I've just found this site through Angela Sheltons website. What a great place to find people who know where you are in life, ahem, those around 50! Yikes! Can I possible be that old??? (looking in mirror, ekkk, yep, must be)

Anyway I thought I'd post a little intro., couldnt find anywhere else to do it. I stopped working about 10 yrs ago because of medical probs. I love staying at home. If I do any work outside the house it is with my Clowning. Yes, a real clown, big shoes, red nose and all.

I am looking forward to reading more posts and getting to know you all.

Summerbreeze

Welcome dear girl! Welcome! A clown! I think that is one of the coolest things I've ever heard. You are new here and already I admire you sooo much! Tell us, how did you get into that line of work? Making people smile, now that has to be sooo rewarding, eh? You might say you and I are in the same line of biz, eh?

Hugs and welcome! So glad you decided to make us part of your life.

JJ - resident Queen - beloved by millions...(expander of truths...teehee.)

Summerbreeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind

Ohhh...I Love that song AND the name choice
Now I can hum when I read your posts...and Clowns are my most favorite...I love their makeup...send pics

I see you like thrift stores (I read your bio) ...Meee Tooo and I can’t get enough of Yard Sales can you?

I’m having mine this weekend. I have 40 boxes of stuff not counting the unboxed items.

I figure I should be able to bring in about 25 or 30 dollars...that is if I stay out there from Thursday til Sunday. You think?

I’m selling all the stuff that I just had to have from other people’s sales last year.

Trying to double my money...hey it’s a living

I spent the whole day peeling/soaking off the old stickers and putting on new ones.

Nothing worse than peeling back a 50(HEY...where’s the cent sign on the keyboard?)cent sticker to reveal a 25 cent one.

I won't buy it...uh uh I just walk away.

Welcome Summerbreeze! You'll love it here - lots of interesting, supportive, talented, gifted, and HUMOROUS (that was for you Madame Queen) ladies here.

I LOVE that you do clowning - like JJ, I'd like to hear how you got involved in that. It's GOT to be rewarding making people smile all the time. I bet it's a lot of fun too! Tell us all!

Anyway - welcome to Dotsie's wonderful forum.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I was thinking of that song after I picked my name too, thats relaxing also. We can all use something calming, at least I know I can.

I started clowning just to help someone out. Our church was doing an outreach and wanted some people to help a lady in our church who was a clown do balloons and face painting. So she had 4 classes and I thought I'd help. Well, now 4 1/2 years later here I am doing it on my own. I've gone through a lot of training, conventions, and workshops. I had one workshop with ex-Ringling Brother Clowns.

I do birthday parties, company picnics, grand openings and a lot of charity work like Ronald McDonald House, Camp Rainbow (camp for kids with cancer), Breakfasts with Santa, Kids with Disabilities etc.

It is very rewarding at times. This past weekend I did a company picnic and a little 5 yr old girl fell in love with "Sparkle the Clown". She sat by me all day. I have a red nose I painted with elmers glue then rolled in red glitter (the sparkle effect) and she took a red glittery heart sticker I had and put it on her nose so she could look like Sparkle. Off and on during the day I would feel someone run up behind me, throw her arms around the back of me and give me a big hug.

Now those thrift stores, or as I call them my second home lol. I know what you mean having things to resell in a yard sale. I've thought about reselling somethings on ebay. I just passed up this great sweater in a thrift store from Lord and Taylors, brand new with a $59.00 price tag still on it for $6.00, but it was too small But I could have put that out on ebay and made some money hehe.

If you want to see a picture of Sparkle, go to:
http://profiles.yahoo.com/sparkle_d_clown

Looking forward to talking to you all.

Summerbreeze

Oh Spark! I just visited your pic and its adorable. Just the cutest thing! I have always wanted to know how to do the animal balloon thing. Was that hard to learn? And the magic, how cool is that? I would love to be able to do those things. Maybe I'll sign up for some classes in the future. You go girl. I think you have the best occupation...next to being a Queen that is! hahahah..

Hugs, JJ

jawjaw - They just had a big clown conference in Toccoa GA last month, you missed your chance!! They have it there every year I think.

Since you the Queen maybe Sparkle can follow you because she is a prissy little clown that thinks she is a princess lol.

The balloon animals were a lot simpler than I thought. Of course you can get into some very detailed ones that take more skill if you want.
But once you learn the basics, its very easy.
I.E. if you can make a dog, you can make a giraffe, the necks just longer with shorter ears .

The magic is fun too. I just do the ones that are simple but look great. My basement looks like I have a bunch of kids at home, and I dont have any!!! It's all clown toys lol.

There are classes around and if you are really interested let me know, I can find a clown group close to you < )

Summerbreeze.

P.S. Thanks for the compliment

are you serious? You think there might be classes near me? Man! Would that be fun or what? Yes please. I don't know when I could fit it in, but I would like to try...

p.s. I'll be in St. Jo, MO next summer at a poetry/book festival and was just asked yesterday to be the entertainment. Think you could make it over there? Would that be fun or what?

