It was a great day on the outer banks for a parade.

The weather was perfect for the annual Kelly’s St Patrick‘s day parade in Nags Head NC. The parade is a gaudy affair and just about any one that wants to be in it can. It’s a time to bring the kids and pets and just have fun. Another reason winter on the Outer Banks is a great time.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Waterford Ireland

In 1915 my grandfather Ralph Lee, grandmother Annie and their 4 children William, Louise, George and Elizabeth traveled to Liverpool England and boarded a ship called The St Louis and left their home in Ireland behind. Eight years later my father Ralph was born in Baltimore Md. It’s St. Patrick’s Day and I salute my Irish roots. I never met my grandfather but my grandmother was a good strong woman and I miss her. Some day I will make it to Ireland and I will visit Waterford, my grandfather’s birthplace and Londondarry my grandmother’s Birthplace. A toast to all the Irish and to all those who wish they were!!

I just cant let this one go

It seems a couple decided to pay off their credit card and Homland Security was set in to action. Its kinda funny and very scary.

Scripps Howard News Service

We have had wonderful weather here on the Outer Banks this week. The daffodils are in bloom, the live oaks have shed their leaves and many of the hard wood trees have a red tinge to them, a sure sign of spring and a promise of green to come. This time of year is very busy. Businesses are reopening for the season, home owners are down to prepare their homes for the rental season and folks like me are busy in their yards cleaning up and preparing for the season to come. It’s hard to stay inside. It’s hard to remember this is volatile time of year and that the weather can change at the drop of a hat. The most destructive storms to hit the Outer Banks have happened in the fall and spring, the times of transition. I love this time of year on the Outer Banks. The beaches are still wide open and there is still a sense of quiet not the hubbub noisy feel of the tourist season. Well I’m off to the yard the weather is getting ready to change. There is a promise of much needed rain and then the temperature is expected to fall.

Seasons on the Outer Banks are marked by the birds that fly here. In the fall we see lines of geese and duck in the spring we see man made birds like Cessna’s and Piper’s. I caught this one landing on the small air strip behind the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills

Nice day for flying.

• It’s hard to believe that it’s Wednesday already. I had a good visit with my #2 son this weekend. I saw just enough of him to make me happy and he got to see his bud’s. He seems happy in Greenville but he will most likely be back this summer after all Greenville is a college town. Oh well…

• For the past 2 months I have been going to the gym at least 3 times a week for an hour each time. I have been running the dogs at least every other day. I have been trying to eat right and sleep more; I even had my yearly physical (admittedly 5 years late). I thought I was feeling more energetic and aside from a cold last week it seemed as if my stamina was up. With all this behind me I decided to tackle yard work! Folks I don’t care how many exercise machines I used, how many weights I lifted, how many miles I walked, hoeing and turning that little 8 foot by 16 foot patch of ground that I garden in, along with picking up and trimming tree branches and just cleaning the yard after a winter of disuse beat my butt. Motrin and Tylenol are my friends. My yard work is not done and I can’t waste today, this is day 2 of 4 days in a row that I have off and my goal is to get the peas and lettuce in and to fertilize the yards. I’m planting about a week early for this area but it’s been a warm winter and I’m betting it will be ok. That easy chair will look good this evening.

D'Oh!

While listening to the radio show Wait Wait -- Don't Tell Me! this morning I heard about a survey in which 28% of the American public could name the 5 members of the animated TV series the Simpson’s but only 1 in 1000 (1/2 of 1%) could state the first 5 articles of the bill of rights.

I’m sorry to say that I’m one of the 28% who can name the Simpson’s (I know the name of just about every “regular “ character on that show) and one of the 99.5% who cant tell you what the first 5 right’s in the bill of rights are. I feel that is kinda sad so today I am posting on my blog a brief summery of the bill of rights with a link to both the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution.

I pose this question. If we as a society don’t know what our rights are, how will we know when they are threatened?

Bill of Rights - The Really Brief Version

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are summarized below.

1Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition 2 Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia. 3 No quartering of soldiers. 4 Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures 5 Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy 6 Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial. 7 Right of trial by jury in civil cases. 8 Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments 9 Other rights of the people. 10 Powers reserved to the states.

Read the complete text of the Bill of Rights.

