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31 October My FRIEND WILLBA....AKA...Mud TreasureFor over a week now, I have been so enthralled with personal family issues, that I have not been able to visit as many friend's spaces that I would liked to have had. This evening I was "hopping" around to wish everyone a happy Halloween when I came upon an entry about Willba (Mud Treasure) . It seems she is very ill again and in the hospital. You see, the cancer has now spread to her lungs and her liver. The site I visited was Siobhan's.
I am blessed that Willba had enough energy to make the Las Vegas Bloggers Convention that was initiated by our late King Tom. Her presence there was nothing less than strong will and determination and just plain love for life. We talked quite a bit about her cancer. She tried to explain to me what the Dr's diagnosis for her was and also the fact that she was in remission. This woman's eyes and soul is that of an Angel. I was so drawn to her and knew that I would be , even before I actually got that first hug. My intuition was right on the money. What a loving , strong, and fun lady to be around. Her eyes, smile, and big ole heart is nothing less than that of an Angel.
As I am typing this...I am remembering trying to teach her how to play the penny slots. LOL...She was doing o.k. for awhile, then her money disappeared. We looked at each other and just laughed.
On Willba's last evening in Vegas, I saw her first experience in eating Morroccan food. Oh my gosh, we ate and ate. She just loved it all. She had never had a 6 course meal before. It truly was a magical evening with Willba.
Please..ALL....put Willba on your prayer list. Light a candle, do whatever it is you believe in doing to let her know that we are thinking of her. The light that shines from this woman is incredible. She is strong, she is determined, but most of all, she is a lady I am proud to call "FRIEND".
Here is a link to a site that gives all the information about Willba. Please ..go by ..and let her know you were there.
Thanks all.
 ~*~PJ~*~26 October Halloween**Since my last Halloween entry did NOT show the graphics ( gggrrrrr, thank you MSN), I have tried again.**
23 October Girls Weekend at the Lake of the OzarksAs most of my readers are aware....This past weekend was an all girl's weekend. After work on Friday, we headed to the Lake cabin in the Ozarks. It was perfect timing to see all the Fall foliage and also to attend "The "Heritage Days" Festival. What a wonderful bonding of friends.
We arrived in Clinton, Mo. where we stopped and ate at a the Panda Garden. It is a Chinese Buffet Restaurant. The Friday buffets are always Seafood. Yummmmyyyyyyyyyy. We ate and ate and ate . LOL. We also wore little princess tiara's. Yes, we did. Thank you Deb H.
 You see, Deb H's birthday was Monday the 16th so this was indeed a celebration in her behalf. Love ya girlfriend.  We then headed to Walmart to pick up a few Martini Glasses and a few groceries. And then toward the cabin. It was dark when we finally got there. As you can see in the photo album..the two Deb's were partaking in a few shots of Tequila. Now they do not use a lime like most people do, they use oranges. Yep. Oranges. I do not drink; therefore I had my hot tea. They also had Cosmopolitan's ( vodka and cran-apple juice). We yakked and yakked in the living room with a beautiful fire going in the fireplace. Played CD's and also lit candles throughout the cabin . At 12:30 or so we decided to hit the hay. Afterall, Saturday was the first day of Heritage days and we were on a mission (Shopping).
The weather turned on us and it rained all day Saturday. This did NOT deter us from our mission. LOL. It truly was a cold and miserable day for Heritage days, but when in Rome......
 We shopped and shopped and finally were starving so stopped in at a Mom and Pop diner. Oh man the warmth of the restaurant. At this point we were freezing due to not only being soaked, but the darn winds blew in as well. We ordered our lunch ( and dessert) and headed back out to shop! We must have hit at least a dozen Antique stores ( our favorites). We never made it to all the tents that were set up, especially on the opposite side of the Lake, but by golly we will sure try to do so tomorrow! LOL. The four of us were Deb H., Deb P., Kim( who we met in Warsaw but she didn't stay with us overnight) and myself. A few others had to cancel for one reason or another, but we had a blast anyway. We went back to the cabin around 5:30 p.m. and lit the fire, made some hot cocoa and changed into lounging clothing to watch a few movies. Oh my gosh, we were exhausted. It was hilarious. After watching "Mystic River" (Sean Penn, Tim Robbins) and "One Sure Thing"(is that the name of it?( Meryl Streep and William Hurt?) we headed to bed. It was almost 11:00 p.m.
 and we had been up since 7.Up early...back to shop... stopped for lunch once again
 then headed home around 3. It was an awesome weekend for the 4 of us. One we shall always remember. Just one of many, many more to follow in the upcoming years. ~*~PJ~*~18 October A Favorite of MineYouth is not a time of life - it is a state of mind, it is a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over love of ease.
Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years, people grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair - these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust.
Whether 70 or 16, there is in every being's heart the love of wonder, the sweet amazement at the stars and the star-like things and thoughts, the undaunted challenge of events, the unfailing appetite for what next, and the joy and the game of life.
You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt, as young as your self - confidence, as old as your fear, as young as your hope, as old as your despair.
So long as your heart receives messages of beauty, cheer, courage, grandeur and power from the earth, from man and from Infinite, so long you are young.
When the wires are all down and all the central place of your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then you are grown old indeed and may God have mercy on your soul.
ANONYMOUS
HAPPY THURSDAY EVERYONE. HAVE A MOST WONDERFUL DAY. **It is now Friday and I am on my way to the Lake of the Ozarks with the gals. Woohoooo. Have an awesome WEEKEND all.**
~*~PJ~*~14 October Beginning of AutumnAfter being back from the Las Vegas Convention less than three weeks ago, it seems all I have done is W-O-R-K! The first week back we were experiencing an "Indian Summer". Temperatures soared to a whopping mid 90's for a week. Then a cold front swept down and the thermometer did as well. I had a chance to shoot a few photos from my deck while I was enjoying my hot tea..oh...about a week ago before the winds of the cold front blew in. The Serviceberry Tree at the corner of my deck was exceptionally colorful. I then just pointed the camera up through the mature Oak and Walnut trees in the all natural back yard and caught a bit of a sunshine ray through them. There is one photo that is pointed North ...going North on the property...where you will see the leaves of the trees becoming scarce. You may also see an all natural stone bench for meditating if you look closely in this one photo. From all the meditation benches throughout the Northern property, a partial view if not full view of the cascading water garden is visible. It gives me such pleasure to hear the water and
"daydream". Yes, I do that often. SMILES. It is the "little" things in life that are important, so I have come to realize through my maturing. I also made a few Fall arrangements from the perennial and annual flowers and a few decorative gourds that were available to me from my gardens. This makes for a lovely centerpiece at this time of the year when one notices that the changing of seasons is upon us. Before we realize it...Old Man Winter is upon us. Being from the coast of S.C., I have never been able to fully adapt to these temp's. I enjoy the first snowfall. It's beauty is pure. After that first one however, that is all I would ever need from Mother Nature.
Halloween is also upon this. I enjoy this simply due to the fact that the children love it . About the same time as Halloween we move into the end Daylight Saving Time. On the 29th , at 2 A.M. we are forced to turn the clocks back a full hour.
 Next weekend will be an "all girl" weekend at the Lake house of my boss. We will antique shop and will attend what is called "Heritage Days Fall Festival" in the Ozarks.
Ciao for now.
~*~PJ~*~09 October ...Fantasy Fulfilled... HAVING FULFILLED A FANTASY
As we shed our clothes upon the soft white sand,
The sea looked inviting, we entered hand in hand.
Swimming and teasing, splashing about playfully,
Dipping into pleasures, to the rhythm of the sea.
As we slid side by side, bodies motion sunsually,
Thrills surge throughout, waves caress endlessly.
'Neath a glowing sunset, we emerge from the sea,
Embracing by the shore, having fulfilled a fantasy.
~PJP~
15 June '04
03 October Monday the 25th of September, 2006 in Las Vegas*** The next to the last 3 PHOTOS added to this album...were "edited" by JULIEANN. THANK YOU LOVELY LADY!!!! I LOVE YOU.***
HAVE A MOST AWESOME WEEKEND ALL.
This is the FINAL entry that will be posted for the Vegas Convention. Thank you all for your Friendship!
I slept in this morning. I awoke at my usual time; however, I just laid in bed...because I COULD. LOL.LOL.LOL. Now; knowing that everyone had departed Vegas, with the exceptions of Siobhan, Kim, and Steve (due to living in the area)...The Bloggers dwindled down to TWO. Myself and Bill. I made coffee in my room and watched a bit of the Weather Channel and a local newscast. I phoned Bill at some point and he answered his cell. He said he had slept 14-15 hours straight? That would have explained the non-answering from all those who tried to reach him yesterday. He was going to shower and go downstairs to get some coffee and would get back to me later.Actually, I was just thrilled to know he was A-O-K , due to his absence since the previous day.
