Where did the time go?

It seems like it was only yesterday that I along with the vast majority of the Information Systems world were working long hours feverishly testing and retesting the program changes to accommodate the year 2000. For those who were oblivious to the problem, let me explain. I started my IS career in 1964 as a entry level programmer. Back then computer hardware was expensive and painfully limited in size and processing power. Programming techniques were honed to save space both in the processing memory and the storage available. The date fields were 6 positions packed. In the comparison depending on the requirements the year was compared and the next year was always a higher number. Even in the late 1960's it was known that when the year 2000 rolled around there would be issues. Many times we joked that we would retire in 1999. Besides, the year 2000, it was so far away.

That is the reason that 10 years ago I was working long hours. We had to complete all processing for the year 1999 and then set up the files for year 2000. We were in good shape, we had been reprogramming for the better part of 1999. I had taken all our files to a hot site in Philadelphia and loaded our system and files on their computer and completed a mandatory recovery to satisfy the auditors. Once that was accomplished I changed the date on the computer and processed as of 12/31/99 and continued processing for selected dates in January including the month end close for January 2000. Still harbingers fore casted that power grids would fail, along with other dire predictions. We geared up, the fuel tank for out emergency generator was topped off, backup mechanical systems were tested. We were ready.

The New years eve celebration for the new millennium promised to be a blockbuster around the world. The IS group were working. We monitored the New year arriving around the world. The power still worked in Australia. Our data centers in Europe continued to work as planned. The Canadian Maritime were OK, Our New Year came and we continued our testing. Every thing was going well. Needless to say we worked well into the early morning. We went for a few hours sleep and were back as folks drifted in from the various departments to do their testing. Over the next few months we encountered an occasional bump that was easily fixed.

So the biggest New Years celebration was observed by my wife home alone and I spent it with my colleagues in our Information Systems group. There are times that I wish I could have been home at midnight with my wife, Marie. At times I am somewhat bitter about missing that time with her.

This has been a decade of great change in my life. Seven grandchildren were born in this decade. My company went through change and I was retired a week after I turned 62 in 2003. My son went over my finances and it was determined that I need not work again unless I wanted too. Two weeks after retiring my wife discover a lump in her left breast. So began 10 months of surgery, chemo, and radiation. We had a little more that two good years before the cancer came back with a vengeance. we did use that time to good advantage traveling to the Rockies and national parks out west. We found out just before Christmas 2006. We kept the news to ourselves until after Christmas but the children knew something was wrong. Once again Chemo and after the first rotation cancer was worse. Eventually 6 different types of chemo were tried. Nothing slowed the advance and the chemo physically damaged her heart but not her determination. Her fight ended in August 2007.

We had been snow birds together for two years and I went to Florida alone later that year. My son urged me to place my profile on Yahoo which I did with little enthusiasm. I had a few first lunches and then quit the process. I did drive back to Rhode Island for Christmas to be with my children as best I could.

In January, I decided to send an "icebreaker" to a lady who was in the same city that I was staying in. The one thing I disliked was eating alone. I did not like it when I was required to travel on business. I was hoping to find someone who was a conversationalist to have lunch or dinner with. So I met Carol who made it quite clear that she wanted a friend for walking on the beach, an occasional lunch and nothing more. Well we became great friends exploring the Florida Panhandle. She had been in Florida over 35 years and yet, I took her to places she had never visited. I invited her to come to Rhode Island for a 4Th of July party. Apparently that made her nervous and she decided to end our dating. Our separation was short lived and she soon decided to come to Rhode Island for a week, then it was 3 weeks, then she decided to retire and come with me for the summer. We were married this past Valentine's day and we bought a home here on the Panhandle.

So in retrospect it was a decade of great change, great sorrow, and a new beginning with great happiness. Today at lunch we talked about our parents and how long they lived (my mom is 94 and going strong) and we each hope that we have at least two decades ahead of us together. I do know that time seems to be flying.

Ramblings from Panama City Beach

The weather has turned "chilly" by local standards. The sun is out but the temps only managed to climb into the high 50's today. I'm still in short sleeves and shorts. I will admit that the wind can bite the skin.

