From the Mouth of a Babe

There used to be a T.V. program called "Kids Say the Darndest Things" and it's so true. My grandniece is just 2 years old and this is one of her latest.

Her parents took her to a restaurant and, as she was seated, she asked "Where's the racist?". Her parents were shocked and asked her to repeat the question. "Where's the racist?", Avry asked again.

She meant, "where's the waitress?". Funny!

When my youngest daughter was about 4 years old she tried to say "goody, goody gumdrops" but it came out "giddy, giddy dwumgops". We laughed until we cried and she angrily stomped away only to return moments later.

Again she determinedly said, "giddy, giddy, dwumgops" and we fell off our chairs laughing. She was furious and stomped away once more.

Back she came and made another futile attempt before she gave up. I've often thought of that day and it still makes me smile. It was a precious moment...for everyone but Shelley, of course.

Things You Don't Expect To See

I know when I cross the border into the States that I'm now in a country where there are millions of guns in the hands of possibly unstable people, some legal but some illegal. I never expected to see a bullet ridden car casually parked at Publix, though.

Faye and I went shopping last Friday and made Publix our last stop because we didn't want our groceries to get too warm. We pulled into a parking spot and, as I was exiting the car, I came face to face with a bullet ridden car parked right beside us.

At first I thought it was imitation bullet holes that a few dimwits like to stick onto their vehicles but then I realized I could see through the holes! It was an ordinary looking car in pretty good condition other than the right rear fender with the bullet holes (maybe 20 of varying sizes) and some collision damage. I wanted so much to wait and see who was driving it but we didn't have time.

It's like living in the wild west!

Eating Sensibly...-8

Okay, so I've gained back 2 of the 10 lbs. I lost over the last 2 months. It's not perfect but it's the equivalent of an 8 pound bag of potatoes that I haven't had hung from my frame so that's a good thing.

I believe that the accountability in facing my little weight loss group every Friday morning is the only thing that has kept me from "gaining" 8 pounds in the last 2 months. I mentioned today how it's been years since I stepped on my home scale because I just couldn't face what I was doing to my body. It was always a traumatic experience when I was forced to be publicly weighed at the doctor's office and had to acknowledge my weight.

It's still difficult to face the truth but I'm determined to keep at it all summer when I'm home. What I'd like to do is have one morning a week when friends or family come over and weigh in on my scale. They can keep their own records so no-one, not even me, knows their weight. Our meeting purpose will be the weigh in and group encouragement. I'll keep my own records of everyone's loss or gain only.

If anyone reading this blog would like to join but do it from a distance, they have only to weigh themselves at their home and report their loss or gain to me. I don't think we need to remind any overweight person how to eat more sensibly because we all know exactly what we should or shouldn't eat. Being accountable on a weekly basis can only help us make better choices throughout the week.

I'm not happy that I gained back those darned 2 pounds but I'm able to feel happy about the 8 pounds that are gone. I'll keep on trying.

Basic Human Rights

I'm presently at odds with my daughter, Shelley, about the new health care plan proposed in the United States. I believe strongly that the only way each and every citizen can receive equal health care is if their country adopts socialized medicine. Shelley believes that the existing plans through insurance companies need only to be overhauled...but that doesn't take care of the uninsured or underinsured in the United States.

On her Facebook page, she asks the question, "is health insurance a basic human right" and the obvious answer is that, yes, every single person on this earth should have access to equal health care. Logically, not every country is wealthy enough to supply decent health care to all of it's citizens but the leading countries on this planet (the United States is one of them) should be bound by decency to insure that every one of it's citizens have EQUAL access to health care, education, food, and shelter.

Welfare was created to make sure no-one need starve or live out in the open so why are some Americans so afraid of socialized medicine? Education is another socialized plan created to make sure all children, regardless of financial ability, receive a basic education. Right now, an indigent person can't go to a family doctor but has to cram the hospital emergency rooms to access basic health care. Either that or they just ignore their poor health until it's too late.

Part of every working person's taxes goes to support the welfare of those less fortunate. Should it stop at providing full health care for the needy? Should rich and greedy insurance companies have the power to gouge their clients and then dump them when their health care reaches a certain limit? Should a working person making minimum wage be unable to afford health care?

