Shirley Temple, Anyone? 

Julie Barefoot Blogging with a Baby Bed in the Living Room

(I am my Grand-Daughter Isabelle’s (Peanuku) Main Care-Giver.)

‘Yeah, I see it.  Thanks for letting me know.’

(Usually someone warning me about a threat from my cyber-stalker.)

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Blogging With Julie All Along (Past and Present Blogging)

AND,

2023 and ME!  Julie Barefoot Blogging

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Blog Entries Start Down Below

Talking to Gordon Everyday, Who is Working Overseas

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‘Blogging With Julie’ Always Seems to Involve Cameras and Wine 

And, a Comfy, Cozy Computer Chair.

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Me, with my Grandfather, Franklin Elwood Haskin

Sometimes I wonder what my Grandfather would think of me if he were to see me now?

Would he be proud of me?  Or ashamed of me?

He was the nicest man that I have ever known in my life.  He died when I was 14, from his second heart attack.  He was also a Type 2 Diabetic.  At his funeral there was standing room only.  The balcony of the church was over flowing.  He was a good and kind man.  A religious man.  What would he think of his Grand-Daughter who drinks red wine every night?  Who doesn’t go to church every Sunday?  And, who no longer believes?  Would he hate me?  Be sad for me?  Be ashamed of me?

I have no idea?  But one thing I do know is that I need to be me, no matter what?

I am living in my time, not his.  Sometimes I long to be that little girl that was so protected by him and my Grandmother and my Great-Grandparents.  However, the thought of reliving all of this all over again until adulthood is not something I would ever want to do.  I also don’t know if I could even survive it all again?  Upon looking backwards, I believe that my ignorance in certain situations is how I survived it all to begin with.

Regardless, I believe that we all need to be ourselves.  No matter who that self is?

I never told my Grandfather how to live his life, so there is no reason for me to fear his disapproval of mine?

When you are true to yourself, then peace and happiness finds it’s way into your very soul.  In the end, that is all that matters.

Julie

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My Peanuku

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“Being happy never goes out of style.”

Lilly Pulitzer

Reading Lilly

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Click Here For:

Current Website Updates

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I Turned 63 February 13th.

Isabelle and I Wearing our Matching Lilly Pulitzer Clothing

Gordon, Me, and Isabelle, Tiki Docks, February 13th., 2024

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Out The Door With Julie and Isabelle

Foods, Snacks, Candies, Cameras….  CHECK!

Let’s GO!

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Just a Couple of Cool Girls Out For a Drive…

While Wearing our Lilly’s

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BLOG ENTRIES START HERE

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January 1, 2025

Another New Year

Today is the start of another new year. 

This has been a day that I have been dreading since the election in early November, 2024. 

I haven’t wished one person a Happy New Year.  Oh, I’ve said things like ‘may we all have a nice new year,’ but that’s different from wishing someone a Happy New Year.  It’s not that I don’t want everyone to have one, it’s just that I don’t feel that too many of us will be having a very happy new year so it just seemed pointless to even ring in a new year when this could very well be the beginning of the end of America as we know it.  I also noticed that when I was out shopping on New Year’s Eve that not one person wished me one either.  I thought that was unusual seeing as how that’s kind of what employees in business do every single holiday to the people they encounter.  Whether it be the cashier’s, the bag boys/girls, the receptionist at the doctor’s office, the vet, and any neighbors we may encounter when crossing paths.

I was so depressed after the election that I immediately cancelled Thanksgiving.  After all, Thanksgiving is a feast based on a slaughter as it is, but it represents Native Americans coming together with immigrants to have a peaceful feast.  So, with that in mind, how can any of us be so hypocritical as to celebrate Thanksgiving when we have so many anti-immigrant Americans among us?  Well, actually, they are just anti-black and brown immigrants, but any white Canadians that care to migrate over then you are all very welcomed!

I also just didn’t have the strength to even muster any semblance of an attempt to plan any Thanksgiving, so I cancelled it. 

But, when it came to Christmas I was inspired.  Although I didn’t start out that way.  It was a gradual gravitation in that direction. Or rather I ‘levitated’ in that direction. 

It was while I was browsing online when I came across the Harry Potter Official Christmas Cookbook, by Elena P. Craig and Jody Revenson.

It’s really not like me to even want to buy a Harry Potter Cookbook, but for some reason I did.  When it arrived I was flipping through it and I loved every page, every photograph, every recipe. 

I WAS INSPIRED!

I just couldn’t put it down.  I ended up looking through it so much that I told Gordon (who is working overseas), that I have the best idea for a Harry Potter Christmas but I just don’t know if I have the energy to do it?  I told Gordon that I think it would be a great idea for me to buy the same book for Veronica, Mackenzie, and even her sister Susannah, who is a HUGE Harry Potter fan.  I also had the idea to have each of them to make 1,2, or 3 things from the cookbook to bring over here for our Christmas Party.  He told me to go for it!  So, I thought about it and decided that if I didn’t do this now then I might regret it later on.  After all, we don’t know what Christmas, 2025 is going to be like?  We don’t even know if any of us will want to celebrate Christmas, 2025.  Therefore, now is the time for me to do this.

This just might be the last ‘Happy Christmas’ for all of us.

The Christmas Books and Gift Bags

As a rule I don’t believe in Miracles, but I do believe in Magic

It was at this point that the ideas and inspiration just flowed like a waterfall all over me.  I couldn’t contain my excitement and I just started to dive right in with all the prep work.  Everyone was also very excited about our very own Harry Potter Christmas.  There was also this baking show on the Food Network, hosted by the Weasley twins, Fred and George Weasley, A.K.A. James and Oliver Phelps.  That too was inspirational.  A baking competition based on the Harry Potter movies and all the baking was being done by huge fans of the movie franchise.  I contacted everyone to tell them about the show and they then informed me that they were already watching it.  Great!

It was then that I started looking online for other Harry Potter cookbooks, etc.  I came across some more and ordered them for me to look through and perhaps become even more inspired.  They arrived, and I WAS!  Even though I may never cook anything from those books they were still enjoyable to read and look at.  After all, that is what books do for you.  They make you feel good.

My sad and depressed mood starting lifting up and I was becoming so happy.

I have no earthly idea why someone would prefer that small handheld cold device that most people are glued to the majority of the day, to holding a book in your hand.  Large enough to see and read.  Colorful enough to enjoy all the photographs, to read all the words.  To even turn all the pages. 

Did you know that the average person is on their phone a total of 2 1/2 months a year?

I never would have even thought to have a Harry Potter Christmas had Trump not won the election.

I never would have ordered all those books that have made me so very happy this past month, and inspired me more than I have been in awhile.  I can’t imagine burning any of these wonderful books like some in my country want to do.  Books teach us, books entertain us, books inspire us, books make us happy.

I sent my mother-in-law, Sarajane Whann, the Harry Potter Cookbook and Hogwarts book stand for Christmas.  She too is a huge fan of the franchise.  I heard that she loved it!  She had developed Bronchitis over the holidays and was bedridden and the only book she had with her to read in bed was the cookbook I sent her.  The thing is, I totally get it!  I know she will never cook one item from that cookbook.  You don’t have to, to enjoy reading it.

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This is perfection to me!  Snuggly covers, comfy pajamas, and lots and lots of inspiring books!  Oh, and my Blackberry Gingerale.

Harry Potter Glasses (Optional)

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The Christmas Party, A.K.A. Our Harry Potter Pot Luck Supper

Before My Party Starts

Although you wouldn’t know it to look at me in the photo above, I was rushing around like crazy doing last minute things and I’m surprised I look as calmly as I do.  I really can’t believe that I pulled off such a big party all by myself.  You know, it’s a lot more work than it looks and seeing as how I kept Isabelle up until a day and half prior to my party.   I so wished that Gordon could have been here to help me.

Isabelle’s crib had to be moved out onto the lanai in order to create some more space inside the house.  I was moving/dragging furniture to the bedroom and the den.  I had to create space in order to fill space.  Christmas trees, etc.

It wasn’t just the family that came, it was also Mackenzie’s twin sister Susannah and her boyfriend Matt.

Mine and Gordon’s bedroom was such a mess that I just closed that part of the house off and everyone had to make due with the guest bathroom.  There were so many pots and pans and dishes and skillets, that I just piled everything into the laundry room sink just to have somewhere to put them all.  Otherwise, nothing could have been prepared in the kitchen.  I know that it took me a good 3 days after the party to get all those things washed and put away.

Our Harry Potter Table

Everyone did such a great job making their food to bring from the cookbooks I bought them all.  Veronica was so inspired by the Focaccia Breads that she made that she wants to make more of the bread in the future.  Same with Brodie and his Pumpkin Rolls.  They were so good too!  I would like to think that this Harry Potter Party was inspiring to everyone.  I know that I am looking forward to doing the write ups.  I even told everyone to take photos while they created their foods so that they can be included in the website page recipe write ups.  I just wanted everyone to have fun with it.

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I was so busy with this Harry Potter Christmas throughout December that I really didn’t have that much time to work on past Christmas website page write ups.  Looks like I will be devoting January to try and catch up.  Perhaps even into February.  I’m really not planning on doing anything big until Gordon comes back home in March.  We are already planning a few fun things to do while he’s home.

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But, I haven’t even gotten to our most exciting news of the holiday season……

Brodie and Mackenzie are ENGAGED!!!

Bok Tower Gardens

I told everyone from the moment I met her that I hope she will be our Daugther-In-Law someday. 

Looks like my wish came true!

I gave Brodie my ring to remake and give to Mackenzie.  I hadn’t worn my ring in over a decade because it would no longer fit my fat finger.  It’s a lovely one carrot marquise diamond.  He had it refashioned and she loves it.  I’m very happy to pass my ring onto someone so very special.

Looks like I’m going to be Mother of the Groom now. 

Gordon and I are so very happy!  Same with Veronica and Brian.  Our little family is growing.

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Well, it looks like this will come to a close, the last blog post I make on this website page.

I do wish every single one of us a nice new year.  I’ve been waiting for someone to save us since the Bush/Cheney years and no one has.  We’ve only survived them.  So, that is what I wish for all of us now.  That we also survive the coming Trump years.  I think that is about the best that any of us can hope for.

Julie

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December 1, 2024

I Say Just Let Them Destroy Everything

It was while Gordon was in the military and we were living on base housing out in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, that my parents told me to let Gordon pay the bills from now on,  and not me anymore.  They had no confidence in me.  I told them that it will be a disaster because I am more responsible than he is.  The thing is, that every single military family in every branch of service has a good 100 horror stories of not being paid what they are owed.  One family we used to know in Maryland didn’t get a paycheck for a year!

I’m truly not exaggerating!  That is the truth!

In some cases it takes a year or even longer to straighten out a service members paycheck.  A lot of military families have bad credit but it isn’t their fault.  When you work a full time job, but your boss doesn’t pay you, then it’s not your fault you can’t pay your bills. Most military have bad credit.  I tried to explain that to my parents, but they just didn’t believe me.  So, I did what they wanted, I turned everything over to Gordon knowing full well that it would be a disaster.  Within 2 months we had no telephone, or cable, why?  Because I learned how to rob Peter to pay Paul, so that none of that would happen.  Gordon however, didn’t know those tricks.  Most military wives have learned how to play the game in order to survive.  I went along with something that I knew would be a disaster just so certain people would then shut the fuck up!  And that is exactly what happened.  No one ever said that to me again, not even Gordon.

I say that we do the same thing for our country.  Hand it all over to the republican’s to destroy.  Let them destroy it.  Then perhaps once it’s destroyed, their supporters will then shut the fuck up when we try and fix it again.  Drastic things need to happen in order to create positive change.  I’m just not looking forward to the bottom that we have to reach in order for things to get better.

Julie

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November 28-29th., 2024

Shopping, ALL DAY!  (The 26th.)

Purse, Lunch Tote, Shopping List Booklet, and Rape Alarm

(Actually, I have several rape alarms planted in several places.  I also give them as gifts to those women I care about.)

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Thanksgiving Day

Email From Gordon Working Overseas:

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I Added The Little Pumpkins

This Thanksgiving, today, I am spending it by myself.  Oh, I don’t mind really.  I love my solitude.  My waistline could also use a day off from all the gluttonous eating of the day.  Besides, I have been a bit down since Election Day and I just really didn’t have the energy to exert towards preparing and celebrating a feast based on a slaughter in our history.  I mean, that’s what it is.  We’ve just turned it into some warm and fuzzy family tradition.  I know there is nothing wrong with wanting to spend time with family and friends, reflect on all we have to be thankful for, eat some good food, have some good drink, watch football,  and enjoy the day.  I get that.  That just isn’t what I wanted this year.

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I have been a bit lazy with cooking and eating lately.  I just haven’t had the energy or the time to do much cooking, so I’ve been relying on ready made greens and ready made chicken from the grocery stores.

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With Gordon working overseas and me not being in the mood to do any cooking on this day, Brodie and Mackenzie had to find food elsewhere.  It was very sweet, weeks ago Mackenzie said that she and Brodie wanted to spend Thanksgiving with me.  I then informed her that I would be skipping it, but that I would be hosting a really nice Magical Christmas this year at my house, so we can do our feasting then.

Gordon called to tell me about his Thanksgiving overseas.  We talk most everyday.  He loves it when I’ve got Isabelle here when he calls and she is here to “talk” in the background. 

We realize we have so much to be grateful and thankful for.  We were just talking today about how we have the best family in the world.  When I say we have the ‘best family’ I am referring to the ‘best family’ for us.  We ended up doing it right.    Considering that we both come from extreme dysfunction, that says a lot.  It’s o.k. to make mistakes, just learn from them and don’t repeat them.

You know, I’m having the day that I expected.  I just wanted to catch up on things around the house.  Get a bit organized, do some laundry, tidy the kitchen, wash some dishes, pay some bills, start new lists for the next time I go out shopping, and do a bit of blogging.

We have some new neighbors in our neighborhood.  I was sad to have my neighbor’s to the left of us move, they were good people.  Now a republican family has moved in.  (Easy to spot.)  Also, new neighbors across the street to the right of us.  And still another For Sale sign in a yard across the street from us, left.  At one point not too long ago we had 4 For Sale signs within our little block here.  I think some died, and some moved into retirement communities.  This is retirement Florida after all?

Starting today, the 28th., I have a good 5 days in a row off!  As in, no Isabelle.  It’s not that I don’t love her and miss her, but I do have a lot to do if I am to host this great Magical Christmas that I have in mind.

For those of us that were disappointed in the election results, some went looking for a miracle to look forward to for Christmas.  Not me, I want a bit of magic for Christmas, I don’t believe in miracles as it is.

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Depression or Deep Rest?

Jim Carrey wrote on his Instagram account how Depression is just Deep Rest.  It so resonated with me that I wanted to pass that on to you.  I’ve always known that if you have a reason to be sad that it isn’t “depression.”  Depression is when you are sad and have NO reason to be sad.  But, right now I think there are a lot of people out there that need that Deep Rest.  I know that I do.  Which is why I pretty much cancelled Thanksgiving.  Oh, I do have a turkey T.V. dinner in the freezer.  I also have a box of Stove Top Stuffing, some Instant Mashed Potatoes, some frozen Turkey Cutlet’s, some frozen yeast dinner rolls, and some of our homemade Cranberry Sauce that I could eat.  So see, I do have a makeshift Thanksgiving at the ready.  But today, I think it will be a nice Turkey Sandwich. 

See you in just a little bit…..

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My Thanksgiving Dinner

Not much, but enough for me. 

From Bottom to Top:

Brioche Bread Bottom w/ Dijon Mustard, Handful of Salad Greens, Salsalito Turkey, Red Onions, Pepper Jack Cheese, Corn Relish, (I mean Maze Relish), Bread and Butter Pickles, topped with a Dijon Mustard Brioche Bun.

Actually, this is our homemade Corn Relish that we had Grilled prior to Canning it to give it that nice smokey taste.

We are down to only 2 jars, this being one of them.

The Chips are Popcorn Queso Chips that I dipped into our Maze Relish.

I didn’t eat both of them.  I only ate one and am saving the other for lunch tomorrow.

Perfect Thanksgiving For Me!

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29th.

Happy Birthday Brodie!

I gave Brodie his goodies last week, and he is spending today with his girlfriend Mackenzie.  With this being the day after Thanksgiving I am having a nice fun Christmas decorating day.  The day also fits my mood.  It’s been dark and overcast all day, with drizzling rain.  It’s very comforting and soothing to me though.  It’s as if Florida is crying.  Perhaps that’s what Florida needs to do?

I Also Came Across These Old Photos I Passed Onto Brodie

AND,

They are just old family photos that I came across and wanted to give them to Brodie.  My parents were far nicer to him and Veronica than they were to me.  I don’t mind if they think of them fondly, (although they really don’t.)  But, they do represent his childhood in Georgia.

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I’m Off Until Tuesday

With today being Friday I am trying to decorate and prepare for my Christmas party.  It will be a Harry Potter Christmas.  Everyone seems to be looking forward to it.  Every single person in our family is a huge fan, and I believe they are getting very excited about it.  I do tend to go all out with my/our parties.  I just wish that Gordon could be here to help me with it.  It’ll all be on me!  Just like last year.

One good thing about this Christmas is that it is making me do this really deep clean around the house.  My goal is to get as much done as possible early, so that I can sit back and enjoy it all.

My Day After Thanksgiving food is Coming….

I ended up cooking my plant-based Turkey Cutlets.  They were delicious!  I had to keep looking at the bag to make sure I was eating Vegan because it didn’t taste like it.  They even came with a ready made gravy packet.  Heated it up, and it was good!  So much for home cooking.

Oh, don’t let the tiny portions above fool you, I was eating out of the pots before I fixed a plate for myself.  So….