The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution can be found at this and many other web sites http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/

My #2 son called me last night and the conversation went something like this: “Mom Max and I are coming to the beach” my reply “When” to that he answered enthusiastically “Tonight”. “Well that’s nice how long are you staying” I said. “Just until tomorrow evening” he said. “Well it will be good to see you” I said. “Well I wont be in until late and I do have to see so and so and I have to do this and that. ………….” He went on to say. To tell you the truth I stopped listening when he said I wont be there until late “I expect to at least get a “hi” from you” I said sternly. “Oh you will I’m going to stay at your house and mom can I bring my laundry you have to pay to get it done here all they have are laundry mats”

Kids gotta love em.

This week a 14 year old young man became so despondent that he took his own life.

When I heard this, an intense sense of sadness swept over me. He is not the first young person whose name I knew to do this. This is not the first time I was nearly over come with the need to go to my own children look in their eyes and tell then that death is so final. There is no hope in death. That in all but a few cases death is not the best choice. That no matter what any of them may do I would always love them.

I do not know what drove this young man to do what he did. My heart goes out to his parents and family. I want to say I empathize with them, that I understand what they are going through but I know I never really can.

I will talk to my youngest when I see him today. I will ask him questions in roundabout ways trying to get a feel for what he is feeling. I will hug him and be thankful.

Carbon Monoxide, the FDA and us (US)

I like meat and this kind of bugs me......

Food Product Design - FDA Reinforces Safety of Carbon Monoxide in Modified-Atmosphere Packaging
FDA Asked to Prohibit use of Carbon Monoxide in Red Meat

Might make you think twice about those prepackaged packs of hambuger at the local Food Lion

why I love my dog's........

their just so cute

(she knows she 's not suppose to be on the couch; she's trying to ignore me)

tagged by a cold

Saturday night I went to work feeling just fine, did my 12 hour shift, went home took a shower and went to bed. When I awoke Sunday afternoon I had a stuffy nose and did not feel that well but I wasn’t sick enough to miss work. That changed by the time my Sunday night shift was over. Folks I haven’t had a real cold in a long time and I don’t ever want another one. I spent my three days off in bed and today I’m feeling better but not well enough to go to work. I have sent my son to get more Puffs (with lotion) Lysol spray and orange juice. Today I will piddle around the house do a little laundry, watch some movies, try to read my book (not easy with a cold) and just get my (roll of the eyes) strength back. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to go back to work. Working PRN has its draw backs and no sick pay is one of them.

(hopefully I have not "tagged" anyone with this cold)

Meme of Fours

A week or so ago I was tagged by Tony Plutonium for a “game” called Meme of Fours well here goes

Meme of Fours

Four jobs I've had: among the many jobs I have had: I spent a summer as a farm hand picking tobacco; I have been a waitress, retail manager and an interior painter

Four movies I can watch over and over: there are so many but these make me feel good; the Indiana Jones trilogy (I count them as one because I watch them one after the other) The Mummy (the Brandon Frazer one), Robin Hood Men in Tights and Space Balls (I love Mel brooks)

Four television shows I love to watch: I watch very little TV and I don’t “love” to watch any shows but I do like; “Stargate” sci-fi channel, “Modern Marvels” on the history channel, I like a new show called “Dirty Jobs” the Discovery Channel and the “Dog Whisper” on animal planet.

Four favorite dishes: a new favorite Scallops Portabella found at MAXWELLS ON THE BAY in in Naples Fl, spaghetti, my aunt B’s fruit salad and just about anything Mexican

Four websites I visit daily: Netscape news, NPR, Dark Horizons, and by-art.com (I like to play Mahjong). Of course from these web sites and the blogs I visit god only knows where I will end up and how long I’ll be a surfin.

