Bridging from Daisies to Brownies

Our big bridging ceremony was on Wednesday night.  10 little girls officially became Brownie Girl Scouts.  I made little bouquets of flowers for each of the girls.   The three girls who were remaining Daisies, presented them to the girl that was bridging.

 Then, each girl would walk across a little bridge that a girl scout dad made in previous years.   We keep it stored in the scout house, which is owned by the boy scouts.     Everyone was quite annoyed when we hauled the thing out that evening, only to discover that the idiotic boy scouts had labeled the thing with our troop number...on the frong of the bridge.

So screws up all the photos!

Then, since I'm the new brownie leader, I was standing on the brownie side of the bridge.   The girl would change out of her blue daisy vest, and don the brown brownie vest, and pose for a picture.

Taylor is officially a BROWNIE GIRL SCOUT! 

        HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!

Daisies visit the Museam of Science and Planetarium

The daisy girl scouts had a fab time today learning all about the planets and stars.

 And also had the opportunity to pet baby sting rays.   None of the scouts had the nerve.  I dangled my fingers in the stinky water, but lost my nerve.   Finally, an older sister mustered up the nerve.  She reports that they do not feel like sand paper.  The are slimey feeling. 

I could have told her that!

 Our favorite part was the birds of prey show, where we saw a bald eagle, the type indiginous to florida.   Apparently, this bird caught the avian pox when young, and the mom bird booted it out of its nest, breaking its wing.  It will never fly and would die in the wild. 

 So instead, its going to live out its life posing for little boys and girls, and teaching them all about wild birds.

Beautiful, huh?

This bird is fully grown, but small compared to bald eagles found in the north and the west.

We also got to see an owl, up close and personal.

Fun times.

Still Here

Yes, we are still here, and slowly adjusting to our new normal without my sweet mom.   Its strange.   I spent so much time stressing and thinking about what she might need in taking care of her, that I have to change my way of thinking now that she's gone.   Walking though Target was bizarre.  But, I'm back a work. Having T around helps tremendously.  Because, of course, life does go on. 

Of course we still have my dad, who needs care now will will only require more in the future.  But he's just one.  Not two.  He's not adjusting too well to my mom's death.  But at least he's allowing the aide to remain...who we have renamed "the housekeeper", as he insists that he needs no help or aide for himself.

So, things are winding down at school.  There are only three more weeks left before summer camp starts.  Hard to believe.   This weekend we have a Daisy Girl Scout Planetarium and Museum of Science tour.   After that, we have our bridging ceremony wherein about 1/2 of the troop, 6 girls will bridge over and become girl scout brownies.  

Since our leader just had a baby on May 1, she announced months ago that she would be unable to lead the brownies.   If you could see a picture of me right now, you might be wondering what letters appear to be tatooed on my forehead.  The would be S-U-C-K-E-R. 

Yes, that's right.   You heard it hear first.   I am going to be the new brownie girl scout troop leader.   No one else was volunteering, and I had decided that I needed to live my life and not have it solely revolve around caring for my parents.   Unfortunatley for me, turns out I was right.

So, I've been working on a blog for the troop.  Making up recruitment flyers, and otherwise thinking about the coming year.   I think it will be fun.  

Life goes on, right?

Its a shiner!

 And growing more colorful everyday!

oooops

Got a call this afternoon from school that T fell on the playground.  didn't even cry.   Bammed her head above the eye.  They applied ice.   I noticed tonight that its all swollen.  I foresee her first black eye in the very near future.

Wacky Tacky Tuesday

Today was Wacky Tacky Tuesday at T's school.  I think we hit the mark!

View GERALDINE JORDAN's Obituary by The Miami Herald

GERALDINE TAYLOR JORDAN Obituary: View GERALDINE JORDAN's Obituary by The Miami Herald

Geraldine Taylor Jordan, 1925 - 2012

Today at 230 in the afternoon, I got a call my my mom's aide that she had died.  She was fine this morning and even in the late morning.  Ico gave my dad some lunch, saw him blow a kiss to my mom and she responded by blowing a kiss to him with her lips. The aide went downstairs to do some laundry.  When she came back upstairs, my mom had died.  No one had realized it when it was happening, it was that quick. 

She always said that in her next life, she was going to come back as a lady cop and a tap dancer.  Said if ever I called my next witness and a lady cop came tap dancing up the courtroom aisle, I'd know it was her. 

Guess I'll have to start looking for that.  I miss her already. 

I love you, Mama.

RIP.

CSI LIttle Havana

So, I'm awakened from a deep sleep by a noise that sounded like a bang similar to the noise my kitchen cabinets make when closing.   I thought that was wierd but figured it might be my old house settling or perhaps my a/c.

A short time passed and I heard it again.   Time passed then again.   That voice in my head was saying something was wrong, but I convinced myself (correctly) that no one could be inside  as my alarm didn't go off.

Then my alarm blew. 

I turned on lights,  didn't see anything in my L/R, got T and brought her into my room, locked the door and called 911.   Within minutes, a platoon of City of Miami Police officers were at my house and a perimeter was set up.

Not quite sure of the circumstances, but one suspect was found within the perimeter.   Gloves were recovered along with his cell phone.

After my house was secured, crime scene went to work because of this:

Yes, that is in fact a crowbar wedged into my window at the back of my house.  No prints recovered, but DNA was obtained.   If they can match it to the guy in custody, he will be arrested for my case.   Right now he's under arrest for loitering and prowling/trespass due to where he was arrested.

He never made it into my house, except perhaps a hand as he raised the window.

Right now I'm thanking god that I set my alarm.  I'm also thinking about shopping for some really strong solid wood doors for the bedrooms.   The thought of only my cheap, hollow, basically cardboard doors between T and I and a threat was not comforting at all.

Needless to say,  I've been up since it happened.

Itch-a-mania

Well, what's new around here?   I've been itching so bad you'd a thunk I'd been bit by a swarm of skeeters.  No just the onset of my first real allergy.   At the ripe old age of 47, after over 30 years of eating shrimp (my mom in no  way liked seafood but discovered popcorn shrimp in my late teens), I believe I'm allergic. 

It all started Tuesday night when I heated up some leftover shrimp pasta that Dot had made.   about 30 minutes or so later I realized I was itchy.   I thought I must be peeling from the sunburn I got last week at the venetian pool, but realized I'm not peeling.   The itching just kept getting worse and worse, and I had a strange tingling around my lips. 

Took a benadryll to no avail.  Visited the doc in the afternoon and scored some perscription drugs,  the itching eased but no right away.  Its now mostly gone, but not 100%.  I'm now in search of an allergist to determine what the allergy is to.  I remain convinced it was the shrimp.

Boo hoo.   No more costco shrimp salad.  No more shrimp cocktail.  No more spicy shrimp from the Sakaya Kitchen. 

 I'm distraught.