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Thoughts on This Thanksgiving, 2024

After the Election earlier this month there were many of us that were devastated by the results.  There were many of us, including me, that decided to cancel Thanksgiving this year.  I found it very interesting that people like Martha Stewart, who is pretty much the Queen of Thanksgiving, (after being crowned the Queen of Halloween and taking my Title away from me,) decided that she was going to take her family to Rome, Italy during Turkey Day.  I also read that Giada De Laurentiis went to Japan with her boyfriend Shane and daughter Jade for the Thanksgiving holiday’s.  The thing about that is that I have followed both of these women on Social Media for many years and I don’t recall them ever leaving the country for Thanksgiving?  Perhaps they have?  I just don’t remember it.

Martha posted a photo of her delicious pasta dinner with truffles, and as for Giada, I don’t think there is a turkey in the entire country of Japan.  I’m not condemning them at all.  I just found it interesting.  It’s just as if no one wanted to make the effort, it just wasn’t in us to do so.

Martha and Giada’s livelihood and success relies on food, recipes, celebrations, entertaining, cookbooks, T.V. shows, etc.  Oh, they may post great new foods for the holiday’s, but generally they do those shots months in advance, and we usually see some nice posts of their own Thanksgiving Day celebrations on Social Media.  I have to say, I loved Giada’s Thanksgiving foods she had for this Thanksgiving on her website.  I loved that a side dish was taking center stage and not some giant turkey.  It almost looked like a Thanksgiving picnic, informal with a touch of class.

And as for Martha, well, she managed to make 35 pies before she left for Italy.  Which kind of makes sense.  Entertaining is difficult enough on a good day, now throw in a devastating event and how can any of us put on that smile and expect it to be genuine?  Baking all those pies was probably very therapeutic for Martha.

Christie Brinkley posted her Thanksgiving Day photos the day after and they were very subdued as to what she usually posts every year.  In the past she and her kids and friends are having fun and acting goofy, lots of people with smiles and laughter, but not this year.  She and her children and future son-in-law were just standing behind their table with only 5 dinner plates.  They were standing there as if posing for some family photo no one wanted to take.  Well, at least Christie made the effort.  I seriously doubt anyone did any cooking, she probably ordered it in.  (Nothing wrong with that.)

Which comes to this question?  Why did we decide to take it all out on Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is a day of giving thanks for all we have.  We are thankful for the food we are about to eat, thankful for the family and friends we have surrounding us, thankful for many other things as well, but Thanksgiving is also mainly tied to how we feel about our country.  That’s what’s different now.  We are now different in how we view it.

Celebrating a holiday based on immigration over to America, a meal being eaten between Native American’s and Pilgrims.  Pilgrim is short for Pilgrimage.  You know, because they came by ship to this land without passports or green cards.  I think we now see what will happen to these Pilgrims that we have over here right now that will be rounded up and placed into Internment Camps where terrible things will happen to them by our own people, descendants of Pilgrims themselves.

Whether this is something that most are consciously aware of or not, I think not.  I think for most they are just devastated by what’s coming and are upset over it.  But, as for me I am aware about how I feel and how I now view my country and it’s people.  And that is not very positively.

Perhaps this gluttonous holiday of Thanksgiving will become a more subdued holiday in the future?  Whether by choice or by the economics that are sure to come once this new administration is installed,

May The Odds Be Forever In Our Favor.

Julie

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November 17, 2024

Just Blogging

Me, and Isabelle

With Halloween over, and the election over, there has been some time to absorb the results and what is to come.  I’m really working on having it sink in.  Although that won’t be until January 2025, we do have Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up.

Initially, I immediately cancelled Thanksgiving.  I just knew that there is no time for me to grieve and mourn and then turn around and whip up some feast on my own.  I just didn’t feel like celebrating.  Gordon is back overseas working.  I’m sure if he were still here that we could create something nice, but I just don’t feel like doing it on my own.

I did buy a turkey T.V. dinner for myself if I so desire it on Thanksgiving day.

As it is Thanksgiving has become such a gluttonous holiday anyway.  The meal is based on a slaughter but we have turned it into some warm and cozy family tradition. 

Isabelle in her Bluey Car

Gordon With Isabelle

We did have a nice family reunion when Gordon was home.  Once the hurricane had passed, and all the aftermath, we did cram as much as we could into those 2 1/2 weeks he was home.

Since the election I have been struggling with my mental heath and I wanted to talk about it.  I’m watching less news now.  Seeing as how there is nothing that I can do, there is no reason for me to be upset everyday.  So, I am finding other things to do besides watching the news and being on social media all the time.  I have eliminated one account, my big one, but I am down to one that is smaller and I’m not as involved in.  I do post on it, but not as often as I did my other account.  I also don’t do any interacting on it.  To me it was always a ‘mean girl forum.’  I post because I want to be relevant, but ultimately, I don’t care what they think.  I don’t read any comments, all the boxes are full, I just post as if to say that I do exist.  On the social media that I had eliminated, I also eliminated good long distance friends that I will never know again.  It was hard to do, but necessary.  I also wanted that left behind so that my descendants would know that I once existed and this is what I had to say.  I prefer that to someone else’s words about my opinions and thoughts.  That way, they knew exactly what I had to say.  But no more.  It’s gone now.  But, if you think about it we all disappear  after a hundred years or so anyway.  The only person that really has been worth remembering is Leonardo Da Vinci.  And, I’m no Leonardo Da Vinci.

LOW BOUNDARY’S

It was weeks ago on social media that I read that the reason that people like me attract so many psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists is because we have LOW BOUNDARY’S.  So, the reason isn’t because they are evil and we are nice and they want to destroy us.  It’s all on us for our “Low Boundary’s.”

Exactly who came up with that excuse anyway?  Most likely the narcissistic psychiatrist.  Of course HE isn’t going to take any blame for any wrongdoing HE may do, therefore, it’s all on us, the victims of such people.  Kind of like saying, had you not worn that short skirt you never would have been raped.

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The good news is that we are not alone.  There are many millions of us that don’t like what is to come.  But, we individually need to find ways to survive it.  You know, back in the Bush days when he had eliminated the powers of the Food and Drug Administration, we still had people warning us.  I have written about this before but one morning I was online reading my usual sites when I read that there was all this Sara Lee bread being recalled from China due to mental in it.  I then went to the base commissary that morning and when I walked into the commissary I was shocked to see rows and rows of Sara Lee Bread!  They were reduced down to a $1.00 a loaf, but with a $1.00 off coupon.  Basically, the bread was FREE!  Because I knew that it was bad I didn’t get any.  I even tried to warn a few people that didn’t believe what I had to say. I did my best to warn them.  It really didn’t work.  My advice to all of you, look after yourself.  You really are on your own to survive what is to come.  For most of us it will be disinformation.  Just use your common sense.

Enjoy what time you have left.  All of us will be breathing more toxic air, and drinking more toxic water, eating more toxic food. 

This is why I’m really not celebrating a Thanksgiving.  I’m not so sure we have much to be thankful for.

I truly hope I’m wrong.

Julie

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November 10, 2024

Whann Hurricane Season, Gordon Home From Overseas (Temporarily)

(Oh, And The Election)

If you are interested in my take on the 2024 Election then click here:

Sixty’s, (Sensational or Surviving?)  We’ll See, Right?

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2024 Whann Hurricanes:

Hurricane Beryl (Gordon’s Grandmother’s Name)

Hurricane Gordon (you know….)

Hurricane Milton (Gordon’s Dad’s Name)

And believe it or not, but after Hurricane Rafael, there is a Sara that just might develop.  Gordon’s mother’s name is Sarajane.  And as I told Gordon, it’s THAT ONE that will KILL us ALL!

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Before The Hurricane

As many of you know, Gordon has been working overseas now for a few years.  He comes home about twice a year.  He was scheduled to fly into Tampa on October 10th., but with Hurricane Milton approaching he upped his flights so that he could make it here before the storm hit.  With a lot of finagling and lots of luck, he made it just in time!  He can be quite the charmer so I knew he would make it home against all odds! 

When he flew from Europe to New Jersey he was on the last flight out of New Jersey into Orlando.  Tampa had closed their airport that morning, (the 9th.) with Orlando ready to close that afternoon.  Our son-in-law Brian drove to Orlando to pick up Gordon and bring him home to me!  He was on the plane with a Channel 6 crew from New Jersey that did interview him.  I was doing hurricane prep here at home.  We always lose power and I was trying to get some food cooked and prepared before the inevitable happened.

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My Food Prep

Chili with Hard Boiled Eggs and Cheese and Onion

(My main focus was in making foods that we could eat for Breakfast.  As in Hard Boiled Eggs.  The Chili was just some comfort food until we lost power.)

I Baked Several Biscuits, and Fried up Some Turkey Sausage

Biscuits can be eaten with condiments like Jelly’s and Jam’s as well.  They are very good to have on hand.  But, we happen to love them with some yellow mustard and sausage.

Toast and Bacon

(BLT’s:  I wanted to have some toasted bread on hand, as well as our Bacon, and Tomatoes.)

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My Potato and Garlic Thingy

I had made something similar to this in the past. 

My intention was to use these potatoes and garlic up before the storm hit.

I simply washed some multi-colorful potatoes, poked holes in them, added cloves of garlic, and placed everything into a small baking dish.

I did add some nice Hawaiian Sea Salt, and some nice Olive Oil, Mixing it all Around

I Then Placed it into the Oven on a 350F Setting for about 25 minutes or so. 

They are done when you can put a fork into the potatoes easily.

I had also added more ingredients, I just cannot locate my final photo of the end results. 

I had added some Mozzarella Balls.

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Before the Storm I was Also Washing Vegetables and Grapes…

I also used up some Avocado’s and Made some Guac

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Supplies on Hand

Battery Operated Lanterns

Battery Operated Fans

Lots of Batteries

Bull Horns

Crank Radio

Massager’s (Hey, you get sore battling storms)

Wine/ Cork Screw (Duh!)

Red or Black Sharpie (Morbidly, to write your name on your body just in case.)

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L. L. Bean Boat Tote

(I read somewhere that the old Boat Totes were becoming valuable, so I got mine out and cleaned it up.)

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It was a nice homecoming but there was lots of work to still do before Hurricane Milton hit us.

Gordon Went All Around The House Cleaning Out The Gutters

Our Pump

This pump prevents our lanai from flooding and water getting into our house.  Here Gordon is cleaning it out to make sure it won’t get clogged.  (However, when we lose power, this pump is useless.)

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With All The Prep Work Done….

It’s time to take those showers, and make the nicest hot meal because you won’t know when you will be having another one.

Our Last HOT Meal

Lights Out!  For 3 Days!

(Which means our pump won’t work!)

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Hurricane Milton is Here…

And Dumping 5 Inches of Rain on Us, at Once

Gordon Did Try Sweeping the Water Out…

(That worked with Hurricane Irma, but not Milton)

It didn’t work

(You can see the water is ready to flow into our home here.)

I told Gordon that we should sleep in the living room this night and set the alarm every hour to check on our lanai and to see if it is flooding.  Gordon was outside for a long time so I went to check on him.  He was trying to sweep the water out with a large broom initially.  But, the next time I checked on him he had stripped down to  his underwear and was bailing the water off of our lanai with a beach bucket!

When I asked him how things were going, he just looked at me and said, “It’s bad Julie.”  That’s when I joined in and we both started bailing water off of our lanai with beach buckets. We did this off and on for 4 hours!

Finally, when Milton passed over us, the heavy rain stopped.  But, while we were doing all this bailing of water we could hear tree branches falling all around us, we just couldn’t see them.  They were loud though!

I don’t think that either of us have ever been this fearful of a storm to hit us.  We really were afraid that our house would flood and that we would lose everything.

How we made it through was just determination and LUCK!

It’s weird but right after the storm passed over us all of the water on our lanai just disappeared!  Where did it go?  Pump’s not working.  No where for it to go?  So, where did it go?

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Nighttime in our Living Room

2 Couches, Gordon on one, Me on the Other

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The Beach Buckets That Helped Save Our Home

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Milton Aftermath

This is what we were hearing all night long, but couldn’t see.

Gordon in the Aftermath

I Could NOT Have Made it Through on my Own Without Gordon Being Here

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Our Son Brodie Had Anchored This To The Wall, I Had Covered It Up

My Magnolia Tree Made It!

(Thanks Grandmother Keith) 

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Out The Front Door

The Front of our House

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Me, On My Crank Radio

Pimiento Cheese Sandwiches for Lunch the Following Day

(On the bread I previously toasted.)

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Gordon with Spooky and Sparky

(They had missed him terribly.)

Lights Out Dinner:

Bacon Sandwiches on my previously toasted bread, with lettuce, tomatoes, yellow mustard, and cheese.

Gordon and His Gifts He Brought Back

Glowing Rocks

(We’re Talking Indiana Jones Stuff Here!)

With all the hurricane drama there really wasn’t time to pass out the gifts he brought back.  This is when he did. 

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Gordon Using Our New Car to Power the Refrigerators

Our Car Actually Has An Outlet That Will Do So

Powering The Fridge

(With Hurricane Irma we lost all 3 of our freezers full of food.  With this, we didn’t lose our freezer food supply.)

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Texts From Veronica…

Gordon:  Who all is at your house?

Veronica:  Brian’s sister, her husband and their 3 kids, 3 dogs, chicken, hamster, and bearded dragon.

(Sounds like a fun party to me!) 

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Our Car Powered Coffee 

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Powering our Generator

(Still No Tampa Electric Though)

Gordon and our son-in-law Brian working to start our generator.

We really do credit Brian with all of his help that he gave us here.  He bought us gas because we didn’t have the time to get it before the storm hit.  He got us propane for the grill because there was no time for us to do that as well.  He really was our lifesaver!  We do so love our son-in-law so much!

Portable Fans and Lots of Cords

The Generator Also Powered Our T.V. so that we Could Watch a Movie

Van Helsing

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I see you managed to get your shirt off…. 

Rigging Up A Funnel For The Generator

And here we are, back to normal, shirtless on the couch with chips.

Oh, and just so you know.  We took cold showers for 3 days until we got our electric back!

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We Stopped Our Generator To Cook This Dinner on the Grill

My Grandmother’s Italian Sausage Supper and Lot of Dinner Rolls

It Was Delicious!

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City Is Here To Save The Day!

Picking Up Yard Debris We Could Get To The Curb

(This was fine and good for the front yard, but most of our downed limbs are in the backyard.  That, we will have to hire people to do ourselves.)  But for now, we are happy the front debris is being taken care of.

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We Got Our Electric Back!

La Sciatta Giulia Anna’s (Italian Sloppy Julie Ann’s)

While Gordon was away, I had frozen my Italian Sloppy Joe’s for when he returned.   I knew he would love them, I also purchased some great bread, Roma Tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese slices, Fresh Basil, etc. and re-created this great meal that I was so very proud of.  He did love it!

10-22-24

It’s Still Here

Long Story Short:

We ended up hiring our yard guys to chain saw all of this debris and haul it off for us.  They really did clean up our backyard and we so appreciated all their hard work.

NOTE:  This storm really did take it’s toll on us.  For those of you reading, if you think we are just able to get through this storm so easily, we didn’t.  I am 63, my husband Gordon is 59, we had a hard time here.  Physically, and emotionally.  We were sore for days after all that bailing of water we did to save our home from flooding.  It really did take it’s toll on us.  I just want you to know that.  We aren’t super heroes.  We are humans with flaws.  We just do the best we can.  We made it through here.  But, that doesn’t mean we will make it through the next storm.  I hope we do.

Julie and Gordon

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October 6, 2024

Made it Through The Storm, Awaiting The Next One

The Selfies Above Were Taken on October 3rd.

I had driven into Tampa to do some shopping on the base, and I was cooling down in the car before I went into the Commissary to do some more shopping.  It was HOT!

On my way to the base I stopped off at CVS to pick up my Florestor, when something told me to walk down the snack aisle.  I did.  And that is when I spotted it!  BEAN DIP!!!!  Frito Lay BEAN DIP!!!  I hadn’t been able to find it in over a year!  I have been eating it since I was a child and I prefer it to any can of Refried Beans.  It’s smooth and creamy and delicious!  I bought most every can they had, about 18.    I did leave behind 2 cans.  I didn’t want to be greedy.  (wink, wink.)

I have been doing a lot of shopping this past month, September and October.  Getting ready for our Halloween fun, and trying to keep the house stocked up for the “unforeseeable future.”  I mean, who knows what November might bring our way?  For all we know it may be too dangerous to do any shopping in our country.  I just want to be cautious and prepared.

Gordon will be home next week! 

I have been doing a lot of shopping to prepare for all I have planned for all of us.  I have some great ideas I want him to implement.  That is always our deal.  I come up with the ideas, and he implements them.

I got through Hurricane Helene.  I did lose power for 9 hours though.  The only good thing about these storms is that they do shake the trees and all the dead branches fall down.  It’s cheap because we don’t have to hire expensive tree trimmers to do the job.  Although, I told Gordon to contact a business about the trees that really do need trimming in our front yard.  I think we have some bad branches that need to come down.  He has already scheduled that for when he comes home.

Today I have been cleaning, cleaning and cleaning.  Then I found out about the new hurricane headed our way.  Am I just cleaning so that some hurricane can send some flood into our home?  Should I even bother mopping?  Makes me wonder?

I am one of those people that does believe in Climate Change.  Global Warming.  I know that I’m not protected by magic fairies that are going to spare me from some horrible tragedy.  I HOPE I will be.  But, I know I won’t.  I just hope that the storm doesn’t do as much damage to us or anyone else.  I do know that when I hear the stories of survivors of great storms on T.V. that that could be us.

