Early Christmas

Today has been a very special day!

The Captain and I decided that it was time to bring

a sweet baby cat into our lives for Christmas.  After

checking out the photos on the local animal shelter

website, we picked out which baby we wanted and

called to make sure she was still available before

driving out there.

The animal shelter was a very busy place today with

all the moms and dads looking to bring a sweet little 

pet home for the holidays.  We were there for hours,

but it was such a pleasant place to be with all the

happy families leaving with their new babies.

It was love at first sight (or was it second sight?) when

they took us to Mimi's cage for a visit.  She came to

us with no problem, didn't mind being handled and

has the cutest little face.  I'll be taking photos and

posting them soon.

Mimi is 1 1/2 years old and has the prettiest green

eyes, black and brown fur with a white chest and feet.

She is a beautiful kitty on the smallish side, very well

behaved and not freaked out with her new surroundings.

I love the way she clung to me on the drive home :)

Christmas definitely came early and we are so

happy with the new addition to our family!

Video Christmas Card from The Captain and Me

Last year's video was very spiritual, so this year I thought I would do something different and focus on the magic of believing in Santa and chose a beautiful non-traditional Christmas song performed by Melanie Thornton, one of my favorite musicians with one of the most beautiful voices I ever heard who left this earth way too soon ten years ago in a plane crash.  Celebrate life . . . it is way too short!


Where does the time go? This year flew by. It seems like yesterday I was creating last year's Video Christmas Card. I think the older one gets, the faster the days go by. What's up with that?


I'll probably be taking on a large freelance project that will take a big chunk of my computer time.  It will be nice to do something different, yet so familiar.  The extra money will come in handy to resurrect The Paradise to its former glory and let someone else do the work.  The second opinion from a specialist was not good and confirmed that I am in need of two knee replacements.  Not a good time to be gardening and re-landscaping this large property.  Oh well, at least I can still walk!


Check out my other blogs for lots of new posts . . . I've been so bad about listing new posts on this blog!  Before taking on the freelance project, I'll be adding RSS feeds to the sidebar.  Setting up advertising on my website and blogs has taken up lots of time . . . and of course I am still playing around with my new computer goodies.


Life is awesome!  What are you guys up to?

Happy Cyber Monday!

Although I really detest shopping at the malls and super stores during the holidays, shopping online is something I love to do.  There is something about getting packages delivered to my door . . . feels like a gift.  


One of the bargains was delivered to my email box from Corel . . . the latest version of video software with lots of extras was 50% off.  The Captain and I were like kids who found a treasure!  I love to buy stuff that we will both use . . . and we both love making videos, so it was a treasure!  


Now I have triple the software to learn since I recently earned the new ultimate version of Corel Paint Shop Pro with extra software as a bonus from Klout Perks.  Then there is the Bamboo Pen/Touch Tablet my wonderful husband bought me . . . it came with more software.  Love love love creative software!  I'll be busy for a while learning how to use all of my new goodies.


Then there was the package I received from Klout Perks today . . . two free quarts of Benjamin Moore paint.  I didn't get to pick the colors and haven't checked it out yet . . . I may be pleasantly surprised!  Creativity of a different kind . . . I love to paint.


My blogs and websites are going through some changes . . . I decided to monitize my webspaces with advertising.  At the same time, I'm making some design changes here and there and creating new pages.  I'll also be selling advertising spots soon since I've been receiving inquiries.  Busy times!


How was everyone's Thanksgiving?  Did you do anything special?


Our Thanksgiving was a bit different this year . . . our first as a married couple.  What was to be a celebration turned into a sad gathering of family and friends.  My sister-in-law's 40-something brother overdosed and died in his sleep as his mom was in the other room preparing the Thanksgiving feast.  It wasn't until the afternoon that it was determined that Thanksgiving dinner would go on as planned, only later . . . until then we weren't sure what we were going to do.  Very odd and sad day . . . his poor mom and dad were so freaked out they could not have dinner after all that cooking.  What a nightmare for them . . .


