Friday, February 21, 2020

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BESTIE, SANDY, & MY BROTHER, CHARLIE, IN HEAVEN

Wow!
A lot of years have flown by since
Sandy and I were kids and
 first met in a laundromat
in North Fort Myers, Florida
in the Fall of 1970.
Little did we know the day we met
that we would become best friends
for life.
Friends that would see each other
through marriages,
 the births of children,
divorces that we weren't expecting
and re-marriages.
We have both moved all over the 
country but have always lived 
within driving distance of each other.

Let me tell you how good of a friend 
 I am.
When she went to remarry 
she asked me to be matron of honor.
The long distance tolls started
adding up.
Me:  Did you get your dress yet?
Sandy:  I found a nice pants suit.
Me: WHAT?
Sandy: Yes! You heard me right!
A PANTS SUIT!

Me: You can't get married in a pants suit.
Sandy: Watch me! (sensing an "attitude"
here are you?;>)
Me:  I am wearing a soft pink dress as 
your matron of honor.
Sandy:  Great!  I'm wearing a pants suit.
Me:  Really?
Sandy:  Yes! REALLY!!!
hmmmmmmffff
The day before the wedding I went shopping.
I bought a wedding dress in her size.
I took it to her home in Illinois.
Me:  I have a present for you.
Sandy:  What it is?
Me:  It's your wedding dress~

Sandy: (the red head in her making her face flush)
I have a nice pants suit!
Me:  MOM!!! MOM!!!! Come here, Mom!
Look at this- I bought Sandy a REAL wedding dress.
Sandy: Oh, Crap!  Don't get my Mom in on this.
Mom: (timidly) Well, it wouldn't hurt to try it on.
Sandy: (glaring at me) I don't like wedding dresses.
Me:  You'll like this one!
Door to bathroom SLAMS shut.
Door to bathroom opens.
Her Mom and I look at her and we are 
smiling from ear to ear.
Me: It's PERFECT
Mom:  It's PERFECT
Sandy: It's too big on the sides!
Mom:  You have four hours to get ready,
I'll take it in.
Sandy: FINE!!! 
(this is the closest we have ever come
to having a cross word with each other!;>) 

TA-DAH!
ps.  And THAT is what best friends are all about-picking your wedding dress out
for you whether you want one or not!
pffffftt.....A Pant's Suit!!!!
Happy Birthday Sandy!
Listen-she recently connected to the internet world down there in the wilds of Minnesota.
Wish her a Happy Birthday here for me-will you?

And Happy 66th birthday to my brother, Charlie.

He is celebrating his seventh birthday in Heaven
today- I miss you, buddy!
~You are forever in my heart~
Yep-my best friend in life and my brother
born on the same day-
What are the odds on that?
I hope they made him an
Angel Food Cake
up there where calories don't count!

Happy Birthday, Sandy...
I love you as much as if we were
blood sisters.
Who knows?
Maybe we are.....after all...
my Dad used to travel, you know!!!!
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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

PLEASE PRAY FOR CONNIE'S HUSBAND, STEVE...AND FOR CONNIE.

Many of you know Connie from her blog
CRAFTY HOME COTTAGE

Connie and I are not only blogging friends.
We keep in touch because
we both have husbands
that deal with health issues.
Not only does it have an effect
on the patient,
it also takes its toll on the caregiver.

Steve is in need of prayer.
He is a very private person,
so it is hard to be open about
how ill he is.
Cancer has ravaged his body
and, at this point,
hospice has been called in.


Above he is shown with Connie
in happier times.
He is the love of Connie's life,
her soul mate, her courage,
her love and her life.

Please pray for Steve & for Connie.
There is a hard path ahead of them.
It is a path none of us wants to walk.
The days and nights will be long,
but still, too short.

If you don't pray, please send
good wishes and thoughts their way.
Connie will be happy to know that
she has people here standing beside her,
sending her love.

As always, thank you all so much
and I will keep you filled in as/when
I know more.


your photo name

Saturday, February 15, 2020

CHANGING THE BLOG-IT'S A BIG DECISION...THANKS FOR WEIGHING IN

Speaking of 
WEIGHING IN...
There are days when I feel
BIG 
and then seeing something like this
puts it in perspective.
Not the greatest picture-
taken from the road this 
misty morning.
I imagine this is here waiting
for the Daytona 500
to officially kick-off.

