Mid November and It's Finally Cold! (well, cold for Florida anyway)

TODAY IS FRIDAY, and it finally turned cold here in Central Florida, after a long hot summer of almost unbearable heat!

Now I can have a taste of what it will be like if I move back north. Cold and wind and snow. I am very undecided about what to do, because I miss the cultural diversity of the northern cities, so much to see and do, but I also love the tropical wetness and humidity of the water world that Florida offers. My main reason for wanting to move was a heart throb that kept my interest for such a long time, but now it appears that the other party in this matter has a wandering heart, a roving eye, and many interests outside of me, and my entire reason for wanting to move seems to be disappearing. So what to do. Only time shall tell, as they say, only hearts that are true will survive.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I have much to be thankful for: a long life, a fascinating list of careers, a lust for adventure and excitement that never leaves me. I am particularly grateful for The Internet, a magical world of information and connection to people and ideas that my own father would have found to be truly beyond the discoveries of his day. --- His wonder at crystal set radios, 16mm cameras, television, and his favorite wonder, the tallest buildings in the world. Whenever there was a new building constructed, he would mail a picture of it to me, with the words, "Isn't this amazing?" He so loved his life, and people, and fun. I guess I take after him, and as I should, because I always adored him. In his entire life, I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. He would always say, "That's his way, this is my way." End of story. His other profound words of wisdom to me were, "Does it make you happy? If it doesn't make you happy, don't do it." My parents lived through an entire century, he three years before it, and she one year after it. To them, the Twentieth Century was their world.

And now here I am in the 21st Century, wondering what it holds for me.

Enjoy the video, it is adorable and timely!

October in Florida is STILL hot!

I keep waiting for the weather to cool off, and about the only place that is cooler right now is the swimming pool, because the owner of our little piece of Paradise here, doesn't intend to heat it. So I spend more time in the hot tub than I do swimming in the pool, which isn't that great for my aerobics training. Now I've taken up rowing. We have a gym and there was a rowing machine sitting there unused. It took me a while to learn how to work it so that I'd have the most resistance, and now I'm up to a big fifteen minutes of rowing. Last time I rowed, the screen said I was 13 boats behind! Have to start somewhere! ha ha. I have a friend who rows for an hour. He has legs of steel. I'm only hoping this rowing will take some weight off. I could easily be about 60 pounds lighter and not notice the difference except in how I'd look!

So how is YOUR October going? Getting ready for Halloween? I sold my pumpkin vest on eBay. Someone else will be wearing it this Halloween. I am more interested in seeing what other people are wearing than in wearing something cute myself.

We have a contest here with a big cash prize for the most interesting and entertaining costume. Two years ago, four people entered the contest with this idea: They had a gurney with a patient sitting on it. A lady in a patient's gown, her legs spread with her knees bent.

Along side her, walking with the gurney, were a doctor and a nurse. As the gurney arrived at the judge's stand, a big head popped up between the lady's legs, it was a guy wearing a baby bonnet, with a rattle in his hand and he was yowling just like a baby cries. Naturally, the crowd went crazy with laughter and glee. The judges couldn't resist, and they won the first prize, which I believe at that time was $500.

Last year it was a thousand dollars. Can't remember who won, because I don't think there will ever be a "costume" to match the newborn baby joke. You have fun now! Promise? See you in November. I've been really busy!!

Take care.

Jiva

FALL IS A ROMANTIC TIME...

October is a delightful month, leaves falling from the trees, cooler breezes making the days perfect for long walks and meandering conversations. We made it through September without any storms, much less any hurricanes! So that's lovely for our insurance rates.


I have been very busy trying to pack boxes, throw out unworn and unused belongings, attending to charity bags for Goodwill, all in the hopes that someone will buy my little one bedroom condo here in Paradise, so I can move up north and be with my love. Property is not moving well right now. Greenspan told everyone that he thinks prices will drop lower, so you'd have to be a moron to buy then, wouldn't you? Of course the exception is our gem of a place where I live. Unique, one of a kind, fabulous tropical retreat. We'll see.

Meanwhile I've been writing columns and articles and creating my very own web site. The time goes by quickly. I am so looking forward to being in the cold, in the snow, having a large dog to drag me around, going to New York, seeing Broadway shows. Exciting.


I hope you all have a wonderful fall, and a happy time in your lives. Being happy is a state of mind, that's for sure. Wake up happy and stay happy. Sometimes it takes a little work, not to mention the occasional Martini! ha ha...

OK, that's all for now, because I have so much to do!

But I'll be back!

Love ya, Jiva

It's raining here. We are in our rainy season. But personally, I don't think we'll be seeing many hurricanes this September. Just a gut instinct. You can prove me wrong if you want to! Just write a comment if I'm wrong.

Anyway, it's drizzling outside, doesn't mean I can't go in the hot tub, because the hot tub has a roof. But right now, I'd rather stay in here and talk to you! We had our Board of Directors meeting this morning. They are really amazing people. They cover every little nook and cranny of the place, they dot all their i's and cross all their t's and I'm really proud of them. I just wish they wouldn't charge so much for maintenance fees, assessments, and now mandatory membership in our resort club! Yeeoow.

