding themselves stranded in European cities that they hadn’t anticipated being stranded in, the GENEROUS people at Lonely Planet have decided to allow people to download these applications GRATIS (That’s FREE) until April 22, 2010 (That’s Thursday).

The guide’s are technically meant for those who are stranded, but since they can’t distinguish who is stranded and who isn’t- they’re open for everyone to download (Until Thursday the 22nd)Lonely Planet City Guide to Amsterdam

Lonely Planet City Guide to Barcelona

Lonely Planet City Guide to Berlin

Lonely Planet City Guide to Copenhagen

Lonely Planet City Guide to Istanbul

Lonely Planet City Guide to London

Lonely Planet City Guide to Moscow

Lonely Planet City Guide to Munich

Lonely Planet City Guide to Paris

Lonely Planet City Guide to Rome

Lonely Planet City Guide to Stockholm

Lonely Planet City Guide to Vienna

I wouldn’t wait to download these- I doubt there is a better bargain out there this week, plus this is probably the best thing to come out of the volcano erupting in Iceland. Thanks Suzy for passing on the information. I REALLY appreciate it!

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Daydreaming of Luxury Vacation Rentals

March 15th, 2010

I don’t know if it’s because mom mentioned us all taking a trip to Florida when we come home this year for the holidays, or because in light of everything else that has been going on, but I have been dreaming of taking a vacation. I have a list about a mile long of places that I actually want to vacation to, but right now Florida luxury rentals are what I’ve been looking at. The fact that I’ve been looking at places in Florida is because of the possiblity that we’ll be going there as a family sometime this year, but also because it’s 40 degrees here and raining, and based on the number of times that I’ve been there, I know that Orlando has great weather, even this time of the year.

I know that when some people travel they like to go budget all the way, but I tend to feel the opposite. I’m actually not a fan of staying in hotels, but would prefer to stay in an environment that is more like home. Plus, since there will be 7 or more of us going to Florida if we make it, then I prefer to stay somewhere like Lakeside Villa which offers not only enough room for 12 of us, but also a spa and pool. The place is absoultely gorgeous, and if I have my say, we’ll either stay there, or at one of the Luxury Vacation Home which also happens to be very close to Disney. Since that’s where we’ll probably spend most of our time, I have a feeling that mom and dad will go for that one, and it also has a pool and 5 bedrooms. The great thing is, when you compare the prices of these luxury rentals to the price of a hotel room, you are getting SO much more for your money. I can’t imagine choosing less, when you can have so much more for the same price.

As I look out the window and see the rain falling, I can’t help but wish I was in sunny Florida right now.

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Have Suitcase- Will Travel

March 11th, 2010

With everything that has been going on the past week, one of the things that has kept my mind occupied is thinking about places I’d like to travel to. I’d love to take a vacation in the next few days but I know that isn’t realistic. Marcel said he saw some great deals for Toronto hotels, and I admit that while I’ve been to Toronto once, it was only for a few days and years ago.

It also isn’t that far from the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, which is something I’ve always wanted to see. Could there be a trip to Canada in the making? Anything’s possible. I guess tonight though, the only place I’ll be traveling to is bed.

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Beach Weather- Kind of

March 7th, 2010

Today is a new day, and for the first time in a while, I slept really well. Marcel has been absolutely fantastic through all this. He took two days off from work, and coupled with his regular days off, that gave him six days at home with me. I needed it. I’ve been blessed with some really wonderful friends here. I don’t know how I would have made it through without the love, kindness and prayers from my friends and family. I am forever grateful.

Even though it was hovering around the freezing point today, we decided that we really wanted to get out for a while. Actually, I’m the one who wanted to get out, since the sun was shining and there was little wind. We decided to take JJ to the beach for the first time ever and he loved it. He was a little too enthusiastic, but I know that was because it was his first trip. It seemed like everyone else had the same idea that we did, because the beach and Aloha was jam packed with people and dogs of all breeds and type. The sun was wonderful, and I needed a little Vitamin D. After about an hour and a half the wind started picking up and we decided to head home. JJ was exhausted. I tried to get a picture of him at the beach, but he was not having any part of it. I was trying to catch him with the “eye” phone but he would have been fuzzy with every shot, so I’ll have to wait until next trip.

Tomorrow, I’m going to attempt to start working again. Hopefully I can concentrate.

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As You Can See.

March 25th, 2009

As you can see, I managed to get the new layout uploaded and changed without too much (or any), trouble at all.   Right now, I really like this one, it reminds me of spring, and will work until the moment comes that I actually  have a chance to work on my own layout- or pay someone who is familiar with wp themes to do one for me.    I have some ideas, but turning them into reality is yet to come.

Oh, I’ve been meaning to share the link to a great new blogging site out there.   A friend of mine is the owner, and even though I have my own space, I like what he’s trying to do, and support his efforts.   I even have a blog there as well, and will continue to write there.   The name of the site is Keep Connected Live. He’s working very hard on improving the site and adding features that the members would like to see.

So, if you need a place to blog, or have been thinking about joining the blogging/journaling trend, that’s the place to do it. Since I know quite a few of the members from another journaling community, I can attest to the fact that there is a great group of people and sense of community there. Check it out- you won’t be sorry.

Keep up the great work Matty!

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