1614 E Idlewild Av Tampa FL 33610

This property sold at a public auction. Deed still doesn't reflect this at this time but, it is correct. This can be verified by contacting the Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court. Please stop with all the offers to purchase 'as is'. It sold as is for $230,000

Thanksgiving 2015

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and it made me think a lot about family. I am very fortunate to have two wonderful sons. They are very loving, very sensitive, generous, caring human beings. I am extremely proud of both of them and the lives that they have built for themselves. Having said that, I feel the need to explain why that is such an accomplishment. You see, they didn't have the benefit of an extended family. No cousins, no Aunts or Uncles. Not because they didn't exist. Quite the contrary. There were four Aunts and three Uncles. All of which had 2 to 5 children themselves. My youngest brother and myself were both adopted. So, all but one of the Uncles were not raised with us. However, at the age of 15 I found my birth family and discovered that I had in fact known them as a child because I was told they were my 'cousins.' We would play together on the weekends....then, all of a sudden that just stopped. No explanation given. Just never saw them again until there was a death in the extended family and there they were; at the funeral, all grown. From that point on, I tried to be a part of their world, a part of their life. Often times it felt forced and awkward. But, I ignored it. To me, they were my family. I hadn't abandoned them nor they me so, why shouldn't there be a relationship? But, so many years had gone by. They were just enough older than I to be in a different stage of their lives. While I was in high school, they were getting married or were already married, starting families or already had one.. I liked seeing my nieces and nephews. But, it soon became apparent that I was not 'included' in things. Birthday parties would be planned and unless I happened to drop by on the actual day of, I would never have known it. I would ask if a niece could spend the night and be told no. I would ask if I could take them out with us for pizza and the answer was always no. It was like, no matter how hard I tried to build a relationship and be close with this next generation, it just didn't happen. And so, my sons, were never allowed to get to know their cousins. They barely remember the few times they were around them. What slowly became obvious was that, my "life style" choice obviously didn't match theirs. So it was no wonder then, that I was shunned from those family functions. In turn, my children were shunned. Even my youngest brother that I was actually raised with shunned us and my sons. The only time he would have anything to do with them was if he wanted to have company for his wife's nephew when he visited. Or when, after he had adopted a son, he wanted someone to come and play with him since they lived out in the country and there weren't a lot of playmates around. To give you an idea of how he behaved; our adopted mother would of course invite both our families to Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner. Being a single working parent, I often couldn't afford nor did I have the time to cook an entire Thanksgiving or Christmas meal so, we would all meet up at her house on the appointed holiday. My brother and his family would often arrive after we were already there. Sometimes, they didn't even bother to eat so, why they came, I don't know. But, whether we arrived before or after them, the outcome was the same. My brother would literally lie on the couch as if he were sleeping. Then rise, eat and leave without ever engaging in a conversation or saying so much as 'boo' to me. This went on for many a year until I was finally able to do my own holiday. As the years rolled by, my youngest brother's marriage (as well as the marriages of my two other brothers, ended. All my sisters wound up divorced and remarried except for one. I say this only to show that they were hardly in a position to throw stones at me.) My adopted father passed away leaving our mother alone. It seemed she quickly became my responsibility so naturally, during the holidays she was invited to my home. However, it didn't seem that way. In her mind, I was cooking for her and as such, she felt she could invite anyone she wanted to my home to eat. That being said, here come the brother that never spoke to me, in to my home where he again, ignored my sons, ignored me, barely ate and left. Finally, I said no more and told her. She then refused to come at all...instead I had to carry a plate of food to her house where she would eat alone. Fast forward till now. That brother passed away not long after she did. My other two brothers...one is in Nevada and the oldest one right here in Florida. They sort of speak on Facebook. I say sort of because it is never anything to personal. Mostly postings about their beliefs and politics which in a nutshell reconfirm what I've always known, and that it that 'my kind' should have zero rights and privileges and if possible, be eliminated from the earth. With that being said, you can imagine how I felt when my own with a heart of gold, reached out to my oldest brother in the way of a birthday wish in which he jokingly stated that he had missed his birthday but, doubted at his age he would notice and then continued on with what he thought was funny. My brother on the other hand felt it was 'critical humor' and immediately and unceremoniously blocked him on Facebook. No explanation, no warning, nothing. Of course, I called to find out what had happened. He launched into a tirade when I called him about how he felt it was inappropriate humor that he just 'didn't want on his timeline' and how if it were his son, he would have done the same thing. Of course, I laid it on thick that my son was 'hurt' by his actions when in truth, it was I that was hurt. My son, having never really known his Uncle, and going by how the ONE Uncle he did know behaved, imitated him. Whoops. But, as misguided as that was, my brother's behavior was over the top and boarded on being dictatorial. I came away from the conversation feeling like in the long run, he did both my son and I a big favor. We may have gone on for years thinking he was some terrific person when in fact, he is an ass hole. It is amazing to me that I could have two brothers, not raised together and they are both the same in a lot of ways. I am not even going to be surprised by what the third brother ever does. In short, I am very thankful for my two sons and my three grandsons. More importantly, I am thankful that as time marches on, people I have thought of as "family members" are showing me that they are anything but. I am thankful that I don't have to continue this lie anymore and can appreciate the unselfish love of my friends and church and yes, my family of choice.