I think I'll have to move! I can't afford this!

And, they put me on the committee for a Condo Assn Manager search, otherwise known as a CAM search. Well, we had to let our current guy go, he was on probation, and he kept talking to the women as if it were 1950. I mean not exactly up to date on "women are equal?" you know?

It's Saturday and I'm feeling really perky! Wish I had a date. He would NOT be sorry! ha ha

I hope you have a nice weekend. I'll be in here cleaning. But don't forget about me, and send me a comment if you're in the mood.

I love to connect with people.

Love ya, Jiva

Humanity

The world population is growing every day. Even though we try to kill each other off in wars, we keep multiplying. As of July, 2007, the count was 6.7 billion humans on planet earth. That's a lot!

If you ever drove across Kansas, which is about 500 miles wide, you'd think there was plenty of room for everyone. It's just miles and miles and miles of nothing... fields. All those people above could go to Kansas, but they probably don't want to go. They have their lives, and their families, and it's all familiar. People enjoy great comfort in the familiar.

I love New York. It's crowded, but I love the theaters, the museums, the library. I love beaches also. Blue skies, blue water, sunny people, expanses of sand as far as you can see. Lovely.

So many choices in this world. So many places to see, so many cultures, variety of experiences. It's a gift. Some people actually stay in the same place all their lives! Isn't that amazing?

My father came over on the boat from Italy with his pregnant mother, his father, and six siblings. Took the boat a month to get here. After settling in Chicago, we could never get him to go anywhere. He wouldn't leave the city. He'd say, "I took a trip once; that was enough of a trip for me."

See you next time, as they say on PBS.

Jiva

GOODBYE SUMMER, HELLO FALL...

I was really upset about those Americans with Palestinian backgrounds being held in Israel and not allowed to go to the U.S. because of some new law the Israelies passed. They gave these kids the option to go to Palestine, but not America.

After all the billions of dollars we've given to Israel since 1948 (and that's something I will NEVER understand), here we are in 2007 with the country of Israel thumbing its nose at us and saying, too bad, we don't care, we're not doing YOU any favors!

Without American taxpayer's money, Israel wouldn't exist. As that guy on ABC's Prime Time always says,

"GIVE ME A BREAK!"

See you when I'm in a better mood.

Jiva

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

I'm watching this show called "Mad Men" that I"ve never seen before. It looks like it takes place in the 1960's as they keep talking about Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Boy the characters in this show really are wacky. The lead character is one of the guys from Desperate Housewives. He's a pretty good actor. I think it's a show that bears watching, it should become popular. Really some outrageous stuff, and written by one of the writers of "The Sopranos."

Weather is finally cooling off a bit. Looks like it will be a big weekend.
Lots of people ready to party.

I'm trying to find a nice place to rent in south West Chester for a couple of months. Housesitting would be better, but that's not happening at this time of year.

Have a great weekend. I have a cousin who is 95 this weekend, and he still drives, still picks people up at the airport, still has a "toddy" before he goes out to dinner, and still acts like he's 35, and gets away with it too! Great guy.

I think we're all going to live to a ripe old age, well most of us anyway, especially the ones who don't smoke!

Life is good, enjoy.
Jiva

HERE COMES SATURDAY...

Saturday is an interesting day, as it has so many associatons. During WWII there was a song called "Saturday Night is the Lonliest Night of the Week." I don't know if it was because the soldiers and sailors were lonely, or if the girls were without guys and lonely, or if it is just that if you're alone on a Saturday night, and you think everyone else is with someone, it can make you feel extra lonely.

Then there are all the people who like to work on Saturdays and Saturday nights, because they get extra pay for working on the weekends.

I did that for a long time myself. I started working nights when I was sixteen, dancing in a chorus for years, making really good money too. Then later, I worked in a hospital for about ten years on the night shift, and I do seem to be at my peak around three in the morning!

I live at a resort, and on Saturdays, all the people who don't live here come to visit and it gets really crowded with some familiar faces, and a lot of strange ones also. So it's a nice way to meet people, although I've about had it with tatooed guys with piercings, and women with gigantic breasts (you know, the store bought kind).

I'm reading a book called "The Lovely Bones," about a fourteen year old girl who is raped and murdered, and then she tells the story from her perch in heaven. She claims she has a duplex with another girl who is also dead. She tells about what happened to her, and then she watches everyone and what they are doing, her mom and dad, her sister and brother, the murderer, her teachers, etc. It's pretty interesting. Kind of fits in with the headlines of today's world, all these young people being murdered. Except in this book, the author actually was raped in real life when she was a freshman in college up at Syracuse University.

So she wrote a first biographical book about how the police kept telling her she was "lucky" because the girl before her had been raped, murdered and dismembered. So she called the book "Lucky." Then she followed that up with this novel, about the girl who is fourteen. That takes place in Pennsylvania. Interesting location in Southeast Chester County, an area with which I am quite familiar.

Well, hope you all have a lovely weekend. See you soon.

Jiva

I love that joke. I'm allergic to cats and I LOVE dogs, but I still think that joke is hilarious.

It's pouring rain here, thundering and lightning. Maybe now it will cool off!

