The news you've been waiting to hear finally arrives and it's good. In fact, it's great, and you can hardly wait to let everyone important to you know.

So, you start calling - but absolutely no one answers their phone. It's not possible you think - how can everyone be gone all at the same time?

It happened to me last Saturday. If it happened only once or twice before, it'd be a coincidence, but there is definitely a correlation between having good news and no one being anywhere near their cell phone.

You know what it's like. You're bubbling over with joy and want to spread your good news with close friends and family. After all, who wants to run into Target or Wal Mart or Publix and shout, "Hey everyone. I found a job (who'd believe you in this economy) or I lost ten pounds."

No enthusiasm there. Chances are, all you'll get is escorted out.

So you wait and wait and wait for the phone to ring checking it frequently in case you missed hear the ring.

Do they all meet up at the same place so they can miss your call?

Eventually, they all call back...ho hum...but your enthusiasm has waned by then.

Maybe I just have to chalk it up as one more of life's little mysteries...such as, where do those missing socks go after you've done the laundry?

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It happens to everyone, and recently I had my turn.

After a routine physical and an EKG, the doctor said, "You have an inverted q wave."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It could mean nothing or you could have had a heart attack," he calmly replied.

I was stunned. "I don't feel sick. Surely I'd have some kind of symptom."

He just looked at me. "We'll schedule some more tests," he said before leaving.

I felt like I'd been kicked in the head.

Later, I learned I was lucky. He called the next day and explained that the equipment they had used was defective. I repeated the test, and this time the EKG was normal.

Still, the experience was a huge wake up call.

I am doing some things I should have done long ago - but always planned to do later when I"m not so busy -like adding names to my checking account and safe deposit box and updating my will.

I'm sharing this as reminder to everyone that these things happen fast and can come out of the blue regardless of your age or health. I was not prepared. Are you?

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Considering what's going on with the market and the economy, I imagine like myself, the rest of you are spending as little as possible. I'm always on the lookout for freebies or close to it and here are a few I like:

To save huge on your grocery - some say as much as half - visit couponmom.com It is a great site.

Youtube has free tutorials for software such as Photoshop So if you've been waiting for extra cash to take a class to learn some new skills - no more excuses.

Want some free flowering trees for your yard? Charylne V. Schaub, editor of the Sun-Sentinel's Home & Garden tells how to receive five free gorgeous Crape myrtle trees ($10 shipping and handling.) Send your check to Five Crape-myrtles, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410

Overwhelmed by dental costs? Okay, it's not free but costs way less than a private practice. The Hialeah Dental Clinic in Hialeah is staffed by University of Florida dental students and residents who are carefully watched by instructor dentists. Phone number is 305.694.5400.

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Excitement at the national convention began as soon as I stepped off the plane. Instant bonding was common among the throngs of like-minded individuals who had come together with one goal in mind - before we even left the airport.

Adding to the camaraderie, hotel arrangements are made by the party so delegates from each state stay at the same hotel(s.) Small states share hotels. Does never-ending party come to mind for some reason?

Delegates are easy to spot because they wear a ton of mandatory badges around their necks (including photo ID) throughout the convention. You can’t get in anywhere in the convention or official areas without your badge.

All the townsfolk in the convention center city went out of their way to be nice to us - regardless of their party affiliation.

Delegates are bussed everywhere - to the convention center, to planned excursions and planned dinners and parties - and security is incredibly high. Tough looking security people go through the bus identifying everyone at least twice before it takes off.

The most unnerving check to me was when they used a mirror, which looks like a large version of the one the dentist uses in your mouth, to check for bombs under the bus. It had never occurred to me that someone might want to blow us up.

Once we minions arrived at the convention center, the whole goal was to get the excitement level high (after of course passing through more security.) Music, Las Vegas style lighting and fabulous speakers did the trick - we were already hyped.

But without a doubt the most exciting part for me was walking down the halls and passing so close to news makers that you could touch them. Some of them even acknowledged us. And no I didn’t run over and shake their hands, but I sure wanted to.

Parties, sighting seeing and did I mention parties…plus all he work that gets done day and night in the convention hall go on nearly 24-hours a day before the big night when the president elect is officially nominated and gives his big talk. Day attendance at the convention is sparse.

More to follow…

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And they are a blast! I went to the Presidential Inauguration and Inaugural Ball too and I'll share those memories with you when we inaugurate our next president.

Because we are not supposed to write our political opinions on national politics on this blog, I won't say which party - but the truth is they both run their conventions pretty much the same.

Everyone asks me how I became a delegate or in my case an alternate delegate. Most people think you have to be rich and famous and that is not true. I am proof.

I worked for the party a lot. I did things such as making phone calls asking for money and worked at the phone bank reminding others to vote. I attended monthly meetings, attended local and state conventions and when national election time drew near volunteered to put up signs.

Putting up the at least 30 signs they left me was a challenge because they were all over town...so I bribed a friend and told him if he would help me, afterwards I would make him a dinner of homemade vegetable soup and homemade cinnamon rolls.

