will you kaylee?

What are you doing this weekend to celebrate, for some, the most dreaded holiday ever?

When you were in school during your adolescent years, how many had crushes? We all did. I don't care what one says we all had them. Now whether we remember who they were or what they looked like is probably not even worth remembering. I remember having crushes but whether I was brave enough to tell them was another story. The reason for not letting someone know in person is because of the feeling of rejection. So you either tell a friend to find out for you how the person even feels, or you send them a note their way. The feeling of rejection hurts in so many ways and can scar you temporarily, or forever. Some of us are not as strong as others and it can be a longer, bigger scar. Knowing at a young age that being rejected is just one of the many lessons in life and that there is a whole future of world ahead of you, is seldom in a young ones mind and heart.

Went to the grocery store the Thursday before valentines day. Imagine looking at moms while they buy valentine cards for their little ones to take to school the next morning, procrastinators like me. Went with my sweetheart and we did what we had never done before. We each picked out our valentine for each other. I'm like babe I think your valentine will love this and she did the same. Taking the fun out of surprises but it works for us. Especially when we share our money.

While standing in line I glanced over to the candy they purposefully put next to the check out line and saw a piece of paper with a written note on it. I grabbed it to read and it brought back young childhood memories. I brought it home with me. It was my piece of treasure. Thought and wondered how serious the person that was the recipient of the letter actually took it, since it was left as trash. I was hoping that they would have at least read it and not laughed at it for being passed to her. I'd hope that even though she left it as trash or a show and tell that she had the respect to at least answer it. What would you tell your little one had they not received an answer or the fact that you even knew that they had a crush and that their little heart could be hurting.

Happy Valentines Day to all the lovers out their....to the ones that feel love, be it by a mate or the ability to have a friend that cares for them.

I'm taking my love to a heart pumping screaming out loud experience that involves the scary and ghoulish things.

greasing my pants

I've been having the junk yard on my mind for months now. The junk yard, a place known for broken down or wrecked cars, a resting place for cars to be used for parts. Somehow I've been missing it. I remember my dad taking me there as a kid. We couldn't afford new parts for the cars when they broke down so this was like a haven for him to be able to find what could be used. Sometimes my sister would go so she and I would explore, wondering behind him as he looked for what he needed. It's not a safe place for kids to play but I missed the idea of going there with my dad.

When I went over to my parent's today my dad asked if I wanted to go with him to the junk yard, and I said yes. He said, "hope it's okay". I thought to myself why wouldn't it be? I think it's because ladies don't really go to a place like this one. When we arrived all I could think of was how much it had changed since I was a kid. Walking up to it, there was a lady waiting in her car while her man was inside. See what I mean about not being a ladies place to be? It still costs two bucks to get in. You also get your hand stamped and you sign in. Kind of exclusive and fancy, huh?

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We went for two things. A headlight for my mom's suburban and a transmission for my dad's truck. You'd be surprised how many people go for head lights. We were lucky to find one. The transmission was another story. Three hours later and we had the transmission. Heavy thing and all greased up. Having to pick it up and put it on the bed of the truck was another challenge. My dad is not as strong as when I was a kid so I have to fill in what he now lacks. My dad is getting old.

I enjoyed today, in more ways than you can imagine. Loved doing something I missed as a kid. Brought back memories. Knowing that just because I am a girl I can still hold it down like a guy. Not your ordinary lady. My dad always tried to teach us girls what he could about doing mechanic stuff to the cars but it never stuck.

Even though I was extra careful, today I got my jeans greased and I loved it.

a tiny story

With all the crap in the world I want to tell you a little tiny Christmas story. Yes, it barely passed but hadn't been in the mood to share it.

It's that time of year when you want something particular for Christmas. I mean you've been good this year right. It's only fair that you get something that you want. Not something that you need. When it comes to buying gifts I really suck at it. I would like to say that I'm really happy when Christmas is over with. The shopping and the headaches that come with it. You'd think that it is fun but when the world has become materialistic it gets harder to buy gifts. I do like giving just not the idea of getting the gift. I don't like the season.  It's like hey you are forgetting why it's even celebrated. People are more rude and cranky. It's the month that has more robberies. It's also when people are really depressed.

our Christmas tree this year.

I was a little disappointed that they didn't have elderlies this year at the angel tree setups. They did however have adults with disabilities that was quite entreating to shop for. I'm thinking to buy for an adult but not just a regular adult, a very special one. My workplace doesn't really have a Christmas party like the one I'd like to actually go to. I'd see friends go to their company's Christmas parties and thought that was always fun. Tried this year to do my own Christmas party and it actually worked even though not every one showed up. It was quite fun talked the whole night till closing time. Maybe I'll do it again next year. I sometimes would love to give all the people that I work with a little something for Christmas, but I'm not set up with those kind of funds. So what I decided to do is pick two people that don't get the acknowledgment that they deserve and went out and bought them a gift. Loved seeing their surprise look on their faces when I handed them a present. People always get a kick getting what they want but how many can say they get a kick out of giving a gift.

