Brrr...

Welcome snowbirds to frigid Florida!
Left the sweaters and coats home, eh?
While in the clothing store I watch our northern
neighbors frantically searching for sweaters
and sweats--anything to keep them warm.

When we moved here to Naples in 2002,
we didn’t bring anything that would
keep us warm. Who’d think that Florida
would get so cold? But we were fooled, too,
and tried desperately to find sweats--anything--
that would warm us up a notch.
Zip!

So, like our visitors, we endured the cold
weather for a few days--but these current
temps are hedging into two weeks!
I miss wearing my shorts and sandals.

I spoke to my Brooklyn friend, Delores recently,
before our cold snap. She was freezing in 23
degree temps and thinking of our 80 degree
weather I was presently enjoying.

Yep, Old Man Winter is throwing Florida
some pretty chill Arctic air, breaking records,
dipping into the low, frosty 30’s overnight.
The gulf waters are empty of swimmers, except
for 300# loggerheads coming back ashore.

We turn the oven on these mornings
to warm the house up. Daisy, our lovebird,
thaws her icy stick feet by the oven.
When I was a kid living in the foggy beach
city of Santa Monica, CA., mom would put
my school uniform on the oven door to warm
it up. Felt so good…

Cruiser, our resident Muscovy duck, waddled
quickly up the sidewalk after spotting me driving
back into the driveway yesterday--she knows
the car since she’s left her “calling card “
enough times beneath it.

After a few pats on her back, I threw her
a few bites of cinnamon bread.
I’m a soft touch…

With a north wind blowing today, as
usual these past few days, I’m snatching
a thick fleecy jacket from Jen’s closet,
since she’s away for a few days.
Feels so good as I slip it on, but with two
other layers, I feel like the little kid in
Christmas Story.
Daisy’s picked her snuggling spot on my
shoulder…

Please Mr. Weather Man, tell us that
our warm days are returning soon…

By Hook Or By Crook...

With the current state of the economy, it's
propagated more criminal acts across the country:
Bank robberies,convenience store holdups, carjackings.

If I had to, I’m not a weenie about defending
myself--depending on the event, of course.
I know of some good defensive actions
one can do with their hands:

*The heel of a hand can be shoved up under
a person's nose. May be the end of him, however...

*Put all of your finger tips of one hand together
and thrust them hard into one's eyes, ear, or
on the carotid artery.
These moves may deter the attacker just long
enough for one to get away.


Back in 1970, after moving to the Bay Area,
I was confronted while walking home from
a movie; an old guy tried to manhandle me.

I kept a sharp hatpin in my pocket
my aunt had given me given me for protection.
I grabbed it and jabbed him in the side with it.
He ran off, yowling.
No one messes with this gal…

Jen found herself in a bank situation once.
She was taking the store night deposit bag
across the mall parking lot to the bank.

The front door was locked--the sign said Closed.
People were sprawled on the floor.
Jen ran back to Papyrus.
A few minutes sooner and she would have been
in the middle of the robbery.

Flipping channels one day, I caught the
Rob and Big show on TV. It's an amusing program.
Rob had a net gun which blasted a net several
yards away, capturing Rob's massive bodyguard, Big.
How effective and cool was that?

Too bad someone can’t develop a personal defense
product, besides mace and pepper spray.
I was thinking of a small canister, which becomes
activated when thrown at the perpetrator, enveloping
him/her with a noxious chloroform-based spray,
thereby knocking him out.

Hmmm…

Who Nose?

We’re approaching runny nose season.
My first encounter with a drippy faucet
was yesterday.
I’d just paid for a magazine and the bookseller
cordially bagged the purchase--after he had
sneezed an Oscar-worthy sneeze into his hand
and wiped his nose with his bag hand.

Yikes! I took out a Kleenex and used it as
protection for holding the bag.
I imagined all the germs enjoying Pastel Journal,
multiplying into little pods, like in the movie,
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers...

When I got home I sprayed Lysol into my car
and on the magazine.
Over the top? Heck no!
Not with swine flu flying around.
Even ol’ Harry Reasoner couldn’t escape the virus.

“Season” is fast approaching when thousands of
people, particularly ‘snow birds’ descend on Naples.
This coastal town will soon be bumper to bumper--
on the roads and the beaches.

So far, there have been very few cases of the flu
in our town on the gulf.
So travelers, please be healthy when you decide
to travel anywhere.
Don’t fly, especially--keep the town you intend
to visit a healthy place.

