Christmas; what do YOU want?

With everyone out shopping for Christmas, have you thought anything about what you wanted?  

I'm not talking about for your house; a new television, dishwasher, refrigerator, water softener system, coffee pot, dishes, or anything that can be shared by anyone else.  I am talking ... 

What do YOU want?  

I have been think about that, only because my sweety asked me "Baby, what do you want for Christmas?"  Any other time, day, year, or season I just buy what I want, myself.  Always have.  Thought I always would.  But, one can never go wrong with knowing your woman.  Little things mean alot and big things blow the roof off.  

The other day my sweety and I were looking through Gordon's online, I have a thing for Black Diamonds, and man talk about falling in love {again}, I could have shopped online all day long.  Well we looked at the items but we didn't purchase anything, it wouldn't be a surprise then, but it was pretty awesome just looking.  Let me show you what I mean...

This Black and White Diamond Twistover ring is classic pretty

Or this Black and White Diamond Bracelet is fashionable

Love love this Black and White Diamond Dragonfly

Maybe a single Black Diamond Stone will do

How about this Black and White Diamond Infinity Pendant Necklace

Even this White Diamond and Sapphire Necklace is to die for.. not like Die die.

How awesome is this White Diamond Cross... I love the diamond cloth layover

And this White Diamond Knotted Pendant is just super

Oh my goodness... how sharp is this!!! Love the whole Past Present Future theme..

HELLO Momma!!! I LOVE this vintage look.. Look at how she stands tall and... I think I can hear her calling me.. 

No matter what you get, remember it is always better to give then to receive.  If however, you are asked what YOU want for Christmas... make sure it is for YOU.  Things for the house, can be purchased anytime.  Plus, when you are shopping, make sure to get two of the things you fall in love with; one for them and one for you.   You wont be sorry you did.

Do you really KNOW your Physician?

There is a local free newspaper box close to my mothers place.  TBT {Tampa Bay Times} has printed this free paper for as long as I can remember.  Within the newspaper, are all the little tid bit things you might not otherwise see in a 'paid' newspaper.  It is why I love it.  Not that it is like, the Globe or Star Telegram or anything like that, what is printed in the TBT is fact.   Again, why I love this newspaper, and why I make sure someone in the house picks up a new edition anytime their car is headed in the direction of our local Publix. 

February 2009 Cover

There is always an interesting story to get caught up in.  News that wouldn't otherwise come to the surface.  Something new to learn, that you had not even known was going on in the community.

In the October 24th edition, I read a story that made me say.. out loud.. "Just who is at fault here, the teen or the educated adults".  Let me paint a picture of the story for you.... 

Putting you front and center of the story.

You are in the hospital.  Doctors come and go, this doctor for that problem and that doctor for this problem.  More than a few nurses come and go.  Someone is always talking to you {the patient} for one reason or another.  And that is just in the emergency room.   There is one physician assistance that stands out to you, a young good looking fellow.  He not only treats you, but others as well.  He has been in the ER before, and has checked in on patients he treated that are now admitted.  He is knowledgeable, and you find yourself liking him.  Listening to his advice.  Hanging on his every word of your treatment.  He is wonderful, and you are more then pleased with your treatment.  Yep, you will make it a point, to see this physician assistance again.  But, what if you learn that this "young handsome charming physician assistance" isn't what you thought at all?  What if he wasn't even a physician assistant, rather a normal every day teenager instead?

March 2006 Cover

On page 17 of the October 24th TBT* edition, the title "Teen walked in, got a badge and treated hospital patients"  catches my eye.  I read the story, which pretty much depicts what I painted for you above, and when finished I asked  "Who is at fault here, the Teen or the Hospital, physicians, Human Resource Personal, and the nurses"?  

The story tells of a young 17 year old boy, who walks into the Human Resource Office and gets a 'courtesy badge' after stating he worked for an medical office close by.  A report from The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration states, 'No one verified whether the teen even worked there or not'.

1st... Would you, as a mature level headed Human Resource Personal, call and confirm the status of one said individual?  

2nd... Is it really that easy to walk into a hospital, and simply ~  talk your position into life? 

Apparently it is, because this 17 year old boy did just that.  Not only once mind you, but he went back a second time, getting a badge for an Physician Assistant, stating it was his new position {that indeed it was}.  Thus Allowing him to treat patients.  Oh, it gets better, trust me.  The Human Resource Personal tells The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration that "she remembers changing his status to PA, but does not remember printing the badge".   A Quote from TBT states "The hospital did not call the medical staffing office to confirm Scheidt's claims."  

