A quiet day

It was a very quiet day here on Fruitville Road. Took a nice, long walk & snapped the pics you see. It's a large lake designated for fishing & sailing. Has a good, soft trail all the way around.
During the walk I saw a man & his son pressure washing an RV. Mine was badly in need of a bath, so I asked & he agreed to come & do mine. Which he did. And my truck. And the scooter. All for $60! I was delighted. It was the trailer's first washing, I'm ashamed to say, & it looks better than it did the day I picked it up in September. All of the vehicles had been near salt so it was high time they had a bath.
Today I discovered that the tree in my space is a grapefruit tree. One of those things about Florida I'd forgotten. Having fruit trees nearby is such a treat. I haven't tried one of these yet but I certainly will. And, I discovered a huge fruit stand just down the road as well as a golf driving range. I really like this place.
Dinner with Barbara this evening was so much fun. Her grandson, Jason, told her a friend of his had seen her in a restaurant last night, with another man! I'm sure Jason just smiled & cooly told him the other man was her brother. 'Twas a good chuckle! I'm really looking forward to dinner at the Sierras tomorrow. We'll attempt to Skype with daughter Barbara & her family. Will let you know how it turns out.

New place, new experience

It was so good to see my sister Barbara this afternoon & this evening. She was in the midst of moving the office for 11 docs & still took time to show me their new digs & introduce me to her coworkers. It was very affirming to do that.
We rode the scooter to Chili's & talked a lot, as is usual. Sister Barbara is one of the best people I've ever known, and so is daughter Barbara. The later is named for the former. Both are so healthy in mind, body, spirit and whatever else there is to be happy in. My respect for these 2 women is about as good as it get for people I know personally & have some connection with. I always feel good in their presence. They are interested in other people & care about them. They are curious & ask a lot of questions. They listen carefully & respond appropriately.
Karaoke at the pool side bar here was great fun. Splish Splash was my favorite. I remember when mom worked at an outdoor skating rink in Miami & I skated every night she worked, which was pretty often. Splish, Splash was one of the songs they played a lot & that I danced to on skates of course. It was so much fun! I sang along & had a very large time!
Seems like I'm taking a walk down memory lane & that's a good thing. It puts current events in a good perspective & helps me understand them better. .

Tamiami Trail

Riding up through the keys as the sun was rising, then across Florida on the Tamiami trail was a very fine trip. The trail brought back many memories of me & mom on that trail when I was just a little kid. I'd turn sidewise in the car looking for alligators in the canal until I'd almost get car sick & have to quit. On this ride I saw hundreds of them, all shapes & sizes, & got this picture of one at a visitor center about half way across the glades.

Arrived in Sarasota before dark but a little later than hoped for. Was very tired & went sound asleep very quickly after a snow crab dinner at a local restaurant. Missed my walk yesterday but will certainly do so today. I'm really looking forward to seeing sister Barbara & family later on today. Can't wait to see my nephew play baseball. Everyone says he's gonna be a star!

Last day in Key West - for a while

This was my last day here for a while & it has been a good one.

I took a very long walk along the sea wall & along the beach where I usually go. Thoughts of LaVerne were very much with me as I went along the waters' edge. The day we put her ashes in the ocean was very vivid. Most of my thoughts of her were happy ones, not the sad ones which have had their share of my time.

Near the end of the beach was a young man making a sculpture with rocks, shells, coconuts & other assorted items. It was all held together with gravity & balance. He was very meticulous about what went where, then balancing it in place. I watched quietly for a long time then asked if he had done it all himself. He said yes, but this was a very small one & he'd only been working on it a few days. He was an unemployed electrician who wanted to work & he felt that what he was doing would lead him to work or attract work to him. Watching him look for balance, centering & placing each item very carefully made me think work would come to him & hopefully soon. I thanked him for his time & his creation, as I felt very calm watching him work & the piece. I also felt very close to LaVerne.

As I left & walked away I felt a nudge from LaVerne to go back & give him some money, which is what she would have done. I got my scooter & returned to find him gone & the piece still there. As I looked at it for a while he came back & had a small cross with a rose on it all made from palm fronds. He was trying to find the right place for it when I said: My wife passed away a while back & every once in a while she nudges me from the other side to do something she might have done & thinks I ought to do. She would have given you this (a $20 bill) . Her name was LaVerne (I wrote her name in the sand) & she would have really liked what you've done here. Please remember her name as you work on this.

