Happy July!

Happy July my friends!
It's been a busy summer so far! I have...
1. started selling on Amazon
2. had a girls week at the beach
4. spent the 4th of July at the beach with family
5. celebrated my nieces graduation from nursing school
6. closed on our house
7. started back up on ebay
8. went to the movies (Tammy)
9. celebrated 4 years blogging!

Now I'm just trying to catch my breath and find enough hours in the week to fit in work, shopping, shipping, watching big brother and play time with Vic and the furchildren.

What has your summer looked like?

April 9 2014 WOW Another weekly update

I am pretty impressed that I'm updating weekly again. Not that there is a ton to update on but I like looking back week to week to see what has been going on.

The work started on our house this week. Today is the third day. The dogs are about to drive us crazy with all the barking but it will be worth it. The front of the house already looks amazing. I kept thinking I would get pictures so i could do a before and after but of course I didn't, and when i came home Monday it was already too late. FAIL

We started watching Game of Thrones this weekend. We have now watched all three seasons and it's only Wednesday if that tells you anything. Awesome show!! Many late nights because we had to watch just one more. As if we needed one more show to be totally addicted to!

Another week of spring breakers brought on some excitement. Tenants locked out right after we've left the office of course so we had to drive back up. Late night parties with complaints by the neighbors , causing a late night trip to the key to check things out. Everything was under control..over cautious (nosy) neighbors. Fun times. 

And...an almost tragedy. Vic got back home from the late night trip mentioned above and our baby D.J. (the spoiled rotten favorite miniture dachshund of ours) ran out the door to chase our cat (both solid black) in the dark of the night. After nearly having a heart attack DJ decided he was afraid of something across the street and turned and ran right back into Vic's arms! (thank you Spirit!!!) For the rest of the evening he stayed glued to Vic. Ever since we brought DJ home as a puppy when ever he was scared or hurt he found comfort in Vic's arms. The rest of the time he's 100% mommas boy and can be found in my lap.  

That's about all the fun that's fit to print.

Have a blessed week. 

March 26 2014 Update

I have meant to post before now but Vic was using my lap top while hers was getting fixed. I have my beautiful pink laptop back in my  hands now and will do better to stay caught up!

In my last blog I mentioned the five people I knew having babies. I can now tell you that one is my niece and the other is my nephews girlfriend. One is having a girl and the other a boy! I have only purchased a few things so far but go crazy every time I'm in a store with baby things. It is going to be so wonderful to have a baby around!

Also since the last post , Vic and I went to see Rosie O'Donnell at McCurdys comedy club. I bought the tickets for a Christmas gift but had to spoil the surprise when Vic was about to buy the same tickets not knowing I had gotten them already. The show was  planned for January but Rosie had some tooth problem and had to re-schedule the show for March. The show was hilarious! We had a really good time time and ran into some friends there too.

We've been super busy around the house with some plans on remodeling and stuff. Not ready to share all of those details yet but will soon hopefully with pictures of before and after. I'm looking forward to a new fence so the dogs can spend more time out in the yard without the barking. I think if they don't SEE the neighbors they won't bark at them...right? Let's hope!

Here are some recent photos of my world..

Vic went back to a charcoal grill, yummy surf and turf 

Picture taken at McCurdy's Comedy Club when we went to see Rosie O'Donnell

My sister Steph got me addicted to these! Nerds jelly beans.

Dexter getting some kisses in while we are trying to take a selfie

St Patty's day Selfie 

Getting supplies ready for girls weekend 

Joined Pinchme.com so I get free samples. Love it! 

My March Glam Bag from Ipsy, Love it!!

I love it when I go to the mailbox and my #Ipsy glam bag is there! To get yours toohttp://www.ipsy.com/r/44in

Night out with friends 

Full moon over Venice 

Day 7, 8 and 9 (30 days of Thankful)

The end of the week was kind of hectic for me. I started helping out at our Venice office and had to adjust to new duties, new hours and it ate into my blog time.

