Friday, June 7, 2019
My Dad, A Pioneer in Space Travel
With the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 and the landing of the first people on the Moon, I have a lot to be proud of. With this remembrance, I have to honor my dad for Father's Day and him being one of the pioneers in the world of space.
You see, not to many people had a dad who worked as an engineer in this exciting field of space travel. He was an engineer who worked on some of the first intercontinental ballistic missiles, which preceded the launching of the Apollo missions. His titles included: launch conductor, teaching Air Force candidates and research and development.
We moved from state to state while achieving these objectives, and probably why I have vagabond shoes today. It was in the sixties and a very exciting time, which included the race to land the first man on the moon. I still have vivid memories of my dad working and living in Huntsville, Alabama. I was born in San Diego where he worked for General Dynamics.
How did my dad get into this line of work? He was a veteran of WW2 and was in the Army Corps. I ask my mom years later about his military service and she said, they kept sending him to schools which included this emerging technology.
With this training, he was well trained to enter this important and emerging field of work. His list of job titles included, launch conductor for the Snark Missile at Cape Canaveral. He then went on to General Dynamics installing Atlas missile sites in Texas.
When we moved to Huntsville, his experience had led him to research and development with Brown Engineering at Redstone Arsenal. There was a team of scientists and engineers working on the space program, which included my dad. His boss was Wernher von Braun, considered the founder of space exploration in the United States. I can remember my dad coming home and complaining about something von Braun had said! I didn't know at the time, the magnitude of his stature !
The technology my dad used working on the Snark and Atlas missiles was important in launching the first men to the moon. It was such a race to get to the moon. Looking back proudly, I can say
my dad helped get us there! Happy anniversary to landing on the moon and happy Father's Day, Dad.
My Dad at my UF graduation. That is the O'Connell Center in the back when it was brand new.
Thursday, September 28, 2017
You Don't Have to be a Kid to Enjoy Legoland
Legoland was such a great place to visit with my blogger wife in September. I can tell you that you don't have to be a kid to enjoy this place, located in Winter Haven, Florida.
We had a chance to stay at the themed bungalows, located just across the street from Legoland. This is a separate resort called Legoland Beach Retreat. These bungalows were brightly colored with a theme from the characters of Legoland.
This place offered many beach style activities for the kids, but adults can tag along and enjoy also.
Ok, let me tell you what to enjoy while you are there. Don't miss the gigantic pool and grab a refreshing cocktail to enjoy while relaxing there.
There are also many benefits for staying here, including the free all you can eat breakfast, which is made for a king. You also get free parking at Legoland.
When you head to the park, you won't have to pay a big fee to park. Once inside enjoy over 50 rides with roller coasters and many displays of characters made entirely from Legos. Here is one of the many ones that I enjoyed, a large replica of Einstein.
We had a chance to stay at the themed bungalows, located just across the street from Legoland. This is a separate resort called Legoland Beach Retreat. These bungalows were brightly colored with a theme from the characters of Legoland.
This place offered many beach style activities for the kids, but adults can tag along and enjoy also.
Ok, let me tell you what to enjoy while you are there. Don't miss the gigantic pool and grab a refreshing cocktail to enjoy while relaxing there.
There are also many benefits for staying here, including the free all you can eat breakfast, which is made for a king. You also get free parking at Legoland.
When you head to the park, you won't have to pay a big fee to park. Once inside enjoy over 50 rides with roller coasters and many displays of characters made entirely from Legos. Here is one of the many ones that I enjoyed, a large replica of Einstein.
Thursday, July 20, 2017
My Book is Published!
I have been writing about 5 years now for this blog and other online companies. It is exciting to finally publish my very own book! The idea came to me in a dream, and I have created a short story book and want to keep writing this, as a series.
Some people say writing is hard work, but it seems to come easy to me and I enjoy it. The story is about a hidden vortex society of oddballs, which uses Artificial Intelligence to survive and rely on themselves for a better life.
It is now available on Amazon Kindle Edition and is free for a limited time. Here is the link and enjoy! The Vortex-The Future is Now
Some people say writing is hard work, but it seems to come easy to me and I enjoy it. The story is about a hidden vortex society of oddballs, which uses Artificial Intelligence to survive and rely on themselves for a better life.
It is now available on Amazon Kindle Edition and is free for a limited time. Here is the link and enjoy! The Vortex-The Future is Now
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Spring Cleaning. Time to #DonateStuffCreateJobs and #ShopGoodwill
This is a social good post for Goodwill Industries with Ad Council via Bloggin' Mamas. No monetary compensation was given to post this and any opinions stated are mine.