This year Santa was my father in law. Heathers dad was Santa at the Dallas Arboretum. If you went and snapped a picture with Santa, yes that was Heather's dad so please do share the photo. We did get a chance to snap one with Santa as well, but the Santa we took a picture with had tattoos and lives in Deep Ellum. I don't think I'll ever be too old for Santa. I might be too old for his lap because he can't handle all of this, but surely a picture will do. Heather showed our nephew a picture of Santa as her dad and he looked at her with a crazy look that said, "yeah right like Santa is your dad!"

went to a craft day in Irving and found this tree among others decorated and being voted to pick the best one

I didn't ask for anything this year wasn't feeling the spirit. Bu I did ask my secret Santa for lotion. I know it sounds silly but when I don't  want for anything I go for my need, and that is what came to mind. What tickled my feather was the fact that all my sisters including my babe and mother in law ended giving me lotions and I loved it. I got all kinds of smell goods. Wonder if I can make It my own trend for the years ahead.

I said I'd share a tiny Christmas story but I think I had too many to share.

A little girl about eight barely reaches the counter with her mother and younger sister. She isn't afraid to speak her tiny mind so we hold a small conversation. She tells me how she is ready for Christmas.  She is ready for Santa to come. I smile and tell her, "me too" and she gets the giggles.  She was wearing a hijab. At that moment I realized that it's just a small child, just like any other, raised differently but with the same spirit.

When you think of Christmas what comes to mind?

no matter who you are

We didn't attend the Dallas Pride Parade this year. The parade had more cons than pros. If you are getting older, like me, I think you'd understand. We almost didn't make it to the Tarrant Pride Parade. The parade took place in down town Ft. Worth. Woke up late from watching scary movies so we were on our way to eat brunch.

I mentioned that it was late to go to the festivities but we looked at out car clock and said well it starts in 30 minutes, if we make it then it was meant to be. We live by these words. if it's meant to happen it will. We arrived and searched for parking which happened to be easier than Dallas. We did pay but quickly arrived two minutes before it started. We waited when a group of supporters approached the parade at the same time as we did but across the way they stood. When they started preaching their hate we quickly moved. Didn't want to hear hate while enjoying a pride parade for being who we are. Just to think that preaching can also be used towards hate reminded me of people in my life that are okay with having their lives preached hate and being okay with it just worries me.  At the same time what are these people taught to tell me that I'm going to hell. To tell me to repent and convert over because if not God doesn't love me. I feel sorrow for them for judging me.

Everyone was so friendly. the kind of friendly were it is more family oriented with an older more respectful crowd. People in regular attire without being naked. At least that is what was around us. I kept thinking to myself, these are the people I want to be associated with. The parade didn't last two hours like the one in Dallas does, but it was still meaningful. I forgot to time it but I believe it was close to an hour. You probably wouldn't believe me if you didn't see it but there were no beer can crushed or bo0ttles broken on the ground, There was no litter. A well kept clean parade. The parade had so many church floats just wanting to marry you. I didn't think I'd see so many preachers want to marry a person of LGBT before, felt touched. After the parade we decided to visit their festivities down Main St. There was an AARP booth and I sure did visit it. I love Dallas, but just don't tell him that Ft worth was way better.

Didn't even have to wait another hour just to leave our parking spot. What a great experience. Did I mention that with the buildings down main there was shade on both sides of the parade.

The question is did we ever eat? Yes. We did.

momento

When we arrived Monday we didn't know that it was the fourteenth anniversary of the passing of eight people in a terrible accident that occurred on the island. We knew of the people and how they passed away. But hadn't realized it had been fourteen years. Early Monday was their memorial service. We arrived in the evening so stopped today to remember them. 

left from the memorial service

Fourteen years ago a tugboat hit a column of the causeway that connects the island to main land. It is the second largest bridge in Texas. The next morning heading to work people didn't expect for there to be a void of bridge missing and they ended falling into the bay and died. Volunteers with there own boats help transport people back and forth. Due to the accident there are now lights every so many feet that will flash to warn you if something is wrong with the bridge. Stop turn around.

my lock

Decided to check to see if a piece of trinket that I left there last year was still there. To my surprise it was. A couple of years ago I started carrying locks that I painted with special words on them. Wherever I would go to a place that I loved I placed a lock there. I was happy to see that it still was. I had painted it burgundy and wrote my pen name on it because of the salt and humidity in the air it turned the lock to a rustic look. You can barely see the writing on it. A little piece of me stays there. Maybe I'll start it again. One that I left in Deep Ellum lasted three years and no longer resides there. It's a form of art for me. I share it with you now. If you ever come upon one on your adventures it probably was left there by me.

