PINK SATURDAY

Today is Pink Saturday and I am going to show off my "new" old sofa and it's PINK! The story behind this sofa is: my mom and I picked out this sofa over 20 years ago. My dad had been in an accident and we had gotten a settlement. After everything was paid, dad told us,

"go pick out a new sofa." This is what we picked out. Long story short, mom moved in with my husband and I shortly after 9/11 and sofa went into storage. Three weeks ago, I gave my other sofa away and brought this sofa to it's new home. Now, it feels like home to me. Be sure and checkout Beverly's list for PINK SATURDAY participants! http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com Happy Pink Saturday!!

Something 'bout New Orleans

There is something about New Orleans. I'm not sure I can even put it into words. A lifestyle, a state of mind, an attitude....some of the ways I would describe it. And I feel it.....feel it everytime I go there. One foot in the past, the other foot in the present. The history, the music, the architecture, the people.

Realistically speaking, yes, there are problems there, locals see it everyday, tourists see glimmers of it. It is a city on the rebound from the horrible devastation of Katrina, but they are strong people, people who love their city. And there are tourists; tourists who love the city. I love the city for many reasons. The blend of the old and the new, the "mystique" of day to day living. The Streetcars, the beauty of the beautiful homes that line St. Charles Street, the French Quarter, Cafe Du Monde, Lake Pontchartrain, the jazz and blues--music the heart and soul of the city. I love it all. It is almost too much for me to soak in when I go there. I want to absorb everything. And when I leave, I really miss being there and long to go back again and again.

The last time I was there was just a little over a week ago. It was not a pleasure trip. We were not there for a long period of time. We went on my husband's personal nostalgia tour--to his childhood home which was in the City Park area. Last time we were there was a couple of weeks before Katrina. I always love the drive. Anyway, on this day, we didn't have too much time for a whole lot of anything, so we just went to his former home. It was still standing. The front door bolted shut. The inside of the house was gutted except for the beams holding up the house. We went around back and looked around. At least it was standing. We saw the 9ft water line. My husband was a little sad and happy at the same time.

Sad because of what he saw of his childhood home but happy that it was still there, something in some form of repair, with a future.

We moved along to familiar streets from our other visits--comfortable everyday places. Alas, our time there was too short. But that feeling when we left was making me long for our next visit to see there beauty and heart and soul of that great city. I can't wait to get back to explore New Orleans again!

It's Pink Saturday and I almost forgot!

Here are some pink pictures for your enjoyment today. Don't forget to check out everyone on PINK SATURDAY with Beverly!

We just got back from New Orleans/Baton Rouge on Thursday evening and I'm draggin. Yeah, draggin'. A little slow on the uptake, you know?Good trip and everything, even though it was under sad circumstances and I didn't spend NEAR enough time in NOLA....spent most in Baton Rouge, which isn't a bad place, just not NOLA.

It's been a busy week

The week has been a busy one. We are going to a funeral in New Orleans. We are not there for a fun trip, but I did ask for dinner somewhere on the Quarter and breakfast at Cafe Du Monde. I am hoping there is time for that.

Thursday was my birthday. As my birthday went, it was better than last year's. I cried from my birthday to past July 4 last year because my parent's anniversary was July 4 and with my first birthday without both, I was a basket case. Much better this year.....except.....the world lost two icons that day. Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. My husband went to high school with Farrah. They were in English class together. He has the yearbook where she was voted most beautiful.

May they both rest peacefully now.

I went shopping yesterday for a some sort of sundress to wear in NOLA to the funeral. So I went and tried on thing after thing after thing after thing that just wasn't right. Finally the sales person said "we have these black ones over here." Did I mention that I have an aversion to BLACK, especially at funerals AND especially in sultry heat and humidity?? Then she says..."black is always slimming and you won't be wearing it that long." WHY, oh WHY do people have to mention the "black is slimming" excuse to buy some gawdawful dress that you don't like anyway? Yes, I know I have body issues (rather obvious ones) but that doesn't mean I want to wear black 24/7 365. A cow could wear black but it wouldn't make it look like a 100 lb skinny cow. So.....well, I have other dresses and my color of choice IS PINK....so I will be wearing a pink sundress to a funeral....seems kind of fitting for NOLA. I do have something else I could wear, though.....Anyway, I had to vent about that!

