Headin' Out~

I leave tomorrow to spend some time with one of my dearest freinds.
This is roughly where we'll be. (Crystal Coast/Atlantic Beach/Emearald Isle NC)
We'll have our USMC hats on...well see where it gets us! LOL



Hope you all have a great weeekend~

What's on going~

School-
My kids were denied a second time...they will be going to year round school again this year- with no explanation as to why...just kind of "I said so". July 16th is their first day back.

A spikey(?)and unsatisfied letter from me to the Board of Education, the District Atty's office, and the Atty. Generals office (I don't know why that last one would care- but it sounds good!- hell- I might even send a copy to the Governor!)- is in the works. I'll probably go down on my face over this, but I'm not going quietly!

I haven't written a decent thing for any of the stories I've started, and I admit I've been pretty distracted with "life" happening around me. I have been writing pretty faithfully in my journal. And I have completed the campaign stuff for Cadence.

My birthday in May marked my 30th anniversary of keeping a diary/journal. It's fun to go back and read what I was doing 20 years ago...

Want a peek? The closest entry was June 22nd-

"...I didn't exactly get the guy- he was awfully shy. Lord, so much has happened. There's nothing much between Dave and I. I like a guy named Donny at the club, but I doubt it will work. A man named Carter likes me...I think." (I have no idea who the shy guy was, and Dave was in the Army. Donnie did not work out at all. Carter was a mistake- he was- 40...ick)

The last boyfriend I would have (before T) showed up the next day- and we had a lovely summer whirl-wind romance. LOL- I haven' t thought about him in a while. He was wonderful- and if he hadn't gone to North Dakota to go to school in the fall...well, never mind, he did go to ND- and T came back into my life. That is that.

I'm going to step away for a while- except I am going to make a video for Chesca (Kiss on my list, by Hall and Oates) :)

I owe X, and Susan, K-9, Roxann, and Chesca an email. I want to send out cards to some of you too...but with the kids out of school it seems like I run out of daylight and energy long before I should. Mono is running it's course through my neck of the woods- hope I don't have that! (surely not~)

Cadence is still in the hospital- and when I have an update about her- I'll post it- I promise.

Mid-July is when school is back in session- and I'll be sketchy with the blog until then. I will be reading up on you though! I also hope to get some writing of my own done...just not on Mayden's Voyage~

:)

Serene moments-

The beach photos in the last post were taken within a few minutes of each other-
the view in front of us was lovely- but a storm was brewing behind us.
It wan't Hell at all- I was being overly dramatic~

On the other hand- I had just gotten some bad news about Cadence when I posted the photos, and she is very, very ill now. My heart is heavy over her and her family.

For all the suffering this little one has gone through, I have seen some wonderful things happen because of her. I've seen people of all races and colors come together to support a baby they don't know. It's been a remarkable thing to witness.

I've seen people open their hearts, and their wallets...and learn a thing or 2 about the importance of Organ Donation. (If you aren't a donor- would you please consider it?)

Cadence is bleeding, the PICC line wouldn't go in...she's in the hospital again. I don't feel 100% comfortable giving all the private details about her recent admission, but I think it's sufficient for me to tell you that I'm terribly concerned about her.

And above it all- I see how splendidly blessed I am. Healthy kids, a husband who loves me (he does his best- I'm not easy to live with!). My sisters kids are wonderful and well- and love me too. The contrast between my life, and the life of the mother of Cadence is startling.
In some ways- my heart aches all the more for her because of the life I have.

I am most assuredly blessed. And even with the curse of this terrible illness- Cadence is blessed too- to be surrounded by so many who love her. Some kids grow up with perfect health, but are never loved at all.

If you pray- if you know how to send good thoughts- if you meditate in anyway today- whisper a word of Peace and Comfort for Cadence, and especially for her mom and grandparents.

Look around at your life and recognize the good in it. Even if a storm is brewing in the distance...even if you are in the middle of one at the moment- find something good to focus on and be thankful for it.

I am sad today- and yet a nearly tangible peace is draped over me.
Feels like Serenity...not a calm before the storm, but a calm as I watch the storm gather over us and the people I care about.

Thank you all for being such good friends to me~

Trapped~

Between heaven and hell...

Between all that is good and lovely-

Here I am...blessed-

whether I feel it or not...

Elijah Anthony...

Smitten!
My NEPHEW~ ELIJAH ANTHONY :)
Born over the weekend...

Hubbs said, (about the milk)
So CLOSE.....and yet SO far!!!!

LOL!


