This mural greets visitors outside CHEC's parking lot
This weekend, it was difficult to decide what to do, and where to go for entertainment. The SW Florida sun coast was bubbling with all types of art events and festivals from Sarasota to Fort Myers, and places in between.
Since we live in one of those in-between places (Charlotte County, FL) I took the easy way out and opted to attend “Art Sensation ’11”, an annual celebration of local music, art and culture; an event sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Council of Charlotte County, held at the Charlotte County Event and Conference Center (CHEC).
Naomi Pringle proudly displays a copy of her book, "Ginga Root Tea"
This year’s Art Sensation had an impressive list of participants who boasted many talents: jewelers, painters, historians, and many other artists and performers; but for obvious reasons, this writer gravitated and connected with the writers in the house. I had the opportunity to meet and talk to James Abraham, Roland Edwards, and Naomi Pringle, three of our community’s published authors; who generously shared their knowledge and insights about the publishing world.
Roland Edwards author of "Who do you say I am"
They related writing experiences, talked about upcoming projects and invited me to attend upcoming writing workshops, they made me feel welcome in their literary midst.
James Abraham, the Book-broker and writer
This is only the beginning of “snow bird” season” in SW Florida; so I suspect I will be getting busy checking out venues until the end of the year. I will be on the lookout for things to do and will keep you posted; especially, if they are free!
I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog at least once a week for all of 2011.
I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similiar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.
If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.
This summer, I attended a business conference held in National Harbor, MD; I did not recall hearing about this city before, at least not that I could remember.
Nevertheless, I quickly signed up to attend the summer institute conference. National Harbor as it turned out, was all-good; especially because of its proximity to our nation’s capital, which I had the opportunity to visit during last year’s conference.
Aside from the obvious reasons we attend job-related conferences, there are some not so obvious benefits. One of the things I look for is location, location, location! When conferences are held in places I have never been to before, (and that includes many), I jump at the opportunity; quickly launch into a Google research project, and then get excited to learn all I can to begin plotting what to do when the workshops breakout for the day.
I love to travel, explore and see what the city I am in is all about. This morning I was looking through the picture gallery in my Droid with the intent of deleting old files to free-up some memory. I came across a few pictures, taken during my two most recent business trips and instead decided to share them with you. I will soon file them away in that digital album on the desktop I rarely ever go back into.
Washington, DC
The Washington monument was looking magnificent on the day I took this picture. I could not ask for a better shot, and was truly amazed to see that it came out of my cell phone camera. I am by no means a photographer, but I hope for the best and expect the camera to see what I see, when I point and shoot at an object. It is always a crime of opportunity; I may or may not have the camera with me, but the cell phone? That is another story. LOL!
The sculpture shown here both took me by surprise and creeped me out at the same time when I first saw it at National Harbor. I thought, what is that all about? Its location made me
The awakening in full view
think it was making some reference to the sea gods and it looks intense and scary, at least to me it did. I have since learned it is “The Awakening”, created by J Seward Johnson in 1980 and first displayed in Hains Point, MD (another place I never heard of), for 27 years, it was then relocated to National Harbor in 2008 when the sculptor sold it for $750,000! It must be nice!
I lived in Brooklyn, NY for more than twenty years, during that time I visited every “must see” tourist site there was to see in NYC and even some you would not want to see. Every museum: Brooklyn Museum, Children’s Museum, MOMA, Guggenheim and places such as Madison Square, Empire State building, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty–any and all major attractions were part of my weekend itinerary, along with regular visits to Macy’s for shopping and FAO Schwartz to ensure the kids did not complain—I was a very smart mommy!
The point is this, there is so much to see anywhere you live that you should not let the moments of your life go by without taking advantage to enrich yourself. Gather some knowledge and share it with others. There are no excuses accepted these days since Google can take you places you have never been before. I know, it is no substitute for being there, I agree; but a “virtual trip” does not hurt anyone and if you ever get the opportunity to visit in person–you would already have an idea of what to expect when you get there.
My hubby and I have been married a long time; I love him dearly and think he loves me too (just kidding, hon!). For most of our married life we have always had a dog. Our first was Susie, a German shepherd we got as a gift when she was about 4 weeks old. Susie stuck around us for twelve years; until one gray winter day when she ran across the street to go to the park; and we never saw her again. I loved that dog!
Susie was about eight years old when my hubby came home one day with a fawn colored Doberman whom we promptly named Dee Dee because she introduced herself to us, by going on our carpet! Two large dogs in our household at a time, what was he thinking? Dee Dee was one unlucky dog though, she contracted Parvo when she was six years old, and we had to put to her sleep.