Can you help find his old war buddies?

Can we help him find his old war buddies? Retired Pfc. John Knowles, who lives in Bonaire, Georgia, served in North Africa and Italy during the war. He shipped overseas in 1942 and spent nearly three years fighting with the 34th Infantry Division, 135th Regiment, 3rd Battalion in I Company. http://bit.ly/HelpJohnKnowles

UPDATE: JOHN KNOWLES BORN DEC 1923 PASSED AWAY APRIL 2019 IN BONAIRE GEORGIA

MERCEDES HIT AT INTERNATIONAL MALL TAMPA FL

MERCEDES HIT AT INTERNATIONAL MALL If you were at International Mall June 7th 2015 and this is your #Mercedes: ‬, this is the car (left) that demolished the full drivers side of your new car. According to one Cedric Britton on Facebook, who was able to take this picture, "she pulled in coming down the wrong way and tried to make it work. She hit it hard enough to push it over in the space. She was gone in less than 30 seconds."

NELDA REEDER GIDDENS

GIDDENS, Nelda Marie Reeder, 87, of Tampa, passed away on Friday, May 31, 2013. Born in Hillsborough County, she
spent her teen years on the family farm in Darby, FL.  She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years,
Roland Giddens, Sr. She is survived by her daughter, Darlene House (Lorissa Pfaff), her son, David Giddens, 2 grandsons;
Daniel (Joyce) and Dane Giddens, and 2 great grandsons; Jullian and Deven Giddens; The family will recive friends between
12:00 - 1:00 pm on Monday, June 3, 2013 at the Garden Of Memories Funeral Home, 4207 E. Lake Ave. Tampa. A graveside service will begin at 1:00 pm at the Garden of Memories Cemetery. Rev. Dr. Kathy Rooke;officiating.  In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Melech Hospice House in her honor. postscript: Daniel and Dane Giddens are the sons of Darlene House.

SPOTLIGHT TODAY MAGAZINE: FREE LARGEST GLBTQ TRADE PUBLICATION

From the largest company in the world creating books for Kings, Queens, FTM/MTF entertainers, androgynous performers, and drag show promoters, comes A GLBTQ trade publication with over 300 contributing writers, a database of 5,260+ entertainers in 32 countries. The Infamous Todd Kachinski Kottmeier has created this trade publication, the largest of its kind in GLBTQ history, about the art of being an illusionist. This is absolutely FREE to all of you to read and 100% of the ads go to supporting the Food Pantries for the Poor Program. As with any project he creates, it cost you the reader, nothing but a place in your heart. Thank you Todd for all you do and continue to do! 

http://issuu.com/toddkachinskikottmeier/docs/spotlight_today_spring_2012

DAMN THAT OBAMACARE

Dear Mr Huckabee:  Because of the healthcare overhaul, 2.5 million more people between the ages of 19 and 25 are now insured.  I guess President Obama personally rammed this pretty far down your throat because even with a gazillion ads running every ten minutes for over a year, it still happened.

Homebuilding 101

Back in 1999 my house burned down.  Since I owned my house out right, I decided to rebuild on the
lot. I went to  one of the oldest builders in the area.  Right off the bat, I asked them if they
employed their own people or if they hired subcontractors. I was told they had their own crew so I signed
the contract.  According to this builder, since I was having a "small" 3 bedroom, 2 bath house built, they estimated once the permit was pulled, it should only take them 4 or 5 months to complete. In the intrim period my home-owners insurance was putting me up in another house, fully furnished and would do this for up to one year so I felt safe that there was plenty of time.

Within two weeks, I was called back in to this company to sign a paper by the same salesman that had written up the contract in the first place. According to him, he wasn't suppose to say that it would be 4-5 months even though he was sure it would be and wanted me to sign a waiver that let him off the hook 'just in case.' Of course, being naive, I laughed and signed. After all, they had a year. Even if it took six months, I'd be good.