I proceeded to get dressed and went to the Diamond Lounge to grab a little something to eat to start my "later-than-usual" day. There are 7 plasma televisions in this private Lounge. Of course lots of Sports , etc. on different ones. Had my fill of an omelette and headed back to my room. I had decided to go to the slots again. I gambled and walked around outside for numerous hours. I then went back to the poolside and stayed there for an hour or so. I met a lady ( younger than I ) from Delaware. We were talking and sharing our experiences of Vegas, It was her first time there there. As I left, I wished her "GOOD LUCK" and she reciprocated. Back to my room to shower. I then went back dowstairs to pull those ever loved slots again. I was down to the last $20 for gambling and decided to put it in the penny machine called "DOUBLE DIAMONDS". I wagered the highest you can bet..which is..9 lines at.20 cents a line...that is 1.80 bet. It has free spins if three "free spins" show up on the given lines. Free spin was hit, and so it flashed "free spins" for a few seconds then started...which gives you 11 free spins and it adds up your winnings for you , if it hits anything. Well, I was watching it and ..OMG...I hit Double Diamond..7..Double Diamond..7.. Double Diamond....OMG...OMG...OMG..That my FRIEND'S is five RED (5) Sevens (7) then doubled then doubled. I just about FAINTED...I screamed..I looked again..I asked the people near me if this was really happening...and to my surprise...OMG..I won..$808.80..on a PENNY MACHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was MY moment and I let it add all 80,880 pennies one cent at a time..LOL...I sat there for 30 minutes in disbelief! As soon as it finished...I cashed it out....and went to the Fast Cash Machine, placed my paper ticket in and received 8 One Hundred Dollar Bills and a Five and three ones plus 3 quarters and a nickel. OMG.. Went upstairs..laid it out on the bed..And did a HAPPY DANCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Believe it or not..my pulse was still racing. Needless to say..this WAS MY MOMENT! I am sort of glad noone could see me doing my HAPPY DANCES and screaming ...LOL..I was one Happy Lady!
Bill had made Dinner Reservations for Monday evening for 8 P. M. Vegas Time, prior to departing Georgia. It was a mystery as to where it would be, so I was intrigued. He did call back and told me where we would be going. I was even more excited! THE MANDALAY BAY'S "HOUSE OF BLUES". He walked over to the entrance of my Hotel where I met him outside. We then took a taxi over to Mandalay Bay . The reservation was for 3 of us..however, I am assuming that Kim could not make it, but she did call Bill on the phone and said to tell me hello, so he did. He and I shopped at the gift store located just outside the entrance to the restaurant. It was truly UNIQUE. You are not allowed to take photos inside the restaurant. Bill and I both ordered one of the Chef's special's of the evening. It was 8 ounces of Filet mignon stuffed with Goat Cheese and a Burgandy wine sauce. Sides were mashed potatoes and green beans...aldente'( crisp). OMG..TO DIE FOR..The steak melted in your mouth and the flavors...heavenly. What an experience. The Sous Chef (I believe her name was GAYLE) came by our table and asked if everything was satisfactory. Of course our answer was SUPERB. She told us how she came about with the idea of the Goat Cheese for the Filet. It had to do with somewhere she had been and tasted this particular restaurant's special. She just incorporated the idea with the Filet to test it. Well...SOUS CHEF ..BABES..all I can say is WOW!!! You have a W-I-N-N-E-R. After Dinner..back to the hotel via Taxi where Bill and I said our "cioa's" once again. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we would also be leaving on a jet plane...to return to our Homes.
THANK YOU BILL FOR A MESMERIZING EVENING. YOU ARE THE UTMOST SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN!
