Catartis

Happy New Year!

2003 is coming to an end in less than 30 minutes. All the *old folk* have gone to bed except your fearless nite owl here who has pulled out the lil runt laptop and turned on her hero, Cartman. [grin]

I have decided that the school of dolphin who were giving us a show this morning must be a good sign for the coming year. Power of positive thinking.... Oh, IDEA!!! Wonder if I could convince everyone they were really sharks and the area is extremely dangerous???? Just think what that would do to property values for awhile! Now what WAS is that Ron said you need to doctor so that dolphins look like sharks? Was it the angle of the tail?? [wicked wink from badddd farron]

Think I will go pounce Tony in a very few minutes and drag him out to the beach. Fireworks have been popping off and on since dark [ours at about 9:30 ;-] and I am quite sure there will be a bit of a burst at midnight as 2004 rolls in.

Happy, Happy, Ya'll!!

Farron

Winter Beach Greetings

Salutations and greetings from Gulf Shores!

Just had to send out this wee bit of proof that I was still alive and acting totally out of character. Have been up with the birdies to watch the sunrise and the lappy has been collecting sand and dust. Hard to stay in when the sun is out.

The air is crisp and clear this morning. A bit of rain yesterday but now it has passed. Shorts some afternoons, sweaters mostly. Typical winter beach at the heart of the dearly loved Redneck Riviera.

Can't stay long to chat as I am off to find someone who will feed me shrimp for breakfast, but wanted to wish you all the happiest of moments as this year comes to an end and magical new beginnings to a brand new one!!!

Back to the beach....

Farron [temporarily sans _^..^_]

Christmas & Beach Stirrings

Is anyone else getting tired of the stir created by the holiday season? Presents to buy, wrapping the gifts, holiday parties, family coming out of the woodwork with plans?

I just realized I had not been here to ramble since before Thanksgiving. Shame on me!!!

Last year Tony and I decided to participate in only the absolutely required festivities and get ourselves to our favorite beach, Gulf Shores, AL. What a wonderful and relaxing week that was. Shrimp for Christmas dinner, beautiful sunsets and long quiet beach walks. Just us and the seabirds much of the time.

We must have advertised the wonders of a winter beach awfully well, because this year the entire family has decided it is the thing to do. Should be *interesting* to have six so called adults under the same roof for an extended period. It won't be quiet, that's the one thing that's more than a wee bit certain. lol

One of the stirs was making sure we had internet access. There is an over abundance of [gasp] AOL users in my family, and even they don't have access when you reach *the island* [area south of ICW on the beaches]. I know Earthlink has connections I could use within 5 miles, but not at the beach. GulfTel has had a lock on local and internet services for some time now. You buy service from them or do without. I often opt to do without and just enjoy the beach, but we will be there a little longer than ususal this time and there are some things in process on which I need to stay in the loop. I also may need the peace and quiet of cyberspace to maintain a bit of what I try to pass off as my sanity.

In my beginning to poke around in weather checks and local happenings, I ran across an article from the Mobile Register that was of interest to me.

It appears GulfTel is getting some competition. Wonder how far behind them the big boys can be? It's all the buzz on local beach info sites. Whatever happens, it will be worth watching. And my bet is that the GulfTel rates for visitors might drop in the near future. [smile]

Back to the day and to fussing over *THE* Cat before he has to be bundled off to that prison know as the V-E-T's boarding area. Bless his furry little head. Maybe I will go stay on the cat's sofa there to keep him company while the rest of the family hangs out at the beach.

Farron
[and one ticked off _^..^_]