Sunday, June 28, 2009

Aiden Michael


Last fall when Carol and I found out that there would be an addition to our combined family I promised her that she would hold the baby before he / she would be 30 days old. Based on the best information of due dates, we planned on leaving Rhode Island for Michigan on May 31st. It was iffy there for a while if the new grandson ( we now knew it would be a boy) would arrive in time by June 1st. Aiden Michael arrived on May 26Th in all his glory. The above picture was taken on June 1st in his beaming Grandma's arms.

On this road trip we would eventually drive 5,150 miles through 18 states. We decided to drive the U. S. route rather than entering Canada in Niagara Falls to Port Huron, MI. It would have been the shortest route, but we had already done that the year before. So we headed out the Mass. Pike through upstate New York and our first night was spent in Erie, Pennsylvania.


While here we took the opportunity to visit two lights. Pictured here is the Erie Pierhead Light.


From the same location we were able to view the Erie Land Light. Both lights are easily viewed from a small park and playground. We were the only ones there and it was a very peaceful location.

Our second day took us through Ohio. They are very serious about enforcing the speed limits. No, I did not get a ticket in Ohio or anyplace else. I did not take the bypass around Cleveland. I wanted Carol to see the "Jake" which is the nick name of Jacobs Field where the Cleveland Indians play baseball. The stadium looms over the highway. We arrived in Birch Run, Michigan mid afternoon in the 1st. We were in a pet friendly hotel. The pet friendly designated rooms were OK. Small but clean. We were staying in a different area this trip. I wanted to go to Darlene's to make sure we could be on time in the morning. We were going to take Darlene and Aiden to his first appointment with the pediatrician.
Naturally, we both wanted to see Aiden and the rest of the family as soon as possibe. So even though we had been in the car a good part of the day we went. Elsie, Michigan brings a whole new meaning to the middle of no-where. Don't get me wrong, this is a beautiful spot in America. Beautifully groomed farms with the new crops beginning another cycle. It's just way out there.
The next morning we were on time. I had a bad night and did not sleep well. While they went into the examing room, I had good intentions of taking a walk. Apprently, I fell asleep. I must have slept for about 40 minutes and when I opened my eyes and looked around, I asked the nurse if the Doctor was there. She assured me she was and that Grandpa could go back to sleep. I am glad that no one else was in the waiting room.
While we were Birch Run, Carol and I visited Frankenmuth and Bonner's. Bonner's may be the largest Christmas store in the world. More some other time. We walked around Frankenmuth one morning. One evening we drove up to Midland and visited Carol's grandaughter and great grandaughter.
It was here that we had the worse meal of the trip in Tony's Restaurant in Birch Run. Apparently it is a very popular place. The quanity was overwhelming, but the quality was definitely lacking.
We did have the opportunity to have dinner with my cousin from Utica. He drove up and met us at the hotel. I must admit that the Local Applebee's impressed me.
We were originally going to drop down through Ohio into Kentucky. Darlene suggested going down into Indiana. It was a good choice. We stayed in a Drury Inn, a pet friendly hotel that does not charge extra for the dog. This Drury Inn was located in Bowling Green, Kentucky
We arrived the next day at our Florida home in Panama City Beach. It was 88 degrees. From then on the highs were in the 90's everyday. We were originally going to stay for about a week, leaving after another grandaughters birthday. The weather in Rhode Island was cool (cold to Carol) and rainy. Todd agreed to cut my grass and we stayed for another week.
On our journey North we stayed two night with one of my oldest and dearest friend and his wife in Pembroke, Georgia. We were Navy buddies working the night shift on the flight deck of the U S S Saratoga. We stopped one more night on the road and were back in Rhode Island.
During that trip we saw three of Carol's children, 10 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. We were gone 25 days.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Tiny

Tiny is a five pound Chihuahua loaded with attitude. He is somewhere between 15 and 16 years of age. He was a rescue. My wife is a soft touch for Chihuahuas and has had many over the years. Tiny has been her "little guy" for about 14 years.

This morning Tiny knew that (in his mind) bad something was going to occur. You see, I took all his bedding out of his bed (crate) to be washed along with his favorite blanket. He likes to burrow into the blanket until it is like a cocoon with him buried inside it. Tiny has a fairly good vocabulary and when the B word (bath) was said he went and hid under the desk.





As you can see, Tiny is definitely not happy. He hates to be wet. He hates the rain. He has this down trodden look the whole time. He seems to know when he has the most lather, as that is the moment he chooses to shake soap suds all over us.


Ha! gotcha with the soap. No, he is not being choked. If his head stays still, he can't shake



If looks could kill, Carol and I would be dead. Even in his towel he is still irritated. He knows that the hair dryer is next followed by his ear drops and lastly another favorite, his breath spray.



