Awesome Olympics!

I love watching the Olympics. The opening ceremonies, the parade of athletes. This year I noticed some 'grey hairs' among the marching contestants. Ping pong? Shooting? I guess I always thought the Olympics to be peopled by youngsters.

Mariana sent me a link to an Olympic event we CAN participate in.

Athletes at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho will be wrapped in a little handmade love, courtesy of knitters and crocheters across the country. Coats & Clark is sponsoring a project to provide each athlete with a scarf created in white and delft blue Red Heart® Super Saver® yarns.

Click http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Features/Special+Olympics.htm

to go to their site for instructions. This looks like a great project that even beginner knitters can participate in. Check it out!

Now, on to the great pictures!!

I hope you enjoyed the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics held in China. This was the most jaw-dropping performance I've ever seen! Costumes were out of this world!

The drumming gave me goose bumps.

The fabrics were scrumptious!

And how did they work these lights? There were lots of effects that just blew my mind.

These performers practised for most of a year to be able to do the moves.

Lots of religious symbolism that I didn't 'get' but impressed me anyway.

Children of migrant workers from outlying provinces look at themselves in the mirror as they use their hands to form the Olympic Rings after watching the TV live broadcast of the Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Movie Mania Contest

The latest picture of our problem spot shows great improvement. Now on to the:

Rick's sister Pam has taken me up on my request for good movie suggestions, and gone me one better. She has put my scheming little mind onto a contest...a contest with-in a contest, actually.

You must read to the end to find out about the contest:

Here is her email:

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Reading recent blogs on the movie Mama Mia (loved it! What a delight!) and our Gary's enthusiasm for film reminded me of a little game I've played over the years - that of listing MY FIVE ALL-TIME FAVORITES! Making myself limit the list to five means that I must leave out so many great ones and so many different types of movies. I apparently favor heavy dramas, often with redemption themes, because my present list (oldest to latest) looks like this:

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (to remind me that The Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about)

THE MISSION

LAST OF THE MOHICAN'S (with Daniel Day Lewis running...running....running through my dreams)

DANCES WITH WOLVES (my mom's Indian name is, incidentally, Makes Spaghetti With Peas)

MAN ON FIRE

Please, you movie lovers, share YOUR FAVORITE FIVE!

The recent movie The Love Guru is extremely funny; people of all ages were laughing out loud in the theater both times I went to see it!

Pam #210
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Back to me talking, eh, typing..SueZ:

So while entering the pool a couple of days ago, I cornered the movie expert, Gary, and asked him about his all time favorite five. His eyes lit up, rolled around in his head for awhile, then out spewed his list. I committed them to memory, turned away, then was brought back for a little extra tweaking of the list. You'll see why in a moment.

Gary's list:

Matrix (The first one. All were great but the first one, wow! Saw it 27 times)

Alien1 (getting them in the right order was important)

Alien2

Alien3 (Do you see a pattern here?)

The new Batman movie, Dark Knight

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I think my list would be similar to Pam's with the addition of a few older movies.

Saratoga Trunk (Ingrid Bergman & Gary Cooper)

Dances with Wolves (I've seen it probably 8 times...love the soaring music)

Last of the Mohican's (another heart thriller with fab music)

The Great Escape ( I adore all those big name action stars that are no longer with us)

Then you have to list one more...the hardest one. This is the one that stops your list.

I've given it some thought and I can't do it.....there are too many to choose from. Cop out, I know!
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So, here's the deal. For this blog entry only...send in your comment at the end of this Movie Mania entry and you will be listed on the blog contest sheet. Normally the contestants for the three fabulous, much sought after prizes to be awarded at the first FunBuzz Happy Hour have to come up with a topic...well you've read the sidebars on the left, correct? I don't have to type it all again...read the rules.

These rules are easy.



1. Leave a comment at the end of this blog entry about your 5 favorite movies. Sign with your name, or site number if you are shy.

2. You will then be added to the list of potential winners to be named Nov. 1st.

3. Couples can enter together for one entry, or separately for two entries. Just indicate who is who.

It's hot down here in the Rio Grande Valley. Going to the movies is a great way to cool off.

So entertain us with your movie loves, and get entered into the contest!

Waterlillies, toad babies, and squashed pots.

Isn't this waterlily pretty? And look! Check out the winged visitor, oh, and the goldfish, too. I have a little pond behind my house...and a big pond in front of my house.

Not such a big pond anymore. The water is really going down fast. Another week it'll be gone. A week after that I bet the ground will be firm.