November 2010 Cover

The Hospital... Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee Florida.  The Teen... Matthew Scheidt, 17 years old.    As the story goes on, and it does go on, the teen had access to everything within the hospital.  That includes all {every single one of them} patient medical records, Social Security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information, medical history, and anything {plus everything} you can think of.  Not only that, Scheidt preformed medical treatments.  Quoted from TBT who's source is The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration  "Scheidt preformed ear, eye and neurological examinations and listened to a patient's lungs while working the night shift for nearly a week in August.  He also restrained a combative patient, held down a pediatric patient who was being sutured, and preformed cardiopulmonary resuscitation correctly on a patient who later died from a drug overdose."

Wow.  Now that is one busy teen.  For one full week he worked at this hospital, and no one ever checked his credentials.  How happy I am, that I live no where near this hospital.  The out come so far?  State Officials charge the hospital for failing to protect patients from Matthew, the hospital sees approx 200 patients a day. The hospital is quoted, stating to The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, "We have corrected the process for issuing badges and verifying the credentials of hospital employees".   Mean while,  "Scheidt awaits trial on charges of impersonating a Physician Assistance, impersonation of a medical professional and practicing medicine without a license.  Both felonies".  As quoted from TBT. 

I am pretty sure; the next time I need to be seen at the ER, I am going to ask to see credentials of any physician, nurse, technicians, PA's, and Human Resource Personal who enter my Healthcare Circle.   It seems to me, that this hospital owes these unsuspecting patients, a Paid in Full statement of their bills.  In my opinion, they all failed to keep the oath taken upon completion of their medical training.   Oh, Matthew didn't wander on his own.. in TBT it states, and I quote "The Medical Director of the Emergency Department told the teen he could shadow a doctor for one day, but he needed permission from the medical staffing office.   He never produced an approval letter - nor was he asked to do so".

I don't know.. maybe tomorrow I will be a brain surgeon. {------ Clearly just a joke.  The story, however, is not.  Below are photos of Mathew, and some kind of court paper. 

A sister.. A mother.. and a accident Part 2

  How many people do you know, that can't wait for Monday to start?  If you know me, then count me as one.  Monday could not get here fast enough.  Let me back track a little, to fill you in on Sunday night.

  My sister did not leave the accident site until very late.  The accident happened at 4:30am, she was leaving Daytona early in hopes to have lots of time to spend with the family, she was off work for the next three days and so was I.  We planned a super duper yummy dinner;  my wonderful Meatloaf with Creamy mashed potatoes, and peach cobbler for a tasty coffee side.  Who could ask for more.  Plans for the days ahead were;  going through some clothing my mother was tossing out {for my niece Patricia}, going through pictures and copying the ones Maryann did not have, making awesome meals together {Maryann is a self made chef ~ man can she cook}, and catching up on sisterly bonding stuff.  I still can not grasp that fact that in a few short days, she will be moving to Tennessee.  I am happy for her, and sad all in the same breath.

Senior Picture 1981

  When Mr Bell's invention did it's ringing after 5pm, I rushed to the telephone in quite a hurry.  From the first time the phone rang at 5:00 am when my sister called, I never put the phone far out of reach.  I walked around, paced, fed the dogs, birds, and horse with my cell phone in my pocket, and the house phone in my sweetie pocket.  Where ever I went, Mr Bell followed.  I attempted to answer the phone in a calm manner, but it was hard not to be out of breath.  Michael {my brother in law} had already called the house to let me know that my sister was released from the accident site.  Her car was looked over with a fine tooth comb. The accident site was classified as a hit and run, a felony, and as lady luck would have it; most of the examination was done on my sisters car.  She was driving home and should arrive shortly.

A daughter, a sister, a mother.. and a accident

Alexander Graham Bell would be shocked to see his invention today.  Not only do we have means of communication with friends and family in other states, across  large bodies of water, on high mountain tops, and underground; but we also have communication as we travel.  Although Bell didn't invent the cell phone, I feel it was his concept of communication that started the ball rolling on the cell phone.