The little prince is on his pillow. His coat looks shiny and healthy. It should, we use a medicated shampoo that comes from the vet's office. He is worth it. He provides Carol with unconditional love and he can be very amusing.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Panama City Beach

My wife and I bought a house in Panama City Beach three months ago. We had appointments in Rhoda Island and left early April. Carol's daughter in Elsie, Michigan had a baby boy May 26Th. On May 31st we set out for Elsie, well we stayed in Birch Run, Michigan 35 miles away. It was the closest pet friendly and acceptable motel for us. I decided we should go to our Florida home for a week or so. RI was having a cool rainy spring. We arrived here to mid 80 degree weather. Little did I know that would be one of the cooler days. Mostly it has been high 80's low 90's since then. Fortunately, our house is about 1/2 mile from the Gulf as the crow flies and about a mile via the two streets to park at the beach. So the breeze off the Gulf may not be real cool, it is refreshing and a brief respite from the heat.

Lately our daily routine has been up early and over to the beach by 8 AM. I swim for about 30 minutes I drip dry in the already hot sun while I watch the progress on the rebuild of the county pier. The prior one was destroyed by hurricanes. It is fascinating to watch the two cranes pass big buckets filled with concrete out to the outer part of the pier to be poured in the forms. On the way back to the house I drop Carol off at the complex pool. Even though she gets wet in the Gulf, She does not swim. She does not like getting her face splashed by the waves. I go much farther out than she does. She likes early at the pool . . . no children that early. Both of us were bothered in the Gulf this morning by little fish nipping at our bodies. They don't hurt, but are a bother.

The rest of our days are spent doing errands, trying to plan our evening meal. Evening meals are a real challenge. I am basically a meat and potato guy. Carol has decided to pretty much eliminate meat from her diet. She might have a small taste of chicken or fish.

Carol has a borrowed bike and tries to ride in the evening depending on the heat index. Last night she rode for about 30 minutes and upon arrival back announced when I buy a bike in September it is going to have a better seat. My butt is sore. I sat in a lawn chair and enjoyed what little breeze there was while she was riding. I am not doing as well as she with the heat.

We spend time on our respective laptops and have watched a number of movies on DVD as we do not have cable here yet. That will be another topic. For now, there were some good ones and a couple of real dogs. There is no end in sight for the 90's here. The locals refer to these temperatures as August weather.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Scenes from Palm Cove




Carol and I purchased a home in Palm Cove this past March. Palm Cove is a gated community, although I have never seen the gate lowered. I'm told that it is closed late evening. We are not a senior community. So there is a mixture of young and retired families and every thing in between.





Above is the entrance leading towards the gate. It is very pleasant and pleasing entrance to the community. In the distance is the gate house. There is a security guard at night. I have never seen him. Below is a better view of the gate house. At night it is lighted and the chandelier is very attractive.








The grounds are tastefully decorated and well manicured. Watering is done via three community wells and does not affect our already high water / sewer bill. Water is very dear here in Florida than it is in Rhode Island. The cost of electricity however, is lower so it may be a wash.





This is representative of the Palm trees located throughout the complex. This Palm is located on the corner of our street.






This Oleander shrub is across the street from our house.








I have no idea what this fern like thing that is just outside our front door. It is pretty and I hope to learn what it is.






This is our street here in Panama City Beach, Florida. As you can surmise, this last picture was taken on trash day. Trash is picked up twice a week.


Based on the short time that we have lived in the house, it is a very quiet neighborhood. Those neighbors that I have met seem friendly and nice. There are several transient young men and women on our street that are here on work visas. Based on their language I believe they are from former Soviet Bloc countries. They are quiet and shy. I have not been able to engage them in conversation. The most I can get is a soft "good morning" or a hello.

Finally the view as you leave.


Wednesday, June 10, 2009

214 Steps

Currituck Light




There are 214 steps to reach the walkway around the top of Currituck Lighthouse located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This light is the only unpainted brick light on the Outer Banks. The day that we arrived to view this light it was open for climbing. I had been here several times and this was the first time climbing was allowed. We were the last couple allowed to climb as the winds were gusting well over 40 knots. Surprisingly, the climb went very well. There are landings about every 12 feet. These allow climbers to pass those coming down. The stairwells are not very wide.




Once we arrived at the top, we were rewarded with an amazing view. The wind was awesome and a little bit un-nerving. When the gusts hit me, I needed to hold onto the railing to steady myself. Carol chose to stand in the doorway rather than step out into the wind. In one direction we could see the Atlantic Ocean slapping the beach with wind driven waves, another view was along the road towards Duck with all the homes. The view I liked best was of Currituck Sound and the Private club in the distance.




I have climbed several Lighthouse towers but Currituck Light is the highest one that I have climbed. We spent several days on the Outer Banks as we traveled North from our home in Florida to Rhode Island. We visited Bodie Island Light, Cape Hatteras Light and Oracoke Light. Those were not open for climbing.