Thanks. Ah-Choo…

Ducking The Storm...

Recently, we had the mother of all storms.
Lightning hit all around the area with deafening
cracks of thunder.

Our resident duck, Cruiser, wet and bedraggled,
had just made its third pass around the house,
hoping to beg Paul or me for a tortilla chip
or bread handout.

The noisiest crack sounded overhead, sending
Cruiser running like its tail feathers were on fire.
Cruiser! Fly duck, fly!

The storm dumped 2” of rain in 30 minutes--
Cruiser's contribution, 3 clumps…
Water on the lanai came almost up to the
sliding doors, before finally seeping through
the drain channels on the decking.
The rain lessened, but the boomers were still
making me jump.

Cruiser came back a few days later, its
butt-waddling, bobbing-headed self cruising
by the computer room window.
She caught sight of me and picked up her
webbed feet, swaggering to the front door.

This weekend is promising a tropical wave, due
to sweep Florida’s east coast over to Naples.
I better clue Cruiser in…

Hook, Line and Sinker...

It’s Tom’s fault.
The fishing disease, that is.
It’s rampant like a virus in Jen and Paul’s lives.

When Paul was around 9 years of age,
Tom took him down to the SF Bay near
the San Mateo Bridge to fish.

Paul had never been, and it really didn’t take
long for Paul to get hooked.
It was like he’d been born with a fishing rod
in his hands.

We took several fishing trips to gorgeous, scenic fishing
holes in Northern Cal: The Russian River, Eel River,
the Trinity River; also lakes and streams in the Sierras,
and Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Needless to say, when Paul grabbed onto the sport,
Jen followed up.
She is as addicted to fishing as Paul.
Both are now avid fly fisherman as well.

Jen's abilities and bright personality has
offered her a few photo shoot opportunities with
advertisers and the Collier County Tourism Bureau.

Jen is in a fisherman’s paradise--Key West.
She and Paul play phone tag relating their fishing tales.
Yes, it’s all Tom’s fault--
and I’m glad the kids share this wonderful sport.

The Ant-inator

Ants, the size of Sherman tanks, invaded
the lanai over the weekend.
Tom and I foot stomped at least 100 or more.
They're indestructible.

No sooner would I squish them, that
they'd pull an Arnold, suddenly reconfiguring
their twisted bodies.
I couldn't even get Cruiser, our tortilla chip-eating
resident duck, interested in picking them off.

The recent deluge unearthed the huge beasts.
They were circling the pool in droves; some were
diving into the water.
All that was missing were their floats and snorkels.

I hosed them off through the lanai doors,
then used some ant spray.
Impervious to that, the armor proof
ant squad regrouped and skittered defiantly
along the cage perimeter.
I expected to hear bugles blowing...march on!

Short of using something volatile like
a flame-thrower, I sprayed them once more .
I could've been spritzing them with
Tommy Bahama, all the good it did...

Then, seconds later, dizzy and awkward,
they fell, legs up...
looked like the conga line after a wild night
at Sloppy Joe's.

What a way to spend my summer...

Floridians...

*Think of keys as islands.

*Are choosy about which shells to collect.

*Don't mistake dolphins for sharks.

*Don't mistake Roseate Spoonbills for Flamingos.

*Know the difference between buffets and Buffett.

*Eat early to enjoy the sunsets.

*Know the best seafood restaurants.

*Love grits, mangoes and guavas.

*Have great rum recipes for coconut shrimp.

*Have a cupboard stocked with food, water and candles.

*Have battery operated portable televisions.

*Don't have fences around their homes.

*Eat fresh Gulf shrimp.

*Have hurricane parties.

*Get the frizzies.

*Must know the difference between a King Snake and a Coral snake.

*Complain when the temperature dips to 70.

*Know that Persian Limes make the best Key Lime Pie.

*Carry sunscreen at all times.

*Know how to keep a beach umbrella from taking flight.

*Take cover during a lightning storm.

*Have purse-sized dogs.

*Recognize tourists from their lobster-red sunburns.

Humming Along...

I'm always curious about what people
have to talk about all the time on their cell phones.
Everywhere you look, people are plugged
into animated conversations.

Following behind me today was a monstrous
midnight black Hummer.
It looked like it was on steroids, or ran
on something other than gasoline.