He was very touched & said he would tear this one down & make another one just for her. I said he could if he wanted to, but she would have like this one just fine.

Part of why I did this came from what Joe Kennedy said in his letter to a grieving father. The other part was so I could spend a few moments remembering some of the best of LaVerne.

Tomorrow I hit the road again for Sarasota. I'm looking forward to the drive through the keys & the Everglades & up that way. It's a different beauty & one that I have far more appreciation for now than I did as a kid when mom & me traveled the Tamiami Trail. Bon voyage!

Good thoughts on grief, sorrow & loss

Yesterday was another fine day in paradise with little to write about. I did go to the marina bar on the Naval Air Station with some friends for happy hour & that was nice. I'm also nearing the end of True Compass by Edward Kennedy & read something that was very moving & addresses the title above.
In 1958 the elder Joe Kennedy wrote a letter to a friend whose son had died. By this time Joe had lost his oldest son, Joe, Jr., to WWII & his daughter Kathleen to an airplane crash. He wrote: "There are no words to dispel your feelings at this time, and there is no time that will ever dispel them. Nor is it any easier the second time than the first. And yet, I cannot share your grief , because no one could share mine. When one of your children goes out of your life, you think of what he might have done with a few more years, and you wonder what you are going to do with the rest of yours. Then one day, because there is a world to be lived in, you find yourself a part of it again, trying to accomplish something - something he did not have time enough to do. And, perhaps, that is the reason for it all. I hope so."

Unity, Hemingway & butterflys

It was quite a day, very full and lots of fun! Starting with a visit to Unity Church of Key West. I liked the service immensely, especially the music. And the minister talked about walking on water in a way I understood & found useful. It was also a very pretty sanctuary & fairly new. They gave out visitor packages, including a music CD, & a shell necklace. I wore the necklace the rest of the day & like it a lot.
The Hemingway House was awesome. It was so beautiful, so very well built & situated, and has a basement (extremely rare in Florida) & so airy. The grounds are lush and comforting. The place is on the biggest residential lot in KW. There were cats everywhere & they ruled. Plenty of food, water, houses Six toed cats. All are healthy & very happy. One slept on the king sized bed in the master bedroom. On the pillows. The basement, although not seen, impressed me most. The square cut stones from it were used for the walls of the house. A very large swimming pool had a good story behind it.
Butterflies. Hundreds of them in a bright, warm, damp & green environment. So different, so colorful, so seemingly happy for their whole lives. About 10 days or so. There were tiny quail throughout. A Japanese variety & so small & so cute. There were also a few other birds there, but they were very hard to capture on disc. the pictures really don't do them justice, and they're the best I have.
Lunch was at an outdoor out of the way side walk cafe that had large trees, two big & friendly macaws & very good food. The place was very empty for a Sunday & the operator was a little concerned.
Dinner was at the Shrimp Shack, close by. Hot shrimp, cut potatoes, corn on the cob swimming in butter. Special, hot dipping sauces. Ice cold beer. Florida has the coldest beer of anywhere I've ever been.
Of course scootering & walking were a part of this & most every day. I like living this way!

the pic that was left off last time....

Random thoughts

Never have I seen so much ink on people. Much of it is beautiful, some of it isn't but all of it is very interesting. Some folks are totally covered. Many of the designs are very intricate.
Smoking. I'd forgotten how much of a smoking place Florida is. Many of the bars are smoke free, but the ones which aren't I can't stay in very long. Cigar smoke is everywhere & the temptation comes, then goes. Cigars have been my downfall too many times to take the chance. It'll be 5 years quit on February 28 so that's a motivator. It just reminds me of being a kid here & how everyone I knew smoked, except my Mom.
Yesterday was on the hot side, 83 & high humidity, so I had to go for a swim. It was more like a float, which I love to do. Just lying there looking at the deep blue sky, relaxed, no sound, gently rocking. It just clears my body & mind of anything that's not needed.
The pic for today was really taken several days ago. It was gray & overcast that day, but I like the way I framed the cruise ship between the trees. Reminds me of a pic I took at the Panama Canal.
Thanks for stopping by!

the rooster

Hre he is. In all his cocky glory!

