THE WEAKLY TRIBUNE Vol. 1 Issue 3

THE WEAKLY TRIBUNE

Monday 7.4.22

Happy Birthday, America! The fourth day in a row that Danl was home happened to be the Fourth of July! We started celebrating by attending a fabulous breakfast cookout at Gene and Karma’s. Was great to meet Aaron and Kyla, and to be with Drew and Anna again! We had a feast! Everything was cooked on the back patio on the Blackstone except Aaron cooked the crepes inside. Blackened snapper and spade fish, bacon, sausage, hash browns, fried eggs. Freshly whipped cream, cut up mixed fruit, peanut butter, butter syrup, sugared raspberries to put on the crepes. Assorted juices. Sparkling lemonade from Aldi. Oh and a 7-up pound cake too! The guys were hot from cooking and ate inside, but we girls enjoyed our brunch on the patio and the kids swam even though it was raining part of the time. Stopped at Tractor Supply for chicken feed on the way home. I worked on finishing writing last week’s Weakly; editing, and posting it. Read a bit, and piddled. Ordered this pedal exerciser! I’m convinced I will be able to easily close my Apple exercise ring with this contraption handy to pedal under my desk or here or there or while lazing in a chair! Danielle played in the sandbox, made rubber band bracelets, and reorganized her fishing tackle box. Danl napped. Once he awoke, we commenced cooking. Yellow summer squash casserole, cucumber slaw, watermelon, and Jones drinks. I cannot drink a blue Berry Lemonade Jones drink without remembering drinking them with Wade and Rhonda while taking shelter in the old Fort Pickens ruins during an epic boating trip that got interrupted by a severe summer storm one birthday years ago! Grilled ribeyes and Realtree link sausage provided our protein. Shortly after 8:00 we headed for Poarch to watch fireworks, but opted for the privacy of the private property of some of our customers instead of joining friends behind Taco Bell like usual. I missed the camaraderie, but it was nice to watch them in seclusion sitting together on my old quilt on the tailgate of our new work truck. Also nice to be able to get home good time instead of waiting and waiting in congested traffic. We then had a back porch sparkler session before calling it a day! But not before enjoying some ice cream in bed. 

Tuesday 7.5.22

A happy Home Day. Tested my blood sugar again on Mom’s glucose meter, proving once again that my blood sugar is PERFECT! Not low in the least! I guess I just have The Morning Grumpies. Danl asked me to please just keep eating my chocolate anyway, so like a good submissive little wife, I’m gonna obey! This experiment has proved that dark chocolate definitely does improve one's mood! Danielle got inspired to make tiny colorful bracelets for a couple of her chicken’s legs. But she decided maybe it wasn’t the best idea after becoming worried that perhaps Roosty had eaten his since it was no longer on his leg and removed Chubby Chick’s herself. Since I had not completed Morning nor Evening routines on July 4, it took me all morning to get back on track with the daily duties. Concocted an essential oil blend that I’m calling Summertime Dill Pickle! Bergamot and Lime with a splash of Dill. Worked at my desk and push-mowed the backyard before supper. Once a week is barely enough with all the rain we’ve been getting. Taco Tuesday was steak stack-ups and cheese dip and chips this time. 

Wednesday 7.6.22

Started the day with such a satisfying Morning Sit from when Danl left shortly before 6:00 through 7:00 when Danielle woke up. Lit the four taper candles in the living room and soaked in the solitude of the hour with my coffee and the last of the cobbler. Read some poetry, Sandwich Journaled, which is my term for doing a brain dump in my journal, then reading my Bible, then journaling again about whatever impressed me. This method has worked so well for me. Wordled and Waffled, then moved on to the less glamorous parts of my MR. Danielle got weepy due to having trials trying to get dressed for the day. We ended up sitting on the couch reading Bible stories and library books and singing VBS songs for a while. I need to do this more with her. Worked at my desk. Danl popped home for lunch between jobs. Then Danielle and I bebopped over to Gloria’s so I could process payroll for her due to her Remote PC not cooperating in London. That done, we soaked up some sun and fun in their pool since the weather decided to give a small rain break for once! Karma and kiddos joined us. Ran them home to Atmore since their Durango tire sprang a serious leak. Rain break over, I proceeded to grill pizzas in the drizzle. The rain spritzing down in the sunlight made the drops look like sparkling diamonds! Two rainbows emerged as well. FYI, a fix’n’mix Tupperware bowl turned upside down works superbly for transporting pizzas to and from the grill to keep them dry! Karma stopped by with an unexpected but most delectable loaf of freshly baked sourdough bread on their way to get their Durango. Life doesn’t get much better than a warm slice of homemade buttered bread with a glass of cold dairy milk. Mmmmmm. #realfood

