Just another day in Paradise...

July 31, 2010 - Saturday
4:36 p.m. Ponte Vedra Beach, FLA
The sisters are here!

Girls Gone Wild (on the beach)

My sisters all got in safely. The flights were ALL delayed due to bad weather out of Des Moines and Dallas. Stephanie missed her connector flight with Anne Marie so Steph was the Lone Ranger, coming in at about midnight all by her lonesome. Anne Marie, Deb, Kaydee, and Beverly all got here around 7:30 pm. After chicken quesadillas and several drinks, we went to the beach and watched Kate, Lauren, and Ling with the teenage boys next door as they did "Dance Contest". What a wonderful night. Anne Marie gave each of us a gift of a beautiful necklace.

We changed sleeping arrangements - Kate is now in my spot with Scout. Don't think she and Scout are comfortable with each other yet.


...and what can I say? Another perfect day at the beach. It did rain for about 20 minutes and cooled things down for a few minutes. It generally rains up the beach, or down the beach, rarely in our "backyard".


Will take photos of the sisters today and post later. Signing off now from

my little piece of Heaven
6:53 a.m. July 31, 2010
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Another day in Paradise

On his own, Scout doesn't stray too far from us. He gets up, goes in the water up to tummy; a big wave comes and he runs back under the umbrella. He actually went swimming yesterday in a pool of water where no waves were breaking. We saw about a dozen shark fins yesterday - from the kitchen window; we were making a meal. Needless to say, we were very careful in the water after that. There were about 10 fishing boats in the same area. Fish must've been schooling. Kate thought they may have been dolphins so looked them up on the i-net and yes, they were sharks!



Hope you don't think we're lazy. Aisling really wants to go into St. Augustine and see the sites and do the tourist thing. Me? Hand me a drink, a beach chair and an umbrella - give me the crash of the waves, sand and water, and I'll sit for hours with nothing but a goofy look on my face - relishing the water energy as I am RENEWED! This is all I wanted/planned to do - sit on the beach and be a bum. Soaking up as much of the sun and wave sounds as I can in this two weeks. Gee, I want to live here.

Some people in my life are missing from this vacation. Marie, Beth, and I should have invited my almost daughter Alice B. She was the cutest little thing - so quiet and shy, but boy, don't push her buttons - she could roar when she had to (and believe me, at our house she had occasion to roar much more than she did). Alice, I wish you were here. I have so many wonderful memories of you - love you, l'il girl.



The views from the deck are breathtaking. The sisters get in tonight. Yes, Mike, we've taken your advice and alerted the local law enforcement and EMS that the Standley girls are in town and have fire and ambulance service on alert.

4:53 a.m. Friday, July 30, 2010
Ponte Vedra Beach a/k/a Paradise, FL

Wednesdays with the Kokotts

Of course, my arachnaphobiac daughter Kate would see this "little" guy hanging over our heads every time we walk up or down the stairs. As if HE isn't bad enough, his 3 sisters live over to the left by the deck railing! They are harmless - we had to look them up "agriope" or something like that. Big, big, big. Wish I'd had something to make a size comparison with. Really, quite a beautiful spider. It's web is almost as thick as fishing line - it would have to be as the spider is large.

Another (please keep them coming)beautiful day at the beach. No rain, no clouds whatsoever. On our drive down, the forecast called for 10 days of rain and cloudy weather. Must be up the beach...or down the beach, because in our little spot of Paradise, there has been no rain - nothing but SUNNY DAYS.


Woe is me! I look like my grandma Standley. My hair is either curly or sticking straight up in spots. Looks like I've bobby-pinned it every night (remember those days, Anne Marie?) and have little pincurls all over my head. Not that I think my grandma was unattractive...just never thought I'd look like her. Ahhhhh. Thinking about my "battle with the dog wounds", it could have been worse. I could have needed stitches, poked my eye out, broken teeth...and instead I just look like Pam-pam Panda. AND, to add insult to injury, the prednisone has nicely "rounded" out my face, abdomen, and neck. Really and truly, I've gained less than 2# while on it (122.7) but I read an article (because I feel fat) about how being on prednisone not only increases your appetite, slows down metabolism, but redistributes the fat. One of these days I'll be me again. Right now it's kind of fun exploring possibilities. So no photos of me right now. Okay, so I'm lacking a bit of confidence in the looks department. I'm okay, then I look in the mirror and have a little freak out attack and promise myself not to look in the mirror again. I have been wearing Lauren's movie-star-style sunglasses.

Last night it was a DANCE PARTY at the beach house. Played "Last Word" and "Catch Phrase" pre-dance. Can hardly wait for "the sisters" to get here. We'll serve them jellyfish sandwiches. No, we're reserving that delicacy for Jonny Kokott.