"Over the past several years, most of us have had a family member, friend, acquaintance struggle in this economy. Either they have lost a job or struggled to find employment. And if not someone you know personally, really, all you have to do is turn on the TV or pull up social media to see the struggle. It is real.
Goodwill’s career centers, training programs and staffing operations give people the resources, skills and confidence that changes thousands of lives each year.
So how can you help to be a part of this growth and effort in your own community? It’s easy! Donate to Goodwill = create jobs!"
"Thanks to the programs and support services made possible by donations of clothes and household items, Goodwill helped place more than 312,000 people in jobs in the United States and Canada in 2015 – that’s one person finding a job every 23 seconds of every business day.
Why donate? Because what you may not want or have use for may be perfect for someone else! If we have perfectly good items that can be loved by someone else, why not help our community? If you are not sure where your local Goodwill is, you can use the Goodwill Locator App available for Android and iOS devices and at http://www.goodwill.org/ (click “Explore Our Map” on the homepage). Simply input the items you’re donating to calculate the number of hours of career counseling, on-the-job training, résumé preparation, financial planning classes, and other services you’ve helped provide people facing challenges finding employment. When jobs thrive, communities thrive. Last year, nearly 2 million people engaged in face-to-face Goodwill services to advance in their careers. More than 35 million people accessed education, training, mentoring and online learning tools offered by Goodwill virtually to strengthen their skills and gain industry-recognized credentials. We have done our part! Now it is time for you to do yours! Tag us on your social media posts with a photo of your Goodwill donations using #DonateStuffCreateJobs."
Another cool thing I just found:
"Calculate the Value of Your Clutter: Clean out your closet.You can even calculate how much your donation helps your local community by using Goodwill’s Donation Impact Calculator, a feature available within the Goodwill Locator App available for Android and iOS devices and at http://www.goodwill.org/ (click “Explore Our Map” on the homepage). Simply input the items you’re donating to calculate the number of hours of career counseling, on-the-job training, résumé preparation, financial planning classes, and other services you’ve helped provide people facing challenges finding employment. When jobs thrive, communities thrive. #DonateStuffCreateJobs"
So, I'm feeling good about cleaning, clearing and helping my community. Come join BB & me and let's see how much Good Will we can make!
Now I'm not near 115 years old, but I do remember seeing plenty of Goodwill stores in my day. Seems like it was always the first place to go if you were looking for the unique and unusual. As a parttime EBay seller, that's one of the first places I go to when I travel. Guess you can say that between my wife Babushka and myself, we've accumulated quite a lot. Matter of fact, haven't written on the blog much, doing some major Spring cleaning, so it seems perfect to post something about just that. Not only is Spring Cleaning good for one's soul- getting rid of excess and clearing space, now come to read it's good for one's community too.
Why donate? Because what you may not want or have use for may be perfect for someone else! If we have perfectly good items that can be loved by someone else, why not help our community? If you are not sure where your local Goodwill is, you can use the Goodwill Locator App available for Android and iOS devices and at http://www.goodwill.org/ (click “Explore Our Map” on the homepage). Simply input the items you’re donating to calculate the number of hours of career counseling, on-the-job training, résumé preparation, financial planning classes, and other services you’ve helped provide people facing challenges finding employment. When jobs thrive, communities thrive. Last year, nearly 2 million people engaged in face-to-face Goodwill services to advance in their careers. More than 35 million people accessed education, training, mentoring and online learning tools offered by Goodwill virtually to strengthen their skills and gain industry-recognized credentials. We have done our part! Now it is time for you to do yours! Tag us on your social media posts with a photo of your Goodwill donations using #DonateStuffCreateJobs."
So, I'm feeling good about cleaning, clearing and helping my community. Come join BB & me and let's see how much Good Will we can make!
Sunday, February 26, 2017
President Trump?
The recent election of Donald Trump has left the world in awe. Trump is an authoritarian leader who made some big promises during his election campaign. His predictions and plans for the future seem radical for a United States President. Is this good or bad? Why did voters see him so differently?
President Trump won the most divided election in history and he made some people believe he could do something for them. Some of the promises he made include, protecting our borders and country, increasing our Gross Domestic Product while putting America first again.
Americans are hardworking and they believe Trump can put them back to work again, despite the fact that companies will not be increasing their productivity. He does not believe in climate change and has hired many billionaires and millionaires to his cabinet.