As a child, we were taught the telephone was for adults.  We would see our friends for 8 hours at school, therefore the theory was we should have said everything needed during those 8 hours.  "You were just with your friends all day, what could you possibly have left to say" would be recited not once, not twice,  not even three times; rather five times as we all grew up.  Two boys and three girls waited until it was felt they were old enough to have phone privileges. "The phone is not a toy"  our parents would say, and as time moved forward we all learned, when the phone rang late at night or early in the morning; it was never good news.  Something that pretty much stuck with us, as well as every household I am sure, throughout our teens, young adult, and even until this very day.

 Wonder if Alexander Bell intended for a single telephone ring after a proper hour, meant bad news.

{From Left to Right} 

Maryann {my sister} born Oct 16, 1963  and Joslinda {Me} born Dec 28, 1964

Where's the B E E F ???

I hate to shop.  For myself anyways; now I could spend hours shopping for someone else or, grocery shopping.  Man, it's so odd to see that typed on my computer.. me, liking grocery shopping.  Now that is one cold day.  Better mark it in red, and remind me I said such a thing at a later date. 

In order to like shopping, you have to have the "One" place that pulls at your heart strings, and wallet.   I could name more then a few places that I like to shop at; such as Winn Dixie, Sweet Bay, Publix, Sam's Club.  One place that I hate the thought of shopping at, which I will not name in my Blog.  Then there is the heart string tugger... oh my good kitchen night, is this place wonderful.

In order for a store to tug at heart strings,  love has to play a big factor.  Boy do I LOVE their products.    The place has to stop your heart and jump start it all at once.  It's the one store, that when you walk through the front doors, you gasp.   I have found just the place right here in Tampa.  I live to shop at this place.  I gasp every time I enter the front doors, and never stop grabbing at the sales until I exit the store.  One day, last week in fact, we even went back in the store a second time and made one last purchase. 

 Check out these T-Bone steaks.  Look at how big each steak is.  How red the color.  Is your stomach growling?  The taste buds have lulled into overdrive?  Mouth watering, huh?  Let me tell you, not one of the three men in this house could finish their T-Bone.  Hugh.  Massive.  Big.  Yummy is just was it was.

Goodbye Ms Independent ...

Music is:   Life.  Love.  Inspirational.  

Often, and there is no way I am the only one, there are a few songs that speak to my soul.  I can relate to the words, swear someone wrote a song about my life.  Peeked into my emotions and sang everything I ever thought, felt, and said; in a song.  Haven't you felt the same way when you listened to an old song or new song?  Just knew the artist was speaking right to you, singing your life. 

The original Ms Independent.  When I first heard that song years ago, I said "this song is about me".  Who needs love anyway, right?  Someone dictating when or where or how I could do something.  Someone I would have to "report" to before departing to spend time with friends.   Demanding meals, serving drinks, time keeping.  Who needs a full time adult sitter, I sure don't.

That didn't keep the "Every girls dream" phase.  Sure I searched for love.  Fell for a guy in high school who I thought didn't have an interest in me, and ended up dating plus marrying someone else.  Everything I tried to keep from, was my marriage.  The best part of him and the marriage; are my two children.  Yet, I never stopped hoping for my one and true love.  You know; I wanted the knight to ride in on a white horse and rescue me.  Love me and care for me.  Dreams of a house and white picket fence.  Happy ever after and all the rainbow colors that come along with it.  

While part of me hoped it would happen, another part of me knew some things were unreachable.  If it should happen, it would be at a great cost; I would lose myself.  So many girls and women changed who they were, and what they stood for in the name of "relationship", and I knew that would never be me.  Not again.  Not at any cost.

It was easier to date.  Have a good time in the moment.  When things became too close or real; it was time to get out and more often than not; I would do the pushing.  I became very good at it.  Relying on one person; myself.  Counting on the one true person who mattered; myself.  Keeping together all that I held close to my heart; my children.  Never letting anyone in, never getting close enough to be loved or allow myself to truly fall in love.  

Oh, that was until Ms Independent was reunited with her Knight. Years of feelings and wonder came flooding back to me.  Suddenly, I found myself wanting to learn to cook.  Longing to figure out compromise.  Needing to open my heart to feel love, and allow myself to be loved.  This is the dream I have longed for.  The everything I have always wanted, just never knew it.

 Cooking for my sweety and seeing him happy; is just what I waited years for.  Hearing his voice on the other end of the phone, makes my day brighter.  Just watching him, makes my heart flutter.

 It is the one thing I could do, endlessly ....

And daily ...

