Saturday, December 4, 2010

Christmas Arrives in Florida


St Armand's Key Christmas arrived at St Armand's Circle last night,Dec 3, 2010, with Santa followed by a fire engine. Once around the circle and then a few speeches from local dignitaries and then the switch was pulled! Merry Christmas 2010.

Then Chris and I drove to Anna Maria Island for dinner at the Beach House restaurant.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sand Sculpting 2010

Absolutely amazing. I have always wanted to see one of these first hand and today I did.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Les Miserables


Chris, Liddy and I went to see the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Mis tonight. Chris and I saw it twice on Broadway and tonight's performance reminded us of just why we went to see the play twice.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

De-Stuff-ifying

Slowly but surely 985 is becoming destuffied! Bit by bit stuff is going to the Goodwill or those who could use it. The garbage men have gotten their fair share too.
I think that, over the years, the stuff has been reproducing on its own because, even though I am starting to see space, there is so much left!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Door re-done





Our beautiful front door had seen better days. It was severely weather worn and badly in need of a face lift. Enter Boza Ilich, and after a thorough scraping and sanding, two coats of Gel-coat stain and two coats of polyurethane it is looking proud again.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Lights go out in Elizabeth

On Tuesday, September 21, 2010 the power went out about 1:00 P.M. I was in my class with twenty-five of the most obnoxious 6th graders on planet Earth. For the duration of the outage (about two+ hours)the school went into lock down. This means no one in the hallways. No bathrooms, no water fountain, now if I could have got them to do some school work things might have gone better, but they were too far gone way too soon.

One girl packed up and started walking towards the door. When I asked her where she thought she was going, she replied, "Home". Now that may have been a good idea, except that we were stuck in a lock down. One boy continually demanded that he be allowed out of the room to get water. The worst of it was that even though they were sitting across a table from each other, they found the need to shout their business at the top of their lungs.

When the lights came back on at 3:00 we remained in lock down because the third floor houses a classroom of handicapped children who needed the Elizabeth Fire Department to carry them down the stairs because the elevator was not operating.

Oh what a day!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

First Full Week of School

The first full week of school is history. That is, if anyone would care to remember this, rather unmemorable week.

My students arrived unhappy and unwilling to learn. I arrived dazed and confused and no one has stepped forward to help, least of all the Math and Language Arts coaches, whose job it is to help me.

I think this will be my last year.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Deck gets decked out

Anthony came over early this morning to help me with the deck. After hours of scraping and painting, the deck at 985 looks presentable again.

On another note, the deck is 20 years old. I remember getting books and planning and getting the necessary permits from the town. I remember John Bianchini helping me and insisting on adding supports not required by the town code. I am so glad we did. The deck is still strong enough to drive a car onto it!!!

Thank you Anthony!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

September


September arrived while my attention was on something else. The dreaded trip back north is now imminent. I am just not ready to leave paradise -- and my angel.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Siesta Key Beach


One of the top three beaches on mainland USA. White sand cool underfoot even in 90+ degree heat. Clean blue-green water that I can actually see my feet through.
Lovely day with Chris, Liddy and Alison.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Third time is the charm!


My third round of golf this summer! I guess I can consider myself a golfer. OK, so maybe that is a bit presumptuous of me but I am having fun and would like to continue.

Peridia Golf Club in Bradenton, a beautiful Par 3 course close to our home here in Florida.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Twice in one summer!


This is the second time this summer that I played golf. Except for a few in the middle, I went through the entire 18 holes. I played at the Legacy Golf Club of Lakewood Ranch.

The course was beautiful and liberally dotted with water hazards. In fact while putting on the third hole, an alligator lazily swam along nearby. That gives a whole new meaning to the term, 'water hazard'.

I need to take lessons if I want to continue this game. When I get here full time, I think I will definitely do that.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Moving Van Arrives on Simonton Street

We are moving in, again. Cesar and Julio just unloaded furniture and boxes of essentials for us to take up life in Florida. The scary part is that there is at least as much waiting to be packed up and shipped. I will deal with that when the time comes, for right now, I am enjoying Florida.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Surf's Up



Driving to Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island we encountered torrential rains. I was contemplating turning around when I remembered that I was in Florida and if I could just wait five minutes the weather would change -- and change it did. The remainder of the morning was sunny and rather pleasant. It was a bit windy, however, and the surf was pounding the shoreline like it rarely does on the west coast.

Regardless of the surf, the beach conditions were just about perfect. Liddy and I spent a relaxing couple of hours splashing in the surf, looking for shells and reading on the sand.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Rosie's B-day

The cats arrived in Florida today and Memphis already puked on the floor and pooped outside of the litter box. I think she is angry for some reason.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Golf Outting


I played golf today for the first time in ages. I did well enough to delude myself into thinking that I should play again.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Chapter Closes on Pocono Pines




The end of an era. The home in Pocono Pines is now just a memory. The closing took place today at the Century 21 office on Route 940 and Sullivan Trail.

We moved in on a snowy December day in 2001 and spent many a wonderful (and chilly) day there. We drove a heavily laden 1992 Ford F150 that John Bianchini gave to me, which somehow became Annmarie's preferred mode of transportation.
This is a bittersweet transition. We all loved that spot, but since we have been here in Florida it has been somewhat neglected. I am happy to have it in the hands of people who will appreciate it and happy to be out from under the extra expenses to keep it going in abstentia.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Chris Retires



The end of an era! After 27 years of spending money for the City of Elizabeth, Chris is retiring. A move to Florida is imminent as is the enrollment of Liddy at Braden River High School as a Junior for the 2010 - 2011 school-year.



The party was well attended with City Hall friends both retired and active. Mayor Bollwage made a point of stopping by to wish her well and join in the festivities.
The Veneruso's are in the midst of a life-changing move. We are all, understandably nervous and and at the same time excited by the possibilities. PHOTOS

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Birthday Musings




64 years-old today!




With thanks to Paul McCartney and the Beatles I ask, "Will you still need me, will you still feed me,When I'm sixty-four"?




Life is moving faster now that I'm 64. I am still here in Elizabeth, but with Chris and Liddy going to live full time in Florida soon, the question is, how much longer will I stay here?




Hopefully I will post some pictures of the 4th of July / Birthday bash at Annie's and Louie's.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Snow Day II

Hopefully the last Snow Day of the year! I mean what is the point of having a snow day, if you have to shovel snow and chip ice. Florida, here I come.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Snow Day



One two punch. Snow early in the morning, then heavy snow, wind and cold later in the afternoon into the night! No wonder I am working on retirement to sunny Florida.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

The way to womanhood


Sylvia's Sweet Sixteen party and Liddy began planning what to wear last August. She did look absolutely stunning in her red dress we bought on-line. The shoes with four inch heels looked dangerous to me, but she wore them with grace.
As instructed, I was there to pick her up at 10:00 P.M. I found her dancing and unwilling to leave. But, alas, on this earth, all good things must come to an end and end it did. We came home and Liddy went straight to sleep, happily exhausted from fun with her friends. And Dad took another step toward dotage.