The search continues ... well, sort of!

      I knew you guys would come through! It's so great that with just the mention of trouble finding the right visuals of fairies, hobgoblins and sprite's, so many of you responded with words of direction and advice ... what great friends I've found here!

     BTW ... Ryanagi, thanks for the links! Lifewrites, was that a double dare I heard from you? Suzypwr, have you checked with Hairball yet?  

     I must say that it comes as no surprise to me to hear so many of you comment on how books, old and new call to you and how you get your own amazing visuals from the written word ... I do so wish that I was more like that. I will make a conscious effort to listen closer to see if the tattered old ones call to me.

    BTW ... I did check out the little book photographed in the previous entry, yep, the one with the little dog-eared yellow pages and teeny tiny little print. I love the story (as always), however ... I am still on the hunt for the perfect visuals.    

     I met a friend at Barnes and Noble after work last night, it might have been a great opportunity to continue my quest for A Mid Summer Night's Dream if we had not spent the entire evening in constant chatter at the bookstores coffee shop! Disappointed? Not on your life ... first things first you know!

     Amidst the chatter we did take a little time to check out a book called Blink: The Power Of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcom Gladwell. The book is about slicing the thought process and relying more on our own instant intuitions when reacting to a new idea, reading a stranger or recognizing danger.

     I didn't buy the book last night but think that maybe I should have. Ahhh ... an excuse to go back to one of my favorite places. I love Barnes and Noble, especially in the company of a close friend.

     More about Shakespear's much loved fairy tail and why the sudden interest next time.

                               Happy Monday all!

                                    *** Coy ***    

 

Saturday's search for fantasy of ...

    folklore ... fairies, hobgoblins and sprites!

      I tried looking for visual inspiration of a Mid Summer Night's Dream online this morning and did not turn up much so I ventured off to the library.

     Ahhh ... that didn't help much!

     There were shelves full of books on Shakespeare, even a few on A Mid Summer Night's Dream but nothing visual. Have I mentioned that I am a very visual person!

    As I was selecting books to look through it became very clear to me that there are some very real reasons that I don't spend more time reading magical old fairy tails like this one.

     There's no doubt that I love the stories, the poetic words of mischief and romance but ...

     Unlike many of you I find it difficult to feel passion for tattered old books with yellowed and dog-eared pages and tiny little print. Holding these books I could tell that they had been read about a million times, loved and treasured but ...

    I want to see pristine white pages with nice size print ... I want to see beautiful images of middle class maidens and poets, an enchanted forest, a Shadow King and a Fairy Queen and a man with a head of an ass!

    The only book with any images at all, had images like this one ...

     (size shown is even larger than in the book) this does not make the story come to life for me and does give me the kind of inspiration I was searching for today! "Lord what fools these mortals be." 

    :.:.:.sigh:.:.:. guess I'll have to keep looking. Maybe I should take a look at back entries in Connie's journal ... always lots of fairies found there.

                                                *** Coy ***

    

You know you want to see more ...

     No entry tonight, just a few more Parrothead Photos!

 

   

 

   

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

Fins to the left ... fins to the right!

     He took the stage barefoot, suntanned and in his pastel colored surfer shorts. The great story teller that he is, he sang his songs that we all know by heart to thousands and managed to make it feel like a small intimate group.

     Jimmy Buffet may be a little older than he use to be, but to me ... he is still the epitome of cool in his own laid back kind of way.

    

     The party in the parking lot was even better than we expected, these Parrot Heads take there tailgating very seriously!

     This year it was just my sister and I but we've got a list of 50+ promising to join us next year, can't wait. The photos above are of a few of the decorations we put out by our car.

     BTW ... we thought we would be cool and put the fin on top of the SUV as we were pulling into the parking lot and drive in real slow. Ahhh ... bad idea, it was definitely not deemed road worthy ... lol!

      A lot of people stopped by to have their photos taken near our decorations like the couple in the first photo below.

     

         As usual, it was hard to narrow it down to just a few favorite photos out of all the colorful ones that I took! If Jimmy Buffett happens to come to your area, I would highly recommend that you to go, or ... you can wait until next year and join us here in Sunny South Florida, the more the merrier!

                      *** Coy ***  

Sending You Some Sunshine!

     For all of you in the North, that have had so much snow and ice to deal with and for all of you on the West Coast with all of that rain that you are getting ... is it any wonder that things have felt a little gloomy here in J-Land?

     I've always heard of Cabin Fever, Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder but living here in South Florida, it's not something that we deal with on the same level as some of you in from different areas.

     Reading some of your journals, it very obvious that the lack of light and sunshine has greater affect on people that I ever imagined. 

     If I could, I would package some of our sunshine up and send it your way, since that's not possible I'll just keep sending these bright sunny photos.

                                    *** Coy ***

    

A Salty Piece Of Land

     I have 2 tickets to paradise! On Saturday my sister and I are going to a Jimmy Buffet Concert, (the Salty Piece Of Land Tour).