Thursday 7.7.22

10 years have passed since Uncle Kale passed…We all still miss him so much. Took the last garden tomato from Steve Byrd to my folks for them to enjoy. Then dropped Danielle off to spend the day with Lainey before joining Rhonda and Anne at the Circle E office to go together on an outing that Anne had instigated for my birthday way back in June! Sadly, Karma was not able to join us since they were headed to Leland for a funeral. Katie was supposed to join us for lunch before her Dr. apt, but that also got canceled due to Noah being under the weather. First stop was T.J.Maxx or “P.J.Masks” as Danielle insists upon calling it! Purchased most of Rachelle’s wedding present. Then to Hobby Lobby where I proceeded to purchase a pile of fabric! Totally UNEXPECTED! But it just felt like the fabric wanted to come home with me! 4 pieces for me and 2 for Danielle. JoAnn’s was next. Thankfully I walked out of there bagless. We lunched at Jo's as always, which felt like going on a field trip! Years ago I had been to DUH with Jill, but this exquisite French bistro-style cafe had not been a part of the experience back then. Even in our Florida heat and humidity, we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch in the shade of the outdoor courtyard. I had rosemary water with a splash of raspberry flavor, garden salad with bleu cheese dressing, fresh mixed fruit with a poppyseed sauce, chicken salad sandwich on house-made French bread, and bread pudding with lemon sauce! All utterly elegant. Then we browsed about in the companion stores, looking at plants, patio decor, and housewares, wondering how it would feel to be able to purchase $150 pottery mugs and horsehair ceiling dusters that cost $91.50! Somehow the whole place just gives European vibes; making me feel like maybe I could be an elegant southern woman who stands up straight and glides about gracefully. Although my small incident with the horsehair duster would bely that idea! From there we put our passports away, figuratively, and like normal Americans went to Target. Danielle was delighted with her day with the Koehn’s, even proclaiming that Ms. Roxie had made “The best lunch she had ever had away from home!” That’s a high compliment coming from Little Miss Picky! I fried venison backstrap and reheated squash casserole. Danl went back out to work, doing some discing. Still got to bed before 9:00!

Friday 7.8.22

Cock-doodle-do! What is that garbled, scratchy noise that sounds like something is dying?! Oh, it’s Roosty! Proudly crowing his first feeble crows! I piddled around with my Morning Routine and did not even start Thursday Cleaning. Started reading a little gem of a book by Dana K. White called Organizing for the Rest of Us. Helped Danielle with the terrarium kit Nana sent her in the mail. After lunch, I printed off four copies of the previous issues of The Weakly Tribune, mailed them from the post office, (why didn’t I remember to use Pirate Ship?!) and went over to my folks! It’d been way too long since Danielle and I had been there when we could stay awhile and not rush off! I helped Mom prepare her food for the Schneider Italian potluck and visited with Dad. I’m so lucky to have my parents close by! From there, we stopped by and got a couple scobies from Sharla, (so ready for summer kombucha!) then drove on to the Landis farm for our fresh milk. Sat on the back porch and listened to the mesmerizing music from my new birthday wind chimes. Got some congos baking, made supper which was fried catfish from Steve’sFarm, cheese grits, and some of last year’s frozen peaches. My left eye was really bothering me; figured I must’ve gotten something in it. Danielle and I headed to school to say hey to Uncle Lyle and Aunt Polly! Also to get in on dessert and some good belly laughs! I love my family! 

