Tuesday, March 04, 2008

February in Retrospect

February was a most interesting month. I am fortunate in that I made great life long friends while I was in the Navy in the early 60's. One of those friends arrived for a visit on February 2nd. Mike Baca was originally from Denver and now lives in Mesa, Arizona. Last June he was riding his bicycle and was hit by a car running a red light. He spent most of last summer in the hospital and then physical rehab. He was here for 10 days. When I told him I would take him to see the highest waterfall (97 feet) in Florida he was quite skeptical. Once there he saw that the water fell into a sinkhole. The park has a walkway that winds it way around several sinkholes. We also visited Ponde de Leon State Park. Here 14 million gallons of water seeps up through the limestone each 24 hours. The water is at a constant 68 degrees. Even though we had both been to the Naval Aviation Museum in past years, we visited the museum in Pensacola. It was a nice day and we saw many of the planes that were on The Saratoga when we were aboard. Mike likes to walk the beach and each afternoon he would walk for several hours. I would swim while he was gone. Mike got his legs wet once. We also were able to see an alligator suning in St. Andrews State Park. I was sorry to see Mike leave. we really enjoyed our time together. It is hard to believe so many years have passed since that day in January, 1964 when we were both discharged from the Navy.

I also took a lady friend to see the waterfall after Mike left. She has lived on the Panhandle for over 30 years and never visited the waterfall.

There have been several violent storms over the last two weeks. We have been under "tornado watches" so often, that I no longer pay attention. In one 36 hour period, we had over 10" of rain. So many roads were washed out, that all of the schools in this county were cancelled. I am staying on Thomas Drive and for a short period of time both ends of the road were closed because of flooding.

I also had a nasty something. No temperature but the worse sore throat in many years and a hacking cough. I was only laid up for two days, but it was a good week before I really felt better.

I have been faithful to walking and swim in the Gulf when it is warm. The locals say it has been a cool winter, especially February.

I visited a local real estate office and asked if they had about 1o homes for sale under 200k. I wanted 3 beds, 2 full baths and at least 1 garage. She brought up over 160 homes. I picked 12 and have been driving by them. Several locals have told me thet the market will continue to drop. I have decided to wait until next winter and see then. I would like a Florida base and a Rhode Island base. Panama City Beach would be my choice. I have grown to like the area.


Monday, January 28, 2008

Honda recall

I received mail from the Honda recall center. The first thought was, I'll be stuck at a strange Honda dealer away from home. I know where the Honda dealer is. It's on a stretch of road with a number of other dealers. There really is no place to go, you are stuck in their waiting room. So as I was reading that the spring that controls the rotation of the cutting blades needs to be replaced as it may fail, I wondered what blades. It was then I realized that this is for my lawn mower, not my car. Ha, I thought, who cares. It hurts my arthritic hands to hold the control closed so I tie it closed and it keeps the blades engaged. I have never bothered to stop the blades on this or any other lawn mower. I suppose I will have it fixed when I get back home, but I won't be in any hurry.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

The Florida Primary

Next Tuesday (January 29Th), the Florida primary will take place. There will not be a Democratic primary as Florida had the audacity to change their date. The Democratic National Party pulled a pout and said they would not seat the delegates from Florida. So all the Democratic canidates agreed not to come here. Kind of a "head in the sand" approach. The underlying reason may be that Florida will be a RED state so why waste campaign dollars. Works for me. There will far less aggravating political ads and I will not have to listen to her screeching voice.

The Republican candidates are very active in Florida. Following are my observations:

Mitt Romney ~ He has too much personal money and he spends freely. His ads are incessant with the same message, over and over and over. I could care less about his religion, but I have grown to really dislike HIM. He claims he knows how to take apart Washington and put it back together. Yeah, right. He ought to get a lot of cooperation from the other side of the aisle.

Rudy ~ he seems to have run his course. His campaign is low on cash. He acted like a spoiled child when the Daytona Race track would not let him drive the pace car. Hell, his own children don't talk to him and probably will not vote for him. Why should I? Rudy, your time has come and gone.

John McCain ~ His campaign is cash poor. His popularity is growing and gaining momentum. His TV ads are informative, but few and far in between. I have always like him. He flew A4's during Viet Nam. I worked on A4's in the Navy. I think he has the right stuff. He is weak on immigration and I don't agree with him there.

