Brits blog

7:32:36 AM EDT
Feeling Adventurous

I was tagged a couple of weeks ago by Christopher from

 http://cmarlow480.blogspot.com/2008/08/10-things-i-love-with-letter-b.html

I'm to list 10 things I love that begin  with the letter "C"... so here I go.better late than never huh Chris??

1. Christmas..the atmosphere..the spirit..the carols..decorations..anticipation..excitement...all of it!!

2..Chocolate..British preferably..

3...Candles....Yankee are the best brand and my current fav scent is Autumn leaves...

4....Cruising..on a boat along the river... sun on my face..cold beer in hand...bliss!

5.....Cherubs..have always liked them..especially in Stained glass in old Churches...

6...... Cemeterys..have always loved the peace and quiet and spirituality I feel there...I wish with all my heart I could go to the one where my Mum is  and talk to her...

7.......Crumble...Apple Rhubarb with custard..yum! my fav childhood pudding...

8........Calendars...love the clean new slate feeling at the beginning of the year...

9.........Cleaning..yes I love to clean..love the feeling of looking around and everything is clean and tidy and in it's place and the house smells clean and fresh!

10..........Cheese...in a sandwich..on a burger...on it's own...love it!!!

I hate tagging people so if you want to do this go ahead I'll even let you pick your own letter... ;-)

 

 

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7:15:02 AM EDT
Feeling Excited

Good morning Campers!!

Been doing a bit of decorating in here this morning..like the new Autumn colours??? When is the first day of fall anyway? And when do we put the clocks back??..(mental note to self to look both of those up)

So want to know what I am excited about? Well.. do you remember me telling you how much I like the British clairvoyant/medium Lisa Williams? (she had her own show on lifetime for a brief time) well anyway she is coming to the Florida Theatre downtown and I am taking Jen with me as a birthday present for her and a treat for me!!!!!! I am so excited...I have always said if she came  anywhere near here I would go.. check out the link below to find out who she is if you want...

 

Click here: Welcome - Lisa Williams Medium

 

Yesterday was a good day..me and Jen did our usual Friday girls day of running errands and grabbing a bite to eat..it was a blustery day..rained on and off but we didn't care..we always have a good laugh...spent some time looking at all the fall..Halloween and dare I say Christmas stuff they have  in the craft store..bought me a couple of little projects to do...went to bed early with my book...I've been really lucky lately in my book choices and have become quite the bookworm...speaking of that I went for an eye exam on Wednesday...I found a place off base that will accept our military insurance..that was well and good..the eye exam was free but the flipping frames and lenses came out to $680!!!! I said "thanks but no thanks" I will take my prescription elsewhere...man they were some cool shades though!  ;-)

So what are your plans this weekend? I am going to get some laundry done here and take it up to the Laundromat to dry.. do a bit of housework...maybe watch a bit of TV..read my book..cook something for supper..nothing really exciting....kinda keeping an eye on the weather for the latest about these darn storms..they say the one we in Florida need to worry about is Ike...got our local weathermen  spooked for some reason...

Hope you are all have a great weekend...

L

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7:02:20 AM EDT
Feeling Mellow

Good Morning Campers!!!!

How is everyone? I just spent a pleasant few minutes browsing through J Land ..checking out a few new journals..catching up on some others...got me to thinking about how much I used to write and how much I enjoyed it...I realize I miss it... So I decided to just sit here and start writing and see what happens..so here we go...

Gotta say it's been a funny old year for me all round...I have been in a bit of a rut..down in the dumps..okay a mopey old cow truth be told!! BUT I have been taking steps to correct the situation...I have started exercising again regularly...got me one of those Tony Little Gazelles..you know Tony right?? hyper active loud obnoxious sales guys.."you can do it" is his line..think Billy May for exercising!! Anyway I set the thing up in the Florida room and walk/run for 20 minutes each morning as I watch the news...it does make a difference in the way I feel and is more convenient than driving to the gym...also the machine cost me less than one monthly payment to the gym...shocking really...here is a link to Tony's gazelle so you can see what it is I am talking about...

 

Click here: Tony Little - Detail

 

 I bought mine used at the Play it Again sports shop next to where I work..it's a place that sells used sports equipment..I only paid $60...