Except here. This is the corner of the 600 row by #48-49. See those ripples? That's current caused by....

Pumping out the water. This pump has been doing a great job of sucking the water out of Sandpipers and delivering it far into the onion field next door.

Still have a way to go...and it's a bit stinky!

Here's why it's stinky...pond scum, rotting vegetation....dead fish?

Very artistic, no?

And now we have a plague of toads. Actually toads are good. They eat bugs, but they are EVERYWHERE! The ground moves with a tidal wave of toad babies. I have found the coolest website with info about toads of Texas. Click Here and be sure to click on the toad pictures. When you do, you will hear what they sound like. All have a unique song.

Now...on to the saga of the squashed pot by the mailbox. Remember the unsightly pile of broken stones that lay along the edge of the road? They were to deter drivers from cutting over the grass. Well, I had the bright idea to move several pots of agave and aloe to the edge instead. Three pots in a row. Kind of a planter look. I mean, who in his right mind would want to get close to these plants. They are wicked! Thorny. Scratchy. Think of what they would do the the finish on your car....

Or garbage truck. Not that I am pointing fingers, but somebody ran over my poor baby. So we will try again. Looks better than a pile of broken stones, but only until they get hit again.

Now be careful!

Got Peppers?

Hey Guys, If you are an annual resident of Sandpipers Resort, and haven't been getting emails from Karen (Owner's news) or from John (Sandpiper Newsletter) or Jon (Fun Buzz info), send your updated email info to Karen at Karen@sandpipersresort.com so she can update the lists. She has been getting some undelivered notices so we know some people aren't getting emails. Maybe mailboxes are full, maybe you've changed email address but forgotten to update the files...just let us know, OK?
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From John #5:

The July/August edition of the Sandpipers newsletter is now posted to the Sandpiper's web site. ( http://www.sandpipersresort.com/) If anyone is not able to read it please email the editors at sprnewsletter@gmail.com and I will do my best to make sure that they get a copy. Also we are looking for articles for the September issue. So come on folks send us stories about your summer travels, a good new recipe or anything you wish to share with other Sandpipers.You can email it to: sprnewsletter@gmail.com (If you don't know the password just email Karen or me(SueZ) or John #5. We'll get you into the loop!

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To get the recipe ball rolling, here are a few recipes from Lisette. I received an email from Dale #415 about his bumper crop of red peppers. He asked for a recipe similar to the chips and sauce on every table down here in the valley. Lisette has been known to make a mighty fine salsa so I forwarded his request to her.

This is a win-win for both of them. Besides getting a great recipe for salsa, Dale is also now entered in the blogging contest. (Renda, you are too). And so are Lisette & Gary. Every time you send me something...anything...that I put on this blog your name goes on the list. At the 1st FunnBuzz Happy Hour in November we will award three prizes randomly picked from my Blog List. The more times you are 'published' the better your chances to win a fabulous, exciting, much-sought-after prize.


Here are Lisette's recipes:

How I make mine is:
Red sauce.

3 cans of diced tomatoes
10 to 12 jalapenos (I like it hot)
cilantro, 2 bunches
2 tbps of cumin
1 garlic cloves
1 onion diced
Boil the tomatoes w/cumin for about 5 min.
Boil the jalapenos til they change color
Sometimes I add 1 habanero for hotter.

Put everything in blender and mix it. You can add the chicken cube in this one also.
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Green sauce

20 tomatillos
1 onion
cilantro
jalapenos to taste 6 or 7
1garlic
Boil tomatillos and jalapenos and put in blender. After well blended put back in the pot and add 1 chicken cubes stir till the cube is melted.

Mosquito Spraying to Start

Hurray, the spraying is about to begin. I had a devil of a time with this map. First I couldn't get my computer to recognize the file from The Monitor's website (http://www.themonitor.com/). Then when I got the bright idea to print out a copy then scan it, the computer lost the color shaded area that showed the areas to be sprayed...so I outlined the areas on my map, did the whole exercise again, and voila! Map! I hope it's big enough so you can see it.

Notice the arrow pointing towards where Sandpipers approximately is. We are well within the to-be-sprayed areas, so fingers crossed, we will soon have relief.
Below is the article from the Monitor.
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EDINBURG -- State officials paved the way Saturday evening for aerial pesticide spraying in the region, offering hope for some relief from the post-hurricane mosquito infestation.
After resolving some wrangling with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials over the spraying of federal wildlife refuges and reserves, officials announced the operation would begin in Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties as early as tonight but no later than Monday night, if weather permits.