He wants to makes us a more sovereign country with little outside influence. Europe, Japan and others are scared of him making for an unstable world. This seems backwards to me but only time will tell.if this billionaire's plans create chaos or if the world comes to their senses.
We can't predict the future and this is why President Trump gives us such great concern, because we have not seen a president like this ever in history. Many of us are still scratching our heads about how the country and the world will turn out.
President Trump won the most divided election in history and he made some people believe he could do something for them. Some of the promises he made include, protecting our borders and country, increasing our Gross Domestic Product while putting America first again.
Americans are hardworking and they believe Trump can put them back to work again, despite the fact that companies will not be increasing their productivity. He does not believe in climate change and has hired many billionaires and millionaires to his cabinet.
He wants to makes us a more sovereign country with little outside influence. Europe, Japan and others are scared of him making for an unstable world. This seems backwards to me but only time will tell.if this billionaire's plans create chaos or if the world comes to their senses.
We can't predict the future and this is why President Trump gives us such great concern, because we have not seen a president like this ever in history. Many of us are still scratching our heads about how the country and the world will turn out.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
History Can be Fun, Just Visit St. Augustine @FlHistoricCoast #hosted
My wife landed a vacation to the nearby historic town of St. Augustine thanks to the great people of Viaja San Agustin and Florida Historic Coast. We are writers and both of us had endless fun. You might be saying aren't all vacations fun, well they can be. This charming city has many attractions to keep one busy and we could not do all the things we had scheduled. I don't know, but I think I'm the perfect age to enjoy and appreciate all the city has to offer.
Visiting this beautiful old-world charming city in the winter is hard to beat, because you get all the holiday essence like the Night of Lights. This fun, chilly ride around the city lets you enjoy it decorated with lots of white lights. You ride in a little train experiencing a winter wonderland in the oldest city in the U.S. while the driver plays fun music. They even had 3D glasses, which lit up santa everywhere you looked.
The historic sites like the 1695 fort, Castillo de San Marcos built by the Spanish is just one of the many interesting places to visit and linger in the past. Many tours like the one at the Colonial Quarter help you understand the impact it had on our history.
Maybe you aren't so much into history, then there are a variety of restaurants like the Raintree, which was set in a Victorian house. The food was great and the staff and owners make you feel at home. Another favorite is the San Sebastian Wine tasting tour and can you believe St Augustine has its own distillery?
The Spanish architecture, museums and beautiful churches are everywhere you look around this charming town. St. Augustine will leave you wanting to come back and visit, over and over!
Visiting this beautiful old-world charming city in the winter is hard to beat, because you get all the holiday essence like the Night of Lights. This fun, chilly ride around the city lets you enjoy it decorated with lots of white lights. You ride in a little train experiencing a winter wonderland in the oldest city in the U.S. while the driver plays fun music. They even had 3D glasses, which lit up santa everywhere you looked.
The historic sites like the 1695 fort, Castillo de San Marcos built by the Spanish is just one of the many interesting places to visit and linger in the past. Many tours like the one at the Colonial Quarter help you understand the impact it had on our history.
Maybe you aren't so much into history, then there are a variety of restaurants like the Raintree, which was set in a Victorian house. The food was great and the staff and owners make you feel at home. Another favorite is the San Sebastian Wine tasting tour and can you believe St Augustine has its own distillery?
The Spanish architecture, museums and beautiful churches are everywhere you look around this charming town. St. Augustine will leave you wanting to come back and visit, over and over!
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| Night of Lights |
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| Ponce De Leon at the Lightner Museum |
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| St. Augustine Distillery |
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| Memorial Presbyterian Church is Florida's first and oldest Presbyterian congregation, established in June 1824. |
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| Stuffed flounder with crab at the Raintree Restaurant |
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| Castillo de San Marcos |
"3 days not enough" dijo @babushkasSweeti esp. After @SanSebastianW tasting. #hosted #Viajasanagustin #FlHistoricCoast #StAugustine #loveFl pic.twitter.com/HjsVcvnebZ— bohemian babushka (@BBabushka) January 5, 2017
Monday, December 12, 2016
Enjoy the Season for Giving and Ease off the Manic Decorating
Another Christmas is upon us and you can see all the combos of decorations that everyone puts in their yard and on TV. There is a show that has a competition on lighting up your house and everyone is excited from this manic decorating. To me it is a little irritating although it can be entertaining at times.
