Happy Thanksgiving!

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving from Florida!

Firefighter also hurt in Mexico crash

Firefighter also hurt in Mexico crash

Please pray for Laura and her friends. Laura is one of my friends that works on our fire department here in Sarasota. Laura is in a trauma center in Tampa with bilateral ankle fractures and a brken pelvis. Her friend Andrea ( Dre) is a Tampa police officer and she is in critical condition.

Here is Laura's news clip:

Jasmin's booties

I posted this on my Facebook but thought it was just too cute not to share with the 1 or 2 of you that are not on there. :)

Jasmin has a few blisters on her hind feet(between the pads) that neither the vet or us can determine what is going on so I put some socks on her to keep her from being nosey and licking her feet all day long. She is such a good dog...............

41 months

oops, apparently I got ahead of myself in the last post so here is the correct date.....................I am wishing we were farther along but unfortunately we are just hanging out at 41 months. Thanks Krista for getting my mind straight today with the dates.

Still here

Yes, we are still here there is just nothing special to blog about. We did pass the 40th month mark on October 2nd and quickly are now approaching 41 months. Will keep you all posted if anything changes. Currently we are anticipating a referral by June .....keeping fingers and toes crossed.

Vote for us please!!!!

Click on this link, then click the purple box that says "click here to give it's free" once you do that another screen will come up then you can scroll down to vote for us. It's not super easy but you give feed to an animal and get a chance to vote....what could be better.

Help SWGDR (Southwest Great Dane Rescue - Bradenton, FL) win a $20,000 grant!


As most of you know I maintain the webpage for our Great Dane rescue here in SW FLorida. Here is a chance for us to get some much needed grant money......these BIG dog rack up BIG vet bills prior to being adopted out.

Please spread the word, tell your friends, hell even post the link on your site too for us!!!!!

The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $20,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes — a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.


Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day, from September 14th through December 20th, 2009. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.

Vote today!

Visit: http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Hugs to all my pet-lovin friends out there!!!!

oops

and I we have just passed another month.....................39 and still counting! LID 6/2/06

Gordon's Birthday

Yesterday we celebrated Gordon's 39th Birthday.....yes I know.....39-he is the young one in the family (no comments needed) I decided to make Beef Wellington and must say it turned out quite nice, you can find the recipe on my recipe blog if you would like to give it a try-it's not to difficult.
So, will he be 40 when we travel to China? Let's hope not cause that means I will be 40 something!

Just another day

38, yep....................today is the 38th month that we have been logged in China. How much longer you ask? If only we knew the answer. Last month the CCAA placed 2 days worth of LID's and if they don't pick up the pace we have absolutly NO idea when we will get a referral. Thank you to all of our friends that continue to count the months with us, we are still in it for the haul!

New paint

I totally forgot to post, while we were on vacation my in-laws painted our house for us. We are so spoiled........what a great job they did! Also, my house was usual spotless after my mother-in-law stays over-she cleans everything.........she sees my house in disarray usually-not a pigsty but there is usually the entire week of junk mail still on our countertops and the bed is not made nicey-nice just the comforter thrown over the bed. Here is the new house color. It's a cross between khaki and coffe late. Our flowers are going to look great next to this wall color.

testing out the color


Front door

A look at training

GET OUT THE WINDOW!!!! from Curt Bowen on Vimeo.

Here is some video from our current training taken by Curt Bowen Our new bunkergear has a built in harness for rappelling.

New recipes

I have posted a few new recipes on my other site...........if you like scallops you will LOVE this one! I have made it twice so far and it's a keeper (actually weight watcher friendly too). Click here to visit my recipe site.
I forgot to take the picture on a pretty plate so it's pictured already packed up in Gordon's to-go container for leftovers.

Smile you are on camera!

How cool, I can actually watch my house and neighbors' houses from my little ole computer while at work. CCTV is a beautiful thing. So here I sit with mulitple screens opened up on my lap top..........facebook (adicted), work mail, my mail, shopping & my house! Waiting on a package? yep just flip over to the front door screen and take a peak :) These things are so cool, you can even take a peak at what the dogs are doing inside AND talk to them (if you wanted to-not that I would.....yea right of course I would. I talk to them on the phone even). They can do other cool things too and it even sends me e-mails.

Make sure you wave at me if you drive by..............can see you at night too :)

The need to write

I am normally not the type to put my feelings to paper but tonight I can't rest comfortably, there are too many thoughts in my head.

