Home from Fort Wilderness

Hi, we are back, and we had fun... only funny thing... We ended up spending $92.00 for the weekend. It wasn't supposed to cost anything... Long story. She reserved 3 sites, they only gave her two, there was just 3 of us, and we only needed 2 sites... so, our site was used for the screen house... so... they credited her for one night, at $42.16 and that happened to be out site... Their bill came to $135.00 approximately... so that means the credit came to us... But the sites coming to around 225.00 or so should be split 3 ways correct.. 3 parties camping, so that would be about $75.00 a couple... but... nothing was mentioned about that.. instead she was going back to see if she could get a credit on her bill as well, reducing it to only $185.00 for the weekend, which would make the fair share between couples even less... And... on top of all that, we laid the money out for the Major League Devil Rays game at Disney in May, and the Red Sox game in Tampa, all of which came to about $150.00... And when she was going to pay us back for them, I told her no because of the trip to Disney... Needless to say at a time when money is tight for.. I will remember this the next time we go are going to lay the money out for any games or anything... Needless to say, we are always patient, and willing to lay the money out... Well, those days are over...

Anyway, it was a nice weekend... cool at night, damp too, which is not the best circumstances.. and I think we need a new air mattress. Al and Linda came out, and Al said he wants to go to a Red Sox Spring training game is we can get tickets.

Here is a picture from the weekend...

It is Sunday...

DAY LIGHT SAVINGS TIME... that means we turn the clocks back, and get an extra hour of sleep, which to me is no big deal, although I love it when it gets dark early, but that doesn't last for ever...

Table clothes are on sale at Kohls... I need to get one...

Will go down stairs and cut my pattern...

I am going to do what ever it takes to clean the bathroom....

Have to make the scrap book for Linda and Al...

Started Laundry...

Maybe we should do a fire in the Chiminea

...and we are going to walk to Publix..

Camping next weekend...

So that is my day... hope to post more when the time comes...

Have a good one to who ever is reading this...

Oh, and take this personality test... it is pretty good!

http: //memoriter.net/flash/test.html

and the picture for today is.....sitting out side at Meta's house, having a beer, and relaxing...that was real nice...

Oh... and I have a question.....

I was wondering... if anyone happens to read this blog.... (maybe)... I was told that the was a spot on some of my wedding pictures... and I don't remember where they came from... it might have been my cousins pictures.. anyway it was pointed out to me that the spot might have been my Dad's aura... anybody who knows about this stuff... Could that be...? Here is one of the pictures that has the "aura". If you are reading this, and care to comment... let me know... I may never hear anything... but in the event... let me know...



See, when Dad was at Duke, they had a fountain in the lobby, and when Melissa and I would be leaving the hospital (Melissa is my niece) we would stop in front of the fountain, and make a wish and throw in a piece of change.... My wish is that Daddy would walk again, and walk me down the isle at First Methodist Church of Oviedo... Well he never walked again... and almost a year after he passed away, George and I got married at that church, and we didn't walk down the isle, specifically, but I carried a picture of Daddy with me, and it was a picture taken of both of us at the alter with the pastor that has this spot... Do you think it is my Dad...?

Boston Red Sox won the 2007 World Series!!!!

Well we did it... Now in a week or so I am going to call the Spring Training camp and see if I can jump and get some gooooooood Spring Training tickets... I would like to find a campground in Lee County, and go down there to their home field... I know we have to take advantage of Fort DeSoto since we missed the weekend in September, and we have a credit...

Today it is in the 60's, I got up at 7:30, walked the dogs and watered the plants... My grapefruit trees are suffering alittle, and don't quite know what to do for them...

Next weekend we go camping out at Fort Wilderness.

Talked to Meta last night and she said that the trip to Germany is on for sure since Jon passed up a trip to Boston that same time next year... so George and I will have to save our wedding money for Germany, and start saving (if that is possible right now) for our cruise to Alaska... I do want to do that... So it will have to happen...

I really want my new car... and I wish I could get George to drive... The first appointment that he has that I can't take him to is November 28th, so it will be either him or Richie...

I think Dr. Freed is going to push him to go back to work next visit... which is 11-14... A day after Daddy's birthday....

Busy month coming up.... Next weekend is camping... the following week we have appointments all day on Wednesday... then the weekend to clean and get ready for Thanksgiving, and then Thanksgiving weekend, Meta and Rich and the kids will be down...with Mom...

