One of the groups I joined this year is GROW-Greater Richmond Outdoor Women.  We hike, camp, kayak and flyfish.  I will post pictures.

December 29th, 2011

IT'S A GREEN DAY AT RANDOM WINDS.....


A brisk cold morning, overlooking the James River.  Saw a bald Eagle yesterday evening.  Of course, Abigail had already seen the predator long before me and all the chickens were well hidden, happy and  eating those damn ticks that are still alive!

I am feeling loads better, thank you.  But am sick to death of Life with the Kardashians and the Real Housewives of whatever.  I mean headache sick.  Talk about drama.  And I thought I had drama. I am to the point that I feel sorry for them.  Of course, I also feel sorry for Paris Hilton and the Trumps.

"Sanks2degawds" my life is somewhat normal. My lab results came back negative for tick diseases.  Of course we knew they would.  It takes several weeks? for the antibodies to develop in the body.  And by that time, I was on antibiotics. 

 Have finally, FINALLY, completed book one of the 1.Fire and Ice series of the 2. Game of Thrones Series.  Whatever, who can write that much and keep it straight?  He has a great team of back uppers and catchers.  The ending was crazy.   I mean, D whatshername walks into her husband's funeral pyre and ends up with 3 baby dragons nursing on her?  And she's what? only 14 years old?  The crazy thing is that I actually know who fits with whom!  Let's see, she is related to the head guy of the Night Watchers who take vows of celibacy and watch a wall.  She and he and his sister, Maege, who lives with the Stark clan and who is ancient, are the last members of the dragon family.  And her lead knight, is a member of the family who...okay, I remembered the connection last night.  But her family got kicked out of dodge by a family led by Robert B, who is friends with the Stark clan, but did not know that the Lassiter Clan evil brother, Jaime, murdered the head of the dragon family, his wife and 2 babies.  D whatsername is Dragon man's little sister and she and her brother, Varyses-the "begger king" have been on the run since, thanks to the aid of the lead night who is of the Mormont(I think) family.

In the meantime, Robert B is declared King.  He marries the evil twin sister of Jaime's, who in turn provides him with 3 children, all sired by her evil twin brother Jaime-very gross and tell me they couldn't figure that one out.  That is what alcohol does.  It makes you blind!  (Robert B had tons of children, all bastards with black hair.  But his 3 "legitamate-spelling-children are blonde ) I mean really,  I know this was before the word genetics, but Bob!  You had at least a dozen samples to compare them to!  Anyway,  King Bob, commands BFF Ned of the Stark clan to become his "Hand"   after his current "Hand" Jon dies (mysteriously, of course)  Jon was married to Lysa, Ned Stark's sister in law.  (His wife Caitlyn is my character of choice-strong, logical, sensible, compassionate and mean as shit when she needs to be) Jon and Lysa had 1 weakling of a son-who I think is really just pampered and she claims that Jaime and evil twin sister killed her husband.  I don't think so.  My feeling is that Jon saw how weak his son was and planned to send him to a neighbor to toughen him up (like sending a boy to military school) and Mommy Lysa couldn't abide it, so she poisoned him and took her little boy home to an Uncle's castle that no one in their right mind wants to get to...to keep them safe from the "murdering hordes".   Okay, if that's not what happened it would have been a great plot because, BFF Ned got pulled back into the politics because wife Caitlyn was certain that the Lassiters (the evil twins) murdered their brother in law-a very good man(Jon)-keep with me.  So Ned goes to the King's palace with his 2 daughters-Sansa "Miss Priss" and Arya "the Tomboy".  Sansa is betrothed, by the way, to King Bob's oldest son (who isn't really his son) and she is infatuated with him.  Anyway, Ned leaves home with the girls and leaves behind his sons, Robert, Brandon and Rickon, with their mom and their wolf dogs.  Yes, they have wolves for pets, as do Sansa and Arya.  Oh, and there is Jon, Ned's illigitamate son who he has raised-most noble-despite the fact that Caitlyn finds it disgusting to have to raise her husbands illigitamate son.  I'd have kicked him firmly in the balls after the last child was born and been done with it.  Anyway, so Ned goes off, sends Jon to join the Night watch with Ned's brother Benjan and seeks to solve all the mysteries.  Oh, however, before he leaves, and I forgot to mention that the King had come to visit the Starke's to lay all this Hand business on him, so it was hard to say no.  And he brought his entire family
Before they go, little Brandon is climbing all over the castle walls, literally-I know this is the earliest recorded rock climbing adventures, or maybe he was or could have been a future spiderman- But brandon, who is 8 years old- climbs onto a ledge at an open window, and hears 2 people talking about evil plots and he of course peeks in the window and sees the evil twins getting it-all naked and such-and he falls back and evil brother Jaime grabs his arm and tells him to trust him and then throws him onto the ground below.  Now he's in a coma.  Bad people.  Throwing children off building, but remember, this is the same guy who killed the Last dragon's babies, unbeknownst to Bob and Ned.  (He wasn't really a dragon, that's just what the family referred to him as-the Last Dragon.)  No such things as dragons, remember, except the ones his baby sister is now nursing. 