I have 2 friends going thru very tough times right now and it is upsetting. One is a co-worker that I also went to high school with and another is a past co-worker. Both of these women have breast cancer and for one of them this is the 2nd time around -this time it is back with vengeance. Ever since my mother passed away I have built up walls to keep me safe and sound not allowing myself to get attached to anyone but recently I have opened myself up to these friends. Why? I don't have an answer other than I cannot bear to see them go thru this fight and not show them my support. I watched a parent die, I've been thru 2 types of Thyroid Cancer, surgery(s), radiation and survived 10 years but for one of these woman they too survived 10 years until receiving the devastating news of metastasis just a few months ago. I cannot imagine what this has done to them and their families, they are BOTH very strong, beautiful women and they are determined to fight like hell. Where does that drive come from? They have every right to be pissed off at the world yet they continue to be their fun, spirited selves. I am ashamed to think of the little things that piss me off, make me negative and allow me to keep my walls up.
Today I wear a little tiny pink ribbon on my collar to show everyone my support and my partner @ work - Kerri also wears one. Pink ribbons have become part of my closet. My old roomate walks for Breast Cancer..........this desease is devastating! Please be part of the cure, every little bit can help AND get your mammies grammed (it doesn't hurt-I get them)

I have acquaintances that have distanced themselves because I will not allow them to be close, if you really, really have taken the time to know me you would understand my defense mechanism. My partner @ work, I call her my "life partner" since we spend more waking time together than with our husbands and the fact that she would throw down her life to save me-she is the one person besides my husband that teaters on the top of my walls. Can you imagine working with someone in life or death situations on a daily basis and not let them totally into your world, sometimes it's more exhausting to keep the emotional wall up than to just give in and cry!
I cherish the friendships that I have and the people that have come into my circle of life. I will continue to grow and be a part of the support system my girls need. I am proud to be in the circle of these women!

Bloggie giveaway!!!

No not from me but my blogger girl Michelle over at Searching for Sophie. She has some cute little gifts for one lucky winner. Make sure you go visit and post a comment for her if you wnat to be entered to win.
I soooooo want that bracelet for my little Mia....it is cute cute cute, why can't I be that talented? Pass this on, one of you (maybe even me) will be the lucky winner!
Don't 'cha just love goodies!!!!

LID 6.2.06

We will miss him!

The clouds parted and the sun came out for a brief period of time for all of us to say goodbye to our Chief.
Yesterday our Fire Chief retired after 32 years with the department. How do you say goodbye to the Best Chief EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He will be greatly missed by all of us here on SCFD & in Sarasota County.

On his last day as chief of the Sarasota County Fire Department, Brian Gorski gets a hug from Battalion Chief Matthew Flynn, during a surprise official send-off Tuesday afternoon. More than 100 local fire personnel, along with Gorski's family and the Sarasota County Fire Department Honor Guard, were on hand for the ceremony. Gorski's fire career began in Sarasota as a volunteer firefighter in 1976.

Babies! referrals up to 3/20/2006

Babies, sorry all I am a few days late on this post!!!!

The following blogs have pictures!

The Red Thread Journey

Alliegrace

Side of Fries

Our Journey to Hailey

Mommy Moon

Father Mother Sister Brother

The following blogs have their referral but no pictures yet:

At Last

Helenm

ma petite beauté bridée de Chine

The following families are expecting their referral in this batch:

Little Sister Williams

The following families in other programs would like to share their news with us:

Our New Family Recipe

Be Home

Tell Her This

The Johnson Family

Lizards and Ladybugs

Carseat Tourist

Sugar and Spice

Always In My Heart

Dragons and Elephants

The following blogs have music and are not work safe:

Grossesse made in China

The above information is from Rumour Queen.

Link clean up

Have gone thru my links today and did a quickie update.....if I deleted you or moved you into the wrong area please just drop me a line and I will fix ya. I am not too good with blogger's new layout, the widgets and I do not play well together soooooooooooo there are probably some mistakes.
Those that are returning today and tomorrow from China I have already moved you to the "home" category :) woooooooohooooooooo!
Man those links are getting small, soon we will be on the top! I hear rumours that they are placing up til the 21st of March-7 days would be good but at that rate it will be another 6-12 months for June. Keep your fingers crossed it will speed up. You can check out the rumors here if you dare.
Congratulations to those up to 3/21/06 !

Pug Mama is in China!!

After all the waiting they have finally made it to China and are now holding their prescious baby girl in their arms. Make sure you go over to Pug Mama's site to check out their journey.

If you live in ....

Southwest Florida.....................(*Please click on picture for larger view)

Referrals ! Up to 3/14/06

The following blogs have pictures!
Je t’aime
Jon and Karen Go To China
Linda & David
The Shelton Family
kimmieeleven
quail32

The following have their referrals but no pictures yet:
Bringing Home Emily

The following families are expecting a referral in this batch:
Spitting Wooden Nickels
Hotmama
meilismom
ILMChuck
waiting-for-ava
Mary
kellyrn5

More vacation fun!

