A Wonderful Reminder.....and ....have a Blessed Thanksgiving!!

Someone just sent me this very good prayer and reminder. Can't get enough of these!

Great Spirit, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change is a worried 19 year old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us Spirit, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Great Spirit, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those that are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Amen to that!

Our Pinki WON!

For the first time in modern history, a Republican has been elected to office in Franklin County!

OUR PINKI WAS ELECTED TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION last night, 63% to 37%, unseating a Democratic incumbent. A political newcomer, our PINKI ran a terrific campaign with her theme: "New Thinking, New Listening".

Needless to say, as her business partner here at SeaSide Village, and her good friend, I know what a great candidate she was, what an asset she will be to public service, what a generous heart and good soul she is. I'm ecstatic, even though she's a Republican!

Now the truth can be told. I'm a Democrat. Pinki is a Republican. We are great friends with different politics, yet with the same values and ideals, just like most of the rest of purple America where "some of our best friends are.....". When we created the SeaSide Village website and 'Judy's Blog', given how outspoken I can be, and opinionated (she is, too), the one pre-condition from Pinki was that there would be no politics discussed. In that I'm a political junkie and have a LOT to say, that was probably a very good call on her part. So throughout this entire campaign season I've bitten my tongue, at least about Presidential politics. Who knew then, certainly not either of us, that she was going to run for County Commissioner a year later?!

The truth is that locally, party designation has no meaning on local issues. It's just whether folks will take the time to understand what you stand for and whether they will vote for you if you are not in their party. When she decided to run we had a blast writing and designing her campaign materials, letters, strategy, media spots, etc. We decided that no matter what, we were going to have a lot of fun. Pinki is a very smart, strong, heartfelt person with great pride in everything she does, a woman of intense respect for others, personal dignity, integrity and compassion. Not being well-known and running against an incumbent Democrat in a strongly Democratic area was not going to be an easy task. What I saw was an extraordinarily hard working person going door to door, really listening to the concerns of the folks she met in her District, coming back with deep insights about what was needed locally to enhance the lives of others, and having that truly matter to her. If she could just run a 'smart' campaign she could have a chance. She worked so very hard, day in and day out, steadily, methodically, tirelessly, for months.

She told me what she learned along her journey while meeting a thousand people is that, "I love the people. They are warm and good. That's the great part. However, I'm not so sure just how much I like the 'politics' of it all......it's not always a nice business."

One of the photos here is her on her "Pinki-Mobile" at last weekend's Seafood Festival in Apalachicola, with Michael Leo's darling daughters, Maddie and Christina, and Pinki's dog, Sadie, about to ride through the parade.

While we heard amazing feedback about her chances, how well she was being received by people who met her, how many voters she met told her they'd already early-voted for her, there were no other guideposts for her to assess her chances of winning. It hadn't been done before. She worked tirelessly until the polls closed as if the last vote might make the difference. She told me quietly on election day "I just don't want to lose so badly that I embarrass myself." Knowing that to meet Pinki is to fall in like with her, we who know her knew that this was not a possibility. The issue was whether Democrats would cross over and vote for someone with (R) by their name in a local election. And they did ever!

63% of the vote is a very strong statement about the candidacy of this capable, creative, committed, honorable and compassionate newcomer to elected public service. I am so proud of my friend. We are all so grateful to many new friends who gave of themselves to support her. Her husband Dana, and son William, were out there at the polls holding her signs on Tuesday, as were many other friends and supporters including our SeaSide Village's Michael Leo and Gaye Lass, until polls were closing. A crowd gathered at her office and ate Mexican awaiting results, Pinki with the oddest expression of incredulousness on her face as results steadily showed her in the lead from the outset, from every segment of the District.

Congratulations, Ms. Pinki. It is always the bestest of life's experiences to work with you. The future looks like it will continue to be a whole lotta new, and fun, and productive! Her values are in tact. When asked what was the first thing she was doing the morning after being elected, she said "I'm going fishing...haven't been fishing in months." I haven't heard from her all day!

Judy

Pinups STRIP for a good cause (Do you actually need a reason?)

Ok, by now you know this is the kind of stuff I have lots of fun with....and always with a little bawdiness from this middle-aged gal! The Girls of Franklin County have taken it all off in a charming, provocative and artful way, and you just gotta love it. It is for the best of causes, to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer screening by making certain that every woman in the county can afford to have screening and early detection at the new mammogram equipment at Weems Hospital in Apalachicola.

