Friday is Valentine’s Day, and it puts me in the mood for romantic music.
I absolutely love this Ed Sheeran song, Thinking Out Loud. And the video is sexy and romantic.
I think it’s important to mark special occasions like Valentine’s Day and anniversaries and birthdays. Our coffers are far from full so I don’t see any romantic candlelight dinner at a fancy restaurant in the cards for us this year. But I still want to remember that I love Mr. R more than life itself, and if I have to go through the fire, he’s the one I choose to have by my side.
What’s your favorite romantic song?
I hope you enjoy your weekend and that you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Be sure to at least hug the ones you love.
We started this blog a few years ago, back in the salad days when we had corporate jobs and tons of disposable income, and we couldn’t spend it fast enough. We went out every weekend and people always wanted to hear about what we did and where we went.
The last couple of years have been different, though. Mr. R transitioned from full-time television work to full-time real estate, which could have been a boon to our lifestyle. But it wasn’t.
Although for a while,with rumors of transactions just on the horizon, we were certain that success was just around the corner, but one lost deal after another drained our savings and eventually put us in foreclosure.
We were fortunate enough to be able to sell our house before a date was set for the final auction, and we walked away with a little money to start over. Unsure of what we were going to do, we secured an Airbnb for a couple of weeks in the historic area of Lake Worth Beach.
The Secret Garden House has been exactly what we needed to catch our breath and figure out what’s next for us. It’s a lovely 1925 house situated in a lush tropical garden in the middle of Historic Lake Worth. We’re within walking distance of the ‘downtown’ restaurants, bars, and the historic Lake Worth Playhouse.
The neighborhood of Historic Lake Worth is a little slice of Key West without the really long drive. There are tons of cute vintage houses on every block, and the vibe is laid-back and easy-going, very ‘live and let live’. It’s dog-friendly, too. Last Saturday, we walked up to Lake Avenue with our rescue German shepherd Jack and had cocktails outside an Irish joint called Brogues. The server even brought out a bowl of water for Jack.
Mr. R and I decided that Lake Worth was just the kind of neighborhood we’d like to try, so we searched and found a (tiny) one bedroom apartment, the monthly rent exactly half of what our mortgage would have been, had we moved forward with the restructuring. The apartment is one of only four in the complex, and it’s east of the Airbnb.
It’s exactly ONE BLOCK from the Intracoastal Waterway, and it’s even four blocks closer to the downtown action. We couldn’t be happier. They say everything happens for a reason, right? It looks like this is our chance for a do-over, an opportunity to experience a completely different lifestyle. Just another new adventure.
I hope this weekend finds you happy and healthy. I’m choosing my favorite version of one of my favorite songs tonight, Walking in Memphis as performed by Lonestar. I may have heard this floating out of one of the bars as we walked last weekend.
Be sure to hug those you love. Happy Saturday night!
Happy Labor Day! There’s nothing like a three-day weekend. Unless you’re under threat of a catastrophic natural disaster.
For a while there, things were looking exceedingly dicey here in south Florida what with Hurricane Dorian lurking out there in the Atlantic. Friday morning, Al Roker showed a projected path that had the storm hitting West Palm Beach as a Cat 4 sometime on Monday.
Which, if you know our current situation, was just Donkey Kong chucking another barrel at us. We’re supposed to be closing on our house on Friday. If the storm hit late Monday into Tuesday and we continued to have tropical storm weather through Wednesday, there’s not a chance in the world we’d be able to close on time.
And we can’t secure a place to move until we have the proceeds from the closing. But now that things seem to be settling down a bit, and my apologies to the Carolinas, we may just have a path to the next adventure for us.
We have a line on a short-term rental that will allow us to bring Jack, our 85-lb. rescue German shepherd, and that will work until the end of October, when seasonal rates kick in and we’ll have to find something else.
Fingers crossed, by that time, Mr. R will have secured a full-time position back in television news and we’ll be on our way. So if you know of any stations that need a kick-ass news photog or video editor, just saying…
Thanks for taking this journey with us–your positive thoughts mean the world to us.
I hope you enjoy my cheeky virtual middle finger to effing Cat 4 Dorian. If you’re in the storm’s path, be safe. And be sure to hug those you love.
Do you just hate infomercials on television? You know, over-enthusiastic carnival barkers trying to sell you Ginsu knives or a Sham-Wow?
One day last week as the national news ended, before I could change the channel I got sucked in to a 30-minute advertisement by Time-Life. And before you go getting all judgy…
Just imagine, The Best of Soft Rock, great classics from the 70s and 80s. They started rolling out The Doobie Brothers, Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, and Chicago. Suddenly, I couldn’t look away.