Ron Paul ~ A strick constitutionist. I think he would be the right man to put the United States back on the right track fiscally. He has the same chance as that "snowball" from you know where. He also has little cash.

Huckabee ~ He has a certain appeal to a select group. His campaign is low on funds. His religion does bother me. Also as Governor he pardoned way too many criminals. Some of whom caused great harm after release. He is usually good for a one liner that gets a chuckle.

I'll be glad when Tuesday is over and they all leave.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Ponce de Leon State Park

Although I want the home team (Patriots) to win, I rarely watch. Today after lunch I drove out to the Ponce de Leon State Park. Its about 50 miles from the condo. Today was blessed with bright sunshine which did little to cut the wind lowering the 43 degree afternoon temperature. I had been here before with my wife a few years ago. The honor system was in effect and I gladly put the $3.00 in the envelope.

This park is directly above a thick layer of limestone. Over the years holes have developed in the limestone. 14 million gallons of crystal clear water at a constant temperature of 68 degrees seeps up everyday. Years ago native Indians believed that the waters possessed healing powers and they would camp periodically to enjoy these benefits.

There are now ramps and stairs with railings to aid folks to enter the pool to enjoy the waters. Additionally, walkways with bridges over the moving streams were built so visitors can walk throughout the woodlands. Yesterday this area received over an inch of badly needed rain. Unfortunately, the moving water is overflowing the walkways and bridges and only a small part of the trail was dry enough to walk. I was very careful as the water was lapping at the path. You see there is a warning sign cautioning visitors that there are alligators in the park waters. The only wild life that I saw was a single bat that flew up from the underbrush. That was a surprise as I believe bats normally would be off sleeping in a secluded place during the day.

All in all, it was a neat way to spend an afternoon on a day when it was too cold to swim.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Flippant

Flippant ~ Smart or pert in speech.

Yes there are other definitions for flippant. This is the one that has stayed in my mind since the fifth grade. It seems that I have had difficulty stifling myself starting at an early age. I wrote that definition 5000 times several times during my fifth year of Catholic education. My Dad would come home and see me writing and he would just shake his head. In my high school yearbook I was remembered for "always keeping the class lively with candid remarks". Well, at least I never had to write anytime 5000 times. My wise ass mouth kept me on the edge of serious trouble in the Navy, and sometimes I would slip over the edge and I paid the price several times during those four years. I know that I have the ability to rub some folks raw. I don't always try, its just a natural gift.

Sometime a flip remark brightens someones moment. I'm thinking of a comment I made to someone I care about, that she should buy a string bikini and head South.

Friday, January 11, 2008

A Good Day

I have been in a bit of a funk lately. For someone who loves to drive, I have been doing very little of it. Perhaps, the focused drive from Rhode Island to Florida in two days after Christmas temporarily may have killed my desire to drive. There have been many days since my return when the car has sat idle. The rare times that I did use it was just to go to the market. I am currently in another period of fitful sleeping and seem to have low energy. Perhaps I have been dwelling on the memory that a year ago my wife began a long six months of chemo that ended when she collapsed and was transported to the hospital never to return home. I have been faithful to my morning walk and afternoon swim hoping I can exercise my way out of my funk.

I have been reading vorachiously. I am on my last book and I decided a couple of days ago that I must get more. TV rots and with the writers strike, TV can only get worse. This morning I skipped my daily walk and headed off to DeFuniak Springs to the Book Store that has some new books but mostly used books. I narrowed my selection down to five hard cover novels. I also turned in several books and got a $3.50 credit towards my purchases. I had a nice lunch in the Busy Bee restaurant. I had smoked brisket, coleslaw that no place in New England could match and fries with vinegar. I finished a roll of film that has the pictures I took over Christmas at home.

I actually did not mind the drive of around 80 miles total. This might be a good omen. In the last four days, I have received as many invitations to go and visit. My cousin Diane in Haines City, my friend Frankie near Orlando, and my wife's childhood friend, George in Seminole . They all want me to go and visit. My Navy buddy in Georgia asked me to come visit him today for a change of scenery and Southern hospitality. I don't think I am ready for a 6 to 7 hour drive quite yet. I hope that sometime in February I will venture down to the other part of Florida. I will stop in Georgia on the way home in March.

All in all, a good day. Now if I can sleep tonight.

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Misc

The condo management published the names of the winter guests this week. This building seems to be the exception to the statistic that women outlive their men. There are 15 widowers and only 8 widows here. I seem to be the youngest.