 Cooking has blended in with relationship quite nicely... and I love it.  Go figure.  Seeing the smile on my sweeties face after a hot home cooked meal, makes it all worth while.

 Fresh hot breakfast ...

 Outstanding Dinners ...

 And wonderful Desserts ...

 This Ms Independent ... is still Independent, but now I'm not alone.  Now I know love and am in love.   I have the dream, and am living the dream.   I couldn't be more happy.

Never Tired; Always Ready....

As a Military Mom, during Deployments, I look for anything and everything to do.  "Keep yourself busy" is what my inner voice tells me.  So in search of "anything" and "everything" is how I begin my day.

in my Quest to stay busy....

Sweets are baked ~  I  posted on that in my: Let the Cooking Begin: Sweets, Part Six blog; 

check it out..Sweets = Yummy, and there is nothing better than a house filled with the aroma of a freshly baked pie, or cake, or muffins, or ... you get the idea.

A Flag Pole is made...

With all the help from my sweety, we made a Flag Pole for my mothers flag.  Can't have Deployment without properly displaying the American Flag.  The Idea of making the Flag Pole out of PVC was mine, and the specks of how it should be put together was my sweeties.  He is so smart.  We had gotten the original idea from Texas, when we seen two houses displaying the American Flag  in the same fashion.  Our Flag Pole isn't made the same as theirs. 

The Parts...

The flowers...

My Sweety...

The Out come...

Outdoor Seating Area...

It started out to be a Fire Pit seating area.  I pictured family and friends sitting in front of a squarish Fire Pit, like the ones you can buy at Home Depot.  Roasted Marshmallows, star fill nights,  laughter... It Didn't happen.  So With the help of my mother, we made a wonderful outdoor seating area instead.   With the changing weather , I am going to look into adding an Umbrella,  along with a few wood flower pots to complete the area.

Early morning Breakfast ...

While the rest of the house sleeps.  While my sweety gets ready for work.  I  cook.  Hot breakfast is in the making and served right as my sweety sits at the table.  Now this was being done before Deployment, I am just getting better at it now.


Sisterly Gift...

Before my eldest sister, Marry Ann,  moves out of state, I have been working on a give for her.  Photos of our younger sister, mother, and family members.  Pictures my Marry Ann doesn't have.  Pictures close to our hearts.


And wood palettes are collected...

in the hopes of hanging a spice rack on the wall.  Seeing Wood Planters on my deck one day.  Adding wooden hanging lanterns in the garden or flower beds. 

Right now, I am looking for anything and everything to keep busy during this Deployment.

Let the Cooking Begin : Sweets, Part Six

I could not wait to dive into the Flat Apple Pie Recipe.  I am a huge Apple Pie fan, which is often seen as American History in my eyes.  Just like Hot Dogs and Baseball go hand in hand.  Beer and Football.  Sweatshirts and Hockey.  For me, Apple Pie is an American right of passage.  There should be one smelling up a kitchen often.  Added to a lunch box weekly.  And enjoyed with a hot cup coffee more often then not.

 Don't you love the color of this leaf?  The way the light filters down to it is fabulous.

 OK, back to the deliciously fabulous Flat Apple Pie.  I didn't take any before pictures, so you wont see how the Flat Apple Pie formed, but you can see plenty of before and after pictures in Ree's Cookbook, Pg 216-217.  It was so simple to make and tasted awesome.  I can not wait to make it again, and there will be more Flat Apple Pie.

 Just look at the juicy filling.  I could have a slice right now with a hot cup of coffee.  The fact that the crust did not have to be perfect, is a mind blowing idea.  Yay for ~ Non Perfect.  It was so easy to slice and the men to grab a chunk and eat it like pizza.  Oh, there was more than a slice for some than others, making two pies next time will be in order.

The flaky crust was out of this world.  You could peal back the layers and have the inner as a surprise.  Although I savored every bite.  With three men, you have to slice it just as it warms and hide your piece first; otherwise you might not see the massive blur that leaves you with just, an empty baking stone.

Oh, I used a Baking Stone from Pamper Chef instead of a cookie sheet.  The Baking Stone is a wonderful kitchen must.  I have turned to my baking stones more often then not.  The wonderful flavor trapped in the stone that is released when used over and over again, is the best fragrance a house could ever ask for.  Remember; NEVER use soap on your baking stone.  Never.  You simply scrape off anything that might bake onto the stone, and use plain water to wash it off.  Don't get gray hair over the color your stone will turn.  It only reflects the great cooking and baking you have done.  Just sit back and enjoy your cup of hot coffee and Flat Apple Pie.