Saturday 7.9.22

Woke up with my eye crusted shut. Deduced that I most likely had Pink Eye since all my symptoms pointed in that direction. Decided to treat it with the ointment the vet had given me for Leroy a couple months ago. Helped Danielle create four marble paintings. Hydro-coating is fun! Thought about Thursday Cleaning and even dusted a few rooms, before deciding to roll it over to next week! Did a bit of desk work. Since I should probably quarantine for a few days, Danl and I agreed that it would be an excellent opportunity to “Airbnb” at his mom’s place for the weekend since they are out West. Packed our bags and our dogs and away we went in the rain! Diesel was beyond delighted to be going on a little Road Trip! Ordered in our favorite Socio's Pizza for supper. It never stopped storming enough to swim. Popped popcorn and relaxed the evening away.

Sunday 7.10.22

The dogs and Danielle slept well in their beds away from beds! Danl and I have reached that Middle Aged point in life where we sleep best in Our Own Bed. But it was still a delight to wake up in different surroundings! Also a delight to see the sun! And to feel that my eye condition was greatly improved! Yay for vet meds! I cooked some waffles and sausage for breakfast, before hitting the pool with Danielle. I was enlisted to score points for various acrobatic movements/jumps. Listened to Mr. B’s good sermon on Choices. It was deemed that I was well enough for a quick grocery run to Publix for More Food. Enjoyed some salmon on crackers for starters, then Daniel grilled some delicious steaks, feta-stuffed mushrooms, and garlic sourdough bread. Jace, Erica, and Summer joined us for a couple hours. The sun continued to shine and we continued to swim. Frozen gelato and San Pellegrino sparkling limonatas cooled us off mid afternoon. Snacked around, trying to eat up the remaining food. All too soon it was time to Clean Up. Got Rosie the Roomba going and proceeded to pack up. From rain we came, and into rain we returned. A mighty deluge that almost drowned us since we don’t have a carport or garage. All in all though, it was a wonderful weekend. Danl even admitted that he had been able to relax enough to stop thinking about Work for awhile. #score

Farewell from the Faircloths!

Simple Satisfaction of the Week: Reading books with colorful satin bookmarks built into the spine is such a delight! Dana White’s little book that I’m reading now has a deep orange ribbon that compliments the cover so well!

Rueful Regret of the Week: I didn’t always keep to my S.I.M.P.L.E life plan in regards to eating only one dessert per day! My life seems to be filled with Special Occasions. 

Surviving Well #hurricanelist

Our power has at last been restored! I’m ready to put Hurricane Week in the past, and start Normal Life again in the morning! But, that being said, I feel like we more than barely survived; we survived WELL. Thanks to going through Hurricanes Erin, Opal, Ivan, and Dennis along with countless other tropical storms previously, it wasn’t a new experience to weather a hurricane, and to be without our beloved electricity. But boy, did it ever feel fantastic to go around tonight gleefully flipping switches and turning our home into a real-life Thomas Kinkade house! 

Below is my Hurricane List. 

I feel like being prepared is essential! 

Some things I’ve learned from my plucky mom, who showed us in attitude and action how to survive well; and some things are my own little quirks that I’ve added to this listicle. 

{Before Storm}

Buy lots of food. 

Think easy foods to grill, stuff for sandwiches, favorite snacks & drinks. Also, don’t forget food for the fur babies! 

Clean out fridge & freezer. 

(This is so you aren’t trying to keep old food cold, and in case your freezer does thaw some before you get the generator going, the ice won’t melt and make a big watery refrozen mess.) I didn’t get this one done this time, but mine actually weren’t too bad off amazingly!

Clean the house. 

You won’t be able to vacuum for awhile, so do it now! 

And it just feels good to go into a disaster with the house clean. 

Do ALL the laundry. 

This is pointless to explain. 

Batten down the hatches. 

Clear porches and put away all outside articles that could become flying missiles. 

Pick any and all flowers. 

Make as many bouquets as possible! They won’t survive and you will need to see beauty during and after the storm. The vase of gorgeous white roses and 2 jars of cheery zinnias sparked so much joy during this dark week! 

Make sure you have prescriptions to last at least a week. 

Check supply of OFF and replenish if necessary. 

If the door can’t quite seal around the extension cord, tree frogs might hop in and you need to be prepared to end life from a safe social distance of six feet. 

Check supply of paper goods. 

Ain’t nobody got time to hand wash dishes all day! And it’s not a good time to run out of tp!

Make sure you have plenty of propane for outdoor cooking. 

Have a good smelling candle to burn. 