I hope everything works out for everyone.  We are very excited to have Gordon coming home for a visit.  Isabelle is walking and she is so proud of herself.  She’s so smart.  She amazes me!  I think she is an Empath.  She reminds me of myself when I was a young toddler.  I knew things, even though I couldn’t talk or communicate what I knew.  That is her!  When she looks at me, and I look at her, we both know things about each other without saying a word. 

Julie

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Mickey Morning Coffee 

September 26, 2024

A/C Working/Hurricane Helene On It’s Way

Blogging Before The Hurricane Hits

September has brought me nothing but mini-disaster, after mini-disaster, and now I am facing a major-disaster, Hurricane Helene.  Although not in the direct path, it is still a threat.  Winds are supposed to reach around 100 MPH here, with heavy rain and flooding.

Like The Customized Window Frames?

Gordon made them last year before he left to work overseas, to fit all of our windows perfectly during our storms.

He Even Marked Which One Goes On Which Window

We Keep Them Stored In The Garage

Brodie came over yesterday and put them in place for me.

They do work very well, but the clips can scratch up the house paint.  It is however, better than the method most people use when boarding up their home for a storm.  This is preferable to driving nails in plaster.

And Check Out What We Found

I am sick of wasps!  It was a pleasure to kill all of these.  I’ve been stung badly by these creatures this year, and I’m done with it all.

When you are Boarded up From the Inside

The Fountain Window

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It’s after 3:00 p.m. now.  Gordon called around 2:00 to check on me.  That’s 9:00 p.m. his time.  We talk most every day.  He’s been giving me instructions on things to do and what to know.  I’ve been through more hurricane’s than he has, but you would never know that to talk to Gordon. 

I think the storm is almost here.  It’s getting dangerously windy.  I keep hearing branches hit the roof.  Nothing too big so far.  Luckily, all of us neighbors in our circle here, all had our trees trimmed last year.

When I got out of the shower this morning around 9:00 a.m. the power suddenly went off! 

Me:  ARE YOU KIDDING ME??  THE STORM ISN’T EVEN HERE YET!!  ARE YOU KID -DING ME???

A few minutes later the lights came back on.

Me, much calmer:  Oh, o.k.  No worries. 

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My MANY Fans 

(Sort of an inside joke, but whatever.)

This Red Fan is Veronica and Brian’s They Lent Me

Our A/C quit on me last Saturday.  I had been having problems with it all summer.  It was so strained by our excessive hot weather that it just wasn’t functioning properly.  I would have to get the A/C Vac, hook it up to the drainage pipe, and suck out the gunk in order to clear it up and get it going again.  I would then pour bleach down the pipe entrance in the garage to keep it clear.  I was even keeping the A/C at a higher setting than I wanted, just to help with the strain.  However, on Saturday I was on the treadmill when I got off of it to use the bathroom.  Whenever I pass the monitor in the hallway I always look at it to make sure it is at 75.  Well, it was at 77.  Great!  It’s quitting on me again so I had better get out there and start sucking the gunk out so it will get going again.  So, I did.  And I then came back in and got back on the treadmill to finish my 45 minutes.  However, when I got off the treadmill the A/C hadn’t come back on yet.  I then went out there and tried it again.  The A/C did come back on for just a few seconds, and then shut down totally. 

Because it was a Saturday, I wasn’t about to call the A/C guys and pay for some emergency, so I got in touch with my daughter and son-in-law and because I was o.k. at that time, we just agreed to have Brian come out on Monday and take a look at it.  He knows how to fix things like that.  He came out and did a lot of maintenance on it but realized that parts would have to be ordered and that I needed to call the guys that installed it.  Gordon was also helping to do some research online and make some phone calls.  Turns out, our original A/C guys that we really liked and trusted were no longer in business.  So, Gordon found a business that he liked and he talked to them over the phone and set me up an appointment.  When the new guy arrived, diagnosed the problem, which is what Brian said it was, parts ordered, then we wait!

5 days later, Julie has A/C! 

It’s strange but the A/C is still under warranty, but in order for the warranty to work, we have to wait until mid October to get the A/C fixed.  WHAT???  There was no way in hell that I was going to suffer any more than I already had, so….  $1,259.10 later, Julie’s got A/C!

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I kept Isabelle all day yesterday.  She was such a trooper tolerating all the commotion of coming in and out of the house through the garage, the repairman installing the part while I held back the hanging storage grate in our garage.  You should have seen us.  He is trying to wedge the part in while I’m using all my strength to pull back that heavy grate hanging from the garage ceiling with stuff loaded on it that is blocking the inside A/C unit.  Some things started falling on him, some things started falling on me.  It was terrible. 

Both Veronica and Brodie got off work early yesterday to go home and prepare for the storm.  When Veronica arrived to pick up Isabelle, it wasn’t raining.  But, 5 minutes later just when she and Isabelle are about to leave, the bottom fell out of the sky!

I grabbed the umbrella, Veronica had Isabelle in her car seat, and the 3 of us managed to walk to her car while it was pouring down.  I had my arm around her so we would be close, while we waddled hysterically to her car.  Poor Isabelle’s legs were getting soaked!  Something hit the umbrella and bounced off of us.  A branch, I assume.  It was also at that time that Brodie pulled up.  I held the umbrella as Veronica put Isabelle’s car seat in the slot.  It was then that Brodie was out of his car and beside us.  Veronica moved Isabelle’s car seat hood to expose her head so she could see Brodie.

Veronica:  Look Isabelle.  It’s uncle Brodie!

Isabelle:  WAAAAAAA!!!!  WAAAAAAA!!!!

Veronica:  Isabelle’s in kind of a bad mood, so….

By this time we are all soaking wet!

With Veronica and Isabelle on their way home, it was time for Brodie to help me get the windows ready for the storm.

I gave him a few things from the freezer to take home when he left.  Hey, our freezers are full!  I am just trying to make room, so whenever Brodie comes over, I always send food home with him.

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NOW, I NEED TO PREPARE FOR THIS STORM

To tell you the truth, because I was already so exhausted from my day yesterday, and all the drama that led up to it, all I really did to get ready for the storm was to move a few pots outside so they wouldn’t fall over and break, and start laundry.  I did all of Isabelle’s laundry and bedding, along with all my personal laundry, and today I have been washing all my bedding and towels just to get ready for perhaps not having any power for a few days.

As it is I keep a stocked house.  I’m usually not one of those that have to run out and buy things to prepare for a storm, but last month I did.  Keeping Isabelle, I have less time than I used to.  Which is why I have been stocking up recently just to get back into my old routine, especially with this being hurricane season.

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Today

Because I have been so preoccupied with all my other little dramas, I hadn’t put much thought into what I would eat when the power goes out.  And the power ALWAYS goes out!

That’s when I realized that I do have some instant things I can make for when the lights go out. 

I love these little muffin mixes. 

They taste good and they are easy to make.

  Also, they are great to eat when the lights go out.

So, I’ve been making muffins today!

I found this mix too in the pantry.  I’ll make those here soon.

Cheddar Biscuits

I also made these today.  Perfect as a breakfast item.  I might even fry up some turkey sausages here in a little bit to eat with them.  Regardless, having things like this at the ready are great for good eating with no power.

Samosas For Lunch

If the power stays on then I will cook something hot and warm for dinner while I have power.  But, if not, I did have some great Indian Samosas for lunch today that really hit the spot!

Good luck to all my fellow Floridians,

Julie Barefoot

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September 24, 2024

(Sandwich and Planning)

Shopping, New Water Heater, Lots of New Glasses, Scar Going Away

And NO A/C!

Eating My Lunch in the Commissary Parking Lot

Last Wednesday I went into Tampa to do some shopping at the Base.  My usual, fill tank with gas, Exchange shopping, Commissary shopping, picking up all my new glasses…  I did forgo Class Six because I have plenty of alcohol. 

This shopping trip was about stocking up for when Gordon comes home in October. 

Food, Gifts, Supplies….

I was late leaving the house because I didn’t get the best night sleep, and I didn’t pack any food to take with me, so I picked up some Ham Salad from the Commissary deli, some bread, and some cocktail picks used to spread it on the bread.  I also bought a nice juice, just for the sugar because I was sick of my water.

Fixing My Sandwich in the Car

Love My New Sunglasses

When I got home I was so hot and sweaty that I took a sponge bath and changed clothes.  What I am showing you above is the scar on my neck from my skin cancer surgery.  It is looking much better that I don’t bother covering it up anymore.

Today is September 24th. and those bags above are from my Base run last Wednesday, September 18th.

I have been busy and there hasn’t been the time yet.  However, I will get to them soon.

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Where Did All This Water Come From?

Although you can’t see the extent of the damage, the garage is flooded! 

The entire water heater emptied itself out the previous night.

It was on September 4th. that I went into the garage to discover it.  I then called our son-in-law Brian, and he came over to see about it.  He noted that it was shot, and that we would need a new one.  With Gordon working overseas, everything is up to me!  Gordon will do the research though.  He found someone and they came out the following day to have a look at it.

There was a leak coming out the bottom in the photo left. 

I will say that this Hot Water Heater lasted us 15 years.  We had bought it from Sear’s.  That is pretty good!

It was 2 days until we got the new Hot Water Heater so I had to boil water for a bath. 

So no, that’s not some great Brunswick Stew above, that is my hot water for my bath.

Finally, the new Hot Water Heater is installed!

First thing I did was to take a hot shower!

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Stung By a Mason Wasp

(Just when you think things can’t get worse, THEY CAN!!!!)

My Ugly Hand is Swollen

I was doing some gardening in the front and pulling up some vines when I apparently disturbed a large nest of Mason Wasps.  They flew out at me and one stung me around my thumb.  The sting was very painful!  I was also stung by two Yellow Jackets this past summer but their stings were not as painful as this one was.  Also, the venom spread from my thumb to all around my hand and even up to in front of my elbow.

You can see that red trail of venom from my wrist to my elbow.

The Yellow Jacket Stings lasted a good 4 days until they started to feel better.  This thing didn’t start to feel better until a week later.  I was scratching this so badly I’m surprised I didn’t cause my arm to bleed.  I was using every home remedy there was.  Apple Cider Vinegar, Nasal Spray, Baking Soda paste, Anti-Itch Cream, you name it!  Nothing worked!  I just had to get through it as best I could.  I also used cold compresses on it, which made it feel sooo good.  But, I can’t maintain that all the time.  There is work to be done in spite of a bad sting.

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Tampering With My Meter Boxes

I was doing some bleaching out front and all around the front yard when I noticed that someone had tampered with my meter boxes.

Just one more unpleasant thing to add to my already long list.

Oh, and interestingly enough.  I was able to complete all my front yard work and bleaching even after getting stung.  The pain quickly subsided and I thought I was in the clear….until the following day when my hand was suddenly ON FIRE!

Well, at least I got all that work done before that wasp did me in.

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New Glasses, New Sun Glasses, New Lipsticks

Some of these pairs of glasses I already owned and just bought the new lenses for them.

I am busy doing some nice planning for when Gordon comes home.  We are planning a great 2 1/2 weeks of fun!

That also involves lots of shopping!  To me, this is going to be our Christmas to each other.  Oh, I’ll send him a Christmas box of goodies when he goes back overseas, but while he is here we will be spoiling each other. 

Besides, He OWES Me for all the stuff I’ve had to handle while he’s been gone. 

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Currently NO A/C!

It was on Saturday, September 21st. that I was on the treadmill, and decided to take a bathroom break.  It was when I walked by our hallway meter that I noticed the temp was at 77.  It is usually at 75.  That means that the A/C needs to be vacuumed out because of a clog.  So, I went outside and hooked the vacuum up to it to suck out any gunk that may have it clogged, and then came back into the house assuming it would start working again and things would be back to normal.  I got back on the treadmill and completed my 45 minutes.  When I finished I looked at the meter and it still read 77.  I knew that was bad.  I then went out and hooked the vacuum back up and sucked out some more.  Assuming I got the rest of it.  I even made sure I added some extra bleach down the pipe to make sure it was working correctly.  But NO!

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If you would like to read about what I/We do to get the A/C going when it stops:

Click Here For:  Home Function Upgrades

I do detail what is involved.

When Gordon called on Saturday the first words I said to him were, “The A/C isn’t working.”  He then said something like, ‘Do you want me to let you go so you can use the vacuum and suck the pipe out?’  No, Gordon, I’ve already sucked it out, TWICE!

Gordon:  Oh, And it won’t come back on?

Me:  NO!  It won’t work!

Gordon:  Did you try pouring bleach down the pipe?

Me:  Oh please!  That’s Kindergarten Gordon.

Gordon:  Did you try lifting up the meter in back of the pipe where you pour bleach?

Me:  What meter?  Do you mean that squatty little R2-D2 behind it?

Gordon:  Yes, that R2-D2 thing behind it.

Me:  Is it supposed to lift up?

Gordon:  Just straighten it out.

Me:  O.k., I guess I did.

Gordon:  Something you can do is to turn the vacuum in reverse and it will blow out whatever may be clogging it, and then you can reverse it and suck out whatever clog that may be loose now.

Me:  So, you want me to blow it, and then suck it, in the hopes I can turn it on?

Gordon and Julie:  Hysterical giggling like little girls ensues!!!

Me:  O.K.  I will blow it and suck it and see what happens.  (Snickering laughter.)

Gordon:  Just remove the cap so that it can perhaps exit that way.

Me:  O.k.  Here goes.  I’m blowing it and it is spitting out the pipe.

Gordon:  So, it’s spitting?

Me:  Yes, it’s spitting.  But not swallowing.

Gordon and Julie:  More hysterical laughter ensues!

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Bottom Line:  After all the sex we had with the A/C, we still can’t turn it on.  So, we called the pros!  They came out and had a look.  And a new A/C part will be installed tomorrow. 

Julie

Oh and a big P.S:  We have a hurricane on the way, and the straw that is literally breaking my back???

I bought grapes from the Commissary with seeds.  Yes, SEEDS!!!  SEEDS!!!!

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August 27, 2024

Currently, and The Past

I took these photos while I was trying to cool off in the car while shopping on the base last week.  It was so hot, and I was doing a lot of shopping.  Running in and out of stores with buggies full of goodies.  Unloading the carts, loading the car, sweating, sweating, and sweating.

No Bandage on My Neck, and Izzy’s Bluey Car

(For those following my skin cancer, I’m no longer wearing a bandage/band=aid.  It’s looking better.)

It was while I was shopping in the base Exchange in the toy section, that I saw the Bluey car and bought it.  My first thoughts are to save it for Christmas, but no, I will save it for when Gordon comes back in October so that he and she can spend time with it together, while I photograph it all. 

It was when I went into the Commissary to buy food and other things, that I remembered they had changed everything around.

It was just a few days before Tropical Storm Debby hit us that many of us had run into the Commissary to just buy the supplies we needed to get through the storm, only to discover that they had rearranged the entire store around! 

What?  Where are the paper towels?  The batteries?  The cereal?

They did have employees standing around to help guide those of us that couldn’t find what we were looking for.

First of all, the Commissary is where all military, retired military, spouses and family members shop.  They don’t need to be like a regular grocery store.  We will shop there no matter what because the prices are so cheap.  They can have the store painted in camouflage and we will still shop there.  They can have all the items still in cardboard boxes and we will still shop there.  The Commissary has no competition.  So, to rearrange everything around like they did is for only one reason.  Marketing Ploy!

This is something that grocery stores do quite often.  Haven’t you noticed that in the past?  Walking into your favorite grocery store only to have everything all rearranged, and now you have to hunt for what you need?

The Marketing Ploy is that as you are wandering the isles, looking at every shelf, and every item on each shelf, you will see things that you didn’t before, and thus spend more money than you would normally.

We are being manipulated into spending more money than we normally would.

I however, didn’t appreciate the fact that with Tropical Storm Debby coming, I’m having to go on some Easter Egg Hunt for what I need!

My main beef with the Commissary and grocery stores in our area is that they do not have enough sugar-free items.  Why the hell not?  Florida is a state full of a bunch of seniors with Diabetes.  So, why aren’t there more sugar-free items on the shelves?  I know these items exist because I have seen them before.  Or, they will carry them for a short time and then discontinue them.

Well, I just needed to get that off my chest.

Moving on…

I was so hot and bothered that day from the running around, shopping, loading, unloading, and then driving home just to unload and bring everything into the house, that I didn’t cool down until about 9:00 p.m. that night!  I had to peel my clothes off of me.  Put up my hair.  Have a sponge bath, put on cool pajamas, etc.  Finally, I cooled down.  But, it took forever!

Sparky, The Urine Bandit!

Oh, and I always get the pleasure of picking up the poop and cleaning up the urine from the “urine mats” that don’t do a damn thing to absorb it.  So, let’s add all that and mopping the floors.  No wonder it took me so long to cool down. 

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The Sleep of the Mischievous

Isabelle is almost 14 months.  I don’t really consider her to be a toddler, but I suppose she is entering that stage.  She tests boundaries, the word NO just means fun to her.  She’s smart, funny, adventurous, an explorer, she loves books, but not in the “story time” way.  So, we have Library Time.  We both just flip through our favorite books looking at the pictures.

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I get up at either 4:00 or 4:30 a.m. on the days that I keep her.  If it’s a long day, Brian will drop her off at 6:00 a.m. and Veronica picks her up at 4:30 p.m.  That’s 10 1/2 hours!  So, you try fitting in treadmill time, or some lovely cooked dinner.  I’m usually exhausted and either grabbing something from the freezer to eat, or I just fix a salad and call it a night.

Last Night’s Dinner

I have started buying these ready cleaned greens on a regular basis just to try and have something a bit healthy during my days that I don’t have time to cook anything, or I don’t feel like it.