Enough about that..I am also getting out and about more..accepting invitations to things and generally putting myself back "out' there..those of you who have read me for a while know that I have been down this road before and I am sure it has a lot to do with my hormones and my age but there are other deeper issues that I don't talk about in this journal that explain a lot of why I feel the way I do...while I am not ready to talk publicly about what is going on in my life I will say those issues are being addressed too and I have hope...;-) 

Things at home have been there usual crazy selves..we have to get  new pool liner to the tune of $$$$3000..my dryer quit.. it can't be fixed..need a new one $$$ .. I have been going to the laundromat..very interesting place I have to say....makes for some good people watching...LOL.. True Beauty borrowed her dads truck and got a huge nail in the tire and that needs replacing more $$$$$...we are sitting here waiting to see what the latest round of storms are going to do..we have Hanna..Ike and Josephine to contend with....does anyone else think it's weird that we name these storms because I do!!  And we all sit around chatting about them like they are old friends...bizarre..LOL

Hubby has been gone for 3 months already and we are more than half way through this deployment..his tentative date to return home is December 11th... so at least he will be home in time for Christmas...did I just say the "C" word?? yikes...it will here before we know it....which means Fall first..or Autumn as I like to call it..my favourite time of year... I will have to change the colours in here soon...

Okay I have rattled on long enough...before I go here is my list of five good things..haven't done that in a while either..

1. Feeling like my old self...

2.. that I have the funds for the pool liner...

3... new friends and reconnecting with old ones..

4.... good books

5..... All of you as always...

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6:25:22 AM EDT
Feeling Grateful

Good Morning Campers!!

It's a soggy good morning this morning...Fay has come and gone but boy did she leave her mark....I have never seen such wind and rain.not even during the hurricanes 4 years ago....not to mention a tornado passed through here and I got to experience that too....I am lucky that I am only dealing with minor flooding...one wall of my garage sits under ground level and I guess the ground is so wet that the water is seeping in along the foundation..it is not that much..not even inches but just that small amount caused a significant mess....I had some boxes on the floor and the water seeped up in them...I have since moved them and Ryan blew away the water with the blower but the smell is awful..just a damp musty smell..I can only imagine what it's like for the people who are under 4-5 feet of water....we lost power on and off for about 12 hours..only for minutes at a time though..the longest being about an hour...and the pool liner caved in...just too much pressure from all the rain..it came away at the sides....it had a small area that was coming away anyway and the storm just finished it off...so I have a deep green pond instead of a pool at the  moment... :-(  Again though it is nothing compared to what some have endured ...the pool liner can be replaced....most of Fay's damage to the area came in the form of flooding from 4 days of continual rain...there was some damage from trees being uprooted and falling on power lines, cars etc... 3 people lost their lives by going into the surf....1 person was killed when a tree fell on their car...one of the old peoples homes downtown had to be evacuated because of flooding..the residents were taken out in boats...the tornado that went through here went along the St Johns river...I saw the warning on TV that it was in this area..and because of the rain I couldn't hear much so I went and stood on the front step and that's when I felt it..there was the "roaring" sound they warn you about and then this weird feeling of pressure..like the air was sucked out of the house..then a very intense wind and roar and pressure all at once as it passed by down the river....all I can say is I am glad I wasn't in it's direct path...they say this was a water spout and not even a "real" tornado and that if it had touched down over land it would have been ten times as bad....since Fay moved on we have still had lingering rain and storms which hasn't helped us dry out..it is really soggy here still...just makes it miserable to try and do anything....

I am just grateful to be here and writing about it all... I hope you all have a great week ...

L

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7:12:25 AM EDT
Feeling Cheerful

Good morning campers!

Very quick update..I have been so busy..getting ready for back to school...taking care of Jen who had surgery on her foot..visiting with the in laws from UK... and not to mention the 3rd annual girls retreat to the beach... ;-)

I will write a real entry soon..I am off to the clinic for a 12 hour shift...I miss you all and am ready to get back into journalling for real...I have deleted my 600 alerts and am starting over...please leave me your link if you comment so I can stop by and catch up...

Oh by the way I saw Mama Mia..OMG..it is absolutely soul lifting!!!!! I sang.. :-P to my Rachel..no dancing in the aisles but my foot was tapping..;-)

speaky soon...