All the humidity will soon make the house smell dank. 

Grind up some Griffin’s Wharf coffee beans. 

You’ll need the beans ready to go for the next morning’s propane-powered pour over! 

Purchase new craft supplies. 

It’s crucial to keep kids calm and occupied during disruptive times. The 12 little pots of Crayola washable paints I picked up with the groceries from Walmart saved the day! I tore off sheets of freezer paper, and Danielle painted away to her little artist’s heart's content!

Charge up all the Dewalt batteries. 

We have lots of these since Danl uses them for work. This fan is a lifesaver; also this power source adapter. 

Make a Plan B. 

For us, Plan A is always to stay home. But have a Plan B in case it’s not gonna be safe to stay home. 

{During Storm}

Sleep as much as possible! 

You’ll need it later, trust me. 

Remember that a little humor makes all things possible. 

Thanks, Mom! 😉

Don’t forget that this too shall pass. 

It always does. 

{After Storm}

Thank God that you have survived! 

Assess damages. 

At first, we thought that we pretty much lucked out on this one, but now just today as it rained away, we noticed some water damage from slight leakage along the edges of the ceiling. But still, very minor. 

Burn the good smelling candle. 

I loved burning the $3 little gem I got from Dollar Gen. 

Messy bun & gettin stuff done

 #momlife 🕯 

Cook good food. 

There’s nothing like sitting down to some good food to lift the spirits. 

Clean up the yard. 

But don’t rush or stress about it. Those branches aren’t going anywhere! 

Tidy and broom up daily to retain sanity and a sense of normality. 

Stargaze. 

Take advantage of the the complete velvet blackness! With no annoying yard lights, the gazing is gorgeous! Danielle suggested snacks during the one session we got in, which was an excellent addition. 

Take up friends’ and family’s offers of hot showers, AC, and other luxurious accommodations if they get power back before you do. 

This isn’t a survival contest. There are no awards being given out to the Most Miserable. 

And that’s it, my friends! 

Here’s to SURVIVING WELL. 

And praying that Beta behaves. 

When September Ends...

(Disclaimer! I wrote the first two paragraphs of this post back in September! 

Hence the title and time-lapse.)

  September always feels like the other January to me... time for fresh starts, new beginnings, half-year assessments, etc. But when September ends, it feels like the countdown to Christmas begins! And for Danielle it truly has! I think she asks me every day, "How many days til Chris'sus?" (She is already doing this again now in 2020! Sigh. Siri and I are both tired of this question.) I hope the holidays live up to her expectations! She also goes out on the porch most every morning, checking to see if the cold has come, bless her little impatient heart. Anyway, September had me pondering on my "19 for 2019" list of aspirations for the year! And subsequently, my "18 for 2018" that never got blogged about! So just for records sake, I'm gonna list last year's list first and notate what happened and what didn't. Then on to 2019 where we still have some year left, thankfully.
   Last year was my first year doing the "18 for 2018" inspired by one of my favorite authors, Gretchen Rubin. It was fun even though I obviously didn't accomplish everything! But I love to make lists... and there's no penalty for not crossing off every item. I definitely did more things than had I not aspired at all!