I enjoy keeping Isabelle.  I try and have our routine to be the same each day. 

If I have her for a full day then when I get her at either 5:30 or 6:00 a.m., I give her a bottle and then put her down for an early morning nap in her crib.  After all, her sleep was interrupted when they woke her up to bring her to my house.  So, when she sleeps, I go back to sleep.  I have my couch all set up with pillows and blankets so that I can sleep when she does.  My hair is usually still wet from my shower when I lay down to have my early morning sleep, so I have towels on top of my blankets and pillows so as not to get them wet.

When she and I wake up, it’s usually between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., that is when I turn on the Disney Channel and we watch our usual lineup.  I put her in her walker and she watches T.V. and has her Toddler Treats shaped like surfboards, and I give her some water in a bottle.  It’s at about 10:00 that I give her what I like to call, “Second Breakfast”, referenced from The Lord of the Rings.  I place her in the high chair and she eats baby food from the jars, and then I give her another bottle.

After that, we have playtime on the floor with lots of toys and Bluey T.V.

We play until around 12:00 p.m. and then I place her in her crib.  She will eventually take a nap.  Sometimes she fusses, but it’s up to her to occupy herself until she does fall asleep.  That’s usually when I tend to the dogs.  I do include her in that as well.  We all go out to the backyard and have some time out there, but not long because of all the heat.

Isabelle will usually sleep until around 1:30/2:00/2:30.  Gordon always calls between 2:00 and 3:00 everyday, and loves it when I have her here.  Once I give her that last bottle at around 2:00 p.m. she is happy and content and will coo and talk to Gordon rambling on and on.  He loves it!  Sometimes she tells the best stories!

Isabelle Found The Typewriter

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I allow Isabelle to roam around, I just follow her to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself, or break something, or damage something.  I am a hands on Tutu and my life revolves around hers when I keep her.  To me, that’s how it should be.  When she sleeps I may do something just for me, or I do try and just catch up around my house with whatever needs to be done.  But, I watch her.  I teach her.  And, I allow her to learn, succeed, fail, grow, explore, and experiment.  Children deserve no less than that from their caregivers. 

On the short days I keep her, Brian picks her up around 9:30 a.m.  I then get the rest of the day to myself! 

I also usually have 1 or 2 days off every week, along with every weekend! 

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My Look/My Style

I know, I look like I play golf, don’t I?

I am finding my 60’s style and exploring as I go.  Lilly Pulitzer is a must!  But, I do try other brands in search of very comfortable clothing that fits my lifestyle.  Clothing that allows me to sit on and off the floor.  Usually with some shorts underneath.  I am up and down all the time.

From the time Isabelle was born, she loved texture.  She would rub her hand over my soft shirts.  She would dig her fingernails into my textured blanket.  Feeling the carpet and tile floors.  Texture was exciting to her.  She loves her soft blankets too.  I try and dress so that she is comfortable.  After all, I hold her all the time.

Most of the time I keep her I don’t wear any make up.  I also usually have my hair pulled back into a ponytail.

I’m more concerned with being comfortable, and keeping Isabelle comfortable.

After all, snuggle time is the best!

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I’m just happy that I can do this for my daughter, and son-in-law.  I know that it is the best feeling in the world to know that you can trust the person who is keeping your child.  I don’t know that many can feel that in this day and age?  I have said in the past that I didn’t give birth to children to turn them over to other people to raise.  I was referring to my circumstances when I had my children.  However, had I had a hands on family member that we could trust, and knew that our child was in good hands, then things might have been different.  But, that wasn’t our story.  This is, Veronica and Brian’s story though.  And, it is different.  In a very good way!

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Click Here For:  Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

10 Years Ago This Week

(I do have an Under Construction part in this old webpage that I want to finish once I’ve finished writing here.)

It was about 4-5 days ago that I kept thinking about my mother for some reason?

I kept wondering why?  Why am I thinking about her?

For those that haven’t read me, my mother is a narcissist and she and my abusive step-father have done more damage to me in life than any horrible boss, nasty neighbor, mean girl/boy from high school, or any terrible past boyfriend/frenemy ever did!

When I went up to Rome, Georgia to visit the old homestead in 2014, I did so to test the waters to see if a relationship with my mother would be possible again?  All it took was my walking into the house once I arrived to know that it would never be a reconciliation.  I do talk about that in another blog posting.

The reason I went up there to begin with was to use Rome, Georgia as a base, while I then drove up to Maryland for a few days, picking up Veronica from the airport, and staying at our hotel in Maryland while she was a bridesmaid to her friend Kaitlan’s wedding.  We were there for 4 days in Maryland.  It was a lot of fun.  She and I then drove back down to Georgia to visit with my mother and brother before she and I drove back down to Florida.  Veronica and I did have a lot of fun on that trip.  We both also picked up some family heirlooms to bring back with us, and even some of her early childhood toys.  Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles!

I actually recount our trip in the website page link above.  It’s what I don’t say in the vacation webpage that I am referring to now.

But, the reason that I was thinking about my mother and brother Ben, is because it has been 10 years since I was in Rome.  My mother is all about anniversary’s, and I believe that she was thinking about it, and me, being the Empath that I am, picked up on it and that was when I realized that it has been 10 years.  My mother and Rome, Georgia aren’t topics I think about at all anymore.

There is nothing for me in Rome.  No real family, no ties.  Perhaps just a few old boxes left in the barn that I would love to have back.  However, if I don’t, I’ll live.

Did you know that Rome, Georgia is Marjorie Taylor Greene’s district?  Explains a lot.  Doesn’t it?

The sad thing about that is that Rome was really growing into a very diverse little city in Georgia.  They even have a Pakistani Community.  Did you know that?  However, in my experience with small towns and haters, is that they eventually ban together to ruin everything.

When we lived in Rockingham, North Carolina it was the same story.  Rockingham attracted some great diverse people of different nationalities and religions.  So, the haters banned together and ran everyone out of town.  All those people that did make Rockingham, or Rome great.  They drove them away.  Now, only the rednecks are there.  Just wait and see how long any business or community lasts when it’s run by rednecks.

The thing is that it’s the progressives that see what’s coming long before anyone else does.  The progressive’s try to warn what is coming.  The only people that can help to do anything about it are the moderates that aren’t paying any attention, or that they just don’t care.  At least, not until it’s too late.

So, 1/3 are trying to ruin everything (Conservative), 1/3 are trying to save everything (Liberals), and the last 1/3 are Moderates, and just don’t care.  Which equals= Conservatives always win!

That has been my experience throughout my life in the south.

We do have more “famous” conservative republican’s speaking out in favor of Kamala Harris.  Funny, it’s those very conservatives that actually drove us here as a county.  Interesting that they didn’t see the need not to ruin things when they were in power?

I could write more now but I want to move along and work on some of my website pages.  Thank you for your interest in us.  We do appreciate you!

Julie

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August 18, 2024

The 60’s

The Tape of My Grandmother Interviewing Me When I Was Very Young

Me, Southland Vista School Picture, October, 1965

Rome, Georgia

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Written on the cassette tape, by my Grandmother says, “Frank Talking, Julie and Myself.”

Frank was my Grandfather.  Even though he died when I was 14 I still know his voice.  I can hear him now in my head.

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I was probably around 23, and I was living with my Grandmother at the Morningside Drive house.  She was sitting at the kitchen table with her tape recorder and a big grin on her face, while I was sitting in the den section, probably watching T.V.  She said, “I want you to hear this.”  I then asked what it was?  She didn’t tell me.  She just told me to listen.

She turned the tape on and suddenly this child started talking.  This child had such strong opinions and the WORST Hick accent I had ever heard!  Back then we didn’t call them rednecks.  They were either Hicks, or Grits.

I was so appalled by this poor, ignorant child that I didn’t want to hear anymore of it.  My Grandmother was laughing so hard.  I kept telling her to turn it off!  I don’t want to listen to that!!

She Then Told Me That It Was ME!

I was shocked!  Do you mean to tell me that I was once a, dare I say it, a HICK?

I didn’t want to hear anymore of it.  However, it was when my Grandmother died that I found that tape in a drawer in her bedroom, and I took it.  I’ve had it all these years.  I finally decided that I wanted to hear it.  I want to hear my Grandfather’s beautiful voice, my Grandmother’s voice, and me, that hick kid.

However, as fate would have it.  I found my old cassette tape player, put batteries in it, grabbed a new box of tissues, rewound the tape, and then pressed PLAY.  The only button that won’t work on the whole damn thing.

Rewind works, fast forward works, stop works, eject works, but PLAY DOESN’T!

I am going to look into getting either mine fixed, or to try and buy another one. 

I am ready to finally listen to all that little hick girl had to say. 

Julie

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August 14, 2024

In An Instagram World, Just Hit DELETE

(My Instagram Profile Picture)

Yesterday I had a day off.  I didn’t have to keep Isabelle so I did my usual, and even made a great 1930’s Irish-Italian Spaghetti recipe for dinner. 

Irish-Italian Spaghetti

I made extra to pass along to Veronica when she picked up Isabelle today.  But, it was yesterday I tried to find something good to watch on T.V. after my fill of news.  I noticed that Christina on the Coast was playing on HGTV, so I decided to leave it there.  How I watch T.V. isn’t to just sit in front of the T.V. like most people do.  I tend to glance at the screen when I walk by it, or I may turn my head away from my blogging to take a look at something that is grabbing my attention.  I hadn’t seen her shows in such a long time.  I do/did follow her on Instagram until today.  I’ll explain that in a minute.

I’ve written about Christina Haack El Moussa Anstead Hall and soon to be Haack again, in the past.  I have defended her, and I have sided with her against abuse hurled at her by her ex-husband Tarak El Moussa, who has since moved on and married Heather Rae something El Moussa.  They have since had a child.  (I suppose that I have no right to make fun of their names seeing as I am Julie Ann Lancaster-Whann.)

I don’t regret supporting Christina in the past.  It’s just that I no longer can.  What was it?  A few weeks ago, maybe a month?  We read the news that Christina was once again divorcing a husband?  This time it is husband number 3, Josh Hall.  I read something where she remarked that he’s very insecure.  Gee, I wonder why?  She also posted a beautiful photo of herself on her social media with the best hair extensions imaginable, great make-up, perfect clothing on top of her stick thin figure, but with those great implants.  It was obvious, she is on the prowl!  And so quickly too?  Usually people tend to mourn and grieve the break up of a marriage.  Right?  I’ve only been married once, and that’s to Gordon, but I have had plenty of break-up’s in my life and they are sad.  She was even out for dinner on some ‘Girl’s Night’ a few days after their divorce plans were announced.

Reminds me of Jennifer Lopez years ago when Ben Affleck dumped her about 2 days before their (first) wedding.  What did she do?  She went to the beach with her friends and had a blast! You knew that she was devastated.  But, the pretense went on, and the pretense is what I view as so very fake.  However, in the case of Christina Haack El Moussa Anstead Hall and once again soon to be Haack again, I don’t think she gives a damn.

Did she come to realize that her “Ride or Die” was just a redneck?  Thinking perhaps she should have waited for the next ride?

Whether or not he was a “redneck” you could see he was devoted to Christina, that marriage, and being a step-father to her children from 2 previous marriages.

When she coined the phrase a few years ago that he was her “Ride or Die”, I knew he wasn’t.  Probably a lot of us knew that.  But, I guess she did what she had to do at the time to survive all that she was going through, and she chose him.

We all need a support system.  Except that she grabbed the first male to support her and perhaps she should have waited and just taken care of herself first. 

But, in this Instagram world, everything takes place in an Instant!

We also read that she was busy deleting past photos of him from her social media accounts.

Does all that deleting translate into destroying wedding photos?  Family photos?  Vacation photos?  Maybe not.  But, I wouldn’t be surprised if it did?

It was about a week ago that she posted a new photo of herself, her daughter Taylor, and her son’s Braydon and Hudson.  Christina was sitting on the floor next to Taylor, and the boys were standing in back of her.  I couldn’t help but read the sadness on their faces in this one particular photo.  Although, they were smiling in other pictures.  But the thing is, you know this break-up is affecting them.  They are young, and they regarded Josh as a step-father and I’m sure love him very much.  If she is as insensitive on social media where her break up with Josh Hall is concerned, then you know she is just as insensitive in private, and probably more so.

HGTV and The Flip Off

I do have to say that I am something of a hypocrite for even watching HGTV yesterday.  You see, I pretty much swore off supporting the network when they sponsored Takek and Heather El Moussa in agreeing to film their project of renovating an entire building of apartments.  You see, once they bought the building, they evicted everyone living there.

There are many reasons why I despise the El Moussa’s, that’s just one of them.

I mean, this is SCROOGE territory!

However, getting back to The Flip Off.

Apparently, the original premise of the show was for Tarek and Heather El Moussa to compete with Josh and Christina Hall in flipping houses.  Or, whatever it was they were going to flip.  The first thing I thought of was how sorry I feel for their children.  Mommy and Josh, against Daddy and Heather.  Yeah, sounds like a great Thanksgiving to me!

I’m not one of these people that loves conflict, or bullying, or putting people in their “place”, wherever people believe that may be?  I have no intention of watching this, which is probably a ratings giant/reality junk T.V. show.  As I understand it, Christina has axed Josh from this series, even though he was slated to star in it.

Christina even suggested that if her second husband Ant Anstead agreed to come on board with her, that it would be a ratings boost.  Wow.  I guess that’s all that matters in the El Moussa/Haack world?  Personally, I will respect Ant Anstead a hell of a lot if he refuses.

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As tacky as all of that is above, none of that is why I chose to no longer support Christina Haack El Moussa Anstead Hall and soon to be Haack again.  I no longer wish to support her because of what all I saw in her HGTV episodes yesterday.

I noticed that when she is designing homes for people that have money and are of an upper class mentality, that she is very personable and comfortable with them.  She would sit in her office showing them samples and pointing out to them, with her exaggerated nail extensions and enhancements, while loaded down with lots of heavy jewelry, why this tile would be best.  She sat behind a luxury desk looking perfect with her hair extensions, and all I could think of was, ‘who’s taking care of your children’?  I mean, all of that fake stuff attached to her takes lots of time to add on. I know damn well she doesn’t do her own hair.  And, if she brings in someone to do her hair, then you know there is someone to do the make-up.

Now, comes the real reason.  The very last episode from yesterday is when she designed a main floor for a family that you could tell, wasn’t her type.  However, they were my type.  A married couple with two children, ages 12 and 3.  The wife had had a stroke a few years prior and had to relearn how to walk, and talk again.  They weren’t fancy people, but they were genuine. Although Christina was never rude to them, you just knew they weren’t her type.

In that same episode, a friend of hers was coming back into her life and she had asked Christina to do something about her kitchen cabinets because they were this horrible blue.  Christina and her friend were apparently grabbing some iced coffee or something and were talking about how horrible blue cabinets were in a kitchen.  Even making fun of it.  The thing is, Christina was installing blue kitchen cabinets into the home of that very nice couple I mention above.

Did that really have to be in the same episode?  What she’s installing in that nice couple’s home, she is dissing and painting over in her friends home.

Also, in the end, during the reveal that nice couple that I mention above were so happy with their transformation.  They could not praise Christina enough for all she did for them.  They were so grateful.  Even their 12 year old boy was so happy when he walked in and saw their new home.  You could just see the happiness on his face.

Interestingly, when Christina revealed the ‘no more blue kitchen cabinet’s’ to her friend, and her friend’s family of 5, her children didn’t even crack a smile.  They could have cared less.

It was then that I knew that I just didn’t want to support someone like Christina anymore.  I don’t wish her ill will.  I just don’t want to be one of those people that follow her and propel her to some sort of fame that she doesn’t seem to give back.

It was very revealing in one of the episodes yesterday where Christina was at home talking to someone on the phone when Josh entered the room with 2 dogs, and carrying dog leashes.  He heard her talking to who he thought was James, her design assistant, and he told her to tell James he says hello.  She ended the conversation without saying that.  Josh then looks at her curiously, she then said that it wasn’t James.  It was her new assistant Kylie.  He didn’t even know she had hired someone new.  You would think that would have come up in some conversation?  Nope.  Not in that household.  You then see Josh putting leashes on the dogs to take them out.  I guess that’s all that Josh was ever good for.  Walking the dogs.

I was also a bit surprised that she hired someone like this Kylie woman.  Kylie was tall, beautiful, but radiated ‘stay away’, ‘don’t come near me’.  I see why she hired James.  He is not only talented, but personable.  He and Christina also seem to get along very well.  Kylie just seemed to scream, I hate all of you!’  So….

Well, not my problem. Oh, well.  To tell you the truth, I don’t even know how to end this except to dive into my Boar’s Head Salad Hummus Bowl. 

Julie

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August 9, 2024

Harris/Walz 2024

I mean come on, you can’t not be exited for them?!

Everyone who knows me, or reads me, knows that I know politics.  I grew up in a political home environment.  I have a brother or two who are Political Scientists, I keep myself educated, and up to date, I also know the right websites to read to get my information.  These are tried and true sites who have accurately predicted our country’s direction since 2000. 

Most People Don’t Understand That Politicians Make Decisions That Can Help/Ruin Our Lives

I also taught my children politics.  Brodie keeps up with it more than Veronica, but I do try and enlighten her when I can.  When Brodie was in 2nd. grade he could tell you all about Bill Clinton and that scandal which led to his Impeachment.  We were living in Maryland at the time at Ft. Meade.

We were also there for Election 2000 Bush V. Gore.  And 9/11.

It was at this time that I did my best to inform some of my family (that didn’t know what was going on), and friends and neighbors and acquaintances, that bad things were coming because of what Bush/Cheney were doing.  They of course, didn’t believe me, and just chalked my anxious behavior up to “mental illness” or something like that.  I was pretty much dumped by most everyone that I knew and whom I called my friends.  Some of them would even forward me articles about how American’s that don’t support Bush and the Iraq War are un-American, and un-Patriotic.  That hurt!