Day 7 I am thankful for nice people in the world. People that pay it forward. :)

Day 8: I am thankful for growing up in the small town that I did (Moberly, Mo) There is just no way to duplicate the things you learn when you grow up with the whole town knowing your business, Everyone knows your parents, grandparents and every screw up you've ever done.  I think the best part about it is moving away, seeing the world and then going back from time to time and still feeling "welcome" and like it's held a part of your heart no matter how long you've been away.

Day 9: Vic!!! I am so very thankful for my partner, my lover, my best friend. I can only describe our relationship as being heaven sent. I honestly believe there had to be powers greater than us driving us together. We lived on other sides of the country yet managed to run across  each other on Myspace and start chatting and building a friendship. After a year of that we  took the plunge to actually meet in person and that just confirmed what we thought we knew;we HAD to make it work and live closer. We did lists of pros and cons of   each of us moving. It ended up that my list "won" with more pros. I was in need of another hip replacement surgery and my doctor was here in FL. My family was here, I worked for them and there would be a place for Vic. Those were the biggies. I've never looked back  and am reminded  almost everyday how very blessed I am to have Vic in my life.

Sex, Politics and Religion

From an early age we are taught that there are subjects we should not discuss in mixed company (What exactly is mixed company?) . Those topics are Sex, Politics and Religion. Do  you remember how you learned about them or how they were treated in your life growing up?

SEX

I don't recall having the "talk" with my parents. I do know in health class we were taken down to the basement of the junior high and the girls were separated from the boys and we had to watch a film on the changes our bodies were going through and how normal it was even though it would not feel normal. And then having a very embarrassing discussion on how to use maxi pads and tampons. I often wondered what the boys film was about or if they just got to have gym time or something while us girls were being tortured and embarrassed.

My mom pulled out a book on sex. I don't even remember what it was really about, again I think more about the changes your body goes through and not really sex. She had me read it and then she put it back in a bottom drawer under some scarves or something waiting for my younger sister to get old enough to need to read it.

When sex actually started I think she knew because of my journals. I wasn't one to lock it up or even spend much time hiding my journals, I loved to write and wrote every boring detail of my teenage life. Being the good mom she was/is she kept up on what was going on in my life with those journals I suppose.  I bet my journals were pretty uneventful compared to my younger sisters as she reached her teen years!

As a family I don't recall any talks of sex. I knew my dad kept penthouse and playboys under his mattress, mom had a scarf from one of their trips that said FUCK in all kinds of fonts on it hidden in one of her drawers. No wild sex toys or anything too scandalous. I think the most fascinating thing to me was a deck of cards they had with different sexual positions on each card. I think I even showed them to some of my friends. All I can say is maybe it's a good thing I didn't have kids..they'd be scared for life with some of things they'd find hidden in my drawers..lol

POLITICS

I don't think this subject was ever talked about at my house. If it was I must have been bored and tuned it out and gone to my happy place. Somewhere through the years I learned my parents were republicans but I don't even know how I learned that.

Our house was not like some of my friends. We did not have crosses or pictures of the president on our walls. I think my parents voted but could not even swear for sure that they did.

Until a few years ago I could not tell you much about politics either. I registered to vote when I turned 18, I think it was partly because I got credit in some class for doing so. I registered Republican and always just voted a straight ticket for all of the republican candidates. I didn't read up on what they believed in or what their history was. I didn't educate  myself on the amendments on the ballets...I just went and voted and wore the sticker all day showing that I did my duty.

It wasn't really until one day that I was watching Oprah and she had on a very charismatic man named Barack Obama that changed things for me. I started following his career and was impressed at his kind and gentle manor. The more I read , the more I liked him and what he stood for.

My first politically rally was the first time I went to visit my partner, Vic, in California. It was for prop 8. An amendment that would add words to the California state constitution (Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.")  There was a large rally in Sacramento and I was proud to be a part of it.

I realized that being gay in America did not offer me the same rights and privileges as being straight in America. Now before I vote I do check politicians back grounds and what their campaign says about gays being able to get married, adopt, foster, etc.  It's a different world we live in now,that is for sure.

