The LINDA's are at it again!

Today, about five of us (Linda's) met at Ferg's in downtown St. Pete for lunch. The lunch was special as Linda Porter and her husband, Phil, were in town -- they had moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, about two years ago and we've missed having her as one of our Florida Linda's! They've had a tramatic year as they lost their home in a flood in Terre Haute .. actually, they lost their home and their car. They've relocated to higher ground -- but still in the Terre Haute area.

Sandi went along with me as she hadn't gotten to meet some of these ladies who have become great friends. And we took Ava along. She was a sweetheart -- just looked around and smiled at them all during lunch. She is such a contented little gal for the most part.

So, here are a few of the photos I took today -- I'm not in the group photo as I was taking the picture and our server wasn't necessarily the best and I don't think we would have asked her to take one of all of us ... lol!

Phil and Linda Porter

Sandi holding Ava who is quite intrigued with Linda Chapman

And Linda Porter sure enjoyed Ava -- it was getting a little cool in the restaurant so we added a hat!

Tim's Toms

Our friends, Tim and Nova Ferguson, live out in the middle of nowhere Ohio. Well, not really but it seems like it. When the corn is high, you drive down a lane, take a sharp turn to the right and before long, you are at their home. I love it -- Tim's a hunter (as his Nova) and their home reminds you of a lodge. High ceilings and a wall filled with trophies from as far away as Africa, I believe.

When Nova sent me these photos of the visiting "Toms", I asked if I could share them. It's one thing to hunt them but to have them actually come calling on you, that's an interesting scenario. As you can see, it appears that Toms have found a great friend in Tim!!

They start really young ....

Rudy is just about a little over 20 months old (birthday May 3rd) ... he already is working towards his driver's license. Tyler had his quite young, too, although his vehicle was quite a bit larger than Rudy's. When Rudy is bored with that, he hands the phone to his mom with the request, "Nana". The photo below was taken while he was talking to me. I actually understood some of the words -- especially "Daddy", "Mommy" and "Marley"!

Here's to perspective on wind chill factors!!

I am freezing!! Okay, maybe not quite freezing but close. I am in Atlanta and as I was driving home from my brother's office, I noticed the outside temperature was 32. That's freezing, right? So, I am freezing!! Pure and simple!!!

Then I got back to Tim and Susan's house and checked my email and found the following bulletin: (I know -- it's perspective. That's for all the northerners who think I am nuts for donning a winter coat when the temperature dips below 60 degrees!)

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 307 PM EST TUE JAN 20 2009 ..

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FOR LATE TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING...

ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE REGION CONTINUES TO USHER A COLD AIRMASS ON 10 TO 20 MPH WINDS NEAR THE COAST AND AROUND 10 MPH INLAND OVERNIGHT LEADING TO LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. ..

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY.

ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD INTO THE REGION WITH BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 20S ACROSS THE NATURE COAST AND THIS COMBINED WITH THE NORTHERLY WINDS WILL LEAD TO WIND CHILL VALUES IN THE MID TEENS TO LOWER 20S LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

FURTHER SOUTH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S INLAND AND LOWER 40S NEAR THE COAST AND IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THIS COMBINED WITH THE BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE LOWER 20S TO LOWER 30S LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN WIND CHILL INDEX VALUES WILL DROP TO 35 OR LOWER...EXCEPT 25 OR LOWER ACROSS THE NATURE COAST AND SUMTER COUNTY...FOR 3 OR MORE HOURS.

In celebration!

Roxanne put together (with Sandi's help -- we all get Sandi to help us do these kinds of things) a book of letters from family and friends for Chris's 40th birthday. What a neat gift that will mean much over the years!

She also included quite a few photos of his life -- as you can see, Kamen was quite intrigued by it, too.

Rambling ... and a special Happy 40th Birthday to Chris!

I try to write something every day but have felt quite short of that over the past week as I have been busy with other things that seemed to demand my attention. Work, for instance! Off and running and I guess that is great but I think I am tired already ... well, just for today anyway!

I find that so much of my life revolves around grandchildren -- and that is fun. I got a call from Teri's phone on Sunday evening and I was expecting Teri's voice when I heard 9 year old Bailey ask, "Nana .. it's time for Girl Scout cookies. Do you want to order some?" What do you think my answer was?

As I was typing this, my phone rang again but this time it was from Marley's phone. Expecting to hear her voice, I hear Teri's voice laughing almost hysterically at Marley's response to a Staples' ad that had just shown during a break in American Idol. It would be a little long to share here but needless to say, it brought much laughter.

RJ was at our house after school today and he was having a great time talking to Ava and she was responding. Kasi was a little intrigued when RJ told her that he was going to be a dad soon. She said, "What?" He added, "When I get big, I'm gonna be a dad!" We breathed a sigh of relief!