The weather warmed today and I was able to walk in shorts and my newest favorite sweatshirt. I spent a good amount of time in the sunshine. I also sat on the balcony reading.

I had a nice long conversation with the lady from upstate New York that I met when she was in this area last December. She is planning on spending a week down here in January.

My mail must have been in a logjam somewhere. Today I received a number of cards (and bills)that were mailed mid December. I received a very nice note from Tanya Hartman. Tanya was always our waitress of choice in the Chippewa Room in Mackinaw City, MI. I also received a nice note from Sherree the owner on Brigadoon, the lovely B & B that we stayed at in Mackinaw City. I also received a nice note from Mr & Mrs Colangelo whom we met when Todd and Matthew were frat brothers together.

I decided to tidy up the condo. I vacuumed and washed all the counter tops. I did the mirrors in the bathroom and the bright work. I decided to wash the kitchen floor on my hands and knees. There seemed to be a nasty spot that the wet mop would not wash. I discovered that something had dropped and chipped the tile so deep the black backing showed through. This was before my arrival. However the floor did need a good washing.

I had planned on washing the car but the queue for the washing station was too long. Tomorrow is another day. I may opt for the local car wash if the lines are too long tomorrow.

Finally, the local schools will open on Monday or Tuesday and the movie and mall traffic will return to just adults during the day.

On the advice of locals I drove 35 miles round trip last night for BBQ. It was OK but they only has St. Louis style ribs. I wanted baby back ribs. The waitress was pleasant and nosy wanting to know why I was so far from home and alone. She guessed Rhode Island as soon as I requested vinegar for the french fries. I simply told her I had itchy feet and was always on the move. It was easier.

As I work through the stages of grief, I seem to revert back to anger. It seems to be the stage that I am spending the most time working through. I am certainly not depressed or in denial. Those stages came and went a long time ago.

During these past few days when the Florida weather really sucked, I started working on my "to do list". I refuse to call it the Bucket List. I may want to see that movie. The list will be the subject of a future post.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Three Miles

Every morning (at least 5 of 7) I walk three miles around the complex. If you are faithful to the exact perimeter it is one mile around the complex. This usually takes about 42 to 45 minutes depending on the wind. I have a lot of time to think about my life, world problems and anger.

Lately I have been think about anger. I know its one step of grieving. It's been just about five months and I would think this step should be passed by know. I tend to keep coming back to it. Some days I am mad at the whole damn world. Other days (today) I am especially mad at the Doctors and their continuing to paint a rosy picture to both of us even at the end. It was an Oncology fellow who took me aside the day my wife was being transferred to a Nursing Facility that was also associated with Hospice care that gave me a true estimate. I am not angry with her.


World problems interest me. By no means do I have answers. I just know that the current president is hocking the economic future of my children and grandchildren. Someday Americans will have to pay the piper. I will be long gone by then, I think.

I am irritated every time I have to press 1 for English. The weak sisters that we sent to Washington could not or would not make English our national language. For shame on all of them.

It seems to me that the presidential election should be over. Its 11 months away and I am sick of all of them.

I was raised to believe in God. If there is one, why does He allow humans to kill humans in His name.

My home of 39 years. I had such a difficult time sleeping there over Christmas. I talked to the gal who grew up two houses away. She is now Manager of a Colwell Banker office. She tells me that the market is way down. I won't sell cheap, but I need to be living some place else. I ponder this issue several times a week as I walk.

The Columbia River Gorge. I have been mapping out this journey for several weeks. The trip is now up to 10,ooo miles. If I drive to the West coast, I may as well see lighthouses in Washington, Oregon, and California, and the redwood trees, Yosemite, Salt Lake City, the Hoover Dam, and oh yes, the National Parks in Utah. Can't forget the Alamo, the Grand Canyon must be in there someplace. This is part of my "to do list". I don't have a bucket list.

I want to try and book a passage on a Great Lakes Freighter one summer.

I feel good about the Bonneville staying in the family. I appreciate my son taking my Dad's license plate. He had to give up his initials on the plate I got him with his first car. That will keep my Mom happy. I am finally down to one vehicle. My daughter loves the Bonnie.

As I walk the complex, I have determined that I am the only car from New England. I have run into a Mainer in the supermarket. He wearing his Red Sox cap. Me, I wear either a Comerica Cares or a VA-36 hat.