Socialized medicine will insure that all citizens have the basic human right to health care. Everyone will have the right to see a doctor when necessary and no-one will have to choose between feeding their family or tending to their health.

Then there is the question of illegal aliens and whether or not they should receive the same care as legal citizens. Emergency care should be available to everyone because that is the decent, human thing to do. Anything beyond emergency care should be the responsibility of the patient's home country.

This blog is about health care but I do wonder at how the United States (and probably Canada, for all I know) allows illegal aliens to attend their schools. Somehow this must be allowed so that unscrupulous businesses can employ the parents at slave wages.

This can be a cruel, cold world but Obama has been a strong enough president to make it a little kinder and that gives us all hope for a better world.

Health Care for the Masses..At Last!

President Obama is a man to be admired. He spearheaded the movement to bring socialized health care to the United States and he began his quest almost from the day he was elected president. After this, I doubt he'll ever do anything much to make me lose faith in him.

What's sad is that many Americans don't realize the blessing they've been given. I'm not sure how this health care plan will mimic the Canadian one but it has to be better than what most Americans presently have. A citizen shouldn't have to put off health care because they either have no insurance or can't afford the co-pay. I'm expecting that the new plan will better protect the average person.

This day has been a long time coming, mainly because insurance companies stand to lose a lot of money. It's too bad that common decency usually comes second to outrageous profits. The insurance companies have powerful lobbyists who did their best to frighten citizens into believing a government plan was bad for them. I remember all too clearly how insurance lobbyists tried the same thing in Canada before our own government health care plan came into being. Government health care is simply better for the populace, cheaper in the long run, and something every progressive country should be able to provide for their citizens.

I've been told that many Americans pay $500-$700 per month for health care insurance. A minor increase in taxes to pay for government insurance can't possibly be that costly and that's how Americans should look at it. Even those out of work or on low incomes won't have to worry if they need to see a doctor or require surgery. Like I said, this change will be a blessing.

President Obama and all the politicians who were honest and instrumental in making health care available to all Americans, I applaud you.

Winding Down Florida

I still have 4 weeks left of my Florida winter but the signs of it all ending are here. Most of my buddies leave for their northern homes at the end of the month and the sounds of "when do you leave?" are heard every day.

I usually hate this time of the year when the good friends I've spent my winter with pack up and leave but this year I have my baby Nolan to go home to so heading home will almost be welcome.

This has been a brutally cold winter in Florida, one of the coldest in history. But spending every day and most evenings with fun and interesting friends still made it one I wouldn't have missed. The Florida senior trailer park experience has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life.

My sister-in-law, Marilee, will arrive on March 31st for a week or so and I'm really looking forward to her visit. My other sister-in-law, Faye, doesn't leave here until about April 10th so there's still lots to look forward to this winter. The park will seem almost empty after the end of the month but activities still go on.

My friend, Marilyn, is driving back to Canada with me so that's another nice experience to look forward to. My life seems to be filled with good times and the anticipation of more to come so I'm very lucky.

A relative (who doesn't know me well) once commented on how lonely I must be since my husband passed away but that just isn't so. My days are always busy with mostly activities that I enjoy and I'm never bored or lonely because I've designed my life to suit me. Widowhood doesn't have to mean spending the rest of your life alone. For me it's meant opening up my heart to new friends who've helped make my life a happier one.

I don't know how many winters I have left to spend in Florida and no-one knows how many of the people I've grown to care deeply for will return next year. I wish so much it would continue forever but it won't. I'm just thankful for today.

Speaking of today...this morning I'll go out for breakfast with Sheila, Millie, and Donnie. Possibly Frank, Agnes, and Amy will join us, too. We do this every Sunday morning and enjoy a lovely breakfast, laughing and joking as we eat. Tonight is our annual Strawberry Social in the clubhouse so that's another park tradition I can't miss. Life is just so darned good!

2010 Turd Toss

The crowds were large and noisy, lining both sides of the road and 3 or 4 deep. Most had brought their lawn chairs and refreshments to watch the great annual Turd Toss in our Florida park.

Two (scrubbed clean) porcelain toilets stood in the middle of the road having been placed a precise distance (?) apart. Four turd replicas awaited the contest.

