Fabulous Launch Party for Bill Petty

http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/billpetty

We had an incredible experience last night! Our friends, Bill and Jane Petty, have an incredibly talented son, Bill Petty, Jr, who is the Worship Pastor at NorthPointe Church and a Christian singer. Bill Jr had a launch party for his new CD last night at Ri'chard's Cafe in Whites Creek, TN! It was such an uplifting experience and reminded me of my old "First Baptist" church days in Jackson, TN. You can hear one of his songs at the link above. Some of you may even find a little gift in the mail! I planned on Christmas presents, but like Woody, this is just too good not to get into circulation now! If you want more copies for your friends, just let me know! I'm sure Momma Jane will hook us up at $15 per CD! Bill self produced this CD....do you know how hard it is for me to not say album!

The launch part was at Ri'chard's Cafe at Whites Creek, TN - A New Orleans/Cajun Style restaurant and live music venue a few minutes from Music Row and Downtown Nashville. Richard Trest, the owner, was so gracious to all of us...and is a talented singer and song writer in his own right! He's a transplant from New Orleans...it's my new favorite place! It's like the Blue Bird Cafe but with great food! We're going to watch his web site for nights we want to go...but get ready Dinner Club...we're heading to Whites Creek in October if we can all get together on a date! Check out www.richardtrest.com for more on the restaurant.

Have a great week! and remember my favorite little prayer that I pray for all my friends, family, and a few people I'm not too fond of...ok...I'm not that good of a person!

Father, God bless all my family and friends in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as they seek to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

We're Back!

We're finally back in Nashville to see the damage of global warming! Our yard is burned to a crisp but Janet saved our shrubs and my roses. It may be time for a high rise condo with a balcony and one potted plant! We worked all day yesterday in the yard and only got the front and side done! We shaped and weeded and pruned...and, of course, I managed to hack up another extension cord with the hedge trimmer. Thank heaven for ground fault interrupter outlets! I could be a crispy critter without them! It is raining a tiny bit as we speak...don't know that it will help much!

Last night we went to the new California Pizza Kitchen! http://www.cpk.com/ The only problem is that it's in Green Hills and the traffic is a killer! It's in the new Hill Center which will be cool once its finished. Food was great...service great...and it was fun watching all the Green Hills group! I don't think I've ever been that trendy! Saw a colleague from Memphis that Janet and I hadn't seen in 25 years! That was a hoot!

I'm still an editing fool...have lots working...and can't wait to get a check! I'm not sure I like the lag time on payment as I've already spent the money! But, all things considered, I work from home or the RV, when I want, and in some lovely outfits! Donna, I have on your purple socks as we speak! Between Taiwan and Tokyo, I'm staying a bit more busy than I like, but the manuscripts are fascinating. The last one I did was Diapause in the Silkworms of Japan and China! I sent the author a picture of silkworms on mulberry leaves I took in Shanghai to use in his presentation! I think I have an article accepted to the ACHE journal, Healthcare Executive! Waiting to hear. I edited it down from one that I had written related to Transformational Leadership. Hopefully I'll know in the next few weeks! I'm also writing original content for Salem Press's new Cancer Manual...like the Merck Manual but only on Cancer. So far I've done 16 topics! Still selling photographs and entering contests. I've been selected for a few Anthologies, but no money...just the "honor" of selection....I'd rather have money!

We're going to watch football all day today! Yeah! Has to be better than Notre Dame!!!! We're 0-2! and you know how that bums me out.

The Old Florida...Apalachicola

We're finishing up our two months in Florida by spending a few days in Apalachicola, Florida www.apalachicolabay.org It's marvelous. For those of you who remember Destin just after it started to evolve...that's where Apalachicola is now. It's main industry is fishing/oysters...with an increasing number of tourists. The historic downtown is full of antique shops and shops with unique gifts that you just can't live without. One of my favorite places is Lane Autrey's Photography Gallery. www.laneautrey.com She has some incredible images and several made me really jealous! We bought Ginny a cast iron skillet so she can learn to make southern cornbread! Libby is finally getting a deviled egg plate..my old one...I found a great dark green carnival glass one that matches my Portmerion! I also picked up a blue carnival glass bowl that may go on eBay...I really like it though! Also got two little three leaf clover bowls...the shamrocks didn't help the Irish today! We got crushed by GA Tech! Oh well...watched the game at Papa Joe's on the river...fabulous oysters, shrimp and the best key lime pie north of Terry's in Davie, FL! www.papajoesoysterbar.com

It's incredible to be retired and free to roam! I thank God daily for my many blessings...not sure what I did to deserve such a great life! I guess our random acts of kindness continue to pay off...we may not be churchy, but we try to walk the walk!

Riley, our granddaughter, caught a foot long fish today with her fishing wand from Wal-Mart that Mimi bought her! Unfortunately, Dad decided he needed bait more than having it mounted for her bedroom wall! At least he told her she had to send it back to the sea...glad she didn't realize what he meant! Jen caught a hammerhead shark! Should have told her to filet it and saute it in real butter and lemon pepper...tasty! Our fishmonger from Florida told us that recipe...works on any fish. I guess shark is shark, hammerhead or otherwise!

