Hondo?

Help me understand how in the world anything can be this cute.

This is Hondo.

Hondo is a Beagle puppy. Mountain Man has acquired Hondo in the last few days. Apparently Rusty and Tyson were not enough dog for him. He needed to have a HONDO.


I want you to add this post to your favorites...the next time you are having a really bad day...please click on Hondo, if he does not make you smile....you need to go ahead and give up!

Weekend Events

The Flagler Ave Art Walk is this Saturday from 10am-6pm. Sponsored by the Gallery Group of Flagler Avenue this special event is held the fourth Saturday of each month. It features great local artists, vendors, food and entertainment.

Hang around after the art walk for Jazz by the Mark Hodgsen Band, who will perform on the corner of Pine and Flagler.

If speed is what you are looking for head over to the New Smyrna Speedway for a night of racing beginning at 7:30 pm.

It will also be a great weekend at the beach, the weather is going to be gorgeous.

Enjoy!

Fun & Interesting

Here are some interesting websites that I found while stumbling around today.

Thrifty Fun

Mighty Foods

OK 50's Top Beaches - yes Daytona made it!

Calendar Hub

Gardening Places

They are not related in any way, they are just fun!

Here is the most important one for those of us living in Hurricane Alley

72 Hours

Jack is a "BABY"

We have talked about Jack before. I love Jack, and my children love Jack. Jack loves us, Jack protects my children without question. Tonight a group of people walked by my house and Jack barked and ran up and down the fence, one of the people commented to me that "your dog is a big baby". He WAS wagging his tail at the time.

A few minutes ago, one of those people came to my door, he asked if he could use my phone, now it was 10PM and who does not have a cell phone? His "posse" as my son called it waited by my mailbox. I am sure when they went by earlier they figured out I was home alone with two young children, I am not sure what they thought they would get but I am CERTAIN it was not JACK.

Jack suddenly appeared at the door, placing his 150 pound body between me and the door. His demeanor left no room for argument. I will die to protect my family. Oh yea and I will kill you in the process.

So, Mr. I need to use your phone went on his way. I have made fun of Jack chasing squirrels and cats and even birds. I make fun of him to my brother, his owner, that I am glad he keeps me safe from squirrels.....tonight let me say.. Thanks Jack, for keeping us all safe from people who think you are a big baby!

Go Green for Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day check out these green living blogs. They have great tips and some fun activities and information on living a more environmentally friendly existence.

Things That Make You Go Green

Treehugger

Green Living Suite 101

Ideal Bite

In addition to checking out these blogs here are some easy things you can do today to help your environment:

1. Turn off your lights
2. Skip the dryer and hang your clothes on the line
3. Recycle cans, bottles and newspaper
4. Replace plastic shopping bags eith reusable canvas ones
5. Combine your shopping trips and errands into one trip

How Old Are You....Really?

The clock is ticking...Curious to see how long you are going to live?


Life Expectancy Calculator

This virtual age calculator is very interesting, I am sure he bases the results on science of some sort, but it is fun to do regardless. I was pleasantly surprised by my results. Check it out!

Relay for Life

Come join the Southeast Volusia Relay for Life on Friday night at 6pm. Riverside Park, 105 Riverside Dr, New Smyrna Beach. Click here for more information.

At this moment there are 47 teams participating, that is 411 participants who have already raised over $17,200.00. Just in New Smyrna Beach.

Top Fund Raising Teams in our area are:

1 - Title Pros
2 - Polish Pride
3 - SunTrust Cancer Busting Bankers
4 - CURVES of New Smyrna Beach & Edgewater FL
5 - Indian River Elementary

Come on out tomorrow night and support this great cause and celebrate life in New Smyrna Beach!

Mom, my desk is messy!

Well folks, it is time for the next chapter in our ongoing series... "how ridiculous can our schools be". We won't go into closing schools to save money...and then busing kids to schools miles away (anyone look at gas prices) or RELAXING the class size restrictions because they are no longer convenient, or cutting school budgets by impossible amounts.....

Today, lets go back to basics. My son is in 5th grade, he has worked very hard to get on the honor role, he is an A/B student. For various reasons he did make it first quarter (his effort in Art & Math needed improvement), or second(effort again). So he worked his tail off this past quarter and when we went online to check his report card he had all A's and one B. He had all 1's in effort. (1 being satisfactory, 2- needs improvement and 3-unsatisfactory)

In the "Personal Development" Section there are 2 possibilities, S-Satisfactory, and I-Needs Improvement. He has all S's with the exception of "work is organized and neat." Where he got an I.

He came home on Monday with the hard copy of the report card. He was in tears, carrying on because he did not make Honor Roll. So upon closer inspection I see the requirements on the back. You cannot have an "I" in anything on the Personal Development side and make Honor Roll. OK, I think that is reasonable. EXCEPT, you can have a C and a needs improvement in EFFORT in your regular grades and make it. Are you kidding me???
My son was upset because his friend who rides the bus with him had a C and a 2 in effort and he made it. So I did what you would expect and spoke to his teacher to ask what he could do and to also express the fact that this system is ridiculous.

First let me say I really like his teacher, I must share with you why he got an I-needs improvement and his all A, one B report card did not make the honor role.....because his desk is messy. Yes, his desk is messy. SO, my friends in case I lost you earlier, let me sum it up for you.

In our school system, you can get a C and exhibit BELOW AVERAGE EFFORT and make the Honor Role. You can get all A's and one B. Exhibit Satisfactory Effort, but you may not make the Honor Role because your DESK IS MESSY.

Am I the only one out there that finds this to be beyond assinine?

Get Ready for Summer Vacation

It may not seem like it but summer break is just around the corner. The Volusia County Junior Lifeguard Program is a good way to keep your 9-15 year old busy for at least a week.

The information on the link above is a bit confusing, I called and spoke to a very helpful representative who said singups actually don't start til May 5th. Your child must go to one of the tryouts listed prior to signing up, this ensures they can meet the swimming requirements. Once they attend a tryout and get cleared they can sign up at the Beach Street location in Daytona Beach. They are offering the programs in Daytona, Ormond and New Smyrna Beach during different weeks this summer.

Snappy

These are my kids.....actually these are my brother's(who is also known as Mountain Man) dogs. But this is how my kids are acting today, the last day of spring break. Like two very large boxers that have been trapped in the house all winter. Back to school tomorrow and not a moment too soon!

Cooking is Overrated

I went to a Pampered Chef party today, have you ever been to one of these? The hostess and the Pampered Chef Rep cook up some great treats, show you some great kitchen gadgets and you buy lots of things to help you on the road to being a gourmet cook.

Welllll, being a gourmet cook is quite expensive.....knives $70.00, that is for one, the skillet I would love to have is over $200.00. I was able to score some little corn cob knob things, you know the ones, kids love to stick them in the ears of corn so they don't burn their fingers....anyway those were $3.50. NO threat of those turning me into a gourmet and and since fresh corn on the cob happens to be the ONLY vegetable my daughter will eat,these are a must have item.

At the end of the day, this party helped me on the road to self-realization, I still hate to cook, my kitchen is still a disaster, and I would still rather eat out than cook any day. All in all it was a successful day...

Amazing

Shamu is as amazing as ever, if you live here at the beach and can spend a day or a couple days at SeaWorld, you should do it. The Residence Inn at Sea World has some great packages including the new Aquatica Water Park. March & April are nice relatively uncrowded months to go. The Beachline makes the trip easy from the beach and it is great fun!