Carol and I are back riding our bikes. Riding into the wind today provided a good workout.

Gizmo - ahh Gizmo. A few weeks ago we came back home and found dark Hershey Kisses paper on the floor. Apparently Gizmo got up on the dining room table and ate some. We called the Vet and have been watching him closely. We figured we were out of danger when we discovered his morning deposit was bloody. We immediately called our Vet and we took him in this past Tuesday. Gizmo had colitis. We got him back today. He is on a strict diet and we need to watch him. It may not have been the chocolate. I may have caused the problem when I gave each dog a piece of cured ham. There will be no more table scraps. Even the doggy bone treats have to be a certain type. At least both dogs like the special dog food that that Gizmo must eat.

When we leave the house we must first Gizmo proof it. Bedroom doors are closed. Dining room chairs tilted towards the table. The breakfast bar stools are pushed in as far as possible. The butter dish, and any current fresh baked cookies are placed on top of the refrigerator. Laptops are folded shut. There are times when I think he is a mountain goat rather than a small Yorkie.

We renewed our yearly pass to the Florida State Parks. A bargain in my opinion. We regularly visit about five parks on the Panhandle and plan on seeing more this winter. We must go into St. Andrews State Park at least ten times a month.

We are starting to see more cars from Quebec, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. I even saw one from Maine today. We stopped at the Condos and visited with Jay and Dixie from Michigan who came down for December 1st.

The waitress at the Pickle Patch referred to me as a "local yokel". Carol assures me my Northern accent is intact y'all.

I need some gift cards and I will be done Christmas shopping. The Christmas cards are mailed!

Tonight is the HOA monthly meeting. This will be our second. I'm sure Palm Cove will continue on in spite of the group that is in charge. They are nice folks trying to do good. . . but you can't please everyone. It seems most people who are there have an agenda of their own. I have no agenda. I like my street, my neighbors and when I go to bed it is quiet here. My lawn is nicely groomed and the trash is picked up twice a week. Soon my house will be power washed. They are one street away this week.

As the crow flies, I am less than a half mile from the water. Yesterday we could hear the surf from our driveway. We went to watch the power of mother nature. With the dark stormy sky and the pounding water, just awesome.

The time is flying, I can't fathom that we have been here two and a half months already.

My son and his girls will be at Disney a week from tomorrow. I am planning a quick trip to see them for an afternoon. Carol will spend the time with her daughter.

I love all the palm trees that are decorated for Christmas and NO I will not miss snow.

Tilting at Windmills - Cable Company Woes

I have had a devil of a time this year with Cable providers. It began in early spring when I called Cox Communications in Rhode Island to reactivate my connection there. Cox is finally facing competition from another provider and has created bundled packages at a reduced price with a long term commitment. I did not want a long term commitment as I did not plan on staying in Rhode Island that long. I had to say I would cancel the entire package before I got my way. The phone rep had a hard time understanding why I would not buy in. You see, I would save $9.00 a month but the penalty was over $150.00 for an early out. I had been experiencing problems with the digital cable. I would get "tiling" gaps in the audio and occasionally the picture would disappear. I had many techs come to the house. At one point they rewired the house and then charged me for that service. I refused to pay because the problem was still there. I did cancel my land line as a form of protest. I was not going to change my Internet connection with only a couple of months left before I left for my winter home. A few days before I left, I saw the Cox truck up the street. I walked over and asked if he was fixing the aforementioned problems. He asked me how I knew. I told him that myself and my next door neighbor had the same problem. He then called his supervisor. I don't know if they fixed it.