It towered behind my timid Camry like Godzilla.
I thought at any moment I'd be swallowed up.
The young lady driving was petite--her head
was barely visible behind the wheel.
I was thinking, this gal needs a booster seat, or
a baby bottle.

Her phone was firmly attached to her ear,
and she seemed totally captivated by the conversation.
Maybe there's a shoe sale at Nordstrom...
Her hand gesturing led me to
think how is she driving that thing?

The Black Shadow maneuvered in and out of lanes
of traffic with ease, but much to the unease
of other drivers. This is senior citizen territory.
I figured she was going 60 in a 45 zone.

She zoomed through the tail end of a yellow light,
and then the familiar wail of a state trooper caught
up with her.
Despite her ticket, the trooper was cute.

Altered States

Nothing much has happened with Florida's weather
this summer--it's been hotter than a witch's
butt these days. The National Hurricane Center
forecasts a "near normal" hurricane season for
the Atlantic, with a 25% chance of above-normal
outbreaks and 25% chance of below-normal outbreaks;
overall, forecasters expressed a greater degree of
uncertainty this year than they have in past years.
NOAA predicts a 70% chance of the following:

• Named storms: 9-14
• Hurricanes: 4-7
• Major hurricanes: 1-3

When we first arrived in Naples as new residents,
the thunderstorms came like clockwork nearly
every afternoon--tremendous "crackers".
The storms were so terrifyingly exciting, we
filmed them.
We looked forward to the skyward electrical displays.

I also kept a hurricane diary.
In August of 2004, we had our first hurricane.
Charley was frightening. Talk about Friday the 13th!
Paul and I watched the leading bands creep
up from the south until the early morning hours.
It was eerie and heart palpitating.

Charley finally hit with a force around
1:25 p.m., uprooting two trees from our front yard.
The back yard and the street was a lake.

We've been through at least 4 hurricanes
since Charley; the last two years have
been very quiet, except for a few tropical
downpours.
The weather has definitely changed, not only
in Florida, but in so many other regions of the country.

I'm looking out from the top floor window in the
Books-A-Million bookstore.
The gulf side is dark with a few lightning streaks.
Looks like rain may be coming after all.

I'm From Venus, Tom's From Mars...

Cereal crumbs settle at the bottom of a cereal box--
a lot like married couples who’ve lived together for years.
Couples let it all hang out and soon peculiarities and
odd habits are revealed.

Everything has settled after 37 years. One gets used to being
married and sort of lets their hair down.
Sometimes, too much.

Over the years quirks and habits become a part
of everyday living. I’ve gotten used to towels being
strewn about the bath room, and the foyer being used as
a pit stop for his beach gear and work clothes.
Tom likes his stuff accessible.
We could move the “pot” into the room, too!
The clutter gets quickly picked up when neighbors
or family pop in.

I keep some of my artist equipment by the bed on my
side of the bedroom: An easel and a storage drawer unit.
I keep on top of it so it doesn’t get in the way.
My walk-in closet is another storage area for my photo
equipment and supplies.
I’m pretty neat, always stowing things back where they belong.

Granted, nothing stays the same--except my weight.
I’m only 7 pounds over from the day Tom married me.
I still have a full head of hair. Tom’s pants slink off
his shrinking waistline.
His diet is pretty healthy, though something calorie-filled
wouldn’t hurt him in the least.
I fondly remember when he used to eat cookies and birthday cake.
I try to avoid sweets, except for my once a week
guava danish I get from Whole Foods.

After two kids and a long marriage, gravitationally, things will settle…
the ladies out in cyber-land know what from where I speak.
Doing housework almost naked is an attractive option,
especially in hot and humid Florida.
I wear a swimsuit so I don't scare the dust bunnies...

The Everglades Adventure

If you are a first time visitor to South West Florida,
you must visit the Loop Road in the Big Cypress National
Preserve in the Everglades National Park.
The Loop Road begins at the junction of 41 at the historic
Monroe Station.

The entire length is approximately 26 miles;
most people turn around after the first 7 miles, since the main
bird sanctuaries [Strands] and prairies are within the first 6.5
miles of the Road.

The Loop Road shares a history with orchid poachers, pot
farmers and good old moonshiners.
The ghost orchid usually blooms in late July, pending the
right conditions. It's prolific in the Fakahatchee Strand
State Park and it can also be seen growing along the Loop Road.
The book, The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, is a
fascinating read.

