Another Great Weekend and Other Stuff

So, Stephen called early Friday afternoon and asked if I had any plans for the weekend. Well, of course I did...I'm moving in 2 weeks, right? Saturday was going to be spent packing at my mom's and Sunday was to be spent packing in my house, as Brett was coming to get his stuff. Anyway, Stephen says, "Would you like some company?" And all of a sudden, just like that, I had no plans for the weekend. "Absolutely, when will you be here?" was my reply.
And so, for the second weekend in a row, I spent 2 1/2 days with Stephen, Casey, Brett and Gavin. Not so much Brett...he's 19 and has a life, don't ya know. And in-between all the visiting, I actually got some packing done.
"Buck-a, buck-a, buck-a". This is Gavin's favorite saying. Have no idea what it means, but it's his answer to everything. And, and...this is so cool...AND I got kisses before he went to sleep the other night!! Love it, love it, love it. It's the little things in life I'm learning to appreciate again.
Casey looks amazing and we spent quite a bit of time talking. Stephen is Stephen...what a man he has become. I am so proud.
Only 4 days left of work...well paid work anyway. Then comes the down to the last minute, nitty-gritty packing and cleaning. I swear, this is my LAST move. Never again, never.
I found out this week that my new house is only 2 blocks from a hotel that has "reggae Sundays" on their back deck every Sunday. I have a feeling I know where I will be found on most Sundays. I must find a job quickly so I can afford all those laid-back Sunday's I'm dreaming about. And being so close to the beach...well...it's just a dream come true for me. However, it will be hard for me on Saturday's and Sunday's watching all those ships leave without me. One of these days I will be back to cruising again. :)
And happiness begins to take root....stay tuned.

Too Much Fun!!

What a fantastic weekend!! It's taken me this long to recuperate. Gavin's party was a huge success. So many family and friends together again. And then I had the honor of babysitting, along with my mom and Mike's (my ex) mom, Peggy. Mind you, Gavin ate entire cake all on is own and I think he had a bit of a sugar high. He was completely off his normal schedule as well, but we still had fun. We played with some of his new toys, had dinner (although much of his meal ended up on the floor), read books and, of course, bath time. He loves his rubber duckie and giggles when you splash water on him. Then it was off to bed, where he quietly drifted off to sleep almost immediately. He had a very long day. And so did I. I was "plum tuckered out" as they say in the South.
On Sunday we had breakfast together and some more play time. Then Casey came to pick him up. I was sad to see him go, but he waved "bye, bye" to me and I had to smile. I can't wait to see him again!
And now the real fun begins....countdown to move day: 16 days and counting.

Happy Birthday Gavin!

My how time flies! Yes, it was 1 year ago today that my beautiful grandson Gavin Riley Scott was born. I swear it seems like only yesterday. But oh my how he's grown.
He talks to me on the phone...well, kind of. Mostly I talk to him and sing his favorite song to him. I hear he is walking on his own and has a small vocabulary including, "da, da" and "no, no". As well, he has no time for baby food anymore...he likes "real" food, especially pasta.
Mom and I will be driving down to Lakeland tomorrow for his birthday party. I can't wait. Check the blog next week for details and pictures.
In the words of my favorite Empress: "Have a great weekend! I know I will!"

Oh How I Will Miss the "Ville"