I never realized how many Republican “friends” that I had until then.

Those that didn’t totally dump me would occasionally contact me just to ‘dip their toe into the water’ in order to see if I was still “crazy.”  Turns out I was. 

And those that still did keep in touch, but were very distant, I ended up eventually dumping them because I realized that I have absolutely nothing in common with them anymore.

Following politics is kind of like following sports.  You know the players, you know their supporters, their sponsors, their behavior when they are under pressure, their strength’s, their weaknesses, etc.  In the same way that a sports fan can predict what play is about to happen, is no different from those of us that follow politics.  You may know a baseball pitcher’s hand signals and what is about to happen, while we know the dog whistles from our political players and what is about to happen there.

Well, everything that me, and others like me predicted, have since come true.  We truly are at a cross roads in our democracy and I am hoping that we will win and defeat those that are trying to turn us into an Authoritarian Country.

(This probably explains to a lot of you that read me why I don’t have any friends?  I decided that I wanted to streamline my relationships and the only people that I want in my life are our children, their partners, and our grand-daughter Isabelle.  I don’t really care to get close to, or know anyone else.)  The closest friend that I was able to make was my Kiwi friend Trish, from New Zealand.  She has since died.  But no one will ever hold a candle to her kindness and friendship.  Most every day I tell her ‘I love and miss her’, even though I know she can’t hear me.

I had invested years into those previous relationships of friends that chose George W. Bush over me.  Well, wonder how that turned out?

I’m sure George W. Bush was there for those break-up’s, birthday luncheons, supportive talks, and visits. 

It’s o.k., I don’t care about any of them anymore.  I’m not trying to complain, just explain.  I hurt for years over those failed relationships, but in the end, I just outgrew all of them and needed to get away.  It’s o.k. to outgrow people.  I don’t wish them anything bad, I just don’t want to ever know them again.

I suppose the reason I am telling you all of this is because we live in a very divided country, and I just wanted other people to know that you aren’t alone when it comes to moving on from old friends and relationships.  There is a process that you just need to go through before you get to the end of it, and when you do, life is better because you are better.  You finally realize that you deserve better.  But, don’t ever regret doing the right thing in the past, only to have someone not deserve it.  Be HAPPY you did the right thing, no matter what the end result is. 

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Now Moving On…..

We are now in our history exactly where me, and others like me said we would be.  So, what do we do about it?

James Carville summed it up best when he reminded people that we still live in the same country, the mood is what is different.  (Always listen to Carville.  Always!)

He’s right.  We do still live in the same country.  This country put Barack Hussein Obama in The White House. 

This country also created The Tea Party, and the MAGA’S.

What people like me recognize is THE BLUE PRINT.  The Blue Print is the map that is used when a political party wants to turn a country into a dictatorship.  The Blue Print is used to invade a country, take over a country, get a country to willingly go to war, etc.

Trump follows the rhetoric of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and other “strong men.”  Personally, I detest the term, “strong men” because they aren’t strong.  They are manipulative bully’s who are nothing without their enablers and supporters.

The only way we are going to get our country back is not just to elect Harris/Walz, but to vote out every single Republican!  Every one of them!  Hold to account those in power who break our laws and do harm to our country and it’s people.  Do away with the Electoral College.  Our Founding Father’s created that Electoral College because they didn’t think the average American was smart enough to vote.  Yeah, those wonderful Founding Father’s did that to us!  And here we are…..

I have no doubt that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will win the Presidential Election this November.  But, I also have no doubt that the Republican’s and their supporters will do everything in their power to steal it from them, deny it to them, and even kill them if necessary.

Every single American needs to prepare for what the Republican’s have in store.  I do know that it will be BAD! 

We might just need to call upon that protestor/fighter DNA that every single one of us as an American has inside of us.  We are descended from protestors!  Let’s don’t erase all that they fought for, all that they died for.  Let’s make our ancestors proud. 

My Clan Keith Ancestors fought at the Battle of Bannockburn, in Scotland in 1314.  If you have ever seen the end of Braveheart, that is the Battle of Bannockburn, where the Scots win their freedom.  My ancestors, the Keith’s, took out the King’s Archers which enabled everyone else to run end and win.  They played an important role in the fight.  I’m so proud of them! 

I would love for them to be proud of me.

Julie

 

P.S.  Robert The Bruce’s sister married a Keith. 

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August 7, 2024

In The Driver’s Seat

(For those that wonder, that cooler wedged between the seats on my car, is always full of clothing and toiletries.  Living in Florida you pretty much need an evacuation plan and packed bags by your door, or even in your cars.  Climate Scientists live their lives with bags packed.  I’ve always been that way myself.  You never know…..)

On Friday, August 2nd. I drove into Tampa to do some shopping on the AF Base, to stock up and prepare for the Tropical Storm coming our way, which turned into named storm, Debby.  I got an unexpected day off.  Veronica had stayed home that day because Covid was going around at work and she didn’t want me to catch it.  How thoughtful.    I ended up having a good 5 days off in a row.  I watch my Granddaughter Isabelle, several days a week, so once I get my son-in-law Brian’s work schedule, then I revolve my life around that schedule when planning my shopping, errands, and doctor appointments.  I don’t have as much free time as I used to, and I’m o.k. with it.  Keeping Isabelle is a privilege.  She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s fun, and she loves her Tutu, ME!

To Quote Olivia Newton-John,

“Let’s Get Physical, Physical, I Wanna Get Physical.  Let’s Get Into Physical.”

I sent the photos to Gordon who is working overseas and he remarked, “At least you got the hair out of her face.”  Yeah, that lasted a total of 2 minutes.

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Well, It’s August

Gordon will be back home in October for a few weeks.  I have 2 months to prepare.  We have been batting around Halloween ideas, and creating recipes on the phone.  We decided to make October his homecoming because we are big fans of Halloween and have been working on many fun ideas to do with our family, and especially Isabelle.

I also want Gordon here to help me just catch up on yard work and backyard clean-up.  The gutters need to be cleaned out, the back yard bird cage and the roof needs to have all the debris blown off of them, not to mention some pressure washing is in order.  Also, not to mention, more backyard bleaching of some mold and mildew on the retaining walls.  I would love a backyard that we can enjoy, but it takes so much work.  Hiring people to do it for us is usually a big waste of money.  They don’t know the difference between a Curry Plant and a weed, so they pull up the Curry Plant and toss it away.  Also, my lovely Goldilocks/Creeping Jenny, they will take the weed eater to that as well.  It’s honestly best if we just do the work ourselves.  I wouldn’t mind paying someone some extra money that knew how to be our “gardener”, however, those people just don’t exist in our realm.  I’m sure they do in wealthier communities, but we aren’t in some million/billion neighborhood.  And If I make inquiries in my attempt to find these people, they don’t exist here.

Tropical Storm Debby managed to shake the trees and knock down some dead, and smaller branches.  Which is fine.  It’s just a mess that we then need to clean up.

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Anxious To Create Beauty Here

With Debby having passed through, I would love to get out here and to create something beautiful, however, I am wary of the next storm coming through.  I don’t want to set it all up, only to tear it all down again.  So, it sits like this until I get around to it.

I Do Love Our Jungle Here

It was so humid that I had keep wiping the camera lens off when taking the photos.

The Rain Does Make Everything so Nice and Green

The plan is to clean up our Elk Horn and plant these Succulents in the top. 

I like placing other plants in it, other than just having it be an Elk Horn.

Update on the Yellow Jackets:  Apparently they have all been killed, and the toxin didn’t damage the Elk Horn.

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This is NOT Tropical Storm Debby

This is just a regular everyday storm that we have this time of year during rainy season.

This Storm Was July 25, 2024

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In spite of storms, and yard debris, and loosing power during storms…

The power went out for 8 hours during Debby.

I’m doing O.K..  All that moving around and being the new kid in school all the time when I was growing up, taught me independence.  I had myself to look after and it was either sink or swim.  Sometimes I would dog paddle, sometimes I would just tread water with my head barely above the surface, and sometimes I might have been underwater swimming, but holding my breath until I could surface, other times I was swimming smoothly like an Olympic Swimmer.  The Universe has been far kinder to me than any human ever was.  I like my life.  I’m happy to be here on Earth.  And I would love to stay as long as I am welcome. 

Julie

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July 14, 2024

July 6, was our 13th. Website Anniversary

I know I’m just now getting around to celebrating, but I’ve been very busy and I do what I can, when I can.  I am very happy that we have gotten this far.  It’s been a creative journey of fun and ideas.  Gordon is working overseas and cannot be here to celebrate with me.  But, we do converse on the phone most everyday and we bat around ideas for recipes and other projects that we are working on, long distance.

We do thank you and appreciate your interest in us and all that we do.  Thank you so very much!

Julie and Gordon

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(I Saved My Isabelle Cupcake)

July 10, 2024

I’m Totally Birthday’d OUT!

July 4th. America’s Birthday

Making my Baked Beans for a 4th. of July Party in Tampa, and an Early Birthday for Isabelle

Trying to Feed at Least 30 People Here

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July 4th. Isabelle’s Birthday Party and America’s Independence Day

Isabelle’s Cupcakes

Veronica Made All The Cupcakes And Put This Together

Isabelle’s “Smash Cake” Veronica Made

Finally She is 1 ! 

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Our son-in-law Brian, and his siblings Becky and Sean, lost both their parents last year on the same day, 4 months apart.  This party was held at their house.  The children inherited the house and they use it for party’s like this, holiday’s, and when family visit.  They also plan on renting it out in the future.  It is in a perfect location outside MacDill AFB.  Perfect for family of service members stationed on the base to be close enough to the base, also large enough for many family to stay there.  I hope that when they start the project that they are successful with it.  I know that Brian’s family also use the house for Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner’s and Parties.

This year they decided to have a big 4th. of July Party and an early Isabelle Birthday Party.

They invited between 30-40 people.

This is the neighborhood that Hulk Hogan grew up in.  All of the older people around my age at the party, knew him from Robinson High School as just plain Terry, (Bollea.)

When I heard about the party I immediately knew that I would just make my Baked Beans.  I also took some Pickled Red Onions to just have on the table next to the Pickles as something else to add to their Hamburgers or Hot Dogs, etc.

There were tons of Kelleher’s at the party, and just a few Whann’s. 

Gordon may be working overseas but Me, Brodie and Mackenzie attended.

Brian and Veronica Planned the Whole Thing and Did All the Work And the Cooking!

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Isabelle is Already Hot and Tired….

So……. (I knew this would happen) 

Veronica and Brian with Isabelle

Her Daddy Can Always Cheer Her Up!

The Girl Is Smashing It!

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Veronica Age 1, July 6, Honolulu, Hawaii

Veronica Dove Right In!

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Pretty Mackenzie at the Party

Mackenzie and Brodie with Isabelle

Peanuku and Tutu

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The Fireworks

Slept Through The Whole Thing

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Brian and His Family are Notorious for Their Yearly Fireworks Display

(In the many years they have done this, there have been no bad incidents.)

You will never find me at any of these.  I always leave beforehand.  I grew up personally knowing people (the Neiderhooth boys) that had body parts blown off of them from firecrackers and fireworks when they were in their teens.  However, if these adults want to do this it is up to them.  Isabelle was away from it all, so I didn’t object.

Fire Cracker, Fire Cracker, Boom, Boom, Boom!

(Veronica made those Firecracker Displays.)

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Uncle Brodie Putting Together the Princess Castle For Isabelle’s Birthday

It took him over 3 hours to put it together.  We did have a lovely visit though. 

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(What’s Inside The Box?)  A Peek!

July 5th. Isabelle’s Actual 1st. Birthday

Happy Birthday Isabelle!

We Will Celebrate Once You Have Napped

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The Princess Ariel Land to Sea Castle

I realize that this extremely elaborate castle is for ages that start at 3, but in my defense, I didn’t know it was this big!  I honestly thought it was about half this size.  My first thought was that I had better return it, it’s just too big.  However, when Brodie put it all together I fell in love with it!  To me, it’s kind of like a Christmas Tree.  It’s big and beautiful with lots of pretty things that light up that we can look at and admire all the time.  I mean, we don’t ‘play’ with our Christmas trees, we look at them and admire them.

I ended up getting two of these, one here with me and Gordon, and the other with Veronica and Brian at their house.

Also the two Ariel’s I bought.  One for here, and the other for Isabelle’s house.

Isabelle Loves Things That Light Up

I realize that there are parts of this playhouse that can cause choking, etc. but, I am a very hands on Tutu.  I’m on the floor with her every step of the way.  With the exception of when she takes a nap, we are joined at the hip. 

I thought it looked really nice here underneath our Mermaids and the Shrimp Mobile that Gordon and I made for Peanuku.

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Peanuku and Tutu

Jesus Painted the Jacket 

Veronica works with some wonderful artists.  She herself is a really good artist.  Some of her paintings look like photographs.  Her co-worker Jesus painted the jacket above for Isabelle.  How special is that?!

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This particular birthday party was just for us, and Gordon who is working overseas. 

He was with us via video the whole time.

Check out that big cake!  Again, something that I ordered having no idea exactly how big it was.

Veronica and Brian with Isabelle

Isabelle’s New Bluey Toys

ISABELLE

Having Some Ice Cream on her Spoon

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Wine With Cake For Me

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July 6, Veronica’s 37th. Birthday

Veronica’s birthday is the day after Isabelle’s so I did give her some nice gifts and some flowers….

Isabelle LOVES Books! 

I also babysat Isabelle while Veronica and Brian met another couple for dinner to celebrate Veronica’s birthday.

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Our Bluey/Ariel Birthday

Ate some, Froze some, Gave some away…

Oh and a big p.s. You will have the most beautiful green poop that will last for days after eating that frosting. 

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June 21, 2024

Kate Middleton?  Princess of Wales

June 14, 2024

Kate Middleton?

Apparently Kensington Palace released this statement from Kate along with the lovely photo of her surrounded by such beauty in the forest, on June 14, 2024.

What I find interesting about the statement above is how it is signed, Kate Middleton, The Princess of Wales.

I know that many times when any of us here in America refer to Kate as Kate Middleton, and not Catherine The Princess of Wales, I do wonder what they think of the signature above?  How many of us have been chastised by some British royalist on social media for calling her by her birth name? 

Therefore, I find it interesting that the palace is doing the same.  It makes you wonder if this is yet another “clue” to the Princess’s future?

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The Trouble With Kate

The Scenery is Beautiful!  Kate Looks Stunning.

Serene, Green, and No Future Queen?

I’ve also read that the photo may be AI generated.  I have no idea whether that is true or not, I am no expert on the topic.

(The blazer that Kate has on above in the forest photo, and here, has been worn by her in the past a few times.  I’ll explain that significance shortly.)

What I wanted to write about was to contribute to the speculation with yet more speculation.  Probably not really needed, but I need to get this out of my head so that I can create other things, and it won’t leave until I do. 

You see, as an Empath, I am connected to her and some of those around her.  I’ll explain that in just a few, for those of you that don’t read my website, I am an Empath, just like Princess Diana was.  When I become connected to people sometimes it’s hard to break that connection.  Writing things down does help a little bit.

Many of us in America are accused of wanting a Monarchy here.  They say that because we are interested in their royals.  I don’t want a Monarchy here, which is why I sometimes enjoy reading about yours.   Kind of like a Soap Opera.  I don’t want all that drama in my life but sometimes it’s interesting to read about the drama in other people’s lives.

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The royals and the palace handed us a huge mystery and are now complaining that we took the bait.

As an American I do sometimes feel that this is not any of our business.  It’s a British issue, not an American one and therefore perhaps we should stay out of it.  Part of me feels that way, except that William and Kate are a power couple on the world’s stage and their influence can affect other countries around the world whether positively, or negatively.  We don’t pay to support them, like the British taxpayers do, but they do come here on their visits to extend their influence to us over here.  So, with that said, yes, I am interested in what is really going on?

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So, What Is Kate’s Official Name?

Prince William’s official name is:

William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor

William, The Prince of Wales

So, wouldn’t Kate’s last name be Mountbatten-Windsor as well?

From what I have researched is that Kate dropped her middle and last name upon marriage to Prince William.  Therefore, her official name is Catherine, The Princess of Wales GCVO (the acronym refers to ‘Her Royal Victorian Order.)’  She is also the Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate Middleton?  Really?  Wouldn’t the palace know her official name?  Is Middlton her future name again?  Generally, that is what happens when couple’s divorce.

Diana lost her title of Princess when she and Charles divorced.  What she did do in order to keep that name, was to change her name to “Princess Diana.”

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Let’s Recap Here

We were told back in January that Kate was to receive “planned abdominal surgery” and would be in the hospital for 2 weeks, yet no one really came to visit her the entire time, or could even tell us about her stay.  Then we were told she left the hospital after the two weeks were over but no one recalls seeing her leave or anyone come for her?

We were then given a series of photographs telling us that they were Kate, when they really weren’t.

We are then given this photo of Kate and the kids:

Mother’s Day March 10, 2024 Photo, Allegedly

March 10, was Mother’s Day in the U.K., or Traditionally, Mothering Sunday

The photo was a huge FAKE!  Pieced together photos from other photos to depict a ‘happy smiling Kate and the kids.’

The palace admitted the fake and blamed it on Kate.  (Those aren’t even Kate’s fingers above.  Her finger lengths are different.)

I do write a lot about this in a blog entry below, where I go into more detail.  I really don’t want to get into all that I write below, I would like to go from here with my new information.

Questions?  Questions?  Questions?

It was at this point that many of us are wondering what is going on?

