Another Countdown

We are in the official countdown to cable and broadband for the computer. We have decided that almost six years without it that maybe it is time to get it again. I am looking forward to upgrading our internet service. So anyway, the cable company will be here on Tuesday to install us. Meghan is trying very hard to lay claim on the big TV in the living room - NOT GOING to happen!! Daddy says that one is his - so then she tried for the smaller 42" in our bedroom -still NOT GOING to happen. She claims her TV is too small. My response - be thankful it is color and 13". My TV at her age was black and white and 9". We were thinking of letting her have the 19" TV in our guest room but we might have to make her wait awhile now.

Wii challenges

For those of you keeping track, I have fallen behind in the bowling challenges; however, I am now in 2nd for the Big Brain challenge. The furrent standings are listed on the right side. Yes the are scores such as B minus minus. I guess that means .... better than C++ ... but not as good as B -. I don't know... seems kinda odd but I will won't strain too much trying to understand since I am ahead of that.

Time Moves On

Tomorrow afternoon my cousin's daughter will get married. Sadly, we are unable to afford to fly up for the wedding. I would like to have gone but between work and cost to fly, I could not be there. I feel almost as though I am letting my cousin down. She was there for my wedding and except for my parents she was the only family that I had at my side when Alan and I were married. I know that there will be plenty of family there and my presence will not be missed.

I spent a couple of summers with my cousin and her husband when I was in my pre-teen years. Unfortunately, I was too young when my cousin's daughter was at the same age I was then to recreate the same experience for her.

There are lot fewer years between my cousin's daughter and me than there are between my cousin and I. I remember when I found out that my cousin was having her daughter and how excited I was awaiting the news that she had arrived. I remember shopping and getting a huge box together to send to them. I was a little younger than my daughter is now. Being an only child, I looked forwarded to doing things with her as she got older. Unfortunately, those things never happened. The travel distance was too great. Add to that, I am horrible at writing letters. No, it is not really the writing letters part that I have a problem with it is remembering where the address book is and actually putting it in the mailbox. I guess bottom line while I was busy growing up so was she.

Despite the things that we did not get to do and the time that passed while we were both growing up, my cousin's daughter will always have a special place in my heart. So with that said, I offer these hopes for her:

1. I hope that the man she has chosen has proven himself worthy of the "little girl" that I hold dear in my heart and memories (yes she has grown up but I remember the little girl I spent a couple of summers with that thought Shamu was the best thing)

2. I hope that she finds the same contentment and security within her marriage as I have found in mine

3. I hope that he is at least half as terrific as my husband

Most of all I wish for her complete happiness. I really regret that I am not there to wish her in person all these things.

Walking

In order to supplement all the good that our dance class did for us, we have taken up walking along one of the local causways. ( we have at least 2 more months before that starts back up if it is offered again). We walked about 3 miles today with this. Alan and I had absolutely no problem making the walk; however, our queen of dance had problems making the trek. We will get her built up so that we can make the walk from there to the beach and back. While we were walking, it struck me how beautiful a place we live and how lucky we really are to live somewhere like this. I will have to remember to bring one of our digital cameras along with us on the walk. The cell phone does ok but its not as good as the a real camera. Of course while I am on the subject of the beauty of the area we live, beauty does have its short comings namely in the name of hurricanes.

The picture was taken on our way back (when I finally rememeber that my cell phone had a camera on it) . Our car is parked on the other side of the bridge that you see in the picture. Meghan was not a happy camper at this point but she did recover quickly and run part of the way back.

Bok Sanctuary Pictures

The other day when I was flipping through the pictures on here I realized never I had gotten around to leaving a picture of the Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales Florida. This is a truly sad oversight on my part because it was a truly beautiful place.

The door to the carillon is a made of brass and each panel depicts part of the story of Genesis. Unfortunately, the gate were closed so that you could not get real close to the to see all the panels. I could have gotten a better picture with a larger telephoto, but mine just does not reach far enough. I guess that will be our next savings goal. Anyway this is a lovely place and is worth a visit if you are ever in the central Florida area.

Wii Big Brain

Well for those of you tracking the progress on on our Wii challenges in pur husehold -here is an update!! I still hold the record on bowling and am the person to beat in that category. I moved from third on Big Brain to second. I am right behind Alan. Maybe I can catch him tomorrow!!!

Meghan has some Pokeman game for the Wii that she plays as often as possible. I judt do not get the whole Pokeman thing. I hope this is something that she will outgrow soon. It drives me crazy since I do not understand the point or attraction.

Meghan's school solo

FINALLY - the long awaited video of Meghan's solo in her school concert.

This was only the third time that she played with the piano accompaniment. Due to the fires that we had the week before she and the music teacher missed rehearsing together as much as was planned. She is performing Angel of Music from Andrew Loyd Weber's Phantom of the Opera.