Another beach day

It was another beach day & quite different from yesterday. There were several kiteboarders doing their thing just off shore while 3 weddings were happening within sight of each other. It was....it was.....very nice, very good. In one pic you can see a rock jetty. One of the kbers was jumping over it, hanging 3-4 seconds as he did so. I was very impressed! I was also unable to get a picture of that. It seems I was never ready & it happened very quickly. The wedding were small (6-8 people), medium (10-12) and large (25 or more). A guitarist provided music for one of them. A daring guest at one wore a very small bikini. All of it was energizing for me!

Today was golf day! I was grouped with a local guy & a regular winter visitor for 17 years. The course was very nice, well designed & pretty. I played a few holes well but mostly I enjoyed the company & the sunshine & the beauty.

Near the end of the round a rooster came close by. Only thing was, every time I snapped the pic he would look the other way - 3 times in a row he did this! I did finally manage to get a half way decent snapshot of him. He was pretty cool. I do love the pretty feathers & cocky attitude they have. Yes, the pun was intended no matter how bad it was
One of my golf partners commented on the iguanas being gone & how pretty green one of them was. I was a sad moment to think that a brief time at 42 degrees would kill so many fine creatures in such a short time. I remembered a time when Marianne, Lou me & La
Vern were at a Greek restaurant in Florida, on a canal with overhanging trees with several iguanas in them, They were so pretty. The cold makes them fall from the trees & sometimes die. Guess there are worse ways to go.

Overall, another fine day in paradise!

I most always look forward to tomorrow and wonder what it will bring. Living in the moment is working pretty well for me. Plans are few, and still there are a few goals like things to see/do here while I'm here in Key West.

Enjoy the pics & thanks for stopping by.

Beach Day

today was beach day. It was warm, beautiful, no wind & the best day of weather since I started this adventure. So I went to the beach twice. The first time was to scout & I saw many teeny, tiny bikinis. They were pretty much like thongs & left only a little to the imagination.
Over the water flew Navy fighter jets on final approach to the Naval Air Station at Chico Key. Man what a fine job that would be flying one of those beauties. A few minutes later, a biplane would lumber by. Wish I could get them both in the same picture frame at the same time.
I'm watching a Tar Heel basketball game in my little home for the first time. It's great! The Heels are even playing decently even though they're behind in the score right now. Love it when all those freshmen are in & they kick some butt. Youth...you can't coach that, Roy. Or can you?
Went to the nearby seafood market & found some very nice shrimp. They sure were good! I'll be going there again for sure.
I'm having trouble posting the pics so I'll do them another time.

Nice rythm

My daily walk takes me along A1A next to a sea wall. Until today the water was too cloudy to see much of anything. But with clear water, today I saw a 3 ft shark after something under a rock ledge & numerous needle fish, looking like miniature sword fish. Large schools of small minnows were also plentiful.

Continuing to explore the old down town area I was drawn to this trumpet player outside Mel Fisher's Treasure place. He was really pretty good & sang well, too. It was his attire that I liked the most. It fit him to a tee in all ways.

There were also many beautiful flowers to see & I go a couple of pics of them. It's just a really pretty little town & so alive with lots of energy. I'm very glad to be here & appreciate my good fortune.

Back to the docks

Yesterday it was back to the docks, in case I'd overlooked something. Come to find out I'd only seen about a 4th of what was there on my first visit.
The sailing races were ending for the day so the place was bustling with activity. I walked many of the piers, watching the crews mend gear & replace broken lines & such. Most of the boats were from Rhode Island.
I made my way around to where the cruise ships dock & found luxury hotels along with the Sunset Bar & Grill. The guy from Wisconsin had told me this was THE place to be when the sun went down. He was right.
I got there about an hour before sunset & got a great seat at the bar facing west. There was a blues singer accompanied by a guitar & they were very good. As sunset got closer people began packing the little place, wedging into spaces that would've made a half back proud.
There were lots of boats going out just for the view and that itself was quite a view. Overall this truly was the place to be at sunset & I'm sure I'll go there again.
Then it was off to find the Green Parrot Bar, a hangout for the locals. It was old, shabby & quaint & lots of interesting things to look at on the walls. Then 7 o'clock rolled around & it was bingo time. Everyone was very excited, except me, & as the game went along I understood the fervor. The caller would occasionally say, "and this one is for a shot". Everyone who had that number got to go up & get a jello shooter of your choice. I was in on the next game & had a very large time. The caller would get a bit bawdy, especially when O 69 was called. It was a hoot!
There was also cold Newcastles on tap & free popcorn. What a great place!
Finished off the night at the Hogfish grill with some fried shrimp. Another fine day in paradise!