I invited Janet and Jimmy to come over as well..... So I will get a Turkey Breast, and a fake Turkey Breast, and acorn squash, rutebaga, corn, green beans, red cabbage, potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy. Maybe peas... don't want to get too much that will tempt George..., Oh yea and some rolls. I have to start putting out rolls...

For dessert will be pumpkin pie, and apple pie.

You know I realized I never posted a picture of our wedding... Well here goes... Hopefully more tomorrow...

We have one more to go!!!!

One more to go....

Won last night, 1 more to win, and 4 more games to go.. and then... we won it baby.....

Today we go to Kevin and Kim DePaolo, and I will bring the camera...

Yesterday when I checked out my window boxes, I found a snail on my beach sunflowers, or dune daisies... Love those flowers. Bought 5 but 2 died, which has left me with 3. I have done some research and they are supposed to be very prolific, so hopefully I will have some babies come from dead heading the spent flowers. They look nice, and would love to have them in all the boxes. And I can't find them anywhere..

Planted a pineapple top too, so hopefully that will spring into a plant, although being in a pot, I highly doubt it will amount to a pineapple...

Making a barbecue chicken thigh for Al and Linda when we go to Disney.. hope they come out for dinner... Will also do Portabella mushrooms for George and I. I think I will make a mixed salad for dinner as well. Was going to do corn on the cob, but we will see... Can still do the mixed salad...

Well better go... the litter box is not making me comfortable. Need to clean the fish tank and do some ironing....

You know what else? I went on Ebay to sell some books, and they ended my sale... what is with that... I have to look into this...!

In the mean time... here is a picture of my snail....

Checking in...

Well, since I was last here, the Red Sox won the ALCS, and so far the are winning the World

Championship series 2 games to nothing. They play the 3rd game tonight in Colorado...

Keep your fingers crossed.

Last weekend we were in North Carolina, visiting Al and Linda in Brevard... The picture was taken at the Pisgah Inn, where we had lunch... it was very good.

We had a wonderful time, and we invited Al and Linda to have dinner with us out at Disney on the 11th. I picked up a scrap book kit to make up a scrap book for Linda from the pictues we took while with them... There is nothing like the mountains in NC in October. We also saw 2 deer right behind the house before we left. All in all it was short but a perfect weekend.

Tomorrow we are going to Kevin and Kim DePaolo's for dinner. She is having a little get together for Audrey and Al, kind of a surprise. That should be fun, and I will bring picture back to share on my blog.

Haven't bought a new car yet... which isn't bad since we really don't need a new one yet. When we do, I will be ready...

Heard from Ingrid, and Pete was not affected by the fires in CA., except for smoke. Which you would expect, since the Santa Ana winds are so strong...

Went with George to Adaptive Mobility this week...Was not impressed... I have to tell you, so far physical therapists do not impress me.... As a matter of fact, most that I have met are lacking, and there is alot that they sould need to do to make me take that back.... The ones that I have met at bossy, pompous, condescending, negative, over bearing... if I think of more descriptives... I will add them...

You know a funny thing happened to me today... I put some books on E-bay, to try to sell them, and they closed me down...? What was that all about.... they think that I am trying to scam me..or something like that... I can't win for losing...

Going to Whole Foods today, Publix, Michaels, JoAnnes, and maybe Target.

Also went to Smokey Bones this week with Linda... It was very good. Also got to see her new kitchen... It was nice, and she is verrrry happy. Granite counter tops are nice, but in a way, I don't know that I would like them in my kitchen... oh well, what ever...

Oh and I am the proud owner of an AFLAC policy... We are both going to get a policy, as soon as George is back to work....Not sure when that will be... Well let's put it this way... until we supplement my income.... Personally, I don't think George needs to be rushing back to work before January 1st.

Well better go, get in the shower, and get ready to go...

We won!!!

We won the American League Title.. now on to the Rockies... I don't know about you... but I am nervous...

And guess what, I saw another eagle yesterday.. pulling out of the airport onto the Bee Line... (not the Beach Line... either!!! Damn republicans....)

Ok, better go, will tell you all about Brevard NC... when I come back.. had a wonderful time as usual...

Eagle... Today we saw an Eagle

Hey, guess what today I was sweeping the screen porch, and heard a chirping from an Osprey, of whom I thought were gone until February... and looked out to the Cell Phone Tower (aka Osprey Nesting Platform) only to find an Ameican Bald Eagle perched on the very top! Now, I am not a big fan of the American Bald Eagle... but they are very regal and majestic... this was a male and was huge.... The Osprey that was protesting his decision to use the Cell Phone Tower as a place to perch, was alittle bit smaller.