I watched the sun set...and then took a few pics of my favorite places at home.

This was a special spot in the front yard created for me on Mothers Day a few years ago~

This is the view from the bench- so I can look at all the Lillies I've planted...my favorite flowers-I need to weed and pull those monsterous shrubs out!

Bone posted something that got me thinking. However, if you read him...no surprise there :)
10 years can bring a lot of changes. 10 years ago my kids were almost 2 and 4. My life was stunningly different in many ways, and yet similar in some aspects.

At least one of the Lillies pictured above was growing in my yard. I dug up the bulbs when we moved. I will move these plants with me where ever I go- if they will tollerate the conditions.

This fall I have to dig up the bulbs and re-plant them to keep them from being so compacted- if any of you want some, I'll mail a few to you. There are hundreds of bulbs now- more than enough to share :)

I leave today to be with my kids at their grandmothers house- and I'm taking my laptop with me...nothing like sitting in bed and catching up with all of you when the kids are asleep.

I'll be back soon :)

I feel bad...

The one thing I really want to do is spend several hours reading up on all of you and commenting-
and I can't.

Too much stuff going on with the kids finishing up the school year, problems with the school board not honoring my request to transfer out of year round school.
Hubs in the doledrums. (Even though I'm home? What's up with that?)
Me recovering and catching up on what I missed for the last week.
Getting the kids ready to head to Grannies this weekend...

BLAH!

Today I passed a car that said,
"Zero tollerance for Republicans"

But he was in the Navy, so a Fuc% You didn't seem appropriate.

But really...

No tollerance for those who have a different system of values is not a democracy.

It's so great to be an American. It really is. That Asshat can say anything he wants.

My car says, "God loves you" and "Pray for the troops"-

I didn't flip him off- or blow my horn... I was reminded how foolish people can be- and that I don't have to be one of those people.

I said the Pledge of Allegience today at my daughters graduation ceremony- damn if I didn't get tears in my eyes...
I ALWAYS DO. Even if I say it alone at home.

I'm such a girl.

And such an American.

I hope to catch up with all of you soon. I really do. I miss you.

The rain comes...

The drought is over...perhaps not completely for Florida-

but I think it is for me.

The people I've met, both intentionally and by chance, have "watered" me, and made impressions that will last a long time.

(St. Photios National Greek Orthodox Shrine)

Gwapo- I couldn't help but think of you as I walked through the church... I felt connected to you in a way that's hard to explain- but however it's possible- it felt like you were there with me in spirit...

I'm serious.

(me, at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Augustines)

K9 lives and breathes with a sense of control and awareness that is almost tangible. She is one of those rare people who are AWAKE as they move through life.

Meeting and being with her for several days was a gift...a LIFE gift...a gift of energy. I left her wanting to be a better person...

Thank you friend~

---

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Kate was a gracious and lovely hostess- I loved being in her home every minute we were there. Her family is beautiful. She is a treasured friend. A real desire of my heart is to see her kids, and mine become friends.

I saw this and all I could think of was Pete! I took this photo for him...he was on my mind as I walked through St. Augustines-

It's a real hope of mine that I will get to spend a few days with Aunty Belle before the year is over.- She is a jewel of a lady...with more wisdom in her little finger than I have in my whole person. Her posts are insightful and deep. I felt sad when she left- there was SO much I wanted to talk about with her!

I'm home again- and the drought of kisses and hugs from the kids have been sweet- and hubs was quite happy to see me again too- which is a good thing.

I don't know exactly how my adventure to Florida has changed me- but I know it has. I feel more centered- and unwilling to get caught up in what other people think, or say, or feel- if it doesn't further who I am- or what I want to be.

-

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I can not express to all of you how much this trip meant to me- but I promise you one thing...if ANY of you come close to where I am- I will do whatever I can to meet you. It can be a life changing thing- a bit of spice in a plain old pasta dish...

Trust me-

You DON'T want to miss it!

-

Love and hugs to all of you...especially those I met along the way.

You are each special in your own way- and I thank you.

-Cora :)

So much to say...but not yet-

This is a teaser post- but I have some time carved out this evening to write.
I'm headed to St. Augustine to have a look around- and hope to come back with some good pic's of the city.

Wish I did have a tan like this! Seven would appreciate the topless beach imagery here :)
But- I assure you- I was mostly covered while on the beach!


-
Vero Beach is beautiful~



And the birds are cool :)
Thanks for all the b-day wishes! It was one of the best birthdays I've ever had! I can hardly wait to get back here and post, post, post! :)