RELIGION

I was baptised as an Episcopalian. Growing up we went to different churches. When we'd come to town to visit my grandparents we would attend the Methodist Church yet when we moved to town we joined the Episcopal Church. I remember Sunday School in the basement with my best friends Grandmother teaching us lessons about life as well as church. How to love our neighbors, not to judge, to show respect not only for others but for ourselves. I've never met another woman like her, truly an angel on earth she was.

Church was an almost every Sunday event for our family. I was an acolyte in the church, my parents were very good friends with our priest and his family and the children I went to church with are still some of my dearest friends today. I did not continue to attend Episcopal Church services as I moved out of my parents house. I rarely if ever go to church now. My "church" is an inner peace that I hold and I can worship my God any where and often do.

How do you remember these subjects in your homes growing up?

January 2011

I'm getting used to the fact that we are in a new year now. I've been getting the 1099s gathered for our property owners, and trying to set up my bookkeeping in a more organized fashion this year.

We have tickets to go see The Color Purple on Friday at the Van Wezel . I am super excited about that. I love going to live performances. Hopefully we will fit more of those in this year.

I'm fighting a cold/cough that has hung on way too long. Will most likey have to make another trip back to the Dr. for a second round of meds.

We have not made it back to the homeless camp since the day after Christmas but we have a few things collected and will try and make it next weekend. We want to get a few more propane tanks for pops heater before we go again.

My sister called tonight and is doing better. I had just made the decision today that I would not call or text or stop by her house again until I heard from her and then out of the blue tonight she called to tell me she was feeling better and keeping food down. I am very happy that she is feeling better and hope she will stay on the track to recovery.

I have to show property in the morning. I hope the  people want the house and can move in by Feb. 1st. Our annual rentals seem to fill up fast. (knock on wood!) Wish our seasonal rentals stayed as full.

I've seen so many cute blog ideas lately for a yearly type blog project. One woman takes a picture of her feet whereever she is standing and did a year end blog with pictures thru the year of the places she stood. It was a clever idea but I never think to do that until after i've left a place. Ive been taking tons of pictures on my new blackberry but the quality of the pictures are not very good so I hate to post them. I've sent several to my facebook only to log on later and realize they are so dark you can't even see what is in them.

I'm not very good at keeping up with things I start *glaring at my treadmill that has not been used but once since I got it in October*. I'd like to think this year will be different but I kind of doubt it.  We shall see.

I am just as hooked as ever to my reality shows...and the OWN network. I can't wait til Sunday when Mya Angelou is on Master Class. I'll try and do another reality review one of these days, I am always surprised at how many of ya'll watch those shows. Speaking of those shows, does anyone know if Sister Wives is coming back?

Anyway..I hope that your new year is starting off on a positive note. Smiles, Hugs and laughter sent your way!
Namaste

December 11-18

This week was a  pretty full week for me. Since it is the week before Christmas it is surprising how little holiday activities played a role in my time.

This week I ...

• Went to the doctor and got back on my meds for my asthma.
• Had my hair done..love it! Thanks Heidi..Venice Day Spa is the BEST!
• Ate at Peach's and had the yummiest four cheese quiche..twice!
• Had Friday Night Date night with Vic and went to Ivy's Steakhouse and then out looking at Christmas lights around town.
• Got my first order for my new business venture..www.suncoastgrocerygirls.webs.com!
• Talked to my BFF Steph and realized how much I miss her!
• Felt like I lost my bubbawoo.
• Filled up my jeep, gas is now $2.94 a gallon...yikes!
• Celebrated as DADT (Don't Ask Don't Tell) was repealed today.
• Caught up on All My Children from last week and this week.
• Found some new great blogs to follow after this weekends Lady Blogger Society Tea Party.
• Actually made a youtube video after slacking for so many months.

What's Left

I'm going to be 43 in a few weeks. I wonder if I am passing the half way mark to my life. Will I live past 86? These past 43 years went by pretty quickly, will the next 43 be just as fast? Will I continue to forget amazing things that I've done? I know I won't have all the same people in my life in the second half. In the first half I had to say goodbye to grandparents, pets,teachers and some friends. The second wave is just going to be harder. I imagine more loved ones, family, and sadly more pets will leave me :(

I do believe that we all go to a better place when our bodies leave this life. I am not dreading death. My sadness is selfish I guess because what I fear/dread is not having those people still around for me. It would be better if we all went together.