01 October Sunday the 24th of September in Las Vegas **Anyone that can help me out (with the photos of myself) by using Photoshop or whatever, please let me know. I would love to better these(the lighting), so that My Mother will have an updated photo of her eldest Daughter. Thanks in advance.**
***A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to the Friend that helped "lighten" up my photos for me. You are an Angel. My mother will soon receive these. Again .....THANK YOU!***
The original itinarary was to have Brunch at The Bellagio at 11:30 A.M. However, it was "on" again, "off" again. The last I heard after getting dressed for Brunch was that is was off and most were going to meet at The Nascar Cafe to watch the race and etc. I am NOT a racing fan and never have been( no offense conventioneers), so I decided to have Sunday all to myself. After taking a few more photos ( imagine that...LOL ) I went to get some much needed nourishment. I was absolutely famished by this point. I decided to catch the lunch Buffet at The Flamingo. It was awesome or could it have been I was so terribly hungry??? Hmmmmmmm? I requested a small table for one with the view of the waterfalls and part of the Wildlife Habitat and was told it would be at least a 30 minute wait. I was o.k. with that considering I was going to eat alone. (AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THAT I HAD LEFT THE CAMERA IN THE ROOM...DUH....DIDN'T GO BACK FOR IT). I took a seat on the couch and looked at my watch to approximate the time of actually getting "fed". I sipped on my H2O and "people watched". For some reason I was looking for something in my purse and had to take out the playing card you use while gambling. There are 3 levels to these playing cards...GOLD...PLATINUM...and DIAMOND. Of course being a Diamond Member never hurts. At any rate, the Hostess saw me holding my Card and walked over to me and asked if that was my card. I looked at her and said "yes it is, why?" She said if you are a Diamond Member then you need not wait! Whoaaaaaaaaaaaa, I thought...that seems a bit unfair to the ones who have been waiting longer than I had. She asked me to follow her so I did. Around the corner of the room was a "curtain draped" entrance to a gorgeous separate room. There were plenty of empty tables and yes, with the view I was hoping for, just a different angle.I accepted the table graciously. Woohooooooooo I almost ran to the buffet line. LOL..LOL..I piled my plate high with a salad first. Then proceeded to the potato soup with cheese and chives .YUMMYYYYYYYYYYY. Main course for me was an Eggplant Parmesan that was delicious! It was prepared to perfection. Should I go for seconds? Sure!! Why not? Yes indeed, I went for seconds. LOL. I did save enough room for dessert; however. I chose the Banana Cream Pie after much consideration toward the Triple Chocolate Mousse Pie. It was soooo tasty. After having a cup of coffee, I left a decent tip and headed back to my room to undress . I had decided while eating that I would try to catch some rays poolside.
After relaxing for about an hour in the sun..I headed back to my room and showered. Dennis called and asked if I would still be attending the Dinner with Wilba and himself and Bill, if anyone could get a hold of him. LOL...Yes, he was MIA. The plan was to eat at a restaurant called "Fireflies" that was on Paradise Road. I dressed and took a cab over there. Dennis and Wilba had already arrived and thought that this place wasn't in the cards ( so to speak) . They spotted a Moroccan Restaurant just at the end of this strip mall called MARRAKECH. Away we went to MARREKECH. (CHECK OUT THE LINK). As we made our way through the door, I peekd through the draped entrance and could see it wasn't busy at all. However, as soon as we were approached by a waiter, we were asked if we had reservations. Of course we replied no. The funny thing is..when I peeked into the restaurant there was no need for RESERVATIONS.LOL.LOL. It was a wonderful evening. A 6 course meal that began with a warm Rosewater wash for our hands.( I could have bathed in this lovely scent). Many years ago I had Moroccan food in California so I knew it would be a lot of food and a timely dinner. It was absolutely incredible. Dennis phoned STEVE and we all had a quick conversation with him. In the meantime...DENISE called from the airport and so we got to chat with her as well. And being able to eat with Wilba and Dennis experiencing this for the first time was awesome. Our waiter was extremely attentive ( and sexyyyyyyyyyy)...Smiles... and the Belly Dancer was gorgeous. Mr. Dennis danced with her. My photos did NOT turn out but I am sure you can see some of this over at WILBA's and Dennis' place. The dessert was to DIE FOR. It was a puffed pastry with freshly ground cinnamon and apples and peaches inside. OMG! Again, to die for! It was baked to perfection! I am almost positive that Dennis did not partake in the dessert. If I am mistaken, I am sure he will let me know. SMILES.
Paid our tab and took a taxi back over to Harrah's, where we did a little gambling. Dennis was doing o.k but Wilba and I...well..it wasn't in the "slots" for tonight. Was fun though. It was then past midnight and Wilba and Dennis had departure flights Monday morning...so..we all hugged and said our "ciao's" and off they went on the monorail back to their Hotel off the strip. I headed to bed. What an awesome experience meeting ALL these people. Simply marvelous.
To be continued...the last Day in Vegas.( Monday)..will be posted mid week? |
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