seriouslyscorpio

thoughts of the moment and of my life

Tag Archives: fun/laughter/humor


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cruis’in the caribbean


It was a nice cruise…..especially since we were leaving 2 days after the accident off the coast of Italy.  Sure got us thinking about how to exit, in case of emergency.  Always look around, planes and ships….serious business

But this is not about that…you know.  This is about what it says in the ads and what life is really like, on some of our stopovers.  We enjoy the opportunity to meet people, and enjoy new places.  We are very lucky to have seen a lot of the United States and know, without a doubt, it is the best place ever.

Having said that….our 5 stops offered us a little of what the Caribbean is like.  Its beauty, its people, its history, its colorful buildings, etc.  I cannot deny there is  all of the above….but very little of the magic one dreams about.

There is no running water on some islands…no running water!!  The only water one gets, comes from rain, caught in a container!  Sounds romantic unless you have 4 kids, and 2 dogs and 10 plus loads of wash a week.  Does not work well in a place with no running water.

There is no sewage disposal on some islands….mmmmm  need I say more.

YOu  may not wear any type of camo clothing on a certain island…..don’t want to mistake you for either a bad guy,or the real police.

Unfinished houses are passed down from parents to children.  If the current family makes any overage during the year, they add a cement block or two and put in more rebar. It continues to be built slowly,  not in months but years/generations.

Most make their money off tourism…..tourism that lasts from November to April.  They sell all the same things one can find in any tourist town…t-shirts, pens, cards, dolls, towels, etc.

Most island businesses who are successful in the tourism portion of town, sell alcohol, diamonds, tanzanite, and perfume.   “Big deals”, they say are offered……doubt it very much.  Bailey’s sells for the same there as it does here. Most brand name hard stuff, sells for about the same too.

Don’t want to rain on your parade…..just offering some insight as to how 3rd world some of these island are.  Their land is beautiful, their lifestyle is not to be envied. (At least that is my opinion)

And lastly, I sometimes felt like the ‘queen’ coming off a magnificent cruise ship….Would they trade places with me……in a moment.  I was embarrassed. I hear of so many  US tourists ‘showing off’ on their journeys to other lands.   I wanted to be sure I was not one of them.

I am one lucky SOB…..I know it!  I think most of you are too.  Just keep some of these things in mind when you travel.  Be gracious, be understanding, be careful, and be thankful!        later


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CRUIS’IN WITH THE OLDIES


We’re home…..it was fun…..will do it agin……not tomorrow.   All those statements are true, even tho it sounds as tho it was not a ’10’.  Cruising is  be so ‘so ordinary’, ‘so fabulous’, and yet ‘so shocking’…..More about shocking later.

The ship is very nice….100′ shorter than the last ship we were on, but half as many people.  They had to drag me to my first crise.  I mean, it really sounded boring.  Same stuff to do on the cruise as I do at home, so why pay to fly and cruise….Well, I was wrong, in a way.   Cruising is truly a way to get away…I am forced to do what I want to do sometimes, a good example being..reading.  I love to read, but I put chores first, so when I get into bed to read, I last about  4 pages.  I tell myself to read in the AM, but then chores get in the way again. I read 5 books in 2 weeks…..Good for me!

Cruising and eating have to go hand in hand.  I can read and eat, I can watch TV and eat. I can sit by the pool and eat. I can drink and eat. I can do almost anything, except exercise, and eat.  Same with drinks, any kind,  any time, any where, doing almost anything.  Now that is not something I crave, nor need to do, but it was nice to be served a Tequila Sunrise  by the pool.

Yes there were art auctions, nights of bingo, magicians, comedians, dancing, games, the spa, restaurants, bars, a library, pools, quiet spots, and a casino, but most of all…..THERE WERE OLD PEOPLE!!!!!!!        I LOVE OLD PEOPLE!!

Probably 96% of those aboard were over 60.  Folks came from US, UK, Spain, India, Argentina, and Jersey…….It was a delight.

We sang Queen together, we talked about our home towns, our countries, our politics (local and foreign), our clothes, our retirement and former occupations, our families,and our lives as  we know them.  It was great…it was powerful, it was a learning experience and a confirming experience.

We were with a group…’that made it’, thru 30 to 60 years of marriage, family expectations and family sadness, illnesses,  and loss of parents. We talked of 50 and 60 year high school reunions, and the warmth of long friendships.  We talked of war and we talked of peace. 

“How lucky we are”…..they repeated, “to be sitting here today”.  We “oldies” are confident and hopeful group, but not proud in a ‘haughty’ since. We have seen the past, lived the past, done our best and look forward to tomorrow.  We are strong, opinionated, political, moral and ethical, and our values do not waiver. 