I really don't mean to make this a dark , sad, post. I love my life. I look forward to each and every day. If I was told that I had only months,days, hours to live would I regret not doing something?

I have never had a bucket list . If I want to do something I do it. If I have not done it ,I figure that either I will or I won't..simple enough. My thinking is a little different on these kind of things. If I would make a bucket list and set about to doing everything on that list I may miss out on other things that I was suppose to be doing. I think that people/things/events are put into our lives for a reason and the simplest things could end up meaning the most to us. I go through life with my eyes and heart wide open. I notice and celebrate the beauty in every sunset, every rose that gives me the gift of blooming in my garden, every puppy kiss....etc.

I don't always know the reasons behind why things happen but I think I come across people all of the time that are here to teach me something or me them. I found a young blogger a while back and feel that pull towards her. I am not sure why, but I feel almost as if we are being introduced to each other for some sort of support or lesson.

When one passes over I'd like to think their spirit still watches over their loved ones left behind, still finishing the earth project. Vic and I were just talking about this last night. She thinks her dad really had a part in making things work for us. I know something in the universe wanted us together because it all just pulled together so perfectly for us when it could have just fallen apart living 3000 miles away from each other.

I went to a psychic once and she told me that I had spirits around me and would always be protected. Nothing bad would happen to me in my life. I always believed this. I've had heart break but very little. I think my positive attitude and outlook on the world helps me to see a bigger picture than myself and be a much happier person than some of the people around me.

What do you think the next 43 years will look like?

Day 9 of the 30 Days of Truth

Day 9:Someone you did not want to let go but drifted off

People drifting in and out of my life is pretty common. I never want to let them go but I know that there will be a time and place when we re-connect. Life gets busy and in the way sometimes of seeing/talking with my friends on an everyday basis but once I make a friend they are my friend for life. I recently heard from my BFF from college. It had been many years since we last spoke but we picked back up with the memories like it was only yesterday and that is usually the case for me with long lost friends.

I have been told that I am very "Fluid". I don't stress too much about missing friends or not talking or staying in touch all the time, as I said they come back around when it's time. People are put in our lives when we need them most.

The world of twitter,facebook,blogging has made it easier to stay in touch with a larger number of people but some would argue that the depth of the relationships suffer. I'm not one of those poeple..maybe because I'm not that deep? Perhaps.




For the complete list of the 30 Days of Truth Click Here

Friday Flip Off 8-20-10

Yay! It’s time for the Friday Flip Offs!!

It’s not like I wait all week for these or anything but I do find myself keeping track during the week of things to post on Fridays. I’m thankful that my lists are generally short. That either means I have a very short memory or that my week has been good!



Ok…since Blogging is taking over my life these days a few of my flip offs are dedicated to blogging.



I’m flipping off the blogs that I want to comment on but make it a pain to do so. Why do I have to sign in and then try and figure out the captcha thingy? It really isn’t fair to put letters/numbers that look alike in those things. If I mess it up more than once I usually give up so Flip Off!



I’m also flipping off the blogs that no matter how many times I close they pop back up. Is anyone else having this problem or can you tell me why it’s happening? It is so annoying. I try to go on to read another blog and the last one just keeps opening, over and over. Grrrrr Flip Off and go away!



I’m flipping off my 11 year old air conditioner and the repair guy that came out yesterday only to tell me that the average life of an AC in Florida is 8-10 years so mine is beyond it’s life span. Flip Off!

I hate to do this, it really pains me to flip off my perfect angel fur child DJ but I must. I have to flip him off for eating poop! The other dogs don’t do this, so why must my favored child DJ do it? Flip Off! And..no more kisses on the mouth for you little boy!