18 for 2018

1. Grow roses again. This didn't happen in 2018 but see 2019!

2. Joy Spark entire house. Conquered this one except for a few kitchen cabinets and our bedroom.
3. Take Danielle to the zoo. This one is crossed out, but I can't remember doing it! I know Nana took her once...
4. Be a tourist in my own city. Too vague! Didn't happen. I'm learning that being more specific helps.
5. Get a Lifeproof phone case. Rhonda helped me snag one on Zulily! Didn't love it, it soon tore up, and I wouldn't ever buy one again!
6. Buy black shoes. Did this one double! Scored 2 pair from this shop recommended by my friend Jill. Love the acronym for their brand... B.A.I.T. But Another Innocent Tale... lol, you can't ever have too many shoes!
7. Create office/dressing room chandelier. This room just has an ugly single bulb fixture, so I created this elaborate yet simple spiral design in my mind using effervescent, glass Christmas ornaments. But that's as far as it got!
8. Catch up Danielle's baby book. I'm crossing this one off because I chose not to do it. Whatever I got recorded in it, will be good enough. It just wasn't my style. I am staying very faithful with daily entries in her little 5 year diary though.
9. Visit the Southern Living test kitchens. I still have the dream! But it needs wings.
10. Bathe the dogs monthly.  The results from having this as a priority were awesome!
11. Shoot a buck with points. I have the skull to prove it; it's a small, barely 5 point, but hey! It's bigger than my other buck that was only a cowhorn.
12. Try a food prep service. I LOVED Blue Apron, but sadly, I was the only one in our household with those sentiments.
13. Use my passport before it expires! We flew to Calgary for Isla's first birthday in June! 
14. Bake cinnamon rolls for the neighbors. I think I did this around Christmastime.
15. Get collars and dog tags for Diesel and Leroy. This would be nice so everyone would know which persnickety pet is which when they stay at the doggie hotel! But I guess I didn't shop hard enough to find the perfect getup, because our boys are still collarless.
16. Replace my favorite stove burner. Alas! I tried, but the new burner I purchased also refuses to rise to the challenge of cooking mostly on HIGH! 
17. Memorize Danielle's SSN. But as I type this, I realize that I have since forgotten it!! I'll have to do a refresher.
18. Monthly date nights with Danl. The criteria for what constitutes "date night" are pretty loose...nachos in bed counts!

12 out of 18! I'm happy with that!

Well, this post is long enough, and it's late enough, 

so 19 for 2019 will be saved for my next "write night!"

-Thankful Thursday-

I feel THANKFUL 

for...

This blog! 

Even though I sadly neglect it, it's like an online diary of our life, and I love reading bygone posts.

Fresh peaches! 

Just ate one with a dollop of brand name Cool Whip (worth the extra $ veruse Great Value or any other brand in my humble opinion!) and the last spoonful of Bluebell Old-fashioned Vanilla.

Faircloth Land Services! 

Daniel is thoroughly enjoying putting his all into forestry mowing, harley raking, and whatever else that can be done with a skid steer!

Our baby!

She turned 5 months on August 20! So hard to believe! Soon she'll be driving a car!! Instead of just driving us crazily more in love every day! Her thankful list would read like this!

DADDY

MAMA

DIESEL

LEROY

MY HOUSE

MY WALKER 

(one of her favorite things is to scoot right up to the dog gate and screech and jabber at her dogs until they are almost exasperated with her lol!)

MY ROUTINES

MILK

BUTTERNUT SQUASH

PEACHES

BATHTIME

SOPHIE

PINK LOVEY BLANKET

CUPCAKE TOY

DONUT TOY

My job!

It doesn't get much better than working for your own dad! (Other than teaching! Nothing can top that!)

Menu Planning!

I'm still learning how to FLY (FlyLady system) and menu planning is an important part of a peaceful day! Tonight was Venison Meatballs with Brown Gravy over Rice with a side of Cheese Green Beans.

Good ole eBay!

Love the baby clothes that finally arrived from China today! Got this cloud set in two more bigger sizes since she has outgrown her first set! 

My bed!

I'm hoping to sleep off the "congestive head failure" (sore throat & headache) I've experienced today! 

Goodnight, y'all! 

Hello Again!

"Hello again!"

"Hello!"

"Do you like my hat?"

"I do. What a hat! 

I like it! 

I like that motherhood hat!" 

And here I am again, wearing a hat I have never before worn! And I like it! And I like the book Go, Dog. Go! in case you hadn't noticed! This won't be a long post since I haven't time for such anymore! But Danielle is happily entertaining herself on her play mat and things like showers, and dishes, and straightening up, and getting birth announcements ready for the mail can wait while I record our life in order that we may reflect upon it later in our golden years! I did update the title description and the  "About Us" portion of the blog. So that's a start! And unless I want to sit on a bench all by myself tonight at church, I should rouse myself and shower since the little princess decided to grab a catnap! We stayed home this morning and listened to two weddings and have been in a rather lazy gear all day...but now,
"Go, Mama. Go!"

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful for this baby girl that currently has severe hiccups! And I'm thankful that I have had a healthy, relatively easy (I think! What do I compare to?!) pregnancy. Tomorrow makes 39 weeks, so any day now could be Baby Faircloth's birthday!