Thursday 4:39 a.m., July 29, 2010
Ponte Vedra, FLA

St. Augustine

After another beautiful day on the beach, Kate, Lauren, and I drove into St. Augustine. What a beautiful old city. Along the lines of Lake Geneva, WI - only more so. The history dates back to the 1500s and there is a lot of history there. The sisters will want to see this city as well as the wine tasting and jazz bar one night during vaca. So bring your walking shoes and a wet towel to wrap around your neck. The ocean breeze at the house is delightful, and when you're not near the ocean, man! it's hot!!



Got a note from sister Deb and she has poison ivy or oak or something; Beverly is in a walking cast, Sue is beat up looking (I have bruises around both wrists - big red and blue ones - so it really does look like someone held me down and beat me up). Here is a note I received from brother Mike: "It sounds like you are all accidents ready to happen. I have contacted the local authorities and they will have extra EMS personnel on hand while you visit. You may want to check out The Villages, I have heard it’s a nice retirement village. I’ll visit and drive the golf cart for you. I also advise buying stock in Depends as the Standley’s will probably double the stock value within 10 years. Maybe 5 if you start shoving water down Anne Marie.

I hope you all have a great time and don’t scare the locals. Love, Mike






South Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
July 28, 2010 5:06 a.m.

Walking on the Beach

Kate mentioned earlier she had read that anticipation of vacation oftentimes is more fun than the vacation itself. I don't believe the person who spoke those words went to the beach with loved ones. There is nothing more invigorating than walking on the beach, looking for land sharks, while a 30# dog tries to take you waterskiing.

Aisling and I walked a ways south down the beach around 9 last night. The moon was gorgeous and orange. Scout must have marked his "territory" well as he knew, even in the dark, which house is ours. See? He's not ALL naughty dog; he honestly does have his uses.

I'm not sure what's gotten into him but he's taken to following me around again like a two-year-old toddler, crying if I go in or out without him.



The prednisone is still keeping me wakeful. Here I thought I'd sleep like a baby. Even lack of sleep can't spoil my enjoyment...more awake time to remember the sights, sounds, colors, and love of my kids (and sisters here soon!)





Good morning from the beach!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 2:25 a.m.

Scout takes down 2 - 2 to go!

Kate, Lauren, Scout, and I were walking along the beach last night around 9, drinks in hand. Because of my earlier run in with a deck post, Lauren was holding Scout's leash - not that he'd go anywhere without us (smile). Lauren was sporting a Corona and Kate a white wine...Scout just sniffing sea grass (ahem).

When...all of a sudden...Scout turns in the direction from which we had just come, and takes off like a banshee - throwing Lauren's one-sip Corona off to the side, and her to ground, in a knee-bashing blood bath. Kate and Lauren took off after the bad boy, yelling at him to stop. He did. About 20 houses down the beach and just sat there waiting for them to pick up his leash again. He was scared - shaking. Who knows what he thought he saw. I have never seen him run so fast.

For a dog that weighs under 40 lbs., he sure has been throwing us big kids around. Dogs (and people for that matter) act strange under a full moon, which at 1:36 a.m. today we have.

Early Monday morning 5:11 a.m. (thank you prednisone!)
July 26, 2010 - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Scout tried to kill me!

HE was just too too excited to see Kate and Lauren on the beach, so he "flew" me down the beach stairs - vertical - until my cheek/eye/forehead crashed into a vertical deck post. Blood everywhere - black eye - nothing worse than that except for the goose egg on my forehead and a swollen left above the ankle. I CRIED! Ouch, it really hurt - Wiley Coyote, move over! After icing it for 2 hours, the swelling went down and I can see out of my eye. Hopefully, the black eye will be gone by Friday or Saturday.

Can't believe my luck being so bad lately with falls - kind of think it may be the chemo still. I'm going to drink it out of me!

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Sand Pipers

This is what I awoke to at 5:45 this morning. The windows are all steamed up from the a/c inside and the humidity outside. There is a breeze that blows across the deck all day and night from the continual movement of the water. Very few flying bugs.

Took Scout for his "constitutional" this morning and man, oh man, the spiders in their webs are all over the place...had to duck to get down the stairs. Lots of big green (1") bugs were caught in the webs. Have to remember to look up for webs.

The sun is shining, Kate got in around 1:30 to the house - her flight was delayed out of O'Hare because of weather along the route. Ling, Lauren, Scout, and Kate are still sleeping as I sit here typing this and drinking coffee. Vacation is a wonderful thing! We plan on spending the entire day at the beach - reading, drinking, eating. I'm not planning on starting a diet anytime in the next two weeks. Wish I'd been able to rent a house big enough for all my friends to join us. I can't tell you all just how happy I am to be here.

