GIRL'S WEEKEND IN MIAMI!

The girls met in Miami for the weekend to watch Brittany play softball. (She pitches for Jacksonville University). Poor Alina had to stay home and nurse her badly sprained ankle! We had a special visitor - Tia Carolina was on her way to Cuba via Miami from San Antonio on a humanitarian mission so we got to spend time with her! And we celebrated Brittany's 21st birthday and Holly's ? birthday! We watched ball, went to the mall, ate Cuban food and rum cake and yakked and yakked and laughed and laughed! . SO much fun. We missed you Tia Alina!

OUR AMAZING ANIMAL FRIENDS!

This morning, while walking Dakota, we had the most amazing experience. We have a neighborhood retriever who just had 9 puppies a little over 2 weeks ago. Her name is Kaiyou. In the past when Dakota and Kaiyou enountered each other they romped around in cirlces and played. Today, their first encounter since the birth of the puppies, the meeting was very different. Kaiyou stood tall and proud while Dakota sniffed her. Then - Dakota simply laid down at Kaiyou's feet. A new found respect - a reverence for Motherhood, perhaps?

ENOUGH ALREADY!

I am quoting from The Miami Herald: "What is it, we wonder, about powerful figures and tax compliance? Is it too much to ask public figures to make sure that their taxes are in order? There should be a simple rule: Having a 'tax problem' is a bar to holding high appointed office in the federal government. If Joe Sixpack has to comply with every provision of the tax code, those who claim competence to govern the rest of us should be able to do the same or forfeit the privilege of holding public office."

Come on, President Obama, enough already!

TO MY FRIEND, SUSAN B.

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.

Eleanor Roosevelt

WELCOME BACK, AMERICA! I MISSED YOU!

As I continue to ponder the inauguration and decipher President Obama's words I realize how much they mean not only to America but to the world. Some people were happy just because the Bush administration was ending but it is more than that. President Obama promises a departure from the old ways, a new beginning. He seems to accept his ability to change and empower the whole world. And so much of what he said was left unsaid....echoes of leaders before him, memories of well-fought battles and a vision of America that includes all of us.

YES WE CAN!

Jack and I watched the transfer of power with awe. The moment was history! What a day for our African-American friends. I can only imagine how they feel. We look forward to better days - with hope, and joy and the belief that - yes, we can!

I FOUGHT THE LAW AND I WON!

Today I went to traffic court to contest a speeding ticket I was given last October. I contended that the signage was insufficient. I contacted the DOT in Tallahassee and spoke to their Chief of Safety. She sent traffic engineers down and they AGREED with me and added additional signs. When I told that to the judge he dismissed my ticket and complimented me on my "spotless" driving record! Yay! Power to the people! An attorney there on another case walked out of the building with me and told me she wants me to represent her the next time she gets a ticket!! One addendum: I still had to pay court costs of $81. Boo.