We're home!

What a vacation. We have just returned from a 16 day trans-atlantic cruise to Europe and just today I am back to "normal" from the 14 hour return flight from Spain. I just can't imagine what the flight from China will feel like. I have uploaded a few pictures for all to see. Our itinerary was as follows:
6.5 days at sea from Ft. Lauderdale to Maderia, Portugal (day7)

then a sea day(day 8)
(day 9)Cadiz
(daY 10) Gibralter
(day 11) at sea
(day 12)Cagliary, Italy
(day 13)Civitavecchia (Rome)
(day 14)Livorno (Florence)
(day 15)Monte Carlo (which we were not able to dock at this port) so it was on to (day 16)Barcelona, Spain

Was lots of fun, don't know if I would cruise across the ocean again but would definately go back to Rome when we have more time to visit the area.

I will try and add these pictures again, there seems to be problems with photobucket

Our 1st day in Port

Port of Funchal, Maderia Protugal
Finally a day off the ship!!! Today was our first day in Port and what a beautiful place it was. We have uploaded a few pics and will share more when we return home. Yes, we are wearing jackets…it was 60 degrees F and got up to about 68.
Madeira is 35 miles in length and 14 miles wide with an elevation on 6,106 feet. Portuguese is the language but most everyone spoke English that we ran into. Funchal is the capital of Maderia. We used the Euro for the very first time J it takes $1.42 in US dollars to equal 1.00 Euro so we are not making out on the deal very well. Fortunately (unfortunately) today was a holiday and most of the shops were closed so we didn’t have to spend much while shopping. Got a few postcards but the post office was closed too.
Hope all is well !
Next port is Cadiz, Spain on Monday…..bye until then.

**Krista, I got your e-mail but Facebook is soooooo slow out here in the ocean...will drop you a line as soon as I get better internet.

On the high sea

Hello from somewhere between the United States and Europe. Today is our 2nd day at sea and it is much smoother sailing today, yesterday was rolling, rolling, rolling seas. I will try and post a few pics just top see how the internet speed is at sea.

Vacation time!!!

Bye for a few weeks....Gordon and I are leaving for a 16 day cruise Saturday am bright and early. We will be visiting Portugal, Spain and Italy (My favorite of course) My in-laws will be moving into our house to take care of Jasmin& Moose, there is no way our dogs will be boarded. Hopefully I won't gain the usual cruise 10 lbs (which I still haven't lost the 20 from our last 2 cruises) What the hell....it's not like I get to travel and enjoy a few weeks alone with my husband very often. Not too thrilled about the flight back from Spain but I guess it will be a mini trial run for whenever we go to China. Wow, after reading that it does sound like I am on speed...............ok so I am excited. Lots to still do and pack!!!!! How the hell are you supposed to pack for 3 formal nights, 3 countries and 16 days all with only 1 carry on and 1 checked bag each? I am NOT leaving my super cool black heels at home no matter what either.

See you on the flip side:)

Smoke detector installation

Today we helped with smoke dector installation for one of the local homeowner's associations in our area. This can be a very boring day going from home to home checking our smoke dectors, fire extinguishers and surge protectors unless of course you have my partner with you and one of us always has a camera. Here are a few pics from today.....

Kerri kissing the windshield of Engine 7, with long wearing lipstick....so mean :)
Who needs a ladder???

Easily distracted.........................I found a puppy

Pug's got a referral !!!!!!!!!!!!!

EXCITING...................after all this time of waiting they got her referral. Please stop over at Pug Mama's and give her the congrats she deserves. Can you believe they waitied 1,126 days for this little child??? Na Fan Fu (she is called Fan Fan)

I am so happy for them.

Waiting with a mama

I am stalking Pug's blog to see her referral. Even I am anxious for her. Come on referral!!!!!!!!!!! How much can a girl take.

Spending a full day (7 hours so far) on the computer, glad we are slow at work today.

Family

This past sunday I spent a few hours up at my dad's house with my aunt and cousin, here are a few pics. I can't believe my dad is in his 70's now, where has the time gone.

From left to right: Uncle Tom, Aunt Amy & Ernie (dad)

Chinese food in America

I saw this on a fellow adoptive bloggers site and thought it was too fun not to share. Approx 16.5 minutes to view.
OMG, I just realized it looks like she is giving the "finger" ....she isn't, just pushing up her glasses, this is still a PG rated site.

OK, Magazine is finally out

So, now that the magazine is out...here are a few photos from the shoot.