Sunday, July 25, 2010
6:11 a.m.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Kicking back on :Ponte Vedra Beach

Yippee! We made it. The house is gorgeous; spacious, 3 bdrms, 3 baths, very clean, and most significantly important - right on the beach. The crash of the waves, the cry of the gulls - it's almost deafening. We'll be sleeping great for two weeks!

Rums - spiced, dark, light, vodka, teqiula, beer...wines; white and red. We're stocked up for that lost shaker of salt.



We pick Kate up at JAX tonight at 11 and spend a week relaxing - or relaxing as much as Kate will let us, what with all her organizing! The sisters come next week. Scout already loves it. He was afraid of the waves for about 2 seconds, now he's jumping in them, body surfing, no less, and doing his dog paddle, chasing after the sand pipers and gulls.

More to come tomorrow.

Saturday, July 24th, 2010 7:06 pm

Vacation's all we ever wanted!!!!

What beautiful country we've been driving through. Sunshine, great highways, little traffic, except when we hit Atlanta, GA...stop and go for over an hour. My car got an adrenalen (sp?) rush when it almost hit the car in front of it (bad car! bad car!) and the outside temp went up to 122! Maybe my car is going through menopause? No, it was really that hot outside the car...all that traffic, generating all that heat on the asphalt/concrete. Whoa.

Our second day of travel, we drove all the way to Jacksonville. The drive has been very relaxing and fun. Lauren decided to feed Scout raisens (which the poor little guy chewed and chewed and chewed) and then, as Aisling was sleeping, he threw them up into her hand. We all laughed so hard...yes, even Aisling!

Scout IS in Dog Heaven. We were reloading the trunk yesterday and he wanted to get moving again and was so excited about getting back in the car, he jumped into the trunk and lay there waiting. His "spot" is half in the back, half in the front. We put a pillow from the back seat onto the front seat console and he lays his head on the pillow and watches between Lauren and me. He's a funny little thing. Hasn't barked once this whole trip. (He HAS whined. The big baby. He wants to be back on the road.)

We can't get into the house until 3 so will mosey around Jacksonville and go to the beach. Can hardly wait for the rest of my kids and my sisters to arrive! Two weeks!

Will post photos tonight when I unpack the camera and take shots of the beach and house. Love to all.

Oh, I do have radiation pneumonitis. (Back in April/May I thought I did, but the dr. didn't think so. Now she thinks so.) Have been on roids so I rarely sleep. I've only gained 1 1/2# - all in my cheeks! The cough is a little better, but at times it is discouraging. I feel 100% and then when the cough kicks in, 75%. I'll lick this - the cure is worse than the disease. (smile) Who cares? I'M ON VACATION!

July 24, 2010
7:23 a.m. - Ramada Inn, Jacksonville, FL

Ponte Vedra Beach aka Margaritaville

I am so excited I can barely sit still! I have beach chairs, loungers, beach umbrellas, Scout's food, sand buckets, toys, treats, and retractible leash (just in case a big fish tries to eat him for dinner - we can REEL him back in). Anne Marie, Debbie, KD, Bev, and Stephanie will be arriving July 30th through August 5th.. (my sisters), and son Jon and Emily will also arrive at that time. Kate, Lauren, Ling, Scout and I are making this a road trip and are eagerly mapping out the most scenic route.

It has been so wonderful to have this vacation with loved ones to look forward to. Allie, Terry, and grandbaby girl Arleigh won't be able to make it - they will be packing up their home in beautiful Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and moving to Des Moines, IA. Terry got a promotion and will be working out of the Ankeny store (Home Depot). They will be here the first week of August. Tim and Kristy (Terry's folks) will be helping them make the move.

The only shadow has been the radiation pneumonitis. I thought I had it back in April and asked the dr. but she didn't think so at that time. Now, she thinks so. I have been on prednisone (great for the firm figure! not) and have been like a Mexican jumping bean...asleep at 1:30 and up at 4. By the third day of that routine, I'm out like a light at 9:30. Ah, the days of early to bed are long gone.
I've had so much energy, even with the stupid cough, that I've taken to walking Scout again at night. Without a hat!! My hair is about an inch long - dark, dark, dark, and believe it or not, that's not eyebrow pencil, but honest to goodness eyebrows and eyelashes. (My hair is so soft...Aisling and Lauren like to run their hands through it.) Blush - so do I. I was driving around in my car today with the windows open and could actually FEEL wind blowing through my hair. What a weird feeling. Something I always took for granted before. I could feel my hair moving. It's still Twiggy-short hair, but oh, it's real and it's mine!

Optimism is the rule for the next month! I feel on top of the world emotionally as well as physically (hair, beautiful hair...never gonna cut it).

July 20, 2010
9:31 pm