Mark, the Head Turd, had his table set up in front of his trailer. He looked glorious wearing his huge Head Turd hat, made by Linda last year, I think. Those of us wishing to compete for the title of Turd King or Turd Queen lined up at the table waiting patiently to sign in, all of us hopeful of earning the grand title.

Candy's karaoke machine was set up so that Mark would have a microphone to carry his voice to all the audience who waited in eager anticipation of seeing their favorite become park royalty. Some did have their favorites but all cheered wildly for every contestant and even dragged reluctant ones out of the audience and forced them to compete. Mark's first pronouncement was to introduce last year's king and queen, Dick and Sheila. They dutifully posed for pictures in front of and on top of the toilets. We take this very seriously but giggles could be heard.

Then the contest began. Four people at a time, two on each end, took turns tossing their turds. It was really surprising what horrible aim most of them had because turds flew everywhere. When one managed to land in a toilet there were roars of laughter and cheers from the audience and looks of amazement on the tosser's faces.

I wanted to win this year so badly. My plans were to buy a tiara and put a little sign on it saying Turd Queen that I could wear whenever I felt like it. The official Turd Queen hat can only be worn on the day of the contest and in our park parade. But it was not to be this year because I failed to dunk both my turds so I wasn't even in the turd toss off. Crap!

King Dick dunked both his turds on the first try but for some dumb reason they made him join in the turd toss off with all the men who had only dunked one. He still won and is Turd King for another year. What an honor!

I think more ladies than men managed to dunk one turd so there was a huge women's toss off with Molly winning in the end.

My heart was sore as I watched the 2010 King and Queen Turds posing for their pictures. They looked so happy wearing their huge turd hats and smiling for photos.

Maybe next year.

Talented Senior

Above is a picture of Audrey and the gorgeous afghan and cushion cover she expertly crocheted for a gift. The picture truly doesn't do justice to the skill she displays in her work. Granted, this is the same Audrey I wrote about a while ago because she'd crocheted a really dumb looking hat but we all have skeletons in our craft bags.

I come across so many people who have amazing skills but who don't realize just how good they are. They practice their craft quietly and usually think of it as a hobby. We need only to visit a country fair and take a look at the handcraft exhibits to see that there are many humble artisans among us.

I wish I'd taken a picture of Candy's quilt at our coffee morning last week. She is another meticulous artisan who strives for and reaches perfection in her crafts. I, on the other hand, am satisfied with less than perfection...but that's okay, too. My stuff is still pretty!

To My Oriental Reader

I would love to read your comments but is it possible for you to translate them into English? It would be so nice if we could communicate. This is one of the things I find interesting about blogging.

We're Popular

Last fall a very nice couple of ladies brought their motor home to our park for a week because they'd heard how many activities are carried on here. They both are permanent residents of Florida but on the gulf coast.

Marilyn and Maryanne are very pleasant ladies who fit in well and we enjoyed their company as much as they seemed to enjoy ours. They said they'd be back for another week this spring and they arrived on Wednesday, parking their huge motor home right acrosss the street from my trailer.

Again we've enjoyed them and, again, they've enjoyed their stay here. You just never know when or where a new friend will come into your life and it's been nice for all of us to have gathered these two ladies into our group. M&M, as they are referred to, asked tonight how many of the people at our card table were Canadians and we had to think about it for a moment. There happened to be 4 Canadians and 4 Americans but we never think of this when we're in a group. We're just a bunch of people with similar interests who get along well and it doesn't matter what our citizenship is.

Wouldn't it be nice if every neighboring country got along as well as Canada and the United States?

If It's Wednesday (or Friday), It Must Be Bingo

Today is Wednesday and the first thing that comes to mind is that we have Bingo tonight. This is the only place I play Bingo because I know most of the winners and I know that all of the money taken in, after supplies, goes to the winners.

When I first came here in 1998, I thought that bingo chips were still in use and had never heard of dabbers. I also made the stupid suggestion that everyone at our table should share in whatever wins came our way. I'll never forget the cold and unbelieving stares that I got. Today I'd give the same reaction to a newbie who made such a dumb suggestion.