     For any of you that have been to one of these before then you already know that the concert is just the backdrop to the Parrot Head Tailgate Party before the show.

     Looking forward to the tropical shirts and grass skirts, blow up sharks and tikki bars, straw hats and boat drinks and of course photo opps galore!

     You may remember that we had a Huge Margaritaville Party for my sister's 40th Birthday this past June, we are parrot heads from way back and although I'm not much of a drinker, I am looking forward to a Margarita or two on Saturday.

                               *** Coy ***

 

Incognito

 

    been reading my journal and not leaving a comment!

     It always feels a little awkward when you find out that someone you know has been reading your journal for a while, especially if they have never told you!

     Today when I was leaving work, Who said to me "put some new stuff in your journal ... I read it all the time!"

     Hmmm ...if you read it all the time, then why haven't you ever left a comment, I asked!

     My hit counter is nearing the 20,000 mark so I know that there must be a few people that visit here incognito. To that I say ... welcome to Dancing In The Rain, visit often, check out some of my favorite journals listed in the sidebar if you get time and please leave a comment so I will know you were here! Ahhh ... yeah, that goes for you too, Who!

     Anyone else out there wonder who all of those incognito visitors are in your journal?

                                       *** Coy *** 

Like a whole lot of other people ...

       I spent Valentines Day alone this year!  

     All week, I was reminded to remember my sweetheart on Valentine's Day! I was bombarded with ideas for choosing the perfect romantic gift and was offered plenty of advice on celebrating Valentine's Day without spending a lot of money if I was on a budget!

     Hmmm ... knowing in advance that I would be spending the day alone this year, I could have really lived without all of that media attention over the lovers holiday!

     I'm glad it's over and have much higher hopes for next year!

                            *** Coy ***

*

Pow Wow

     Our local Seminole Indians held a Pow Wow this weekend, it was an open invitation for American Indians from across the country to come and represent their tribes.

   

     It was very interesting to watch these beautiful, proud people carry on some of the traditions of their ancestors in a modern day way.

   

     I took a lot of photos, it was really difficult narrowing it down to just a few favorites out of 150 that I really like. I had the best spot in the house for taking photos, I went alone so I didn't have to sit in the stands, I watched from back stage.  

    

     I love these photo and know that there are real life stories behind each of the smiling faces. I wish I could share all of them with you!

 

     Sooo ... what beautiful, colorful things are going on in your neck of the woods?

                                     *** Coy ***

Happy New Year ...

        Well, Happy Chinese New Year!

      Yep ... The Year Of The Rooster! I know, I know, the last day of the 15 day celebration was on Wednesday, so I'm a day or two late ... at least I'm not a dollar short, not this time!

             I was hoping to do a Chinese New Year entry on Wednesday, but I couldn't find a photo that would work and you know me ... no photo, no entry! But today I lucked out, I took the scenic route on my way to Hollywood this afternoon hoping to find something along the way to photograph.

     As I was passing a small strip mall, I noticed some Chinese banners in the parking lot, I can't read Chinese but assumed that they must be left over from a New Year celebration this past week. I turned around thinking I would get a shot and at least I would have something to use next year for a Chinese New Year entry!

     Just as I was parking a New Year Dance/Parade was beginning and I was able to get some great shots. I don't really know the story behind the dance/Parade that I watched but was beautiful!

      I'll give you my interpurtation ...

    

     There were drums and cymbols ... very, very loud! It looked as if the dragons were intruding on the village ...

     

    

     I would assume that the lettuice and the orange on a string was a symbol of the crops and the dragon was taking and devoruing them ... then there were a whole lot of firecrackers and a whole lot of noise from the drums and thecymbols ...

     The dragons got frightend and ran away, you can tell how loud it was by looking at everyone cover there ears! Now ... if any of you know the real story, drop me a line!

     

   

     Sometimes it pays to take the scenic route, I'm glad that I was in no real hurry to get where I was going today or I would have missed this!

     More beautiful and colorful photos from today to come!

                                  *** Coy ***

Fog's Liftin' ... Mood's Shiftin'!

     Ahhh ... the end of a perfect day in paradise and it's not even 8pm. I love this time of year, here in South Florida Valentine's Day weekend really marks the beginning of our spring season. I know that some of you will have to wait until after Easter ... I can't wait for that as much for you as for me! Things have been a little gloomy around here! 

      I stayed up late last night and played Dominoes (Chicken Foot), my Aunt Linda is in town. I love spending time with people who's lives are so much different from mine.  

     This morning I spent the entire morning on the phone with all three of my best friends, (not at the same time). It did cause me to get a much later start on my day than I had intended but it was worth it!

     Once I did get out and about I ended up taking 220 photos! WooHoo!!!! my kind of Saturday. I think it was Mandy that figured out the key to my blue mood as of late, she noticed that I have not been getting out as much as I'm use to and that I have not been taking very many pictures. My little girl is so smart!

     Bright beautiful photos and details on my day are to come ...

                            *** Coy ***