Once in my new home in Florida, I arranged for Knology to connect me with digital cable and inter net. I opted for no land line as I found out how peaceful it can be without a land line. My choice was simple, I live in a private residential community with all utilities underground and Knology is the only choice save Direct TV a company that I have no use for. I have a DVR in both locations. Almost immediately I started having problems. There would be a loud noise and the screen would fill with snow and loud static. A few seconds later the picture and audio would return. Then we would experience the picture just freezing. I placed a call and the cable guy came out. The first thing he did was criticize the installer. He made several adjustments outside and pronounced the cable as it should be. I asked what caused my woes and he said it was normal and attributed the interruptions to either the U S Air Force flying overhead, or the position of the satellite. I was skeptical. Later that night the little interruptions returned and over the next several days it got so bad that it was unwatchable. I called, the phone person told me that the DVR box was bad and it should be changed. I was scheduled for 8 AM the next morning. Shortly after 8 AM the doorbell rang. I opened the door and the same cable guy tersely said, "it's fixed, its a problem in the center". I said the phone person wants the box changed. Nope it's fixed. I said I wanted a new box or I would cancel Knology. He said, "fine go get Comcast". Hmmm, we both know I can't do that. Once again the trouble started that day. I was able to tolerate it until it got so bad that I was almost ready to get a dish as several of my neighbors had done. I placed a service call and they said I would see the repairman later that day. The doorbell rang and it was a different man (horay). He asked what was going on and I related the history from day one. He said this is a new box never been in service before here. First he checked the signal and told me that was not the problem. He went to the truck came back with a black box and connected to the DVR. Hmmm, its a bad box. This cable guy changed the DVR box and it has been over a week now with no troubles. Imagine the aggravation on my part and the added cost to Knology that could have been averted if the first cable guy did his job right instead of blaming the Air Force jets. etc.

Cape San Blas Lighthouse

Driving East from St. Marks Lighthouse, the Cape San Blas Lighthouse is the fourth one along the Florida Panhandle. The lights at Cape San Blas have not survived without difficulty. The first two lights built were destroyed by storms. The third lighthouse was damaged by military forces during the war between the states but survived only to be toppled by beach erosion in 1882. Below is a picture of the shore area near the existing lighthouse.

In 1883 the light was replaced by a 98 foot skeletal lighthouse comprised of eight cast iron legs that support the watch room and lantern at the top of the tower. The tower initially stood 1500 feet from the shore and in 1894 a powerful storm left it damaged and standing in water. In 1918 it was moved a quarter of a mile inland to its current location. The light was lit in 1919. Today the light stands no more than 200 feet from the waters edge. The current keepers quarters were completed in 1905. One of the buildings was restored in 1999 by the Air Force for their use. The second visible above was restored in 2005 and is now used as a gift shop. The selection is minimal but it is worth a visit.

This is a beautiful location and although there is precious little beach left, it is worth the time to walk along the waters edge. The fallen tress and large pieces of driftwood demonstate the power of the sea.

Cape St. George Light

The Cape St. George Light is the third light as I continue East along the Florida Panhandle.

The first St. George lighthouse was built in 1833 at west Pass. It was rebuilt in1848 on Cape St. George. The hurricane in 1851 toppled that light. The third lighthouse was completed 1852. The light was eventually automated in 1949. The Coast Guard deactivated the light in 1994. Beach erosion at the site of the lighthouse continued to threaten the light until the structure collapsed on October 21, 2005.

Remnants of the fallen structure were salvaged and the St. George Lighthouse Association led the effort to rebuild the lighthouse. Volunteers cleaned the mortar off the more than 22,000 original bricks and assisted in the reconstruction. The tower is 75 feet high and is now located in the center of St. George Island. Reconstruction was completed in 2008. You can get to the island by taking Island Drive (SR 300) off US 98 in Eastpoint. The beauty of the expanse of water from the 4.2 mile bridge is breathtaking. It is well worth the time to drive west from the lighthouse to the St. George State Park. The dunes have been preserved in their natural state. Several walkways lead to the sandy beach.

We stopped for lunch in Apalachicola which is a quaint fishing village and tourist attraction. It is noted for the oysters. I had them on the half shell for lunch. Carol enjoyed a nice grilled grouper sandwich.

This was the first excursion with both dogs. They were good. Tiny slept most of the time and Gizmo needed to look out the window most of the time. We are pleased that Gizmo travels well.