Four places I've been on vacation: My guys love the Outer Banks beaches but we love to visit family and friends and have been many places including New Orleans, Niagara Falls, Philadelphia and my all time favorite Willis VA

Four places I'd rather be: I am very satisfied with the life I have now and other than being closer to family there is only one place I would rather be and that is sitting on a rock on a hill on my four acres in Willis VA

In keeping with the spirit of the game I am tagging these four blogs that I like:

Blue Ridge blog
Blue Ridge Muse
Fragments from Floyd
View from the Ridge (this guy gives me some good info on what is going on on the OB and I would like to know more about him).

the road side stalker

Picture this a small flock of snowy white egrets on a small quaint fishing dock with the bright morning sun reflecting off their white feathers making the birds appear to glow. Would that not be a beautiful shot? Well that’s the shot I went for this morning but the egrets would not cooperate. They are shy birds and would not let me get with in a 100 feet. I tried twice following them from the fishing dock to a boat dock. I tried to “sneak” up on them at the boat dock but when they saw me they must have thought enough was enough and flew off into the marsh. I must have been a sight to the folks traveling up and down the busy road, a woman dressed in exercise pants and a tee shirt wearing flip flops caring a camera stalking a bunch of birds. But who cares it’s a beautiful day on the Outer Banks and today I don’t have to work so if I want I can stop on the side of the road and stalk birds.

snow day

yard shots

dogs eating snow

snow everywhere but here

In Dare County today is a snow day. Early this morning we got a dusting of snow but with the temperatures in upper 20’s to lower 30’s there will be slick spots on the roads, Dare County has no salt trucks so they did the correct thing and cancelled school. The really bad part of this snow day is that this snow is not the kind of snow you can play in, its wet and there isn’t much of it so the kids will be stuck inside “board” and then they will most likely have to make up the lost day on Saturday. Oh well it is pretty.

The dogs have discovered that they like the taste of snow. Looking out my window I see them grazing on the snow like cows graze on grass, this is funny.

Well folks the lion of March has hit the Outer Banks a few weeks early or is it that winter has finally come a few weeks late. Either way it cold out there, 29 degrees with a wind-chill of 19 degrees. The wind should lie down as the day progress and with low humidity it should be an OK day for quick trips outside.

I have lots to do this next few months my #2 son has moved out again and my #1 son has laid odds that he will be back by summer so I figure I have a few months to get my house back in order. March 15^th is the beginning of planting season here and I’m going to try peas and lettuce (again) so I need to prepare the soil. I bought my first bit guarding “stuff” the other day, composted manure. I have told myself that I would not be spending a lot on the yard this year but I really want to put some more rock around the house and there is a spot under the deck that I want to place a nice wooden swing bench I bought at a yard sale and I have some cool solar lighting ideals……..

I’m glad to hear that the Cheany thing has died down a bit. I’m in NO way republican but it was a hunting accident. 24 hours is not too long for news of a shooting to get out. The patients well being is of first concern then the police have to notified, all hospitals are required to report shootings and dog bites, and the process takes time. Then you have to conceder the patient’s right to privacy. I will admit I did gloat a bit and the comedians had a field day but as Jon Stewart said if the guy died the story would become brechtian

I'm back

black skimmers in flight

a cool calm friday
hot day at the zoo on Saturday

cool choppy day at the beach on Monday
taken from the Naples fishing pier

I’m back. It’s been a whirlwind 2 weeks. I left for Naples Florida a week ago Thursday (the 9^th). In that time I have spent 5 nights and 4 full days in Naples plus a day and a half in various air ports. Before I left and since I have been back I have been working my bummies off, this is the first I have been able to sit down and write!

Naples was nice. For me the weather was almost perfect although it did get kinda hot on Saturday. You could not have asked for nicer people. The people we meant in shops and restraints were friendly in a genuine way, I am told that by the end of the season that changes a little. The beaches there are beautiful. Wide and white and on most days the water has a aqua blue look to it and it just laps at the shore. I did not see any of the pounding waves we have here on the Outer Banks. I did go to the beach on one of the rougher days and saw a few folks try and surf but there really was not a whole lot to surf on. My oldest son would have liked the clear waters for snorkeling but I don’t think any of my guys would have liked the surfing.

Traffic in and around Naples was bad. It took me an hour to travel the 20 miles to the beach but I am told that February is the busiest month and many of the locals stay home. Sounds a lot like the Outer Banks in mid July and August.

I had a good time in Naples thanks to a great friend and her family and I will go back.

Weather on the Outer Banks has been nice and I have been spending any “free” time outside. I love this time of year when its not raining the days are crisp and bright. The air smells of sea salt and the cars and homes get a thin film of sea spray on them even those like mine that are 4 miles fron the ocean. What I like most about this time of year though is that it’s not as crowded. President’s day will bring a little trickle of visitors here but until Easter the Banks are for the “locals”.

