My always humorous blogging buddy, Lori E, over at Family Trees May Contain Nuts, has bestowed upon Flipside the coveted award...Atta Girl....and all I had to do was eat and pay an outrageous amount for a very nasty steak dinner to get a blog in from my vacation.

What I neglected to mention was that for $2.00 a half hour, I could have used the computer down at the administration building in the Treasure Lake complex, but that would have meant downloading the photos and blog onto a thumbnail....too much trouble when on vacation...don't ya think!

Nope, instead I paid about $15.00 just to use my notebook. BTW, I also also had enough time to catch up on a week's worth of e-mails, but not enough time to catch up on by blog reading.

Thank you Lori for this recognition!

Jones'n for some WiFi

Almost an entire week with no Internet connection! And I survived ;-)

Last night, Friday, my brother and I went to a restaurant in town for dinner. It was probably the worst meal I have eaten in some time, BUT there was FREE WiFi connectivity. It was worth the $35.00 tab for an almost inedible meal to get my e-mail and have an opportunity to post a blog. It's amazing what lengths we will go to.

We are back from the Allegheny Mountains and Treasure Lake. I'm happy to report that we had great weather and some very exciting finds....blogs will soon follow. Perhaps the most excellent time of the entire week was Thursday and Friday.....two warm and sunny days. Through one of my brother's old high school friends we were able to meet up with one of his Treasure Lake buddies who lives on the lake. Right up near his deck was a kayak.

Now I have to tell you that it has been, whew.... almost 35 years since I sat in a kayak....but I loved every minute of maneuvering it down a small stream up in the Allegheny National Forest near a small village called Westline. I have wanted to try it again, however life got in the way as it often does.

This year, as part of my non verbalized 2009 wish list, I wanted to do some kayaking. Thursday and Friday, I got my wish and loved it. No foolin, it's like getting back on a bicycle! I also gave wind surfing a try.....not so successfully.

My NEW Banner

Flipside never had a banner, but my new "best friend," Deez, over at Cemetery Explorers, has corrected my omission. He designed and sent me the PERFECT banner for Flipside.

THANK YOU DEEZ

Unbelieveable--An Award!!!

What a surprise! After googling last night to see who is up for the Daytime Emmy Awards, I open my blog and find out that my B.C. (British Columbia) friend, Lori, has given me the Friendly Blogger 2009 award. To use a UK expression….I’m absolutely gobsmacked!!!

THANK YOU LORI !

Check out her blog at Family Trees May Contain Nuts. Lori writes about everything and with a humorous slant. I check out her blog daily just to put a smile on my face or have a good chuckle.

And now to pass the award along. I have so many blogs I follow but there are 5 that consistently leave me encouraging comments. I am a newbie to this blogging business and can use all the positive comments that I can muster.

And, now the envelope, please…..

There is Lori, but I can’t give the award back to her ;- )

Anne, my college roommate over at Tastes of Henry. Anne combines touching family and friends stories with a delicious recipe. She was also the one who pushed my buttons to begin blogging in the first place. When I first saw her blog, I said, “Linda, you can do that, too!”

Greta at Greta’s Genealogy Bog is a prolific and creative writer. She currently is blogging about her childhood school experiences along with other genealogy related topics. Her topics are filled with interesting research AND she has a cute little cat named pipsqueak!

Terri over at The Ties that Bind is another gifted writer and it is amazing what she can do with an old black and white photo! Terri colorizes old photos and gives life to the portrait. Terri blogs lately have stretched over several days--blogging in parts. Going Home--The Unexpected was a moving account of her father and uncle and currently her topic is Quest of a Gena-Holic .

Cheri blogs at Still Digging for Roots. She is one of my distant relatives and always keeps me in the loop with her latest research. Unfortunately, Cheri has been “out of commission” of late due to a new job. Her genealogy blogs are consistently well researched and full of photos.

The Begetting of the Bracelet or another Tale of the YaYa Sisters

To beget=to acquire.

I am somewhat remiss in posting this blog. I was waiting for a photo to attach to it. This is the tale of, perhaps, the most thoughtful and gratefully received Christmas present of 2008.

We have a little sisterhood, Grace, Pat and I. Although not too original, we call ourselves the Ya Ya’s. We enjoy shopping, drinking, eating, traveling and spa-ing (is that a word?) together. Pat and Grace are sisters and come from Johnstown, PA—so we are all PA gals. Grace is my next door neighbor and Pat was the one who got me my job at Chico’s back in 2006.