At the end of the first book, Jon the Hand has been murdered, King Bob is dead thanks to alcohol and a hunting accident with a wild boar, Ned is dead . Sansa Miss Priss is imprisoned, The evil Queen and her son, who is now King, are in control, He's spoiled and has Ned killed, by the way. Arya is missing, both of the girls wolves are either dead or missing, (bad karma for the people who did that) Rob is having to manage a war (he's 15), Brandon is now crippled but very wise for an 8 year old, so he's running the castle while Rob is running a war.  Caitlyn is helping her son win the battles and now is watching people call him King of the North- proud but scared momma.  And Rob has captured evil Jaime and boy is he in trouble!

The way it looks Rob has to marry the daughter of one of their leaders house (mom made a lot of deals), plus play babysitter to 2 of this guys sons, and Arya has to marry one of this guys sons.  The leader (Freye) is over 90 and controlled passage over a river, has had his feelings hurt by so many others, so you do what you gotta do to cross a river and get extra fire power to fight a war, man!
Whew!

So, now I'm starting on Book 2 of the Fire and Ice....... 
I think Rob should marry the D girl who is nursing 3 baby dragons.  Then they would have wolves and dragons and unite the 2 houses of Tramalygeon (?) and Starke.  However, I think she has gotten a little crazy over what she has been put through, but she's tough and she has an agenda.  Plus, Rob does have to marry one of Frey's daughters, but hey that can happen, then she dies in childbirth with the infant and he's free to do whatever.  Just another plot to think about.  I'm hoping Rob does seek revenge for his dad's death and get the boy king and his evil mother and get rid of the evil twin brother.  Sansa?  well someone will save her, but she'll be married to the boy king and preggo before that will happen.  Arya will be found by her wolf dog-if he's still alive-and be the female warrior she wants to be and will throw such a fit when she has to marry someone, but she'll be 10 by that time and will figure it out! 


Now that I'm finished with Book 1, I feel okay about watching the series.  I know that Season 2 starts in 2012, but I can't find Season 1.  So, I'll gift me.

I have eggs coming out the whazoo.  20 are in the coup and 20 are in the house.  I will have to buy some egg crates  and start giving them out.  David said he did not want anymore.  Too bad, find someone to give them to.  They really do have the most lovely yolks!  And my Cholesterol numbers came back normal, so, I am back on eggs.

My New Year's Resolution?  Well, last years came true.  I eliminated a ton of stress/drama off my plate.  Got Peter out of my life; Breast Cancer behind me; Mastectomy reconstruction almost completed.  Focus on increasing physical activities-done and continues.  So, this year...I have a few days left.  I'm down to 133 pounds, so I can't lose weight, but I can start an exercise program---groan.