L

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8:51:14 AM EDT
Feeling Flirtatious

Good Morning campers!!

How is everyone? Alerts must be down as I have more messages announcing alerts are down that actual alerts in my mailbox...;-)

I am back from my trip to Orlando  I'm exhausted and seem to have picked up some upper respiratory crap as my voice is hoarse..my throat hurts and my chest feels tight...not surprising really seeing as I was in close contact with thousands of people in the themes parks for 3 days... ;-)

recap of my trip..

Arrived Thursday morning..went straight to magic kingdom...did all the rides except space mountain..actually did splash mountain twice...came home and collapsed...Friday morning we did a run to Walmart and stocked up...the mum and pop joints close to the resort were charging $7 for a gallon of milk.. come to find out there was a Walmart less than a mile down the road...they need to let their guests know that!!!! We chilled by the pool and then went to Pleasure Island at night...Saturday we did Sea World..that was a lot of fun..the shows were amazing...we hung out in the hot tub at night and had a few beers...Sunday was the big day..swimming with Dolphins at Discovery cove..an experience of a lifetime and something I highly recommend... I need to scan the pics in...I was worn out Sunday night so it was early to bed...I left yesterday morning and made it home in about 2 1/2 hours...the house was fine..just tons of laundry to be done...LOL..

Obviously this is just a quick recap and I will  write more later..hope everyone is doing okay...I don't even know if anyone will read this if alerts are down... :-(

take care...

L

 

 

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6:46:33 AM EDT
Feeling Cheerful

                      

 

(thanks to D as always for the tag)

Good Morning Campers!

Yes..it's Monday morning again...<groan> why do they always sneak up so quickly??

Finished another book this weekend...

"Stone Creek" by Victoria Lustbaden

Been a while since a book made me cry..this was a love story..no a sappy romance a real love story...beautifully written...highly recommend this one... ;-)

My co workers mum passed peacefully Thursday evening.. just a week after they gave her 3 weeks to live....I am glad that my co worker was able to be home with her....

My sisters in law arrived safe and sound with their kids...we are off to Orlando later in the week...we are staying at the celebrity resort in Buena vista...looks pretty nice online...they are there a week ..I will be with them for 3  or 4 days..we have booked the all day package for the Dolphin swim which includes continental breakfast..cabana rental...towels...all drinks and snacks included..the Dolphin swim..DVD of the event...and dinner at the end of the day plus a pass to the park of your choice...not bad huh? We are also scheduled to have dinner with the Princesses at Disney...my 4 year old niece is all about the princesses..while it is not my usual type of vacation I am going to enjoy it none the less and once the kids are settled for the night I am sure us big girls will have some fun of our own...;-)

I still have not seen Mama Mia..my daughter refuses to go with me even though I promised not to sing in the aisles..LOL..I guess I will drag Jen to see it with me..I am a huge Abba fan...know all the words...I was once the dancing queen myself... I think Gaz holds the title now...;-)

Hubby is doing well...he is currently in Italy..he has been traveling a lot..so far he has been to the Philippines..Malaysia..and of course Italy ..Australia is on the books too..must be nice huh?  can you believe we are already 2 months into this? although at first it was dragging it seems to be flying by now...

I am working today and tomorrow and then am off until the 8th August...before you know it it will be back to school..Ryan goes back the 18th..his senior year..<yikes>

Hope everyone had a great weekend.. I haven't been online much.... going to try and visit a few journals right now...

Have a great week..stay cool..it's tropical here as always...

L

 

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7:15:34 AM EDT
Feeling Chillin'

Good morning campers!!!

Thought I would let you see what I have read so far this summer....

"Search for paradise in Parker, PA" Kris Radish

"The land of mango sunsets" Dorothea Benton Frank

"Rush home road" Lori Lansens

"Precious time" Erica James

"Keeping the moon" Sarah Dessen

"The beach club" Elin Hilderbrand

"The chocolate lovers club" Carole Matthews

"Love and other infidelities" Helen Townsend

"Twenty wishes" Debbie Macomber

"The beach House" Jane Green

I would recommend each and every one of the above..these days life is too short for me to waste it on a book that does not grab my attention so any that I read I can recommend....I used to feel guilty if I started a book and couldn't get into it..not anymore...;-)  I do have in my possession our very own Melissa's  (back pages) book..can't wait to read that one...