So---the results of my poll~
Between my blog, 
Facebook & personal emails,
I had about 120 responses.
Here is the breakdown:

8-Voted for a Condo Blog
14-Voted for a Camping Blog
31-Voted to combine Condo & Camping
23-Keep blog and add to it
44-WHATEVER or ANYTHING

 Some suggested calling it The Next Chapter.
There were several suggestions of 
names I might use.

So- I think, at this point in time,
I will add to the blog I have
and just headline different subjects.
I have lots of fodder for both
camping and condo living
(or will have after we move and start camping)
Think March and Early Summer.

So, bear with me.
For now I will continue with my 
USUAL NONSENSE.
And show you pictures of
whatever happens to strike my fancy.

Condo Update:
I asked my son to show me a peek
of what was happening at the condo.
He showed me a 4" square of quartz countertop
and a close up of his teeth.
uh-huh

Gotta love a kid man son like that.
Kid has a million dollar smile
(literally-check the invoices)....

He is keeping me in suspense like
Chip Gaines
waiting for 
THE FINAL REVIEW.
Is it time to go home yet?

Okay-back to the matter at hand~
Thanks again for weighing in.
I will be back soon....pinky promise!

your photo name

Thursday, February 6, 2020

LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK & OPINIONS-NANA DIANA IS GOING PLACES.....

Hello to all my
WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS.

I think I am at a 
CROSSROADS IN LIFE!

I have been blogging for
10 YEARS THIS WEEK!
I can hardly believe it.
During that 10 years,
a lot has changed.
We moved three times,
(counting the upcoming move on March 1st)
John has survived 3 bouts of cancer,
I retired once and went back to work-
now 'retired' a second time. (maybe)

My local grandkids are growing up
and don't depend on Nana like 
they once did.
(Well, except for little CJK who is
always up for some homework help-lol)
and I do see him often.

My other daughter and her 3 kids
live 6+ hours away so I don't 
have the hands on with them
like I did/do with the local kids.
Other grandkids are grown and gone.

So--while
Nana Diana Takes A Break
was a good escape from all
the rigors of daily life,
life is changing.

First off-
I have no intention of 
quitting blogging.
(you can smile now)
but---here are my questions for you -
with some input 
from me.

I am thinking of taking the blog
in a new direction.
I have searched online and cannot
find a blog dedicated to 
CONDO LIVING
(which is a bit different from 
living in a regular home).
I have been thinking about 
doing a blog that would show
the ins & outs of condo living,
the remodeling we are doing,
adapting to a new lifestyle,
along with all my daily stuff as well.
(you know--my usual nonsense)
(Nana Diana Conquers Condo Living)

My 2nd idea is this~
We bought a 30' Class C
Minnie Winnie Camper.
I will be driving us around
as we 
LEARN TO CAMP-
omg-IMAGINE THAT!!!
Can't wait to get my first
spray-down during
PUMP OUT.
I already have her named-
MINNIE MANOR!
(Nana Diana On The Road With Minnie Manor)
OR-
3rd Choice-
I could combine the two-
depending on what I am doing-
or where I am-
and call it something like
Nana Diana's 
Condo & Camping -
or
Nana Diana's 
Condo & Camping Comical Chronicles,
or something along those lines.

So-throw it at me-
what do you think?
I would leave the old blog in place,
but close the comments to it
with a link to the new blog.

I think I am ready for a change-
but don't want to lose touch
with any of you.
I have seen that happen 
too many times
in Blogland.

Would you follow along if I
take a new direction?

I will still do the 
Pick Your Favorites
(cuz I know you all love that)
and feature family moments
but will make some changes.

Now if I could only change/erase these 
wrinkles....sigh.....

Be back in a few days with the
Pick Your Favorite Results-
I like to give it a few days so 
that bloggers have a chance to weigh in.

Still on vacation.
I am not so good at 
'resting and relaxing'...lol...

Happy Thursday-
Love you guys!
(blog names I tossed out are only suggestions-
open to input)
your photo name