Election 2008

Very mixed emotions from people I have spoken to today regarding the election of our next president. The ones of us who suffered through the JFK and Jimmy Carter years are more than a little skeptical about the outcome of this one. Not that I could say that I was 100% behind John McCain but the issues being spouted by "Barama" are just way too out there for me.

Our country was founded on Christian principles and we have been considered the greatest country in the world for hundreds of years. Everyone wanted to come here to live and that was OK if those people came here to work and make a life, however, in the last decade or so the integrity of our country has been compromised. We are now more a country of people who expect to be taken care of.......I see it every day in my industry. We are an entitlement society.

Now we have elected a person who proclaims to be an American but he must be of the new breed of American because in my America the president will salute our flag, put his hand over his heart when the national anthem is played and honors the fighting men and women over which he is commander-in-chief.

It seems that our younger generation is OK with our country becoming a socialist nation. National health care....what a joke. Why do people from other countries want to come here for medical care if the care in their country is so great? Why are the members of the younger generations expecting the government to take care of them? What happened to working for the things you want and the life you want to lead? I have worked hard since I was 18 years old to be able to have the things I want in life. Somehow it seems really unfair that government thinks that my hard earned income should be mega taxed to pay for freebie programs for people who don't want to work. Many people come to our country, work hard and become very successful. People who are born in this country seem to have a hard time with the concept of hard work for what they want....they have a gimme for free attitude.

Sorry to be such a downer on this post but I am truly blue today. Hopefully tomorrow will be be a better day for me.

October Update

Once Gator football season starts my car seems to stay in the road most every weekend. Add to that a BIG celebration in Fort Deposit for monumental birthdays and a 65th wedding anniversary and it has been a crazy month.

What a great celebration party we had. As it turned out it was a mini-family reunion for me. George it was great seeing you after all these years. I was trying to remember when we had last been in the same place and I can't remember any time since the one family reunion at the armory and that was a long time ago! It was just great catching up with you. And.....if you decide to stay home and not off on a hunting trip next year we will catch up with you in Baton Rouge when UF plays LSU.

Many other cousins were there and what a special day when we could have Aunt Bill, Uncle Max, Aunt Beth, Aunt Neanie, and Aunt Melba visit with us. I can't even express how special that was for me. I know Mama & Daddy feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family and so many friends.

Unfortunately, my Daddy ended up in the hospital again this week (not from the party!)but hopefully will be home soon.

Last weekend was Homecoming @ UF. What a great time we had. Friday night the big kids (Paige, Ashley & Kevin) went to Gator Growl and rocked to the Steve Miller Band. I got to keep all my little grandboys for the evening......they are all so sweet and have such a good time together. I think I had more fun with the little kids than the big kids could have had at Growl!! Saturday Kevin & Kyle went to Tallahassee for the FSU game while Ashley, Todd, Paige, Zane and I went to Gainesville for the UF/Kentucky game. And what a game........next Saturday will be the BIG game against the Georgia Dawgs.

There is still more to the month of October with Halloween this weekend. But it looks like hurricane season is finally over. It is going to be cold here tomorrow morning and colder on Wednesday morning. That means the water is cooling down and the storms have nothing to feed on. Yippee!

COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS

Early this morning I got a call from my youngest daughter to let me know that her husband, Kevin, had been in a really bad car accident. When the call started with "Mama, Kevin is just fine...." the heartbeat sped up a trifle and anxiety set in. After I heard the rest of the story the shaking started and I had to sit down. Kevin was almost home (from a trip to Miami)when he lost control of his car on rain slick roads and his Expedition rolled into the median totally destroying the car. Thank you God for watching over him as Kevin walked away with absolutely no injuries....not even minor. Everyone who has seen the vehicle is amazed that he was not killed or at the least badly injured. We are all counting our blessings tonight that this story has a good ending. There is much to be done to replace the car and the electronics but THEY CAN BE REPLACED. Kevin could not be replaced if we lost him.

Over the weekend I had a chance to visit Quiet Water and had a great weekend of relaxation. I love October in the Keys. Winter visitors have not arrived yet; the weather is usually good; there are fewer bugs (the biting kind)and the pace has slowed down after the summer months. All the above was true except for the weather. It stormed Saturday night with very gusty winds. Kinda felt like a tropical storm coming through again. At least the extreme high tides seem to have abated somewhat as there was no water over the driveway this weekend. Only two iguanas showed themselves while I was in residence. Hate those things!

