A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-31-04....Pink Flamingos

dansangel

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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~ Billie, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear, Aquamarine ~

~~~ Pink Flamingos ~~~

They are the ultimate in Florida kitsch, an affront to the senses of anyone with mannered upbringing and the target of ire in many a homeowner-run community. What am I babbling mindlessly about? Why *Pink Flamingos* of course!

No, silly, not the real deal. The warm-blooded and feathered variety are breathtakingly beautiful. In fact, although they are found in abundant numbers in the southern region of the Sunshine State, flamingos are not native. The Caribbean, or American flamingo may visit Florida for a short time while searching for food, but it has not been associated as a species native to Florida.

Anyway, back on track….the *Flamingos* to which I am referring are the funny, trashy-yet-oh-so-chic, plastic pink flamingos. Every lawn in south Florida should have them. They're colorful, festive (try putting some red and green bows on them at Christmas - but, more on that later) and definitely make the statement that *You* have *arrived.* (At least your front yard has).

While living in Sebastian a few years ago, I remember squealing with delight while perusing the local Wal Mart outdoors department and spying a pair of pink plastic flamingos in a box on the shelf. Faster than you could say, "Are you nuts?" they found their way into my shopping cart, through the check-out line, into my car and onto my front lawn. I lovingly hosed them off when the yellow pine pollen soiled their effusive *pink*ness. I decorated their graceful, long necks with red and green ribbons at Christmastime. They made me smile broadly each and every day after returning home from a long, hard day at work and gazing upon their stoic yet whimsical forms while rolling up the driveway. Truly a tonic for the forlorn soul.

One day, while driving down the street on my way home from work, as I approached the house, I realized something was amiss. Only *one* pink form could be seen at its permanent home by the front door. Where was the other one?

Upon closer inspection, I found that the second pink flamingo was buried beneath the behemoth frond of the queen palm under which they lived. It seems a small wind storm had passed through sometime that afternoon as they are wont to do during the summer months in FL. A giant frond snapped free and plummeted straight to earth atop one of my beloved pink flamingos. Raising my tear-stained face heavenward, I conceded, "OK, Lord, I can take a hint." With that, I removed the one good flamingo and the broken, twisted remains of the other, and lovingly placed them in a corner of the garage where they remained until a later spring cleaning warranted their relocation to the local land-fill.

Somehow returning home each day thereafter just didn't seem the same…

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-29-04 Military Monday 03-30-04 Wyoming ~ Like No Place On Earth

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
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[Hot Tabasco]

South Island brown Kiwi.

Looks like our woodcock here in Michigan. We shoot em......

[shaggy eel]

,,, that's a funny clip! I've seen it. I've found a pretty comprehensive gallery. A heron is probably as close as we'd get to a flamingo here.

[dansangel]

That's a cool bird gallery. I will have to peruse it when I am a little more alert.

I hate to run off, especially where I haven't heard from you in a while, but I need to call it a night. I've been up off and on since 11:30 last night and things are starting to blur....LOL!

It was great seeing you again - take care ((((((Shaggy))))))

[shaggy eel]

,,, have a good one Dansy.

[dansangel]

To all that visited here today, ***THANK YOU***!

I had loads of fun, but another early wake-up call looms large on the horizon.

Good (warm, fuzzy and *PINK*) night to all at the Finest!

:-)

[LadyX]

"Do you think if I dyed my hair pink
and wore a pink dress,
they'd love me?"
sigh...

.45MAN, I have to side with you - sorry, dansy..:))
As a native Floridian, we regarded the fake pink flamingo yard ornaments the height of tackiness; the dwellers seen as Northern 'transplants' wanting to fit into a tropical setting..:(

They were regarded as a jarring note in the midst of the natural beauty of the flora and fauna that drew them there, and not respecting that, for others to fully appreciate.

The real flamingos are very beautiful and graceful.

I used to wonder what the reaction would be if I moved to say, Michigan, and planted all year long a big fake wooden snowman in my front yard - - - same thing?

[FreeTheHostages]

Thanks dansangel! you don't mind if we stay around and play with the Kerry GasTalculator, do ya? We'll clean up after ourselves. (After all, we're Republicans.)

[ST.LOUIE1]

Knew you would *finally* succumb to the wily charms that were calling you out - LOL!

Well.....you 'do' have a wolfish way about you. : )

[The Mayor]

Hey John, I think we are being accused of looking up the pink flamingos skirts....

We won't tell them what we are really up to OK !
Shhhhhhh.......

[Pippin]

Hi, (((LOUIE)))!

Guess what!

I'm online!

WOOHOO!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

040328-N-6213R-339 Pacific Ocean (Mar. 28, 2004) - Seaman William Reed, of Rockmart, Ga., stands the Aft Lookout watch on the fantail aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are conducting Carrier Qualifications (CQ) in preparation for the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Mark J. Rebilas. (RELEASED)

040329-N-4544S-123 Pacific Ocean (Mar. 29, 2004) - An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Black Eagles" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Three (VAW-113) prepares to land aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are conducting Carrier Qualifications (CQ) in preparation for the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). U.S. Navy photo by Illustrator/Draftsman 2nd Class Robert S. Smith. (RELEASED)

040324-N-3986D-030 Arabian Gulf (Mar. 24, 2004) - Air Traffic Controllers stand watch in the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). The Norfolk, Va., - based nuclear powered aircraft carrier is on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Jessica Davis. (RELEASED)

[Lakeside]

Thanks for the welcome you gave me. I enjoyed this thread & the camaraderie ya'll share. I'll be back!

Have a good night....

Lakeside

[WVNan]

Agree Sistah. The height of tackiness. People seem to have fun with them now though. Pinking someone's yard is kin to rolling. How ya doing?

[WVNan]

That is the cutest hostess/host graphic yet. I love it.

[WVNan]

Pip!!! We are so happy that you are finally back. It feels like everybody is home.

[The Mayor]

There's a bigger one here and a shot of the finished bench

[WVNan]

Awww. I just got caught up Lakeside. The fun is just beginning. Glad you dropped by.

[LadyX]

Hi, Nan!

Have some good news.
May I call you?

Cell - or home phone better??

[WVNan]

OOOOOOOhhhhh, that is so pretty. You work fast. I love that color. Is it cherry or mahogamy?

[WVNan]

Oh wow. Please call. Home.