GIZMO

There was a news item on the local news station that a woman had surrendered a number of Chihuahuas. So yesterday we went to the Bay County Animal Control Center. We went to see if we could get a short haired Chihuahua. There was one left but he apparently had bitten one of the inmates who are on work release. As we walked around the numerous cages we saw this very sad looking Yorkie. We saw several varieties of small dogs , yet we gravitated back to this Yorkie who would not move off his mat in the back of the cage. An animal officer walked by and we asked about him. She told us that he was not very social. I noted that he had not bitten anyone and could we hold him. She got him out and handed him to Carol and we held him. He was and is very thin. We found out that he is four years old and his original owner gave him up as she was moving. He had been in the shelter since October 27th. Yesterday was his 8th day. We borrowed a leash and took him for a walk. He seemed happy to be outside. When we returned I filled out an application. They tested him for heart worm which was negative. Then they gave him his shots and we got a free card to get him his rabies shot at a local vet. He had no hesitation and jumped right into the car. He seemed happy. We stopped at a Pet Supermarket and bought new collars and matching leashes for Gizmo and Tiny. New dishes and a crate for Gizmo. I took the above picture as soon as we got home and just before Carol gave him his welcome to us bath. That collar was trashed.

He is trained and likes to go out for walks. It appears that he has never had dry dog food. We soaked some dry food with home made chicken soup with a little chicken and small pieces of carrot. That he ate, but not the dry. Tiny seems thrilled to have a playmate and they are bonding and were sleeping on the same throw for a while. This morning he finally broke down and ate the food that was left in his dish. I think that us getting him to a better diet will take time. We did get him his rabies shot this morning.

We also drove back out to the shelter to return the leash. I asked the officer how long they keep the animals before they are put to sleep. She told me Gizmo was on the list for last night. It seems eight days is the magic number. Carol and I believe that Gizmo is social, but we think he was grieving at the loss of the only master that he had known. He is no longer shaking when we hold him and seems relaxed. He will sit on command and stay for a wee bit. We are gently breaking him of jumping on the furniture. He seems to know what "no" means and he jumps right down. We went to the market and when we returned he was so excited to see us.

During the time that we were in the shelter we were both surprised at how many dogs are being surrendered. Most say they are moving and can't keep the dog. We suspect that some of the folks we saw just cannot afford them any longer.

As the saying goes "Gizmo fell in S*%t and came out smelling like a rose. "

Crooked River Lighthouse

The Crooked River Lighthouse is a 103 foot skeletal tower with 138 steps from ground to the lantern room. It was built in 1895 to replace the Dog Island Lighthouse destroyed in a hurricane in 1873. The lighthouse was decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1995. My previous visit was several years ago and the paint had faded badly and the location lacked scenic appeal. I forewarned Carol that this light was going to be a sad sight. We were both pleasantly surprised to see that the light had been restored to its original colors and beauty. The Carrabelle Lighthouse Association along with assistance from the Florida Lighthouse Association and the Florida Communities Trust with an appropriation from the Florida Legislature made it possible to not only restore the Lighthouse but to also build a replica of the Light Keepers Home. The Lighthouse is located at 1975 Highway 98 West, approximately 2 miles west of downtown Carrabelle. There are historical markers on the highway, but it is very easy to go by the single lane dirt road leading into the area as I did. I needed to reverse direction and then enter the grounds.

Future plans are for a museum to be located in the Keepers House with lighthouse artifacts and period furniture. The ground include a covered picnic pavilion and playground equipment that includes a 70 foot replica of a pirate ship, the Carrabella.

As you can see, it is a very pleasant location and Carol and I were able to chat with the person who will be setting up the museum. She came out on the porch to tell us about future plans even though the building was closed on weekdays. A future visit is planned and perhaps this will be our fourth tower that we will climb together.

Florida's Forgotten Coast

I picked up a flier titled Florida's forgotten coast. It was developed with financial assistance from VISIT FLORIDA. It highlighted four lighthouses East of Panama City Beach. Carol and I set out to see these. The first lighthouse that I will write about is St. Marks Lighthouse located in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge encompassing 70,000 acres.