The docks & Duval Street

Yesterday begam with a good rain & me on the Vespa in it. I thought the shower had passed & I was flat out wrong! It felt pretty good 'cause it wasn't cold. When I finally did get my walk in I went past a lesbian pride bingo party at an open air bar. Some of the outfits would have made a hooker blush! It was pretty cool.

Riding back from my walking place I heard the high pitched whine of a small engine & spotted these little speed boats zipping across the water. They were doing 55mph according to one of the owners. They drew quite a crowd.

I didn't get to Duval St. Saturday night so I went there yesterday afternoon, stopping at the docks first. That was really a treat. Lots of salty characters hanging out along with young preppy dudes who had been sailing in the regatta. An eclectic mix of folks if ever there was one! And the mostt scooters I've ever seen in one place.

Sloppy Joe's at the corner of Duval & Green is a landmark & the beginning place for a Duval St. Crawl. The place is full of Hemingway pictures & hugh Marlin on the walls. I went in for conch fritters & beer so I could fill out 80 raffle tickets, the grand prize being a gorgeous dark blue Shelby Cobra. Man that thing was pretty!

Of course I had to visit the Garden of Eden clothing optional bar. It was very early in the evening so everone was choosing to wear clothes.

The evening ended with me at the Hogfish Bar & Grill near Boyd's where I'm staying. Had a fun conversation with a guy from Wisconsin who sells T-shirts at festivals & stays here from October until May. Also enjoyed flirting with the cute & friendly waitress. Sure do love this place!

Afterthoughts...

It's raining this morning & it's nice to hear on the roof & the awning. The covered porch with cement pad & table is a very nice place to hangout.
While walking yesterday I saw a red bi-plane takeoff & climb out. The deep throaty sound of the engine is what first got my attention. I might have to see if I can get a ride in that beauty. Flying in an open cockpit has been on my list for a very long time.
I saw 2 Vespas yesterday! One was right next to me at the festival & it's owner & I talked like two long lost relatives. He has a red 250 he wants to sell so I got his name & number. I don't think so but you never know.
The one & only golf course in Key West is very close to my place & also very pricey. The cost is $95 or $70 at twilight. Doesn't matter whether I walk or ride. Since I may or may not come this way again I might have to bite the bullet & go for it.
In the liquor store was a sign: If life hands you lemons, add Vodka! Hadn't seen that one before. Brought a big smile.
Back to reading True Compass. Am thoroughly enjoying it. A great read.
When the rain slacks off I'll probably go to the live butterfly exhibit. L & I went to one in Cost Rica & it was very beautiful!

Pics left out of last post...

Another beautiful day in paradise!

Whew, what a day. The seafood festival was all that I hoped it would be. Lots of great food, cold beer, pretty women & several good bands. The weather was nice & warm (78) & once again got to ride the scooter. Here are a couple of pics. I sat under a big tree to eat, several times, & took a shot of another tree just like mine. My menu for today was conch chowder, beer, lobster, more beer, and conch salad, which is marinated conch, tomatoes & green peppers. It was all very tasty. I took a 2 hour break in the afternoon to rest & get hungry again.
Went for a 4 mile walk before all of this, the longest since I began walking in May. It was so pretty. I was looking for mile marker zero, which I didn't find on the walk but did find on my way back from the festival. This is the start of US1.
Also spotted some gorgeous roosters on my way back & couln't get any closer for a better shot. Every time I moved in they moved away. Very skittish little fowls.
Am heading back to Duval Street shortly. It's kinda like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but a little bit wilder & more wide open, so I'm told. Will just have to research it myself.

I think I'm in love! With..

Key West! This place is so pretty, quirky, free & open. Whew! And it's a scooter lovers paradise. They're everywhere. So far, only one Vespa. Duval street is one cool place after another, sorta like San Francisco. Lots of shops, restaurants & uniquely dressed people.