Libby is off riding her four wheeler that Led gave her for her birthday...I'm not sure what happened...four wheeler, bass fisherperson, cubs fan...at least she still likes to shop! She's happier than I've ever seen her! Molly is moving this weekend...she got a big promotion at work and is really excited about commissions! Yeah...she's the new material girl and I'm the hippie now!!! Talk about role reversal! You go girl!

We should be home in a few days unless we find someplace fun to stop and visit! We do love this lifestyle but really miss all of you!

Disney World!

Well...we're at Disney World. Just spent a really hot day in the Magic Kingdom! Even got Janet on a roller coaster. A really big disappointment though...after spending over $70 a ticket, two of the major rides were not operating...Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain. The park is quick to get you in the gift shops but can't deliver on the rides. The second thing I noticed was that some of the people were bordering on rude. We extended our stay at Ft. Wilderness RV Resort one more day and you would have thought the concierage was doing us a favor! We've been coming to Disney for years and this is the first disappointing time we've had. We have two more days of tickets...let's hope Epcot and the Animal Kingdom are better than the Magic Kingdom!!! Between the three of us, we've got 8 grandchildren and were talking about bringing all of them but we may rethink that....it's just not as good as it used to be for the money! My last trip was only two years ago and it's gone downhill since then. The funniest thing is that I made the reservation, paid for the vacation with my credit card, and they put everything in Janet's name....hopefully they will not kick us out when she leaves on Wednesday and we're here til Friday!!! If you book, use www.disneyvacations.com and don't call and make the reservations over the phone...they aren't too with it! Especially when they don't ask about slides and awnings and pets for the site assignment!

We'll let you know if it gets better!!!

No, I don't want to go back to work!

For all of you who worry that I'm bored....I'm not! Yesterday Woody took me into the woods in a golf cart where we found the butterfly above! It's a Zebra Longwing, the state butterfly of Florida.

I don't think that anyone can accept the fact that I'm really retired! and, no, I don't want to go back to work! From the recruiters who keep calling to well-intentioned friends, I keep getting queried about what I want to do. Well, surprise...I'm doing it. I love the travel in our RV, photography, writing Haiku and turning them into Haiga, medical editing, seeking out stuff to sell on eBay, and occasional consulting. The only drawback I've seen thus far is that when I go shopping, I don't really need anything! If it's not shorts or jeans and t-shirts or sweaters, I don't need it! I still have the requisite black suit for work and at the rate I'm going, it will never wear out!

We'll be in Ocala one more week and then on to Disney. Today, we went to Miconopy...a darling antique center just north of Ocala. I got ruby and silver candle sticks that I adore so no eBay for them! Not sure what's on the agenda for the weekend...we'll see!

Time to Haiku

I'm finally having a bit of time to explore some of my images and to reflect on their meaning! Enjoy!

Cedar Key--My New Favorite Place

Woody and Pat's new beach house! Well house, no beach. Well, not exactly house! A reminder that in Florida there are hurricanes!

Woody and I spent an absolutely marvelous day in Cedar Key, Florida! http://www.cedarkey.org/ is the Chamber of Commerce site with directions and good information, but basically it's due west of Ocala, SW of Gainesville, and north of Spring Hill! The Cedar Keyhole Gallery and Artist's Cooperative http://cedarkeyhole.com/ , Haven Isle Gift and Glass Shop, an antique shop that was closed but looked great through the window, and tons of gift shops are divine! We ate at the Seabreeze Restaurant and the view and food were fabulous. Definitely try the Palm Salad with Ice Cream Dressing. It's also on the migratory path of white pelicans, but of course, not right now! I would have loved to have a picture of a white pelican!

We drove around and saw some fabulous old houses and a few new ones! The town reminds me of old Florida when I was growing up. The fishing must be great as we saw everything from airboats to kayaks to pontoon boats with fishing equipment. Several guides offered tours and fishing in the "flats" which to landlubbers means that it's really shallow! So no big boats! Driving out to Cedar Key, the land looks a lot like the marsh land of the Carolinas and certainly isn't for beach lovers in the truest sense! But...if you want to get away to something a bit funky and laid back...I'd recommend Cedar Key!

I think we brought rain to Florida! It's still raining every afternoon...I think we're going to have to change lots in the RV park as we flood where we are! Have a great week!

Silver Springs, Florida

We spent the day at Silver Springs and had a great time! It's like old Florida ! I took well over 150 shots and this was the best! I didn't know what I had until I got home and pulled it up on the computer. These monkeys are wild and were put on an island in the early 1920's...the man was going to do tours so people could see the monkeys but he didn't realize they could swim! Currently there are 100's of them and they've gone from Central Florida to Jacksonville , Tampa and points south! This was as we were coming off one of the river tours. Lunch time with momma monkey! Still selling pictures online so I just keep taking them! We have a black snake here, but I haven't had my camera when he was up and about! I'm becoming quite the naturalist! Finally got my Blue Heron shot!!!

Lots of excitement in Ocala! We were hit by lightening on Saturday and lost two major electrical boards! Thankfully it only took out the back air conditioner and electric to the refrigerator. In an RV, you have redundent systems! Our refrigerator is running on propane and the front AC is cooling the back quite nicely! Not a meat locker, but certainly ok even for me!