Happy Birthday Turtle!



Her Dad gave her that nickname, and now Grandma J will call her oldest Granddaughter Turtle on her blog.



Don't ask me how this happened, but Turtle turns 17 today. She was born in California, but transplanted to Florida. Even though for most of those years she was on opposite coast from her grandma, we always saw each other often.

This is Turtle's kindergarten picture. One of my favorite pictures of her.

These cousins have shared many Christmases together...

Here's Turtle with Grandma J and her (blind in one eye) dog, Charlie, that same Christmas, (1994)

Connecting for another memorable Christmas and remain good friends .

They have traveled to California from Texas and Florida for summer fun on Catalina Island with their favorite grandma.

Turtle and her dad are best of friends. Her dad even got a small tattoo of a turtle, which makes Grandma J thankful that he didn't nickname his daughter "Princess". I love they way they still hold hands at Disney.

Grandma J's granddaughter loves to surf on both coasts.

Here she is with her dad and younger brother. She's becoming such a beautiful young lady.

The same two goofballs on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe on New Years Day.

I love you Turtle, and I miss you too. So, since I can't be with you in California for your birthday, I want to send you lots of love and a recipe for Turtle Candy. The same ones your Dad buys you every year....but this year maybe he will make you some! Ummm, yeah, let me know if that happens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BETTY CROCKER EASY TURTLE CANDY

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 2 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Chocolate

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
4 oz Pecan halves (about 72)
24 Caramel candies
1 t Shortening
6 oz Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 300ø. Cover cookies sheet with aluminum
foil, shiny side up; lightly grease. For each candy,
place 3 pecan halves in a “Y” shape on foil. Place 1
caramel candy in center of each “Y”. Bake just until
caramel is melted, about 9 - 10 minutes. Heat
shortening and chocolate chips over low heat just
until chocolate is melted. Spread over candies and
refrigerate 30 minutes.

Madam Grand Marshall

I almost forgot about our girl being chosen as the coveted honor of Grand Marshall for The 120th Tournament of Roses Parade.

Way back when Cloris was Dancing With The Stars, she was chosen to be the Grand Marshall of the 2009 Tournament of Roses Festivities.

This was more than fitting since the theme was Hats Off To Entertainment. So Choris, our hats are off to you as you.......

.....whoa there girlfriend! Sit down....really, please! See what I mean? Nothing can keep this grand dame down. And can you believe she's 82?

Thank you for making 2008 a year full of friendship, love, and kindness. As I look back, I know I've been blessed in too many ways to count. I'm not very successful at keeping resolutions, so I'm not going to disappoint anyone by starting now. I hope to do a better job of paying it forward in 2009. I didn't do as much fundraising, and I could have given more blood.....my efforts will improve on both fronts this coming year.

I have met a few blogging friends in the last nine months that I've been blogging. Here in Texas I spent a wonderful day with Briana and Cortney last Spring. Then in the fall, I met up with Jason, his spouse Giancarlo, his son Diego, Kim from Pumpkin Delight, Hula Hank and his family from the land of wallabies, in Southern California for a wonderful brunch.

Bloggers I hope to meet in 2009. The East Coast hooligans, specifically the gang in Mathews County Virginia, if they ever get their Blogapalooza plans up and running....then swing by Virginia Beach to see my boyfriend Cooper. I will definitely be there in Austin when The Incredible Woody crosses the finish line on her bike ride. I might be driving to Denver, which means I might check up on Hollywood even though she doesn't have a blog.

On the California front, there are two very special ladies who I have to meet one day. I've known them the longest...through my grandson's leukemia journey. That would be Marey and Postcard Cindy. As I mentioned before, Marey's daughter had leukemia too, and it's amazing how many wonderful people I have met through childhood cancer....Briana is another person that came into my life that way.

So, If you happen to be on my route as I travel, or if you find yourself in my neck of the woods give me a shout!!

Thank you friends and God bless you in 2009

Don't Drop The Ball ......

....yet! Tomorrow night, a zillion people will be in Times Square to ring in the new year as a 11,875 pound Waterford Crystal ball drops. It will be televised and another twelve zillion drunks people will whoop and holler from their living rooms.

Of course we used to always ran out into the street banging the lids to pots and pans together, or grabbing a huge soup pot and beating it like a drum with a wooden spoon. Here at the Compound, that is probably against the by-laws.

Speaking of the Compound....did I tell you that someone called to have my new car towed because it didn't have a parking decal on the windshield? No, it wasn't the front office or security that called, it was a tenant. I ran out and convinced the tow truck driver that I was the owner, and I forgot all about the "sticker rule". He let me go, even though once they roll, they like to be compensated. I gave him $5 as a goodwill gesture. I'm telling you, I am the only one in my four unit building that even owns a dang vehicle...there are plenty of parking spaces for everyone and their crazy uncles to park two cars. Ok, that was a bit off subject but I had to get that out.

Back to New Years, or First Night stuff.....I was reading that Hershey PA, has a plethora of First Night events at the corner of Chocolate and Cocoa. At the stroke of midnight, they drop a seven foot aluminum chocolate kiss.

Other festivities include fireworks, bands, dancing, and the Kissmoble! Not to be confused with this....

The Spammobile!

Bethlehem, PA drops a giant PEEP! I kid you not! Do you remember how much I love Peeps? I did a whole post on Peeps, and I covet them more than Hershey kisses. I would give anything to see a friggin giant marshmallow peep, but the peep they drop on First Night is made out of fiberglass..darn it! But the company that makes Peeps donates a zillion of them for people to roast in the plaza! I have never thought of having a Peep roast. I’m adding New Years in Bethlehem to my list of “places and things to do before I die”.

In Elizabethtown, Pa., a huge M&M will be lowered in Center Square at 7 p.m. The town chose 7 p.m. to mark the new year in its sister city, Letterkenney, Ireland. Elizabethtown is home to an M&M Mars plant.

Oh, and just in case you think I’m picking on PA, you are right, because PA cities take the cake with over forty "drops"……Mechanicsburg drops a ten foot WRENCH made out of sheet metal. Other cities in PA drop Fake fish, giant pickles, and flaming farm animals to help ring in the New Year.......you can’ t make this stuff up.

Atlanta drops an 800 lb peach...

A slew of cities in Florida drop an orange....not real ones, balloons and fiberglass neon ones.

Are you ready for another Pennsylvania city drop?? Lebanon’s 12-foot-long,150-pound Bologna Drop ranks among the weirdest ways in the U.S. to bring in the new year.

What does your city drop on New Years Eve?

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS 2009



I'm in the process of compiling a list of things I resolve to do....or not. I thought I would share with you what I've tentatively come up with so far:


Always replace the gas nozzle before driving away from the pump...how can we forget when Rita forgot to replace the nozzle!


Always "check for paper" when leaving the restroom.

If I'm having a bad day, don't take it out on others.


Make every effort to drive closer to the speed limit


Never ever park your BMW next to a fire hydrant.


Always make sure your foot is on the brake, and not the accelerator when you are behind a transit bus. Otherwise, just tell the cops you are Shirl the girl.....Rita's sister.

Try and schedule at least one field trip for your pooch.

And last but not least......

Your mother wasn't kidding when she reminded you to always wear clean underwear, "just in case" you play twister.

Do you have any resolutions you want to share?