Well Guess what?

I am going to Peru!

YAH ME!

Several months ago I bought a raffle ticket for a chance to go on an all expenses paid, study tour, to Peru with Heifer International. It was a fund raiser for The Florida GFWC. That's the woman's club that I am always talking about. I was second runner up/ alternate.

Then I became 1st alternate about a month ago. Then yesterday I got the news that I was going.

OMG I was soooooo excited. I'm still excited. I went right out and bought books about Peru and have spent all my time researching Peru. And all I think about is Peru.

One of the highlights will be a visit to MachuPicchu.

We will be spending time with those who have benefitted from Heifers ongoing projects in Cusco and Puno.

You should expect to hear lots about my upcoming trip and see lots of pictures when I return.

The trip is August 2ND thru the 13Th.

I wish we could be sailing to Peru but this will be nice too.

Still here at this dam hotel.
Bored
Still raining almost every day. The yard is full of weeds and everything is icky.
Yuck
Still broke. We will get cot up eventually.
Bummer


Have you ever been Geo Cashing?
Robbie got a cool Geo Cashing GPS for his birthday. It's like treasure hunting with a GPS but no shovels were needed. Go to http://www.geocaching.com/ for more info.
I'll keep you posted on our finds.

Reason # 68 to go sailing
real treasure to find

I think I need to spend the day at the beach. DAYCATION!!

It seems I was just here yesterday.

Here on my blog, but no it has been 14 days.

Here at this Hotel bored out of my mind. AAHHH yes that was just yesterday.

So I'm still working at the hotel and still way bored. Nothing strange or exciting ever happens here although the wind does blow the front doors around quite a bit and you think someone is coming in but no one is there.

The summer storms have started here and it rains every afternoon. This is great for my garden which is really growing fast. I am excited about my tomatoes. It doesn't take much to make me happy. Still haven't had much success with corn. Something is eating it. Maybe I will get pics posted soon of my veges.

The SV Free Spirit is heading into the Turks and Cacios steadily moving south. I wish them fair winds.

I wonder how much it is to fly to where they are? The rain has me in a rut and I need to see some blue water!!!

Reason # 67 to go sailing

If you don't like the weather. Wait a while and it's sure to change.

Here is a couple of pics of Robbie because they make me smile and I know you'll smile too.

Waddy titled this one Robbie's first wreck. I don't think he was quite 3 here and he loved to drive his little car.

This is Christmas morning and a new scooter. Again Waddy took this one. He looks like he going really, really fast. He is always going somewhere fast.

Hey honey your always saying that I'm going to have a hard time when we move onto the boat about slowing down. You better start worrying about your little man here.

I have discovered an all new level of boredom!

Having said that let me tell you about my new job.

This is the most boring job I have EVER HAD in all my life. I am working at a local Inn as the desk clerk. You check people in you check people out. If they could teach monkeys some personal hygiene they could take care of this. You answer the phone and any number of idiotic questions from the clientele in person and over the never ending ringing telephone. EXCEPT when I have the pleasure ,as I do tonight, of working the overnight shift. 12 am to 6 am. Then you do nothing. You sweep and vacuum generally tidy up. Did I mention the monkeys. About 5am I get to put out the continental breakfast. OOH AAAH. Why is it called that I wonder. Is it because they don't know what continent to blame it on? But I get to surf and blog and read my email. YAH You guys might get some interesting blogs at 3am. I'll have to remember to put my camera in my computer bag. I can only imagine what I might see around here at night. When I came to work yesterday morning at 5am there was a very drunk women out front of the hotel sitting on the curb, singing. You just never know.

I hope I don't have to work this shift often!

Do you ever feel like jumping?

Up or down? Here are some great jumping pictures. How old is to old to jump?

Maybe if I jump up and down a few times it will help keep me awake.

Well good night or maybe it's morning hell I don't know.

Robbie jumping a dirt hill.

My niece jumping on our trampoline.

The neighbor and a friend jumping on the trampoline.

I know ,I know I am a terrible blogger.

Where have I been? Around

What have I been doing? Stuff

Where are you going? UH Idontknow

Well, that's me lately, but as I was just typing it reminded me of my 20 year old son.

