June 17, 2010 Today is a new day Today I will try not to have a fit when my computer doesn't work right. These viruses can drive a person mad. How you can keep functioning without a computer expert living in your house amazes me. Well, enough about my frustration. Life continues to be good living here "on the big pond". Sometimes you just have to put the convertible top down and let the wind blow your hair to realize what an enchanted life you live. Yesterday we did just that. Put the top down, went to Firelands Winery for some samplings, went to Margaritaville and watched the water rush over the falls, sat at the E. Harbor Beach and listened to some Eagles songs, and fell asleep sitting in the car. Now this is contentment. Being able to just sit in our car, listening to the "oldies" and hear the surf pounding, and yes falling asleep. Man I love this life. 81 April 15, 2010 We Are Realtors!! It's Official. We are now Realtors with Howard Hanna Catawba Office. It was a lot of studying and many trips to Cleveland but we passed the test with flying colors. We are already showing Open Houses on Johnson's Island. When you are looking for a dream home here at Lake Erie, or selling your own please give us a call. We are anxious to work with you. We know the area and would be proud to show you what we love about this Lake Erie region. 80 Feb. 23, 2010 Happy Anniversary Rob/New Career Starting Today is our anniversary. I won't say how many but it's a lot. Anyway, our lives just keep getting more and more exciting. Retirement is a long ways off. We are starting real estate school next week in Cleveland and in one month, if we pass the test, we will be your new realtors in this area. Look for exciting news on which real estate company we are going with. For any and all real estate needs, give us a ring as soon as we become "official". We love this area and now will be in a business that we can really have fun with. Enjoy the day. Think Spring. Your friend, Joy 79 Jan. 2, 2010 New Decade--New Adventures I remember standing at a pier at the Islamarado Fish Company in the Florida Keys in 1999 with Rob on New Years Eve looking at the fireworks illuminating the sky and feeling how fortunate Rob and I were to be in paradise at such a memorable moment. Here it is 10 years later and we are living our dream in Marblehead Ohio with a lot of great friends and an easy lifestyle. Life is good. Not sitting in 70-80 degree weather in Florida but nevertheless having a wonderful time. Everynight you can go somewhere and see someone you know. We had a very meaningful Christmas with our family in Columbus Ohio. Now it's back to the normal life of watching my seaguls, egrets, and "Buddy" my squirel friend who came to visit the bird feeder today and looked very disappointed that it was empty. Rob is off at Walmart buying birdseed right now. Got to keep the critters happy. To those of you reading my blog, I wish you a very Happy New Year and may it exceed all your expectations. Keep warm and enjoy your Lake Erie Life. Your Friend, Joy 77 Dec 6, 2009 I'll Be Home For Christmas--You Can Count on Me!! Don't you just love this song, I sure do. Here's the lyrics. I'll be home for Christmas; You can count on me. Please have snow and mistletoe And presents on the tree. Christmas Eve will find me Where the love-light gleams. I'll be home for Christmas If only in my dreams. A warm smile, a plate of cookies, a great big hug, and a friendly wave are all such simple gestures. Take the time to make someone else feel good. Merry Christmas to everyone. Your Friend, Joy 74 Nov. 28, 2009 And A Happy Thanksgiving It Was!! Well we're back in Marblehead after a fast two days in Columbus for Thanksgiving. One of my favorites in oyster dressing. Rob's mom made the most incredible moist oyster dressing and now my daughter in law has this honor of making the most yummy dressing ever. Forget the turkey just give me mashed potatoes, noodes, oyster dressing, gravy and cranberry salad with crushed cranberries, orange, walnuts and sugar. Now that's great eating. And when you get to bring back leftovers the pleasure continues. Today Rob is busy spraying the knobs on our kitchen cupboards and putting in a new kitchen faucet. That should present some interesting moments as he crams himself under the kitchen cupboard to get to the fittings. Well anyway, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones and have started a little Christmas shopping. Remember the local merchants as they need to survive and be able to compete with the big box stores. My family likes those special little gifts that comes from a family owned business. Enjoy the sunny day and the pale blue sky and the peacful moments you grab as you scurry here and there. And remember to do good deeds for others who aren't as fortunate. Your friend, Joy 73 Nov. 22, 2009 Happy Thanksgiving Everyone It's 33 days until Christmas but it's only 4 days until Thanksgiving. I wish there was more