What they didn't tell me was that the waiver encompassed EVERYTHING the salesman had said to me which turned out to be that they DID subcontract. So, my little house wound up taking literally the entire year to build. Not only could they not get a crew together timely, they apparently couldn't, according to the notes from the city inspector, follow directions. So when you added all the delays and lack of workers, etc., it really did take an entire year.

Before you move in, you have to literally sign off on the house with a walk thru. So here I am with my insurance rental expiring in two days and having to sign off on the house just so my family wouldn't wind up on the street homeless.  To say there were things that were not right, is an understatement and certainly material for a much longer blog. And of course I made them write it down with a promise to come back and fix, etc., but, I still had to sign off to get in the house.

However, the purpose of this particular post is to vent about what has over the years become a joke. When we moved into this new home, it came with a yard full of sod. That lasted all of one year before it literally died. I fertilized, I watered, I weeded, I did everything you are suppose to do to your yard but, nothing worked. I finally gave up and let it be whatever it was to become...a mix of grass and weed. Then we decided to put in a flower bed and as we started to dig, we hit something. Turned out to be a bucket full of beer cans. Yep, a giant paint bucket filled with empty crushed beer cans. And so the jokes began. You cannot dig anywhere on my property that you don't find something....left over cement, roofing tacks, a bucket of screws, etc., Not surprising when you look back at it to know why the grass died. Apparently they dumped dirt over the entire job site and thru the sod on top of that. But after 12 years, I would like to think I have found everything there is to find. T'was not to be. I went out today to plant a small shrub my mother gave me. I used my trusty spade and before I could scoop out the second scooper full, the dirt turned orange and I hit something. But this time, I went in and got a camera. This is what I dug out of one hole...

 The point of this rant is this...if you hire this company that has been in business since 1955 to build a house for you, or if you buy one that they have built on one of their lots, have an inspector to go over everything including the yard with a metal detector. It will save you in the long run. I can only imagine what they will find someday when I put that inground pool in.  Maybe the body of that salesman...I noticed he turned up missing not long after I signed that waiver......

Huckabee and the repealitnow.org scam.

I am so sick of these commercials! Mike Huckabee has the balls to say that Obama passed his healthcare in an undemocratic way behind closed doors. I have to question where he was when George W Bush was president. Talk about things being done behind closed doors!!! We will never know ALL the damage done by Bush during our lifetime as it takes a long time for that much schit to roll downhill.   This we do know Mike! Under Bush the debt went through the roof thanks to his illegal war. Where were you then? I am not going to retry all that Bush did in this rant. I just want to say one thing. MIKE HUCKABEE SIT DOWN AND SHUT THE HELL UP!

Hello This is Cancer Calling

I have a tendency to read random blogs. Once I find one that strikes a familiar cord, I stick with it. These people, even though some I have never met, wind up becoming more than just a blog to me. They become, dare I say, friends? That is how it feels to me anyway. I read the goings on in their life; follow their joys and their sorrows, friend them on Facebook and well, they become a very real part of my life. And so it was with one particular 'friend' whom I have followed her and her partner since 2005. Chef Tina, as I came to know her, has been diagnosed with cancer. It has only been a few short months since she lost her own mother to the Big C as well. You can read her story here:
http://cancersucksass.blogspot.com/
Her out of pocket expenses are insane and I know times are tough thanks to this economy but, if anyone out there is blog land has anything extra to spare, please click on this link below. It's so sad that in a country as rich as America, people are charged these insane amounts.
http://tinamarie.bbnow.org/

Forgiveness Can Be Healing

I was contacted a few months back on a public forum by my first husband. It had only been 33 years since I had seen him. WTF you say? Well, that is pretty much what I said as well.

This man, was only a boy when we were married. It was not a long marraige nor was it even remotely a good marriage. He was in the Marine Corp. Using a fake ID and with parental consent, we married at the young age of 17. Almost 18 if we had waited 4 months so, you can guess why the parents went ahead and consented. It was in our heads to do this so it was going to happen. 

I can't say it was love. I guess in his mind it might have been but, in mine, it wasn't. Yes, I said I loved him. Said I'd be true, yada yada yada yada. But honestly, looking back, I just wanted to get out of my parents house and out from their control. So, you can imagine how angry I was when on our honeymoon night (a total disaster by the way) I was told (after the deed) that he was being shipped overseas for a 13 month non accompaning tour of duty and would be leaving in 10 days. Yea....basically I got married to get out of the house and now I would be stuck in that house for another year AND not be able to go out because I would be married. To say I was angry really doesn't do it justice. I felt betrayed, used, stuck and very angry at myself for being so manipulative and stupid. 