No more flip offs this week for Big Brother..I LOVED having a Rachael free week and even when she came back it was entertaining as hell to see her and ragan fight..I feel sorry for Kathy having to go live with her in the jury house. I was glad that matt didn’t go because that would have just given her one more chance to screetch “Ain’t no body comin between me and my man”



What do you want to flip off this week? Link up over on http://pumpkinandpiglet.blogspot.com/2010/08/friday-flip-offs_20.html who is hosting this week for Gigi at http://www.kludgymom.com/!

TGIF!

100!

Today is the day I reach 100 followers! I realized this after my 99th follower became a follower…I feel kinda bad about that one. I was so excited to do my Friday flip off blog hop (Thanks Gigi!) That I rushed thru three things, had a brain freeze and hit post , only to then seconds later think of at least four other things I had wanted to flip off and didn’t! But edit is not my friend, I am a total spur of the moment can’t wait to edit or photo shop anything before putting it all out there for the world to see. Miss Impatience.
Ok so anyway, I rush off to read all of the other Friday flip offs because I love reading about what other people flip off about and I come across three blogs that do not have flip offs posted. They linked up but didn’t flip off! Instead of just moving on to the next blog my evil twin decides she must play blogger police and leave comments to these bloggers that are not playing by the rules. What is this, 3rd grade? I move on and then get an email about my behavior and I start to feel bad. It’s not even MY blog hop..why did I do that? What a way to get more followers eh? Sorry to you ladies that I did that to this morning.

A little bit about me to the new followers …I started blogging on Myspace several years ago. It was a great place to write. I’d write poems, life stories, love letters, adventures. It was a “high” when I’d get comments that people could relate or find humor in what I had written.Then I moved on to facebook and would write in the “notes” section. That was great but not quite the blogging experience I was looking for. I found blogger not so long ago and so far am happy with the fit. I blog when I want to, I do blog hops to meet new and interesting bloggers. In the early days I’d follow almost anyone but quickly realized that this isn’t necessary, there truly are blogs I’d rather read over others. I still have not figured out how to “un-follow” so my blog list is rather long. Now I take more time to look over blogs that I follow. I am sorry but if your blog is all about God, or babies, or politics, I probably won’t find much in common with you. Post a few pics of your dogs however and you’ve got a friend in me! LOL make it a dachshund and BONUS I’ll hang on your every post in case you mention your dog or throw in a picture. Don’t get me wrong it’s not that I don’t have God in my life…I just call her “Spirit” and believe actions speak more loudly than a book, and I love babies but I do not have children and can’t always relate to the content of every day life as a mom, and we don’t even need to get into politics. I’ll just say I love Obama..and was a republican my entire life until the last election. I liked Bush for a long time too….what is my favorite saying..When we know better we do better” 

I Hate labeles…but if you must put one on me let me give you a few….sister, daughter, niece, aunt, lesbian, femme, little girl,girlfriend, best friend, writer, photographer, comedian, mother of five furchildren.

Wow, this is getting to be a long blog..are you still reading?
Something that comes up a lot in my family is the subject of putting too much out on the Internet. My partner doesn’t like that I’ve posted so many pictures on facebook of her. My family says the same thing. I really should respect that they maybe are serious and don’t want it all out there but they are mostly good pictures and a document of our history. I love sharing my life and that is part of it. It hurts my feelings to think of taking the pictures down. If someone doesn’t like a picture and asks me to I will take it down.
I didn’t much see the harm in posting pictures, stories, journals.

And then this week some jet blue employee had a bad day. He got on the loud speaker , said some bad words, deployed the emergency slide and left his job with a bang. He went to jail. The media went crazy trying to find out everything about him. On the news last night I saw his high school yearbook picture, the clubs he belonged to in high school, his myspace posts and pictures, his ex-wife, his current gay partner and anyone that knows him is talking about him. So I start to worry…what if I go crazy at the supermarket and make national news for something..hey it could happen! What would they find to say about me? My twitter posts that Elizabeth on the View is a nit wit? My facebook status celebrating California's stay on gay marriage? My blog of Friday Flip offs?? Oh my gosh. I’d better make sure I don’t do anything crazy. And to think our worries used to be only about clean underwear.