As most of you know by now, mom and I will be leaving Gainesville, for good this time, on July 17th. As excited as I am about moving to Indian Harbour Beach, I am sad to be leaving the town I know so well. I grew up here...I've raised 2 children here (well, on and off...between here and Lakeland). So many wonderful memories:
Gainesville High School (Go 'Canes), Frisch's Big Boy, Burrito Brothers, Holiday Inn, muddin' in the JP, THE SWAMP on Saturday afternoons in the Fall, AGH, Shands (spent too much time there) long lasting friendships, Mark, David, Marty K., Vicki, my first boyfriend (Glenn), my first heartbreak (Glenn), Pizza Hut, my first apartment, graduating from UF (25 years after graduating high school) Lillians, The Spring Arts Festival, SIMED (really?), Kenney, Suzanne, Dr. Bill, Ron, SAGE (really?), Hilly, Angie, Mark, Javi, Youth Soccer, Sandi and Ray, GAINESVILLE GREEN, beer runs, head shops, Dubs (Tom Petty), Sister Hazel, The O'Dome, 13th and University, Paynes Prairie, Gainesville Health and Fitness (really?) Brookwood Terrace, Georgetown, the little house on 5th Avenue (The Rock), Danny's, the old library, Century Tower, GPA building (now known as Turlington Hall), the Hub, Stephen's first bike ride, Brett's first goal in soccer...and so many others.
What I will miss the most, the very most, is waking up on a Saturday morning in the Fall, going to Publix and everyone in the store is wearing the same colors....orange and blue.
It's great to be a Florida Gator...and it's great to have lived in "The Ville"

Another Saturday Night...

Hmph.....

Nothing to Say, Really!?

Work is keeping me from blogging. There. I have something to blame for my lack of writing. That, coupled with the fact that there is really nothing exciting to write about.
Quick update: Princess Laura is out of the hospital and in a rehab center working hard on her recovery. She is a strong woman and I know she will get through this in no time.
You can tell summer has arrived in Florida: everyday at 4:00 pm the sky gets black as night. By 5:30 (the time I leave for home from work) the thunderstorm has settled in. It's gone by 7:00. One can practically set their watch by the weather here.
I watched a show Friday night about Farrah Fawcett and her struggle with cancer. Then I got a feeling I haven't felt in a very long time: survivor's guilt. Why is the disease and treatment killing her, yet I get to live? She's been to Germany 4 times for treatments with specialists in that field of cancer. I had it rough: 8 rounds of chemo (as opposed to the standard 4) every 2 weeks and 72 rounds of radiation (as opposed to the standard 25); I had radiation twice a day...8:00 am and then back to the hospital at 4:30 pm (You have to allow at least 6 hours between treatments). And here I am; healthy, post-menapausal, but healthy. And I think I take it for granted alot of the time. How is it that cancer kills some but not others?
TMI for a blog, maybe.
Ok, enough of the downer stuff...have a good week. And make sure to tell the one's you love how you feel about them.

Have A Glass With Me!!

I used my new blender today. I made myself a "fruity drink" like they have on the cruises. The drink was awesome. So awesome, I had another one. I drank both of them out of my favorite cruise line's glass (Not the glass in this picture). All that was missing was the orange wedge and the umbrella. Of course it would have been nice to have been sipping these drinks while aboard a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean, but hey, I did what I could.
It's been a long week. I wish I could tell you that Laura is doing well, but I can't do that yet. I can tell you that she is hanging tough and I know she will pull through all this, it will just take a lot of time and patience. So I raise my "special" glass in honor of Laura, who will one day read this, laugh hysterically, and then chew me out for having wasted so much space and words on her.
Many of you have asked about my job. I really would rather not talk about it. I'm making money and that's a good thing. And so, I raise my glass again.
Next weekend, mom and I will be going to Cocoa Beach to visit friends and then to Orlando to meet up with my brother who is flying in for a long weekend from Cali. (I raise my glass in honor of Marc flying here safely). Then we will go to Lakeland and visit with Stephen, Casey, Brett and Gavin. (I raise my glass in honor of my grandson) I am really looking forward to next weekend.
The weather here has been quite lovely lately. Highs in the upper 80's with a nice breeze. (I raise my glass in honor of the fact I live in Florida) I'm hoping to sit out and get some sun tomorrow.
And now my glass is empty. (Now I know how Lori feels when we all say EVIL). And because I know Laura will be alright, my brother will get here safely, I am spending next weekend with my family, I am making money, and the weather is nice...I must go and get a re-fill.
Join me, won't you? We'll raise a glass to anything you want!