The gravelly road is sometimes exasperating: you may
find a gape mouthed alligator leisurely crossing the road,
or one that has decided to sunbathe smack in the middle
of the road. It's an exciting adventure to come face to face
with a gator, but one that should be approached with caution.
Travel speed of an alligator is 35 mph, though short-lived since
he tires easily. You definitely don't want to test his speed!

The Preserve is a blissfully peaceful area: the prevailing
sounds of alligators slapping in the water, the symphonic
rhythm from the crickets, frogs, herons, egrets and night herons,
echo through the cedar hammock forest.
It's a welcome elixir from city noise.

Pythons are an unwelcome inhabitant of the Everglades.
The Fish and Wildlife Service crews drive the roads nightly
capturing Burmese Pythons.
It's been said that the python population has reached upwards
of 110,000 within the Everglades Park.
Other deadly snakes inhabit the Everglades: the pygmy
and the cottonmouth to name two.
Panthers inhabit the forests and are sometimes spotted crossing the roads.

Info from the internet:

Top experiences:

Everglades National Park magnets: wheelchair accessible walkways at Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail, Pahayokee Overlook, Mahogany Hammock, and West Lake Trail.

What will I see? Birds and alligators at Anhinga; tropical hardwood hammock at Gumbo Limbo; an overlook of the River of Grass from Pahayokee's tower; a subtropical tree island with massive mahogany growth along Mahogany Hammock; and a forest of mangrove trees on West Lake Trail.

For a short visit: Flamingo's Eco Pond provides for waterside wildlife viewing.

With more time: Shark Valley lets you combine the quarter-mile Bobcat Boardwalk (looping through sawgrass prairie and a bayhead) with the 1-mi-long round-trip Otter Cave, allowing you to steep in subtropical hardwood hammock.

Want a tour? Pahayokee and Flamingo feature informative ranger-led walks.

Take the Swamp Walk, an impressive tour given by Clyde Butcher, renown Everglades photographer. Info can be obtained from his Gallery below.

Big Cypress Gallery Ochopee, FL (Everglades) Open 7 Days a Week 10:00-5:00 (239) 695-2428

On The Road to 100...

*Avoid laughing or sneezing too hard

*Avoid ice rinks during hot flashes.

*Double-dipped ice cream means it’s on your second chin.

*Orthopedic problems means you can’t find your orthopedic shoes.

*You know you’re older when your boobs become air-flotation devices.

*You know you’re getting older when you buy cellophaned packs of cotton underwear.

*The most excitement to cause a sweat is moving the furniture around.

*When barbecuing meant grilling meat and not your husband.

*Going for a ride means slipping on a wet floor.

*Losing it means taking a pair of boxers to a store to see if you can still find the same style. Only Omar the Tent Maker knows where to get them.

*Eating bread pudding because you lost your upper set of dentures on vacation.

*When romance novels start curling at the edges.

*You’re getting older when you play thermostat tag with your husband.

*You’re getting older when your mail includes brochures from funeral parlors.

*You’re getting older when the “miracle creams” refuse to work any more.

*Your idea of staying up is making it to 9:30.

*When you try tuning in to a program that’s been canceled for the last 5 years.

*You acquire a taste for Godiva chocolates and looser clothes.

*When people start referring to you as “sir”.

*When you do housework in the nude and you accidentally vacuum a boob.

*When you mistake drooling for a middle of the night passionate kiss.

*When you’re pantyhose only reaches your kneecaps.

*When your moods swing more than you.

Plumb It All!

When you have a home you hope that nothing
too major goes wrong--especially if you or your mate
is a bit dysfunctional when it comes to fixing things.
Suddenly, you’ve established a close bond with Home
Depot or Lowe’s home improvement stores.

What can go wrong when you have the experts in your corner?
In the master shower there are 7 tiles which are cracking
horizontally--one dang tile after another.

The toilet float valve in the master bath has gone bad.
We head out to get it replaced.
"Yes, sir, " Ken and Steve in the plumbing department of H. D.
say to Tom. "It’s the correct replacement, sir."

Just taking the new valve from the plastic casing
requires a degree from MIT.
We tug, pull, attempt to separate, break some nails,
curse, cut our fingertips, when finally, one corner
has popped open.
It’s a struggle to separate, then voila!
We have the valve in hand.
Disassembling the original valve is easy, but lo--
the new one doesn’t fit.