The original lighthouse was first constructed in 1829 and completed in 1831. It survived the Second Seminole Indian War in 1835. Erosion threatened the light and the original builder Winslow Lewis was commissioned to build a new tower on a safer location. In the 1860's the Civil War posed a new threat. The Confederates attempted to blow it up during their retreat in 1865 so that it could not be used as a lookout for the Union Forces. They did not destroy the tower but the damage was sufficient that a complete rebuild was necessary after the war. The tower was heightened to its present focal plane of 82 feet above sea level . The lighthouse was automated in 1960 and remains an active aid to navigation to this day. St. Marks Lighthouse is the Easternmost light on the Florida Panhandle.

This picture of the lighthouse was taken from the Gulf side along the waters edge. It was necessary to walk along an overgrown path between the gulf and a marsh. Sometimes alligators will sun themselves nearby. It is necessary to be aware of the surroundings.

When we stopped at the visitor center, we were delighted to find out that the St Marks was one of the routes that the Monarch Butterflies follow on their migration to Mexico.

As we walked along the path away from the lighthouse between the Gulf and the inland water, we literally saw thousands of the Monarch Butterflies. The picture below does not do justice to the beauty of the butterflies.

There were hundreds of small crabs scurrying along the sand near the waters edge. As I walked along the sand they would run in the opposite direction. I felt like a shepherd directing my flock.

Our visit to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge was worth the drive. It was a typical beautiful day on the Florida Panhandle. I have a Golden Eagle Passport while entitles me to free access to our National Parks. We went to see a lighthouse and got to see more wildlife that we did not expect.

Over the next several days I will write about the Lighthouses as we work our way westward on the Panhandle.

Mighty 8th Air Force Museum

Recently I made three trips between Rhode Island and Florida. During one of those trips I stopped in Pembroke, Georgia and spent a couple of days with my good Navy buddy from years ago. We decided to visit the Mighty 8TH Air Force Museum. We had visited there in 2004 when a group of VA 36 Navy guys gathered in the Savannah area. Volunteers are currently restoring a B-17 from WW II and we went to see the progress and once again tour the museum. Above is the entry way from the museum to the grounds.

Below is the B-17 that is being restored by volunteers. It was quite an airplane in its time. The crews had to be cramped inside with guns, ammunition, bombs and electronics. These fliers were truly part of the greatest generation. I don't believe I could have been in the ball turret beneath the plane.

This is chapel that was build on the grounds and is a replica of the chapel that was near one of the Air Bases in England. Many of the crews would visit the chapels before and after missions. We were told that it is a popular site for local weddings.

The furniture inside the chapel came from a small southern church that was being demolished. The stain glass windows were done by a local artisan. The picture does not do them justice.

There are numerous plaques dedicated to the many crews that flew missions during WW II. Some to the crews that survived and many who did not. I chose this one as it reflects the reality that so many of the crews experienced.

The museum is very visible from I 95 and is well worth the side trip and a few hours of time.

10 things I miss in Rhode Island, some I don't

1) My family - Mom, my children and grandchildren, Janine

2) Ev & John

3) My Rhode Island neighbors

4) Shore's Meat Market

5) Beaver Tail Lighthouse

6) My waterfall shower

7) Fall foliage

8) Back country roads

9) 4 Town Farm

10) Waterfire

Things I don't miss

1) Rhode Island politics-mainly the worthless state senators

2) Cox cable and their inability to fix the gaps in audio and video

3) Cold weather and eventually snow

4) Cutting grass

5) Route 95 north by Providence Place Mall - the worse spot between Maine and Jacksonville, FL

You never forget how

It is said that once you learn to ride a bike, you never forget. I arrived at the house in Panama City Beach last Tuesday, October 6Th. Before we left Rhode Island we determined that we would buy bikes. We went to a bike shop in town (Panama City) and started looking. Steve a retired Air Force veteran helped and started our education. I did not want a bike with more speeds that I had fingers. I wanted a fairly soft seat and not one of those narrow damn seats either. After looking at several brands I settled on a Fuji 7 speed that has a longer wheelbase than the other bikes. Steve explained that the pedals and therefore my feet would be ahead of my butt and create less strain on my knees. OK, I'll buy that. Then he said lets take it outside and test ride it. I explained that I did not want to embarrass myself by falling on my ass. He said once you learn how to ride you never forget. I was shaky at first but several times around and my confidence grew. The seat was adjusted and I was sure the mint color was for me. Carol rode several different brands. Carol and I wanted lunch and Steve said he would build a blue Fuji for me to see the other color choice. While we were at lunch I asked Carol which bike she was leaning towards. We agreed that it did not matter if we both got the same color as she also liked the mint. When we got back Carol rode the blue Fuji, and a maroon Raleigh, and one other. She finally settled on a blue Fuji.