Mr. R walked in and asked what we were going to watch. “You’re looking at it,” I replied. “Shhhhh!”
We both sat mesmerized as we heard songs that brought back the simpler times of old. And we knew every word of every effing song. It was magical.
Obviously, we didn’t buy the collection. I mean, who buys CDs? Where do you even play them?
But the next time you have a spare half hour and you fine this little gem, don’t miss it.
For tonight’s serenade, I picked one of my all-time favorites by America, Sister Goldenhair. I love this song.
Hope you enjoy it and that you have a wonderful weekend. Be sure to hug those you love.
Happy Saturday night!
HOMELIFE UPDATE: We made it through the inspection period, and we and the buyers are now locked in. Assuming the appraisal that was done yesterday is at least the price of the house, we will be closing on Sept. 6.
Beyond that, we still don’t know where we’re going. We had a HUGE garage sale today and got rid of tons of things that were stored in the garage, and we sold some of the furniture we won’t be taking with us.
We’ll continue to keep you posted about our new adventure. ❤
Thanks to a Fandango gift card left from Christmas, Mr. R and I ventured to the movies last weekend to see Yesterday, the romantic comedy that features songs from the Beatles. Despite some less than glowing reviews, we enjoyed the movie. The story is sweet, and obviously the music is great.
In the film, a young aspiring musician wakes up to find that he’s the only person in the world who remembers the Beatles. When he begins playing their songs, he becomes a huge sensation, even being tapped to open for Ed Sheeran in a world tour.
Have I mentioned that I love Ed Sheeran? And I love this song. There’s a hint of a throw-back, if you listen closely. Besides, it’s just a beautiful sentiment.
I’m craving a beautiful, peaceful song right now. Our lives are still in turmoil here at Chez R. The house is on the market and we’ve have several folks come by to look at it. No offers as yet, though. Fingers crossed, we’re under contract soon. Then we’ll have to figure out what’s next.
But for now, I’m going to take a deep breath and just enjoy the moment. We’ll keep you posted.
A couple of weeks ago, Mr. R was hit by a car in the Publix parking lot. He’s fine, he wasn’t hurt, really, but the most remarkable thing about it is that combined with all the other setbacks we’ve had recently, getting hit by a car wasn’t all that remarkable.
Over the past couple of years, the real estate business has kicked us in the teeth repeatedly. From the couple who was ready to sell their house then ‘2-more-weeks’ed us for TEN MONTHS, to they guy who has had signed contracts on 5 different houses and BACKED OUT OF EVERY ONE, and every wishy-washy client in between, we’ve grown increasingly behind in our financial obligations.
Then there’s the delightful person who tried to use our debit card in Miami. Lucky for us, they could’t guess the correct zip code. And both our cats died within two days.
To try to help make ends meet, in addition to writing, I’ve been teaching online for nearly a year. Mr. R has been using our only car, a lease, to drive Uber.
In a desperate attempt to save our home from foreclosure, we hired an attorney to help us file bankruptcy. Again, the day we signed the paperwork, that was the absolute least stressful part of that day. The leased car is due to be returned in August. The lawyer said not to worry about the final two payments, she’s rolling it into the bankruptcy. So we’ve blown way past the mileage limit driving it for Uber. It was a relief to think of no car payments.
Then the battery died. Long story short, we borrowed a battery charger from a friend and Mr. R stayed out all night driving Uber to earn enough money to replace a $120 battery on a car we’re giving back.
What we’ve realized, though, is that if we follow through with the bankruptcy, we’ll be chaining ourselves to an outrageously high mortgage payment for the next five years. Sure we can come up with the payment this month. But what about next month? And the month after that?
It just doesn’t make sense. What we’re realizing is that we have to get out from under the house. And Mr. R is planning to go back to television news while doing real estate part-time. Somewhere, there’s a new adventure waiting. And it doesn’t involve the level of stress we’ve lived with for the last two years.
So our house is on the market. Priced to sell quickly. We even have an Open House today.
Where are we going? I have no idea. But tonight’s song touches my soul. This ain’t no stumbling block. It’s just a stepping stone.
I hope you’re enjoying this fine summer weekend. Try to stay cool. And be sure to hug those you love.
June is Pride Month. I could endeavor to explain the meaning, but I’d rather defer to a source that can do it so much more succinctly than I ever could.