That's the kind of answers you get from kids. So maybe I'm just feeling young this spring!

I have actually been doing lots and not much at the same time.

My husbands 94 year old Grandmother who independently lives alone through her back out. So I've spent some time with her.

It's little league season which means I am either at baseball practice or at a baseball game.

I love baseball!

Went to the Marine Flea Market in Dania. FUN FUN FUN
Check out the pic of my little man in his new wet suit he had to try it out in the pool.

Wet suit 15$ Hours of entertainment priceless.

I got my taxes done last month! YAH but time consuming you don't get much else done.

Planted a garden with my son. And then watched it over the last 2 weeks sprout and THEN
this morning when I went out something had eaten my corn.
I AM NOT HAPPY!

Went out on my father inlaws little boat Easter Sunday and Robbie fished a bit. This is the little boat we drug to the Bahamas last summer. It gets around.

Went to a Women's Club Convention in Orlando last weekend. Very motivational! You always come back wanting to jump back into your community service projects.

The LaBelle Community Woman's club is an organization that I am involved with locally but is State and Nation wide. Check out this link if you interested in what we do.

WERE AWESOME LADIES!

http://www.gfwc.org/gfwc/Default.asp

http://www.gfwcflorida.org/

OK here are 2 more reasons to go sailing

# 65

No taxes to file. No income either but no taxes.

#66

Shoes

I know your dying to here this one.

The convention I went to last weekend was business casual and a formal dinner. I had to take 3 pairs of shoes. None of which were tennis shoes. UGH! I like to dress up as most girls do. But I have terrible foot problems and I hate wearing dress shoes.

When you are out on a boat shoes are definitely optional and most cases ashore flip flops and sandals are more than enough. Squeaking when you walk in wet sandals or blisters are a much bigger concern than if they match your dress. I can't wait.

LET'S GO SAILING!

Well there's a hole in the boat. And not a good one. There's never a good one. We have removed all of the galley and settee area. Down to the hull. Robert was scraping at some rust and I was saying be careful when IT happened. It was a small little drip that didn't stop. Robert didn't even get excited he just went to the hardware store for some putty as I stood there trying to will it to stop and imagining the boat sinking before he got back. It didn't. The leak is patched but now were afraid to do anything down there until we have the money to get her hauled out. There lots else to do but HOHUM you know how it goes.

Tomorrow is boat day I wonder if he will poke any more holes in the hull?

My son got his wheels fixed today and I was thinking about how mobile he has always been. I am very nervous about turning him loose in a dingy. Free Spirit lets their boys take the dingy but there is power in the numbers. They have 3 and I just 1. Will he even want to go off by himself? Not anytime soon I hope.

Here are his current wheels.

The date on my camera is wrong go figure. I took this pic today. Note the HELMET he always wears it.

So I am surfing at school this morning I know I'm here to work, but it is so boring and I was reading Oreneta's blog. When I come across her opinion on trash she finds on her walks in the hills where she lives in Spain. She mentions a project that she is participating in where you pick up trash and take pictures of it and post it on your blog.
WEELLLL just the other day my friends from S.V. Free Spirit were visiting and commented on the amount of trash on the side of the road leading into my neighborhood. Then I read about blog green and I am thinking it must be kismet or something that I should go pick up the trash.
I'll let you know how it goes and I will post some pics. I hope you will not be to shocked it is a lot of trash. Maybe there should be an award for the blogger that picks up the most!!
This is the link to the blog green sight. Go check it out.
http://nicoleb.org/b2/index.php/blog-green

S.V.Free Spirit at the dock on LaBelle.

I'm sad and excited!

My new friends and inspirations left today.

Laura I miss you already. The S.V. Free Spirit pulled off the dock today for the last time. Out into the big blue yonder. They are living the dream and exploring the world. It is hard to make friends knowing that they will by nature of the bond be leaving. Yet we are drawn together just the same. Cruisers , are amazing people. They take on the everyday challenges of life while living in an extreme environment and over come them just the same. I am excited that the next time I see them they will be out there doing IT!!!! And hopefully so will we.