The thing that irritates me the most is how so many houses you see decorated lack any real theme, which just gives me visual overload. I guess if your a youngster it can be fun but not for some folks. It seems people had more taste in putting up their outdoor decorations in the past, not just including every possible combination of Christmas characters imaginable.
My advice is to create a theme before starting your outdoor decorating, then proceed. One other note I have observed is there are less manger scenes these days, but I'm always more impressed by the ones I do see than any of the other decorations.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy the shots around Crawfordville and Tallahassee.
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| Park Avenue Tallahassee |
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| With wife Babushka in Dorothy Ovens Park night time Tallahassee. Day shots of Crawfordville Courthouse. |
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Another Hurricane and its name was Hermine
People prepare for the worst which means stocking up on food, flashlights, batteries, ice and other survival supplies, Big trees are nice but not when they come crashing down into your house and this is my biggest worry during these intense storms.
I'm happy to say after living in this same spot, my place has never seen any major damage from these trees or wind! It is a nice spot and I want to stay here for some time.
The worst was being without power for a day and a half, but feel blessed because some people in Tallahassee had huge trees come down on their property and power was out for more than 100,000.
I can say I survived another one living here in this same spot for 23 years, These storms pack winds over 100 mph sometimes, so this is no easy feat . It was also hot without power and I read it was the 2nd hottest summer on record. Only one thing to do, find some cool water and enjoy!
Friday, August 26, 2016
"Lost in Space" Brings Back Memories
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| photobucket via Jamie80Rocks |
It is amazing how watching an old movie or TV show brings back memories of the actual time period of the sixties. If you can remember the TV sci-fi series "Lost in Space" then you kind of know what I mean. This was just a fun show to watch about being in futuristic space in what was 1997!
You might have heard some great stories about the 60's if you are from a different generation and it was a fun time! It seemed like the development of space would have accelerated quicker than it has when I was growing up in the sixties.
My dad was an engineer who worked on some of the first rockets sent into space and he always had some great stories when he came home. Space seemed very real back then, not just in the wacky TV series "Lost in Space". John F. Kennedy was big on the space program and it seemed to be progressing fast and I remember support decreasing as time went by and my dad losing his job.
Now watching "Lost in Space" on Hulu, it has brought back some amazing memories even though the series only ran three years. I think the sixties really were great and opportunistic years and I am enjoying a part of them once again.
Youtube video of "Lost in Space", enjoy the cool music and how the show begins.
Sweetie signing off for now.
Sweetie signing off for now.
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Sunday, August 7, 2016
Summer Vacation in Volusia County, Florida
This trip was hosted by SeaWorld and the West Volusia Tourism group.
Well, I needed a summer vacation so, my wife and granddaughter ventured with me to Volusia County near Orlando. My wife, Bohemian Babushka, has some connections and she got us a two day stay at the Deland Hampton Inn, yes amazing. This was great, because not only do you get a great room, with a pool and gym, but you get the-all you can eat breakfast and can go back and have a little bit more later. They also have 24 hour coffee bar and 8 pm is time for fresh baked Cookies & Milk. What a great place to stay and relax!
Before checking into the hotel, we went to a "splash party" at Sea World with our granddaughter La Princesa and she had a great time. I didn't do the splash party, but got soaked anyway with a torrential rain and thunderstorm. Didn't help with my cold, but it did make for a wonderful family memory.
Well, I needed a summer vacation so, my wife and granddaughter ventured with me to Volusia County near Orlando. My wife, Bohemian Babushka, has some connections and she got us a two day stay at the Deland Hampton Inn, yes amazing. This was great, because not only do you get a great room, with a pool and gym, but you get the-all you can eat breakfast and can go back and have a little bit more later. They also have 24 hour coffee bar and 8 pm is time for fresh baked Cookies & Milk. What a great place to stay and relax!
Before checking into the hotel, we went to a "splash party" at Sea World with our granddaughter La Princesa and she had a great time. I didn't do the splash party, but got soaked anyway with a torrential rain and thunderstorm. Didn't help with my cold, but it did make for a wonderful family memory.
Next up was the St. Johns eco riverboat tour, which was a beautiful and relaxing ride where you could see some creatures that make their home here, like these Barred Owls.
La Princesa got to drive the riverboat and she did very well.
La Princesa needed a summer trip as much as we did and she wanted pizza and had it twice.
Now you know you have to please royalty, so pizza at Flippers and at the Family Fun Town.
