For Lia...King Crab

Just outside my front door facing west is a quiet sanctuary...a chair hammock swings beneath a broad and lush poinciana tree which faces a tiny garden of peace lilies, orchids, impatiens, ti plants, and other tropical greens...it is also an attractive sanctuary of sorts... for spiders. Crab spiders to be more exact. Unfortunately for me, they are drawn to this particular spot like spider magnets. And these are not just any spiders...oh no...these guys are...well, put it this way, they're really interesting to look at and hard to figure out. They're not like any spider you have ever seen before. They are small...but not too small, although smaller than the dreaded cane (which by the way have been curiously absent for the last 6 months), but they are...armored...yeah, that's what I'd call it. It's a hard outer shell, like a armadillo, or even more like a triceratops or stegasaurus. They've got this really creepy coat of armor on them. They're like some wierd prehistoric spider. And they spin webs everywhere. And not just any web...not some wimpy fragile web, these babies are huge and strong. You run into one of these and you spring back. It's like running into a web of fishing line. They bite too, these guys. Personally I haven't had the pleasure, but I've talked to some locals who can attest to quite a painful experience.


My guess is that these guys are just hanging around, minding their own business and just trying to catch a living. Just like everyone else. But they're everywhere and they are a huge nuisance. In every bush, path, tree, and in every other living thing. Even the babies have tiny little baby webs in my potted orchids where the geckos hang out. At least it's good food for the geckos. You know...that old circle of life thing. Anyways the geckos, as far as I'm concerned, have a lot of work to do. My sanctuary is a little too crowded for my liking.

Lia...for an extra spine chill, click on the picture to get a close up!!

Hey Cuzzin', What's Buzzin'?

Greasy Bryl creme laden hair, leather jackets, rolled up blue jeans, bobby socks, poodle skirts and horn-rimmed glasses. Greasers, yup...that's what we were, if only for an evening. We put the pedal to the medal, burned some rubber and created an evening to remember.

Eileen, our Sunday School Coordinator, enlisted my help (along with another girl) and together we put together a cool evening for the Christian Education staff and teachers. Our theme was the 50's...what a fun era to re-create!! We had so much fun creating an atmosphere with polka dots, LP's, old photos, and 50's music with Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chubby Checker, Bill Haley & the Comets, Righteous Bros. and many more. Our focus was on creating a 50's style diner right down to a menu of burgers, fries, onion rings and root beer floats served by a bubble gum chewing waitress named "Flo". The 50's entertainment was provided by our very own DJ "Jumpin' Joe", who helped set the mood with old classics..."you ain't nothing but a hound dog...crying all the time...". Women rushed the stage as "Braddah" Elvis sang, security guards held back the crushing swarms, women screaming when he threw his slipper (flip flop) into the crowd. Rioting women fought over the slipper of Elvis. It was crazzzzyy!! What a riot!! Nostalgic 50's replica prizes were handed out to the winners of the bubble gum blowing, straw blowing, 50's karaoke, and hula hoop contests.

In appreciation of their service, every Christian Ed. teacher, aide and volunteer received an authentic 45 album with a recreated label...a coupon for a free breakfast and mocha freeze/smoothie from our local cafe...Common Grounds.