Some of these women who banded together for this fund-raising effort are breast cancer survivors themselves. THE FORGOTTEN COAST CLASSICS calendar for 2009, based on the British movie "THE CALENDAR GIRLS", was created where more than a dozen local broads agreed to be photographed "au naturel" for the cause.

This is so COOL! The funds they are raising through this calendar are being used for local education and awareness, to cover the costs of mammograms for underinsured patients and to provide transportation to Weems for those who don't drive or can't find a ride. No more excuses for going without early detection through mammograms!

The hospital has already sent two radiation technicians off for training and images can now be sent via telemedicine to be read, then, if possible growths, immediately referred to oncologists in either Panama City or Tallahassee.

The calendar photography is as professional as I've seen anywhere. Susan Bull, noted artist and photographer who lives back and forth in Cape San Blas and Atlanta, completed the series of gorgeous and flattering photographs as her contribution to the fundraiser. This is an enormous contribution of her high level talents.

"It was all collaborative," said Bull. "These are very interesting women who have valuable lives, a lot to offer, and unique personalities."

I agree, knowing several of the lovelies. These local "models" (a genteel alternative to my term "BROADS" because I be bawdy) look fantastic! And while not one of these gutsy ladies actually got "naked", I can honestly tell you that I would not have had the nerve to pose like this is my present incarnation of pulchritude, so applause to them all.

The Calendar Girls will be seen on a float in Saturday's Florida Seafood Festival in downtown Apalachicola, the same parade through town that will feature the "Pinki-mobile" as her race for County Commission finally comes to a close as does the longest election season I've ever experienced in my adult life please let there not be another political ad, commentary, email or talking head for another two years, and the SeaSide Village-mobile, all of which will be tossing beads to the teeming crowd.

The calendar is beautifully created and is worth every bit of the $20 that is a deductible donation through their 501C3 non-profit. Please send your $20 check, or additional contributions to: Franklin Needs, Inc. at 55 S. Bayshore Drive, Eastpoint, Fl 32328. Tell them Judy's Blog sent you.

COOPER at home!

I've received so many emails and calls regarding my last blog on Scooter-now-Cooper, it is good know that these pearls of mine are actually being read!

The requests have been for more photos and news of Cooper in his new home. And I'm happy to oblige.

Aside from digging a 20" hole in the ground underneath the 10' back fence (!), getting out and going a mile down the road to the local school where he was found in the middle of the intersection crouched down in fear, from where he was rescued by the principal who saw his temporarily etched new phone number on his collar, he's doing wonderfully. Kiley brought home iron grates so there would be no more digging out.

Cooper slept only his second night inside on 6 year old Ava's floor where she got down there and slept with him. Why? Because as of his third night at the Olsons' he slept right up in the bed NEXT to Ava. Ava, who has never slept a night through without getting up and going in to sleep with her parents, has yet to leave her bedroom during the night since Cooper's arrival in her room. When she awakes she puts her arm out and he's right there, with his paw back on her.

He's now sniffed every part of the house, stays indoors playing with everyone and getting completely spoiled, The kids take turns walking him before school in the mornings. He spends the day in the yard with the garage door open with his day bed inside for him to nap. Then going to the dog park every night after work with the entire family for an hour of running with dozens of other of his local dog new buddies.

Monday they took him to one of the local "uber"-Vets to the rich and famous per Jane's (Julie's mom, Kiley's mother in law, the 3 kids' grandma and my best friend) recommendation to find out his health story by "only the best". The Vet thinks Cooper might be 5 because of the tarter on his teeth. The Crawfordville Vet who examined him when we first rescued him thought he was only 2. We don't really know and don't much care. He is amazingly healthy, energetic and happy. And so is the entire Olson family, particularly Daddy Kiley, I'm told, who has fallen head over heels with "The Coop-ster"!

Scooter Has Found a Perfect Home!

This is one of the bestest blogs I get to write ...... EVER! Scooter (now named COOPER) has a brand new home.