talk about Thanksgiving and how much we have to be thankful for. If you are fortunate enough to have a close family, good friends, food on your table, a warm house, good health, and a comfy bed you have a lot to be thankful for compared to others who are not as fortunate. So many people are suffering from the economy, from fear and uncertainty, health issues, and hunger and need help. Pray that our leaders will work together to solve our issues here in the United States. As you are gathered together this Thursday and look around your Thanksgiving table take the time to be thankful for all that you have. Hug your family and keep those you love close. If you can't be near your family why not form a friend group or volunteer at one of the community events. Most of all, have a safe week as you travel to your loved ones. Enjoy every bite of that yummy food and take a long walk on Friday. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Your friend, Joy 72 November 6, 2009 Here Comes Winter So okay, Halloween has come and gone and now I am already seeing commercials about Christmas. Could they just let us enjoy a couple weeks without making us think we have to go Christmas shopping. What to get the grandkids, how many people to invite to our party, what do I serve, who will drop the wine on my new carpet. Awwww--it's that time of year. The docks haven't even been pulled out of our harbor. The geese have come to visit our channel as it's a safe haven and they know they won't get shot here. The frost is on the pumpkin and my green tomatoes have come inside to "get ripe" in their brown paper bag. Makes we want to dig out a few recipes from year's ago when I use to cook. Gals are planning another "girls trip" and this time it's to New York or how to cram 6 women into a small apartment in Manhattan. That should be a good story. Anyway, go enjoy the day and remember "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town!!" 71 October 29, 2009 Happy Halloween to all of you! It's here again--that spooky time of year where kids get to put on their scariest outfit and girls get to dress up in some skimpy outfit or Dora the Explorer. Times have really changed. I remember when I went to the dime store and bought my silky material pull over the head dress type thing with the big face mask with the rubber band. My mom probably paid $2.99 for the whole thing and didn't we all look great. Occasionally I would wear a flannel shirt and jeans and a cowboy hat. Not everyone has to have an elaborate costume resembling someone they see in the horror movies, or some sexy teen star. You can still pull a sheet over your head and cut out the eye holes, right? Remember when you would toilet paper your friends houses and squash a few pumkins. I loved it when neighbors would make popcorn balls. Times were different weren't they. Think I will go see my grandkids, I just got that yearning to see some kids halloweening. Plus, I can eat some of their goodies!! 70 Oct. 9, 2009 Hurrah!! The gong is gone.. If you have read any of my early blogs you would have heard me talk about my neighbor's annoying gong and how much I disliked its bonging all the time. As a lover of nature and bird sounds and trees blowing in the wind, you would understand that unnatural sounds such as loud bonging from a metal gong would not be to my liking. Well, excuse me while I dance in the street because my neighbor took down the gong and moved to another street where he promptly hung up his gong within 10 feet of his new neighbor. I am sure his new neighbor will love having this gong right beside his sunroom. Well, anyway, it just proves that if someone likes to annoy neighbors that regardless of where he moves, he will be an annoyance. But, for now, I am happy. Happy that I can hear the wind, the birds, the happy children, the purring of boat motors, the silence of hearing nothing!!! Today is another "Happy Heart" day. I hope someone makes you happy today, if not, go make them happy. Your friend, Joy 69 Sept 28, 2009 Happy Birthday Steve/ And Where Did These Winds Come From Today is our son's birthday. It's hard to believe that I could have a son this old. Time sure flies doesn't it. And, how about these winds today? Just about blew all the water out of W. Harbor. All day long the neighbors in our community retied boats and made sure nothing was in danger. Now that's what it's all about. Neighbors helping neighbors. We all have our shifts during the night. One neighbor takes the 9 to 12 shift, another takes the 12-3 shift, another the 3-6 shift. I am hoping no one has to do anything and that the winds subside. It's very interesting seeing the waterways after a big blow and realizing the water was only a couple feet deep to begin with. You would expect that there would be a lot of rocks and muck and what you really see is like a grassy field that looks like it was never covered with water. Anyway, that's what lake life is like. One day you are out