See ya out there , Laura, Tamer and all of the boys my prayers will always be with you followed closely by jealousy and envy.

If you see this boat anywhere in the world know that it is full of awesome people!

Sundays around here are supposed to be boat day and My Honey was working so I didn't go to the boat to work. However I did take on a project long overdue. My side of the barn was full of junk that had not been touched in years. So Ronnie and I emptied and cleaned and now that building is officially the boat barn. A project that will definitely come in handy for the next year or so of refitting.

My new favorite saying is "It's not a mess- It's progress"

Well I made it through one more season of holidays!!!!!


Didn't kill anyone. Didn't even want to.


I think I have instilled in my family and finally in myself that we are leaving. So theoretically one more set of holidays and we will be gone.


We went sailing for Christmas 2 years ago. Just me and the boys and it was blissfully relaxing. We were sailing in the Bahamas near Spanish Wells when a front moved through and we were stuck in the same anchorage for 4 days. We read and watched movies and snuggled under the covers it was the best vacation so far. We couldn't go anywhere or do anything off the boat.





I admit that I get a bit wrapped up in the planning and execution of an event or trip or hell just about anything. When that was taken away and I had no choice but to just be and let nature take it's course it was very freeing. I hope that when we move aboard and get on our way that there is more of just, being.


This a link to a cool web sight where I have a couple of pics located as does my awesome father inlaw whose pictures are often here on my blog. If you search for a photo called forgotten at the beach, you will find me. I think if you search Waddy Thompson you will find my PAPA!





http://www.jpgmag.com/themes/8

Robert and I started the removal of my galley and salon. WHOOOOPEEEEE!

I wanted to set fire to the table but he wouldn't let me. He said he could recycle the wood. More on this project soon.

I am a very bad blogger!!!

It seems I only post when I'm really bored or have something to complain about.

Well this isn't really a complaint. Just a conundrum. Is that a word?

To cook or not to cook that is the question?

I always end up cooking on the holidays. I do enjoy it. But should I be automatically expected to? The economy here is very suckish! I really can't afford to do it all this year. Do I tell everyone exactly what to bring or leave it up to them? If I leave it up to them I will be stressed out that we won't have something and then I will make that too. Then we might end up with double and I have spent the extra money. I know I'm a mess. I have serious control issues!

Reason # 64

It has to be something about entertaining guests. Like never being responsible for a big meal cruisers pot luck everything.

This is definitely south Florida at it's best!

One of the things I think I will miss most when we finally go cruising is all of the silly American Holiday traditions. Halloween means many different things in different countries. In America is seems to be geared toward spending money. There are however a few traditions that I love. Trick or treating and carving jack-o-lanterns especially. Even these require you to spend money unless you can grow your own pumpkins. And God knows kids today often don't want to wear a home made costume. My children are about half and half. Some years they have a favorite character that they want to be and many A year they have come up with some truly original creations of their own. Robbie announced that he wants to be a 4 armed man this year. Two in the front and two in the back so that he can get twice as much candy. I of course countered with "what that really means is we can go to half as many houses". However he hasn't wavered. But time will tell he usually changes his mind 2 or 3 times.

The boys carved jack-o-lanterns yesterday and we had a bit of a competition going.

Which one do you like best?

This is our cat she is not black but she can be kinda scary!

Cool pics PAPA!

The Caloosahatchie River

Do you ever feel like your just marking time? Swimming up stream? Running in place? Getting no where fast? Watching paint dry? One step forward two steps back?

And my favorite.

Hurry up and wait!!!



I am always doing something. For some one. It seems though that the things that I want to see done the most get put off for later. I'm not even sure what those things are most of the time. I take care of my husbands grandmother, my Mom, go on field trips, take Robbie to practices, meetings, and appointments. Pay bills, handle all letters, correspondence, and birthday and holiday presents and cards for EVERYONE in mine and my husbands family. I'm an awesome aunt who lately has attended many a volleyball game and even a Brownie tea party. I pick up nieces and nephews from after school events and deliver them safely home. I am the President of my local Woman's club where I plan and run meetings and committees. Volunteer to work at many an event. Write news letters and news paper announcements. Watch the budget and make repairs on the club house.