Today is Chris's 40th birthday .. he doesn't know yet about a special gift he will be receiving. (He will soon so I am safe in sharing it here.) Roxanne put together a memory book for him with letters from family and friends. I wrote a letter, too, but told him I wasn't sure I was real thrilled he was turning 40 as now three of my four sons-in-law are over 40!! I think I'm beginning to feel old -- actually, I was doing that after our great-granddaughter was born!

However, Happy Birthday, Chris!

I Want My Mommy

Ava is only 2-1/2 months old but she already has figured out how to let her mommy know that she wants her now! She puckers up her lower lip and if she doesn't get a quick response, she lets loose with a plaintive wail!! I had no idea a baby that young could express her desire so well! She looks right at Kasi when she puckers up!

On the other hand, as we were eating dinner this evening, she was in her little jumper seat beside me. She wanted my attention most of the time and her little arms were flapping and she was making that jumper jump!! She even managed some conversation and I let her know I understood perfectly! Right!

She's a little sweetie and I'm sure she will be spoiled quickly!!

Don't Touch the Hair!!!

I don't have the photo yet but Teri assures me it is coming. She finally got an 'official' haircut on Rudy. But not without lots of protests!! Lots and lots of protests!!

Teri told me that she has trimmed Rudy's hair up until now but that he has put up a fuss every time. She said she even tried to trim it when he was sleeping but it seemed that he sensed whenever a pair of scissors was anywhere near his head and he came wide awake in an instant!

They found a hair stylists who works with children and figured perhaps she could get it accomplished! She did but it took about a half hour and she was serenaded by a screaming voice! She may have earplugs by the time they return!! lol!!

Playground? They call it "Recess"

I picked RJ up at school today (well, he got into the car). He didn't know it was going to be me picking him up so I was rather tickled when he saw me from afar and came running, yelling, "Nana!!!" Okay, so I was rather proud he was so pleased to see me!

I asked him how his day was and if he was hungry. He told me his day was good and then said, "We had 'playground' today. But they call it Recess! All in the terminology -- I grew up with "Recess". It was interesting that I had listened to a radio talk show this week where they discussed the lack of "Recesses" in the schools and non-activity in kids' lives and how it has an impact on their health -- physical and emotional. So I was rather intrigued when he told me that they had "Recess" although he preferred to call it "Playground".

After he shared that, he informed me that he would like to go to McDonalds but his request was a little interesting -- a plain cheeseburger, apple dippers and chocolate milk. A Happy Meal but not the typical one with french fries and a coke! Apple dippers and chocolate milk!! The gal working the window at McDonalds seemed to know exactly what I needed so RJ was quite pleased when we got back to our house. He was even more pleased when he saw they had given him two toys rather than just one!!

I find it intriguing that while babies will respond to us (adults), they seem to really respond to other children. Ava was wide awake so sat on my lap for a little while as RJ talked to her. She tried to talk back to him -- but mostly smiled at him!

The photos are from the area where I picked up the kids at Keswick. The classes have their own 'parking places' .. yes, the classes actually stay within the lines of a parking place! All at once I heard a voice on the loud speaker that said, "RJ Keeling, go to #5!" I was the fifth car in line -- it didn't take him long to recognize me and that's when he came running! The gal who was monitoring the area said, "He obviously knows you!" No question that a stranger was picking him up!!!

Just gotta love those grandkids!!

Is it winter yet???

I was in Atlanta for about 10 days and during that time, it went from a low of about 28 degrees at night to the upper 60's one day -- maybe even into the 70's. I am home now and it is supposed to be about 79 degrees today. I'm not sure if winter is going to skip us here in Florida or if it is delaying its arrival and will arrive with a vengeance. I will be traveling to Indiana at the end of the month and I'm afraid I will get my 'winter' fix in about five minutes! Some think we are crazy for living in Florida in 'all that heat'!! Well ... I can assure you that I will take a little warmer weather in the summer in exchange for all that cold winter weather, snow, sleet, ice, etc., of the north country! I just don't like driving in the snow nor having to clean the ice off of windows.

I usually have to hang my coat on the front door whenever I am traveling north as I would forget it if I didn't. We wear coats in Florida, too -- like when the temperature gets down below 60 and we think we are freezing to death! Not quite that bad but almost!!!

By the way, I have almost retired my cane!! I guess when I realized I had left it a few places along the way and had to go retrieve it, it was time to let it go. It was sort of a 'crutch' but not a crutch! So, now I just have to try to get the limp out of the walk which may be hard to do since I am 'off' about a half inch anyway -- no comments please! I carried kids on my hip since I was about 7 years old which seemed to have caused me to have one hip 'higher' than the other one. Whether that's the reason or not, it sounds like a good excuse!!

I guess I'll enjoy my warm weather today and try to remember that it is truly January!!