Daddy and Me

Daddy and Me.

This was taken during some quality time with Daddy.  You see Daddy was a truck driver, and this took him away from home a lot, especially when I was little.  That made our time together even more special.

As I grew up, he was always there for me.  I got my first bicycle with training wheels when I was 6.  I still have that bike.

While we sat outside as he grilled steaks, he took the time to explain how patents worked.

He paid for braces at 14, and took me to get my license the day I turned 16.  He bought me my first car that June.

He was there every step of the way.  He watched as I got married, and loaned us money for a down payment on a house.

He was always there to help us, but never offered up advice or opinion unless asked, and then sometimes he would pose a question instead of giving an answer.

He was born July 30, 1928 and grew up in a small town in Southern Virginia.  He enlisted in the Army/Air Force in 1946 when he was 18.  And after serving 6 years, he moved to North Carolina to begin working as a truck driver.  He and my Mom married in 1956 in Dillon, SC.

He worked hard his whole life, and lived a life of which he could be proud.

Any man can be a father, but it takes someone very special to be a little girl's Daddy. He was the best a girl could ask for, and I miss him every single day.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

 

Is It My Turn?

The cat carrier, that dreaded implement of transportation.  As much effort as it is to get them into the carrier for a trip to the vet, you'd think they wouldn't hop in of their own free will.  

Sometimes, though, it makes a great place to hang out for a little down time.

Is it my turn?

Even Rosie takes his turn.  Sometimes you can even hear him snoring away in the box.  All cats love their hidey places.

Peek-a-Boo

Apparently it is also a source of entertainment, too.

Who's in there?

And, not to be left out, Dood peers out of the "fun box".

Can you see me now?

  

A grand time was had by all, and I guess it was a lesson in taking turns.

Quote of the Week

Those we hold closest to our hearts never truly leave us.  They live on in the kindness they have shared and the love they brought into our lives. - Author Unknown

The memories we hold of our loved ones keep them forever in our hearts.

Today's quote is in honor of my uncle who passed away unexpectedly 
last week.

The Sights of Minnesota

OK, so we're here in the state of 10,000 lakes.  They're everywhere!  There's practically a lake on every corner in the state.  Why, then, cannot we not find a lake?  Because Minnesota is a big state.  The corners are farther apart.

There was supposedly one at Como Park where we went to the zoo.  Didn't see it. 

We did see the mighty Mississippi River as she flowed powerfully 

through the city.

Then there were tall buildings in the city of Minneapolis.  All lovely and interesting, but I want to see lakes!

A trip to Minneapolis isn't complete without a visit to the Mall of America, complete with it's own amusement park.  Again, no lakes.

Finally, on our way to Stillwater, we stumbled across Lake Elmo Park Reserve.  Here is a man fishing with his son, who just caught his very first fish.

Here is an satellite view of the pier, courtesy of Google Maps.

At first glance this appears to be another lake.  It is actually a swimming pool.  It is filled with chlorinated water and filtered just like a regular pool, but has the look and feel of a lake with a beach.

It was cool and overcast, but there were still folks in the water...kids, that is!

It looks like I was looking through a window doesn't it?  Well I was, sort of.  This was a tiny building at the end of boardwalk through a marsh-like area leading to another lake in the park.  Tall grass on either side was nearly as tall as me.  I think this was built as a shelter to observe wildlife. I love getting back to nature, although we didn't see much wildlife.

Except for this little guy!

So while I did get to see some of Minnesota's beautiful lakes, it was only a drop in the bucket.  There are about 9,998 to go.

Nursery Rhyme Redo: Birds of a Feather

Pink Flamingo at the Como Zoo

Birds of a feather dressed in leather 

Danced with the pigs in a line 

The rats and mice held their own 

And formed a chorus line

For those of you (like me) not familiar with the original verse, this is the original "birds of a feather".

Birds of a feather flock together

And so will pigs and swine

Rats and mice will have their choice

And so will I have mine

Quote of the Week

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.  - Erica Jong

How many times have you asked someone "What should I do" after you have wrestled with the problem for hours, always coming to the same conclusion?  You know what is right, but want someone to confirm the choice you would prefer to make.  Sometimes the right answer is the hardest thing to hear.

Dude, you're gettin' a Dell!

Guess who just got a new computer?

Remember the old Dell commercials with Steven?  Seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?  Well in the techno-gadget world it was actually a millennium ago.

I thought the ads were corny but cute.  The Dell dude always made it sound like such a sweet deal!  "Dude, your gettin' a Dell!"

I had been intrigued by the fact that a college student started and ran a computer production business from his dorm room.  I believe in supporting young entrepreneurs, and this ingenuity made the Dell computer compelling. 

I've had several computers over the years, and as with all things technical, we eventually want something bigger, better, faster, with more bells and whistles.  Fast forward to the present.  I needed wanted a new computer.  Hubby got a heads up from one of his co-workers on a getting a good deal on a Dell.  He uses them in a side business and has good success with them, so for a mere one-third the cost of my first computer back in the early 90s, I am the proud owner of a Dell Inspiron.