JJ

Summerbreeze, I LOVE your name because I love that song!

Clowning, huh? And this is something you started as an adult. It amkes me so happy when booomer women recreate themselves at mid-life. You go girl.

We once had a clown for my sughter's birthday party. After she got here (an hour late) it was all fun and games. Until the, I was the idiot mother trying to entertain all these little kids while praying my heart out that the clown would eventually arrive. I'll never forget that party. My daughter fell in love with the clown. She could have been the girl following you the other day.

So glad you're here. Looking forward to hearing more about your life.

MOH asked me what I was doing online and I said making new friends.

Who are they?
Well...one's a Queen and one's a Clown.

Thats nice,he said "what are you?
I said well... I'm "Tickled Pink"

Ladies...thank you for making my 'lil empty nest feel like home again. Joy, Happy, Happy, Joy.

Qweenie... where do you find the time?

SummerBreeze...Awwww! You are such a pretty clown.

Chickadee, we had almost the same conversation at my house...I love it here, we get to meet so many different people with different interests. It never gets dull or boring, that's for sure!

I've never gotten the chance to meet a real live clown in person. (Unless you count some of my son's friends but then they don't bother to dress up) It sounds like you love what you do Sparkle and you're such a pretty clown!

Awww Thanks everyone for the nice comments.

Now that I've started making friends here I will have to be away for a week. My best friend Helen and I are going to Maine tomorrow. So I will continue these conversations when I return.

Today I was planning on getting the last few things together and be ready to go at 5AM in the morning. Helen called me this morning and as soon as I said hello she started crying, I asked whats wrong???? She said she had been hit by a truck, so I am trying to comfort her and asked if her car was damaged badly, and she said no, SHE was hit by a truck crossing the street!!!!!
She didn't want to go to the hospital where she was and nothing was broken, so she wanted to come here and have me take her to a closer hospital.

So there we sit both crying on the phone because she was hit. We spent the day at the hospital.

To make a LONG story short, a truck was at a stop sign, she saw it stopped and started to cross. She looked up and there the truck was and the bumper hit her in the hip, threw her in the air and she landed on her right arm!!

Her elbow is swollen and badly bruised, her hip is very sore and there are other bruises on her body, but she is OK! Thank you Lord.

So we are still off in the morning, I may have to carry her, but you know how us "old ladies" are, WE ARE WOMAN!!!

Sorry to bore you all with all the details, but I look forward to joining you all when I get back.

I can't wait to get to know you all better. Take care, look both ways before crossing the street and make sure you have on clean underwear!!!!! LOL

Summerbreeze

WOW! What a horrible thing to happen (the truck accident with your friend)....glad she's relatively OK and that you guys will be able to make your trip to Maine (one of my favorite places to visit!!).

I LOVE your "Sparkle" photo Summerbreeze! It's really adorable - you make a FANTASTIC clown. I bet you have a blast doing that...making people laugh and feel good is VERY rewarding. Our Queen knows that right JJ????????? I think you need to borrow that red glitter nose for the poetry fest in St. Joe next summer (hahaha).

We'll look forward to hearing about your trip to Maine when you get back.....

Be A Clown, Be A Clown, All The World Loves A Clown Thats the song I kept humming as I read yours and the other posts. How very cool, being a clown. Welcome to our home you'll fit right in I'm sure....
Chickadee, I use to go to yard sales and then soak off the price tags and resell the items at one of my 4 driveway sales every year. I have been seriously thinking of doing it again as a job. I was always able to double my money and had a ball besides.

Welcome Summerbreeze - I'm in line for liking your name .

Welcome to other new folks as well. Glad to have you all. The more the merrier. As iron sharpens iron, so do friends sharpen - help, assist, listen, console, nudge, lift, rejoice, pray - for each other.

Even net friends. Maybe *especially* net friends.

Boy, I would sell my front row seat in hell to go to Maine! Wow...so many places, so little time...and money...and---sigh.

I too am happy to hear your friend is at least somewhat okay. Bless her heart! What did the truck driver do or say about it? The idiot!

Poor dear...give her a hug from her boomer sistahs...won't you?

JJ

summer, while bringing my son home from school yesterday we saw a girl who had been hit by a car. She was on a bike. I've never witnessed a person being hit, only cars. Odd that I should read your post this morning. The girl seemed shook up, but okay. We didn't stop because several people were tending to her.

On a dime. Things happen and lives are changed. Glad your friend wasn't hurt too badly.

Have a blast and we'll look forward to hearing about it.

All these women traveling in the fourms make sme excited for the boomer convention ...one day!

You win with the best name. Clowns are always special people with a special love in their heart for those who need a smile. I'm glad you 're here. Welcome!

Dian

Might be a good idea to have a clown class during the convention, eh? Or at least part of the entertainment! Just a thought...