Besides the awesome pizza, the Family Fun Town, has miniature golf, arcade games, batting cages and go carts. We did almost all of it and had a good time. They have great family packs and options to make it a truly fun place for full days and parties. They picked their name perfectly; we could have stayed there the whole day!!
The go carts were fun for both of us; they were fast.
We had a fun and relaxing vacation and looking forward to going to Destin next month, thanks to my Babushka! I just love being married to a travel blogger, hope to become one myself soon; it's a great gig if you can get it!
Where would you love to go if you could travel anywhere?
So long for now,
Sweetie
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Homeowner help with the #MHA
Foreclosures can have a devastating effect on families and communities. There are still too many homeowners struggling to make their mortgage payments or facing the prospect of losing their homes. About one in 13 homeowners nationwide has fallen behind on his or her mortgage payments, putting them at a higher risk of foreclosure. Some people may go their entire lives without ever having to face the struggle of foreclosure. If you are reading this, I hope that you are one of those people. But if you are or maybe it isn’t you, it is someone you know and love, I hope you are not going through it alone. It is a sad but true fact that most people who have foreclosure knocking at their door have no idea where to turn and they have no idea that there is actually help available to them. And what is worse – many of these people fall victim to scams that not only will not help them but will make their situation even more unstable.
Making Home Affordable is a free government resource that can make paying the mortgage easier for homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments. With free help from HUD-approved housing experts, homeowners can avoid being scammed by those demanding payment for assistance. When it comes to upfront fees, MHA tells homeowners, “Don’t Pay, Walk Away.” o Through the federal Making Home Affordable program, many homeowners have received much-needed help to reduce their monthly payments, get mortgage relief, and avoid foreclosure. o Telephone scammers often request payment by wire transfer services similar to MoneyGram, or completion of paperwork containing your Social Security Number. Do not make any mortgage payments by wire transfer, or provide any personal information, in response to these calls. If you receive unsolicited calls, always check with your mortgage company using the phone number on your mortgage statement, or call 888-995-HOPE™ (4673) to check its legitimacy. o Beware of telephone calls urging you to take advantage of the Making Home Affordable Program. Beware of anyone seeking to charge you in advance for mortgage modification services. In most cases, charging fees in advance of a mortgage modification is illegal. o Paying a third party to assist with your application may not improve your likelihood of receiving a mortgage modification. Beware of individuals or companies that ask you for payment, tout their success rate, or claim to be Making Home Affordable (MHA) or Home Affordable Modification (HAMP) experts.
I know this is a great resource and hope it helps many of you.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Florida State Parks and Historical Re-enactments
Anytime you get the chance to see history come to life, it is educational and fun. My wife and I spent a saturday watching one of these re-enactments at a beautiful Florida state park. Beautiful thick oak trees with hanging moss set the stage at the Fort Mose Historic State Park where our theater group was putting on a play and we would stay and get to see the historic battle of Fort Mose located in St. Augustine.
My wife sometimes acts in the play, but is now the social media director for the "Theater with a Mission" or TWAM. I was there to take pictures and video of the play "El Muerto". It was great fun and was surprised by some great acting of the Spanish and British Leaders that were in the battle. Check out this video of them conversing before the battle.

Being outside in a beautiful Florida park is hard to beat and the historic plays and re-enactments are so much fun! That is General Oglethorpe for the British in the red jacket.
My wife sometimes acts in the play, but is now the social media director for the "Theater with a Mission" or TWAM. I was there to take pictures and video of the play "El Muerto". It was great fun and was surprised by some great acting of the Spanish and British Leaders that were in the battle. Check out this video of them conversing before the battle.
Being outside in a beautiful Florida park is hard to beat and the historic plays and re-enactments are so much fun! That is General Oglethorpe for the British in the red jacket.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
My Wife says, "I Got Lucky When I Married Her"
My wife sometimes says to me, "You got lucky when you married me", and I always answer her swiftly with a "yes"! There are a number of things about my wife Sonia or her persona, Bohemian Babushka that make me lucky.
So far it hasn't been her playing of the lottery that has made me lucky, but we have been on the roll lately with the Florida game, "Lucky Money" winning a couple dollars many times. The quotation by my wife usually comes after a great meal that she has prepared and she knows I love it when she sees my head bobbing.
The other night she fixed an original tasting pork with a light barbecue sauce with one of my favorites, red beans and rice with squash in it. The mix of red beans, tender pork and squash is out of this world! Check out this picture below.