He went for it so you might say I went to the convention because of my country style cooking. He went to the convention too and we did dance together at the inaugural ball. Just friends though - unfortunately he's too young for me.

Tomorrow I'll write what it's like when you arrive at the convention city and experience a convention up live and personal.

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Last week while I was working, I heard my dogs barking. When they didn't quit I went outside to quiet them.

Before I even stepped outside, I saw why. A brilliantly colored snake was crawling along side the neighbor's house.

I was sure it was a coral snake and I was terrified it might bite them.

I tried to remember that poem about yellow on red or whatever as I worked to get my dogs to retreat. I did take a mental photograph of it (should have grabbed my phone.)

By the time I finally got Bark and Lolli safely on the porch, the snake had disappeared. Immediately I got on the computer and started reading about them on National Geograhic. This is what I learned:

* The coral snake is in the cobra family...same as cobra, mamba and sea snake. Scary.

* Forget the poem. In our part of the world a coral snake has a black head...the nonvenomous one has a red one. Coral snakes have round eyes too - if you like to look snakes in the face.

* Coral snakes are 20 to 30 inches long. They can live for up to 7 years.

* They are not aggressive meaning they won't chase you or strike at you but you don't want to step on one or pick it up. Or stand there and bark at it.

* Coral snakes don't strike because they don't have long fangs. Their fangs are more like short teeth but they do bite. Their poison can kill a human.

* They live in the ground, are nocturnal and reclusive. They hide under things like wood chips.

* When their young hatch, they are fully loaded with venom.

* Coral snakes eat other snakes and small reptiles.

* Their bite doesn't hurt or cause distress at first but within a few hours, it can kill so it is important to immediately go to a hospital if you are bit.

A man who works for a pest company probably gave me the best advise. He said if you see it again, it's living here. Otherwise it was just passing through...sure hope that's the case.

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Whenever the lottery reaches a certain point, I feel compelled to play.

For me, $14 million does the trick.

Wednesday I'll buy two tickets from my lucky store...a gas station in Delray. Another part of my lottery routine is tickets must be purchased on the day of the drawing. Preferably later in the day.

Then I look over my numbers to see if they look like lucky ones. And they always do (until after the drawing.)

With all of the strategies I have in place, you probably think I've won a lot.

Wrong.

I don't think I've ever won more than $5.

But there's always the possibility, which brings me to my point.

If Florida were like 29 other states in the country, we'd be in the Multi-State Lottery (powerball) on Wednesday night. And instead of a $14 million jackpot, we'd be playing for $95 million.

Unlike Florida's lottery, which starts out at $3 million after someone wins the jackpot, powerball resumes at $15 million.

So why isn't Florida in the multi-state lottery?

I know others complain about this because ads promoting the Florida lottery poke fun at people who say the jackpots aren't large enough.

Do they really believe making fun of us will change our minds?

I looked up the history of both lottos to see if I could understand why Florida has elected not to participate in powerball. This is what I learned.

The state of Florida gives part of the money earned from the lottery to an fund education. But they could do the same thing with the multi-state lottery.

According to the multi-state lottery web site, states that have powerball versus a state run lottery take in more money.

That's because more people play when the jackpots are larger. Florida schools would benefit if the state changed to powerball.

In January of 1999, Florida was invited to join the multi-state lottery but Gov. Jeb Bush declined. No reason was given for this decision.

Given these few facts, there doesn't seem to be any logic behind Florida maintaining it's own lottery.

Are we to believe it's okay to gamble...as long as we gamble for less?

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It happened during my most recent trip to Minnesota. For me it was an epiphany.

To my amazement the things I used to complain about endlessly (ad nauseum) when I lived there were the things I enjoyed the most.

For the first time the cold was not something something I merely endured – it actually felt good .

People bundled up with boots, scarves, and thick coats didn't look dorky – they looked comfortable.

Phrases such as uff dah and you betcha didn't make me grimace - they made me smile.

Smoke curling from the chimneys wasn't just another sign of winter – it looked inviting.

Instead of dread when snow flurries arrived - I felt excitement.

And although the trees had already surrendered their bounty, the leaf covered lawns and sidewalks looked like a patchwork quilt of color. Magical comes to mind.

It was all I could do not to scoop them up.

I asked my son if it seemed as glorious to him. He looked at me like I was crazy.

But there was too much splendor to just ignore it. And it was everywhere...drop-dead, outrageous, wondrous beauty.

How could all of this have escaped me the many years I had lived there?

Unfortunately I know the answer and I don't like it.

The ocean, the graceful palms and the warm weather in Delray are harder to take for granted. But with a little effort it can be done. I talk to people everyday who can't wait to leave here for greener pastures.

I doubt I will ever again experience such a childlike appreciation of my surroundings. And I wish this learning experience had come to me a little sooner in life.

But now I know. Where ever I am – paradise is right in front of me. All I have to do is see it.

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