A tribute to my father....

This morning I received an email from my niece (Melyssa) and that in itself is not ground breaking, but what was in the email was something of a different matter. My niece is a lovely girl who has always done the right thing. She has always been very close to her grandparents (my mum and dad). Melyssa was at my mum's house pretty much twenty four seven after my dad passed away last September. She has always been very special to me and I don't say that enough. So just what is it that she has said, well it's not what she said it's what she has done. Melyssa has gotten a tattoo on her back in memory of my dad. The tattoo contains my father's initials, date born/passed, and the wings plus start indicative of the US Air Force in which my father served. As Melyssa puts it, "this way grandpa will always have my back" and in some small way he will always look after her. I think this is a beautiful tribute to my father and to my niece I say... Thank You! and I Love You!

Filler...

After that last post I happened upon this new meme and although it doesn't require a lot of thinking as far as creative thinking goes. It did require some thought as to the answers. So for better or worse here is another list and a bit of filler.

1. What is your occupation? Retired
2. What color are your socks right now? Barefoot
3. What are you listening to right now? The morning silence
4. What was the last thing you ate? Prawn cutlets and chips (Fried shrimp and french fires for the Americans)
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes, but rather not now that I drive on the opposite side of the road as it would be to much to think about and stay on the left side of the road at the same time.
6. What is your favorite color? Blue
7. Last person you talked to on the phone? Our friend Wayne (the bear-child) to discuss dates for a BBQ
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I stole this, but the person I stole it from seems nice
9. How old are you today? 49 and counting
10. Favorite drink: Pepsi, Merlot with dinner and hot chocolate in the winter
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? Australian Football League
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? No
13. Pets? Molly Brown (cat)
14. Favorite foods? You name it I probably like it, except beets
15. What was the last movie you watched? Torch Song Trilogy, and oldie but goody in my eyes
16. Favorite day of the year? Got to be Christmas I love all the decorations and food
17. What do you do to vent anger? I usually internalise and if that doesn't work I yell
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? GI Joe w/jeep
19. What is your favorite Fall or Spring? Fall all the way. The colours changing and the cooler weather just put a skip in my step
20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs as there is nothing better especially if it ends in a big cuddle
21. Cherry or Blueberry? Can't choose have to have both
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? Hell yes! I wasn't writing to watch myself type.
23. Who is most likely to respond? My mum
24. Who is least likely to respond? ??? I don't think anyone has not ever responded
25. Living arrangements? Two bedroom home that is over 115 years old and in great condition and living with the love of my life my husband
26. When was the last time you cried? When my dad passed away last year
27. What is on the floor of your closet? shoes
28. Who is the friend you're sending this to that has been your friend the longest? I don't usually tag people for meme's and I'm not going to start now
29. What did you do last night? Went down to the wharf to get fresh fish and chips and then sat out on our back deck looking at all of the stars in the sky
30. What is your favorite smell? Anything baking (pies, cakes, cookies, etc.)

I stole this from here who had stole it from here.

Bloggers block...

I am having a terrible time thinking about something to post. I could write about our trip to the hardware store (we bought a mower and some solar garden lights). I might tell you about the trip to the lavender farms, but since when we got there all of the fields had been harvested there was nothing to see. There was a bit of laughter over the absurdity of the whole trip; after all they had promised on their website that this was peak viewing of the fields and then when we arrived not only where the blooms gone but so where the people who run the place so as not to allow us to ask what the F#*K? We had a fantastic thunder and lighting storm on Friday night but the only thing exciting about that was; we don't get a lot of thunder and lighting here usually just a LOT of rain. So you see all in all things are a bit boring and I certainly don't want to bore you. I will give it some time and see what I can come up with. As a matter of note we will be heading up to Sydney next weekend for a few days maybe something exciting will happen while we're there.

ABC's of music

Here's a list I found asking that I list my favourite bands A-Z. I found this one a bit difficult as I have so many favourites. I love music and listen to a wide variety of artists. So, I did the best I could. As you will notice, a few answers have more than one as I just couldn't choose a favourite. Others have nothing because I couldn't think of any artists starting with that letter, and there are a few answers that you may find just plain obscure, once again because I was struggling for an answer. I based the answers using the last names of people. (example H- Faith Hill)

List your favorite bands from A to Z.

A. Anastacia
B. The Beatles
C. Cher
D. Dixie Chicks
E. Eurythmics
F. Fleetwood Mac
G. Gloria Gaynor/The Go-Go's/
H. Faith Hill
I. INXS
J. Elton John
K. Kylie
L. Annie Lennox
M. Bette Midler/Madonna
N. No Doubt
O. ???
P. Pet Shop Boys
Q. Queen Latifah (aka Dana Owens)
R. Diana Ross
S. Sting
T. Tina Turner
U. U2
V. Van Morrison
W. Paul McCartney & Wings
X. ???
Y. Yes
Z. ZZ Top

*After reading some of my answers; I am so gay!

Wooden ships on the water...

For those of you old enough to remember the title reference is related to a very old Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song but for the kiddies who don't remember don't worry to much about it. Instead think about it as what we are doing this weekend. What's that you say... We are going to the bi-annual Wooden Boat Festival.

The festival is only on for the weekend on it is quite the site. The entire dock area is cleared of all boats that normal dock there and are replaced with wooden boats from around the world. Some are very old like the old tall ships. The craftsmanship is just spectacular. These boats were made to last and you can tell the love, hard work and over-all craftsmanship that is put into every inch of these boats. Anyway, I'll try to take a few pictures of the best ones and maybe even post one or two to share. Other than that it's been a slow week here with James in Sydney finishing a course in Critical Care. (It's a post graduate certificate that he can apply to his Emergency Room work). If you want to read more about the festival go here. OK, over and out for now...

Meme after meme after meme...

I know some people hate these things but I just love filling them out. After I fill them out I read over what my answers are and sometimes find it interesting a to what I've said. I never change an answer. So as long as people keep writing them I'll keep (stealing) and answering them.

1. Home theatre or movie theatre? Home, it's easier to pause the movie to go to the bathroom
2. Hardwood or wall-to-wall? Hardwood in every room but the bedroom only because the floors are to cold in the winter
3. Pencil or ballpoint pen? Pen because it glides easier
4. Digital or analog? Digital, sharp is as sharp does
5. “Wet” or dry? It really all depends...my guess would be "wet"...but again depends on what we're talking about
6. Hardback or paperback? Either a book is a book and I like 'em
7. Gasoline or electric? I'd prefer to walk
8. Photograph or painting? Painting because there is more depth, unless it's B/W photography
9. Mountains or shore? I need a bit of both, that's why we live where we live (Hobart)
10. Curtains or blinds? Curtains because our house is over 115 years old and blinds would look stupid.
11. Shower or spa tub? Shower I don't like the thought of sitting in dirty water
12. Blu-ray or HD DVD? HD DVD because I don't even know what Blu-ray is...
13. Paint or wallpaper? Paint again it works with the age of our house and it's so much easier to apply!
14. Thoroughly cleaned and prepped or go with the moment? Depends on what I'm about to do I can go either way real easy.
15 “Ties” or “loafers” (slip-ons)? Slip-ons because I have so much trouble with my peripheral neuropathy
16. Stick shift or automatic? Stick because I feel more in control, not that I have control issues
17. Saturday or Sunday? Both, please...
18. 15% or 18%? Neither as we don't generally tip here in Australia considering that wait staff make like $10.00 or more an hour to start
19. Football or soccer? Australian Football League, fast paced and it's all about the players
20. Lands End or L. L. Bean? Again Neither as we don't have them in Australia but we do have Rodd & Gunn