THIS AND THAT

Yesterday a church member gave me a CD of photos from the book signing and barbecue which was held at our home recently for our minister's newest book, Leaving Religion, Following Jesus. Ronnie's book is a good one.

It was a good time!

~~~~~~
A quick update on my friend Beth - She was dismissed from the hospital on Friday but I drove her immediately to a rehab center where she will get physical therapy and her medications will be decreased. She's had a rough time, but things are improving daily. Thank you Lord!

Thanks for all your prayers and e-mails for Beth...and for me! Sweet Teresa at Grammy Girlfriend somehow knew exactly when I needed a lift because a beautiful card would arrive in the mail just when I needed one. Thank you Teresa!

And Sandy at Raguspug sent these beautiful note card sets...one for me and one for Beth. I love them Sandy and so does Beth. Thanks so much!

~~~~~~

George and I are still riding our bikes...we try to get in around 15 miles at least 3 days a week, if not more...but I'm also really enjoying my treadmill lately.

See that lovely built in fan to the left? There's one on the right too! Heaven! I'm such a smartie....I check out some large print books from the library because it's a lot easier to read while walking if the print is BIG! (smile) I get lost in a good book and it makes the time go by a little quicker.

~~~~~~

I was tagged by Girl With The Curlz to do this summer favorites tag.

Here we go:

1. Favorite summer movie: So far it's Julie and Julia...loved it! But I have to agree with Girl With The Curlz... I LOVE anything with Matthew McConaughey in it.

2. Favorite summer cocktail: vodka tonic with lime.

3. Favorite summer song: Too hard! I love listening to Jack Johnson, James Blunt, Jason Mraz and Keb'Mo'.

4. Favorite summer meal: A good salad, corn on the cob and something off the grill.

5. Favorite summer outfit: I live on the tennis court it seems, so I'll say my tennis clothes.
6. Summer reading: I just read a couple of books by Lisa Scottoline.

7. Favorite Summer moment: watching the sunset from the golf cart each night when we take Miss Daisy for her ride.

Okay, the rule says I'm to tag 10 more. The older I get the more I hate following rules.

So, do me a favor, volunteer and let me know so I can come read your list, okay?

~~~~~~

See what happens when I take a break?! Things pile up! lol

Hugs and kisses,
Kat

HIS WORDS OF COMFORT

You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )

You say: 'I can't forgive my self'
God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Hugs and kisses,
Kat

SOMETIMES LIFE IS NOT...

...a bed of roses

Anonymous (surprise, surpise) left me this comment:

I'll be honest, i used to read your blog prior to taking it private..then you came back. The posts are not the same and all you do is seem to complain about how tired, busy, stressed or other you are...please come back with the posts that we don't have to feel sorry for you.

Dear Anonymous,

You are exactly right. Lately, I have been tired, busy, stressed, etc.

That's why I needed a little break.

Not to worry....I'll be back soon.


Hugs and kisses,
Kat

UNRAVELED

I need to take a break. I'll be back.....

~~~~~~

In the meantime, here's some good advice:

12-Step Internet Recovery Program

1. I will have a cup of coffee in the morning and read my newspaper like I used to, before the Internet.

2. I will eat breakfast with a knife and fork and not with one hand typing.

3. I will get dressed before noon.

4. I will make an attempt to clean the house, wash clothes, and plan dinner before even thinking of the Internet.

5. I will sit down and write a letter to those unfortunate few friends and family that are Internet-deprived.

6. I will call someone on the phone who I cannot contact via the Internet.

7. I will read a book… if I still remember how.

8. I will listen to those around me and their needs and stop telling them to turn the TV down so I can hear the music on the Internet.

9. I will not be tempted during TV commercials to check for email.

10. I will try and get out of the house at least once a week, if it is necessary or not.

11. I will remember that my bank is not forgiving if I forget to balance my checkbook because I was too busy on the Internet.

12. Last, but not least, I will remember that I must go to bed sometime… and the Internet will always be there tomorrow!


Hugs and kisses,
Kat

BE STILL

"When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot."
~author unknown

Hugs,
Kat

Thanks for your sweet comments and prayers for my friend Beth. She is still in the hospital and the doctor thinks it will be at least 3 more days, maybe more.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT....

...but, I promise I'm telling the truth!

Tonight we had drinks and dinner with our friends Jack and Linda and old friends, Rita and Don. We met Rita and Don on the beach years ago at the first condo we owned. We haven't seen them in about 6 years, so it was wonderful getting to see them tonight. (They live near Orlando, but have a condo here.)


Here's the part you won't believe. Seriously! Are you ready?

drum roll.....




Rita (in the black jacket) is 84 years old.

Cross my heart.

See...I told you, you wouldn't believe me! Isn't she darling? Her eyes sparkle when she talks. She walks every days and also swims laps in the pool. She dresses young and acts it too. My role model, for sure!

And Don is 86 (the silver haired Italian stallion behind Linda)!

They are both amazing. And fun too!



Thank you Lord for a really fun night.