I came back through Fort Myers last night and got to spend some time with Ashley and the boys (supervised a very splashy bath time) and Paige, PG and Zane (got to feed the little guy...he loves his groceries). No matter how my day is going..... when I get to spend time with my kids (little and big)I always get a boost. I am looking forward to making that move to FM early next year.

A special thank you to God this evening for watching over my family, most especially Kevin last night. My family is the most important part of my life and I thank God for them each and every day.

Shades of 2004 Storm Season

Looks like a storm freight train coming at us across the water from Africa. The latest one (Ike) is scary. I don't wish bad things on the Cuban people but I continue to have hope the storm will move further south and not hit the Keys too badly. We did all the prep we could do before Gustav and it will stay that way until this storm season is over. All we can do now is pray there are no injuries/deaths and our homes are not damaged.

Because of the storms, the weather in the state of Florida is hot and HUMID. Paige, Ashley and I went to Gainesville yesterday for the UF/Miami game. You would think an 8:00 pm start time would mean that the stadium would be cooler. Oh, but no!! I don't ever remember being that hot in my life. The Swamp is built partially below ground level and with all the new seating added in the last few years there is very little chance of a breeze making it's way into the stadium easily. Yesterday there was NONE and I do mean none. I can tell you right now that this lady did not just glisten yesterday, she was sweating big time. It was really hard to stay hydrated but we did OK. It was a late night for us as we got back to Clearwater about 1:30 this morning. The girls left about 9:00 this morning for home. It has been a while since I spent this much time with just the girls and me. I certainly enjoyed it.

Kevin took Kyle & Todd to Tally yesterday for the FSU game. It was scheduled to kickoff @ 6:00 pm. Unfortunately the game was lightning delayed not once but twice. Poor guys didn't get to see any football but I can be almost assured they had a good time anyway. Phil was also doing a little father/son bonding time this weekend. He kept Zane in Fort Myers while Paige came up for the game and overnight. They went to see a baseball game Saturday night. Phil was a real trooper as Zane had an upset tummy during the nightand threw up 4 times .Paige said he was OK when she got home this morning......both Zane and PG!

It's been a lazy day for me. Went to church this morning and then came back and washed all the bug guts off my car. I hate to leave the bugs on it for very long as it damages the paint and did I ever kill a lot of them on the back roads last night. But I also hate to wash my car......I don't know why I dislike that chore so much but I do. I think my car wash man, Steve, will be washing Nonni in future. Also, lots of laundry to catch up on with all the traveling I have done in the past week. Could be a busy week next week if Ike turns into Florida. Surely hope that doesn't happen as our insurance market will go crazy again.

It's going to be a very uneasy next 2 or 3 days as we watch the progress of Ike.

FAY THE FICKLE LADY

Wow, we are having some firsts with storms in the past few years. I can't ever remember one coming back at us this many times. Twice, yes, but not four times!! All I can say is that we prayed for rain and boy did we ever have that prayer answered. It was pretty eerie to hear the weather folks talk about rain in feet and not inches. I guess that old saying "be careful for you wish for...." is a good warning.

My kids, and their homes, are safe as is Quiet Water and for that I am thankful. Now we have Gustav on the horizon although they say this one is going to pay a visit to Mexico or Texas. I don't wish bad weather on them but this one looks like it might be bad so I would be happy to have it pass us by.

Labor Day weekend will find me at home at Quiet Water. Ashley, Kevin and the boys plan to be there with me. I hope the weather will hold as I look forward to Kyle spending his 5th birthday in the Keys. He has celebrated his birthday there every year so far. Paige, Phil and Zane don't get back from Canada until Thursday this week so they probably will opt to spend the weekend at home in Fort Myers but would love them to come on down if they can.

Phil participated in Ironman Canada on Sunday. 2.5 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26 mile run.....I can't even imagine attempting anything like that. If I survived I am sure I wouldn't be able to walk for a week. Congratulations on a great job PG!