These are all of the things I do because I want to. Not the ones I do because I have to. You know work, cook, clean, and don't forget the ever growing pile of laundry.

But what about me? I read in the middle of the night when it's quite and the house is still. Exercise? That's funny. When should I do that. Oh wait I could get up early and go before they get out of bed and before I go to work. Then maybe I could nap in class. Like the kids do. I started a Quilt, for Robbie, years ago maybe I can give it to him as a wedding present. The yard I was always so proud of has been taken prisoner by the weeds. But I'll get to that tomorrow. Now I have wasted my 30 free minutes and I must go do the dishes.



I think I'm just cranky, hormonal, and tired.

This is a desert rose in my front yard and some cool anchors.

Reason # 63

to sail off into the sunset.

The economy sucks! It's cheaper to live on a boat.

Has everyone been keeping up with this whole bail out plan? This is some of the craziest sh$#@ I have ever seen. Why would we want to give all this money to people who can't seen to run their own business. I read a thing that said if they divided the bail out money between every legal American adult, even if we then paid taxes on it, each person would get over 100 thousand $. I think that would fix the economy for sure. We would all pay our mortgages and those companies wouldn't be in so much trouble. Not to mention all the dead beat dads that would be forced to pay ALL of their back child support. It would be deducted right off the top! You don't even want to get me started on parents who don't support their children.

I think I want to move to Nicaragua.

And now a picture to make us smile.

Family Bliss!

Talk to you soon.

This is the Caloosahatchie River 4Th of July. Pics by Waddy!

So I noticed I have not had any reasons to go sailing since April.

#61

No frogs at sea. It has started raining here in sunny south Florida. But here far inland away from the beach and surf in the swamp that we call home when the rain starts in earnest so do the frogs. They croak and poop and lay eggs everywhere. I don't know which is worse the noise all night long outside my window or the poop all over my porch and windows. Then there is my favorite the frog eggs and tadpoles in my pool. I HATE FROGS!

#62

I helped my friend rearrange her living room today then I came home and thought "I should move my....." and you know what that is something you never have/need to do on a boat. Move heavy furniture. We as women have an urge to move furniture. I Guess when we move aboard I will have to redirect that need. hmmm wonder what that could lead to. I guess I can always paint.

I got a message from Free Spirit they are in Virginia and all is well. I am so jealous. Then Oreneta is temporarily in Canada from Spain and of course the Admiral has already managed to go sailing. Maybe I need to find A boat to crew on!

Happy Sailing guys

Terrie

I didn't get to go. AAHHH to bad.:) Sumer time thunderstorms came up. I did get the pool cleaned though. No air pics.

This is my lilly pond.

This little hummingbird was seen at my husbands grandmothers.

Both pics by Waddy.

I just want to drop a quick hello and tell everyone that we had an awesome 4Th of July! There were more fireworks set off at my house than by the city. It looks like we had a major battle out front of my house. Maybe it will rain hard today and wash away all the remnants. I had quite a few people over. My sister and brother. My sister in-law,Roberts sister. My bestest friend Sallie and her crew. About 20ish. You know the normal around here. It was great! I did miss those of you out roaming. Oreneta, Free Spirit, and Dreamer. Hope you are all well.

My husband has finally talked me into going flying with him today in his little 2 seater plane. He has been flying for years and I have never been up with him. I tell him it is like the president and vice president being on the same plane. It's just not done. But my son is off with my niece who is visiting from West Virginia at my moms and it is a pretty day and I had no excuses readily available. DAM. SO I am meeting him at the local airport in a little bit. He will bring the plane in from its little private airport that houses it outside of town. So if I don't check in in the next couple of days send someone looking for me. It takes a few days to walk out of the Glades I'm told. I will take my camera and post some pics later.

Where Oh Where are you tonight?

Well this is the second time I have typed this post. Lets see if I can get it right this time!!

I know that I am a lousy blogger!

Baseball season is over. BOOHOO. I love Little League. Little man and one of his buddies are going to baseball camp next week at FGCU university. Super cool. I'll keep you posted on his Major League status.