Our children must have thought she was a horse as she allowed them to ride her. She was amazingly gentle with them considering what they put her through on so many occasions–even their friends joined in on the rides; that was one crazy dog. These were our two dogs while we lived in New York.
Lucky dog
A couple of years later, we moved to Florida; and voila’ another dog. His name was Lucky, so named because I found him one day under my car as I was getting ready to go home from work. My girlfriend took a look at the little mongrel and proclaimed: “You should take him home, he looks like a Sheltie, they are little dogs, he would not get too big”. I took a look at his sad eyes and did just that–took him home with me. He was our first introduction to a Marley and Me dog-like experience and definitely not a Sheltie; Lassie’s size is what comes to mind; a mixed breed, a jumper, runner, destroyer of everything in sight: records, doors, gates, carpet, vinyl, paper, plastic, plants–you name it!
The hubby? He was like “we” agreed there would be no more dogs, right? He has to go! Needless to say, we really are suckers for puppies. We survived Lucky’s antics and his eighty pounds, for 14 years. He brought lots of joy to our lives.
Every dog owner I know who has gone through the death of a pet, I am sure feels the same way. The process of grieving, the feeling of loss and then we all swear “never again”, that is the last time I put myself through this! That was the two of us two years ago, when Lucky died. Did I mention I have had a dog in my life, since I was a small child?
Enter Sasha, our Labrador and Husky mix, who is now 6 months old and almost 50 pounds. I tried to resist the temptation of getting another dog, but as I said before I really am a sucker for dogs. She is our current and last dog, and our latest Marleyand Me experience. Lol!
I see signs of intelligence in her, she somewhat listens to our commands–when she feels like it; loves praises. Good girl Sasha, sit, you are such a good girl. However, she is not too obedient when it comes to our allowing her to roam around the house; we have to stay vigilant, watch her every move. I keep threatening her and the hubby with sending her back where she came from (Ormond Beach), and reminding him, he is the reason why she is still here. She is a big girl, and a rambunctious one at that; and she is definitely no Alpha dog. All she has to do is hear a garbage truck, or a school bus, or anything with a large engine–and she immediately makes a mad dash for the hills!
My new mantra? Where the hell is that “Dog Whisperer” when you really need him? Cesar Millan I need you and I need you now!
Just so you know, I did not forget about you. I had very important assignments during the last few months, and they took precedence over my blogging duties. So much has happened in our lives since the last time I spoke to you.
Here goes, Miss Elisa Londyn was born on May 30 2011, the beautiful bundle of joy’s parents were beside themselves, in more ways than one. Does anyone remember the first few days after delivery? I do, very vividly, not only my own but our daughters’ too. Miss Elisa arrived on a Monday afternoon, and took her departure from the comfort of her mother’s womb very seriously; when I met her approximately 30 minutes later, all she had to say was a loud “whoa, whoa, whoa!!!” She cried as if to say “who let me out? I was doing just fine in there, Grandma. I want my mommy!
Elisa, Lauryn and Sydney
Let me tell you, as one of the two proud grandmas I was beside myself with joy. I stayed with the new parents for about 10 days to help ease them into their brand new role. Time spent was priceless; we bonded like nobody’s business and by the time I left, everyone was pretty much in sync with each other. Daddy took to being the “poopy diaper engineer” and mommy thrilled at being relieved of this particular job. Of course, she too, eventually had to step-up to the “poopy” plate. Mind you grandma was on task from the beginning but had to make sure to delegate duties just before returning home.
That was granddaughter number two; you still remember our first, Miss Lauryn, “the big sister” as she is known these days? Sydney Joyce, granddaughter number 3, arrived on July 30, to the delight of little Miss Lauryn, her parents and grandparents; Miss Lauryn has taken control of the situation, for the most part. She is mommy’s little helper, checking in on her little sister regularly and reporting to mommy when she believes there is a diaper change in order.
According to her auntie “Titi”, Lauryn can talk to little Sydney; we had a few hilarious moments a few weeks ago when all three grand-kids, parents and grandparents convened together for a baby meet-up. Titi asked Miss Lauryn one day, what her sister wanted because she was crying; she responded: “she says she wants to eat, and I think she has a poopy diaper!” We all rolled over with laughter at that assessment; and you know what? She was right!
BTW, I will never forget Sidney’s arrival into this world either; I was in the birthing room. I will never forget seeing her little head come out and without prompting and right before the shoulders were out, she made her singing debut, she was like “at last, what the heck took you all so long?” I’ve been ready for this!
Stay tuned; I am sure this will be a joyous and totally funny ride. I love my grand babies and their parents tremendously; they are my pride and joy. I am thankful for them, and am especially thankful for the wealth of material they are going to supply Grandma with for the pages of this blog!
Chica on the Move 