I had George look through the binoculars (my current vehicle to watch my birds and or baseball players, until I get my telescope to watch my birds, hint hint Santa....) and he was able to see the Eagle also. Which made me doubly happy since he hasn't been able to focus with the binoculars. I tried to take a picture of him with George's 35mm with the zoom lens, but we think there is an issue with the battery or shutter... Then I tried to take a picture of him with our digital camera... but that did not have a powerful enough zoom... So, I guess I will have to be satisfied with the memory in my heart for now.... He is beautiful, although as far as birds go, they are cruel and ruthless, and scavengers, unlike the Osprey, which are far more classy and upper crust in my book... I am afraid I am with Benjamin Franklin on this one.... but the turkey... I don't know... maybe he didn't know about the Osprey...

On a sadder note, the Red Sox lost last night... Schilling didn't have his game on, and they were not very aggressive at getting the runs... or on base... Those two do not add up to a very successful game, unfortunately.... Lowell did good, and Ortiz and Ramirez, didn't pull their weight... but then again either did Schilling.... Oh well, 5 more games to go, and 3 more wins... before the Indians get three more wins....

Gotta go and fix oatmeal, yuck...!

Hip Hip Hooray for Saturday!!!!

It is Saturday... I am going to work in the courtyard today.... and look for Elke's collar, and attempt to do some filing...

I am hoping George will feel like driving... and just happy to be home!!! I am off next Wednesday, and Friday we fly to the mountains (Asheville) to see Al & Linda... In fact I have to e-mail Linda to tell her all we really need for Breakfast is coffee, milk and sugar...

Spoke to Meta this morning, Rich is running a half marathon in Baltimore with Pastor Hahn... They are having pretty cool temperatures, down in the 40's for a low, and up to the 60's.. Perfect running weather, well I think...

Last night we got an Aflac plan for me, and as soon as George is back to work we will get the other plan. It will just be a good idea since we are going through our savings right now....

The salesman was really very nice, and I hope for only the best for him... His name is Nate Greene, and he is a good kid....

I have to call Wayne, our petsitter to tell him that we are going away next week and will be in need of his services...

Putzen is doing ok, and I am struggling right now with whether or not I can be doing anymore for her... I will update that struggle at some point...

Needless to say, I am just happy to have a day off to enjoy... It is nice not being pressured to be somewhere at a certain time, not to have to watch the clock.... Yep, that is the cruxt of the matter right there, don't want to have to be somewhere at a special time...

Well better go... have tons to do, and it is just too stuffy in here to be here all day....

Talk to you later...

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

Ok, so the Red Sox clinched the division in 3 games.... and.... the Yankees lost their division.... How about that....! That is all I really cared about.. that the Red Sox would would beat the Yankees in what ever division they won... Of course I still want the Red Sox to beat the Indians... and I will be watching that on Friday night... but... What a celebration...

Well that is it for now... gotta go... !!!

Way to go!!!

9-1 to clinch the series against the Angels.....

Let's Go Red Sox!!!

Now, lets keep our fingers crossed that the Yankees will lose....

Hello again....

Was supposed to clean in here today, but alas... that is not the case... did pay bills, and George made the bed for us... The Red Sox are on at 3:00, they are playing in Ca. against the Angels, and if they win this game, then they will play against either the Yankees or the Indians... The Yankees have to win today or they will be eliminated from the play offs, and the Rockies now play Diamond Backs...

We didn't go to church this morning.... which I am glad about... had a bit of a head ache all day, and right now not sure what we are going to eat for dinner... George had a piece of cheese cake today, so half down, half to go...

So, the remainder of the day will be, at best, baseball, clean the fish tank, file, and maybe vacuum if I feel up to it....

At worst... Baseball....

Sometimes I feel like such a lazy bum...

Talk to you tomorrow...

Go Red Sox.... Yankees Suck...!!!

Hello Again...

Well, I am back, it is now 5 months and 2 weeks since George's stroke... and things are moving along... alot slower than before, but they are moving along...

I am back at work, and not paticularly enjoying it, but the money is good for right now... Let's see what happens...

I entered a cheese cake in the Bake Off at the Church Bazaar, it was fun... I came in 7th out of 16 cheese cakes... they sold two pieces out of the cake, one George bought... I did win a free massage... which I might just take advantage of...

Meta and her family are coming for Thanksgiving dinner.... Michael and Linda will be here the day after Thanksgiving... We are going to NC to see our friends Al and Linda for the weekend, the weekend after next, and then we go camping out at Fort Wilderness... So for the next month and a half we have something planned every two weeks or so...