Years ago, Pat was on vacation in or around Orlando, Florida and happened upon a jewelry counter among other shops at Shell World in Kissimmee. She was quite taken with one woman’s hand crafted wares and purchased a bracelet. This craftsperson (Evelyn) fashions her jewelry from natural stones, crystals, minerals and gems, all which have meaning and healing powers. Pat has, over the years, purchased bracelets, necklaces and rings and to special people, gives them as gifts.

During the build-up to Christmas, Grace kept warning me that she and Pat were going together on the present for me. She would carefully add that she wasn’t sure if it was something I would like.

On the appointed day for the gift exchange we chose breakfast at the Falls Restaurant in Olmsted Falls. Pat handed me the wrapped box and I slowly undid the paper and ribbon. To my shock and amazement, inside the small box, was a bracelet!!!! I was now a “real” member of the club!!!! Pat held my arm and carefully clasped the beaded bracelet to my wrist while saying some special words about the power of the stones.

Stones to heal and stones of mystical power.

To be certain, I was totally blown away!

Some of the stones and minerals in my bracelet:

Charoite is said to be useful for the cleansing and purification of one's energy body as well as for the transmutation of negative energies within oneself.

Garnet should be carried close to the body. Its energy is balancing and peaceful. This stone of passion stimulates the sexual drive [It really hasn’t performed for me yet, it’s a post menopausal thing….lol].

Malachite is said to aid in the regeneration of body cells, creates calm and peace, and aids one's sleep.

Amazonite makes your skin better. [I wish it would erase all the time lines…lol] Releases fear and anxiety.

Moonstone is believed to be protective for women and babies. It's also associated with the sea and planting cycles. Moonstone is said to balance yin and yang.

And one of the best—

Lepidolite which encourages independence for setting and attaining goals inconspicuously, protection from outside influences, relieves every day stress, and promotes restful sleep when placed near your pillow and attracts good luck to those who carry it, and drives away negativity

I never take the bracelet off.

No Day But TODAY

It has almost been one week since one of the best evenings I have experienced in some time. I would have commented on it sooner, but I have been waiting….and waiting….for the photo taken at the theater. I guess I will add it once it comes my way.

Last Friday began about a month ago over a glass of wine. My friend and next door neighbor, Grace, mentioned that she was given 4 tickets for the touring Broadway production of RENT. Now, RENT has to be on my top 5 Broadway musicals list. I remained calm as she told me that a client had given her the tickets for work done this year. She was planning to invite her son, her sister and the other two tickets would be for her husband and herself.

Time passed…….

Last week, on Tuesday, Grace called to tell me that I might be the holder of one RENT ticket. With the holiday’s et al, I had forgotten about the show and which weekend it was. I told Grace not to tease me about something as important as an evening at RENT….she laughed. Wednesday I got the call. I would be going to one of my favorite shows. Ah glory!!!!

We gathered at Grace’s. Pat, her sister, and I had some wine while waiting for Grace and Chuck to get ready. Grace, Pat and I love to spend time together…road trips, spa trips, shopping trips….in fact we call ourselves the Ya-Ya sisters and wear special bracelets made of multi-colored healing stones as a symbol of the club.

Through a rather blustery evening, Chuck drove us to the Tremont area near the city. Very trendy restaurants, shops and pubs abound. It is a place I have always wanted to explore. The destination was The Southside. We had to sit at the bar for dinner as the place was mobbed. It had to be good eats to be so full at 5:00 on what was shaping up to be a miserable driving night in Cleveland.

Believe it or not I had the mac and cheese. It was a delicious blend of three cheeses and a pasta shape I have never seen before. The entree was topped with crispy chicken strips. Ah heaven. Behind us was an adorable performer singing his heart out and playing guitar. It was all too, too perfect.

Unfortunately, as a couple, Ted and I do not go out very much, but when I have an opportunity I always thoroughly enjoy myself. Cleveland offers so many terrific resources. I guess we have become too complacent sitting at home every weekend. Is there a New Years resolution building here????

Next stop was Playhouse Square. I think I have neglected to mention where these seats for RENT were located. Would you believe loge/box seats!!!! I have never sat in a loge seat for a theater performance. Cushy seats with a little table and waiters serving drinks and appetizers. Have I died and gone to heaven????

The show was wonderful and the frosting on the cake….the two leads….Mark (Anthony Rapp) and Roger (Adam Pascal)….were also the same men who were in the original cast on Broadway and also reprised their roles in the motion picture made a couple of years back.

It was a perfect evening all around.

Thank you Grace!