I have nothing really intelligent to say except that I can't stand Bush, I wish we'd get out of Iraq, I think Cheney is a snake, I think his ex company Halliburton and their subsidiary Kellog Root and Brown have made billions off this stupid war, and I wish to heck we'd get a government that knew what they were doing! Good luck with that.

You all have a nice day, wherever you are, and remember, no matter where you go, there you are!

Jiva

Another busy Monday. Look at me! Hard at work.

It's mid 90's outside, so might as well stay in here.

Sold a really cool leather vest with fringe on eBay from the 1960's. Some lucky person won it for only ten bucks! Nobody else bid on it. Oh well, that's life on eBay.

I've got to sell my condo 'cause they keep raising the maintenance fees. What a bummer. I hate moving! But, it's got to be done. Heading up to Pennsylvania maybe. I love it up there, rolling hills and lots of green. Nice countryside.

You all have a good day, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Jiva

Believe it or not, Summer is drawing to a close !

Here it is Thursday already, and obviously, I'm not going to be writing every day!! I had intended to write every day, but that's just not happening. :)

It's starting to cool off here in Florida, probably means that it's becoming colder up north. I'm busy trying to figure out my finances. I'd like to write a column in a national newspaper and have it syndicated. I already have a column in a local esoteric paper that comes out once a month! Not much exposure there.

I'd like to spend a couple months up in Chester County this fall. Need a nice housesitting job maybe taking care of a couple of dogs, that would be good.

I have no car, so must have access to food! :)

Help me out if you know of anything. Hugs and kisses to you all. I'm heading out into the hinterlands. I'm changing my settings so that people can comment. Always nice to hear from you!!

Jiva

Florida Squirrel

So how did it get to be Sunday? I just looked at my last blog and it says Thursday. I must be having a good time, eh?

It's still hot here, and I'm working inside and listening to all the news, which is that Merv Griffin died, and the miners are still trapped, and some hospital released a convicted sex offender who had raped a 9 year old at gunpoint. Well, the media person says, it's not anyone's fault, it was just a paper work mix up. Can you believe that? Nobody's fault. Is there anyone left who takes responsibility for their actions?

I mean really... that's a terrible indication of the state of our brains.

Your honor, I rest my case.

The Photo

It's 2 AM on Friday morning, and I just figured out how to post a photo to my profile. Wasn't easy!

It is probably my favorite photo of myself, taken long ago at Montego Bay on Jamaica. Doesn't look very clear if you enlarge it on here, but I think the small one suffices.

I was on my honeymoon. Had a handsome husband, a nice big diamond, a fabulous Swiss watch, Gucci shoes, silk Chanel shirt, and a figure that was really amazing.

We were rich, we lived in Aspen, we had it all.

Strangely enough, the husband is gone, the diamond is gone, the watch is gone (sat in a hot tub with it on, duh) and the figure is history.

The clothes of course, would no longer fit!

Aspen has become a memory.

And you know what? I'm a lot happier today, than I was then.

Life is a mystery isn't it? I love it.




Going to sleep now. May the angels bring you the sweetest dreams.

It's Like An OVEN outside!

I've been inside all day, because when I open the door, it's like opening an oven. I don't know how hot it is out there, but it's got to be close to 100 with about 110 humidity.

Now that evening is nearing, I'm thinking of running over to the mailboxes and getting the mail, and then going for a swim.

After that, maybe a martini and some porkchops! Sounds good to me.

Being inside causes me to venture on to Amazon, and boy, I bought four DVD's.... just what I needed... more movies.

Well, I do love movies, and if I want to stay inside, might as well have some entertainment!

This morning, my computer acted up as if it couldn't figure out how to operate. Do you ever feel like you're dealing with HAL ?
Remember the computer in the film "2001" ? HAL did whatever he felt like, and that's what my computer does. Has a very strong mind of its own. I try to keep up. This morning it must have been having a headache or something, as it wouldn't work, just kept crashing.

Hope you had a better day than I did... I'm heading out, hope I don't melt.

It's Monday August 6, 2007 and I'm buzzed...

Hello again world,

Here I am in midwest Florida, wanting very much to be someplace else!

I've been reading comments about Universal Healthcare suggestions, and I must say I certainly hate to see the government become even MORE entrenched in our lives! I mean really, do we have to always be paying for everyone else? I thought America was all about individual freedoms, and how can you be free when the government is constantly taking money from you?

I need my money, and I am sure I would spend it more wisely than the government. Besides, they usually use my money for things like WARS which I want no part of, nor do I care to participate in any of their middle ages ideas.

I say remember that old hippie saying, "What if they gave a war and nobody came?"

Let's go that route, and save ourselves a fortune. If people would just try to stay healthy instead of smoking, drinking and overeating, there wouldn't be so many darn health problems to begin with! eh?

That's it for today. See you manana!

It's Sunday and I've been writing nonstop!

Hello World!

My very first blog ever. What a thrill. I've been writing all day to various and sundry communicants, and now have but a moment to dash off my first few words.

I have no idea what I'm doing, so I'm going to take a peek at how this looks before I proceed!

Be back soon.