Fast forward here a bit. I stayed with my parents. It was horrible. He left and seemed to get into one mishap after the other while overseas. Always in trouble, always being fined or court marshaled. It was a nightmare. He lied every chance he could and by the time he returned to the states, I was not sure how I felt other than I still wanted out of my parents house. So off I went with, what turned out to be, a total stranger.

As my luck back then would have it, he turned out to be much more than a liar. He was abusive. He was physically violent. He never had any money. We did without food. It was a lesson in life that I could have spared myself if I had known myself a little better. Known that I was gay. Known that even if I hadn't been gay that this marriage wouldn't have worked because I wasn't in love with him and because he was a pathological liar. The reunion lasted all of 3 months and a few days. He came home the first part of Feb and by June I was home and filing for a divorce. Nothing he had told me about  his stint in the military had been truth. Not a word of it. So I got my stuff together, what was left after he went on a rampage and gave as much of it away as he could or outright destroyed it and left.  At least it was over and I could go on. He left as well. Went AWOL and was eventually (30 days later) classed as a deserter.

As luck plays out, I returned to start fresh only to find out that I was pregnant. Yes, pregnant and about to miscarry. I was in shock. I didn't want to loose the baby but, I didn't trust him or want him around. And that is where my luck began to change. He never came around. He never tried to contact me after the divorce. He just went on doing whatever he was doing whatever that was. I never mentioned the baby to anyone that knew him. My attorney had advised me given his psychological profile that it would be better for me not to list him on the birthcertificate or ever list him as the father or ask for any type of support. By doing so would open up his right to visitation and that could put me in a situation where he could take the baby across state lines and I'd never see it again. This was a scenario that I felt certain could occur with him. Not out of love for the child but, to get back at me. He had, when he found out I was leaving him, put a loaded gun to my head and threatened to pull the trigger. Only the good Lord knows how I survived that terrifying morning. But  I did. And so for16 years I followed that attorney's advice.

Then one day my son asked me if I would find his father. I did so reluctantly but, also with the new knowledge that he was old enough NOT to be kidnapped. The reunion was not a good one. Turns out the man had remarried. Not once but twice. This second wife he had a daughter by. And she was none to thrilled to hear about this long lost son. Lawyers got involved. DNA testing was requested and done. Child support awarded.  It was horrible and drug on for two years. In the end my son was given all of $30 a week and received 3 letters from his father. The last one blamed my son for ending his current marriage. And the child support was never paid.

Finally a letter arrived telling us to contact the Social Security Administration. Seems my ex had given my son's name when he went on disability and  my son was entitled to support from Social Security.  Instead of $30 a week that was never paid, my son would receive $20 a week but, it would at least consistently come on a monthly basis until he turned 18 or graduated from High School.  Lucky for my son, he would be 19 when he graduated so he actually got to collect this for more than just a few months. Not that it was much. Even in 1994 this was considered peanuts. A mere token more so than support. But it was something he could use for going to the movies or yearbooks, prom etc. I mean lets face it. Support as in a home, clothes, medical, dental (and believe me there was an abundance of both of those!) and extracurricular activities/expenses from such things as scouting was not covered by this poultry amount of money. But, I wasn't bitter about it. My son grew up without the grandious lies, thievery and violence and you certainly can't put a price on that.

Still there was guilt. Guilt that I made a decision to not promote a relationship with his father. I mean, who am I to play God? I grappled with this over the years. Always telling myself it was for the best. But, being adopted myself and having been one of the lucky ones that actually found and had a relationship with my biological family only made me feel worse that I had denied my son this basic right. After the letters came and my son decided that he didn't wantto ever meet his father, we turned to his Grandmother. This woman knew her son better than anyone and she was in agreement that it was better to leave him to his own devices.
I told her how I had felt all these years and that is when she dropped the bomb. The bomb was that  he had in fact known about our son when I was pregnant. That some friend/person that knew the two of us and knew I was pregnant would have had to know the story of the breakup but yet, had come by her house and told him that I was pregnant was his child. This 'friend' never was named and to this day I have no idea who would have put my unborn child in such potential danger.  One of many reasons over the years that I have basically ditched every person I knew from that era. Now the guilt for me was lifted and I could actually start to heal from all that happened. I had not stopped to think though, what that would mean to my son. I didn't think about how it would only reinforce his feeling of being rejected. Still it didn't seem to show and he grew into a terrifically stable young man.

Jump forward to the present. This is a big jump because so much happened during those 17 years that I would need to write a book to cover it all. And since this is a blog, I need to wrap it up. So fast forwrd now to the end of May when I received an email through a public forum from this man.