This is a talent he is working on in case baseball doesn't pan out.

Then of course there is skateboarding at the X-games.





I love him no matter what. Aren't we cute?


I attended a convention for GFWC LaBelle Community Woman's Club in Orlando Florida. As much as my son is convinced we did not spend the weekend riding roller coasters or hanging out at the water park. We did have some fun and a lot of education.

This is me pretty in pink with Lynn and Marion from our club while at convention.




I threw my son the most awesome 8Th birthday party he ever had last weekend. I'm not sure if we have completely recovered.

These are the cupcakes Robbie and I made to take to school.

This is the super cool cake I made for the big party.

We had about 30 people show for the big day.

One of the things Robbie got for his birthday is this slip n slide type contraption that you are supposed to be able to skin board on. Supposed is the key word.

Casey shows them how.

Courtney and Miken

We told him that's not how you do it.

Emily says YUM!

Sallie and I sure love a party.

Robbie you sure had some pretty girls at your party!

So, your officially 8 years old.

Happy Birthday KID!!! We love you!!!

HEY

Well I've read 4 books recently. Two by Ken Follet who wrote Pillars of the Earth. Hammer of Eden was about a terrorist cult group that threatens to trigger an earthquake if the government doesn't cooperate with their requests and Code to Zero which was written a bit differently. A man wakes up in a public bathroom dressed like a bum and he can't remember who he is. Through his search to find out why what and when he discovers that he is a secret agent and that there is a plot to destroy the space program. Yep you guessed it he saves the day.

I liked them both but Pillars of the Earth was much better. I also finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. GREAT!!! I loved the depth of these characters. The strength of the women. The 4th eludes me just now it has been more than 24 hours and I Didn't write it down. I checked out the Secret Life of Bees. What kind of secrets could bees have? We'll find out.

Little league is going great. I like soccer but I LOVE baseball. So I am spending a lot of time at the ballpark.

It is getting really hot here and it makes you kinda lazy and your brain and body don't always want to do the same things. I want to spring clean but it's to dam hot. I need to work on the boat but it's way to hot. Maybe I'll just read a book.

a

watermellon cannons

We sure had big fun on Saturday! We launched watermelons. Watermelons you say? How do you do that you might ask? Well first you need a high tech watermelon cannon with an 8 inch barrel. Then you need a box full of watermelon and an air compressor. Which we happen to have on hand.

My father in law ,whose pictures you often see on this blog, with the help of my husband Robert built an air cannon several years ago to compete in the Punkin Chunkin World Championship. I can't make up something like that here's their web sight http://www.punkinchunkin.com/gallery2002.htm you have to check it out the cannons name is Spooky Bazooky if you look in the 2002 photo gallery that was the year I went. There are some cute pics of Robbie about age 2 in a wheel barrel. Spooky Bazooky is bright blue and there are many pictures of it.

Anyway my father in law is often invited or hired to come to events to entertain guests with the cannon. In Florida pumpkins are hard to come by so we shoot watermelons. Last Saturday Alico Ranch had it's annual company picnic with over 400 people attending and those cowboys love the cannon. I think this is the 3rd year we have launched there. I used to be the ranch chef there and I really enjoyed attending the picnic without having to do all the work it takes to feed that many people.

http://www.geocities.com/acmemelonmusketco/ This is an old home page for the cannon it is out of date but has neet pictures.

http://nfttu.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html if you go to this blog Waddy is talked about in the post labeled gambling with vegetables. This was kinda the start of his obsessions with launching melons.

Waddy was also an expert on the show Junk Yard Wars. They did an episode about air cannons.

http://jyw.tacorp.net/interviews/waddy.html This is an interview with Waddy.

I have to confess that launching watermelons is addictive and that my entire family counts themselves as Melon Musketeers.

We love you PAPA!

This is Robert and Robbie loading the cannon last Saturday.

Were at #60 reasons to go sailing!
To show my son the world before he's to old to know what he's looking at.

Were going to the boat yard today to help a friend maybe and our friends S.V.Dreamer are back stateside and coming to the yard next week to haul out and maybe they will let me help them work on their boat! yah Inspiration!