I didn't marry Babushka for her cooking but like she says I got lucky! With her warm smile, twinkling eyes, exotic look and countless other assets, yea, very lucky!
So far it hasn't been her playing of the lottery that has made me lucky, but we have been on the roll lately with the Florida game, "Lucky Money" winning a couple dollars many times. The quotation by my wife usually comes after a great meal that she has prepared and she knows I love it when she sees my head bobbing.
The other night she fixed an original tasting pork with a light barbecue sauce with one of my favorites, red beans and rice with squash in it. The mix of red beans, tender pork and squash is out of this world! Check out this picture below.
I didn't marry Babushka for her cooking but like she says I got lucky! With her warm smile, twinkling eyes, exotic look and countless other assets, yea, very lucky!
Sunday, June 5, 2016
My Cat Mojo and His NightLife
Mojo, my all black cat did something that was interesting the other night. Mojo is for the most part an indoor cat. He is very picky when he does decide to go outside, always careful and very slow to exit the door.
Sometimes he is motivated to go out when I'm going to throw his litter waste in the trash can. He follows me down to the front of the house where the can is located and this bothers me, because there is a busy road nearby.
Whenever he does this I try to keep him from going near this road, but he thinks its a game and wonders into this dark and mysterious place. I try to grab him and make him go back to hangout on top of the car, which seems to be his only other observable nightlife activity.
One night I tried to see where Mojo was, so I shined my flashlight into this dark world of his. I saw him standing in the middle of the road just sitting there, very cool-cat like and he didn't move. It was like he was meditating in the street. It was a memorable sight and there can be a speeding car coming down this road at night, but I trusted this wise old man to come back to where he was safe.
Sometimes he is motivated to go out when I'm going to throw his litter waste in the trash can. He follows me down to the front of the house where the can is located and this bothers me, because there is a busy road nearby.
| On the kitchen table where he knows he shouldn't be |
Whenever he does this I try to keep him from going near this road, but he thinks its a game and wonders into this dark and mysterious place. I try to grab him and make him go back to hangout on top of the car, which seems to be his only other observable nightlife activity.
One night I tried to see where Mojo was, so I shined my flashlight into this dark world of his. I saw him standing in the middle of the road just sitting there, very cool-cat like and he didn't move. It was like he was meditating in the street. It was a memorable sight and there can be a speeding car coming down this road at night, but I trusted this wise old man to come back to where he was safe.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Win a trip to #PuertoVallarta via @BlogginMamas & @VelasVallarta !!
Promo
Twitter chat is over but the giveaway is still going on. If you want to spend 4 days and 3 nights at beautiful Puerta Vallarta then keep reading.
As the school-year draws to a close, and you begin prepping for your summertime family travel adventures, we wanted to provide you with some resources, information, tips, deals and more with the launch of I Love Family Travel's The Summer of Family Travel series. There will be posts throughout the summer, all focusing on family travel. To celebrate the launch, we've teamed up with the ILFT crew, Bloggin' Mamas and a whole bunch of traveling bloggers, to bring you a #FamilyTravelChat and a huge Giveaway!
Does a nice all-inclusive resort stay in sunny Mexico sound good to you? Well, thanks to our sponsor Velas Vallarta, we are giving away a 4 day/ 3 night all-inclusive stay for a family of 4 at their resort in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, valued at $2400!!!!! Prize: 4 days/3 nights for a family of four in a Family Suite Accommodations in a 2 Bedroom Family Suite - http://www.velasvallarta.com/suites/rooms.aspx
All-Inclusive: All-inclusive rates include suite accommodations, a la carte gourmet meals at a variety of specialty restaurants, premium branded beverages, 24-hour in-suite service, fitness center, taxes, gratuity and more. http://www.velasvallarta.com/services.aspx ARV – $2400 This is open to US residents, age 18 and older. Entries must be received by June 7th, 2016 at 11:59pm ET. Sponsor responsible for prize fulfillment. Transportation not included. Refer to rafflecopter for terms & conditions.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: Bloggin’ Mamas is being compensated for managing this giveaway, but is not responsible for prize fulfillment or shipment, neither are any of the bloggers involved in this giveaway. This giveaway is in no way affiliated, endorsed, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or any other social media outlet.
Twitter chat is over but the giveaway is still going on. If you want to spend 4 days and 3 nights at beautiful Puerta Vallarta then keep reading.