Tomorrow I’ll be heading Naples Florida. Leaving the beach for the beach. Hummm.

I am looking forward to seeing a really good friend and I’ve never been to Naples and change is good so I should have a good time.

Where has the time gone? Its Sunday already, Super Bowl Sunday at that. I would say that my family in PA is happy at this point Pittsburgh is up 14 to 3. We are 5 days into February Punxsutawney Phil has forecast 6 more weeks of winter which I guess makes sense seeing how the first day of spring is March 20^th and that’s just a little over 6 weeks from now. I never did trust that rodent’s forecast but I do like the movie “Groundhog Day”. (Damm I’m glad I’m not a foot ball player, Sea Hawk player 86 just got hit hard!) Well anyway things here on the Banks have been good weather wise, this morning was sunny but it was windy and with a temperature of 45 degrees that made it a bit cold but it was good weather to fly a kite. Now you would not find me flying a kite this time of year but the folks in this picture seemed to be having fun.

Well back to the game. Go Pittsburgh!!

Addendum: I have some happy family members, half of them would have been happier if the Eagles had made it to the Super Bowl and one would have liked to have seen the Cowboys there

There be faries

In the US developers sometimes have to work around wild life but in Scotland a land developer had to redesign his development so as not to disturb the fairies that are thought by some local folks to live under a large rock. It happened in November but we in the colonies seem to only just now be hearing about it. faries

The bush speeks

I’m one of those people who gets a lot of her news from places like the “ the Daily Show” and “Wait Wait -- Don't Tell Me!” so I felt that it was my “obligation” to listen to the presidents speech last night. I wanted to hear “it” from the horse’s mouth without any outside influence. It was hard for me to listen to, the man opens his mouth and my blood boils, but I will say this, the speech was relatively short less than an hour and he kept his rhetoric to a minimum. He really did not say anything new. He thankfully said little about foreign issues but he did manage to mention 9-11 less than 5 minutes into the speech. He did mention the need to become less dependent on foreign oil and said he would support research but at the same time he said he wants to lower taxes. The democratic rebuttal was pretty much what you would expect; “we somewhat agree Mr. President but it’s not enough”. The governor of Virginia was not the best speech maker but he did not have a lot of time to practice the rebuttal. All in all if you missed the speech, no great loss it was very typical and uninspired.

Now just a little soap box on the tax issue. Democrats have been called tax and spend liberals and to some extent that may be true but at least they spent money they had. Bush is living like someone with 20 credit cards and a check book that thinks as long as you haven’t meant your limit and you still have checks you can spend. Folks if I spent all I wanted and at the same time worked less I would lose my house my car and everything else I own. Get real. I hate taxes as much as the next person but taxes are going to have to go up or this country is going to go bankrupt.

Geese

The weather on the Outer Banks was a bit blustery this morning but these Canadian geese seemed to have faired well. This photo does not give an accurate rendering of how big these animals are nor does it show how beautiful they are. Each year their well known V formation and trumpeting voice are another sign to those of us who live here that the seasons have changed. Although in the 25 years I have lived here I have never seen it, I have been told that at one time the sound was full of wild geese, duck and swan as far as the eyes could see.

this is what happens when I have time to think

Justice And Independence '85 Lyrics

John Mellencamp

He was born on the fourth day of July
So his parents called him Independence Day
He married a girl named Justice who gave birth to a son called Nation
Then she walked away
Independence he would daydream and he'd pretend
That some day him and Justice and Nation would get together again
But Justice held up in a shotgun shack
And she wouldn't let nobody in
So a Nation cried

CHORUS
Oh, oh
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the skies
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everything alright
Can you keep your Nation warm tonight

Well Nation grew up and got himself a big reputation
Couldn't keep the boy at home no, no
He just kept running 'round and 'round and 'round and 'round
Independence and Justice well they felt so ashamed
When the Nation fell down they argued who was to blame
Nation if you'll come home we'll have this family again
Oh, Nation, don't cry

CHORUS

Roll a rock across the country
Everybody come along
When you're feelin' down, yeah, yeah
Just sing this song, yeah yeah

I have been listening to Mellencamp for over 20 years but the album Scarecrow was the first of his albums I ever bought, yes it was an album. I remember how his lyrics expressed how I felt at the time. I had begun to mature and the old rockers just did not “speak” to me. I liked their music but I was drawn to the likes of Mellencamp and Springsteen. I had children in 1985 and had begun to be concerned with US and world issues. To be honest the political atmosphere then like now scared me. As I was listening to my old music I was again moved by what the artists had said in the past. Things have not changed much in the past 20 years. Some of the players have changed but the game is still the same and the American people are the losers.