We have seen leaders come and go, we’ve seen strife, and victory….and we’ve been a part of it.  Our beliefs are strong, our faith remains, and we are not a selfish group.  You see our pictures……when ‘been there, done that’ is looked up.

So cruis’in is really pretty good……isn’t it……(took the chevy to the levy but the levy was dry……and good ole boys were drinkin whiskey and rye, sayin……(cm’on you know the words))

later

 

 


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CAT ON VACATION


We try to keep things as low key as possible…..we hide the suitcases…..bringing them out to fill when he is in the other room napping.  His potty box stays in the usual spot until the last second….

I must say, however, Pookie is a seasoned traveler….He has been ‘on the road’ at least 4 times a year, cross country, which does not include our trips to Las Vegas to see his cousins, two beagles, an old barn cat, and a desert tortoise that will live longer than all of us. Pook came to us 12 years ago.He is one of those ‘ordinary’ American Shorthair designs.  Even when we adopted him from another family who were getting rid of children (graduating from high school and college) and pets (schooling unknown), we thought him cute but kind of dull.   However, we soon learned we were dead wrong and he has been an absolute joy, even a party at certain times.

First we found we didn’t have to worry about a water bowl….we already had them, scattered around the house….yes toilets.  Works fine for him, works fine for me.  Next, an even more important trick came to our attention….he can open doors.  Not too good with the knobs, but with the handle kind, he is killer.   Friends who come to visit, and who are not especially ‘cat’ people, come to find him sitting on their chest about 7:30AM.He is either looking for breakfast or a nice warm spot to cuddle for some extra winks.  Because of this, we station door stops for privacy.

Now back to vacation……well, the bags are packed, the maps are found, the Interstate has been picked out, the La Quintas have been chosen, and now we show him the red leash!  Yes he walks on a leash….and he’s pretty good at it….Or I’m pretty good walking with a leash, don’t know which. The leash isused for safety,cause  I don’t want him to jump and run when a German Shephard, also staying at the La Quinta, comes strolling down the hall.   We walk on a leash regularly cause it keeps him (or me) in shape.   Cat owners also know that when walking, a cat will always walk along the wall, not out in the middle of the  hall….that is the ‘wild part’ still in him.  The interesting part is that Pookie always follows the wall to the extreme…he even zigs and zags in and out of the doors to each of the rooms.   A little OCD maybe?  Who knows.

He also is good at sitting on top of hotel luggage carriers….He waits patiently til cat box, cat food, suitcases, and books are packed and then sits proudly as we stroll down to our room.  I might add he even understands the concept of elevators and waits til the door is completly open or closed before entering or exiting.

We have even been offered special deals while we were vacationing……A growing family of 5, packing and piling in the little tikes one morning, offered an even trade……our dutiful pet for all of their clan.   We passed.    Our clan is now in their mid-thirties.

As of this writing, Pookie is now visiting his cousins in Shreveport, La.  They include a black cat, 1/2 his size, who can chew him up and spit him out in a second, and a full-sized golden doodle.  Although they have know each other for 8 years, they have not grown tight.   His cousins try to show him a good time, however, he chooses to hiss in response, and head directly for his room.  He does not leave until the potty box leaves and there is no talking him out of it……

I know, I’ve heard it from Pookie a thousand times…..you can choose your friends, but not your family”.  It’s only a few days away from Thanksgiving….so forget what Pookie says…..don’t hiss at your relatives, know where the potty box is, and enjoy your meal.


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morals and ethics….turned on or off in your life


I sell stuff…….I sell my stuff and other people’s stuff. I’ve been doing it for over 25 years, more some years than others.  I’m hardly selling stuff now cause I’m having a hard time finding new stuff to sell.  Following me so far…..

In the business of buying and selling (I sell new stuff and antique stuff) morals and ethics are always at the forefront.  Why?  Because most of the time it is just YOU  making the moral and ethical decision.

I’ll just stick to one corner of buying and selling stuff and that is the area of buying today……I am ask how much things are worth all the time.  Sometimes it is just for fun, sometimes it is to compare with others they’ve contacted, sometimes it gives the person an idea of what to sell it for, and sometimes it is to see if I am going to cheat them, either now, or later on.

I’ve been with me for many years now, and I’ve come to decisions based this relationship.  I look at me every morning, I live with me 24/7 and I represent me in everything I do, including the good and bad.

So my rules of morals and ethics have become pretty simple.

I try to give the best guess (cause that’s what they all are) as to what an item is worth.  I explain that if you want to wait a year to sell it, you can probably get this amount.  If you want to insure it, you should go for this amount, if you want to sell it in a week or two, this will probably the amount, and if you want to sell it to another who will again sell it, you should be in this ballpark.

I also feel that in the world of buying and selling, one would always want to be honest enough that the person would have enough respect to call again when they want to do business.  Not because I have the most money, not because I am the sweetest you’ve ever met, and not because I can sell pans with no handles at estate sales over and over again. It’s because I am fair, and have morals and ethics I abide by.