As the school-year draws to a close, and you begin prepping for your summertime family travel adventures, we wanted to provide you with some resources, information, tips, deals and more with the launch of I Love Family Travel's The Summer of Family Travel series. There will be posts throughout the summer, all focusing on family travel. To celebrate the launch, we've teamed up with the ILFT crew, Bloggin' Mamas and a whole bunch of traveling bloggers, to bring you a #FamilyTravelChat and a huge Giveaway!
#FamilyTravelChat 5/19
Join us on Twitter Thursday, 5/19/16 at 9p ET as we chat about summer vacation plans and deals, travel gear and more! One random chat participant will win some prizes from AquaVault® and our other sponsors.
Be sure to follow the chat panelists: @ILvFamilyTravel @BlogginMamas @HeLoEnterprises @BBabushka @JenReyneri @sjblahblahblog @CluelessMomma @SarahInTheBurbs @just2sisters2 @ItsFreeAtLast @Playroomreport @LifeWithKathy @traveljenn @seejackierunn @girlrocksosu @acomptonblogs @bottlesbanter @xxplumcrazeexx @localmomscoop @rkthatsjustlife @denisermt @DittlesWorld
To make it nice and easy for you to follow, here's the link to the twitter list with everyone: https://twitter.com/ILvFamilyTravel/lists/familytravelchatpanelists/membersbit.ly/summerftcrsvpAnd Now For The Giveaway! 5/17-6/7

Does a nice all-inclusive resort stay in sunny Mexico sound good to you? Well, thanks to our sponsor Velas Vallarta, we are giving away a 4 day/ 3 night all-inclusive stay for a family of 4 at their resort in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, valued at $2400!!!!! Prize: 4 days/3 nights for a family of four in a Family Suite Accommodations in a 2 Bedroom Family Suite - http://www.velasvallarta.com/suites/rooms.aspx
All-Inclusive: All-inclusive rates include suite accommodations, a la carte gourmet meals at a variety of specialty restaurants, premium branded beverages, 24-hour in-suite service, fitness center, taxes, gratuity and more. http://www.velasvallarta.com/services.aspx ARV – $2400 This is open to US residents, age 18 and older. Entries must be received by June 7th, 2016 at 11:59pm ET. Sponsor responsible for prize fulfillment. Transportation not included. Refer to rafflecopter for terms & conditions.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: Bloggin’ Mamas is being compensated for managing this giveaway, but is not responsible for prize fulfillment or shipment, neither are any of the bloggers involved in this giveaway. This giveaway is in no way affiliated, endorsed, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or any other social media outlet.
Good luck and don't forget to enter daily.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Thursday, March 31, 2016
My new cat Mojo
I recently welcomed a new cat into the house and he has been great. Mojo came from a good family but they had an allergy towards cats. My wife found him online and the owner interviewed me before I could take him home. He is a beautiful all black cat with yellow eyes and he seems to love his new home, even if he did have to adjust to a big white female American Bulldog.
The two got acquainted by Mojo almost scratching Lightning the dog's eyes out. Mojo is an older cat and he is a great lap-cat and enjoys his meals. His owner was from Miami,so he loves his pork and chicken. I was told that Mojo was born in Miami so he is used to eating well. Mojo has adjusted and even taken over some parts of the house. He's friendly enough,though there is still an occasional hissing at the dog. He is very verbal when he is hungry in the morning and has been a great joy. This cat's very fun to talk to and seems to have lots to say. Mojo are you ready for YouTube?
The two got acquainted by Mojo almost scratching Lightning the dog's eyes out. Mojo is an older cat and he is a great lap-cat and enjoys his meals. His owner was from Miami,so he loves his pork and chicken. I was told that Mojo was born in Miami so he is used to eating well. Mojo has adjusted and even taken over some parts of the house. He's friendly enough,though there is still an occasional hissing at the dog. He is very verbal when he is hungry in the morning and has been a great joy. This cat's very fun to talk to and seems to have lots to say. Mojo are you ready for YouTube?
Sunday, February 21, 2016
The Super Bowl is More Than Just Football
If you watched the Super Bowl, chances are you did more than just watch the game. Friends and family gather to enjoy this football game, but some may have no real interest in the game. The Super Bowl has become an annual ritual,celebration, and party for a lot of people.
At my house we enjoy the game with some original dishes along with some traditional American food. The game is so much more enjoyable with some good hearty fare. Below is some of the good stuff we enjoyed during this year's Superbowl. But before the spread, you have to make the playing field (serving table) look good. It's not a party without decorations and a theme.