It's hot in my house. We have no a/c right now. Just big box fans and one room with a window unit. They can't come out to fix it until after the 4th. It could be pretty miserable until then!

We will soon be on the road again......so I will be off for now.

Later Gaters!

PINK SATURDAY

I love Pink. If I had my way about it, everything and I mean EVERYTHING in my life would be PINK. But it is not, and I'm dealing with it.

This is my first participation in PINK SATURDAY and I'm really excited! The first picture is a few of my dolls from my doll collection wearing PINK, of course

The next picture is one of my favorite flower: a pink gerbera daisy. It is one of the things that says femininity and summer to me.

For other PINK SATURDAY participants, please go to:http://www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

I LOVE SUMMER!!

I love summer! Let me say it again: I LOVE SUMMER!! Summer is my favorite season. I like the other ones, although my least favorite is winter. That may be one of reasons I love to teach, although waaaaay down the list....summer vacation. Yeah, I know....it's not officially summer yet. There are a couple of more weeks until the OFFICIAL start of summer, but the day school lets out is the day it starts for me. It's refreshing, rejuvenating, restful, and relaxing. I wish I could package this feeling and when I'm down, I could just open a box full of summer and be transformed back to the fun of summer.

What do I like best about it? Vacation. I like to travel and it seems that it is the only time that I can leave and come back without having to deal with weather problems or anything else in other seasons.

I like to do my "spring cleaning" in the summer. Why? Well, it's like this. I am driven to do certain things and my job and family are the things that drive me during the school year. Yes, I neglect my house over doing some sort of school work. I would rather spend time with my husband and other family members than spend time cleaning my house. I admit it. Although, I keep the laundry done and I vacuum the house frequently, everything piles up. Literally.

On top of having TOO MUCH stuff, things pile up and it looks ridiculous. So I spend a week, to the exclusion of everything else, clearing clutter and throwing things away, etc. until things look decent. Last summer, it didn't happen. Not a bit. Between mourning and a shoulder/rotator cuff injury and PT, I got nothing done. Things are a bit out of hand. So next week, I start clearing out. At the end of the week, I will be done and my r&r will resume.

I like sitting out on the deck and watching the birds during the day and stars at night. LOVE IT!

I like eating watermelon in the summer....refreshing! I like the calm, comfortable evenings....the windows open and the breeze blowing throughout the house. The clear blue skies. The warmth of the sun on my face....I even enjoy a storm or two....but no hail or tornadoes! I like going shopping on South Congress in Austin,

Going to the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Going to see TEXAS in Palo Duro Canyon. A trip out to the Cadillac Ranch and the Big Texan. Driving down the highway and trying to find the "corner in Winslow, AZ". Spending time at the beach in San Diego. Going to NYC in July.

So yeah, I LOVE SUMMER. It has just begun. And all too soon, it will be time to return to reality, but in the meantime......HAPPY SUMMER!

BENIGN!!

My second lump is benign!!!!! I'm so grateful! I have to admit to being somewhat more apprehensive this time, not real sure why, except maybe the fact that it came back a second time. The surgeon said I didn't have to come back unless I had any trouble.....so far, no trouble! Now, I am scouring the internet trying to find info on any prevention measures to do whatever I can to make sure I don't have to do this anymore! I will do whatever it takes....WHATEVER!!!!

So I just wanted to share my wonderful, positive news with everyone who might be reading this!

PS...Please pray for Peter Tork, formerly of The Monkees. He started radiation today, but he also got some unsettling news that his head/neck cancer has returned. His website is www.petertork.com and you can find infomation on the HOPE ON bracelets for sale with proceeds going to research on head/neck cancer.

HOPE ON!