~~~~~~

BTW...thanks for all your sweet comments and prayers for Beth. She's still in the hospital. There is swelling in her brain and her potassium levels are too low. There is some improvement each day, but we have no idea how much longer she will need to stay. I leave the hospital every day in tears. I can hold it together until I get in the elevator, but I leave feeling so sad. Please keep her in your prayers.

~~~~~~

It's not too early to start thinking about Christmas and decorating for Christmas. Teresa at Grammy Girlfriend is doing a really good giveaway. Teresa decorates homes for Christmas and is sharing on her blog some tips and tricks on what she does for others. Teresa is such a sweetie pie and she has wonderful ideas. Go now and check out her giveaway...you just might win a FREE consultation. Christmas will be here before we know it.

~~~~~~

I hope I can sleep tonight. There may or may not be a large black snake in my garage. There was. We're just not sure if it left or not. This afternoon when George went into our garage to take Miss Daisy for her ride in the golf cart, a large black snake was between his car and the golf cart. It slithered away quickly under some things in the garage and he couldn't get to it. $%#&! We're hoping it left and won't be back. Yuk! George keeps remind me that it's a harmless garden snake. Harmless, my hiney! A snake is a snake is a snake!

Kat

OH YES, THIS IS SOOOO ME!

I write down everything I want to remember.
That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down,
I spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it down on.
~Beryl Pfizer~


Hugs and kisses,
Kat

BE HAPPY

Hint: It's all about perspective!

"Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back."


Hugs and kisses,
Kat

DO YOU?

Do you climb into bed every night and berate yourself for yet another day of mindless eating? Do you promise yourself tomorrow will be different and you'll start afresh? And then tomorrow comes and you don't. So you climb into bed and berate yourself...again.

You do?

Me too!

sigh!

Hugs and kisses,
Kat

I SAID OF COURSE, BUT....

(edited to add...Beth doesn't mind me taking and sharing photos although she doesn't blog or even read mine since she's rarely on the computer)

Beth asked me to stay in the room today and hold her hand while they installed her IV "pic line". Yes, they actually do this surgical procedure in the room! Amazing! I said "of course", but in my mind I was saying "no way Jose' ". I really thought they wouldn't let me stay. The nurses said I had to stand in the corner and away from the bed, so I couldn't hold her hand, but I could keep her talking...to distract her (and truth be told) to distract ME. LOL The worse part was the wait. It took forever (actually about 15-20 minutes) for them to set everything up. Beth and I both were freaking a bit. At least she had some drugs. Where was mine?
I didn't ask the nurse for permission to take photos, but I snapped a few with my iPhone. (The shiny thing on Beth's leg is a pain patch.) The procedure itself didn't take long. Thank goodness!

Bless her heart! Look at all those IVs! About 15 minutes after the procedure, they were able to remove the one on her forearm and the one on her hand and now they will only use the "pic line". Beth is a real trooper.

Tonight I took up some pajamas that would be more comfortable than those silly hospital gowns and also changed her bed with some good soft twin sheets from home. I hope she's resting comfortably tonight since she didn't sleep well last night.

I want to thank you all so much for your sweet comments and prayers for Beth. My friends here in "The Land of Blog" and those on Facebook have been so sweet and encouraging.