2.  I am ever so thankful that Daniel is finally feeling almost back to his normal self after fighting bronchial infection and mono at the same time! I have never seen him so sick, or so willing to go to the doctor/hospital and I hope and pray to never again.

3. I am thankful for my sister-in-law Alisha! All the wonderful help she rendered with her brilliant organizational skills got me "un-stuck" so to speak, and able to finish up various pre-baby projects! Thanks to her, I feel (mostly) calm and ready for this new phase in life. (I think.)

4. I am thankful for our dear family and friends. They have helped us through thick and thin and we could not make without all the love and support! 

5. I am thankful for baskets from Dollar Tree.

6. I am thankful for drugstore.com, fatwallet.com, and shoprunner 2-day free shipping! I love this day and age. Even though the UPS and Fedex guys probably do not. 

7. I am thankful that Grandpa Schneider "woke up" and I could talk with him again. He's such a dear grandpa and it's so hard to see him so uncomfortable and so frustrated. 

8. I am thankful for the new prison dog beds from Jeffers! Diesel and Leroy appear to be thankful also! And I'm thankful for my little sis who is "in the know" about all things pet-related. Let's hope these beds last longer than crib mattresses from the thrift store.

9. I am thankful that Daniel likes to cook! He has been making these awesome, rosemary, thyme, garlic, olive oil, seared chuck eye steaks in the cast iron skillet. Mouth-wateringly delicious!

10. I am thankful for the assurance of Isaiah 43:2. 

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." 

11. One more thankful! I was going to stop at 10, but I'm thankful that it's still Thursday and I can quickly post this before it's Friday, because Thankful Thursday just sounds so much bet.......(and then my computer died and I was too tired to go get the charging cord and just gave up and went to bed. and now it's Friday!)

12. A dozen seems more complete! And makes me think of donuts! I am thankful for HotLightApp and that Krispy Kreme is only 4 minutes away from Dr. Doyle's office. 

CS"Eye" Miami

Okay, I've got to blog because I keep thinking of little things I want to write about, but I can't because I've never yet written about Miami! And one  must write in chronological order! It's not that I don't want to write about this epic adventure, I do! I just don't, because I know it'll take me awhile to get it all typed out! So I will start and however long it takes me will just be fine. 

 Over two months ago (gasp!), October 29 to be exact, Miss Susan Smith, Nana, and I flew down to the tropical city of Miami for the purpose of consulting with Dr. Lam at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute about Miss Smith's retinitis pigmentosa. I always pictured Miami a bit on the shady side, meaning that I would need to clutch my purse closely, and cast a wary eye about while cautiously walking the streets, you know, "CSI Miami"ish.

But it wasn't like that at all! We found it to be a friendly city full of helpful people who honked a lot and cooked great food!

Our flight from Pensacola was smooth and comfortable. The ticket agent rebooked us into roomy bulkhead seats, so Nana had plenty of room to sprawl and we luxuriously stretched our legs out as well! As we circled to land, I could see the gorgeous glistening blue-green waters of the Miami beaches! We landed, and then began the trek to get to where we would pick up the puddle-jumper we had rented! A labyrinth of concourses, moving walkways, stairs, and trams later, we finally arrived at the Budget booth and stood in line there for at least an hour. But we had our Hundayi Accent at last! 

Then we checked into our Comfort Suite. Very nice! You can't go wrong with a hotel that has pretty decor and lots of waffle toppings! 

I fell in love with the teardrop light fixtures above this lounger in the lobby! 

We rested a bit, refreshed ourselves, and met the Mennonite Miami gospel tract couple, Riley and Rita Schmidt, at "The World's Most Famous Cuban Restaurant" Versailles, to experience tasty Cuban cuisine and culture! We were not disappointed! 

 

Of course I had been browsing the menu days prior because it takes me so long to make up me mind when I want to try EVERYTHING! I was happily satisfied with the "The Classic" of the Cuban Samplers. 

THE CLASSIC

White Rice, Black Beans, “Picadillo” Ground Beef, Roast Pork, Sweet Plantains, Ham Croquette, Cuban Tamale, and Cassava with Cuban Mojo

Next we all enjoyed a cup of cafe con leche! I am hooked on this sweet, strong frothy coffee! They bring the espresso in the darling little silver pitcher and then you pour it into the foamed milk. I've tried to make it at home, but alas, have not conquered. 