We are also being made to feel badly that we are interested in wanting to know how and where she is?

5 people hadn’t been seen in 6 months!

Kate, Charlotte, Louis, and Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton

It was at this point that I told my husband that I don’t think Kate is cooperating with the palace anymore.

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Kate’s Cancer AI Made Video

(The Sweater is about 6-8 years old.)

This video is also a FAKE!  There are so many inconsistency’s with it.  I won’t go into all of them.  You can do your own research to learn about those inconsistency’s for yourself.

I will say that it was at this point that people are wondering if she is dead?  Someone pointed out how her face is resting in this video, as if she was lying down when they shot it.  That’s when I started to wonder if she was actually dead and not just NOT cooperating with the palace anymore?  Or in some kind of Coma?  We really did need to see proof of life!

When you start to get older our faces do change.  My face looks different when I am laying down, from when I’m sitting up, from when I’m facing downward.  So, when someone suggested her face looked as if she were laying down, then of course we all start to jump to conclusions.  Not to mention, given all the deception we had been given for months, and the fact that 5 people had not been seen in 6 months.

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Trooping The Colour, Saturday, June 15, 2024

Finally, Our First Glimpse of Kate and Charlotte and Louis

We Now Have Proof of Life (at least on 3 of them)

(Oh, and btw:  the dress she is wearing is an old dress from her past.  They just revamped it a little bit to make it look different.)

This is where being an Empath comes in to play.

In the photo top left you can see Kate stroking Charlotte’s hair with a very sad look on her face.  They are awaiting their carriage to arrive.  What I see as an Empath is a broken woman.  Someone who is being brought out and made to perform for the public.  She doesn’t want to be there.  She is doing it not only to please all of us that need to know she is o.k., but to please the British public, and the royal family because they know the Monarchy is in trouble and she has been brought out to help appease and secure the lineage.  She isn’t doing it for William, she is doing it for George and Charlotte and Louis as well.  She wants their futures secured too.  I believe that Kate is going through the motions of a future life that she knows isn’t hers anymore.

The thing is, The Princess of Wales isn’t just a Title, it’s also a Job.  The British tax payer is supporting her and all of the royals and the royal family is expected to “perform” when necessary.  This isn’t like giving birth and it is expected that she will need time off to recover and bond with the baby.  Or, that she actually did have some kind of surgery that requires time to heal.  This is about the world being lied to and deceived by a royal family that have no respect for the “peasants” that pay their salaries.

I can tell you this as an Empath, the only people that Kate cares about are the royals, not the British public.  When she waves and smiles it’s duty, it’s not authentic.  It never was.  She wants to continue to be part of that royal family no matter what because she has invested so many years to the job.  Not to mention, 3 children.  She has put up with countless indiscretions by William, not to mention his bullying, she has also put up with all the little “fuck you’s” that upper class women tend to throw at each other and to those they don’t like.  The constant scrutiny.  Not to mention what I am about to suggest next…..

 

When did She Get That Scar?

People have speculated that she got a facelift.  I don’t see a facelift.  I see a beautiful women who probably does see a Cosmetic Dermatologist, but I don’t think she has gone under the knife…..  yet.

So, we finally see her.  She is thinner than she was before.  She now has a pretty big scar on her face.  You know that must bother her every time she looks in the mirror.  The question is, where did that scar come from?  It is related to her “cancer?”  A cancer that she will not reveal to any of us?  Is it something that William may have done to her?  He does have a history of abusing Harry.  There is even plenty of video of him hitting Charles and Harry quite roughly in his younger days.  So, why not slap Kate around especially when they are arguing about his mistress Rose Hanbury that he has no intention of giving up.

You see, I believe that Kate Middleton is being pushed out.

William is a narcissist just like his father Charles.  Narcissist’s aren’t good people.  They are tremendously mean and selfish.  They abuse the people around them.  They can turn on the charm when they have to, but otherwise they don’t.  If you think about it William grew up with everyone divorcing around him.  His parents, Charles and Diana.  Diana’s parents were also divorced, his aunt Princess Anne, and his uncle, Prince Andrew, not to mention his other uncle Charles, Diana’s brother, and his cousin, Princess Anne’s son.  Also, probably countless more….

Charles never conformed in his marriage to Diana, he also never intended to, he just expected her to conform to him.

Kate has shown that she is the dutiful wife.  Beautiful, dedicated, loyal.  But sorry Kate, those qualities aren’t good enough for someone that will never truly appreciate you. 

Trooping The Colour, 2024 Balcony Scene

(Although I didn’t watch the entire footage of Kate on the balcony with William, what I did see was that he never touched her, even when trying to scoot by in back of her.  He never held his hand to her back.  Also, when they were leaving he never touched her to guide her out, like they did for the children.  It was as if he was avoiding touching her.  I did however, see footage of William touching his shoulder to Kate’s when they would speak.)

The royal family has learned, through Kate’s absence, that getting rid of her will outrage quite a few people. 

I also believe that they may have painted themselves into a corner with her “cancer.”  If he divorces her now those that are loyal to them all will be furious!

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This Car Ride Home Says It ALL

From what I see of William on the other side of the car is his just wanting to hurry up and get back home.  What I see of Kate is almost a ‘one last look’ at it all.  She knows the future she thought she was going to have, she won’t.  I see depression, great sadness, feeling unwanted, unloved, and alone.  Alone as in she is not loved by her husband.

This is what I SEE, This is what I READ, This is what I PICK UP.

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King Charles III Coronation, May 6, 2023

When I saw this photo of Kate taken at the Coronation last year I could see her strain and her pain.  I could see her unhappiness and that she just can’t take much more.

I read that the headpiece you see above was rigged up by whoever dresses Kate because Camilla was insistent that Kate not wear a crown.

I also read that William’s mistress Rose Hanbury’s twin son’s took part in the Coronation.

Imagine that?  I’m sure we “Lesser Mortals”  would have had a hard time with that.  Having to go through the motions of a ceremony when all we feel is to die on the inside?

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It’s Difficult To Feel Sorry For Kate

Kate has been the ultimate ‘mean girl’ to Meghan since Harry and Meghan started dating.  Kate has contributed to causing Meghan great pain and unhappiness for years.  I am really disgusted by how she and all of the royal family treated Harry.  Harry was very good to Kate.  He was supportive of her.  And how did she repay that support?  By contributing to the abuse endured by Harry and Meghan.

Kate does not deserve our sympathy. 

When you align yourself with people that do terrible things to people that you don’t like, then don’t be surprised when they do terrible things to you.  That is what is happening now.  To Kate.

Perhaps Kate does have cancer.  That is a bit hard to believe because as a member of the royal family she has the best health care in the world.  I’m sure there have been constant preventative screenings through the years to detect even the smallest of suspicious moles.  Therefore, how did such a vast and tremendous cancer just appear by surprise?  At least, that’s what it seems like?

So Why The Cancer Ruse?

To explain keeping Kate out of the spotlight because they are phasing her out. 

They are also introducing us to more of William and kids, the doting single dad. 

Remember when I pointed out that all the clothing that we have seen Kate in this year are all old clothes?  She is allegedly the future Queen of England and yet she hasn’t worn anything new at all this year?  Isn’t The Trooping the Colour kind of like a big deal where a new outfit might be warranted by a future Queen?  I’m sure all the other royal ladies had on new dresses.

They aren’t spending money on Kate anymore.  Why?  Because she is no longer important to them.  And she knows it.

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The Final 2 Missing Persons

The Middleton’s, Michael and Carole

At Ascot, June 18 – 22, 2024

Look How Happy They Look

We haven’t seen hide nor hair of these two in 6 months either.  Wonder why?  And, why now?

They certainly look as if everything is peachy keen.  But, as am Empath I can tell you that I read NOTHING in the photo above.  NOTHING!  What that means to me, an Empath, is that they are Sociopaths.  I never paid much attention to reading their photos until now.  But, come to think of it, I never really did get any kind of a “hit” when I would view them.

Most of the time Empath’s can’t read Sociopath’s because they have no feelings to read.  We do pick up very negative feelings from them when they are angry or upset.  So, why the happy smiling faces above?  Now I can only guess since I can’t read these two.  Either Kate has cut a deal with the royals that will also benefit them.  Or they are just going along with the royals so that they can have access to their grandchildren.

I guess time will tell on all of this,

Julie

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June 16, 2024

It’s Sunday, and It’s Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day Gordon!

I put together a nice couple of boxes to send to Gordon for Father’s Day.  He is currently working overseas.  I bought that Bluey shirt because that is “our” show.  Mine, Gordon’s, and Isabelle’s.  It means something to us.  Gordon said the Australia team loved it! 

Isabelle Wearing Her Bluey Clothes I Bought Her

Yeah, he warned me about the beard.  It looks better than I thought it would.

A few weeks ago I put together all of his favorite snacks and a few gifts and sent them over to him.  Packages from home are always appreciated, especially when Veronica contributes some of her artwork and pictures of Isabelle.

I had been meaning to write about the Pro’s and Con’s of Gordon working overseas, but that will have to wait until another time.  I will say that right now there are more Con’s than Pro’s!  I’ll get to some of those in a little bit.

But, right now I am just enjoying my Sunday at home alone with the dogs.  You know, I never liked Sunday’s growing up.  Sunday meant missing the last 20 minutes of Lost In Space because we had to leave to go to Sunday School and Church.  Sunday’s also meant that the following day was Monday and I had to go to school to face down all the bullies in the many places that we lived.  Sunday’s also meant having to go to work the following day and just dreading that alarm clock going off on that Monday morning.

But now, Sunday’s mean much more to me.  It’s a day that I can wake up whenever I want to, take a shower and then put on fresh pajamas to wear all day long if I so desire.  It’s a day that I open the front shutters wide instead of narrow.  You see, on Sunday’s I don’t have to worry about someone knocking in my door trying to sell me something.  I don’t have to go outside to bring in the mail, or set out/bring in the Garbage, Yard Debris, or Recycling Containers.  It’s a day that I can be anti-social and it’s accepted.  It’s also nice and quiet.  No lawnmowers, weed eaters, pressure washers,  just silence.  I think it’s also a day where you can be lazy and veg out all day without judgement from anyone.  Not that I am concerned about being judged.  That is the beauty of aging.  The things that used to upset and worry you no longer do.  But, there is something very unpleasant about having to look at the faces that are judging you.  Which is why I don’t really look at people anymore.

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Going Into Town For Supplies

(Actually, more like driving into Tampa to the AF Base to do some shopping.)

My Shopping List

I always thought it would be so much fun to live outside of town in some cabin in the woods, and to drive into the nearest town about once a month in my cool Jeep for “supplies.”

Well, I do live outside of Tampa in a lovely town towards Orlando.  We do have plenty of shopping here around me, and I do have a lovely Toyota off road cool vehicle in which to load and haul many things, but the prices where we live are very high and the prices on the base in Tampa are very low, so I get to drive into town in my cool off road vehicle about once a month for “supplies.” 

My Purse and Lunch

I always bring food with me even if I am just running a short errand.

Water, Sunscreen, and Backing Up Down the Driveway

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On My Way Into Tampa For Supplies 

I’ve Got The Wine!!!

Actually, the wine is usually my 4th. stop once I get on the base. 

Drive-Thru Pharmacy, Gas Station, and Exchange Shopping is Stop 1, 2, and 3.

Then I hit the Commissary, usually TWICE!

Once to load up on all the toiletries and dry goods supplies, then back inside to fill a second shopping cart with food.)

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WORST LIGHTING EVER!

(And, just an FYI:  that “wrinkly” neck is my bandage.) 

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Now That I’m Home….

…It’s Time To Unload

This Is THE Hardest Part!

Actually, the most tedious part is once I have carried all of this into the house it’s time to put it all away.

And, because of the heat, the beautiful Lily I bought died on the way home. 

Most Everything Scratched Off The Shopping List

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On the plus side to Gordon working overseas, I don’t need to buy as much food, although you would never know that to look at the photos above.  Also, his food is provided to him so we don’t need to dish out a food budget for him.  When I do cook something I always share with our kids and their families.  I also usually end up freezing a few things as well to save for when Gordon comes home for visits.

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Watching Isabelle

Isabelle

Just when you think that there is no more room in your heart to care about anyone else, you suddenly find this hidden room that is HUGE and suddenly there is plenty of room to welcome that new love in. 

Julie Lancaster-Whann

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What I love the most about Isabelle is that she loves her books as much as she loves her toys.  Just surround her with them and she doesn’t get tired of flipping the pages and feeling the touch and feel books.  She also loves the story books that I read to her.  I just don’t let her turn those pages and she will tear them.

I am Isabelle’s main caregiver.  Both Veronica and Brian work.

Right when I found out that Veronica was pregnant, I immediately offered up my services.  I was not about to have her be in some daycare.  I’m sure there are some very nice ones out there.  But, the odds of us finding one of those nice ones is probably slim.   I know it’s important to have the secure feeling that your child is being taken care of while you are at work.  I didn’t have that when we were living in Hawaii which is why I was a ‘stay at home mom.’

Besides, I didn’t have children just to turn them over to someone else to raise.

If that’s what other people want to do, then it is their choice.  I think when given good options then it can all work out well for everyone, but I didn’t have good options.

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I’m very lucky that I have a flexible schedule in keeping Isabelle.  We have our full days, but there are also plenty of short days and days off.  Brian, our son-in-law is a Fireman with a great schedule that is adjustable.  Veronica, however has a set schedule.

We are all adjusting and things are getting easier and easier.  I’m a very hands on Tutu (Grandmother in Hawaiian.)  I don’t just plop her in her crib all day.  She is only in her crib a few hours a day.  (Some days I have her 11 1/2 hours!)  We have our play time on the floor crawling.  We take the dogs outside.  We have story time on the couch.  I put her in her walker when Bluey is on the Disney Channel.  I also set her in her high chair in the kitchen with a teething treat while I do dishes, or put things away.  The older she gets, the easier is it becoming.  She enjoys her independence and she is happier with it.  She is a very intelligent baby girl.

Isabelle Rigged That Up!

She wanted to touch the T.V. so she scooted that toy over there to stand on it so that she could.  So very proud!  And yet terrified all at the same time. She can’t even walk yet. 

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Having Fun With My Personal Projects

This area of our backyard has seen a few changes over the years.  Whenever you place anything wooden outside here in Florida, it only has a shelf life for about 3-5 years, if you’re lucky.  We had the house painted in February and I was once again given a clean slate here.  So, I decided that I wanted to add a nice white cabinet to hold pots and gardening items.  The nicer ones anyway.  We have other wooden cabinets to hold the other items.  I also wanted it to work as a nice buffet for when we eat outside.  And, when the months are cooler I want Isabelle and I to do some gardening projects together.

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THE PESTS!!!

We currently have RATS living around our canoe and kayaks.

(I did buy rat killing pellets and sprinkled them around the area so that they will eat them and….)

We also have Ghost Ants coming in through the kitchen nook window.

One morning about a week ago, I woke up to all these things crawling all over my kitchen floor.  I immediately got out the “safe” bug spray.  You see, I only use the more toxic stuff outside the house.  The “safe” stuff I do use inside the house.  I am very particular.  I believe in living with some dirt in the house.  Dirt is safe.  I don’t use the more modern day cleaners because they aren’t safe to breathe.  I even still clean everything with Bar Keeper’s Friend.  It’s been around forever and isn’t harmful.  Well, I was able to trace the ants with wings coming in through this window….

Ghost Ants (Dead) 

I then grabbed the more toxic ant and roach killing spray, and doused them with it.  I got all of them.  This week we have had lots of rain.  After I killed all of those you see dead above, I cleaned the window with the garden hose so as to wash them away.

It was while I was spraying the “safe” bug spray in the house that I suddenly saw from the corner of my eye something big fly over from one side of the kitchen, to SPLAT against the cabinets on the other side!  it was a huge FROG! 

Where did you come from???

It was looking at me so helpless as to ask, ‘Why are you using that stuff?’

That’s when I grabbed the dish towel off the stove rack and caught it, and then took it outside and let it go.  It fought me every step of the way because it feared for it’s life.   Poor thing.

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Now you can see all the dead bodies stuck to the window because of all the rain we’ve had.  Apparently, all this flooding rain drowned them underground, then splashed them against the nook window.  Good to know that between Mother Nature and Me, we seem to have solved that problem.

AND,

HORNETS have taken over our beautiful Elk Horn. 

It was over a week ago when I was outside watering, we hadn’t had rain in a long time and if I don’t use the hose to water certain things then they die.  We do have a sprinkler system but it doesn’t reach everything, including our Elk Horn.  So, I was watering it when I suddenly saw all these kind of bee like things buzzing all around it.  There were anywhere from 35 – 50 of them.  I wasn’t alarmed or anything like that, so I finished all my watering and then went into the house to grab some wasp spray.  I sprayed the area really good, or so I thought.  A few days later I noticed that when I watered the Elk Horn again that about the same amount of hornets came out buzzing around it.  That’s when I got more wasp spray and used almost a can dousing the Elk Horn. 

Three days ago I went outside to peek and see if my wasp spray efforts had done any good.  I pretty much just poked the Elk Horn when all of a sudden a few hundred flew out and at ME!  Amazing how fast you can run when you need to!  The dogs and I made it safely to the inside of the lanai.  I had a few in my hair, and one-two stung me on my arm.  I thought it was one but it actually might have been two.

I will have to call in the pro’s for this.  This is way out of my league. 

Remember when I said above that having Gordon work overseas has it’s Pro’s and Con’s.  I also mentioned that lately there are more Con’s than Pro’s?  Well, now you know why!