The email started with "Yes, this is the late blank blank. I am a MTF transexual..... Did I read that correctly? I had to reread it over and over and over. And then I began to laugh. Was this another one of those pathological lies? Did he speak to his mother after all these years and find out that I was gay and was trying to reach me on some kind of equal level? Of course I did a very childish thing and posted it on this public forum. A forum I didn't realize my son even read what I posted. It embarrased him. It made him angry. Not only because of the content of my words but because in a momentary lapse of judgement I had referred to my son as a homophobic. Something which I shouldn't, in hindsite have done. It sent ripples of anger my way that took me weeks to fully understand.  But, it did something else. It started me thinking about the past.

After doing a bit of ameteur detective work, I was able to find out that it was indeed true and not a lie. After consulting my partner we both decided that I should answer this email. After all, in all fairness, who would want to be judged by things they said and did 10 years ago let alone 20 or 30.  And so began a correspondence that has morphed into a psuedo type of friendship with HER calling me every Saturday to see how my week has gone. We talk about the past a lot. We talk about how angry she use to be. She has shared so much with me on her journey to accepting who she is and what she wants in life. I don't talk about my son with her other than to say he is doing well. I refuse to tell her about his life. My son wrote her and told her he wants nothing to do with her. I listened as she read me his letter and cried. She didn't understand what he was basing some of the comments on in the letter and where they came from so, I had to fill in the blanks. Turns out they were lies told by her then wife; they never occurred. I believe her on this. She gave compelling testimony to support it.  But a lot of it WAS her fault. Things she said, things she wrote, years she didn't do anything to reach out. All of those things she is having to own and she is doing that. She admits she wasn't there for him. She admits she has no right to ask to be in his life but still she wants to be. Hopes to someday be. She wants to have a chance to explain. She wants a lot actually. But, she said she is willing to wait. Hoping that it isn't to long of one. As she put it, "I don't want him to wake up one day and want to ask me questions and I have passed away." As she points out, it isn't easy to be a transexual. There is danger every day and one never knows what the future holds. She's 53 now. Not a young one.  I have no way to know for sure if this honesty is sincere. I have to go on faith. I feel I owe it to her to give her a chance to be real with me. I am not my son. I will not answer for him. I have made that abundantly clear and yet she still wants to talk to me. It is almost therapeutic in nature. We talk about her mother, her father, how she felt growing up, all the wrong choices and the things she wants desperately to correct. I am not a therapist. I try desperately not to offer advice. I listen and try to comfort. I also ask questions. Questions so that more can come out. I also shatter the memories of the past with each call. For me these are painful memoreies and I need to let them go. So in this regard, it is helpful for me to be able to answer some of her questions. One she asked this past Saturday was, "Do you think if I had come around when he was born, would you have let me be a part of my son's life?" "No," I said. "I would have fought you because you scared me and I didn't want to raise a son with someone who could lie and be so violent. I don't think he would have become the guy he is today if you had been in his life."  There was a long silence followed by, "You're right. And I'm so sorry I did all that to you and made you feel that way........." and with that the healing begins. For both of us.

Goodbye Scientology

Today L took all her Scientology paraphenalia, put it in totes and took it to a storage unit. Some she put straight into the trash.   I never thought I would see this day come. The phone calls still come but, she blows them off with excuses of being busy. She is even getting quite creative. There is a God after all and his name isn't L Ron Hubbard.

Mother Strikes Again

My Grandson turns 3 this month. His birthday party is going to be at a park. I mentioned this to my adopted mother. She said she wasn't going. Said it was to much sitting in one place for her and then there is the issue of needing a handicap restroom which she doesn't like to deal with.

Now some friend of my brother's calls and says to her that he and several others from the church want to thank my brother because he is directing their church camp this year and would she like to go. All my mother heard was her son's name and the word "DIRECTOR" and her answer was a resounding and deafening YES!!!!  Never mind that she has no idea if she will be within 500 yards of a restroom, and that the camp is located over an hour and a half's drive from her house Suddenly the sitting and restroom issue isn't such an issue any more.



So far, she has mentioned this 4 times since yesterday. Once when she first told me about the call. Then the second time when she called to tell me she wants me to go to the store and buy him a pair of gold cufflinks, then the third time when she called back to tell me to add a gold tie clip to that, then when she called to tell me to go pick up a card.



What kind of card?

"Something with Son on it! :::Pauses::: Or something 'TO THE ONLY MAN IN MY LIFE' because that is what he is."

::Thinking I may throw up at any moment:::  "I mean," I said, "What KIND of card. One that says Congratulations or what?"