Wrong unit, so back to H D we go.
Ken and Steve have ducked out on a break,
so we find a very weathered old man working in the
department, who resembles an entombed mummy.
Sam gives us the right unit.
"Are you sure, Sam" I ask?
"Oh, yes," Sam replies with a wink.

Well, again we struggle with the fused plastic casing,
and after a few heated minutes and snarling,
we’re back in the toilet.
Yes! By Sam Hill, it fits!
Minutes later, we notice a constant drip, drip, drip
coming from the nut.

Tom tightens the nut and by now we’re going nuts,
because nothing is stopping the leak.
Two hours later, we give in and call a handyman
whom we’ve used before.
Another Steve, not a Ken.

$135 bucks later, Mr. Fix-It has finished the job,
and has left.
That night we see evidence of leaking once again.
The toilet has it in for us…

Road Warriors...

Collier County has finally employed photo
enforcement at the busier and ignored traffic intersections.
The county collected over $400 in one week.
The national pastime for most drivers I’ve witnessed
is to run the red lights. Yellow means speed up to them.
It doesn’t matter if the intersection is as wide as a
football field--Zippy is zipping through.

Traffic operations has added a few seconds of wait time
allowing for red light busters, meaning: If east-west
traffic has the green light, west bound is already driving
while east bound sits at the light-- allowing for the
red light lefties to bust the signal.
That’s considerate--it gives you enough time to
file your fingernails , send a text, or run in to grab
a Dunkin Donut.

It was always tough to figure when the red light
was coming on--tough because the roads are such
long stretches between lights.
So you start thinking should I speed up, or start slowing down?
It took us some time to finally gauge the traffic lights.

When we moved here, we drove like little old ladies
from Pasadena, going 45 on 41, the Tamiami.
This caused some uptight drivers behind us
to honk their horns. I’ve often wished our car had
some techy James Bond gadgets so I could push
a button and send out a barrage of cow dung, or squid juice.

We eventually realized that 52 mph gets you through
most green lights and is still a cop-friendly speed.
If jet packs are ever available to the public, I’ll be first in line.

Byte Me...

Computers are designed to drive the ordinary human crazy.
Geeks know what to do when critical and fatal error messages
pop up on the screen. I consider myself an intermediate user
who is not that technically challenged.

I used to get more error messages than was normal.
BSOD's are the worst PC events.
I think my computer at the time was built in some dark lab
in outer Slovakia by Igor the Mad.

My PC got around cyberspace all on its own.
It carried on unscrupulous, long distance cyber hookups
without batting a byte of eyelash. Via the 'net, a romance
of tarnished trysts entered my computer's database.
The PC crashed many times.

I scolded it for being skankish and thoughtless of its outcome.
The BSOD's and error messages continued in retaliation
of my efforts to set forth a proper path.

I deemed my PC a lost cause, gave it my final blessing,
and sent it to the vast abyss of the incorrigible
and defiant, the recycling chamber.

It's To Die For...

I have 2-for-1 quarts of devilishly delicious sugar
free ice cream in my freezer.
I usually don't buy ice cream, or sweets, for that matter.
Paul gives me the evil eye when I open the freezer door.
“Shame on you, Mom--don’t eat that stuff.”
He’s pinching an ever-so-slight bit of my waistline.

Doesn’t that make you want to eat it even more,
with long, enjoyable mouth-watering and melting bitefuls?
it's yummy junk food and tastes good when it's
been so hot.

Paul is right, though. He's lean, tall and muscular,
and thoughtful about what he eats.
Paul goes for raw organic and salt-free peanuts and
sunflower seeds, along with raisins.

You’ll find few goodies in my kitchen cabinets--
that’s because I hide them in my bedroom closet--ha!
I love candy fruit slices. You know the ones with
sprinkled sugar on them? They’re fat free, so that
lamely justifies an occasional indulgence.

Tom’s idea of a snack is pumpernickel bread
with a spread of plain hummus or plain yogurt.
He hasn’t seen a lick of sugar in eons.
Maybe a microscopic amount…
He has great resistance and fortitude when it comes
to his diet.

I figure I had to watch what I ate and drank for
9 months, twice.
I know-- that was back in prehistoric times--
but I’m making up for it now.
Heh-heh...

Just Give Me Chocolates...