Bartering is a part of my life as a buyer and seller. Biggest rule is never to piss off the potential buyer or seller with stupid remarks.(especially when it’s me)….like “It’s not worth that and you know it…I’ll give you this amount”…….or “My wife doesn’t know how to do this bartering stuff so I’ll give you….” or one of my favorites……”all I have is $5.50″ (and you are asking $17.00 )and his/her billfold is open in front of me, bulging with twenties…on and on…..

How do we solve this …..we use our inside voice and our morals and ethics and we say, “what is your best price today?”, ….or……”I’d live to give this a new home and I can offer….”         AND THEN, if you are turned down, smile and move on……(and maybe come back the next day)

The use of improper morals and ethics have made and broken many a person. Once you’ve lost your good reputation, how long do you think it will take to get it back…….And the answer is……for me, in my business of watching over other people’s stuff……NEVER!            later

 


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kohls


don’t ya love Kohls……the sale just keep com’in…..think I’m done for awhile tho


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FRIDAYS CHIPS


Have you tried the new chips from Fridays…..available, of course at Costco? Oh, HIDE THE BAG FROM ME!!! cause they are so good (and so bad) ….


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IT’S VACATION TIME…..AGAIN


Tomorrow my sis and I are taking off for parts known and unknown……7 days of just hanging out and enjoying being together…two old ladies…reminds of a wonderful card….two old old ladies sitting on a park bench….one says to the other “is it butt naked or buck naked”?
love it!!


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re-arrange the garden


time for plant ‘perk-up’….they are clean and nicely trimmed for winter….now it is time to find them some new homes in the yard….today


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more…..rats, norwegian, that is


ah, the rat man cometh and me thinks the rat man thinks, he taketh away. I do enjoy Clarence….heck of a nice guy and he is doing is best, so I’m here to recommend him and have some fun too.

Some body and I mean ‘some body’ has been living, exercising, renting, or subletting an area of our attic for a few years now.  I think they are retired, maybe just passing thru from one neighborhood to the next. Who knows…

There are no little ‘bodies’ that I know of, and most of the time they are quiet tenants, however, lately all has not been well.  They have decided to scratch…either themselves, or a friend, or some wood, or insulation, I don’t know, but they are becoming too noisy for the neighborhood (my house).

Clarence came and set traps and has checked regularly for dead ‘bodies’, to no avail. He also plugged up areas where experienced rodents might want to get in.  We thought things were going extremely well, until about 3AM this AM.

First hubby woke up, then he paced, then kitty woke up, then he paced…he also had some crunchies, and then I woke up.  By then the activity in my bedroom was as busy as was whoever was in the attic.  We listened, we whispered, we listened, and then a decision was made (no we didn’t call Clarence).        Hubby, the hunter took his binoculars and his flashlight and went out to survey the roof of our bedroom.  He flashed here and there.  He    ‘binoculed’ here and there, but nothing was seen.  I watched and listened from the ‘inside’ and his light didn’t seem to bother our guest or guests.  They kept scratching, and banging around as tho it was mid-day.

So the hunter returned to bed, the cat returned to bed, and I followed.  Finally, around 4:30AM, the guest upstairs finally died, withered, got sick, gave up, was hit by his/her spouse, ate enough, or just left.  At 4:30AM in the AM who really cares.

Clarence was called  about 8:30 for an afternoon ‘check’….it is now 3:15 and no Clarence, therefore, no check.  Maybe Clarence melted in our ‘first rain of the season’….(previous blogs today).

Rats!!!!!!


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ideas, ideas


some walk the hallways, some stare at blank screens or beat-up typewriters, some wake up at 2am with a wonderful blog, and then there is me.  I have ideas all the time…every waking moment.  I can’t  bring myself to sit in front of the screen 8 hours a day, but if I did, the words would just keep tumbling    out. There is no grading as to whether the features will get an A or an F in the world of reading, but I really don’t care. 

Just waking up in the morning starts the wheels turning….there is the local paper and the WSJ, not to mention the l0cal and national news. There are things that happen just outside the window that bring ideas of friendship, warmth, and smiles.   I think the fun of writing is to look at a piece of information, a comment, a statement, an occurrence, and then put your twist on it…..It may be your opinion of how something happened or who made it happen.  It might be a movie most rave about that  I can’t stand.   It may be a child acting out or acting up, or making their famous statements about life.

Ideas and writing create newer ideas and newer writings.  News turns into history the moment it occurs, but it might change us forever. Words create pictures in the mind, accompanied by assorted emotions.  Our writings bring us to tears, and helps us reach heights we never knew possible.

So when you are just  sitt’in….think’in, you are still do’in.  later