Here they are in the driveway. Carol and I started early morning rides the following day. We have added distance and time each day. I can feel my legs gaining strength. I was concerned that my left knee would be a problem as it sometimes buckles when climbing stairs. It is the right knee that aches. The weather has been hot and very humid for this time of year. Even the natives are complaining. We have watched several great sunrises as we ride early morning,

Carol is coming down our street at the end of the morning ride. I asked her to circle the block while I got my camera. She then took my picture with my bike.

I am quite happy with my purchase. I will be hanging in there getting in better shape. There are a few bike trails, but not near our house. Unfortunately, my van cannot accommodate a rear mounted bike rack because of the wind deflector above the rear window. I would have to have a trailer hitch with an inch and a quarter opening installed by U haul and then buy the rack that would fit in the opening. We could put one on Carol's car far less expensively but we want to bring them back to Rhode Island in the spring. Time will tell.

Connor Sebastian

Connor was originally scheduled to make his grand appearance on September 28Th via C-section. Carol and I planned on driving down to our home in Panama City Beach on the 20Th to await his arrival. We were planning on driving Carol's convertible. We would have a week to set up the house before we went to Tallahassee for the birth. Carol would stay with her daughter to help out and I would find my way back to Rhode Island to close up the home there and drive my van down loaded with "needed stuff".

Connor had his own agenda and was born on September 18Th. We left for Florida the following day. The picture above was taken the 21st. We stopped to see the new grandson for a short visit before going to Panama City Beach for the night. The next day we drove back to Tallahassee and I picked up a rental car and we went to Connor's. Carol stayed and I went back to the house packed up and left on Wednesday morning. I stopped for two nights at my old Navy pal's home in Pembroke, GA before the drive to Rhode Island.

While I was home in RI, I managed to see all my children, grandchildren and my mother. I also went to lunch with my sister-in-law and her husband. While home I contacted several real estate agencies and received proposals about selling the house there. I made a decision to make the final decision by January so that the one I pick can list my house in early spring.

I began the last drive down the coast until next spring on Monday the 6Th. I split the 1447 mile drive over two days with 730 miles the first day and 717 the second. The first day is the most stressful crossing over the Hudson River in NYC. I opted for the Cross Bronx Expressway and the George Washington Bridge. It is the most direct way and the way I prefer. It was a bit congested but good for NYC . I do however avoid Washington DC and the beltway, choosing to drive down the Delmarva on route 13 over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel - my favorite bridge.

So Carol and I are situated in our home here. We have had a busy few days ordering some new furniture, arranging for cable and Internet and home delivery of the local newspaper. Our most interesting purchase was that we each bought 7 speed bicycles Wednesday. More on that subject to be continued.

Newport Mansions

I had promised Carol that we would tour at least one mansion before we leave for Florida. I had her research Newport Mansions on the internet and her first choice was Kingscote because of the architecture. She loves all the gingerbread and turrets on a house. So yesterday we set off to Newport. We went over the Jamestown and Newport bridges. It gave me an opportunity to test out the new Fastlane transponder recently acquired from Massachusetts. Our first stop was Carol's choice - Kingscote. At the visitor center, the man behind the desk sold me on buying a group ticket for 5 mansions. There is no end date. Inside photography is prohibited. There was another couple from Key West, FL on the tour. One of them took the picture below. Carol and I have Key West on out bucket list and I asked for advice about best time to go, etc. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable but soft spoken. We enjoyed the tour took several pictures of the grounds and as it was too early for lunch and because we had more tickets we went off to Marble House.


Marble House was definitely more crowded. On arrival at the main entrance, we were given a headset and a unit for a self guided tour. Really neat. The interior decorations of Marble House are a tribute to unrestrained wealth. We took a little more than an hour to complete the tour. The pace on the tape player was perfect for us. Naturally the tour ended at the gift shop. I purchased some postcards and Carol added to her magnet collection. On the way out there was a poster touting lunch in the Chinese Tea House located on the grounds.