Barely Surviving in Florida,

Julie

P.S.  Remember the frog I got out of the kitchen and took outside?  Well, oddly enough when I took the dogs out that night I suddenly heard this very loud CROAK.  The frogs don’t usually sing when a person is around, they sing when they are alone with no “predator.”  I couldn’t help but wonder if that wasn’t my frog from the kitchen.  So, I told it, “Your Welcome.”

 

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April 13, 2024

Isabelle in the New Dog Bed

She Loves It! 

I’m Thinking About Getting Her One!

Sparky Has Laid Claim to This One

 

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March 22, 2024

Kate Reveals She Has Cancer

The royal family are opaque on a good day. There has just been way too much deception from the beginning. Those of us “conspiracy theorists” picked up on it. Now, the cancer diagnosis is being revealed. So, both Kate and Charles have cancer? Why tell us Charles has cancer and not Kate? The royals are in crisis.

I do stand by what I write below.  I believe there is more going on than what is being revealed.  However, I also don’t believe in piling on someone who is in crisis.

Julie

P.S.  I do remember seeing a photo of Kate online many months ago where she was wearing a green dress.  She just looked emaciated, anorexic.  My eyes went straight to her stomach.  I can even remember commenting on it on Twitter how they can’t put the entire monarchy on her shoulders and expect her to carry it.  (Something to that effect.)   And now, we hear about all of this?  Interesting.

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March 22, 2024

I Wanted to Add to What I Write Below About The Unraveling of The Royal Family

American Riviera Orchard

So excited for Meghan and Harry’s new projects in the works! 

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The difference in Harry and Meghan venturing out on their own when they left the royal family, (although they were actually ran off by the haters and bully’s), as opposed to ‘perhaps’ a William and Kate divorce, is that Meghan knows how to make money, Kate doesn’t. 

Meghan was self made before she even met Harry.  A successful actress with her humanitarian causes and not to mention a very successful lifestyle website called, The Tig.

Ms. Tig

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Meghan knew how to take care of herself.  She knew how to cook!

So many people seemed to look down upon her for being an actress.  (Yeah, like the royals don’t know how to act?)  Pleeze!

Meghan is an intelligent woman who doesn’t use her intelligence to harm people, but to help people.  As it should be.

She and Harry are actually a perfect couple.  She has strength’s that he doesn’t, and he has strength’s that she doesn’t.  Together, they combine those talents and qualities to be the power couple that they are now.

Kate doesn’t have the talent or resources that Meghan and Harry have.  Kate may know several influential people but they are all tied to the palace.  Kate never really built up any kind of life or support system before entering the royal family.  She has mainly relied upon the royals from the very beginning.  Along with her own family, the Middleton’s.

If there were a divorce between William and Kate, Kate would be pretty much destitute.  We’ve seen how they strip the women they no longer care about of their protection.  Kate will have to find someone rich enough to offer her the protection that she will need.

From what I understand, the Middleton’s have filed for bankruptcy, so their money supply has dried up a bit.  Where will Kate go? 

Pippa married well into money, perhaps she can foot the bill for Kate’s protection?

What sort of a future would Kate even have?  To go back to some desk job?  No.  She would have to marry well in order to maintain the lifestyle that she has become accustomed to.  Well, she had better do it quick before she gets too old.  Men of significant means don’t want women in their 50’s or 60’s, they want women in their 20’s, 30’s and even 40’s if the woman still looks good enough.  And Kate does.

If Kate is waiting for William to change, most people don’t.  Especially those from that upper echelon of society.  After all, in their arrogant minds there is nothing wrong with them?  Just everyone else.

If Kate is o.k. out there, although I’m not so sure she is, then it looks to me that her only option at this stage is to stay in that toxic family for as long as they will have her.  I don’t think a divorce between them will play well with the British public, or what’s left of their Commonwealth.  It will just further speed up the demise of the monarchy.

Pity that they never recognized Meghan as the lifeline they needed to extend the monarchy by a generation or two?

Meghan and Harry are a dynamic duo when not being abused by a bunch of rotten human beings.  She was an asset that they were too arrogant to realize.  You know, I never gave a crap about the British royals until Diana came along.  SHE made me want to know more!  SHE made them all look interesting!  Exactly what Meghan did for them.  Except this time people of color around the world were becoming interested!

That royal family blew it and they continue to. 

Good riddance to them!

Julie

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March 21, 2024

The Unraveling of The Royal Family

Although I am not a fan of Kate Middleton, I do recognize her hard work for the family she has married into.  From the very beginning she has smiled, waved, hand -shaked, and finagled her way in.  As degrading as some of the Royal Traditions are, she has performed them beautifully.  She has obviously done her homework.  She has done so much with grace and dignity.  She is a very beautiful woman, with a lovely slim figure, and gorgeous features.  She looks wonderful in clothes.  Most of the time she looks very happy and healthy.  She has given birth to 3 beautiful children.  2 boys and a girl.  They are lovely as well.

The reason that I do not care for Kate is because of how she treated Meghan Markle from the very beginning of Meghan’s entrance, and engagement, and subsequent marriage to Prince Harry, and into that toxic family. 

Kate, and the other Royals were very cruel to Meghan, and to Harry by extension.  Some of them were quite racist in their prejudiced towards her.  Some even worrying what a child between them would look like?  As in, what would the child’s skin color be?

From the onset of the wedding, it was quite obvious from photos of Kate, and Camilla, that they were very prejudiced.  The looks that they would shoot each other were very telling, and all the while sitting there at Harry and Meghan’s wedding.  Something that should have been a happy affair.

I can remember feeling quite sad for Harry and Meghan seeing those expressions on the faces of Kate and Camilla and even William, as Best Man.  That William sure can smirk!  Harry was so happy, and instead of everyone in his family being happy for him, they were such grumps!

Once the wedding was over, the senior royals were still very prejudiced towards Harry and Meghan.  At one point in all the harassment, Meghan even alluded in an interview that she contemplated suicide.

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William, Kate, and Rose Hanbury

I remember reading about 6 weeks prior to this photo being taken, that Kate had banished Rose Hanbury from her inner circle.

Then, all of a sudden, Kate then went out of her way to welcome Rose back into her circle, here at this public event.

With William’s Knowing Smile Nearby

In my digging into ancient royal protocol, I remember reading how a queen, or future queen could give the nod to a favorite mistress of her husbands, the future King of England.  Is that what Kate did?  There was obviously something that happened to change Kate’s mind in originally banning Rose Hanbury?

It is alleged that Rose Hanbury is William’s mistress.  The gossip does actually get worse, but I will leave it here for now.

It is also alleged that William started the affair with Rose while Kate was pregnant with Louis.  Sadly, if that is true, then that is the worst time for any husband or partner to cheat, it is when women are at their most vulnerable and insecure.  So, if that did happen, then I’m sure Kate had a very hard time of it.

About Gossip in General

When I was young and moving around from place to place with my parents and brothers, there was always gossip about me, the new girl.  Usually about 15% of it was true, the rest was made up.  So, I know how gossip works.  I also know to be careful about what I believe when I hear it.  I also know to think twice before repeating it to anyone else.  However, in the case of William and Kate, there is plenty of photographic evidence of how little he has regarded her over the past few years.  In one interview he placed his hand on her shoulder and she shrugged it off with her body.  There are a few photos of William holding an umbrella over his head to keep dry in the rain, while Kate walks beside him getting wet.  Any gentleman would have either shared the umbrella, or held it over her and not just himself.

My point is that all you have to do is listen to an interview of Kate and William, or see them in person being interviewed, or just watch how they interact with each other out in public to know that things are not so rosy in paradise over the past few years that the palace would like for us to believe.

Also take into account that you are dealing with a man, William, who has been told from birth that he is special and will be the King of England someday.  Pretty much raising a future narcissist right there. 

King Charles is also of that same ilk.  Generally, children of narcissists and sociopaths tend to grow up to be narcissists and sociopaths themselves.  So, this behavior by William should be of no surprise to anyone in the know.  Even in interviews, when William was asked about his mother, Diana, he would refer to her as ‘paranoid,’ and the look on his face wasn’t that of someone that loved and missed his mother.  William had pretty much turned into Charles.

(P.S.  Diana was justified in her paranoia.  Many were out to get her.)

Now For The RED MEAT!

From what I have read Rose Hanbury is divorcing her husband, who from what I’ve read, has a French boyfriend. 

For those of you that may be surprised by that?  Don’t be!  Things work differently over there in royal circles than they do here in America.  When someone of entitlement happens to be gay, they still need to marry a woman in order to produce an heir, so that that line can continue.  Gay men have been getting married forever to women, but yet having sex with the men that they are attracted to on the side.

Also, men of entitlement can’t just go out to some bar and pick up some man/woman to have sex with for the night.  NO!  That would be scandalous!  They can’t after all, bring some woman back to the palace.  So, they will have an affair with the wife of someone of entitlement.  That way, they get what they want, sex with someone else, and because all of these extended nobles are sworn to secrecy, an affair can continue without much of a scandal.  The wives of these husbands who do have affairs with Princes or Kings, their husbands are generally given promotions in order to maintain their silence.

It really is quite gross, except they do all this while wearing designer clothing and magnificent jewels.  They are no different than our trailer trash, they just look, smell, and sound better.

(These are excepted traditions with the aristocracy.  This isn’t just the bad behavior of one or two people.)

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Christmas Day, 2023

The Last Time Kate, William, and Their Children Were Seen In Public Together, Christmas Day, 2023

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Now, For the Online Timeline

From what I understand, three days after Christmas while the family were enjoying their Christmas holiday at Sandringham, an ambulance was seen speeding away with a police escort to a hospital that night.  Then, on January 17th. the palace announces that Kate has underwent a “planned” abdominal surgery and will be in the hospital for 2 weeks, followed by a recovery, and that she won’t be seen until after Easter, 2024.

(The word “planned” is what bothers me.  If I were to announce that someone in my family was having surgery I would not use the word, “planned.”  I would simply say that they were having surgery.)

We also then learn of King Charles’s Prostate and his subsequent cancer diagnosis which no one will say what kind of cancer he has?

It’s at this point that the entire world is wondering what is going on with that family?  Health wise?

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The Papers in Spain

In early February, 2024 the papers in Spain are reporting that Kate Middleton is in a coma.

Then I learn that the “Spanish Nanny” has been fired.

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It’s at this point that the frenzy is starting.  Granted, we were suspicious from the beginning, but now things are really heating up!  We have here a full fledged mystery and those of us that love a good mystery, are suddenly captivated!

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March 4, 2024

TMZ then releases this photo of Carole Middleton with “Kate.”  Except, when you actually look at the close up photo it isn’t Kate at all.  It looks more like Pippa, her sister.  Also, since when do these kinds of cars have 3 tires on one side, and only two on the other side?  Thus, further adding to the furor of “Where Is Kate?”

Also, nothing in the U.K. is green at this time of year.  Ask anyone over there.

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Mother’s Day March 10, 2024 Photo, Allegedly

March 10, was Mother’s Day in the U.K., or Traditionally, Mothering Sunday

Allegedly Kate released this photo to commemorate the day.  But, upon close scrutiny, there are so many inconsistencies.  It is truly amateurish, and sloppy work.  An obvious forgery.  It’s as if they took photos of everyone from other publications, then pasted them all together calling it a ‘family photo.’

NOW, people are really wondering what is going on?

Allegedly, Kate took the blame for the botched photo by saying that she experiments with editing photography sometimes.  Even calling herself an “Amateur Photographer.”  Let me just say that she has put out a book on her photos, that makes her a professional photographer, not an amateur.  Once someone pays you for your work, then you are now a professional.  I AM AN AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER!  Because I have never been PAID!!!

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It’s at this point that the public is really starting to pile on Kate.  I’m starting to wonder if she is even posting in her own accounts?  After all, why do so much editing to a photo of herself with her children?  There is no need!  They are a good looking family.  Why all the edits?  It never made sense! 

Why wouldn’t Kate want to take a photo on Mother’s Day with her children no matter what was happening in her private life?

I don’t think she was able to.  For whatever reason, she was not available.  So, they pasted together a lie to appease the public that supports them.

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Then, because of all the uproar, and the condemnation of those of us that want photographic proof that Kate is alive, they release this:

March 18, 2024

It’s weird because it looks like Kate, but it also doesn’t look like Kate.

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Apparently a week to 10 days prior to this photo we were all told that Kate can’t even sit up.  Now, all of a sudden she is able to almost sprint down a path while holding a shopping bag.  Also no one there that “saw” her is willing to go on the record as having seen her at all!

The footage was obtained by TMZ, which is owned by Rupert Murdock, who also owns The Sun, The Daily Mail, and the Fox News Networks.  The British Tabloids are also known to be in bed with the royal family.

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Netflix:  Harry and Meghan

Release Date: December, 2022

Gordon and I watched this series with great interest.  I had been such an admirer of Princess Diana for decades, I had also seen what all that toxic royal family, and the firm had done to her.  Hearing this account of what all Harry and Meghan went through was very believable.  It was something of a repeat over what the palace and that family had done to Diana.

Harry and Meghan explained perfectly how the royal family and the tabloids are in bed together.  They even won a lawsuit or two against them.  The Daily Mail doesn’t just report news, they create news.  Meghan and Harry alluded to it as well.  I’m not going to get into all of that as what I want to write about is Kate, but Harry and Meghan explain it all quite well if you care to watch their Netflix series.

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What I Believe Has Happened

(This is My Opinion Only)

It is said that Rose Hanbury’s youngest child, a daughter, is the child of Prince William.  Now, I have no earthly idea if this is true or not but, I do know that William and Kate have not been such a happy couple for years now.  I also observe that William is turning into his father, Charles.  William really doesn’t have any regard for his mother, he is very much his father, and we all know how Charles felt about Diana. You can also observe William’s disregard for Kate while out in public.

Once Charles and Diana had divorced, the palace pulled Diana’s protection, stripped her of her titles, (she pretty much changed her first name to Princess so she could continue to be Princess Diana), she pretty much turned to Dodi Fayed as he was the only one rich enough to offer her protection.  Which she needed from all of us!

It is obvious to me that William is a selfish bastard, and selfish bastards want what they want.

Perhaps over the Christmas holidays William informed Kate that we wanted a divorce?

Kate, feeling very slighted by this perhaps reacted by arguing, threatening, and even acting out as in taking some pills?  Kate is the type that will not do any cutting to herself.  She is quite vain in that regard.  If she were to contemplate suicide, it would be with pills.

Kate, more than anyone knows how the family and firm treat women they no longer want?

If you are Kate, and you have invested decades into marrying, bearing children, and sacrificing for a family that is willing to discard you in a moment, you are going to be highly upset.  Can you imagine going from being the future ‘Queen of England’ to being discarded and ending up in some desk job?

Wouldn’t that perhaps make you want to kill yourself?

Is that really such a stretch of the imagination? 

Diana, in her abusive palace days threw herself down the stairs a few times, which led to her cutting herself.  Meghan, being in that toxic and abusive family led her to contemplate suicide.  So, is it really such a stretch that Kate may consider the same thing?  After all, she knows perfectly well how she will be treated if William discards her.

These royal women own nothing while they are in that family.  And therefore, they take nothing with them when they leave.

All those gowns, jewels, etc….  Do you think that Kate can keep that Diana engagement ring if she divorces William?  NO!

She doesn’t even own her children.  They belong to the palace.

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Frogmore Cottage

Frogmore Cottage was a gift to Harry and Meghan from Queen Elizabeth.  The British taxpayers paid 3 million to renovate it.  When all of that came out and Harry and Meghan had fled to  America during Megzit, Harry and Meghan had paid that 3 million back to the British tax payers.  Once that happened King Charles seized the property away from them.  Pretty much screwing them out of that inheritance because he is an evil narcissist.

This is what Charles did to his own son, daughter-in-law and his own grand-children!  The man is pretty evil.

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What The Royal Family Has Learned

I think that the royal’s have learned that the public does care about Kate’s well being, whether they like her or not.

Perhaps William will put his selfish plans on hold until things die down.

I do know that Kate is cut from a different clothe than Diana or Meghan.

Diana and Meghan are too honest to put up with some deceptive facade.  They want honestly and daylight, whereas I think Kate is willing to put up with a hell of a lot in order to be queen someday.

I guess we will see how all of this turns out?

When the palace discarded Harry and Meghan, they lost a generation or two of extending the monarchy.  (It will end fairly soon.)  Meghan was an asset that they were too threatened by, to realize her importance.  The world is no longer white.  It has many colors.  Meghan brought in those colors to the royal family that were interested and wanted to be there.  Now, they no longer are.

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In my own personal experience, Narcissists, Sociopaths and Psychopaths are their own worst enemies.

They continue to abuse those that are loyal to them.  However, every abuse tends to take the abused further and further away from them. 

Eventually, everyone leaves their abusers.  If they are lucky to live long enough to finally come to this conclusion.  The abusers are just to stupid to understand it at the time.  Only when the abused leave them do they realize it. 

Every abuse that you do takes us further, and further away from you. 

(I do happen to be speaking about my own mother here.  But it does apply to everyone.)

I guess we will all see how this plays out.

Julie

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March 9, 2024

Catching Up

Me, With Isabelle

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Shooting An Italian Natale

I originally wanted to shoot this while Gordon was here but we just didn’t have the time.  So, since I had already bought so many of the ingredients, I decided to just cook everything myself and do the shoot so that I could then take down our Christmas decorations.  Yeah, that’s right, still have Christmas up!

This Was Delicious!  (If I do say so myself.) 

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Gordon is currently working overseas and does get to come home every 6 months for a few weeks.  This will go on for awhile.  We have long term goals which we are both working towards.  Those will be revealed in the future.  But for now, Gordon just wanted to spend time with me and Isabelle, our Peanuku.