JJ

I'm home from Maine!! It was beautiful! We went to the beach to look for beach glass,saw 3 lighthouses, and drove through a lot of little quaint towns. It's amazing to see towns that were established in 1643 and a lot of houses from the 1700's.

One thing that hampered the trip was originally it was to be 3 girls out for the week. Then my girlfriend decided to bring her new boyfriend with us. It's amazing how a 56 yr old woman can change into acting like a 15 yr old when a man is around. Anyway my sister-in-law and I had a good time together while they went off by themselves. It wasn't like we originally planned but we made the best out of it.

So now I'm back to get to know you all and to add to the craziness here. Looking forward to getting to know you all better.

Summerbreeze

Welcome Summerbreeze! The other boomerwomen took all of the good things to say. I second their motion. It's good to have a clown around. You are indeed a lovely and cute clown.

Sugaree

Welcome back summerbreeze! You were missed. Glad you had a great time. Nothing more refreshing that a "summerbreeze on the beach" huh.
How's your friend who had the accident feeling?
Was she the one who took hubby along?

Summerbreeze, your beautiful name reminds me of the song with the same name. I love that song, lucky you to have so pleasant a name. You sound as pleasant as your name, glad to have you...

Summerbreeze - glad you had a nice trip to Maine...what a beautiful state. It absolutely amazes me how people just assume they can do what they want without checking with the other folks who are going to be affected as well. How rude of the woman who brought along her boyfriend. If her hormones are in that sad a shape, perhaps she should have stayed home.

Sandra who is feeling a bit testy at rude, inconsiderate people of whatever flavor.

Sugaree-Thanks for the welcome and the complement on Sparkle. (the prissy little thing loves complements )

chickadee-My friend that got hit was sore but OK for the trip. As the days went by she ended up with some BIG ugly bruises on her thigh, and both arms. And yes, she was the one who brought her boyfriend along .

Chatty lady - Thanks for the complement on my name, I finally picked something creative!! Usually my nicks are pretty boring, but now I is cool lol

Sandra-lol thanks for being testy for me. I knew the trip was going to change when she said he was coming. But she invited us on the trip to see and stay with her family so I didn't feel like I could say no to him coming. I was hoping it would turn out diff than it did, but we had a good time anyway.

Thanks all for the kind welcomes.

Summerbreeze--welcome! I love your name. I named my oldest daughter Jasmine from the Seals & Croft song--summerbreeze, makes me feel fine-blowin' through the Jasmine in my mind.

Sere---I love S. Dakota...Have I told you this already? Repeating myself here? If so, forgive...but I LOVE that place. Spent about a week there two years ago and fell in love with the place. I have a friend who has a hunting lodge there but I didn't even know it when I visited. I do intend to go back. What a beautiful state!

JJ

Summerbreeze, I'm with Thistle. I can't believe your friend did this. I'm sure you're over it, but did his coming along have anything to do with her accident? Maybe he was coming along last minute to be sure she was okay?

Glad you're back in one piece.

Boomer women travel a lot. Think of all the places the women in this forum have been in the past year.

Welcome to all the new boomerwomen. Summerbreeze,
love that name. Did you find any seaglass in Maine?
Maggie

I'm with Jawjaw, I love So. Dakota also, I was there a few years ago, I can't remember the town but we went through Rapid City, it was about 45 mins from there. Its beautiful country!

Dotsie - Re: boyfriend, he had planned on joining us before the accident. I'm over it some, but I still have to tell her what I think of him and its not good, but she wanted my opinion and I will give it to her.

Maggie - Yes, we found seaglass, I never heard of it before I went to Maine. So I've told them when I get really old, just push my wheelchair to the beach and park me there, I could spend hours looking for seaglass. I found the usual green and brown and some blue. It doesnt take much to entertain me.

Summerbreeze

I love the Dakotas too. My company once had a lot of contracts there so I've been all over both states a lot.
Landed in Aberdeen and went to pick up the rent car. It was "PLUGGED IN" to a parking meter. Yep. They have to plug in the cars to heaters or they freeze in winter. Makes me shiver to remember. I drove in a blizzard on a deserted road and could see nothing above the snow but the tops of telephone poles (they called it a flurry. I called it a BLIZZARD). Scary.
But summer is wonderful. Lots of culture and unique scenery there.

I've only visited Maine in the summer. Boy was it ever pretty. Never found any seaglass though. Traveling the U.S. is incredible. More diverse than anywhere in the world I think.
smile

the only part of the US that I've never been to is the northeast. Just never made it up there.

Welcome to our group, Summerbreeze. As you can tell, we're a really friendly group and love to chat. We rally around our girls and provide support and friendship.

I hope to "meet" you in the other topics as you find your way around the boomer forum.

Seems I've been remiss in my Welcomes So here's a big welcome to Summerbreeze, and Serendipity too if I've missed ya.