She says "No, something that says To DIRECTOR."

I'm like, "Ma! They don't make a card like that!"

"Then get one that says THINKING OF YOU", she says and then adds; "Do you have any solid color wrapping paper like in a gold color?"

"No," I said. "I don't keep paper like that because nobody in my family is a Director."

My Anniversary and A Homophobic Reminder That We Are Not Equal

We live three doors down from my adopted mother. My partner helps me attend to many of my mother's needs.

SCENE: On my way out of town to take my adopted mother to my Aunt's funeral, we had the following conversation:

ME:  (happy) You know Mom, today is my 15th anniversary.

MOM:  (sounding shocked)To who?

ME:  (deadpan) You know!  15 years drug free....What do you mean to who?! Who do you think???

MOM:  (agitated) Well, I don't count and keep track of how many years it's been.

ME:  (sarcastic) Well, that's obvious! Because apparently you can't keep track of who I'm with either!

:::LeSigh:::

This Week In Review At Our House

We had a very scary week but it ended upbeat thank goodness.

Our daughter-n-law who is months pregnant was sent to the hopsital Wed night with pains in her side. After much texting back and forth, all night long, we found out that it was an acute appendicitis and that she was being taken into surgery....and that she could loose the baby....which they had just found out was a little boy. Needless to say, everyone was worried. 

To make matters worse, we had reservations at Disney's Animal Kindom Resort's Boma for breakfast as well as tickets to the Christmas Candlelight Processional at Epcot starring Andy Garcia that night with friends from our church.  Fortunately for everyone, the surgery went well and we were told to get the heck gone and have a good time. This was a bit hard to do so we waited and after we spoke with the doctor, we felt enough at ease to literally leave.  Of course we kept in touch via cell phone the whole time. As it turned out, she and the baby did and are doing very well. And as for Andy Garcia; he is just as handsome in person as he is on screen! We actually sat in the front row....although it was a bit to close for comfort, he made it worth while and I'm not even attracted to men! So you go Andy Garcia!!!  By the time we got home that night, we were beat not having much sleep the night before.

It was a first at the processional where he actually told the story of Christ's birth in Spanish and in English. Very beautiful and moving. At Christmas time I always miss my biological mother because it was a holiday she enjoyed so much. Her Buenos Noches Dinner was legend; the roast pork, gandule rice, pasteles, salad, etc. . She loved cooking for all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends, and co-workers.  It was her gift to them. She spoke fluent Spanish and had a very thick english accent so, I always associate the language with her and Christmas. During the season, Spanish is what I want to hear. People could be talking about doing the laundry for all I care as long is it spanish. It is just music to my ears and I so enjoyed hearing Mr. Garcia.

On Saturday, we moved the youngest son into a new place in the well to do section of New Tampa. I say that with tongue in cheek but, it is a very nice location. The condo sets up against a Cypress Preserve and he and his girlfriend have a beautiful tiled, screened in back porch that overlooks the preserve. They love nature so this is ideal for them. The place is pretty large for a two bedroom two bath condo. I don't know the square footage but, it is bigger than the two bedroom duplex apartment they just left. I'm happy for both he and his girlfriend. They had just been broken into in their old place and of course things that were stolen were things they couldn't replace.  So this new place is much much more safer as it is not only in a nice section of town but, in a gated communtiy.

Saturday night we went out to dinner and then to the Christmas Concert at my church. We love the music and it was by no means a disappointment. There is so much talent in that church that I don't know why they don't try to make a record. Last night was no exception. We heard jazz, we heard gospel, we heard traditional Christmas songs and we saw ballet. Yep, they actually incorporated two of the most handsome talented young men ever dressed as angels who performed to the music. It was so inspiring and awesome I can't even describe it. I was angry that I didn't take my camcorder or camera. And we also got to see a lot of church members that we haven't seen in a while since we haven't been going because of  L's new work schedule. It was really fun. The only down side was I made a small pig of myself at the desert table and ate a small muffin AND three cookies. Waaaaay to much sugar for me. I felt sick and was afraid I was going to start that dumping syndrome but, I didn't thank goodness. Never again. I think one cookie would have been more than enough....it wasn't like they were small. lol

We came home late and stayed up until four this morning watching Christmas videos while we put up the Christmas tree. It was worth it. It looks beautiful. I am going to have to take a picture and post it.  Maybe for my Wordless Wednesdays.

Last weeks pictures were of my sons and my Grandson. My oldest son, the one in the suit in his office, is going to be on the radio this week for his job. I don't know the particulars about what he will be talking about but it is a new talk radio show.

