Tru-Sense

Florida`

2011-12-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

John and I love going to Florida, and this last trip was no exception. We travelled to Kissimmeeand stayed at a friends house for several days. Then spent time in Madeira Beach area of St. Pete's, then back to Kissimmee.

December is probably one of the cooler times to visit, but I love that time of year there. Not too hot, Christmas decorations all around, and great walks without dying in the heat.

We spent a small amount of time in Disneyworld - Epcot to be exact - and it was very interesting indeed, but as I'm not a child, it was a little disappointing as well - but, then again, nothing can live up to the hype that these Disney places have been given over the years.

Epcot was very well done and it took a day to see the whole area and to experience the different pavilions that represent several countries in different areas of the world. My favourite was Germany - even though it was primarily a street in Germany that represented the architecture of some streets that are actually in the country. I loved how authentic it 'looked'... but the inside each building was a 'tourist trap', meaning selling whatever Disney sells to make more money. I also liked the experience of flying in "SOARIN'" We were strapped in a large seat, lifted from the ground/floor and put before a large surround sound/IMAX screen. A movie was then shown of places around the world as seen from a jet whizing through and over all the sites. Each time the aircraft dived, dipped, lifted or soared, we felt it in the chairs and moved with the aircraft. Amazing!!!!

Canada

China

Germany

Into Morocco

Christmas preparation was taking place while we were in Florida and it was difficult to get my head around Christmas in hot, sunny weather. The decorations and music were there, but the cold was not. Therefore, the feeling of Christmas was not in the air for me. Some of the Decorations at Epcot and Disneyworld Downtown were amazing and it was a photographers photo-op!

Our most exciting moments at Epcot came at 9:30 p.m. when the fireworks began. It was definitely worth the wait and some parts of it definitely gave goosebumps, which I am not prone to. In the beginning a gigantic world globe glowing from the inside, floated across a waterway into our view. The beautiful music and amazing announcers voice told the story of the earth and it's people very dramatically. This continued for 10 to 15 minutes. The main part of the fireworks began when this was over and went on for quite some time, all to the rythms of the music surrounding us.

The earth came out of the fire and water with a story surrounded by music and light!

The fireworks displayed to a backdrop of beautiful music!

On around day four we travelled to St. Pete's and spent time in the Madeira Beach area at our friend's sister's condo. A beautiful retreat with a pool, lots of space, beautiful grounds and within

walking distance of a long, white sandy beach. We spent time walking the beach in the mornings and in the heated pool in the afternoons. Several suppers were provided by my friends relatives, which was so welcome, mainly because restaurant food can get tiresome after awhile, even though we did make our own breakfast and most of our lunches.

John and his friend, Jim, were lucky enough to get tickets for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football game, which I would have loved to attend as well, but if anyone was going to the game it was going to be the men as there were only two tickets available for them. According to their report - the game was so-so, but the whole experience was amazing, as I thought it would be. The experience of 40,000 fans in one arena was worth the ticket. There were half-time shows, fan shows and fan fun all around them - great memories!

Our last days were spent back in Kissimmee area and Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic coast. We decided to spend our last full day in Florida on a beach we had never been to before, so we headed out toward Cape Canaveral. Just below NASA Space Centre is where this beach is located. A beautiful, wild, gigantic Atlantic Ocean Beach with big surf, cool breezes and mist in the air. We walked for an hour and never came to the end. It was another amazing day topped off by lunch in a little Italian restaurant that gave great service. On our way back to our Florida home in Kissimmee we stopped at an outlet mall and spent an hour or two looking around. We spoke with a very energetic camera salesperson who explained many of the features of a tiny Sony camera that could do 'almost' everything a large SLR, zoomed lens camera will do. I also entered, for the first time, a LU-LU Lemon store(Canadian) and checked out some of their very special exercise clothes which I will fit into someday! n the way back to our Florida home in Kissimmee!

Alas, on Friday it was time to come home and so by 9 a.m. we had left our home and returned to Orlando airport. We arrived home to very cold conditions, but at least it wasn't raining or snowing, and now we have our memories to keep us warm until the next time.

White Flower...AKA Bunchberries

2011-10-28T17:12:00.001-07:00

White Flower...AKA Bunchberries, a photo by Mark Veitch on Flickr.

one of my sons photos and one of my very favourite!!!!

