2014.5

Trying to keep the sadness at bay. I am continuing in most of my traditions. That visit to Florida was exactly what I needed to get me thru Christmas. My Christmas stuff is still up, but I am not stressing. Otis is traveling again, which adds to my sadness. I'll miss him. I will tackle the Christmas stuff and put it away right this year! It may be in March but, so what!

In keeping with traditions, I will be hosting an Ivey bash for the Golden Globes. Should be fun, I love getting catty with all the Ivey women, and maybe some of the men. I am sharing a recipe that I have been using forever...

This is exactly where I wrote it when I got tired of looking for the recipe EVERY TIME I wanted to make it.about 12 years ago..It's in the back of my favorite, most used cookbook. Thanks MEL!

2014.4

So 1/2 of our quartet made it home. I was a nervous wreck waiting, monitoring, texting, and Face booking with friends at home who were up. I was trying to arrange a ride home for BobKat, who were on the plane. We, Bill & I, took advantage of the 77 degree temp & sunshine. We went to the pool, he swam, i stood. Got some sun, then went to visit Casey & Janet & Sean. We watched the game, and a buncha drunken ass ladies until they were too much.(Sean recorded them, Youtube gold, he said.) Hit the road back to the hotel, got off the expressway in a sketchy part of town for gas, and managed to get back on the expressway without any incidents. Back to Tampa Airport Marriott, whew, and a good nights sleep. Hopefully Spirit (the nickel/dime airline) will get us home to Ohare today. 

Cross your fingers. 

Some day I'll figure out how to place the pictures properly. for now, I just don't have the spare time to learn.

2014.3

 Well it's been an interesting 24 hours.

We HAD reservations on Southwest to fly home. The flight wasn't until later in the day, so we figured that Southwest would would get their act together by then. We left our cute little cottage with the beach view, drove an hour & 1/2 north, to Tampa had lunch in the Tampa Airport Marriott, and then got a call from my sister, who was monitoring my flight. CANCELLED. OKAY, TIME TO MAKE SOME QUICK DECISIONS... a room, at said Marriott, done...extension on car, done...kids call into work, done...a new flight, NOPE. NO Southwest til Tuesday(isn't that a band?) SO, we now have reservations, on MONDAY, to OHARE. Here's hoping it works out.

cute little cottage

beach view

key lime pie

banking sunshine

Marriott Tampa airport pool area

2014.2

Beautiful day in the sun. 78. Beach is fabulous. Trying to store up sunshine & warmth in my soul for the long, crappy Chicago winter. Oh, did I mention it's snowing a foot of snow in Oak Lawn.

2014.1

So I got this idea on Facebook.
 I'm going to write everyday in 2014.
Today, what a blast. It's freakin freezing in Chi-town and snowin like a bitch.
Where am I? In lovely Nakomis, FL...we rented a pontoon for 3 hours. What fun.
Me, Bill, Bob, Kat, Casey, Sean & Lisann. Janet had to work.
Then dinner at Pops.yum.
I miss my Chi-town family...

but I had a blast today.