jetskiing and it is totally awesome and within a couple hours that same waterway is grass. It all adds to the excitement though and finding out that your neighbors are the best ever. Again I say, I love this lake life. Come winds, come rain, come crappy weather, it's still better than living in a Columbus suburb. Enjoy the wind people. It's just another adventure in the Lake Erie Life!! 68 Sept 22, 2009 HURRAH!!! THE SIGNS ARE WORKING!!!! THE RESPONSE IS HUGE!!! People and businesses are seeing the signs and responding and we are delighted. We also have found a way to push LakeErieLife.com out on the internet. If you are advertising on our site you are now seen by millions. We are forgetting about retirement and now concentrating on serving you--our fellow business friends. Come join us as we launch you off to the world. For pennies a day you can now be found. We'd love to talk to you. Call us now at 614 306-1900 or 614 560-1800. 67 Seps. 18, 2009 The Morning Dew is on the Pond What is Retirement? Rob and I thought a couple years ago that we would retire and move into our double wide with the hopes of building a bigger house where all the kids and grandkids could come and visit. And then we realized that it's not about space but it's about happiness. Being happy in an environment where everything is close at hand. Good restaurants, great doctors, seeing so many people our own ages running around enjoying the Good Life. Being able to go from one end of town to the other without sitting at countless traffic lights. Going to the Chamber meetings and seeing lots of other people in our same situation of being partially retired but still loving the involvement of other business minded folks. The pressure is off, yet still needing to supplement the income. How many of you had thought when you get to be in your 60's that you could sit back and read a good book? I have not read a book in 12 years and that doesn't speak too well for my literacy. No time to read so I say, got to sit and watch the sunrises and sunsets, got to watch my swans come down the channel, got to get to happy hour for wing night. Awwwww come on people you know you do it too. Monday night-meatballs, Tues night-chicken balls, Weds-wing night, Thurs-Brutus Burgers, we all do it. And isn't that a good life. Read a book you say? Maybe someday, but until then I'll keep doing the weekly fun things with the rest of you. This isn't a bad life--actually it's really a fun life. And now I got to go take a jacuzzi. Maybe I'll read a book, but probably not, because I got to go hang at Put in Bay with my buddies. Go enjoy the weekend and keep patronizing the local stores. They keep our lake community strong and we definitely need them. Go buy something today from a local merchant. Tell them you saw it on LakeErieLife.com Gotta put in a plug for my business you know. More Later. Your friend. Joy 66 Sept 12, 2009 Fall is in the air! Doesn't seem fair does it? We wait and wait all summer for the warm summer days and then it seems, here's come fall. School is back, traffic has slowed down, no long line in restaurants, yes it's just around the corner. When you have to wear a jacket, and in my case, run around with my hood pulled almost over my face to keep warm. I still am hopeful that we will have a long gorgeous fall. Not ready for those Christmas sales. So here's my message for today. Get out there and enjoy the still warm waters of Lake Erie, hop on the jet ski, go to Put In Bay, walk the beach, but just enjoy!! And, just maybe when you do have to go inside that there will be something better to watch on TV rather than America's Got Talent. Yikes, what a bunch of amateurs.. Catch you soon. Joy 65 Sept 5, 2009 "Business of the Month" Signs are on Display WE DID IT!! 10 Businesses are now proudly displaying our new signs "Business of The Month". Rob and I hand delivered our first 10 signs to Mon Ami, Sams Club, Frederick's Insurance, South Shore Marine, Anchor's Away, Dianna's Restaurant & Deli, Thompson Landscaping, Boardwalk at Put in Bay, Jodie McCallum & Company in Marblehead, and Davinci's Gallery & Coffee Shop in Fremont. Look for these signs are you are shopping and know that these businesses truly represent our "Favorites". Tell them you saw them on LakeErieLife.com Now How Exciting Is This??? 64 Sept 3, 2009 Business of the Month Signs Today is the day that I am picking up my Business of the Month signs and am going to be placing them at 10 of our Favorite Businesses in this area. Be looking for them as these will signify businesses that were hand picked by Rob and Joy. Be sure when you shop these businesses that you say you found them on LakeErieLife.com In the near future we will be adding coupons and other exciting offers. We are proud to honor the area's Finest Businesses. We will be having a contest to see who can locate the most businesses each month that are displaying this sign. More details on that later. 