Kyle had his "friends" birthday party last Saturday at a play park in Fort Myers. What a great place for a kid's birthday party. Lots of games inside, go carts and miniature golf outside. Everyone seemed to have a fun time. Lunch was pizza and then everybody enjoyed the wonderful cake that Ashley made. Kyle had requested a chocolate cake with strawberries. Ash turned a box cake mix into a scrumptious delight. I got to babysit for little Alyssa while her mama was outside with her big brother. What a sweetie.

Thank goodness for Fox, TNT, Lifetime, etc. this week. I cannot abide watching the political conventions (either party). Just a bunch of politicians grandstanding. I certainly hope the people in the US think through the issues and consider the candidates carefully before the November election.

Batten Down The Hatches

Rush trip down to Quiet Water on Saturday to prepare the house and boat for TS Fay. Back in Clearwater late last night (actually early this morning). I have been on pins and needles all day but probably will not hear from anyone in Marathon until tomorrow. Water has to recede and the roads made passable before someone can go to the house to make sure all is well. As of tonight it looks like the storm could possibly be turning more northward and that would be good for Tampa but not so good for Naples/Fort Myers. I hated to leave my house yesterday but it's not wise to stay on the off chance the storm will strengthen to a big bad one. Needless to say I am tired today but felt much better after putting up plywood and tying down the boat (which was an experience in and of itself.......I am certainly glad there was no one around with a camera but, hey, it might have won a prize on one of those "funniest" shows)

There is always such excitement in the air when a hurricane is on the horizon. Everybody kicks into high gear. Surprisingly enough there is no evident panic here and none in Marathon yesterday even though this is the first storm to come close in two years. I guess people are finally beginning to realize it does no good to panic. You have to just watch and make smart decisions based on where the storm is going. These things don't move very fast so there is time to prepare or get out of town. There are still a few people at my office who get anxious.

Let's hope that this is the only storm that comes near in 2008.

Time Is Flying!

Here it is mid August and where has the time gone?? In another couple of weeks my oldest grand will be 5 years old, "summer" is almost over and football season is just around the corner. My mama always told me,when I was a child,that I should not wish my life away because the older I got the faster time would go. Well, as with most things, my mama was right.

It has been a really difficult few months for the Conway clan with so many of our folks having health issues. Aunt Bill, Uncle Max, Mama & Daddy and Aunt Aileen. It makes me sad to think about losing any of these people who are such a big part of my life and heritage. I know growing old is part of life and will come to each of us. I look in the mirror everyday and think who is that person looking back? Certainly that can't be me since I still feel young at heart....how can a body betray you like that?? Then I remember all the people I know who are struggling with bad health or tragedies they must face into and I know how blessed I am. First of all to have been privileged to be a part of this wonderful extended family of mine but also for the health and blessings that I enjoy every day. I hope and pray I never take these things for granted.

Ashley, Kevin and the boys spent last week at Quiet Water with some friends. I think everyone had a good time....surely sounded like it every time they called to talk with me. Except for one when I got a phone call from 2 teary voiced boys apologizing for "breaking" my air mattress. It seems they were using it as a trampoline and it "brwoke". I think dad was able to put it back together but they promised me they would not jump on the beds any more. Then a few days later I get another phone call with Ash telling me that Todd "wants to speak with me". I think, oh my, is he calling to apologize for something again?? Oh, but no, he is calling to tell me that he has been snorkeling and as he put it.....saw lots is fishes and a sting ray.....but it was just a little one Pappi. Needless to say that made my day. This is my 3 year old who has not wanted to learn to swim. I hope this is the beginning of him losing his fear of the water.

Last Saturday Paige and Zane came by to visit for a little while and he just gets cuter every time I see that baby. He took a much needed nap for the first hour or so but then got up and he and I sat on the floor and played with toys for a while. He turned 8 months old this week. Wow, it was only yesterday wasn't it that he was born? There we go with the "flying" time again. Didn't get to see PG as he was working shooting grads at USF.

We are getting much needed rain . It has rained all day today and there is a lot of water in the retention ponds just outside my apartment. So far we have not had to deal with any major storms and hopefully we will have another quiet season.

Making a trip down to Quiet Water this weekend and I do love to spend time at home. Will be stopping in to visit with all my kids on the way down and/or back to get some hugs and smooches.