L.E.D.'s

I like to sleep in the dark. Even when I worked nights and had to sleep in the daytime, I wanted it dark in my bedroom. I bought "black out" blinds so no sun would get in. Now I have moved my computer and desk into the bedroom. Lately when I can't sleep, I notice that there are several "light emitting diodes"(LED) all over my room. They may be tiny little lights, but in the dark they can be very bright, especially if there are a lot of them.


Last night I took an assessment of all these lights. There is a light on the power buttons of the computer and the remote drive, a light on the keyboard and the speaker remote. There is a LED clock on the television tuner, and another alarm clock. The printer, the DVD stand-by, the TV stand-by, the telephone, the answering machine all have little lights! Even my electric toothbrush has a light on the charger! It is so bright in my bedroom that it is no wonder I was having trouble sleeping! Looking at all these lights made me realize that I had forgotten to plug in my camera battery. I got up to plug it in, it will glow orange until the battery is charged, then green!

Note to self

As we head into the busy holiday season, I hope you will all take the time to think about your friends & family and what is important in your life. Take a little time for yourself. Spend at least 15 minutes uninterrupted alone with your thoughts. Think about what makes you happy and cherish the people around you. Tell your loved ones that you care about them. Don't think that they will just know this because you cook for them and do their laundry. Don't let a chance go by to grab a hug from your teenager, even if he only turns a cheek for you to kiss him. (remember when he kissed you back & loved to sit in your lap?) Pet your dogs & even better, take them for a long walk. Dogs seem to be the happiest when they are walking with you, even if they have been around that same block 1000 times.




Oh, yeah, one other thing - take LOTS of photos.






Here are the boys on Christmas day 2001. Oh how they have changed!

Old Mom!

I am back home from my trip to Virginia. I set up my Mother's Christmas tree and some decorations for her. She doesn't seem to care much anymore. It gets more difficult to communicate with my Mom, she is very deaf, and will not wear her hearing aids. For her, it must feel like she is in a world of her own. Occasionally, when she wants to hear, she will wear a portable headset with an amplifier, but she quickly grows tired of hearing us! When she watches television, the volume is very high for her to hear it - the neighbors can probably hear it quite well! She seems to be in good health, complains about the usual aches & pains. She is done with the doctor because "he doesn't do anything!" I tell her that the doctor cannot make you 20 years old again! Still, I am sad as I see my Mom getting older. Maybe I see what is in store for me! However, I will try not to be as stubborn about wearing hearing aids and adult diapers!


Preston went with me to Virginia. I guess it was good for him to get a little break from school and the regular routine. He seems to be be trying a little harder this week in school - I hope it lasts - I wouldn't want him to have to repeat and courses or not graduate on time. He was glad to have his jacket because it was forty degrees in Virginia. We were glad to get back to Florida and our beloved tropical weather. It was eighty degrees when we got off the plane in Tampa.


My middle dog, Buddy, got a new bed. He is getting kind of fat, so he needed a bigger bed. The poor guy can't get near it because big brother dog, Ransome, has decided that the bed is for him!!!




Sad, Buddy must sleep on the couch!

"The View"

When you are in the back of the pack like me - the view never changes!!! (it is my job to keep their leads from tangling!)


Tomorrow, Preston & I are going to fly up to Virginia to see my old Mom. She will be happy to see us, even though we are only staying until Friday. Just a quick trip to give her a kiss and put up her Christmas decorations. I wish we lived closer, but she won't move down here. Florida would be the ideal place for her because of our mild weather. I told Preston to pack his jacket, but I don't think he knows what a jacket is anymore or even where it is!
At least I will have a little one-on-one time with my son, so I can nag (erh, I mean counsel) him about his grades!