I guess that makes me a Dudette!

It's my initial foray into Windows 7.  I've been an XP chick for the last 6 years and prior to that it was Win95.  Yeah, I don't exactly jump on the runaway upgrade train.

So, how often do you change with the technological times?

A Swedish Beauty

From the Como Zoo Conservatory

 Petals of velvet

A delicate rosy hue

A lovely lady

  

Posted for One Shot Wednesday.

Quote of the Week

Love yourself unconditionally, just as you love those closest to you despite their faults. - Les Brown

Nothing expresses unconditional love as well as the animals with whom we share our homes and our lives.  They love us without reservation, whether we are happy, sad, fat, thin or grouchy.  

We should look at ourselves with acceptance and love just as we do with others instead of wishing we were thinner, prettier, or smarter.  Only in this way can we be all we were meant to be and enjoy life to its fullest.

Let's Get Creative

Hello! I'd like to take a moment to invite you to join me today at Tribal Blogs, where I will be guest posting on the topic of creative writing.  I will take you through my process for creating fictional stories.  Let's take a walk on the creative side together.

Tribal Blogs is a place where writers of all types come together to share tips, discuss writing, technical issues, and generally support and entertain each other.  Come see what we're all about!

A Day at the Zoo

Who needs breakfast?  That would be me.  Sure that we would find breakfast somewhere along the way, we headed out to zoo and our meeting with Jen, who writes the humor blog, Redhead Ranting.  Unlike where we live, there was not a McDonalds or BoJangles on every corner.  What to do?  We drive and drive...growl.  I can't go to the zoo on an empty stomach.

Just when we were about to give up and just eat whatever we could find at the zoo, we stumbled onto a nice little bagel shop in a shopping center.  A cinnamon raisin bagel toasted with butter, please!  Wonderful...it just hit the spot.

Now we backtrack to the fairgrounds where we could pick up a shuttle to the zoo.  There is on-site parking, but we had read that is highly recommended to take the shuttle.  They run some wildly decorated buses that leave no doubt as to their destination.  This one is giraffe spotted; the other is a zebra.

They had a posted schedule, and it appeared it would be another half hour, and we barely had time to make our meeting with Jen.  I called to let her know we'd be late, and she offered to pick us up.  About that time another bus pulled in - so much for their schedule.  


It was a short ride to the zoo, even though the bus felt like it had a square tire.

We hung out for a few minutes while Jen and her daughter caught up with us.  Like I said, parking is available, but getting a space isn't always easy.

 

 
I gave her a call to tell here where we were waiting, saying I would be the gal wearing a blue top with penguins on it, next to a guy in a blue Hawaiian shirt - what a pair!

Yay, the long-awaited meeting.  Jen is a warm, down to earth lady, who was in "mama mode" that day.  She had her lovely daughter with her, who added an interesting perspective on our activities.  We had a great time looking at the animals and reptiles and watching Sparky the sea lion perform for a packed arena.  It was a picture perfect day, but it began to get hot in the bright sunshine.  
 
It's lunch time.  There was a decent snack bar with a good selection of the typical zoo foods, burgers, hot dogs, pop corn, nachos and of course, ice cream.  We enjoyed lunch where we talked blogging, compared notes about the differences in our weather, and shared pet stories - hubby and I are never lacking for weird pet stories.

You can only ask so much of an 8-year old, so they left after our visit to the Como Town amusement park.

Afterward, hubby and I walked through the many rooms of the conservatory, a building filled with all sorts of unusual plant life.  This room was filled with ferns of all kinds, including the largest fiddlehead I've ever seen.

It was a lot of fun to meet fellow blogger, Jen, face to face, and enjoy some beautiful Minnesota weather.  There was so much more to see but, alas, not enough time.

Quote of the Week

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; 

it must be achieved.  

 Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd U.S. President)

There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.   William J. Clinton  (42nd U.S. President)

In honor of the 235th birthday of America, I chose two quotes from Presidents, separated by not only decades, but world events, and the times in which each served.  They shared not only their political affiliation, but their propensity for enjoying the company of  women to whom they were not married.  However, they were both capable leaders, and popular presidents.

During his reign, Roosevelt stated that Freedom is not a gift, but something we must achieve through our efforts and faith in ourselves.

During his presidency, Clinton told us we can fix whatever is wrong in our country by using our inherent goodness. 

For all that some perceive is wrong with America, there is far more good in the people of this country.  We can accomplish anything if we just believe in ourselves.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

The Escape

Image Source: Luciano Meirelle

Gene eased the Harley out of the garage and walked it quietly down the street.  So intent was he on getting away unheard, he would not start it for three blocks.  Safely away, he fired up the big bike.  He loved these early morning rides along the coast.  A great escape from the "honey-do" list.

Written for Friday Flash 55.