New Year's Eve

My good Quebec neighbors are like most Canadians- not self conscious about their bodies which is a very healthy thing. Little Jolie is still in heat and my dogs enjoy playing with her-no harm done and she is quite frisky. That is their little tiny camper directly behind them. It gets the job done and is quite ingenious in design-tows light too. It has been fun to watch them blossom in the sunshine. They will become regulars.

After paying $5.00 for a bag of Doritos this morning I got ticked off at Publix and drove up to El
Presidente market and found my new shopping home. Great prices, great variety- real food, not corporate (though it is a pretty big corporation) and the patrons and clerks are fun-a real store for real people. Oranges 10 cents apiece, limes 8 for a buck, fresh chicken livers, rice, peas, lentils, all less than a buck a pound. It's a pretty good drive but there are other stores in the area too. - I will just shift north for my weekly shop. The Deli was a revelation: Bought some ribs, polenta, and yuca- all of which I really liked.

I called early and made my apologies to the kids. They had invited me on a party hopping venture tonight but I was feeling draggy and heavy-retaining water. Yesterday was a draggy day too. My shoes are looser already but I didn't feel like I needed to be drinking and driving and being on my feet tonight. At home with the doggies and getting good phone calls.

The Last Wahoo!

A day of minutiae: Got my tanks emptied-about two days later than optimal. Paid next month's rent. Hauled my trash and recycleables. Took a few pictures. The Bougainvillea at the Director's house are blooming wildly. Visited with the photog neighbors-she has written a book on the artistic side of photo manipulation. They also took pictures today. Learned the Save the Turtle lady and the Indian and their red-headed daughter will be moving in directly in back of me- that is good news for us both. They are sweet-tempered. Ang(Angelo) one of my neighbors from last year stopped by (all the way from Palm Beach) simply to say "hello." They BOUGHT a place in Palm Beach and will spend winters here after having such a good time last year. Unfortunately, I was just finishing cooking dinner and had little time to visit. On the bright side, the Wahoo is gone-marinated in lime juice and grilled the Cayman Islands way, and accompanied by green salad with tomatoes and avocado, fried potatoes confetti (glad to see the last of that particular red pepper too). Hopefully the fishing will be lousy between now and the 2nd. Played with my doggies, and sat companionably with them in the early dark. My screen house makes the occupants nearly invisible and a dowager matron passed by on the way to the bathhouse and cut a rip-snorter-not a girly fart at all. A veritable triple thunder-blast. I was amused.

New Neighbors

The park is filling up. Three new neighbors in the past two days. One couple, from Georgia, has a huge fifth wheel camper. Watching them backing in I said to myself-"no thanks." They are nice people. He is taciturn, she practically acts everything out. She speaks fluent French, though American born, and I used her for a translator with Marcel whose English improved suddenly. We share an interest in photography and computer graphics. He was a professional photographer. Possibly I can learn to take better pictures. Ron, the neighbor in the back has been here in the past. He has a profoundly disabled son.

I'm starting to feel stalked by Tim. He leaves early to go fish so that is fine. After he returns, he and Milo are in my front yard with another recap of "How I caught the fish." The only thing that changes is the kind and size of fish. I can feel my eyeballs rolling back as the stories drone on. I had fresh (two days ago) Wahoo to cook and was looking forward to getting rid of it but he pooped round about letting me know so it will have to wait until tomorrow. I am not a "steady diet" person in very many things.

Evidently I was running a sleep deficit because I did barely make it to the bed for a good nap. It got right toasty in the middle of this day so we all had a siesta under the air conditioning.

Living in the Park

I was up early and took pictures of the birds by the new and improved mini-lake. The birds are pretty tame. They seem to co-exist as families-click to enlarge to see seagulls, a snakebird, an egret and pelicans.

Honey and Buster play nicely with the French-Canadian girl. I helped her dad install a new air-conditioner in/on their very compact camper. This was a homemade arrangement and he was proud of the result. He hauled an old air conditioner from Quebec and it kept popping the breakers. He found a newer more efficient one. He is a bouncy guy-enthusiastic and his wife is placid to the point of seeming depressed. She must have had a little fire sometime because she has a butterfly tattoo that spans the cleavage of her ample bosom. She is pleasant enough. Their toy poodle is "in season." They have chastity pants for her at the ready. Buster had some memories stoked but he was a gentleman.

Honey, it must be said, is doing pretty well. This has been a growing together time for us and she is mostly good. She has settled down a lot and is usually appropriate with other dogs. Still very shy of strange humans.