First are the chicken wings. You HAVE TO have chicken wings. Now in our house, we give them a tropical taste. My wife Babushka loves VivaMejor and always looks for recipes with that Latin touch. The recipe is Spicy Cilantro Chicken Wings and since BB doesn't do much spicy we changed it up a bit, but you can get the full recipe on that link. For our version we:
1. Baked up the chicken wings nice and crunchy.
At my house we enjoy the game with some original dishes along with some traditional American food. The game is so much more enjoyable with some good hearty fare. Below is some of the good stuff we enjoyed during this year's Superbowl. But before the spread, you have to make the playing field (serving table) look good. It's not a party without decorations and a theme.
First are the chicken wings. You HAVE TO have chicken wings. Now in our house, we give them a tropical taste. My wife Babushka loves VivaMejor and always looks for recipes with that Latin touch. The recipe is Spicy Cilantro Chicken Wings and since BB doesn't do much spicy we changed it up a bit, but you can get the full recipe on that link. For our version we:
1. Baked up the chicken wings nice and crunchy.
2. Put together the sauce-
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp. grated lime peel
- 3 Tbsp. lime juice
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tsp. Knorr® Chicken flavor Bouillon
- 1/4 cup Country Crock® Calcium plus Vitamin D, melted
But you can't have just that at a Superbowl Party, let's bring out some seafood!
Yes, we know it isn't coconut shrimp, but we wanted something a bit bigger than shrimp
so we used fillets and it was just fine.
Of course you have to have chips and dip, but in our house it goes tropical too.
Up where we are the avocados aren't the best so instead of salad we made dips. Again, it was just fine.
Now THAT's how you do a SuperBowl Party!
Of course there were drinks, and my wife's favorite, Mountain Dew had one of the weirdest commercials during the Superbowl. That's another enjoyable thing that people watch the Superbowl for is the commercials, which can be very entertaining, or just plain dumb. How weird was the "Puppy Monkey Baby" commercial for Mountain Dew Kickstart! Here, I'll let you decide for yourself.
No matter what you think of the teams, the Super Bowl is always about more than just football.
Labels:
avocado,
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chips,
dips,
football,
football field,
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Mango,
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pizza,
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ViveMejor
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Celebrating Valentines Day
Valentine's Day is one of the more unusual days to celebrate. It is not really a holiday, but a day of expressing your love for someone. This can be very stressful whether you are married or just dating. For women they are usually on the receiving end during Valentine's Day, so no real pressure for them. For men you can't just blow this celebration day off, you have to come up with a nice evening out, or purchase something she will love.
Don't stress this day guys, it is not worth it. Another key point to remember is you don't have to spend a fortune to make it through this day. Find out what things she loves that are affordable. My wife BB loves chocolates, cool scarfs and giraffes, so view the pictures below to see how this worked out. With this knowledge you will be able to make a stress-free decision. Here are some pictures of what I gave my wife BB for Valentine's day.
Don't stress this day guys, it is not worth it. Another key point to remember is you don't have to spend a fortune to make it through this day. Find out what things she loves that are affordable. My wife BB loves chocolates, cool scarfs and giraffes, so view the pictures below to see how this worked out. With this knowledge you will be able to make a stress-free decision. Here are some pictures of what I gave my wife BB for Valentine's day.
Labels:
candy,
celebrating,
chocolates,
Feb.,
fun,
happy,
love,
stuffed animals,
Valentine's day,
wife,
wine
Monday, January 18, 2016
Living in a Small and Peaceful Little Town
I feel lucky to live in a small and convenient small town. It is near the metropolis of Tallahassee, Florida, but is only miles from there and the gulf coast. If you are a writer, artist or just love nature, this is a great place to live. Nature and water are everywhere, but the town of Crawfordville is laid out, very conveniently.
Getting around by car, bike, walking, or golf cart can all be done here, effortlessly, and we have many name brand stores to shop. Many original restaurants and shops are also here giving it a unique feel. If you need the big city connection it is only minutes away by car. I feel fortunate to live in this beautiful little town, and never feeling stuck.
Getting around by car, bike, walking, or golf cart can all be done here, effortlessly, and we have many name brand stores to shop. Many original restaurants and shops are also here giving it a unique feel. If you need the big city connection it is only minutes away by car. I feel fortunate to live in this beautiful little town, and never feeling stuck.
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