I am trying to finish a scarf, that I started in August....that could be one.  My finances suck, but expected after financing a divorce and child custody battle.  Actually, they don't suck, I have excellent credit, I just don't have liquid $$, tied up in land.  Okay, so 1 will be to have 10K in my savings account,  then next year another, then next year another and on and on...  I need to sell the land in Florida.  I don't see myself living at Pelican Lake again.  Loved it.  Miss the people, but I don't want to live in a trailer.  I just wish they'd change the PUD and then I could build!

I have 2 great sons, 1 great grand daughter, 2 great dogs.  And my health is good.  I just need to stay the course. 

Hope my green day continues to be green and peaceful...



































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December 23rd, 2011

I felt so much energy today.  Got the chickens out and fed. Took Oliver to his doctor appointment and he checked out well.  He did so well.  Such a calm personality.  A good friend to have..

Speaking of good friends. 
Christmas is upon us and I am hoping so sleep through it.  Life is good.

I flew out of RIC on Monday, August 6, 2012.  Into Dallas fort worth and finally to LAX.  Howard had arrived shortly before me, from  Chicago, and was able to get the rental car.  The hook up at lax was flawless. I  think that airport was just so easy to navigate.  Even when I had to drive back to the airport and pick up his so, I did it with relative ease.

The ABA antitrust section had their post annual meeting. Conference at the Terreana
 resort in Palos Verdes.  What a beautiful location. The weather was perfect.  The dinners were amazing. The Fox sports cast team were there, as well which included Jimmy Johnson,  howie long, Troy Aiken, terry bradshaw, Erin Andrews mike something ... Anyway, a lot of sports enthusiasts lawyers were in seventh heaven all week long.  Including Howard and Andy. They were hysterical.  Men and their sports.  I met some wonderful people along the way.  Howard begins his term as vice chair for the anti trust section of the ABA. Then in 2013, he is chair elect , then in 2014 he will be the chair.

The big dinner was held in the port of LA on the Queen Mary.  Totally unbelievable. They pulled out all the stops for this one.  

I climbed the bluffs, kayaked, whale watched. Then we drove to Santa Monica and spent a couple days there before flying home.  We biked 20miles from Santa Monica to the beach below LAX.  Venice beach...  Strange people.  I was surprised at all the sidewalk preachers, indigents and generally laissez fIre attitudes. Also the pot doctors on every corner and the smell of pot was disgusting.  Maybe if I were in my 20's I'd have been impressed but today it just seems really sad.  

First Semester HAMS II Board of Nursing Test

I cannot believe it!!! Out of 9 students taking the written, 9 passed!  100%

Out of 10 taking the skills we know that 9 passed and 1 ended up in cyberspace with a computer glitch.  They are going to find it and hopefully that will be 100 % as well.  I am so proud of these young adults. 

It was a long hard day.  The written went from 8-10 am.  Then a 10-10:30 break while the Board of Nursing Proctor faxed exams off and awaited results.  All in tears, all knowing they failed.  To see their faces when they realized they had passed "the hard part" was a very positive start to their skills.  The proctor then took 2 students at a time for 1 hour to do 5 random skills (out of 24 pre-selected) which they have to do with 100% accuracy.  Naturally they come back in tears, all knowing they failed.  After the first 3 groups, the proctor faxes the tests to cyber space and they all passed except the one that is still in cyberspace.  By 1:30 she starts on the final 2 groups.  They are finally finished around 4:00 and the fax machines are not cooperating.  Most of the students from the first group stayed behind to wait for the 2nd group as they are really into the "team" thing.  All 4 of these students passed their skills.  Is it possible that we have a 100% pass rate this semester?  Wouldn't that be awesome?  I have 1 student to put through her written (not her fault); and 1 student to put through written and skills.  So we are still in test mode, but almost done. 

Man they are awesome students!

