Abundant blessings of love

It has been a whirlwind of days that have flown by!


This week has been about love . . . abundant blessings of love.  


My cousin Leslie and her husband Ralph celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this weekend.  It is such a joy to spend time with family . . . there are many of us . . . and so much happiness and love :)  It has been an awesome time for most of us.  We are truly blessed . . . I'm so grateful!


Needless to say, I overdid it and have ended up mostly bedridden again.  When I'm feeling good, I tend to push the limits of my arthritis and it bites me back.  As a result, I'm trying catching up on sleep again . . . that is, when Mimi the cat lets me.  She is such a spoiled little thing . . . she wakes me up since she is not getting attention when I'm sleeping.  Looks like I'm going to have to close the door when I really want to sleep!


We came home from Leslie and Ralph's party to hear of Whitney Houston's death.  The media coverage is troubling as usual.  They love to tell the story of a rising star only to tear them up in their bad times.  Way too much information . . . today they released photos of the bathtub she supposedly drowned in.  We are a sick society!


I wrote more about Whitney on two of my other blogs . . . Gina's Music Memories and Babyboomer Flashback.  


Once again, the nation's conversation has turned to drug and alcohol abuse . . . and the role doctors play in the whole scenario.  Since my sister-in-law's brother died of an overdose on Thanksgiving, I have readdressed my relationship with prescription drugs and have been successfully weaning myself off.  My new doctor questioned the use of certain drugs I had been prescribed in the past . . . and not very happy about them.  Nice to have a doctor that is not a pill pusher!  


Maybe prescription drugs are being given out way too freely and not monitored effectively as a rule . . . what do you think?


Last week's news was so sad with the death of the two little Powell boys at the hands of their sick dad. How can a human being be so selfish?  Very sad situation and my thoughts and prayers are with Susan Powell's family . . . and now with Whitney Houston's family making final preparations.  May the media let them all have peace to grieve . . .


Hope that everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day with abundant blessings of love!

What's Up at My Blogs

I'm starting to feel better, but the process has been way too slow!


My thoughts have been on romance . . . they usually are . . . but with Valentine's Day around the corner, it is on my mind more than usual since love is the theme of my blogs this month.


The themes . . .


Babyboomer Flashback . . . my favorite love and romance movies of the past


Gina's Music Memories . . . my favorite love songs


Gina's Italian Kitchen . . . sweet treats for your sweetie


LaBelladiva . . . Valentine's Day crafty and DIY projects . . . and more


Peace Love Happiness . . . posts about romance, love and relationships




Have an awesome day :)

Sickly days!

Don't you hate being sick?  I've been on and off the computer since this weekend . . . mainly off.  As much as I have fought the sick feeling, it calls me back to bed.  At least I have caught up on my sleep!


It is Valentine's Day projects time at one of my other blogs, LaBelladiva . . . I've already posted two crafty projects and will be posting more.  Gina's Italian Kitchen, my food blog, will feature sweet treats for your sweetie.  Gina's Music Memories, my music blog, will feature romantic songs.  Being the romantic fool that I am, Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday of all.


Our new baby, Mimi the sweet kitty, is settling in perfectly . . . she is no trouble at all and such an affectionate baby!  The Captain encourages her playful bites, but I have taught her that I don't appreciate those little nibbles . . . and she doesn't bite me anymore!  She loves being held like a baby for as long as possible . . . and doesn't try to get away :)


We have continued to enjoy beautiful weather in Central Florida!  Hopefully I will feel better this weekend so we can go on another adventure.  We haven't been to Busch Gardens in a while . . . and I love the beaches this time of year . . . we both love to fish . . . what adventure will win?  Hopefully not more sickly days!


Hope everyone is having a great start to the new year :)

This kind of stuff is what makes me feel better when I am otherwise feeling sick . . .

Simple Pleasures

I'm totally in love with my new kitty Mimi.  She is so tame, sweet, loves attention and has added so much to my life . . . pets are like that!  There is nothing like the unconditional love of a pet :) . . . well, maybe children, but I never had any, so I can't say.

Being the blogger geek that I am, I had to set up a Mimi blog . . .

Mimi is one of the best Christmas presents ever!  

Happy New Year!

Another year has come and gone . . . where does the time go?  I've been going through a bit of reflection this morning, thinking about where I've been, where I am in life and pondering on what the future has to offer.  New Years Eve always takes me back and moves me forward all at the same time.

Personally, it was one of the most awesome years after almost a decade of awful miserable years since JR died.  This was the year I truly moved on with my life and married my new love, The Captain.  He has changed my life in so many ways . . . and it is all good.  I was blessed with the most perfect man for me!

It was the year that I quit working in the "real world" . . . again.  Next year will be the year I start doing freelance projects . . . again.  Although I loved my last job, it confirmed what I already knew . . . I don't tolerate office politics well!  I'm at my best professionally when I can sit behind my computer and not be bothered with petty stuff that gets in the way of work and productivity.

This was the year that I got confirmation from another specialist that the condition of my knees will not be getting better.  I need knee replacements for both knees.  The sight of needles makes me feel like passing out . . . I'm not looking forward to what is coming up for me . . . two surgeries and two hospital stays . . . rehabilitation and physical therapy.  The good news is that I should be as good as new . . . can you say Bionic Woman?  Of course I am putting it off . . . I can still walk . . .

After more than ten years, I was finally ready for another baby girl to love.  We recently adopted a beautiful little kitty from the animal shelter.  Mimi is settling into her new life very nicely and has added so much to our growing family.  We will be adopting a dog soon . . . hopefully another beagle girl like my sweet Betsy who passed away 12 years ago.  She was so special . . . it took me this long to be ready for another furbaby after losing her.

My plan for the new year is to focus on my home and family . . . it is so awesome to have the chance to start a new life after living a full and happy life that seems like a lifetime ago.  New beginnings all the way around!  Life has come full circle for me . . .

Happy New Year to everyone . . . have a festive and safe holiday!  Don't drink and drive!

Wonderful Christmas Weekend

It was a wonderful Christmas weekend, mainly relaxing . . . except that Mimi brought a little drama into my life that I wasn't ready for!


Mimi is my first cat, except for Willie the neighborhood cat who comes to visit on occasion.  I didn't know that they love to hide.  We left the door open to our office that is more like a storage room at the moment, with boxes and stuff stacked haphazardly here and there with no organization.  Mimi decided to get lost in that room for almost the whole day.  It was Christmas Eve . . . needless to say we didn't make it to the big family Christmas party . . . I was so stressed out over the whole thing and so tired after moving boxes around just to make sure she didn't die in a sea of boxes.  I was having visions of her trapped under boxes.


My knees have not been the same since that day of moving all that stuff around.  The good news is that there is now a path to the back of the room and the door can finally be closed.  Mimi will not be getting lost in that room again!


We spent a very pleasant and relaxing Christmas afternoon with my mom, brother and his family.  


How was your Christmas weekend?

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!