The next day found us at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

There we met with Dr. Byron L. Lam M.D. and received the sad news that Miss Smith was not a candidate for the gene therapy program that we were hopeful about. But if you don't pursue the possibilities that arise, you will always wonder what alternate route life could have taken. We were both so glad we had made this trip regardless of the outcome. Miss Smith is such an inspiration to me! She bravely handled the disappointment with these sage words, "I've been happy up 'til now, and happy I shall remain!" 

Some good authentic tacos from Huahua's Taqueria also aided in brightening our mood! 

Then we headed to beautiful Miami Beach where we sat on the sand and enjoyed the crashing waves while gazing at the emerald waters...truly gorgeous. This pic below is exactly what it looked like!

 I also was completely mesmerized by the incredible cruise ships lined up along Port Miami. Just ship after ship! Wow. 

A sweet treat from Azucar Ice Cream Company in Little Havana was the next item on our agenda! (It's so much fun traveling with a fellow foodie!) I sampled the avacado ice cream! Not too good, not 

too bad!

We both had waffle cones of their famous signature flavor, Abuela Maria. 

After that, we walked along 8th street and felt like we were abroad! Old men were noisily playing dominoes; people were singing and dancing on the sidewalks. 

We picked out some hand painted souvenirs from a mom and pop shop, then headed back to our little Hyundai Accent lest it get towed for being "overparked!" Parking in Miami - I shall not elaborate, but it wasn't my favorite part of the trip! Back at the hotel, we popped some popcorn, ate leftovers from Versailles, and hit the hay after a long, full day! 

We breakfasted as early as possible the next morning, returned our rental car after an arduous procedure that included some illegal turns and curb hopping, and flew back to Pensacola.

 It is amazing how one can take a trip within one's own state, yet feel like their passport should be boasting another stamp upon return....

AW(s)

AW = After Wedding! 

Our life this past week has consisted of settling into the AW groove! 

No more sewing, lots more sleeping! 

And of course we both were back to work....amazing memories never far from our minds! Quality time Alisha, Pierre, Jayna, Jordan, Jemma, and Luc... baking brownies and maple sugar cookies shaped like maple leaves....walking around the pond....playing on the playground in the bright Canadian sunshine...getting mani-pedis {even Luc! He LOVED it!}...having fun with family and friends at the backyard BBQ...getting dressed on the 12th floor of the downtown Sheraton...lacing up Alisha's spectacular corset-back dress... {Mom and I pulled and pulled!!!}...gazing at Daniel all dressed up in his tux...{probably a sight we will never again behold!} ...walking over the Bow River to the River Cafe....wiping tears as Alisha & Pierre pledge their lives and love to each other forever...

laughing at antics during family photos...devouring all the hors-d'oeuvres and desserts...{they were EXCELLENT! and I tried to sample each one!}...savoring our salmon and bison steaks....tearing up over the toast from Jayna and Jordan....riding home {to the Deerfoot Inn} in a limo...{our first ride and probably our last!}....experiencing the Calgary Stampede rodeo in a first-class private box, chef included! {this once-in-a-lifetime event could be an entire post, but I will refrain!}...touring the old sights of Heritage Park....buying candy in the olde-timey candy store.... riding the flying swing ride with Luc....marveling at the majestic mountains of Banff....standing mesmerized by Lake Louise, the loveliest place in the world!...eating ice cream in the poppy garden...finally flying home sweet home...reuniting with our favorite fur children.....gearing up for the next nuptials....having fun with family at the family supper at Aunt Donna's....lighting the sky with Chinese lanterns....crying that Daniel had to work in Baton Rouge and miss Mel's wedding...accepting that life just isn't fair...transforming the Walnut Hill basement into a land of coral gerbera daisies in sparkly teal vases, polka dots, and sour gummy worms....eating Chipotle-style stacks at the Saturday night supper....doodling on the tables with Crayola crayons....staying up 'til 3 am decorating their tiny wedding cake....listening to the seraphic swells of the choir....watching my little sister become Mrs. Shane Boeckner!!...chowing down on white BBQ chicken....gazing at all the lovely gifts....sending them off to honeymoon amidst showers of bubbles and rice....

And that, my friends, is the short version! :)