Woke up at 5:30 excited & ready to explore. Hopped on the scooter & rode 'til my butt hurt. From 9 or so until 1 or so. Twas about 75, sunny & not much breeze. What a Day!

This place is on the flight path for the airport. The Navy fighters in formation still give me a thrill to watch. God that was fun! Reminded me of my flying days. It also reminds me of living in Miami as a kid. One place we lived was directly under it & they were pretty low at that point. Ah the good ole days!

There's a corn toss tournament here at the V park every Thursday. Sure wish Derick was here & we (he) might kick some butt!

A neighbor saw me starting the grill & asked if I'd like some fresh kingfish, caught this afternoon. I said yes & was very appreciative. It was wonderful. At Briarpatch on the New river I'd ocaisionally keep a trout & it was truly a treat to feast on such a fine creature. What an honor.. for me.

Went to the Hogfish Bar & Grill this afternoon & talked to a local for quite a while. Actually I listened. He was extremely informative.

You can see how tight this space is. The concrete pad is raised about 6" & the trailer wheels are about 1o" from it. Tight, tight squeeze!

When the kingfish was done I took it off the grill & ate it with my fingers. Whew, it doesn't get much better than that for me. So very basic.

Enjoyed the chile lights really well for the first time tonight. A gift from Barb & family for Christmas. Am also enjoying Edward Kennedy's book true compass from Derick & family. What a story. It reads like an epic, which I suppose it is.

Tomorrow is the sea food festival from 11am until 9 or so. I hope to have a very large time at that! Eating, people watching, having a beer or 2. Oh yeah! Manana.....

And that really odd looking thing marks the southern most point in the US. It sure is ugly! There were a lot of interesting history plaques nearby & that was very good. Manana....

Key West at last!

It was a loooong drive through the keys. Since I started much later than planned, 11 instead of 9, it seemed even longer.

During the drive I called home to get messages from my house sitter to learn that USAA, my bank & credit card company, wanted me to call them about possible credit card fraud. I tried to call while driving & became totally frustrated by button pushing. After pulling over to make the call, I got it fixed. They saw all the charges in Florida & thought maybe someone besides me was partying on my dime. It was me!

Seven miles bridge is at least that long & very pretty. The whole drive through the keys was awesome. I was treated to a fabulous sunset which the pic doesn't do justice. LaVerne would have paniced with me taking pictures while driving. It was really pretty easy though.

It took me & 2 nice guys helping to get the trailer into this tiny space. I'll try to take a pic of it tomorrow. I was truly amazed that I did it, since I haven't backed this thing that many times & never in a place so crowded.

Tomorrow I'll unload the scooter & head to town. This is gonna be great fun & a high point of the trip I feel sure. Thanks for checking in on me. FR

Wednesday, January 13

This was my last day at Cape Canaveral and it sure was a good one. It was 63, light breeze, clear blue skies. So I played golf again. On the first tee a gator was in the pond staring at me. So I duck hooked my first shot onto the roof of the club house. My mulligan wasn't much better. There's just something about being stared at by a creature that can eat you if it wants to that gives me the jitters. You can see his eyes & nose in the pic.

Then I went for a long scooter ride back to Mo's Crab Heaven for another of the best crab cakes I've ever had. And they had ice cold Miller Lites for $1.25. I wanted the waitress to adopt me so I could stay there. It sure was fun.

Then there was the Tar Heels. I stayed up too late, drank too much & got let down by my guys once again, & in Clemson of all places. I'm sure my father was smiling down on that one, as he was a huge fan of the Tigers.

Finally!

Finally had a day of good weather, clear & cool. It even allowed me to play golf at the Cocoa Beach Country Club, a 27 hole municipal course in very good shape & reasonably priced. It was a little windy near the water, there was lots of water & more ospreys than Ive ever seen anywhere. I saw 4 over one pond fishing & hanging in the breeze. The sign saying "Watch out for alligators & snakes" was the first thing I saw when I pulled up. It was so good to be out I walked 18 holes & loved it.