No work for me today...I have been filling in here and there to cover for one of our ladies whose Mum is in the end stages of brain and lung cancer..she has taken a leave of absence to be by her side.... my sister in law and her partner are here from UK..they are spending a week up here in Jacksonville before we all go down to Orlando....they are staying round at my father in laws...his wife is doing really well after her surgery and radiation...we find out next week if she will need any additional treatment but so far it has all gone very well...I appreciate the prayers and good thoughts on that one....

I went for a drink with one of the girls from the old clinic I worked at and it seems our annual trip to the Beach House is still on...yay!! So on August 15th I will be off to relax and have some fun with the girls for 3 days at the beach....wine..women and song...LOL..

Today I am going with Jen to a Dr. appointment and then out to lunch...see I am getting out and about and finally shaking off my pity party for one...did you read that Gaz??  ;-)

Hope you all have a great weekend..stay cool..it is so flipping hot here...yea yea I know it's Florida in July...what do I expect??

Here's something you haven't seen in a while..my list of five good things...

1. Good books...

2.. Safe arrival of my SIL and her family...

3... Short haircuts..;-)

4.... Having Friday off!

5..... All of you as always...

 

                                                       

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7:32:05 AM EDT
Feeling Groggy

I Live: In the sunshine state

I Work: at a Family Practice Clinic

I Talk: to myself

I Wish: I was on the beach right now

I Enjoy:  Good food, good wine, good conversation, good friends and GREAT SEX...;-)

I Look: for four leaf clovers

I Find:  not so many

I Smell:  my dog...eww...

I Listen: to hip hop..yea I'm cool like that...;-)

I Hide:  my feelings...

I Pray:  all the time....

I Walk:  on the treadmill

I Write:  Journals, letters, lists...

I See:  dead people..;-)

I Sing:  in the car and very loudly...

I Laugh:  every day

I Can:  be a real bitch....

I Watch: too much TV

I Yearn:  for attention

I Daydream: often.

I Fall:  for the bull every time

I Want:  everyone to just get along....

I Cry:  at sad movies, commercials...

I Burn:  if I don't use sunscreen

I Read:  everything including the toothpaste tube if there is nothing else nearby...;-)

I Love:  my family and friends

I Rode:  a cowboy to save a horse...

I Sometimes:  feel so sad

I Hurt:  when my children hurt 

I Fear:  illness

I Hope:  today is a good day

I Break:  watches...I have so many broken watches...

I Eat:  too much

I Bathe: is showering bathing?

I Drink:  coffee, tea and water and beer

I Stop:  traffic...LOL not really...

I Save:  money but not enough

I Hug:  my dog

I Meditate:  in my car

I Play:  everyday

I Miss:  my Mum

I Hold: onto the past

I Forgive:  easily.

I Drive:  a Honda Accord

I Learned:  my lesson

I Dream:  about having a house on the beach

I Have:  a good life...

I Don't:  always tell the truth

I Made:  coffee

I Believe: in love

I Wait:  impatiently

I Need:  another cup of coffee.

I Owe:  a lot

I Hate:  ignorance

I Feel:  FAT this morning

I Know:  I am loved

I Wonder:  if there is an after life

I Applaud:  parents

I Love: truly madly deeply....

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7:25:47 AM EDT
Feeling Thoughtful

Good morning campers!!

Remember me?? Britchick..short blonde hair?? used to write witty entries in this now almost dead blog?? ;-)

no excuses..just nothing to write about really..plenty of thoughts rolling around in my head though...  spending my days working..puttering around the house...laying by the pool..reading...going to work..trying to keep my teenager under control..looking after numerous visitors to my in laws house...worrying about my BF in UK..worrying about my MIL..worrying about hubby..getting new brakes on my car...doing yard work...sweating under the Florida sun in July...planning my trip to swim with the dolphins next week when my SIL gets here from UK...wondering if the annual beach house trip with the girls is really going to happen...eating too much..not drinking enough  ;-)...watching the thunder roll in every afternoon...spending too many weekends alone...not returning phone calls..making to do lists and ignoring them....

well that's about it for me... ;-)

Hope you are all well..I am reading a little bit...not commenting too much...need to get my arse in gear and get back in the swing of things...

Have a great week...

L

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