There is talk about building a second bridge that would be eight miles long. If you've ever driven on the Queen Isabella causeway and felt that anxious feeling of being on it, wonder how many daredevils would crave to try the eight mile one?

an unexpected companian

Woke up to our babies barking out the window. They sure keep us safe. It's cute when they peek their head out the window and then scare you right up with the barking. You are trying to stay in bed but they just wont let you. I wonder if they also scare the people passing by?

Picked up shells today. Tried to pick the strangely unique ones but I think others wake up earlier to get them first. Stayed on the beach as long as we could until we both started to get headaches. That's our cue. Have you ever beat the beach? Ask heather next time you see her to demonstrate how that is done.

our unexpected companion

Came back and took a well deserved nap. Heading out to the strip and Heather has been talking about this place we should try. It's called Wanna Wanna. It's a restaurant slash inn. Towards the back of the island. It was a perfect spot to sit down and eat as you look out on the beach. It felt so calming and relaxing. Found out this was the place to be. Everyone was friendly. The way the island should always be, filled with people that love to say hello and want to engage in other human acknowledgement. Once we were there we didn't want to leave. We wondered out of all the years we've been here how come we hadn't stopped here before. If ever on the island please stop here, I highly recommend it. You eat outside but the breeze of the ocean keeps you cool.

ceviche

Who would have thought that with the other people at Wanna Wanna we would have a visitor greet us by our table. How did he know Heather is a cat person. He laid by her feet. Looked like we had trained this cat to be like a dog and stay, at least that's what some people thought when they saw him.

Decided to say the heck with it and stopped by one of our first stops many years ago, a gelato ice cream shop. I had a coffee gelato and Heather had a coconut mocha drink, deliciousness. Then we ate our deserts as we reminisced on the past. We have so many memories here.

coffee gelato

Today was better than the first days. We realized that I'm getting old. I'm starting to think like the older generation. When I asked the question, do I look old?  She replied, you kind of look like you are getting there, and I felt it.

sitting outside at Wanna Wanna

Want to give a little tip from experience. If you ever seat at an eatery by the lake or beach always check your seat. I sat down not seeing the water that was on my chair and got my butt wet. Yeah someone that had just got out of the water, sat down, enjoyed a drink and left leaving a puddle of  water on the chair.

not tired at all, wink wink

doggie prints heading towards the water

Slept in today. Well more like seven in the morning. Took advantage of the complementary breakfast. It's not a full kitchen but the cereal and bagels with coffee hit the spot. The four legged baby's enjoyed the ocean water. They enjoyed it so much that they started drinking the water. Yeah the salty ocean water, had to put a stop to that quick. The water felt so good, and the beach was meant for us only. Love going to the beach on the off seasons. Right now kids are in school so parents won't take time off from work so it's like if we have become winter Texans. A winter Texan is someone of age that travels to the beach island when there isn't a sign of young hood. I love it. I don't like to travel when it's populated with people. I like to take trips during the week when I know there won't be as many people around. I contradict myself because I like meeting new people but not when I want to relax. So everywhere we have been to, we are the youngest couple. If you spend more than three hours on the beach, the island sucks all the energy out of you. When we get back to the hotel we are starving and tired, talk about a relaxing trip. Have you ever walked on a floor of shells? It's pretty smooth and neat until you step on one that got cracked. But imagine walking down the island and having fresh shells appear from the ocean, you get first pick. Today I saw an old lady carrying an Easter bucket picking sea shells. Imagine doing that on a regular basis creating gifts or art from things brushed up from the other side of what seems like endless water.

carefully walking the ground while looking for treasure

Enjoyed our food choices today. The service was better. Hit our favorite spot called El Senor Donkey, Mexican seafood restaurant. I haven't had a burger. I feel that if you go to an island you eat seafood. One thing we found out was that oysters are not in season for September and even though we are in the tip of Texas, they have to get them from Louisiana and even they are having a hard time getting them. We also came when Rosh Hashana was being celebrated so some places were closed while others closed early. All I could think about was the fact that we are in the tip of Texas and its major business owners are Jewish. Crazy how that is, but awesome. Didn't meet any friendly people today, on the contrary we meet a lady that really didn't like us. She was like is this together *enter sourpuss face*? Yes, it is.

look at all that fish

Decided to go the visitors center to get some postcards to mail out but they didn't provide any this year so I have to come up with another idea.

For a few seconds I stop to realize I missed Harvey, he loves to talk to you. He goes around the house meowing. He meows until you notice him.     

Right now it's a burn kind of night, yeah a sunburn. Is it worth it? I think it is. I can prove to you that brown skin under the sun by the salty, cool water will turn red.

what the view is for a winter Texan

Another cool fact or fiction tale is that when we stopped to a store the owner happened to mention that his store has a ghost. Creepy Awesome.