Today I am at home, awake and nobody knows it. They think I worked last night and that I am now in my bed fast asleep. no one knows that I was called off last night due to low censes and that today I am cleaning my house to the sound of loud rock and roll music and enjoying every minute of it.

There is a certain satisfaction that comes with a good deep cleaning. I like getting into that zone. There is something to be said for being alone, allowed to think uncluttered or for that matter cluttered thoughts that are you own. Allowing your self to listen to music the way it was meant to be heard, in this case loud.

I can guarantee you that at 3pm the phone will start to ring. Kids will start to come home and my time to myself will come to an end and that’s ok, but as soon as I finish my oatmeal brunch I getting back to cleaning and listening to loud music; 3pm will be here before I know it.

Music thanks to Discover Music - Pandora
I was turned on to this music sight by Fred First of Fragments from Floyd

Today started out sunny but as time wore on the clouds came in and now we have rain. I spent most of the day on dog duty. I have 2 large dogs and I can’t walk them together so I take them one at a time. Today I decided to take them to the beach so they could run; unfortunately there were too many people for them to run so they were restricted to a 30 foot rope (rope is tied to his collar, choker is for the lead) . Anyway Trip the girl dog went to the beach when it was sunny and Zeke the boy dog went as the clouds came in. Both times I was fortunate to see lots of pelicans skimming the water and on one occasion two dolphins could be seen (First photo far right). My next Tec toy is going to have to be a camera with a longer lens.

Only 2 more months of winter, spring officially begins March 20^th however if the temperatures could stay like this all year I would be very happy. It’s been kinda like Goldilocks and the Three Bears not too hot not too cold but you know that old Poppa bear Winter is going to show up any time now and things are gonna to change. I keep eying the patch in my side yard that I loosely call a garden wanting so badly to put something in it but knowing it’s not time. This happens every year here on the Outer Banks. It never gets really cold until the end of January beginning of February. Being surrounded by water helps to even out the temperature. If only the summers weren’t so hot.

Midnight flights of thought

As I was preparing for bed tonight I began to think about words. I know thinking about words is not the most normal thing to do before going to bed. Maybe it has something to do with the five hours I slept this morning after working last night and that I am preparing to “make” myself go to bed. My mind is not ready to shut down so flights of thought pass through. So if you wish join me on my journey.

It starts something like this: my two favorite words are epiphany and conundrum. I like the way they roll off the tongue and out of the mouth. I like there definitions:

epiphany

• 2 : an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
  3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery b : a revealing scene or moment

conundrum

1 : a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun 2 a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer b : an intricate and difficult problem

I had and epiphany and it was quite a conundrum. That sentence is an oxymoron. And so the mind continues to throw out words. Rocephin is my favorite sounding word. It’s not a word whose definition gives it character. Rocephin is an antibiotic I just like the way the word sounds. Rocephin. The next flight of thought is that of language and how privileged the human animal is to possess such a variety of languages. How privileged the human animal is to be able to produce so many sounds. How privileged the human animal is to be able to communicate on so many levels. How privileged the human animal is. And with that last thought I’m going to bed hopefully I will not dream of words I will just sleep my brain having already fired its neurons in a haphazard manner through my flights of thought.

January 20, 2006

It’s a nice day on the Outer Banks. On my way to the grocery store I stopped by the beach. As can be seen by these photos it was a good day for fishing. As I was leaving I had a short conversation with a lady dressed in business cloths. Smiling she said “Where else can a person take her lunch break walking on the beach”

• One of the more colorful characters on the outer banks has passed away. Commissioner “Mac” Midgett of Rodanthe on Hatteras Island died on Sunday the 17^th. If they gave him a good Irish wake there would be a lot to say. He was drinker and a fighter but he loved the outer banks and served it well. I think he will be missed. I know the local government channel will be a lot less interesting. I raise my glass to Mac Midgett may he rest in peace.