Cats in January

2011-01-16T05:30:00.001-08:00

Well, as usual, it's been awhile. It's a cool, snowy January day and I'm a little bored... therefore I'll write about my cats.
These days I'm down to two cats... Sofie and Oats. They are such a delight to have. I love watching them interact in there defensive or aggressive ways. Sofie is the boss, even though Oats is the scarier one when it comes to what she'll do to make her point known with humans.

Oats is part abyssinian. Sofie could either be part birman, or part siberian?

Sofie is such a pleasing cat to the eye that there are so many more photos of her, but I've begun to note, as I had in previous years, that Oats is a very unusual cat. She's quite independent, loves to lie in your lap for short periods of time. Will sit for 10 to 15 minutes at a time staring at the wall and will spend other times scratching inside a bookcase, a cupboard or on a wall??

Oats is also the hunter. Sofie thinks she is but would not catch an animal even if it fell in her mouth. From mid June to the end of September is Oat's hunting season. She brings up birds, shrews, mice, small rats, an occasional squirrel and rabbit. We have a cat door and we have to check the house on our return to make sure we don't have any unwelcome visitors dropped of by Oats. She loves to feed us!.. and even though she has the smallest little meow... it can be quite loud when she's coming with a mouth full of shrew!!

She is twelve this year, but her age is still not showing. She may sleep a little more, but that's it! Sofie is about six and still acts like a kitten in many ways.. can be frisky, playful, or downright lazy!!

Flickr

2010-08-09T17:26:00.001-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Holyrood Beach & Harbour

2010-06-11T15:59:00.001-07:00

Holyrood Beach & Harbour
Originally uploaded by by the bay gal

I took this beautiful shot last night with my new camera (given to me for Christmas). I'm hoping to take more shots around Holyrood and will have them posted to my blog within a day or two of taking the shot. I live in an amazingly beautiful town. I am so lucky!

I pass this scene almost every day. So last night I thought it would be a great idea to have a night view captured with my great camera. I think I may have captured some of the essence of it's beauty.

Our town!

2010-05-29T17:04:00.000-07:00

I stated on my last blog that I would show some of the scenes I see on my walk about the town.. well.. I haven't taken new pictures, but I've dug up some older shots I've taken over the past year or so.

Holyrood is an beautiful little town at the head of Conception Bay. It's Website has much useful information for the visitor and resident alike... http://www.townofholyrood.com/default.php?display=modNews&do=viewNews&nid=23

I'll begin by showing a view of the most often seen part of the town, the Main Beach area...

This photo shows a view of the old fish plant which is now in the process of being replaced by a new school for Marine Offshore services. I'll add a new photo when the buildings are completed. The new buildings are quite esthetically pleasing and fit into the look of the town quite well.

The next photo is a view of the Main Beach area from the hill overlooking the harbour on the Conception Bay Highway.

This is a view of the Walkway and mural along the walkway that depicts a train travelling through the town (the walkway was originally the train track bed).

..to be continued...

Catching Up

2010-04-02T04:36:00.001-07:00

I've been away from my blog for too long....

We are now getting ready to head out on another cruise in the Western Caribbean. Our two boys and their families will come along with us and we are looking forward to every moment.

I think about past cruises and holidays and know that this one will be a another great adventure. We will be at many of the places we've seen before, but because of that we'll be relaxed and get to know a little more about each of these places, which include Grand Cayman, Belize, Cozemel-Mexico and Roatan-Honduras.

Altun-Ha, Belize

In a town called Hell, Grand Cayman

Chillin' in Cozumel-Mexico

Snorkling in Roatan-Honduras

The memories are so idealic... then we come back to our everyday life, refreshed and ready to continue with our realities.

My life today is simple, relaxed and full of interesting hobbies... as a result of retiring on June 30, 2009.

I try to exercise daily and have joined a gym.. on good weeks I get there at least 3 mornings. I also spend time hiking around the town and appreciating the many beautiful sites I see and the interesting chats I have with newcomers and old friends as I walk along.

Today is Good Friday. We will meet Carol, Peter and family and take part in a "Poor Man's Supper" at the Star of the Sea in Holyrood. This supper consists of Fish Cakes, Beans, Macaroni, homemade bread and cookies.. YUM!!!...