I guess that's it for now. I still have a tiny bit of shopping left but for the most part I am through.

We are going to Disney's Pirate Pals Lagoon Cruise next Thursday. ( I'm hoping we can finish up the shopping in downtown Disney.  I looooovvvveee to shop down there even  though it is packed even during a week day.)  This event is for children and adults but, really more for children. L needed to know about the event for work so, she was given two tickets to attend. I'm just looking forward to being out in the lake at night. I love being on the water any where. lol Except the Everglades. Nope, don't like it there. lol

On Saturday we are attending a party at a dear friends house. I have a little surprise cooked up for her! Can't say what it is here just in case. The only downer is that my daughter-n-law may not be well enough to attend. But, we are looking forward to the party.

Well, that is about it. Hope everyone is getting caught up and ready to enjoy their Christmas Parties, Christmas and New Year. It is such a busy time of the year and I barely blog when it isn't busy so, I may not be back for awhile.

Take care everyone!!    

In Loving Memory Of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado 1990-2009

So sad that this happened. When will the hatred and intolerance end?

SCIENTOLOGY MAIL ENDLESS SCI FI

I received the following in the mail:

Dear Scientologist,

With the international Mecca of Scientology now under final construction, the imminent release of Super Power is more and more real with every coming day.

In fact, each floor of the new Flag building is under construction and moving rapidly to completion.

This forward progress marks the speed in which we will soon be clearing the planet-in fact, lightning speed with the fabulous 12 rundowns of Super Power.

The restoration of native state abilities for a thetan will guarantee that a team of beings of new levels, the Scientologists, will creat the new world here on Earth.

It is the suppporters of the Super Power Expansion Project that have made this advancement of our religion possible.

And it is for this reason that I ask you again to give a generous hand in forwarding the purpose of the release of Super Power.

With a contribution of $100, $250 or more you make a cleared planet a reality.

Thank you for your gifts and help to the betering of mankind.

Much love,

XXXXX XXXXXXX

P.S. Please take this step now as your donation speeds this group to its final victory- a planet that can be free.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. If I could make this schit up, I'd be rich!! 

What are friends for?

I don't blog as often as I'd like. I generally think about things I want to blog about right before bed and then of course by the time I wake up the next morning, I've completely forgotten about them. But not this time.


I'm a little upset today. The reason involves the older sister of a dear friend of mine. I have known my friend for over forty years. My friend, I'll call 'T' can't stand her sister and for good reason. The older sister was the favorite child of the two. You know the kind. In her parents eyes she is perfect but in reality she is trouble with a capital T. A good example; she use to sell pot. She hid it between the mattress and box-spring of my friend's bed. Her parents find the drugs and literally beat the crap out of my friend. Meanwhile, her sister who's dope it was, did nothing and said nothing. When my mother saw my friend and heard the story, she tried to intervene and speak to the parents. Their response? "She would NEVER do anything like sell pot! Now T would but, no sirree, we don't believe that story!"



Eventually her father passed away and T continued to live with her mother. She has held jobs, helped her mother out and been a constant in her life. Although extremely naive to the point of being labeled a simpleton, she is a good person. Her sister on the other hand moved on and never looked back. Never called her mother or came to visit whether it was her mother's birthday, Christmas or Thanksgiving even though she lived right here in the city. Until she needed something. According to her mother, she has bled over $10,000 off of her in the last year alone. The mother fell in the back yard and fractured two vertebras and is now unable to work. T has worked and cared for her mother alone. Then the end of Sept of this year the sister shows up having no where to go. Claims she lived in her car and a homeless shelter; that she lost everything she owned; furniture clothes apartment. To the dismay of both T and her mother, she moved her butt in even though they told her they didn't have any place for her. It is still unclear whether she was fired or quit her job as an Orthodontist assistant. 'T's mother called and asked me if I would help get her daughter a job by letting her apply online so she could get her out of the house before 'T' killed her. I said sure even though I can't stand T's sister. She came over alright and it quickly became apparent that she has no computer knowledge, doesn't want any knowledge, and doesn't really want a job. It's also iffy whether or not she has her certification like she claimed as I can't find it online.



T called yesterday to vent about how sick she was of her sister being there and how they exchanged heated words and the sister had called her a dyke and a few other things. T had lost control and hit her in the nose. But that at least now the woman takes off before T gets home from work and stays out till T goes to bed. This pleased and tickled T to no end as she is not the kind of person to stand up for herself and she felt proud that she had for once. But, it still didn't have the desired response which was to get her to leave for good. T is also worried about her mother. The sister is working the mother's sympathies to the point that T's mother had given in and gave her $500 to help her pay her car insurance and get gas. That is $500 that her mother didn't have to spare. T pays the living expenses and her mother helps with the groceries. The sister signed up and is getting food stamps but uses it strictly for herself. Other than buying her own groceries, the sister contributes nothing to the household. T was speculating where she takes off to everyday.