Isabelle is a handful, so it was nice to pass her off to someone else so that I could get a break.  She is an intelligent baby and she requires constant stimulation.  I am her main caregiver and I am a constant with her.  I don’t just put her in a baby swing with the T.V. on and leave her while I do other things.  Oh, NO!  She and I have our daily schedule of Sleeptime, Tummytime, Storytime, Playtime, Feedingtime and Disney Channel Blueytime.

Now that I am also watching The Disney Channel along with Isabelle, I see why the Florida Ron DeSantis republican party can’t stand Disney.  Disney is teaching children about love and inclusion.  Something republican’s are not for.  Disney’s family values are our family values.  Which is why we will continue to watch Disney, and support Disney.

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Australian Cartoon, Bluey

This show is Brilliant!

I wish the Heeler’s were my parents. 

The parents, Bandit and Chili, are Blue and Red Heeler dogs.  Their children are Bluey and Bingo, Bluey being a blue Heeler, and Bingo a Red Heeler. 

The parents are very hands on in raising their children.  They play with them.  They teach them.  They are good dogs! 

There are many different breeds of dogs on the show, and they all work towards getting along with each other.  I love how tolerant they are.

Probably what I love the most about the show is that it teaches creativity and using your imagination.  I myself grew up moving around a lot and most of the time I only had my imagination and creativity as companions, along with lots of books.  Which is why our Storytime is so important.

Isabelle with Talking Bingo and Bluey

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Gordon Bonding with Isabelle

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One thing I desperately wanted Gordon to make while he was home is his Fried Eggs with Sausage Biscuits and Gravy. 

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We Recently Got Our House Painted

We hired people this time to do it for us.  We were just too busy and I also think we are getting a bit old to do these things ourselves anymore.  None the less, this took some time and I wanted it done while Gordon was here to supervise.

New Garage Lights (Gordon Installed)

They first came out and pressure washed the entire house on the first day, then they came and inspected and caulked on the second day.  On the 3rd. day they started spray painting the eves, and on the 4th. day painted the entire house and the accents.

They did a wonderful job!  I love the accents that are so bold.

We pretty much went from a Peach to a Coral.

We have no desire to change our house color, much.  We love the Florida look to our home.  While some people may paint their home a brown or a blue, we have no desire to do that.  Vintage Florida is all that we care about.

WET PAINT

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I still  have so much more to say, but I just don’t have the time right now.  Which is my life….

Until next time,

Julie

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March 2, 2024

My Little Dumpling/Pot Sticker

Our Isabelle/My Peanuku

As an Amateur Photographer, She is my Favorite Subject

Cute Little Potsticker Booties in a Felt Bamboo Steamer

Her Plush Potsticker, w/ Fortune Cookie Rattles and Dipping Sauce w/Dumpling Rattles

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February 19, 2024

An Old Vintage Style Purse w/ Added Bling

Our / My Bedroom

The Chest of Drawers I am Standing in Front of Was my Grandmother’s

(The Mirror was her Friend Annelle’s)

I’m not here to tell you what a great decorator I am.  Nor am I here to tell you what a great sense of style I have.  I’m also not here to tell you how normal any of this is, I’m just here to show you how I do it, that’s all.  I respect and admire those that are different.  That do things differently than the magazine people tell us to do things.  The so called experts that know so much more than the rest of us do.  The celebrated decorators and designers.  The “beautiful” people.  I’ve never cared about any of them.  I’ve always done things my way.  I am the only one that I choose to please.  Having said that, in a marriage or relationship there is always a compromise.  And, I do, especially when it comes to decorating our home, and choosing how our bedroom will look.  However, there are times when I make it all mine when there is no reason to compromise. 

This is one of those times.

 

It was Charmian Carr, who starred as Liesl Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.  Who created a business called Charmian Carr Designs, who was hired by Michael Jackson for a designer job because he was such a fan of the movie.

The Sound of Music 1965

It was during an interview where she spoke of her Michael Jackson job and she referenced the fact that he had many mannequins in his home.  She seemed to imply that it was weird.  Well, I guess that I am weird because I have one in our/my bedroom along with a wig on a styrofoam head.

Actually, it was when I was taking down Halloween decorations that I didn’t have the heart to dismantle her, so I moved her into the bedroom to get her out of the way.

Our furniture was given to us by our son Brodie’s, girlfriend’s, aunt and uncle.  They are the ones that found a Da Vinci painting at a yard sale, paid $___.__ for it, spent 5 years to get it authenticated, then sold it to a collector for $81 Million, who then turned around and sold it to a Sheik for $450 Million, making it the most expensive painting ever sold.  It is called Salvatore Mundi.

(The reason I blacked out the amount of money it was purchased for at a yard sale is because the seller of that painting was so embarrassed he sold it for so little that he asked Mackenzie’s uncle to say that he actually paid $10,000.00 for it.)

I LOVE Costume Jewelry

A lot of this jewelry I purchased at thrift stores.  I don’t spend a lot of money on jewelry.  I never have cared for the real stones.  To me, vintage is just so charming.

The Plaster Hand above is our son Brodie’s, taken when he was a young boy.  I like having it out and incorporate it in my vintage rhinestones.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

That’s my 1960’s Miss America Barbie along with some special ready made treats, left.

Strawberry’s Blanc, Right.

Although I am BarefootInFloridaWithJulie, I do own a few pairs of shoes.  Mostly flip flops, but still…..

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Picking Gordon up at the Airport

Gordon is currently working overseas for the forseeable future.  He does get to come home every 6 months for a few weeks at a time.  Here is his first time back since he left back in late August 2023. 

Although I cannot tell you when he arrived, and I cannot tell you when he will leave, it will be soon.

But, the reason I am even writing this blog entry about our/my bedroom, is because when Gordon was in the Navy and the ship would leave on an Eastpac or a Westpac, once I dropped him off at the ship in Pearl Harbor I would immediately drive home and clean the house from top to bottom, starting with our bathroom and bedroom.

It Was Important For Me To Make the House All Mine

In our early years of marriage Gordon wasn’t always into the flowery bed linens that I loved.  He also wasn’t into certain feminine things that I was into.  So, when the ship would pull out and go to sea, whether it was for 2-3 months (Eastpac), or 5-6 months (Westpac), I always used those times to make our home all MINE!

I think we do what we have to do in order to get through whatever it is we are going through.

Let’s face it, it’s hard being a single parent for months at a time.  Not just caring for the children, but managing the finances, doing all the shopping, paying all the bills, mowing the grass, watering the lawn, homework, kids activities, car maintenance, changing the tires, (I can do that btw.), doing all the cooking…..

At one point I was even the President of The Wordon’s Wives Club, (U.S.S. Wordon), eventually becoming Ombudsman of the ship as well.

The one thing that made me happy was coming home to a house that was all mine!

That doesn’t mean that I didn’t love Gordon, it just meant that this was my opportunity to have everything my way and to be able to enjoy it all while I could, without any compromise whatsoever.

Also, cleaning the house from top to bottom was my way of burning off stressful energy, all the while cleaning up Gordon’s body hair that did tend to end up all over our bathroom floor. 

Pros and Cons

I always look to the Pros and Cons of everything.  I will get to those soon.  But for now, we are very much enjoying our Gordon being home visiting with all of us.  I’ll get to that a bit later on.  But for now, take care and we’ll talk soon.

Julie

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January 27, 2024

My Peanuku, and Tutu’s Hale Daycare

Holding Her Own Bottle

Yummy Prune Juice, (To help with Bowels.)

I realize that I am not the first grandmother in the world to be proud of their grandchild.  I also realize I’m not the first grandmother to brag about their grandchild, however, SHE IS SO WORTH BRAGGING ABOUT!!!!!! 

This girl is so smart!  She was saying ‘I love you’ at 3 months.  She was mimicking my chewing food at 3 months.  She amazes me every day.  She may not be able to stack things, but she understands the concept of stacking.  Her hands haven’t caught up to her brain yet.

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Tummy Time

She makes me feel as if I need to brush up on teaching and flashcards.

  In some ways I feel too incompetent to even teach her.  When she looks at me I feel as if I am interacting with a 40 year old adult. 

Our young Jedi is far surpassing us. 

No matter what your future holds Isabelle, I will do my best to be there for you as long as I can. 

But for now….

Sweet Dreams…

Love, Tutu

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January 13-14, 2024

Julie and Isabelle’s Very Horrible Extremely Terrible Shitty Day!

(Her poop is a lovely Chartreuse.  I always think of that sweater I used to own, whenever I change her diapers.) 

Izzy Napping

When I found out that Veronica was pregnant, I immediately offered up my daycare services to her.  After all, I would have loved to have had someone I knew, loved, and trusted, to babysit my children when we were living in Hawaii.  As it was, I only had my neighbors, or some local day cares, or home day cares, that I would blindly trust to keep her while I attended some meeting or doctor appointment that I may have had.

My Little Snizzy Belle w/ Sparky and Spooky

I did have it in my mind that Veronica would be dropping off Isabelle somewhere between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m..  And then picking her up between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.  And to my surprise the day before I was to start keeping Isabelle I am told by my daughter….  “I’ll be over at 5:30 tomorrow.”

Me:  5:30?  Five-Thirty?  FIVE-THIRTY!!!  A.M.!!!  As in the morning?!!!  Are you kidding me???

OMG!!  That means that I have to be ready before 5:30..  Meaning!!!  That I have to get up at 4:00 a.m. in order to get my shower and be dressed and ready, having also taken care of my dogs before you guys even arrive!  OMG!!!

Snizzy Watching Bluey

I Have Her Weighted Down!

The Australian Show Bluey on The Disney Channel

Before I get to our “Shitty Day” I would like to talk a little bit about the show Bluey.

I happen to love this show!  It is a show about imagination and creativity.  All the characters are dogs.  There is a lot of Blue and Brown, the only colors that dogs can see.  I love that the parents play with their children.  Because of that, the children, Bingo and Bluey are very well adjusted and happy.

I love that the parents will let their children tear apart their home to create whatever set they want.  A restaurant?  A Doctor’s Office?  A Train Station, etc…..  I also love how the parents aren’t afraid to ‘look stupid’ out in public, and will sometimes do some very silly things that their children want them to do.  The love they have for their children far outweighs any embarrassment they may experience.

When I was young I would take the cushions off the couch and line them up on the floor in the living room to create a gymnastics mat.  I would then line my little brothers all along the cushions while I would dive over them, tumbling.  I don’t think that I ever hurt any of them.  But, if I did, I’m sorry. 

It was because of that, that my mother signed me up for gymnastic lessons. She figured that I would love them.  But, I hated them!  It was no longer fun.  I was made to compete.  I was graded on my performance, my style, my technique, how graceful that I was, how limber that I was, etc.  I was expected to “perform.”  All I ever wanted to do was to have fun.  They took the fun out of my gymnastics tumbling.  What I love about Bluey’s family is that they keep the fun in the family.  They aren’t sending their children out to compete in a world that will just make them feel bad about themselves if they aren’t perfect.  They all use their imagination and it helps to promote their creativity.

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I believe it was Einstein that said, “Imagination is more important that knowledge.  For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”

When translated, he didn’t mean that knowledge wasn’t important, it is, but imagination can take you so much further.

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Being Isabelle’s main caregiver has taken up quite a bit of my time.  Oh, I’m not complaining mind you, but it was an adjustment for both of us.  She did have the first 3 months of her life totally with her mother and father, and now she comes to my house anywhere between 3 and 5 days a week, depending on their working schedules.  Some days I may have her over 11 hours a day, and other days just a few hours. 

In addition to my childcare services, I also provide diapers, formula, baby water (yes, that is a thing), clothing, blankets, swaddle clothes (she loves those), along with toys and books and all the other little things that baby’s need.  We may watch some Disney in the mornings but we also have story time and playtime. 

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I’m creating a library for her here.  I also pass books along for Veronica and Brian to keep at their house.

I’m going to do my best to create a “Bluey” environment here in my home.  I’m looking forward to all of our imaginary adventures we will have going on in the future.

I do mourn the day when she is out there on her own where she will be judged by her attractiveness, her weight, her parents bank account, the cars they drive, where they live, whether or not she is wearing the latest designer this or that, and as always what devices does she own?  But, until that day her Tutu will do my best to make her feel as if she is the most important person in the world, because she is, to me. 

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And now, for Julie and Isabelle’s Extremely Horrible and Terrible Shitty Day!

(Warning:  I will be using the word SHIT instead of nicer words such as Crap, or Poop, or Poo, or Doo-Doo, etc.)

It was early one morning when Veronica dropped off Isabelle at that UNGODLY hour of 5:30, when she informed me that Isabelle hasn’t pooped in 3 days.  ME:  3 DAYS???

Panic, immediately ensued!  3 days?  Three days?  O.K. Julie, you can handle this.  Sure, you do have her all day today but perhaps she will be kind and poop when she gets home tonight.  Yeah.  That’s what’s going to happen.  We are going to be in the clear!  Whew!

So, as our day progressed I had placed her in her little chair that I have sitting on top of our very sturdy nautical hatch covered coffee table.  I do have it weighted down with some hand weights as well.  After all, that girl is strong!  And we don’t want her tipping over the side.  (Her parents would kill me if that happened.) 

Isabelle was starting to become a bit fussy.  As in she was ready to launch into one of her meltdowns. 

And, I do mean MELTDOWNS!!!

When Isabelle gets upset, the entire neighborhood knows about it.  That girl can get louder just when you think there is no way she can get any louder than she is!  I used to (ridiculously) think that if I just put her down she will cry herself to sleep and that will be the end of it.  (Silly me.)  But, NoooOOOoooOOOooo!  She would only get louder!!!  LOUD-ER!!!

I am honestly surprised that no neighbor has ever called the police on me.  Especially since she would sound as if I was torturing her and skinning her ALIVE!!!

‘Hello 911?  There is a baby next door to me in my neighborhood being tortured!  I can hear her cries!!!  Please hurry!  HURRY!!!  This poor child doesn’t have much time left!!  HURRY!!  Oh the cries!!  OH, THE CRIES!!!!  PLEASE!!!  I always knew that woman over there was strange!  HURRY!!  HURRY!!!

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It was then that I removed her from her little chair and had her against my body, hugging her.  I knew that she was sleepy, but she fights it every step of the way.  I decided to lay down on the couch with her on top of me so that she could listen to my heartbeat, and we could both perhaps drift off to sleep.  Especially seeing as how I am up at 4:00 a.m. every frickin’ morning!!!!

It was when she was laying on me that I felt the back of her legs.  What?  Why are they wet?  I then looked at my hand.  Chartreuse.  Chartreuse?  CHARTREUSE!!!!!  OMG!  It’s SHIT!

Oh, NO!  OMG!  There is so much of it!

I then pulled her away from me to look at her.  She was covered in SHIT!  I then looked down at me. 

I WAS COVERED IN SHIT!!!!

What do I do? 

Needless to say, Isabelle was SCREAMING her head off!  She was totally blood red with rage!!!!

I then grabbed the hand towel rag that I used to place underneath her when I change her diapers and I placed it on the floor on top of the doormat leading outside to our back. 

It All Happened Right Here!  See the Rug Bottom Left?

I knew that before I could clean her up that I had to clean myself up.

When I placed her on top of the hand towel I looked at my clothes.  I had SHIT all over me!

It was running down my tunic top I was wearing, it had penetrated through the cloth onto my bra and the shorts I was wearing, and my underwear, while it was running down my legs, while dripping onto my feet!

I knew that I had to clean myself up first so I immediately started stripping!  I used my wadded up clothing to try and wipe myself off so that I wouldn’t drip onto the carpet or Isabelle, for that matter.

I then ran through the house to the laundry room with my wadded up clothing which I immediately placed into the washing machine.

Warning:  It can be hazardous to be 62 running through the house naked!  You just might give yourself a couple of black eyes unintentionally!!

I then quickly gave myself something of a sponge bath in the laundry room sink, and drying off with some towels that were in the laundry room.  I also luckily, had done laundry a few days prior and had clothes drying in there which I quickly put on and ran back to Isabelle.

She was still SCREAMING her head off!!!

I used some of the laundry room towels that I had doused in anti-bacterial soap, and proceeded to give her a sponge bath.  Shit was in her hair, between her fingers, between her toes, it was disgusting!!

I would have given her a bath except that at that time I had no way to do that.  She couldn’t sit up, so I couldn’t give her a bath in the sink or the tub.  And I didn’t have anything for a baby that I could place down into a bathtub to bathe her.  But, I did give her the best sponge bath ever!  Then I put on a diaper and some clean clothing for her and then placed her in her bed, SCREAMING, while I set about cleaning everything up.

Some towels I threw away, and other towels and our clothes, I placed into the washer on the SANITARY setting, and washed them THRICE!

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When Veronica picked her up that afternoon I told her about our Shitty Day, and that she should give her a good bath once they got home.  I also immediately took a nice hot shower once they left.  I don’t think I’ve ever felt so shitty in my life!

Moral of the story:  We then switched from Number 2 Diapers to Number 3 Diapers.  (The Number 3’s hold more shit, if you know what I mean?)

Julie

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January 7, 2024

My Delicious Crappy Looking Breakfast

I cannot believe that my first post on this 2024 blog is to post my crappy looking breakfast.

The reason that I am is because I don’t cook breakfast.  Gordon is the master at eggs in the morning. 

Oh, I may have toast, or a bagel with butter, or a blueberry English muffin, or even a frozen biscuit with turkey sausage and egg whites to be heated up in the microwave, or even some frozen Eggo Waffles, Pancakes, etc. that I can add syrup to….

But, on this particular day, I browned some ready made turkey sausage, baked a hash brown potato, toasted a slice of bread, and scrambled (to death) some eggs.  Does it look good?  NO!  But, it tasted wonderful! 

Isn’t that all that matters?

Julie

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