"Our residents will feel some relief soon," Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas said in a news release.

Officials said spraying is expected to take five to six days.
Aerial sprayers are to remain at least a half-mile from any federal or state refuge or reserve, according to the news release.

Chicago-based Clarke Mosquito Control will use the chemical Dibrom, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers safe when used properly for mosquito control.
When EPA guidelines are followed, the concentration released during aerial spraying should not harm humans. The chemical is extremely toxic to insects, including those considered beneficial such as honey bees, according to the EPA Web site.

Beekeepers in the region should take protective measures to prevent damage to their hives.
Excessive exposure to Dibrom by humans may result in over-stimulation of the nervous system and cause nausea, dizziness or confusion, according to the EPA.
The spraying is intended to reduce the proliferation of mosquitoes that is hampering recovery efforts and to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses such as St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile infection after heavy rains and flooding in the Rio Grande Valley following Hurricane Dolly.

Specially equipped twin-turbine King Air planes will be used. The planes may be flying as low as 300 feet above ground level when spraying.

The public should continue to eliminate standing water and other mosquito breeding areas around their homes and be sure that door, porch and window screens are in good condition. In addition, people should use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 when outdoors, following label directions.

The blog clog seems to have been fixed. Everybody, including me, was panicking, thinking that something was wrong with the blog, my connection, my computer...the list was growing! But all is working fine now.



So....what shall we talk about today?



Patsy sent me a recommendation for a great movie, Mamma Mia, with Merryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. She said even musical hating Garland loved it.



Patsy says, "We just saw Mamma Mia. We went on the recommendation of Sue and Bob. If the Dog Days of Summer or the mosquitoes have got you down, just go see it. If you come out still feeling down, see your doctor (just kidding). We loved it, and Garland doesn't usually like musicals!"



That got me wondering about other movies playing right now, so I went to THE movie expert, Gary, for his advise. He heartily recommends the new Batman movie. He thinks it is the best by far, of that series and that Heath Ledger should win a posthumous Oscar.



Gary has been known to actually move into a theater, take up residency in fact. They have food, entertainment, sleeping accommodations (a bit cramped, true, especially for a guy of Gary's size, but do-able) ... cheaper that a motel room. And I like his theory that if you buy popcorn they owe you more than one movie. Have you priced movie popcorn lately? What the heck is the mark-up? 7000%?



Anyone else seen a really good movie lately? Jim & I just watched The Wizard of Oz again on TV. He for the first time all the way thru, me for perhaps the 20Th time. It was still good!



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Aerial spraying for mosquitoes is being held up by paperwork! All agencies are on board except for Wildlife & Fisheries. I hope they sign off soon, as it is getting hard to inhale without breathing in a critter.

The Quest for Dry Land.

Lest you think all is doom and gloom and mosquitoes, take a look at this hibiscus. The tropical plants are loving the heat and moisture and rewarding us with beautiful blooms.

There have been some funny moments to relate.

I would laugh out loud every time I saw Bob or Johnie (#35) load their dog Molly (she wouldn't do her business in the water) into their golf cart for the journey to 'dry land'. It felt like an episode of Kevin Costner's Waterworld.

Laughed again when Tony & Sherry's (#40) big babies would walk knee deep into the water, take several big drinks, then lie down. Koda was down in a spot so deep just his head stuck up over the surface...kinda looked like Sherry when she plays water volleyball in the deep end.

Speaking of Sherry...she dons knee high boots and plenty of bug spray when making her daily rounds looking for something that needs doing. Today, she waded into a swampy area to pick up blown down and rotting fruit. Deep water. Deeper mud. See Sherry, see Sherry stuck in the mud. Wish I had a picture of that. I hear they had to bring in a crane to release her. (That may be a bit of exaggeration, not sure.)

Lest we forget, this is Sandpipers during the hurricane, from the shelter of my carport. (#38)

After Dolly passed, it was soggy but not too flooded.

Then the city of Edinburg, concerned about the rising waters in Lake Edinburg (just a mile or so from us) pumped out 10's of thousands of gallons into the surrounding fields. Their excuse? "We didn't know you were back there." What? Are they afraid if they look they'll go blind?

Suns out now, heating us up, raising the humidity, hatching the skeeters.

Look! A bump of dry land! And more grass is appearing! Yahoo!

We are getting there. Soon we'll be back to normal...or as normal as we ever get.