63 August 20, 2009 Chamber Meeting and How to Help Fellow Members It all makes sense to me. Money is tight for all of us. We need to find the best way to grow our businesses without spending a fortune. My solution--businesses helping businesses. I will help you if you help me. I will drive all the business I can to your business. It's a simple theory. Through this website LakeErieLife.com I have the capability of telling the world about you. I will blog about how good your business is, I will show your pictures, do a video, show a coupon for you. It's all about helping each other. If you would put Proud Sponsor of LakeErieLife.com on your literature I will do my utmost to promote your business in return. Give me a call as I am always thinking. Thinking of ways to help you. Let's do this together. Call me or email me and let's put our heads together. Together Nothing is Impossible. 60 August 9, 2009 More of the "Good Stuff" or the Happy Heart Hello Diary, well at least that what we use to say "Back in the Day". It's a new day people, Everyone's on the Fast Track, everyone's grabbing all the gusto they can. Got to keep movin, don't wait for tomorrow. Heck that's enough to worry about right there--just wondering if you are wasting time. Well I too am worried about the clock ticking away but now it's for other reasons. I am worried (just a little) that I won't be able to enjoy all that life has to offer. Got to hurry because Fall is coming, people will be going back to Florida, the boat will be coming out. Oh My, Oh My, got to keep enjoying each precious day. Just hearing the wind blow--can't miss that. Just hearing the kids play--can't miss that--just hearing my heart happy--that's one I surely don't want to miss. Go people--do what makes your heart happy. And just for good measure, do something that makes someone else's Heart Happy. 57 July 28, 2009 What kind of summer weather is this? Now this is a weird year isn't it? I don't think there has been 3 hot days in a row this whole summer, but I got to say I love it. I am not a fan of really hot sunny days. I like change. I like rain, I like storms, I like cloudy days and so this is perfect for me. Sure isn't boring is it? Got to get in all the events though and make sure I make it to the swimming pool, that I have enough time on my jet ski, that I don't miss out. I hate to miss out don't you. Don't you hate it when you hear how good some event was and you missed it? They actually partied without you!! Well, here's my little reminder. Start grabbing up the days because fall will be upon us before we know it and we will be grumbling because it's cold, rainy, and just plain yucky. So go now, have some fun and don't wait for those 90 degree days. Who likes sweat anyway!! Your Friend. Joy 56 July 13, 2009 Sweet Days of Summer Neighbors have come to visit and the weekly trips to Columbus have stopped for a while. We have been to the Dance Recital, been to the baseball game, and also the swim meet. All in all, we have pretty talented grandkids. The weekend is over and July 4th has come and gone and now we have a few days to catch up. Took a week long vacation to the North Channel Yacht Club with 14 other boats. Stopped by Sarnia, Ontario, just enough to see the town and go under the Blue Water Bridge. When returning we found out that having our I 68 Form was necessary and saved us a lot of time. Now, I need to finally get through the stacks of papers and crap that have been accumulating on my counters. But I must say the peacefulness of having the city people go back is really enjoyable. Guess that's one of the signs of getting older as the quiet times are truly a blessing. More on my summer adventures later but I must go take a nap. Your friend, Joy 55 June 23, 2009 Words of the Day Heard a couple new words today that I had to check out in Google. The words are tantamount and sympatico. These are pretty words but I have never used them in normal conversation. Tantamount means "equal in value" and Sympatico means "gets along well with others" and also "congenial". Got to thinking about relationships and how those words seem to sum it up in Rob and my relationship. I feel we are alike. Where one of us stops-the other starts. There are times we disagree but for the most part we are sympatico. How is your relationship with those you love? Can a couple words sum it up? And that's the beauty of the friends we have is we share tantamount feelings. I think that those who share similar values in life tend to have long lasting friendships. Rather heavy thinking for a Tuesday morning wouldn't you say but maybe that's what I wanted to blog about today. Go find someone you are sympatico with. 54 June 18, 2009 Now's Your Turn People!! Okay I know you like my website and my blogs but how about sending me some things about you and what you like. I want your pictures, your recipes, your stories, what you like about this Lake Erie area. You can do it--just Click on "Send a Fast Email to Joy" I'll