On Sunday morning a week ago I got a call from the folks at CHAT, the wonderful "no-kill" rescue shelter in Wakulla County. On June 3rd we'd taken to them this hungry, bruised, dirty stray Walker Coon Hound we'd found on the street across from our Models. We had the vet give him his shots, clean him up, and learned he was just a puppy, around 2 or less. He was skinny, scared, abandoned or lost, and cowered as if he'd been abused. CHAT gave him the best care, a clean place to sleep, food, daily exercise, the best of care. But no one would adopt him in all this time. They are an amazing program that we should all support.

I'm told that in these parts of Florida this is a very common breed of dog, that they are hunting dogs and are often shot or abandoned when no longer needed, and are treated pretty roughly in general. We tried to have him adopted out, running ads, speaking with folks and hoping the shelter would have someone offer him a great home. I went to visit him at the shelter and he was just adorable, still cowering though. I would have adopted him myself but I travel back and forth so much from California that it wouldn't be fair to him since he needs a lot of exercise, and proper care.

So when I got this call from CHAT they said that he was not adoptable locally and that I needed to come get him or he would be euthanized. Ugghh, I don't think so! I asked for the week to make arrangements to take him out of there, and our SeaSide office, Michael and Gaye, swung into action. I am in California during this time, so we arranged to transport him out to San Francisco on Delta on Saturday! Yup! This adorable fellow was moving across the country for me to find him a good home here.

I sent an email out with his photo to a bunch of friends, posted an ad on Craig's List and got some interest, and lo and behold, my one of my best friend Jane's 4 children, Julie, and her husband Kiley and their 3 adorable kids, agest 3 through 9, were looking for a rescue dog since last Christmas, know the breed and LOVE hounds, and were very interested. So was Jane's other daughter, Heather.

We checked on all the travel rules, CHAT got all the veternarian papers ready, gave him a bath, Michael got the properly facilitated crate, and on Saturday morning he picked him up and took him to the Tallahassee airport cargo, and off Scooter went on his journey to a new home.

I met him at Delta's cargo office at 6pm on Saturday night. We put his crate in the back as I put him on a leash, tried to get him into the back seat when he resisted, wouldn't jump in, got loose from the loose leash collar and started running down the road! Ohmygosh! I've just gotten him and now he's gone, scared out of his mind. I'm yelling "HELP HELP" so the cargo guys will come out as I'm trying to catch this fast little critter, which was not going to happen. A very nice young man who had also just gotten his dog ran after him in his flip flops as I ran to get my car to chase them by car. I turned and the fellow said he'd caught him for me, and that he was now on the side of the cargo building peeing. The young man leashed him again for me, and helped me get him in the backseat. So much for the day's adventure, and my nerves!

He was a little groggy and scared. I tried to hand him treats which he wouldn't take from my hand. I left them one by one on the console and he did eat them. He also drank lots of water, and went hovered between sleeping and sitting up watching the world go by.

We got to Novato and Julie and Kiley's house. They gently took him inside and to the back yard that has a very high fence as the 3 kids gathered around to gently welcome him. We hung out getting him acclimated a bit, and I left.

He spent the night out in the woodchips by the playground set, in his own corner. It was 50 degrees out, but he ate and drank out there, but would not come into the house. The next day, Sunday, they still couldn't get him to cross the back door threshhold to come in, but he did nap with Ava (6) in the woodchips. Julie was smart enough to call CHAT and spoke to Scooter's main keeper there, who said what a mellow nature he has, how much he loves walks, how well he gets along with people and other dogs, and that he'd been sedated to take the flight, so give him time to get his legs again.

Later that afternoon I brought my dog, Sophia, over to visit Scooter (now renamed COOPER by Ava), and it was like a personality transformation. Cooper came alive, running all over the yard with Sophia, all new energy and excitement, becoming very available for petting, taking treats out of a hand, and allowing a lot more cuddling. ALRIGHT!

He still wouldn't follow Sophia into the kitchen past the threshhold as Ms. Sophia was exploring the kitchen. She's not shy when it comes to looking for food. While the smells were oh so good, Cooper always stopped right at the door, fearful of going past.

