Strawberries, Snow and Super Bowl

Well we have had some cold temps here in Florida this past week. It’s a glorious 70 degrees right now and I’m loving it!

You may have seen the photos of the strawberry fields being frozen over on the news this week. The farmers do this to protect the berries during a freeze. Although it was cold enough for snow, the was no moisture in the air to produce snow. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t happen.

In 1977 was the last time, and one of the few times, that the Tampa Bay area saw measurable snow. I was in high school and remember it as the only “snow” day ever. The schools are open air and the heaters didn’t work so we had a snow day. Still, it’s funny to get up in the morning and see the lawn all white with frost. We had two mornings of frost this past week. Lil dog didn’t even seem to notice any difference and just hopped through the grass as normal. Me, I was freezing my hinny off. I don’t own a real winter coat and rely on my sweatshirts for warmth. I wore two of them.

We are gearing up for the Super Bowl party here in Tampa Bay. This will be the second time the Super bowl hit our stadium. This next week or two is going to be crazy around here. People are renting out their homes and apartments to visitors coming to see the game. This is combined with our annual Gasparilla Festival. This past weekend, it kicked off with the children’s parade. I’ll tell you more about Gasparilla in the coming weeks. It’s a fun time with pirates and invasions, beads and parades.

I did have an interview this past week. It went well and I was then sent five essay questions to answer and send back. I thought this was a bit strange but I answered them none the less and sent it back and now await for the second interview. I also spent three full days in training for a volunteer position. I am now a certified domestic violence advocate. Next Wednesday I will attend my first court date in this new position. The training was grueling although not as graphic as you might have thought. Just long days returning home worn out by all the information. This link is to one of the videos we watched during training. It has Stevie Wonder singing also:

Talking about YouTube - Babyface - How Come, How Long
Babyface How Come, How Long(C) 1996 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

It’s been a long few days and I haven’t gotten around to visit at all, that’s my next plan. Have a great week ahead everyone.

America’s Song

 

Good Luck Mr. Obama! Make us proud.

"Weird Things Happen To Me" Comedy By Chonda Pierce

Sea Prayer wrote a blog with a link to a funny comedy piece. I so enjoyed it that I remembered running across this comedy video and saving it as a draft.

Chonda Pierce “just may be the best kept secret in entertainment, a comedian with a firm hold on the heartland of America who is quickly gaining acclaim in other arenas as well. In addition to churches, fairs and theaters, she has been one of the most popular speakers at the Women of Faith conferences, Extraordinary Women Conferences just to name a few.” (From her website)

Quote

Talking about YouTube - "Weird Things Happen To Me" Comedy By Chonda Pierce
  

Here’s another:  Three Little Pigs with a devotional ending.

Hope you enjoy!

Anyway

 

 

Still jobless

Well as the title states, I’m still jobless. The employer told the staffing recruiter that she found someone else. I think she just didn’t want to pay the fee to the staffing agency. To state it mildly, I was so disappointed. It seemed like a perfect opportunity. But it obviously wasn’t the right job. I do have a job interview next week who wanted to interview me while I was going through the first hire process (which was never completed). This attorney is very similar to the job that didn’t go through. So let’s hope for a good interview. Sis’ job has been “delayed” and she is not sure when she will actually start working. With the unemployment rate of 7% in FL, finding jobs is difficult. The whole country is looking for work it seems.

Staying at home is getting me stir crazy. I have found a volunteer opportunity that I am going to apply for. It will keep my skills sharp, get me out and involved and help some deserving women. If it works out, I’ll let you in on the details. There is extensive training program that is only offered 4 times a year which starts next week. I’m all set up to submit the application and go through the background check and staff interview.

I saw the orthopedic doctor and he gave my knee a shot of cortisone. It’s like a miracle. Most of the swelling has gone and the pain is almost gone. I wish I could have found this doctor 4 months ago. Even a month ago would have been good. I walk with almost no limp at all.

Final thought, let sleeping dog lie…

Job Blessings

Well… What a week it has been. This new job is turning out to be a real blessing. See, I haven’t been the only one looking for a job. Sis has been looking too. Up until now she has been working out of her home as a property appraiser. It has been great for her to be able to work from home and be there for the kids. But with the housing sales down, she has gone from two employees to just herself and started looking for employment. She believes she has a position that may start as soon as January 15th. But that also would mean that the kids would have to go to after care until she was off of work. Well as it turns out, my job is only part time for a while. Business is slow but I will work up to full time when needed. BUT the pay is higher than my last job so I will be making about the same money (can’t beat that, right?). Now my new office will be only 5 minutes from the kids school. So, since I will get off work at 3:00 and the kids need to be picked up by 3:15 – you guessed it! – Aunt Wendy will be able to pick up the kids and save Sis $400 a month!  WOO HOO! She has been so much help to me these last few months that I am now blessed with the chance to return – Pay it forward – right Morbid?

Look up in the sky folks – the stars are beginning to align. It is such a blessing to us all that this job came through.

Speaking of Sis, I started working on her Birthday present. Not much money be here is my thought… She turns 40 this year. So I am gathering “Cougar” (as in the Demi Moore fame – see Today Show) items for her as a joke gift. I am making her a T-shirt with the Cougar logo, got a movie, a song, a drink and I am sure I will find a few more goodies. Just fun ribbing and much better than the old stand by Over The Hill. No she doesn’t date younger men and yes she is single, beautiful and very independent. Go read the article.

 

I’ve been playing with the different blogs and posting sites that I have joined, often to keep in touch with one or more friends that has moved off of Spaces. So I discovered some cool things. Live Writer will publish to Spaces and also to Blogger and notify Twitter. Twitter also will update your Facebook status. Now if I could figure out My Space into the mix, I won’t be running around. Pretty slick I think. I haven’t really kept up with these other sites like I do here in Spaces which will always be my favorite but this will certainly help. The main advantages of Live Writer is that don’t disappear and the pictures upload automatically. I also found that the new version of Live Writer is you can get to you stats in a click, to the What’s New page and view the html code.

Well I am getting here late today so I will probably visit tomorrow. Have a great night all.

Thanks to everyone for the positive thoughts and prayers – it really worked!

New Year

OMG WHAT DID I DO LAST NIGHT?