We were ready for lunch and decided to give it a try. The menu consisted of several ready made cold sandwiches and one salad choice. We each picked a sandwich and a drink along with a bag of chips. All the doors were open and a nice sea breeze wafted throughout the building. We sat at a small table. We were both thirsty, hungry, and a little bit tired.

After lunch we strolled on the grounds snapping some pictures. The white building in the distance is part of Salve Regina College.

We called it a day went back to the car and headed home. I took a different route home from Newport. Carol and I will return one more time before we leave Rhode Island. However, it will be after Labor Day when the tourists leave.

Hurricane Bill

This morning (8/22) Carol and I decided to drive down to the coast. Hurricane Bill is moving along a North by Northeast course along the Atlantic coast of the United states. The local Rhode Island weather forecasters have predicted heavier than normal surf conditions. This is to be the only affect of hurricane Bill for us. Our first destination was Point Judith which is also the location of the Point Judith Lighthouse located on the grounds of the Point Judith Coast Guard Station. This light remains an active aid to navigation. The grounds are open to the public for walking and viewing the light and the sea.



This area is a very popular spot for the local surfers even during normal conditions. As early as we were, we were happy to find a parking spot on the narrow median strip. All the lots were full. Conditions were overcast and patchy fog. Not especially great for photography. This is just a small sample of the number of surfers that were there this morning. As we drove off there were a number of cars, trucks, and SUV's heading in with surf boards tied to the vehicles.

We drove along the coast through Narragansett to our next destination, the Southern most point on Conanicut Island. The Beavertail Lighthouse is located on this point at the entrance of Narragansett Bay. If you look at an aerial map of this area you will see that this jut of land is shaped like a beavertail. This is a popular area for local fisherman to spent some peaceful hours hoping to catch supper. This light is still an active aid to Navigation.

Because of the rocky shoreline. there is no swimming or surfing. There is just no safe way to enter the water or to get out.

Ther were a considerable number of folks here this morning. In addition to those who came for the surf action, there were several families visiting the marine exhibit where some touching is allowed. There is also a Beavertail Lighthouse museum and gift shop avilable during the summer months.

This lady sat there for the longest time. Ocassionally the salt spray would fly over her.

Carol and I enjoyed our time watching the waves, taking pictures, enjoying the salt air and ocean breezes. We were back to North Providence in time to have a late breakfast (lunch) at a favorite restaurant.

4Town Farm

4Townfarm is located in Seekonk, Massachusetts which takes us about 20 minutes to drive to. My son introduced me to this farm years ago. Their produce is picked daily. Carol and I are big fans of the farm. We started cooking the beet greens just like we cooked the farm fresh spinach. Immediately we liked it as well as the spinach. Often the gal at the register would give us extra beet greens as some customers do not want them and request that the greens be cut off. Carol has done beets boiled and more recently pickled at my request. I will never be able to eat jar pickled beets again. Hers are so good.

Depending on the growing cycle, customers are allowed to pick their own. Today raspberries and flowers were available. This coming Saturday blueberries will be available for picking. Below is a picture of the raspberries and below that a view of the flowers.

We have tried a number of new (to us) vegetables. This was the first place that I ever saw yellow carrots. Added to the coleslaw mix of regular carrots, green and red cabbage, they add a certain sweetness to the coleslaw. It is a pleasant dish as I like coleslaw and I have yet to find a restaurant in the Northeast that does a decent coleslaw. Below is a picture of a Patti Pan squash. I slice the squash into half inch slices, a little olive oil, salt and fresh ground pepper and grill the slices until slightly soft. It has a unique taste and is a welcome change to the zucchini and yellow squash that I do on the grill. I also will grill asparagus that has been briefly marinated in olive oil and crushed garlic in oil.

I am waiting for the yellow watermelon to be ready. Another week or two. I first discovered this a couple of summers ago. It is very different looking from the red watermelon. It is sweet and juicy and very pleasant to eat. Of course we always buy the different varieties of lettuce, rare ripe onions, cucumbers, peppers, radishes and ears of corn for Carol. These fresh vegetables are a pleasant summer addition to our diet.

