Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillys. We need to now turn our thoughts to next Spring and Spring Training.....Go Marlins! But first, Happy Halloween tomorrow and then we will be thinking of Thanksgiving, then Christmas. I love this time of year! So much to look forward to. We are enjoying some cooler temperatures in the Florida Keys. We had what we call a cold front - not like the ones up North. The wind did come out of the North and dropped the temperatures to the 50's one night and now 70's during the day! Perfect. And we are wearing our winter clothes - socks with our tennis shoes!

WORLD SERIES

Oh, the poor RAYS. What an awful 9th inning. There's always tomorrow...........

OBAMA!!

I worked at the Democratic Headquarters today, making phone calls. I called at least 150 voters and all but 2 were voting for Obama. Landslide maybe???

Today I had the privilege of telling the RNC - calling our home in support of McCain - that the registered Republican in this house was voting for OBAMA! I am looking for a second sign for my yard - the first one says OBAMA/BIDEN - that says Republican for OBAMA!!

SAILING.....................

Since this is a log of the S/V Freyja I thought I should get back to basics - just briefly. Autumn has arrived in the Keys, the AC is off, the windows are all open and it is cool enough to work on the sailboat! I know, there is another post regarding this......but, add to that, we have started talking about where we will cruise this coming Spring!! Exumas again, Abacos, the West coast of Florida, the ICW?? I will keep you posted on the conversation!

TAMPA BAY RAYS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!

Here's my take on it. The Red Sox payroll for 2008 was $133,440,036. The TAMPA BAY RAYS (GO RAYS!) payroll was $43,820,598. Seems you can't buy a team to win the World Series. Seems to me you BUILD a team and stress team work and loyalty and a work ethic and to play the game with joy and expect that team to show gratitude for their opportunity to play baseball - gratitude to their owners, their coaches and their fans. Now, the Phillies' payroll was $98,641,598 for 2008. If winning has anything to do with payroll it seems to be the lower payroll team wins!! So, GO RAYS, beat the Phillies in 4!! And, oh-by-the-way - A Rod made more this last year than the entire Florida Marlins! Now what does that say?

There REALLY IS only one October. Come on, RAYS, you have to beat the Sox tonight!

THERE'S ONLY ONE OCTOBER!!!!!

Go Rays! Beat the Sox!

IT'S STONE CRAB SEASON!!!!

Jack and I had the first stone crab of the season last night. YUMMY!

Jack and I have been doing some volunteer work for REEF - the Reef Environmental and Education Foundation. Our friend, Lisa Mitchell, has recently taken over as Executive Director. Lisa and I go way back. She and I received our Captain's licenses together in 1983 (in a class of about 25 men!). She has been running dive shops in Tortola and Bonaire and has travelled around the world as a consultant. Now she is back "home". Sign on to www.reef.org and check it out. I think you will be impressed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALINA AND PAM!

CHICK TRIP!!

Alina and I just returned from a few days in Medina, Ohio, visiting our friend, Susan Bigley. She and I became fast friends as neighbors when we lived those years in Ohio. Susan is married to Todd and is mother to Madeline, soon to be 12. She also volunteers for Golden Retriever Rescue and besides adopting hard to place senior dogs into her home and loving them she fosters and finds homes for others. They live on a beautiful lake. These are pictures of her beautiful yard and the ducks swimming in the mist in the early morning.



Good Morning! We need coffee!

That is Ridley in Susan's arms. He was found by Susan on the side of the road in Akron, at a busy intersection. He found a home with a wonderful new family and Susan took us to meet him. That's Gauge, Susan' yellow Lab and Tanner, one of Susan's rescued Goldens that she adopted.


Here Susan, Madeline, Alina and I are hiking River Styx Park with two of Susan's Goldens, Tanner and Tucker. Jack and I used to hike at this park with both Schooner and then Indigo when we lived in Medina.



These are pictures of everyone having cocktails - and laughing! That's Alina, Madeline, Todd and Susan.



We had Cosmopolitans at lunch with imported key limes! When we left the restaurant we heard the waitress and bartender talking about "those are the girls from Florida who bring their own limes"!!. From lunch we went to Sephora. Make-up lessons for Alina!! Fun! It was a great trip - even pass-riding was easy (except for 0430 wake-ups!). And Alina and I enjoyed 60 degree days and 40 degree nights! But, we both agreed it felt good to step into that hot jet-way upon our arrival home in Miami!

VOTE.................for tax relief for the middle class, to bring our troops home, for women's rights, for economic relief, for health care for all Americans, for PEACE.................enough said.