Not everything I bake is Home Made.  From scratch that is.  Some days I am so busy making a home made meal, that the yummy dessert takes a back seat to, made from scratch. Such a sad sad fact.  This is such the case of my Blueberry Muffins...

I did folded in real Blueberries, and added the crumble topping, so that part is me, but the mixes belong to another.  It didn't make a difference, the men and women in the house loved every bite of the muffins. 

The pan I used made 12 muffins, as you can plainly see for yourself.  Given the chance to make bigger muffins with a small pan would have been my first choice; but I couldn't find my mothers smaller muffin pan.  It goes without saying, that I would have loved to use a Pampered Chef Baking Stone Muffin Mold most of all. 


Baking, what a great stress reliever.  Go ahead,and pull out those baking pans, I can here them calling you now, whip up something sweet for your sanity today... and watch the faces of your family.

Sisters ~ The Never Ending Bond....

One of the most difficult task in life, for me, is letting go.  I hold on to every word, every memory {the important ones}, the way someone smiles, something they might say ~ even when they are no longer here.  I think, so many times, I can hear them whisper words of encouragement and direction in my ear.  Play in my mind, what they wore.. how they stood.  It is one of the greatest things the good Lord above gave us, the ability to remember... reminisce... 

There would be the practice of learning to live with the memories; good and bad ones, but I wouldn't give up one single past memory for anything in the world.

This is our first family photo after moving from New York to Florida.  It was taken shortly after my father died.

 {L to R back row} Fred, Marry Ann, Mark

{L to R middle row} My grand parents Belia [granny] and Bill [pop], My mother Eneida, Gladys

{on the floor} Me ~ Joslinda

 I am working on a going away gift for my sister.  Photos of our younger sister, Gladys Marie, who passed away September 17, 1986.  She was only 17 years old when she died, Gladys would have been 42 on the 5th of March, 2011.  She has been gone 25 years now, yet it seems like just yesterday we were feeding the chickens on my parents property.   Watering the cows and tossing slop to the pigs. 

 As a small child, Gladys hated having her photo taken by men.  In fact, she did not like any other man except for my father.  If you had facial hair, forget it.. you would have never gotten close to her.  As Gladys got older, she became all legs, and skinny as ever.  My father would call her Droopy Drawers.  Nothing would fit her tight enough to stay on.  My grandmother, called Gladys Skinny Malinkie.

Their wasn't a person, who wasn't fond of Gladys.  Her smile was captivating, her personality was indescribable,  there was never a person she met that wasn't her friend, people just flocked to her energy.  The love of life glowed all around her.   

 When she was little, as she grew into her body, she often told me and Maryann "I'm not pretty like you guys" she would say "My hair is ugly, my teeth are ugly"  I remember like it was yesterday, we would tell her "You need to read the story of the Ugly Duckling then, cause you don't see yourself like we do.  You are very beautiful, you just have to look past the shell"

 {L to R} Gladys, Ann, Granny Bea [our grand mother}, Me [Joslinda}, and Marry Ann

 Even when she complained about the way she looked at herself, within seconds she was happy.  Laughing and joking. 

She grew into herself.  Had lots of friends.  Loved her nieces {Patricia, Tabitha, and Christina ~ she never new my youngest daughter Ashley or my brothers' daughter Anna} and her only nephew {my son James}.   

 {L to R}  Our brother Fred, Our Auntie Linda, Gladys, and our grand mother

 She was never married;  That would have been a breath taken wedding.  She never had any children; I would have loved the chance to see her as a mother.  She didn't have a job; although she would have been good at anything she done.  There is so much I wish.. but my biggest wish would be to have her and my father again.

 Her grades were awesome.  Even with the trials and tribulations teen age children have, you would see Gladys with that smile on her face.  The dimples letting you know she was as happy as anyone could be. 

I sure do miss Gladys, and I know my sister Marry Ann does as well.  I knew, that no matter how painful it is to relive the memories I have with Gladys,  making this going away gift for Marry Ann will mean just as much to her as it has to me.  She will be able to relive all the wonderful times that she shared with Gladys, just by glancing at the photos.  

Sisters are the greatest gift... No matter where I am in life or my sister is in distance;  We will always have each other.  Sisters ~ It's The Never Ending Bond.