In my next blog I will try to concentrate on the many sites I see on my walks around our town.

September's Coming

2009-08-31T14:19:00.000-07:00

I've had an amazing summer after my retirement on June 30th. Filled with family, fun and photographs.

It began with finishing a basement that had been left in the slings for 34 years...

Then my husband relatives arrived for a two week visit from Manitoba. Most of them had never seen Newfoundland. During this time we did a Whale Boat Tour, a visit to Northern Bay, a visit to Brigus, many great times in the garden, and time eating, eating, eating!!!

Friends in Florida

2009-05-12T19:47:00.001-07:00

16
Originally uploaded by by the bay gal

The eight of us are friends since 1968. Some I hadn't seen since for many years. Ten years ago we started getting together for a weekend every two years. Two years ago we decided to spend our next 'weekend' together in Florida. Our weekend (8 days) took place two weeks ago. It was a blast. This photo was taken on the night we went to the musical "Jersey Boys" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM4fMmMq1S0
in Fort Lauderdale.

Where I Work!

2009-04-06T17:09:00.001-07:00

As promised yesterday, here is where I work. I've travelled the TCH for 55 km. taking about 45 minutes each way every day for 21 years to work at the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer centre, with the exception of holidays, sickness and weekends. I've enjoyed my work, but I need a new chapter in my life. Retirement Land.

I work in the lower brown brick building just behind the orange trees. There are parking lots for thousands of cars on either side of the street. The new Janeway Children's Hospital is the silver coloured building directly behine where I work. Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) is in the Health Sciences Centre (HSC), also, directly behind and across the street to the right. The Health Sciences Centre also houses the General Hospital, it's the large brown brick building on the right.

Weekend Work Day

2009-04-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

I decided to work today. I have too much piled on my desk to leave it another moment. So here I am finishing a payroll for 60 + people and then on to the Minutes of several meetings. I've been working here 21 years and will retire in a few months. It's a bittersweet departing. I enjoy the work, but I long for the freedom from the every day routine.

Last summer I took a few photo's of my workplace site... I'll add them in my next note.

Snow Day!

2009-01-31T18:37:00.000-08:00

A Beauty

Home!

I love days like the one I'll show from last week. It was a glorious day with sunshine on the new fallen snow from the previous day. I spent an hour or two outside taking photo's of everything pretty that I could see. I loved the lighting and the shadows. Everything was pure!

Mark and John, sr. scraped, shovelled and cleared the driveway, not because it needed to be done, but because they loved being out there. I saw them take a break and have a chat... taken from my bedroom window. I loved the way John leaned on the shovel and listened as Mark has an animated conversation with him.

There's a red newspaper box in there somewhere!

Sundays!

2008-11-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

These are Sunday photo's. Taken the same time of year, maybe a year ago.

Sunday is the first day of the week. On rainy Sundays - as it is today, it's usually a day of rest for me... reading, sleeping, a little computer fun, quiet time with my cats and eating out with John and friends. Sunny Sundays, mean energy, reflection, gardening, shovelling, walking, discovering, photography.

Today is a lazy day. I'll nap, fold clean clothes, listen to music and tidy house. Then, as per usual, we'll eat out with our friends.

Thought this was interesting

2008-11-12T16:44:00.000-08:00

Harper went from this... No Bailout...
http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSTOR00359720081009
to this... The government of Canada will buy up to another $50 billion in insured mortgages to help keep credit markets moving
http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/11/12/flahertyloans.html
after this ... 2007 Record Profits in Canada's Banking Industry
http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/who-bank-profits/

Checking it Further

2008-11-12T16:15:00.000-08:00

I'm not too sure about how this thing works... I have the title for my first post on top of the page, as if that's the name of my blog, and it's also directly above the post. Now I have to see what's going to happen this time. I think I'll add a photo I took the other day as well... just to see how that works out... ....This is my town.

Starting a Blog

2008-11-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

Starting a Blog is a scarey thing!
Will it make sense? Will it make a difference? Will it be worthwhile?
or
Will it just be a bit of fun?
I think to take the scariness out of it, I'll just have a bit of fun and try to make some sense along the way!
I'll add some photo's now and then... and, maybe a video. Maybe a commentary on the world scene when I'm motivated to do so.
We'll see??