June is Pride Month, a month to celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and asexual people, plus all other sexual orientations and genders. The month is celebrated in June in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, which kicked off the first major demonstrations for gay rights in America. On June 28, 1969 police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village, but bar patrons — gay men and drag queens — fought back, a spontaneous incident which is now marked as the beginning of the gay rights movement in the United States. Brenda Howard, a bisexual activist, organized a march and other events to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the riots and is known as the “Mother of Pride.” Today, Pride Month features marches around the country, educational and awareness events, and parties to celebrate gay pride!
NationalToday.com
While I am not gay, I have a number of friends who are. My step-daughter is. And I support them 100%. I can’t imagine living in a world where I could not be my authentic self, where I had to pretend to be just like everyone else out of fear of rejection or worse.
There’s been a story in the news in the last couple of days about a lesbian couple who were attacked on a bus in London. It seems a gang of troglodites were goading them to kiss, and when they refused, the women were beaten. What the hell? How is it that people aren’t left alone to live their lives?
Our good friends Susan and Lori have been married for years, and they adopted a little boy a couple of years ago. There has never been a child more doted on in the history of time. Together, they are a beautiful family.
But times are getting scary. There’s what seems to be a global movement to restrict the rights of people who don’t look or act or believe the way those in power do. Make no mistake about it–LBGTQ rights are human rights. To marginalize groups of people is to dehumanize them. And when you dehumanize people, you can treat them any way you like. Ask the Nazis.
Tonight’s serenade is a triumphant celebration of being exactly who you were created to be. I hope it find you and yours well. Be sure to hug those you love.
Are you ready to ‘Spring forward’? It’s my least favorite day of the year. I won’t be right for about a week. What is it about one little hour that impacts so much?
Time changes and time zones are complex. I teach English online. During standard time, China is 13 hours ahead of my time zone, but when it’s daylight savings time, they’re only 12 hours ahead. I forgot about the time change and now I have a class booked at 9pm next Saturday night. And military time? Forget about it. Even scheduling this post required me to count on my fingers, LOL.
It’s nice to boil all of life down to the simple things. That’s what Thomas Rhett does in tonight’s serenade, Die a Happy Man. Ever stop to consider what’s really important to you, those things that matter more than anything else? I’ll bet they’re not things.
So remember to turn your clocks forward before you go to bed tonight. Your phone and other electronics will do it automatically, thank goodness. And say goodbye to that lost hour of sleep. Sigh.
Be sure to hug those you love. Happy Saturday night!
P.S. If you’re interested in finding out more about the easiest side-hustle you ever did (you can even do it in your pajamas), hit me up. 😉
I think the most beautiful moments in life are the ones you don’t plan. They’re the ones that just happen, and you know in your heart it’s a one-time thing and you just have to appreciate it.
Mr. R’s birthday is this week. Years ago, I surprised him with a trip to Univeral Studios in Orlando. This time of year, they celebrate Mardi Gras and they have a whole schedule of performers throughout the season. To which I paid no attention as I made my plans. I just picked the weekend closest to his actual birthday.
So on the day we went, the Bonnie Raitt show was included in our admission ticket. Which we thought, okay, no big deal. Maybe we’ll hit it, maybe we won’t. After all, roller coasters await.
However, when it came time for the show, we ended up near the concert venue and we thought, why not? I think a lot of people thought the same thing because for a while it was crowded. Little by little, though, people drifted away. It was cool if not actually cold. And we were all just standing there on the pavement. But as space opened up, we moved closer and closer to the stage for what turned into an intimate concert experience.
Then she began to play I Can’t Make You Love Me. Which is a beautiful, sad song, really. But her voice, on that night, with me standing in front of Mr. R, his arms wrapped around me to keep me warm, was magical. I’ll never forget it as long as I live.
Here’s to Mr. R and his birthday. I love you more!
I hope you’re staying warm this winter weekend, and that you’re surrounded by those you love. Be sure to give them a hug.
This week, we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Yes, I know, it’s a huge commercialized event, one big promotion for cards, flowers, candy, and diamonds.
But suppose we boil it down to its simplest form. I think it’s a day to appreciate the ones you love, be it a spouse, significant other, parent, child, or friend. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
For tonight’s serenade, I’ve picked a few of my favorite love songs. I always love Ed Sheeran, and Thinking Out Loud is one of his most romantic.
But I just melt for John Legend’s All of Me. This video has over 1.4 billion views. Guess I’m not the only one.
Finally, who wouldn’t want to be Truly, Madly, Deeply in love? Yes, it’s One Direction, but I have a guilty-pleasure thing for boy bands.
What would be on your Valentine’s Day playlist?
While you think about it, be sure to hug those you love, especially your Valentine.
Adventures in Date Night 
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