Memories

And suddenly it's 2004 again. How I loathe the sound of generators. The storm the weather service had been warning about all day arrived with gusto at about 4:46. The wind came from nowhere, even making me a little nervous as it rattled the house and windows. Rosie heard a snap and then another and two trees went down in the yard. Two minutes did what four hurricanes did not in 2004, taking down two trees.

We saw people running on the street behind us and could tell a big tree had come down. Drove around there and discovered an 89-year-old neighbor had been standing in her yard and had a huge tree fall down all around her but she was amazingly uninjured! Incredible. Nobody could believe it.

So that tree ripped the wires down are her house, leaving her entire street without power. One of her neighbors turned their generator on immediately and has had it running all day long! My Facebook friends are talking about their enjoyable, peacefully quiet evening without power and all we've heard is the stinking generator! Grrrrrr.

I worked at home today, because I was only planning to work four hours, since I'm working on Saturday morning. Blew that cleanly. Spent several hours researching electron layers in the ionosphere. Doesn't that sound exciting?

New furniture arrived, and upon closer inspection discovered the new, custom-ordered recliner had a rip and was coming apart on the side. Consider me not a happy camper. I flatly told the guy who sold me the furniture that Haynes Brothers would be getting a load of negative publicity when the 25 women show up for a bridal shower at my house on Saturday and see the flawed, expensive new furniture.

And then the storm arrived ...

Warning Stormy waters ahead

Beyond exhausted ... still... Long day at work, come home late. Hungry but just too tired to find something to eat. Need to clean house, get ready for bridal shower Saturday and trying to get the house ready for the furniture delivery tomorrow!

Yes, the furniture is finally arriving, after a somewhat insistent conversation with the furniture store saying no, you won't wait for the next piece to arrive. Now another round of guilt and questioning whether we did the right thing by buying furniture.

At the risk of voicing a personal opinion, I've really had it with the entire health insurance and medical industries and political officials who oversee it all. It really shouldn't be this complicated -- or expensive. I really need to get a better job or write a novel!

Quick trip to the Orlando Wetlands Park today, searching for a yellow breasted chat. No such luck. But did see a fair number of other birds, including several yellow-crowned night herons and limpkins. Lots and lots of birds and a beautiful day.

Nice turnout for my Pampered Chef party yesterday. The mango salsa was wonderful. I ate all of it. Wouldn't think to put mangos and jalapenos together. But they were great.
Here's the recipe:
Mango Salsa on page 5 in catalog

1 large mango
1/2 small jicama
1/3 orange bell pepper
1/3 red bell pepper
1 jalapeno pepper
1/3 small red onion
lime juice, from half a lime
Pampered Chef Chili Lime Rub
Tortilla chips

Spring

Besides the bounce back to cold weather this week, it appears spring has arrived. Suddenly everything is green and the azaleas are blooming. It's really beautiful and my favorite time of year.
Hope to get outdoors some tomorrow and next week. I'll be off work for a week. I really had hoped to go away but guess that won't happen. Hopefully will be able to squeeze in some kayaking and birdwatching.
I'd love to spend two or three nights at the beach. I really love the beach. I've been down in Edgewater the past two nights in a row, meeting with a sweet lady who is working with me on a story. Each night I've left there to go for a walk on the beach.
It's nearly pitch dark and oh so peaceful. Although I've been completely alone both nights, I'm not afraid. I do keep a watchful eye. Both nights I kicked over people's sandcastles. Funny conflicting feelings over that.
Bought an old James Michener book to read next week. Caribbean. Still working on the Teddy Roosevelt biography by Douglas Brinkley, "Wilderness Warrior." It's really interesting but kind of slow going for some reason.
Last month I bought a signed copy of a Roger Peterson, Field Guide to Birds. Totally cool.
Heard a Carolina chickadee this morning, then looked up and it was sitting right there. Totally cool.