Our table is always full and usually with the same people but occasionally with someone new to the park. We can always make room. Presently, everyone at our table is a Canadian but it was never planned that way...it just evolved. For the most part, the ones at oir table are the ones we chum around with the most. We all have good American friends, too, and they occasionally join us but table acquisition is set very early in the year and most people sit with their best friends.

We cheer each other on and root for the one needing only 1 more number to win a game. We all have lucky charms to insure our success, too. Mine are a budha and an Eyore. The Eyore belonged to Lucy who passed away almost 4 years ago and I think of her fondly every Bingo night.

We're getting one of our rare sunny and warm winter days today and I'm going to the pool to soak up some sun. It's been an odd winter for Florida, full of cool or rainy days, but today it's perfect. And then tonight it's Bingo!

Facing Down the Bully

Remember the bullies in public school? Well, guess what they become when they get old...old bullies! They are easily recognizable because they push their weight around anywhere they can get away with it. They are as unpopular with the senior crowd as they they were with the children. They never change because there is something lacking in their personality.

I won't mention the incidents that led up to this showdown but they weren't aimed at me personally. I'm just mad as hell and thought the bully needed to have a few things pointed out to him. And I did it with tact but brutal honesty.

It's my firm belief that no-one should back down from a bully except when physical harm is a possibility. He wasn't about to harm me but I expected rudeness. It didn't happen, just a whiny complaint that everyone thinks he's an asshole even when he's in the right. What can I say...that's his reputation!

He's holding his ground on the poor decisions he's made and my aim was not to change his decision but just to make him realize it's only damaged his reputation more. This very stupid man makes more enemies because of his antagonistic behaviour every single year and can't understand why.

Well, today I told him why but I doubt very much it will make any difference. He left feeling sorry for himself but still determined to be the asshole he is.

Monday Morning Coffee

These are pictures of today's Monday morning coffee guests. We have a lot of fun at these get-togethers and, even though it was cool enough to wear jackets, everyone was happy to be able to sit outside.

The last picture is of Candy who brought the quilt she had just made to show us. We are a talented, happy, and very nice bunch of people if I do say so myself.

I promised them Bailey's Irish Cream for their coffee on the last Monday of this month. Most of the people here leave April 1st and it will be another sad time for me to see them head back to their northern homes.

Living in a Senior Park

Living in a senior park has ever so many advantages but there are also disadvantages. One of which is the ever present reminder of how limited our lifespan happens to be.

I've spent half the year in this park since 1998 and have made many great friends, many wonderful acquaintances, and just a few creeps. It's always a sad return to the park in October to discover that not all of us survived the summer. And then there are always a few who don't even make it through the winter. It's a constant reminder that we are given only a select few years on this earth to make it a better place.

I have no religion but I do have my opinions on why we're here and where we go from here. Why some of us leave this life in cruel and painful ways makes no sense to me and probably never will. If anything makes me doubt my belief in an afterlife, this is it.

There is no doubt in my mind that the world is gradually becoming a more evil and dangerous place and that there is a larger percentage of "bad" people than when I was a child. It's as though mankind is on a slow and unstoppable decline. But then, maybe it's just me seeing things through aging eyes.

In less than a month, I've seen 2 seniors from this park die a painful and lingering death and it makes me wonder why they had to suffer in this way. I have so many questions and I hope one day to have the answers.

Today the sun is shining and Florida is finally warming up. I feel blessed to have this day because today is all we have, tomorrow is just a maybe.

Eating Sensibly...-10 and desperately holding!

I don't know how many weeks I've been trying to eat sensibly but the last two were extra hard because I had company. Eating in restaurants and eating large meals at Faye's, complete with desserts, isn't the best way to eat sensibly but I still have hope.

I had opportunities to dine in restaurants at least 4 days this week but decided to cancel 2 of those days simply because I'm just too full. Even though I tend to eat the wrong things, I don't usually eat a lot of volume. Restaurant meals are not normal servings and I don't have a shut-off valve so I overeat.

I've somehow managed to maintain my 10 pound weight loss for a while but I have no idea how. Just think how well I'd do if I ate sensibly every day!

Tomorrow we're going to a Blue Jay's game and then to a restaurant for dinner but that will definitely be the last one for me for a while. I'll weigh in again on Friday and either hate myself or not understand how I dodged the bullet.

Wish me luck.