make a special blog just for you that says "Speak UP" This will be your place to say what you think. Remember to keep it clean because the world might be reading it. So make it short, sweet, and sincere and I'll put it on. This is your site too. Joy 53 June 16, 2009 It's Almost Summer If you have been reading my editorial page you would know I was waiting for crappies. I finally gave up on them but have been eating a lot of walleye. My favorite though is perch. Nothin better than perch rolled in Panko and deep fried. YUMMMM. Rob's brother and his grandson came up yesterday and they went fishing all day. Rob typically fishes for 4 or 5 hours but yesterday they were out for over 8 hours. Still only caught 3 walleye but they had a ball. I would like to hear from you how you cook fish. I'll put your recipe on the "Galley" page. Going out to Put in Bay today as the PIB Yacht Club Women's auxilliary is having a luncheon at the Yacht Club. We'll probably take the Miller's Ferry. Gonna be a fun day at the Bay. Have you tried Hooligans or "The Goat" The Doller House has a new winery and tour also. All great places. Catch you later. Joy 52 June 7, 2009 The Graceful Ballerina Yesterday we went to Columbus to see our granddaughter dance. If any of you have ever attended a dance recital you know how fun they are. And of course, you always think your granddaughter was the absolute best and prettiest. That goes with being a Nana doesn't it? It's always fun going to Columbus, other than the traffic of course. Hugs from grandkids are one of the greatest gifts grandparents can have. I love it when families always say "I Love You" when they hug. Some things never change and I hope they never do. Love is a beautiful thing. 51 June 5, 2009 Is Anyone Out There? Is anyone reading my blogs? In this vast universe someone must be following me. Maybe I should get on "twitter" but I don't want to tweat. I want to BLOG and so I am here on this website doing my blogging. I would love to have you join me. Tell me you like what you are reading, tell me I am boring, but tell me something. Maybe you can do some blogging too. I will start a blog for you my viewers. Come on now you know you have something to say. 50 June 4, 2009 Sammy the Swan has a friend and so do I. Sammy has always come alone but now he has a friend. At first I thought it was his long lost mate but they really don't hang together that much. I think they are just friends. We all need friends. Rob is my best friend. I love women friends too but having your husband as your best friend is the ultimate. Rob and I were engaged when I was a junior in high school. We were engaged three times before we got married. He is definitely worth fighting for. He's my Best Friend, my true love, and my most favorite person in the whole wide world. AWWWW. 49 June 2, 2009 Rewrite-Redo-and Recall Thanks to my friend and webmaster Rhonda I have the ability to do blogs. If I don't like what I have said I can go in and make them better. I can write what I think is inspirational or write "from my gut". I can vent or say a special thank you. I have found that I do make a lot of changes when I have written something that seems harsh. That's the beauty of my blogs Rhonda. It keeps me nice. And that's hard to do. Thank you again. 48 June 2, 2009 Happy Days! How many times in your life are you actually aware that your heart is happy? I have those moments maybe once every 3 or 4 months. Where you actually stop and tell yourself "I am happy-I am really happy". My health is good, everything with the family is good, and life is just "GOOD". I hope all of you experience those type of Happy Feelings as they are definitely "Signs from Above" also. When you have those feelings remember who to thank as they are precious gifts. Hopefully you will experience one of these moments soon also. Go enjoy the day and Keep the Faith! 47 May 31, 2009 Do you believe in signs from above? At the moment that we heard Rob's mom Joanna had died Rob and I just happened to be looking down our channel. Both of us saw this incredible white beam of light on the water that extended down the channel towards us for about 25 feet. As we starred at it in disbelief, we noticed that this long white reflection was coming off Sammy our Swan. We had never seen this before and for both Rob and I both to see it was remarkable as we were 25 feet apart. You know how the reflections in the water sometimes are very mystical, well this definitely was a very mystical moment. Can't explain it but it just could have been "our" sign that she had passed. 