It concerns me how doctors tend to over medicate and don't have time to educate us about what we are taking.  It has become a personal responsibility world.  Check out your medications online and do research on what has been prescribed to you by the trusted doctor!  Be very careful about drinking alcohol while taking these medications.  I heard on the news that a simple Tylenol can be so dangerous if not taken properly.


All in all, The Captain and I had a wonderful four-day holiday together . . . perhaps a little more grateful for having each other than usual after experiencing another death of a young person.  Parents aren't supposed to grieve the death of a child . . . I have experienced so much young death in my life.  


Celebrate life . . .

Giving Thanks

I'm extra grateful this year

 for so many reasons!

How about you?

What are you giving

 thanks for this year?

Awesome weekend!

It has been one of those awesome weekends that has been pleasant and relaxing, yet we went out with friends and had a great time . . . and I got a new toy!


Computer geeks are so easy to please :)  The Captain got me a really cool touch and pen tablet . . . so now I can begin making my own graphic creations on the computer.  It has been a blast learning how to use this amazing little toy.  A feature that I really like . . . no more mouse!  I can use the pen or my fingers.  Gotta love technology :)  Lots of creative software came with it and I can't wait to dive in and learn everything . . .


Hope you all had an awesome weekend as well :)

One of my first creations . . . don't laugh . . . we all have to begin somewhere :)

The internet obsession

The internet has quickly evolved due to great minds dreaming up new ways for us to socially interact, ushering in numerous websites to keep us obsessed with our computers.  It is truly amazing and wonderful how many new concepts have been born in the course of a very few years.


My favorite is the blogging concept which I first discovered on Yahoo 360.  The internet obsession initially caught me with MSN Communities, where I started a gardening community that grew to over 1000 members.  We swapped plants and seeds through the mail and local members got together for the plant swaps.   


Both websites are long gone and it is equally amazing to me how fast they come and go.  Of course they go as soon as you get all comfy in the obsession . . . then you have to start all over again somewhere else, finding those friends you made.  Many scatter to different websites and we lose track.  When an "old friend" is found again, it is like bumping into someone you haven't seen in a while at the grocery store.


When I first heard of Twitter, I really didn't get it, but I dove in anyway . . . same with Facebook.  You almost have to participate in both since they have been interwoven into new concepts where they interact together.


My newest discovery is Pinterest . . . and I will admit that within a few days of joining, I'm obsessed.


If you haven't heard about it yet . . . I'll use most of the words from their website . . . Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard which lets you organize and share all those inspirational things that you find on the internet. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. You can browse and follow the pinboards of other members with similar interests for inspiration and an awesome way to discover new websites and blogs.


Pinterest also interacts with your Twitter and Facebook account . . . check it out if you haven't already!





Through the years I've been obsessed with different aspects of the internet and it has been interesting to think about all the different stages I've gone through.  When I first started blogging, I remember making the observation that I make a living online, pay my bills, play games, chat and communicate with friends, order pizza delivery . . . I even found my husband online!


What are some of your online obsessions and thoughts on your internet experience?

To Halloween or not Halloween . . .

Happy Halloween weekend!


I'm still very preoccupied with different projects going on around here . . . my blogs have been a bit neglected!


The Captain and I took off for one of our adventures on Friday to MacDill AFB.  Although we took the camera, it is was gloomy and rainy day, so we didn't take any pictures.  It was an awesome day out!  


Unless it is a very rainy day tomorrow, we plan to visit Busch Gardens to take photos of the new Cheetah exhibits.  Got the camera charged up and ready to go!


I have lots of photos that I haven't had time to go through of our past adventures through Tampa for My Florida Paradise blog posts.  There aren't enough hours in the day!


Is everyone ready for Halloween?  Any special plans?  


Would you believe that we don't have plans . . . I'm not fond of participating in the trick or treating thing at home anymore.  We've had some dubious looking characters show up around here in the past that made me a bit nervous . . . too easy for home invasions to happen.  It is a shame . . . it was one of my favorite times of the year . . . not anymore!  Times sure have changed through the years.


Hope everyone is having an awesome weekend!