I've had a few people in my "real life" that haven't. I actually had one friend say "you need to learn to say no" when I commented on making trips to the hospital or to Beth's condo to pick up supplies. Can you imagine? Even George has rolled his eyes a couple of times when I mention having to pick up this or that or make another trip. I had a little talk with Mr. George tonight and I don't think he'll do THAT again. LOL I know they all mean well. They know how busy my life is right now and they worry about my health, but it makes me angry. Friends and family come before "stuff". Beth has no family here...so I am family. And that's okay by me. I love her!

BTW...I noticed these machines all over the hospital tonight. I've never noticed them before although they may have been there forever. LOL It's a good idea. I hope they have them in the schools too.

Hugs and kisses,
Kat

Watch for 2 minutes of smiles

I'm not sure why it's shown twice on this video since it's the same thing, but I loved it and the music so I watched it both times! Enjoy!





Hugs and kisses,
Kat

AGAIN

Again
adverb
1.once more; another time; anew; in addition
2.in an additional case or instance; moreover; besides; furthermore.
3.back; in return; in reply: to answer again.
4.to the same place or person


Remember when this happened in June?

Well, it happened "again" and in the same restaurant!


Tonight we were out to dinner with our friends Jack and Linda and I noticed a very pretty girl get up from her table and turn towards ours. I smiled and felt like I knew her. She walked over and introduced herself. It was Lynette from Louisana who reads my blog. She doesn't have a blog of her own, but leaves me sweet comments occasionally and we sometimes e-mail each other. What fun to put a face with a name! It was great getting to meet you Lynette.

I had to snap a photo of our husbands who were making fun of us taking photos. That's Dominick (on the left) who is one of the owners of Fat Clemenzas, Lynette's hubby in the middle (sorry I didn't get his name) and George.

Now this is funny...when I went back to look at my June post, I noticed George is wearing the same shirt both times! If he wears it "again", I guess I should expect to see another blog friend. Maybe even YOU!

~~~~~~

My sweet friend, Beth, is in the hospital "again". Bless her heart, she's out of remission "again" (she has MS). The doctor wants her to have 5 days of sterioid. They did an MRI today and found more lesions, including one on her left optic nerve. That explains why her left eye has been twitching lately. About a month ago, they had to remove her chest port because of infection so tomorrow they will put in an IV "pic line" since her veins are so bad.

But, "again" she amazes me with her attitude. Just look at that smile!


Hugs and kisses,
Kat

FRIENDS, FUN AND FOOD IN PENSACOLA

What a fun day!

Linda, Me, Holly and Sandi

My friend Linda and I drove over to Pensacola this morning to meet my blog friends Sandi (Whistlestop Cafe Cooking) and her sister, Holly, (Everyday is a Holledayz) for some shopping, fun and lunch. Sandi and Holly and their families are vacationing nearby.

We started out at Duh! Yep, that's actually the name of this wonderful home and garden shop. And shop doesn't do it justice 'cause this place is BIG and is getting bigger all the time. They actually told us that they will be increasing again soon. As you can see from the photo, it doesn't look like much from the street. But it goes on and on. They've added a huge barn type building in the back, filled with wonderful treasures. And we walked across the street to the warehouse. So much to see!

I was too busy ooohing and aaahing to take lots of photos, but here's a few:

I love this saying...so sweet!

Cool and funky wheel art.

Love these fun planters!

We also did some shopping at a cute gift shop/florist called Celebrations.

I should have bought this guest towel. Because "ain't it the truth"!

We had a wonderful lunch at the Fish House.
All four of us had the same thing - World Famous Grits a Ya Ya!

To.die.for!

Here's how the dish is described on the menu....Spiced gulf jumbo shrimp top a saute of spinach, portobella mushrooms, applewood-smoked bacon, garlic, shallots and cream over a heaping bed of smoked Gouda cheese grits.


Thanks Sandi and Holly for a wonderful time!
~~~~~~

Driving home, I almost hit a deer. No I wasn't in the woods. I was in our neighborhood and right by our golf country club when one of these guys decided to run in front of my car. Whew!

They're not one little bit afraid of humans. George says he sees them all the time on the golf course.

And speaking of deer...I mean dear...my sweet dear blog friend Tonja's (Gatherings) birthday is today!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONJA!

Hugs and kisses,
Kat