• It’s a blustery/rainy day on the Outer Banks. My middle son is off work and in the basement building a cat amusement center for his girlfriend. My oldest will most likely get off early he does survey work and if it’s too inclement they will knock off early. My youngest son who has semester finals today and tomorrow was lamenting that he would have to do the mile run inside, today’s test are in weight lifting and shop. Tomorrow will be in English and Geometry

• I’ve had a touch of mountain fever. I get it every year about this time but I’m going to Naples Fl in February so I decided to skip the January mountain trip. The fever returned with gusto yesterday after talking with a friend who lives in Hillsville, VA, and calling a farmer I know to check on my camper. My friend said she came down because a wind storm had come through knocking down trees and causing power outages. Rather than sit in a dark house with nothing to do she came down to the beach. That story should have made me glad not to have gone up there but it just made me take out my building plans. How nice it would be to sit in my cabin with a warm fire and a good book. Sigh…………

• This one is too good to pass up William Shatner of Star Trek fame sold his kidney stone for $25,000 to benefit Habitat for Humanity. I have always liked that man. He will try anything and seems to have fun doing it.

News - Shatner Sells Kidney Stone for Charity - Netscape Celebrity

First "snow"

Last night at work while I was getting report, one of my coworker’s commented that Mrs. So&So said that it was going to snow. Well all I could say was that it was not cold enough to snow but I decided to check it out anyway and since my job is wired to the web I typed in Weather.com and sure enough Mrs. So&So was right. It was going to snow. At around 11:30pm security walked by and told us that the snow “was really coming down out there”. Well I right away said “I’m taking a break” and off I went to the loading dock to see the snow. Now folks I love snow. I like the way it smells and tastes and I like the way it feels against my face and I was a bit excited. That excitement was short lived. The snow was wet and very fine and the temperature was just above freezing. This was going to be nothing more that a nuisance. The snow was very wet so the bridges and overpasses were going to have slick spots on them and I was going to have to scrape the windshield before I went home in the morning. Never the less it was a cause for excitement here (we are in the south folks if this had been a school day school would have been at the very least delayed). This was our first taste of winter.

a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work

Had to do some errands this morning. You know go to the bank, pay some local bill, buy some 2 cent stamps, by the way I got the last sheet of 20 from the Kitty Hawk post office. I guess with the cost of fuel and since they haven’t raised the price for a few years it has to be done but… well here I digress. Anyway as I pulled into the bank in Kitty Hawk I looked at the ocean and saw dozens of boats on the horizon. The ocean was calm with a single fisherman on shore but you know with that many boats out there that the fishing must be good. These are not the best photos my camera doesn’t do the long shots that well.

Did a little panorama of the Wright Brothers Monument. It’s just a good day to be out.

January sunset

I had hoped to get a sunrise on the beach shot this morning and then the sunset on the sound this afternoon but I slept in late today. Any-hoo the sunset was nice and I wish I had been in that boat. It looked like they had some fun.

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. The temperature was in the low 50s and there was only moderate wind. You will see me mention the wind a lot because it’s the wind not the temperature that determines how “cold” it is here on the Outer Banks. It was a good day to be outside. I did some yard work and just enjoyed the fresh air.

Today is another gray day on the Outer Banks. Again the wind is up a little and the sky is over cast with a temperature in the mid 40’s. The UV index is 1. Last night I was talking to one of my coworkers who moved to the Outer Banks from up state New York. Awhile ago I had asked him why he moved here, I always ask people that. His response was that in the winter the sky was always gray where he was from and he wanted the sun. At the time I remember saying that he was in for a surprise, winters on the Outer Banks are also gray. When I asked him last night how he liked the “sunny” winters he responded “well it may not be sunny but at least I can walk outside in a tee shirt”.

Sunday he should get his sun.

This morning there was a hint of sunshine but a front seems to be coming in and with it fog and a damp coolness to the air.

Gold, Panacea, Longevity

The levantre (wind) increased in intensity. Here I am, between my flock and my treasure, the boy thought. He had to choose between something he had become accustomed to and something he wanted to have. (The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho)

A few months ago my youngest son said to me “Mom you have to read this book its great”

When I questioned him on what the book was about he tried to explain but finally said he could not give me an explanation that did the book justice and that I would just have to read it.