Now comes the good part. I passed the heifer today on the way back from the grocery store. Even though I had fresh shrimp and ice cream in the car, my butt just had to turn around and follow her. I forgot to mention earlier that she actually called me and left a very hateful message on my voice mail a few weeks back because I didn't want to help her...said I was heartless. Coming from her, I had to hold it in to keep from peeing my pants with laughter when I heard it. So out of curiosity, I had to know where she was heading. As it turns out, you'd never guess. The liquor store. Where she went in and came out with a bag. I'm pretty sure it isn't coca cola she bought. Unfortunately, I couldn't follow her to her next destination due to the groceries but, I sure would like to know now myself, just where it is that she goes every day. I feel so sorry for T and her mother. For someone who has to beg money to pay for gas, I wonder how she could afford the booze? And more importantly, how do you get someone like that out of your house once they've planted roots?  I'm certainly not going to tell T what I saw. But still, this just confirms what I've always thought about that woman. That she is a selfish self-centered lying using leach.

THURSDAY'S NIGHT JOB

Who said When it Rains it Pours?

The last few days have been fairly intense for us. So glad L took vacation days.

To begin with, my daughter-n-laws best friend, unbeknownst to anyone, as she kept it a secret, went into the hospital for surgery to have some growth on her neck removed. Turns out she has thyroid cancer and it had spread into her upper chest. They 'think' they got all the cells. Of course no one knows for sure. At first they said it was a stage two and she was given five to ten years. Now today they are not mentinoning time frames and talking more about her being young (32) and in good health otherwise and how she may, after chemo and radiation do well.  Whatever that means. Her mother, who just lost her mother in July to lung cancer basically collapsed and had to be taken from the hospital after being told she may have to bury her daughter in her life time. I am in shock at the way they were all first told personally as they said M's husband, likewise fell apart. The doctor must have come out there with guns ablazing is all I can figure out. They, just like my son and his wife, were high school sweethearts. In fact all four went to the same school and they are Godparents to my Grandson. Tough stuff. I'm hoping the doctor's are wrong and she will be okay.

Today we found out that someone crawled along side of or went under the Camaro we parked at my mother's house and sawed off the catalytic converter. In addition to that, they carved the words 'kill you' on the driver's side. I feel like leaving a sign on the door that reads: ' I may kill you first you piece of sh!t'.

Obviously that later had to be the work of someone who knew the car wasn't driven and that there was no one who would see the deed being done. All fingers point to the punk living behind her. He has had numerous scrapes with the law....very anti gay (left a condom on our doorknob once and then was dumb enough to video our reaction and show it to my son.)  Of course we had no reaction. Just opened the door, saw it, went and put a garden glove on and removed it. Eh...

Other than the above, I don't have any news. Which at this point is a blessing.
We carry on the basic of insurance on the car as no one drives it anywhere but, now it is over $500 to repair it because of the damage to the pipes as well. My hope is that it was taken to use on another car. My guess is it was a pos as the car ran jerky and most of the time stalled out. lol That is why we didn't sell it. That and the fact that it served a purpose of making it look like someone lived at my mother's house. Of course like I said, anyone who lives around in the area or passes the  house knows the car never moves. I really doubt you could get all that much for the part itself.

My mother's dog is still having seizures. Had a super bad one on Monday while I was at the cardiologist's office with her. Came back to find the poor thing laying sprawled out in her own waste and unable to move. Also crying her eyes out. I got it all cleaned up. She apparently tried to get up so much she bloodied her back feet which totally failed her. Carried her to the living room and then to the car for the trip to the vet. They are now saying she has what is equal to Parkinson's and Althemizer's in dogs. She's  a 13 years old German Shepard. She's been on steroids for months now  for what they originally diagnosed as a brain tumor. But it looks like it may have been this all along. Same kind of seizures...so we've had to add pain meds and some kind of anti parkinson medicine.  Poor Mother would be lost without that dog. Not sure how that is going to play out in the end. Will most likely take our Blue Dobie down to live there if something happens as she will be a great watch dog for Mom and it would help the dog out as she is 8 years old and has artheritis. Becoming an inside dog would be like she died and went to heaven for her. She was inside here all last winter because of her artheritis and chewing of her feet to a bloody pulp and she got use to it REAL quick. lol