Ft Lauderdale 2009

I'm back ! But man was it hard to return to this weather. I made the drive back in 23 hours . The traffic and drive was great until I hit South Haven. It was blowing snow, icy, and I needed to drive 50 mph. The weather in Florida was sunny, warm, around 72-85 each day, a little windy a couple of days so Floridians complained about it being too cold. Hello ! I can show you cold ! Come visit us in Holland Mi. We did our usual shopping at my favorite Sawgrass Mall. We of course ate at the Cheesecake Factory, Grand Lux Cafe, and Bahama Breeze, all located out by the Sawgrass Mall. My uncle took us to a couple of his favorite restaurants ; a mexican one called Carlos and Pepe's, and an Italian one called Marcianos. We of cource hit our favorite Italian bakery . My uncle graciously let us use his home again for our vacation. Thank-you Uncle Dick ! I took a couple of friends along , Julie and Sandy. We spent most of each day just reading, sunbathing by the ocean and pool, we also walked every day for some exercise . I think I did see enough pampered pets on the Ocean Mile. Several people carrying their pets and also pushing cats and dogs in little covered stollers. Don't anyone tell Esther ( alias the crazy dog lady) or you know who will be the next pampered pet .

My Uncle Dicks home in Ft Lauderdale.

I broke the bottle opener but I was determined to get that wine bottle open with fierce determination and some plyers.

Julie and I at Sawgrass Mall.

Our favorite Italian bakery, they also had all kinds of flavored sorbet. european coffee, espresso, and cappucino

These are Italian pastry, called Bara or something. I told Sandy they looked like a penis, it took her several days before she forgot what I said and could try one.

They actually are like a donut and had some glaze made with a liquor. I had chocolate covered strawberries, and Julie had tiramisu.

Sandy getting tanner at the beach.

Me getting a massage in the massage chair, it even massages you calves. I also had an oil treatment by my uncle, it is to cleanse the toxins out of your body.

Julie getting a treatment from my uncle. Being a chiropractor you don't get out of there without one especially if you show any signs of illness.( Julie caught a cold ) He also did some neck cracking.

Now back to reality, and back to work.

25 Random things

Joining in the fun with the rest of the fam.

1. I loved climbing trees when I was a kid.
2. My first vacation was going to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. We went with 7 of us in the family, in a mercury, saw the cave and came right back home.
3. I had 2 girlfriends and 13 boyfriends in elementary school. The reason why should be obvious.
4. I was angry with my mom when she bought me a Tammy doll and I wanted a Barbie.
5. My first and last time I ever stole something was when I took a piece of bubblegum at Yff's when I was 5. My mom found out, you would have thought I had robbed a bank with her reaction.
6. I once danced on the table at Wayside East.
7. I carried (with help) a statue of Mary at Mercy Central School of Nursing, put it in my catholic roomates bed , shown the light on her face, covered her up with a blanket , and listened for her screams. We still remain friends despite it.
8. I dated a paraplegic.
9. I love clothes which are different from what everyone else wears.
10. I had a dog (poodle named Pepe') I never had another dog as good as he was.
11. I moved 8 times , all in Holland , while growing up, and have not moved since I was married.
12. I still love chocolate though I should not eat it.
13. My favorite vacation was our family cruise to Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.
14. I hate talking on the phone.
15. I hate sitting in a meeting.
16. I love going out for breakfast.
17. I am glad I am in Florida right now but vacation weeks go too fast.
18. I have secretly been dreaming of becoming my uncles housekeeper, changing my name to Maria, and staying here.
19. I had key lime cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory last night, and a drink called the Georgia peach. Yum!
20. Today I walked off the cheesecake and the Georgia peach drink along the Ocean mile.
21. I dream about going shopping with future daughter-in-laws.
22. I hate mammograms.
23. I have not had a colonoscopy but doubt they are much fun either.
24. I donnot mind turning 50 but I really donnot want any junk mail from Evergreen commons, AARP, or funeral homes wanting to sell me a cemetary plot.
25. I really am dreading driving my dad home on sunday. I think I will change my name to Maria.

Neighborhood Mentor Valentine Party

This is what I do on wednesday nights while Jim goes bowling. At First Reformed Church, we have a neighborhood mentor group. These are kids that donnot attend sunday services at our church but they live within walking distance of the church and come for supper and our group every wednesday evening. Sometimes we stay at church , play pool, soccer, basketball, dodgeball, and even games the kids make up. We try to have some Bible lessons but they don't have a very good attention span, we keep it simple and try to set a good example for them. We also just try to keep them on the right path, making good decisions, staying in school , have dreams, and if they fall down , no matter how many times, keep getting up. A Bible verse that sums things up is John 15:17 These things I command you, that you love one another. These kids have alot of love, they love us , eachother , and always have hugs and smiles . They also are happy with little things. They love games , Rock band, and sitting around talking and joking.

Tonight we had our valentine party at our house. My nephew Keith and a friend Mark from church also help with them . They love Keith, they call him Detroit because of his D tatoo, and he was raised in the Detroit area, he is so much fun, and quite the joker , they laugh with him all the time, and when he cannot make it they always ask: "Where's Detroit" . Mark and I just enjoy being with them, they keep us young ! Food is always included in the night. They love anything "hot", hot cheetos, hot wings, hot meatballs, you get my drift. I attempted to make a valentine cake, it ended up being a broken heart, it even had a hole in the middle of it.( Claudia , who goes to learn about bakery work at the tech center gave me some tips for the next time) Luckily my neice Brenda made up for it with her delicious cookies which looked as good as they tasted. Thanks Brenda ! ( We got to keep the leftovers )

Bens Birthday

Ben, my baby turns 20 tomorrow. We went to Lansing to take Ben and Dan out for supper. We went to the Pizza House (Bens pick) Ben had deep dish pizza, I had salad and we ordered another regular pizza. It was very good, and right accross the street from Hubbard on Haggadorn at MSU. Ben said he gets to go to an elementary school on fridays to work in a classroom with kids for one of his classes, he seemed excited about it. The down side is he is not sleeping real well these days. Sleep is important for him, so pray he can get enough rest. Dan has finished his resume, and has started to apply for jobs. He has applied for a job for Hospice which pays 25 dollars an hour , and that is right in Lansing. Brenda, Dolly is not the only bad dog. We had bandit go to grandpas for the superbowl because she bothers us when we have alot of people over. She got into his garbage, ate a bunch of junk. So I did not get much sleep last night as she got sick and vomited too. What is with these dogs ?