Impatient Abbi

Got home a bit after dark and there is Abigail pacing back and forth in front of the coop door.  She looked at me as if she was going to bite me!  Like, where the hell have you been lady, I'm ready for bed.  Geez, it was only 5:30!

Snow delays and such

I woke up this morning to a 2 hour delay school opening and remembered a lot of the reasons I love being a teacher:  June, July, August, Winter and Spring Breaks, MLK day, President's Day, Memorial Weekend, Snow days, Delayed opening days oh and yeah , the students.

Seriously, I do enjoy my kids.  I told them today was a Quiet Day and they bought into it.  Amazing.

Abbi taking off

And Off she goes................................

Abbigail-October, 2010

Well, she is obviously not a duck!  She is a Local Canadian Goose that loves living on our farm with the chickens.  She has become their protector.  She often watches the geese fly over and never attempts to join them.  She is flying fairly high and loves to get around that way. When I leave for work in the morning, she races me down the driveway and then flies back to her chickens.  She mothers them and keeps them together and obedient.  What a personality

Abbigail-May 15, 2010

Here she is one week later.  Growing like a weed!

Abbi, cont

Abbigal tries out her lounge area which is lined with honey suckle.  She loved it

More of Abbi-May 9, 2010

Here she is at 2 days old.  We think...  She was having trouble sleeping without her blankie and her stuffed animals.  We got a rabbit hutch and turned it into a condo for her.  She had  lounge area upstairs and a kitchen and bedroom downstairs.  Spoiled, duh?

Let's talk Abigail

Mother's day 2010-Coming home on Rt. 5, I see this tiny creature zigzagging all over the road for at least 50 feet.  Then she dashes into the woods and collapses.  She is definitely a predator's dinner.  I stop my car in the road, flashers on and go running after her.  I find her and she has obviously been abandoned by a neglectful mother and father.  She has huge webbed feet.  She sleeps in my lap all the way home.  Her name is Abigail and I figure she is 7 months old now.  See how she's grown!  And, she can go anytime she wishes, but does not think the grass is greener on the other side. 

Abigail and how she sees Her Universe

Cute pictures of my favorite Goose-Abigail

I love Martin Luther King Day

It gives me a great excuse to take a long needed vacation back to Naples.  What you say?  Didn't you just get back?  Isn't it a good reason to talk about his conributions.  Yeah Yeah.  those are good reasons to but

NAPLES   I'M  ON  MY  WAY!!!!

AGAIN!

Nurse Aide Education-Adult Ed Class

Gloria Stokes; Rasheda Ruffin; Raven Stokes

I am so proud of you 3 girls.  Best of luck on the 18th

HAMS II-First Section/First Semester

First Row:  Britney Casey; Kaleigh Martin; Kendal Webb; Jenna Kestner

Second Row: Anecia Williams; Aundruletta McCullough; LaJoye Kornegay; Desni Harris

Good Luck My Loves

HAMS II cont

HAMS II preparing for their Boards

I have some pretty frantic students about now.  They take their CNA boards on the 18th of January and the "Big Snowstorm" is predicted for Tuesday, possibly cutting their practices down 2 only 2 days.  I never thought I'd say my prayers and beg for the snowstorm to hit on the 19th of January.  It would make my life so much easier.  Looks Like I'm going to be sending them tests by email.  Ooh!  are we allowed that kind of contact?  I just wish the luck. 

Tragic Day in Green Acres

Ms. Dementia-our slightly arrested development buff orpington-was murdered on Friday by a Raccoon around 4:00, just moments before I came down the driveway.  I was supposed to be meeting a life insurance person at 4:00 and I was running late.  I was really amazed at how well she handled my sobbing and rocking a dead chicken while she explained my benefits.  Anyway, Abigail-her protector, was frantic the rest of the evening.  I got up twice during the night to talk to them but they were more interested in sleeping, so I just sat their in my jams and cried.  Sort of sad, she had finally matured and was actually laying eggs.