Some people are moving targets.
I'm like a walking magnet.
It's like some heat-seeking device is
homing in on me.

Odd events seem to materialize before my eyes.

I ordered a coffee and muffin in a "B" bookstore cafe.
Taking the first bite, I found I'd bitten down
on fingernail clippings.
Ugh...

I parked the Camry in a Walmart parking lot
which is only a few blocks from the beach.
When I got back to the car, it looked like a squadron
of B-52's had released bomb loads of pelican poop.

The shiny Lexus and Mercedes parked
alongside my car were unscathed, of course...

I found metal shavings buried in a can of tuna once,
and a small chunk of glass in a can of fruit.

Whether it's the luck of the draw, the luck of

the Irish--whatever it is--

I'm It.

Seek and you shall find...Me.

Mosquitoes are everywhere:
buzzing around our yard and garage.
Telling my neighbor how bad the mosquitoes are now,
she replied,"What mosquitoes?"
I'm moving two houses away...

Recently, while waiting in line at a department store,
the cashier took the person behind me.

I always had a feeling I was invisible...

Boo!

A few years ago, Jen borrowed my new digital
point and shoot camera to use at the beach.
Just as she was walking along the shoreline,

a rogue wave engulfed her, dousing my Canon.

Digitize that!

Such is life.

Just once, I'd love it if a vat of warm, dripping chocolate

smothered me...

Ready To Wear?

Recently I saw a gal in her thirties
wearing jeans with carefully designed holes
and rips along the legs and just under the seat.
Her underwear was peeking through.
It looked as though she had tangled with a bull.

I can’t believe that a person would buy
“damaged” clothing--on purpose!
One pair of ripped jeans was $75 on a
department store sale rack.
They were badly faded and stringy.

A few years ago certain jean manufacturers
were buying back used jeans in any condition
for as much as $40 a pair.
I couldn't figure that one out.

In California I had enough problems
with moths eating holes in some of our shirts.
Too bad holey clothes weren’t a fashion trend
at the time.

Tom has a favorite shirt that he wears
almost constantly.
There’s a large hole near the label.
It's heart-shaped.
Maybe it’ll catch on.
He hates to go shopping…

Say Again?

Excuses For Bad Driving:


*There were flies buzzing around my face.

*I didn’t know that was a sidewalk.

*The accelerator got stuck.

*The coffee spilled in my lap.

*I was talking to my wife’s divorce lawyer.

*I was avoiding a turtle crossing the road.

*A Bald Eagle flew in front of the windshield.

*The GPS told me to make a U-Turn.

*I had a sneezing attack and was temporarily blinded.

*I had to take a pill.

*I’m late for my wedding.

*The ice cream melted on the steering wheel and I couldn’t grip it

*The car ahead of me with 20 people was going too slow.

*I didn’t see the Smart Car.

*Driving in the wrong lane: he had his brights on and I couldn’t see.

*I was going to be late for the Early Bird Specials.

*The cap on the beer bottle popped off because of the heat.

*I was plugging in my dvd player.

*My cat started rubbing his claws on my leg.

*I was taking a picture of the alligators.

*The car in front of me said How Am I Driving, so I called him up.

*I just had my eyes dilated.

*I tried to honk, so I had to use my finger.

*The sign in the car window said, Naked man on board

*You can’t ride the shoulder?

Blue Skies Ahead...

Charlie Brown, the lovable, insecure, hapless, and
optimistically challenged Peanuts character, always felt
that darkened rain clouds followed him everywhere.
His best intentions were thwarted many times and
Chuck was often taken advantage of by his peers.

Chuck usually invented problems where none really existed.
His friends played under sunshine skies, while he fretted
unnecessarily over what seemed to him like unsolvable
problems. He was a perfect target for bad luck.

How many times has Charlie Brown had the football
pulled out from him? Good ol' Lucy drove Chuck nuts,
and was always ready to dispense her 5 cents worth of advice:
"Adversity builds character, Charlie Brown,"
Lucy would tell him.
Despite it all Charlie Brown always kept trying.


How much adversity did Charlie Brown have
to endure? When did the sun shine on him?
How do you know if you’re a winner if you give
up the fight?

Life’s twists and turns often work against us,
and seem insurmountable. Sometimes blame for the
outcome is placed elsewhere, or on someone else.

There's a little bit of Charlie Brown in all of us.
With every rainfall, there’s a rainbow.
Nothing is impossible.