Did I say George was not driving yet... well, he isn't, and we are working with one car. When he starts driving I will be getting myself a new car. I was hoping to get an Audi, but I decided that I wanted to get a piece of property up north, with the eventual plans to build a small home for us to use in the summer, and have our home in Florida for the Winters. This is after we retire of course... I figure, putting that money towards a piece of property, or investing it in that instead of putting that 10,000+ dollars into a car, is a better investment, and leads to what I want instead of the instant gratification of an imported car, which will lose it's value very quickly...

So it looks like I will be looking at a Volkswagen Rabbit. Will keep you all posted as I get closer to that decision.

So, until next time...

Boy has alot happened...

Well, one week, to the day, after my last post... George had a stroke. It was terrible... and scared the hell out of me.... I called an ambulance and he was in the hospital for two weeks. I almost lost him... It was one of the most scary times of my life.

Those of you who know me, know my Dad had a stroke, but it is not supposed to happen to my partner, my other half. The person who completes me... But it did, and I needed to take care of things so that he would be a good as new. What ever it meant. So I did. And, as you may or may not already know, we weren't married... notice that is written in the past tense... That is because now... we ARE married. I am now Mrs. Heidi Ripke-Curcio. Imagine that! Here is a link to our Wedding Album. http://picasaweb.google.com/CurcioRipkeWedding/OurWedding

I think I am an advertisement for Google products...

I hope I wan't forgotten

I hope I wasn't forgotten...

I know I said I was going to be back more often, and it has been almost 2 months...

Well I am here now, and really want to do this regularly...

Mom is coming tonight.. she will be here until 4-27-07, and then we are driving her back home. I hope she enjoys being here, I also wish she lived closer, but if she is happy where she is, for what ever reason, well so be it... then I am happy for her.

Tonight I give George his birthday gift. And I would tell you what it is, but he does check my blog periodically, even though I am not that good at updating it, so I can't tell you. I will have to tell you later...

George has also been putting the house on a web cam almost every day. This is the link: http://georgecf.camstreams.com/ The kids sleep most of the day, if not all of the day, but occasionally I see them walk by, and it makes me smile.

Can's stay long today, and have lots to talk about, but, so I will be back.

BTW My potatoes are doing pretty good, actually see a few potatoes peeking through the soil. My beans are doing well, the tomato plant has about 18 tomatoes on it, and they carrots may actually produce on or two. The court yard is packed with stuff, and I wish I could be outside with a real garden. But this is good for now, and if I can produce veggies from here, I should be happy, and proud.

Hopefully gone for a while but not forgotten....

Well I am back... have been so busy, and lots happening... so I will start slow, and try to write everyday again...

Well first of all, got a new computer, and haven't brought everything over from the old one yet... maybe today... maybe tomorrow... we will see.

I am changing jobs. Used to work with the ISP/DSL group at Embarq, but now they are moving that department over to Decatur, Indiana... (just south or Fort Wayne), so I am moving to the General Office Building (GOB) in Apopka. New job, new stuff to learn, different atmosphere, and I am looking forward to it... I will miss all my customers, but that is OK, the ones that I have gotten close to I have their e-mail address and we will keep in touch.

News, for now are the Ospreys... Finally they are back. Yesterday I saw two at the nest, and one, I am thinking the male brought back fish to the nest. I don't see any babies yet, but I think they will be coming shortly. They seem to be doing some housework on the nest, and I will be more certain in a little while because I am ordering a pair of binoculars today... Not expensive ones. I am going to start out slow, and see how obsessed I am, and how long it lasts.

Have a new computer.... It is w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l !!!! It is fast and easy, and so far I like Windows Vista. For what ever that is worth... I am not exactly a computer wiz, but I like it.

Our club, the Kennedy Club Political Committee, has adopted a road. A section of Red Bug Road part in Winter Springs, part in Oviedo. 1.25 miles, from Brooks Rd. to Slavia Rd. We had our first clean up yesterday, and it went well. About 15 or 16 people showed up, and we filled about 16 bags. There are more bags by the sign, but, they aren't all full. Let me tell you, if I see one more person throw a cigarette butt out the car window, I will not be responsible for the road rage that ensues...

Here's a picture of the sign. Everybody had good time, and we all went to Stefano's for lunch afterwards.

Planted my veggies yesterday. Potatoes, bush beans, carrots, and tomatoes. Not sure what will come of it, but it is fun to experiment.

Well better go, we want to go bicycle riding today, but I need to vacuum and change the linen first.

Well, I am back.... see you tomorrow!!!