Kiley mentioned that he hadn't wanted to walk on a leash, just froze. So now as I was leaving Kiley put Cooper on the leash and we tried out to see if he would follow the whole crowd of us as we slowly, casually entered the house with Sophia and me. And he did! He passed the threshhold without hesitation on leash with Kiley, stopped in the living room by my side for some petting, and then continued on with us outside to the front lawn! Then Kiley and kids took Sophia (no leash) and Cooper on leash for a walk up the block, back down the block, then Julie walked him on leash, Sophia and I got in the car and Cooper spent the night in the house, exploring and sniffing all around, then wound up sleeping with Ava on the floor on a bed she made next to her bed. Isn't this exciting?!! He went indoors! (You have to be a dog lover to understand all the nuances.)

On Monday they took him on walks and to a dog park with dozens of dogs and he had a BLAST! He ran like the wind, played with lots of other dogs, sniffed lots of butt, came home and, eventually, went back in the house and spent the night ON AVA'S BED!

I believe we have a keeper here! We've all fallen in love with him and Sophia and I are going back to visit on a regular basis to watch him flourish with his new home full of love and appreciation for a sweet being. His life is forever changed, so blessed, so perfect as he gets and gives the love he obviously is karmacally deserving. We should all have this life! I am, also, a very happy puppy. As I said, this is one of my favorite blogs and stories to share.

Dance Like Nobody's Watching......

One of my dearest friends and a business partner, Lewis Wallach, got married this summer to a fantastic woman, Cynthia, that he met last year. See these Boomers dancing at their wedding at the Bel Air Hotel (fancy shmancy) in Los Angeles, and another of Abe and me dancing following the consumption of far too much champagne, if there is such a thing.

All my life I've been offering (threatening) to sing "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof for everyone I knew who was ever getting married. (That's a lot of years in dog years!) No one has ever taken me up on it, I wonder why, until now....We may be talking 30 weddings or so along the way?

For some crazy reason Cynthia insisted I do so. She called my bluff. Those photos and video will not be displayed on this blog because...well, because I get to decide 'cause it's my blog!

I love these expressions:
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like its Paradise on Earth.
Check out this video link below. This is the way to get it done even if it isn't the way to spell "wedding".
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1030697/weding_party_dance/
Judy

A quaint Florida getaway....and my Grouper eyeballs.

"The small Panhandle town of Carrabelle remains a quaint slice of Old Florida."

So says the St. Petersburg Times in a recent article about this charming hidden treasure.

On Friday, September 19th, the City of Carrabelle officially opens a new two-lane boat ramp at the end of Marine Street.

This is part of the ongoing Wharf project to increase public access to the Carrabelle Waterfront as the area is enhanced as a traveller's and boater's destination. The project includes a staging dock, a new state of the art fish cleaning station, parking and a storm water drainage feature. This new ramp is located just down Tallahassee Street about 3/4 mile from SeaSide Village. This is one of several free boat ramps that provide public access that surround the Carrabelle marina.

Speaking of which, it's all I can do to avoid stopping at THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE just past the corner of Tallahassee Street and Hwy 98. This big red food truck is where they are cooking up the most amazing FRESH fried grouper and shrimp ever! Before going right onto your plate, the seafood has been diverted that morning from the fisherman's boat before it goes to one of the major supply houses around the corner for shipping out of Carrabelle. You can either sit at the picnic bench outside or take it with you in your car or boat. We docked the boat briefly the other day and 5 of us got ourselves 4 meal baskets (for them), and 8 sides of grouper "to go", and they did all "go"! While it was my idea to get the side orders, I had to fight the boys for even my share of them. Since I'm on Atkins, I just had the grouper on its own. (What's a little bit of fried coating gonna do when you are out in the boat getting fresh sea air? It doesn't count.) They make some of the best seafood I've eaten anywhere, the freshest, sweetest grouper, and fantastic preparation in a very light frying batter. This is a charming, clean little treasure of a place. These folks previously ran a big local restaurant and decided the big red truck was much easier and manageable at this time of their lives. While the husband operates a local commercial fishing boat, the wife does the cooking from his catches. Hence the name, "The Fisherman's Wife". They are doing great business. If you drive by and didn't know it was there you could miss it, thinking, who eats fresh seaforod from a food truck? (Some of the best Mexican food in America is out of a big truck that sits on a street in a neighborhood in San Francisco.....written about all the time, so these hidden jewels are not to be overlooked.) My point being that I have trouble going past this corner location without stopping. I have grouper eyeballs lately. yummmmm.

Judy