I'm happier each day in this little home on wheels. It's warm & cozy & decorated with pictures of my family now. I have a good TV, cell phone & computer. As well as a refrigerator that keeps milk, & beer, as cold as ice in a cooler. Love the gas cook stove. It's helping me with the questions "where do I want to live?' and "how do I want to live?" I loved the house on Cranbrook with LaVerne. Without her, I just like it. It's a good house, great neighborhood, with lots of good memories and quite a few not so good ones. Part of being here is because sometimes it's very hard being there without L. We'll see. No big decisions at this time, but some good insights.

Recently I've had the pleasure of renewing an old acquaintence from my high school days. She's a girl I dated twice when I was a senior. We double dated with my good friend George Holcomb & his girl friend Susie Long. Susie's cousin Gayle is the person I speak of. She has also experienced the loss of a spouse so we understand each other very well in that regard. She's funny & interesting & we're having a good time exchanging e-mails & chatting on the phone some. Hope we get to see each other in person when my traveling allows.

Some have requested some pics of where I am now. Here are a few & will try to get some better ones tomorrow, especially if I go back to the golf course. I've walked the beach nearly every day & often see cruise ships departing. It's still an awesome sight even though I've seen so many here. There are very few sea shells to be found, but this one jumped out at me so I saved it for a little while. I'll return it before I leave.

Day after tomorrow I head for Key West & I'm very excited about that. all I remember from my visit there as a kid is the 7 mile bridge. That should be fun pulling the rig!

Enough for now....

Weatherman

I'm beginning to feel like the hippy dippy weatherman. Today is sunny & cold, 42, with a brisk 12knot wind from the north. The high on Thursday is forecast to be 65. That's the day I'm heading for Key West. Warmth at last!

When the Disney cruise ships sound their horns, it is to the first 7 notes of "when you wish upon a star...". It always brings me a smile and a good thought or 2.

Off to watch the Heels play basketball in a little while. Sure hope they play better than the last one. Go Heels!

Sleet?

Yep, it's 36 & sleeeeting here today. I awoke to rain on the roof, which is very nice in my snug little mobile home. It stays very warm & cozy.

The stove top precolator continues to bring me a little joy each day. It fills the space with the smell of fresh coffee & is piping hot when it's done. My mom loved her coffee scalding hot & now I know why.

Went to the movies & saw "The Blind Side". It was very good & based on a true story. It was inspirational to say the least. I also bought "The Old Man & the Sea" at Wal-Mart. Spencer Tracy is the star & apparently was chosen by Hemmingway to play the part. It has been many years since I've seen it.

Reading continues to fill much of my bad weather indoor time. Next up is "True Compass" by Ted Kennedy. I'm really looking forward to it.

Thanks for your comments. It's nice to know you're there & interested!

Please....

...leave a comment when you visit my blog, as that's the best way for me to know you've been here. It's the best way for me to know when you've come for a visit. Thanks! I'm glad to know you're interested.

Another fine day

Today was a busy one & one of the warmest in a week or so. So I spent most of the day out & about scooting or fishing.

Had a late breakfast at a Cuban Cafe nearby. It was very good & very different. Had black beans & rice with eggs on top & warm, buttered Cuban bread & a delicious cafe con leche. The little place was very clean & brightly decorated. What a fun way to start the day.

It was a late breakfast because I was out late watching the big game. Sure enjoyed that!

I wonder why they named their transit system here Sun Coast Area Transit. Surely somebody realized what the acronym would be before it became their official name. The trolleys look very nice though & seem to get used a lot.

Went fishing today at the jetty because it was so warm & no wind. Mostly I fed a little sea bird that wanted my bait & watched the turtles surface close by. Overall it was a very peaceful & relaxing day. I appreciate my good fortune very much.

The weather forecast is calling for snow flurries tonight/tomorrow morning. Oh well. It could be worse, but not much for this part of the world. Hope the crops survive for the sake of many.

Good day for a ride

It warmed up to over 60 today so I hit the road on the Vespa & saw the Warbird Museum just north of here. It was terrific! Here's a pic of a C-47 being refurbished. One of the volunteers took me inside it for a good look around. It had push seats, unlike the metal bench in the first one I rode it. You can go for a ride in it for $150 or so he thought. They had the whole history of the plane going back to Normandy & D-day. There were lots of other fine planes, as well as displays of uniforms, radios, weapons, pictures and other memorabilia.