I believe that the 4 towns are Seekonk and Swansea in Massachusetts and Barrington and East Providence in Rhode Island.

10 things I miss about Panama city Beach, Florida

1. Swimming in the Gulf every morning

2. Publix Markets - So much better than Stop & Shop

3. Indian River Valencia orange juice

4.St. Andrews State Park

5. The Pickle Patch Restaurant

6. Being able to buy beer in the Supermarket

7.Sunsets over the Gulf

8. Thomas's donuts - best ever

9. WHJG TV Their newscasters are so much better than the RI stations

10. Apalachacola raw oysters

Trigger Finger

I have had several trigger fingers. The medical term is digital tenovagintis stenosans. Basically it is caused when the sheath surrounding the tendon of a finger or thumb becomes restricted. The most logical explanation of why it is called trigger finger is that when the bent finger is straighten it makes a "popping" sound. The first time it was the pinkie finger on my right hand. This was several years ago. The doctor first tried injecting the affected area with a corticosteroid that is generally effective in over half of the patients. It did not work and I had the surgery. It is done under local anesthetic and is a relatively quick procedure. The incision is usually made in the crease of the hand. Healing is sometimes slowed by the opening and closing of the hand. Since then both thumbs have been repaired by surgery. In both instances I skipped the injection and went right to surgery. My middle finger on my left hand is now affected. I have been ignoring the pain and aggravation since early spring. My life has been too busy to deal with it. This past week I finally went to see the surgeon. he remembered that the shot did not do well the first time. I told him that unlike previous times when I was mentally prepared for the surgery, that I was having a hard time gearing up for it. I said I would like the injection. He told me to lay down on the table as "it hurts like a bastard". He had the same shot himself. I hope the 30 seconds of agony will give me several months of pain relief. The finger is moving freely and I am relatively pain free. However the palm of my hand where the injection was administered is very tender. I am icing the area as instructed. I hope I can avoid surgery until next summer. Today is day five since the injection. Hoping for the best.

Cape Cod Canal

Construction of the Cape Cod Canal began in June 1909. The idea was discussed by Washington in the late 18Th century. At 480 feet wide and 32 feet deep, it is the widest sea level canal in the world. It is a free waterway. The canal is spanned by a railroad bridge and two highway bridges. The Bourne and the Sagamore. Below is a picture of the Sagamore Bridge in the distance and a view of the canal. My first grandchild was born when my daughter lived on the Cape. I can remember a 20 mile backup one summer Sunday afternoon when I was trying to get off Cape. The Canal was to facilitate commercial and pleasure boats trips towards the Ports in New York and beyond. The Cape juts well out into the Atlantic and there are dangerous shoals off the Cape Cod coast.



There is a magnificent walking / bicycle path on either side of the canal. I wanted to show Carol the Cape Cod Canal and on the way we picked up my daughter Jill and her daughters, Lil the oldest and Sylvie the youngest. I am happy to report that Jill moved off Cape several years ago.
As you can imagine there was a nice breeze which help to ease the muggy heat.

The Canal is used by pleasure boats and commercial traffic. We saw many sailboats and several ocean going yachts. The boat below was flying an Australian Flag.

The barge was being pushed by a tug. They were preceded and followed by Pilot boats. The barge lay well into the water and it was pushing water. The picture does not do justice to the amount of water that was being displaced.

We walked along the canal for some distance and then retraced our steps back to where the van was parked. They all sat on a bench overlooking the canal. I asked them if they would all look at me and give me their best smile. So much for that! However this is probably a more accurate picture of everyone doing their own thing.

We stopped and had a nice lunch somewhere near Buzzards Bay and then went back to Jill's home. Carol had expressed interest in Jill's spinning of lamb's wool. Jill showed us how her spinning wheel worked and then showed Carol how to do the spinning using a hand spinner.

It was a very nice way to spent a summer day and to show my Florida gal more of New England.

Sunsets - Panama City Beach, Florida

No words - just sunsets from the balcony last winter.