Criminal Minds 2-15-12

Morgan just said, "Let's grab a bar and find a drink." HaHa

Orchids-Three Blooming Flowers, Three More to Come

It's taken two years but, the plant is finally producing. YAY!!!!!

Birds on the Feeder in Front of Our Kitchen Window

I'm getting sparse visits at the suet feeder in front of our kitchen window. Pictures are fuzzy 'cause I have to snap them through the screen. I really want to find out the species of the bird in the first three pictures. It sings loudly and beautifully. It also seems to be hyper, quick, jerky movements. I love the birds. Hope to see more. One woodpecker travels with the chickadees. Haven't been able to catch a shot of it yet. The blurry picture of another woodpecker with a red head is as good-as-it-gets 'cause it was high up in the tree. Woodpeckers, I'm aiming for shots of you!

A Few Words about Valentine's Day

How cool is this? Anita was eating salsa and a piece of her chip broke off and landed in the salsa in the shape of a heart. Just in time for Valentine's Day! I know my AZ, CA friends will appreciate this heart.

Valentine's Day was yesterday. We, at our house, decided to go to the movies as our Valentine present. We saw "The Vow" and loved it. Us girls, that is. Antonio saw "Star Wars 3D". He was the only person in the entire big theater. For dinner we had chicken tenders, baked potato and asparagus. Dessert was homemade rice pudding with a heart made of candy hearts in the middle. I received three Valentine cards from a cousin and two friends. So thoughtful. And, a treasured note from Anita on the envelope of the card that I gave her. The note meant a lot to me.

The 54th Grammy Awards - 2/12/12

Tonight, I'm watching the best, best, best Grammy Awards Show evvveeerrrr! What a show. It is beyond outstanding. Whitney was honored with reverence and respect. There isn't one negative thing that I could say about this show. Congratulations to the Academy and thank you so much for the wonderful entertainment. You outdid yourselves.

I wish I could sing or play an instrument. Watching all of these talented people makes me wonder if I could have untapped talent. Guess I'll never know. Kind of late to think about now. Guess I'll stick with my writing.

Sorrow. God Bless you Whitney Houston

WOW! I did not see this coming. At the news of Whitney Houston's death, I started to cry. Even now as I'm watching the TV and the recap of her life, I'm crying again. I think it touched a place in me that reminded me that anyone who is living with addiction, whether family, friend or the actual person using, that the fear of the person dying is always in one's mind. There is a fine line bordering on the life or death of existence. In my past, there were instances where people I loved were close to being taken from my life because of addiction. For a beautiful, super talented woman like Whitney Houston to lose her life, possibly from her past or maybe even present addictions, it tears at my heart. Her songs, which are being replayed over and over in remembrance of Whitney have touched me deeply. Perhaps the words reminding me that there is love lost, love kept in my heart, love that was taken from me. The singing and words of the songs are tearing me apart. I feel it in the depths of my being. Learning to Love Yourself is the Greatest Love of All. Thanks to Whitney and this song, I learned to love myself. Whitney, I am so sad that somewhere along the way, you forgot about loving yourself. God Bless you!

Didn't we almost have it all. I will always love you. (Now I'm bawling) If Whitney touched me so deeply, I can't fathom the millions of people around the world who may be bawling along with me. Whitney Houston, R.I.P. You blessed our lives and left an indelible mark. You will always reign in my book as "The Voice". You are so beautiful. My prayers and thoughts are with your daughter, your mother, your family and friends. I thank you for your voice, for your songs, for the talent that you shared with the world. I don't think any other singer has touched me as deeply as you have.

Fiftieth Birthday Dinner with Deb and Us

I'm just a year and a half behind on updating this blog. Sooooo, I decided to get back-to-business. My daughter Debbie turned 50 on November 15, 2011. Deb had a wonderful party in Dec, adults only. Since she is the godmother for Anita and Antonio and since Stacy had to work and couldn't attend the party, we decided that we would like to take Deb out-to-dinner to celebrate her special day. We finally made it on Feb. 2, 2012 at a wonderful Italian restaurant called Capuana's that Deb selected. The meal was awesome. Below are pictures from our get together. The caricature was my gift to Deb. It was drawn in Wildwood where we went on vacation. The girls were Deb 3, Donna 4 and Diane 5. Greg was at home 'cause he had chicken pox. He was one at the time and in the capable care of grandparents. Diane still had non contagious sores, from chicken pox, on her on the vacation. Diane and Donna will receive copies of the caricature from the prints that I made of the original. I'm so happy that Deb was delighted with her gift. Love you Deb. Fifty..... really?