Tonight I'm off to Beef O'Gradys to watch the big football game. It should be a good one. It has to be better than watching Carolina try to play football. I'm pulling for Alabama since Mac Brown left UNC for Texas. Roll tide roll!!!!

Warmer tomorrow!

It's supposed to hit 60 tomorrow and I sure hope it does. The chilly weather has kept me indoors more than I want. And, that has allowed me to see "Up in the Air", which is very good & may get an oscar nomination for George Clooney. I rode the scooter today but had to bundle up tightly.

Found a great bar with a lousy name to watch the Heels play basketball. It's called Beef O'Grady's. What a name! But it's very comfortable, smoke free, lots ot TV's, good beer on tap & friendly waitresses. My other favorite is Mo's Crab Heaven, though it's probably more like hell for the crabs & heaven for crab eaters like me.

My walk today was the least wind blown so far. The ocean was so flat & calm it looked like a big lake.

Found a place nearby today called the smokehouse. They had a little bit of everything. Lots of different fish & some alligator. May try the gator tomorrow. Tonight it's smoked mussels, kingfish &/or whiting. So far I'm sticking to my sea food diet & loving it.

Got an indoor/outdoor thermometer today so I have a better idea of what's happening here. It's really pretty cool & wish I'd gotten one long ago.

There are feral cats everywhere around the campground & they remind me of Peaches. She really has it made compared to these creatures. So no guilt for her from me!

Hope to get up early & enjoy the warmth tomorrow. Later...

Home sweeet home

It's another cool day in Port Canaveral & last night was movie night. Saw Sherlock Holmes at the big theater & it was great. So well done & a good story line.

Then I watched Up again, as it was given to me by Barb & family for Christmas. It's about a lonely widower named Carl Frederickson. His late wife left him a message in their Adventure scrap book saying thanks for our adventure & it's time for you to go find another one. It made me laugh & cry as any good Disney movie does. It was also very uplifting. There's also a young boy scout in it who belongs to the "Sweat Lodge" tribe. The movie just had a lot to say to me.

So, I wonder what good things I'll discover today? Stay tuned...

Cool weather

It's chilly and windy again today after being pretty warm the first of January. I did go for a scooter ride yesterday and was pushing my temperature limit just a bit.

I'll be here in Port Canaveral for 2 weeks, then to Key West, Sarasota and Appalachicola. Can't wait for the lucious oysters in App. I still remember them from last year.

Here's a pic of the grandkids from the cruise. They are one happy bunch! Houston gave me a new knickname - pappy. Then I added happy, so I'm now known as happy pappy fred. It's a good one.

I'm sorry Barbara!

Just looked at my blog and realized that I haven't posted any pics of Barbara! Somehow I'd convinced myself that everyone was there. So here ya go, honey. I love you!

Daddey

A brand new year!

There aren't enough good words to describe how good the cruise was. I'll attempt to post a few pics here & at facebook. Some highlights: Derick & family spent the night with me in the trailer before the cruise. The girls had so much fun in the bunk beds!
Cruise day 1: the grandsons spent the first 2 nights with me. I foolishly laid my glasses on the bed & Houston accidently knelt on them, popping out both lenses. Luckily I had my new prescription sunglasses so I looked like a blues brother for the rest of the trip. Day 2: weather was chilly so the kids spent lots of time in the hot tub. Thought they were gonna cook! For dinner each night the kids had pizza & french fries; it was a terrific dining experience with all of them.
Did a glass bottom boat tour sighting sharks, huge grouper and many colorful fish. Twas windy & cool. Next day we went to the beach at Wyndom resort and had a ball. The buffet there was great. On the last day we were at sea & the weather was perfect: 72, sunny & no breeze. That night the full ,moon lit up the world!
Left the ship in good time & went to get my glasses fixed: it took 5 mins. & they were good as new. After setting up went for a long scooter ride down A1A. The cycle dudes are such snobs. I was the only Vespa I saw & got several smiling waves from motorists.
Last night had king mackeral & corn on the cob from my grill. Sat out in shorts & tee shirt cooking & watching the full moon. I'm getting used to this lifestyle very quickly. Mastering this little keyboard may take longer.
Thanks for checking in on me. Now that my mobile internet is working I hope to post every day or 2. Stay warm!