Well as is so often the case I did not read the book at that time, I had the holidays coming up. I was working a lot of days (nights). I had journals and magazines I needed to catch up on not to mention I still had not finished the trim around the new flooring I had put in last year. I just did not have time to read.

Before Christmas break I was talking to my son’s English teacher and told her how impressed my son had been with the book’s she had picked out for the class to read and how much he liked that particular book. Well she asked me if I had ever read it. Of course I had not and of course she offered to send it home with my son so I could read it over the holidays. I knew I would not have time but I accepted anyway. There was no way I was going to say no to an English teacher.

The two-week Christmas break came and went and still I had not had the time to read a 175 page double spaced book with an introduction by the author.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was grand-mom day. I was taking my mom to Wal-Mart and then to her doctors appointment and then to run some errands. I had no intention of going into Wally-World. I planed on sitting in the car for the 2 or so hours that she was in the store riding the little motorized shopping scooter. To pass the time I planed to catch up on some reading. I figured I would start with the book. I finished 75 pages in the first 1-½ hours. I started out speed-reading but slowed down and even reread parts of it to be sure what I read sunk in. I liked the characters, I liked the writing style and I liked the story and I thought to myself: the next time my son is so adamant about me reading a book I will do it sooner rather than later. I still have 25 pages to read and I hope the end is not a letdown but even if the end is not great the journey has been. I recommend that any that read this rant read “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho

(To me the partial paragraph at the beginning of this entry explains the basic plot of the book)

January 1, 2006

Day 1 2006 is at this time 16 hours long. I have not had time to reflect on the past or think about the future. That will have to wait. Last night at midnight I had hoped to watch the ball drop on Time Square but patients needs come first and I missed the ball by 1 min 30 seconds. I did not take it too bad after all Chicago would be celebrating an hour latter and I knew I would catch their fireworks. 1 o’clock came but more meds had to be given and fluids had to be changed. California was next, surely I could catch those fire works but it had been a very steady night and the girls and I were taking a break, doing a little chitchatting and to be quite honest I forgot to look. This year I did not get to watch the ball drop On Time Square or pop the cork on the alcohol free “champagne” but I did spend it with some great people doing something I love to do so I guess that’s a good way to start the year. Reflection can wait.

Happy New Year


Well we are in the last few hours of 2005. For many tonight will be a time of celebrating and partying for others like myself there will be work taking care of the people who celebrated and partied perhaps a bit too much. So Happy New Year , be careful and enjoy.

Manteo Waterfront

It’s hard to believe the new year will be here in just 1 more day. I had to go to Roanoke Island today to pay the taxes (yuck) so I thoutht the weather is nice, temperatures in the 50’s and minimal wind, I'm in Manteo so I might as well check out the waterfront. I love this time of year on the Outer Banks.

Merry Christmas

photos of christmas 1989

my 2 boys Christmas 1989

The weather this Christmas day here on the Outer Banks is rainy with a temperature in the 60’s. Warm weather on Christmas is not unusual on the Outer Banks, in fact cold weather is the exception. Looking back on the 25 Christmases that I have spent here on the Outer Banks I can only find one truly white Christmas. There have been cold Christmases. One year the chimney from the wood stove was blown across the frozen Pamlico Sound. That was a cold Christmas spent in a bedroom with a space heater and an infant son. In 1989 we had a truly white Christmas. It snowed the night of the 23rd and all of Christmas Eve. Christmas day was white and cold. . Children played in the snow and meals became impromptu gatherings of neighbors trapped by Mother Nature. Those of us who lived in Colington could not get off the Island. Snowdrifts had frozen a foot deep on the roads and Dare county not having a real need for snow removal equipment had to let mother nature do her work. By the 27th the snow and Ice were gone as too were the coats and gloves.

Last night, Christmas Eve, the boys my mother and I enjoyed good cheer and a “simple” meal of meat, vegetables, bread and pie (the 4 food groups). Movies were watched and all and all Christmas Eve was a great time spent with family.

This morning, Christmas, we broke from tradition still full from or “simple” Christmas Eve meal and by a vote of 4 to 1 we skipped the breakfast at The Jolly Roger. After remembering why Christmas is celebrated, presents were opened hug’s were given and the house was happy. By 10am my oldest announced that he was ready to go back to his house and get some sleep. The middle son wanted to go visit friends. The youngest son wanted to try out his new video games and my mother nicely announced that she to wanted to go home and rest (I think she just wanted to go home and play with her stuff). Per moms request I took her home.