Obsessions,Addictions,Passions

To know me, is to know that I go through many "obsessions", I guess that is what I will call it until I think of a better word.
I will find something that I really enjoy and just do it to death and then move on. Sometimes I will re-visit it and sometimes I won't. Some examples..scrap booking, making YouTube videos, playing farmville, petville, social city and what ever other new games came about on facebook. Pogo (the game site, not the stick) blogging, facebook, myspace, twitter, etc. 

I am very envious of people that can cook but I really don't have the passion or desire to learn to be good at it. I tried a few dishes when Vic and I were on the Atkins diet a few months ago. Going to the grocery store was my first challenge! I had not even heard of most of the ingredients and then came the terminology of things in the kitchen...dutch oven, meat fork , etc. I did a blog about that experience on facebook  Check that out  here when you are in need of a good laugh.

Now that I am obsessing with blogs, I keep seeing the most amazing crafts and fun food projects. I don't know that I will ever make them..I want to. I am jealous that other people seem so focused and able to do these things. I am a perfectionist that isn't perfect is a good way of saying it I think. In my mind I have a perfect vision of what something should be and then when it falls short of perfection I quit.

My sisters boyfriend said something the other day that really stuck with me and made a lot of sense. We were talking about kids now days (wow that sentence alone makes me sound OLD!) Anyway...the jest of the conversation was that kids want to be the best at something but don't want to put the work into learning HOW to be good at it. I guess that is kind of how I am. If something comes easily for me and I'm good at it, GREAT! If it's work and I'm falling short of being good at it I probably won't stick with it.  Not one of my better qualities.

I know this is something I need to work on. Or maybe I will just keep adding obsessions. I am a very curious person and am always thinking. I would love to learn more about photography but would get bored with the technical side of how and why things work with a camera. Even as I sit and write this blog my mind is off on a million other things. I should make a list of what I want to do. Lists are not my friends but that is a whole other blog.

OK off to start my day...Enjoy your Tuesday!

Blog What You Know

I've been brainstorming lately and checking out ways to make money doing something that I have a passion for. (Writing,blogging, making videos and photography) In many of my searches it was suggested to do paid reviews on my blog. I've signed up for a few but have not heard anything back yet. The more I got to thinking about it the more I'd like to do blogs/reviews on all things local. Local businesses, events, people. I live in Venice, work in Sarasota (Siesta Key) and have been a consumer/business owner/resident for over 25 years. I love the beautiful area that we live in and can not say enough good things about our community!

If you would like me to dedicate a blog to your business or event please drop me an email hollylingley@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you! 

A blog about blogging

As I was working on my blogs and trying to find a place to put them, I read a lot of other peoples blogs. The style that people write in really stood out to me. Some are always funny or always serious, some stay true to writing about one subject. Some write from their dogs point of view. I find those really cute but honestly my dogs are not the best at channeling thru me to write a blog. They are like the dog in the movie "UP" and will start telling me what to write and then...SQUIRREL!~

I really like my friend Serena's blog. OK technically she is Vic's friend but I think I can call her friend too, is that OK Serena? So anyway..I like her muted colors, I love the pictures she puts with her blogs, I like the overall appearance  and her style of writing. Vic tells me that she has always been that way and that is one of the things that has always stood out about her writing. It's small, not a lot of words but the words that are there are deep. Blogs that make you think.
Consistent. In comparison, my blogs are all over the chart. My blogs are much like my thinking, when I'm in a dark place I write poetry, when I'm angry I write about situations, when I'm bored and want to just write I write about my life/pets/events around me. Sometimes they are colorful blogs with pretty pictures about what I am writing about and other times I just stick a picture of Scout up in the corner because I think he's so darn cute. I guess that is what makes blogging so interesting to me, all of the different styles of blogging.

I get lots of ideas about things I'd like to blog about. During the day I will be doing something and catch myself thinking "oh i need to blog about that!". I love watching the video blogs on youtube. I've tried doing a few of those but I really hate being in front of the camera. Here is an attempt :


I'm much  more comfortable behind the camera taking the videos and on the computer writing the blogs, vs face to face...Anyway........... Back to Blogging...