46 May 31, 2009 A Loving Tribute to a Wonderful Lady When last we spoke I had mentioned that Joanna, my mother in law, was in the hospital. Unfortunately, she passed. Her husband George had died three years before and I do believe she really wanted to be with him. As sad as losing someone is, when they are going to be with their lifelong mate, you just trust it and believe they are happy once again. And so, we say "The lovebirds have reunited". She was the best mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, and friend a person could ever have. She will be missed by all. 45 May 26, 2009 And Then The Gonging Began I need to vent today. When my neighbors come back from Florida before they have even unloaded their car they are hanging up this annoying gong-type windchime. Some time I will tell you how annoying I think some windchimes are!! I pray for days with no wind. If God had wanted this type of noise he would not have made birds and other elegant creatures. They say this gong reminds them of Cape Cod, it reminds me of being tortured at Gwantanamo. Maybe I should get President Obama to help me out. Torture has been outlawed hasn't it? 44 May 25, 2009 Ashley and Kara's Visit--Memorial Day weekend Having a wonderful time with Ashley and Kara. Went to Put in Bay for the Memorial Services. The Officers of the Club (including Rear Commodore Rob Ault) meet along with the other board members and attendees to honor those who have passed during the year. It was a very touching ceremony as a rose was placed in the lake as each person's name was read. After the service we all went inside for a brunch. Ashley, Kara, and two of their friends served the food. They all looked beautiful. We were so proud. Aren't grandkids the Greatest Gift that God gives people? Rob's mom is not doing well at Miami Valley Hospital. She is 88 years old and we are all praying that God watches over her. She is the one who taught the Ault family true family love. She is in our thoughts and prayers today. 43 May 21, 2009 Ashley is coming!! Miss Ashley is coming to the lake tomorrow. We are so excited to see her. Got to make plans, got to have some good food on hand, got to make sure things are just right for Miss Ashley. We named out Boston Whaler after her. Not many young ladies have their own boat. Ashley is our oldest granddaughter and she and her friend Kara are going to hang with us this weekend. More on that later. 42 May 19, 2009 Evening Blog Now does it really get any better than this? Who would have ever thought that retirement could be this good? You work all your lives and then finally the social security checks come and you get to enjoy the life you have so yearned for. Just me and Rob and our peaceful little harbor with our Swan friend Sammy. Still have to work a little to supplement the social security but it's so much better than the 8 to 5 grind. Want to go visit the grandkids Luke and Lily and catch up with their ballet and softball. (I need to make a correction here, my grandson Luke says he plays baseball not softball. "I am a boy, I play baseball"). Oops!! When will I learn!! 41 May 19, 2009 The Girl's Trip to New York or How to Cram 5 Women into a small truck!! Well, I didn't mention that this past weekend was the girl's trip (10 of us) to Peek N Peek New York. We decided "What happens in New York, stays in New York." Of course, it was all talk but we really got to know each other. I also found out that there is not enough butt room in the back of a small truck, but I knew that before and that was my PLAN B. If we didn't fit in I was going to drive my own car. Fortunately we all fit, more or less. Good for me that the trip wasn't that long. AND ON ANOTHER TOPIC. SAMMY THE SWAN--- Sammy is now my buddy and he knows his name. He can be 500 feet down the channel and hear his name and comes to my dock. I feed him bread scraps (graciously provided by our friend at Dianna's Restaurant) When I have given him 4 or 5 I hold up my hands and say "All Gone" and he swims away. He looks back one more time and I throw him a couple of slices for his trip back. Of course, I know I will see him in a couple hours. AWWWW Life is Good!! 40 May 11, 2009 (Later that same day) My friend Rhonda I wanted to say how happy I am with my web designer Rhonda. Not only is she smart and beautiful, but most importantly I'm proud to call her my friend. Thanks Rhonda Your buddy, Joy 39 May 11, 2009 Sammy and Me Well, today I named the Swan who keeps coming to our dock. Found out that he doesn't like potato chips as much as oyster crackers. Sammy comes about 3 times a day. Note to Self-Find a grocery store who gives out stale bread!! Mondays are always such quiet days. All the city folks leave and it's just us "locals". AWWW, The Sweet Life's Begun. 38 May 10,2009 Happy Mother's Day to Me Well, I didn't get to spend Mother's Day with my kids but I did have a great weekend with Rob at Put In Bay. He's the new Rear Commodore of PIBYacht Club and this was the "Clean Up Weekend" and also Mother's Day brunch. Little cool, a lot of wind, and boat tugged at the lines all night. Great being back at the Bay though. Lots of exciting things happening there. New businesses start up every year. We are the lucky ones. The ones who get to live out retirement at Lake Erie. Do wish for summer days though. Enjoy the week everyone. 37