At this time the boys are at their father’s house and will be there for the rest of the day. I’m sitting down at the computer writing to my blog. The house is quiet, the dogs are at my feet and music plays quietly in the background, all is good on this Christmas day

Today is the last day I have to get everything ready for Christmas, I work Thursday and Friday night so Saturday morning will be lost time. We will be having our big Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve this year because the boys will be at their dad’s Christmas evening. Christmas dinner is always a “simple” we will have prime rib, ham, green beans, broccoli, mashed potatoes, fresh bread, fruit salad and pumpkin pie (The only kind pie the guys will eat). My mother will do a lot of the cooking while I sleep but the prime rib is my baby. Christmas morning we will open presents then as we have been doing for many years we will go out for a breakfast feast at the Jolly Roger restaurant. There is always a tinge of gilt associated with the restaurant thing. People are waiting on us instead of being with their families so we compensate them well.
In the evening the boys will go to their dads and I will take mom home. The end of the day will find the dogs and me at home by our selves, the house quiet. I love Christmas.

and the winner is

*And the winner of the “Al be home for Christmas” presented by the NBC Today show goes to the Poulos family right here on the Outer Banks and they deserve it. Their holiday decorations entertained my children when they were young. I have not been by to see it in a few years and my has it grown. I’m going to go by again Tuesday night to see it in all its glory.

*Only one more week till Christmas, I haven’t wrapped the first gift unless you count the ones I sent to my niece’s kids. This last week I usually watch my holiday movies, you know the traditional ones, “It’s a wonderful life”, “The Grinch that stole Christmas”, “Miracle on 34th St.”, “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation” “Die Hard”, while watching these movies I wrap presents and finish any other jobs that need to be done. Come Christmas morning if “its” not done, “its” not going to get done.

*To any who read this have and to those who don’t, have a Great Holiday.

Today is carrot cake day. From theses humble ingredients I make a cake that I must say is quite good. I have had more than one friend say “You are giving out cakes this year, aren’t you?” It makes me feel good to know that something I enjoy doing this time of year, is enjoyed by the people I do it for.

gift of nature

found this December rose in the yard this morning.

*It’s December 11th just two weeks until Christmas. My house is decked out in lights, red bows and a wreath. The Christmas tree is decorated, the porcelain nativity and the lighted porcelain Christmas village are out to be seen. Christmas music plays while I bake cookies, brownies and cakes, my gifts to my friends, neighbors and associates. While baking these gifts is something I enjoy doing, this year its saddens me a little, you see three of my dearest friends and neighbors moved this fall and I sorely miss them.


*While listening to a “Prairie Home Companion” last night, folks you have to turn off the TV it’s a public broadcast radio show, the host was talking about New York and Minnesota winters it brought to mind a story told by one of the ladies I work with;

• My coworker’s sister moved to Minnesota in late October and she went to visit her for the thanksgiving holiday. Well just before my coworker got to Minnesota the weather turned very cold. At the airport the coworkers sister commented the ground must really freeze and effect the plumbing because everyone had outhouses in their yard. Well my coworker found this puzzling until her sister pointed out one of the “outhouses”; it was an ice-fishing house.

Moving day

On my way out of the development I live in this morning I noticed at least 5 police cars with lights on. After quickly checking my speed, inspection sticker and anything else I could think of that could possible get me a ticket, and realizing I was OK I looked for what the problem could be. With that many cops and no firemen it could have been anything. Driving further down the road I noticed a house on the side of the road then it hit me. A friend of mine had bought a house that was going to be demolished and today was moving day. The house was supposed to be moved last week but something happened and I guess today became the day.

Now my friend got a good deal on this house. The house is only 10 years old and cost around $15,000 she spent another $15,000 or so to move it and $20,000 for foundation and other incidentals. So for around $50,000 she gets a house that would cost at least a $100,000 to build. The former owner gets make $15,000 instead of spending god only knows how much on demolishing it and sending it to an already stressed land fill which is better for the environment. It this case my friend wins, the former owner wins, and the environment wins. (of course the former owner is getting ready to build a "McMansion" house on a not so "McMansion" piece of property so we will have to think about the environment thing)