I cleaned house and washed dishes- It was either wash the forks and knives or serve something that required spoons only. But Greg saved the day. He fixed Penne Pasta Marinara with sweet Italian sauasage and meatballs, garlic bread and ice-cream sandwiches. They are approaching laughing about the contretemps of yesterday. Tim and I strolled over and back afterwards. We sat in my open air patio area for awhile enjoying the Christmas lights, the light breeze and mild temperature. He says he is having his best vacation ever. He caught a dolphin today but gave it away. (ThankyewJesus!) Nice day.

Tim Calls It a Wahoo, I call It Dinner

This taken at noon today, ended up in our tummies at 6:00 p.m. Fresh Wahoo, which is a flavorful fish with a texture more like meat than fish. What with Tim's plate and fused spine he had to have help landing it but the experience was exhilarating for him. He was grinning. Greg and Lew were invited for dinner but only Greg showed up. Lew is trying to quit smoking the old-fashioned way. Greg had a huge fight with the campground management over a "dog at large" ticket. He said he was leaving the campground yakety, yakety, and since Lew comes to visit his very aged parents he was upset. Lew decided some peace and quiet would be more nourishing than fresh Wahoo. Greg did take him some Ghirardelli Chocolate I hauled out for dessert. Call me at 2:00 for dinner at 6:00, merits no more than a sweet morsel for an ending. Wahoo Almondine with red bell pepper garni; Baby greens and hearts of romaine salad with mandarin oranges, topped with Raspberry/walnut vinaigrette; and jasmine rice with butter was the best I could do on such short notice. Part of me is enjoying cooking again, part of me is counting the days before Tim vamooses to the other coast and goes back to work.

I did buy Lew a Chanukah present- a tower of stars at Hoffmann's Chocolate factory partly because it seems fair to honor other traditions and partly because I had never bought anyone a Chanukah present before. He pronounces the ch -it is kind of like clearing your throat. Greg says has has to resist offering the rabbi a tissue with all the "ch's." Made me laugh.

They will work it out. I do not believe their relationship has a sexual dimension- though it makes no difference to me and I don't spend a lot of time imagining ANY of my friend's bedroom antics (nano-seconds before the heebie jeebies set in), but as friend Delores says, cohabitating is the hardest thing you will ever do.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Yesterday, Christmas Day, was spent arranging a replacement for Jason's Christmas present which would boot then die. Amazon thought if it had that much life it was not dead on arrival. Tech Support at Acer said it was DOA and a "well-placed call" to Amazon would be in order.
Problem solved. A replacement will be sent when it arrives. I did not even have to launch into my"Did my credit card work? Your product did not"...spiel. Otherwise, I turned on the all Christmas music FM station and held court in the screenhouse dispensing a few beers and good will to men, took a nap, ate a little soup and reflected on my good fortune. Gratitude. I enjoyed my Christmas lights. I enjoyed the day.

Subtle hints have been flying: the park employees saying things like" Did you get your brandy soaked fruitcake from the Rosenbergs?" in earshot of the patrons. So I did my Boxing Day shopping today. Dispensing will take a few shifts.

Lori's mom is in town for a Christmas visit for a few days. I told her I would be scarce, short visit deserves full attention.

Tim called: He caught a 40 pound Wahoo. Wahoo steaks are on their way. We will see who gathers to enjoy. I need to search the Internet for Wahoo recipes.

Christmas Eve in Deerfield Beach

You can click on the slideshow to go to larger web album pictures.

I was starting to feel better by Tuesday afternoon and Tim invited me for barbecued chicken- I bought an old dead chicken and he made it something special. The boy knows his way around a grill. He made a delicious melange of potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and asparagus to steam on the grill and we were in tall cotton for an evening. He had taken Milo to the vet in the morning so he was less alcohol infused and even the conversation was good. I headed for bed shortly after dinner and Christmas Eve day broke very early and fine, if windy. Greg and Lew came over and we four sat in the screenhouse and were highly amusing to each other to judge from the laughter. Life's absurdities and our very own absurdities made us laugh. Greg was celebrating being 5 days without cigarettes and is seemingly doing fine on Chantix stop-smoking drug. I am intrigued. Our dogs get along pretty well, too. Honey and Pupper are really good together-they played nice.

I got it together to shower and drive us to Deerfield where the doggies played before we went to the neighbor's for the feast and festivities. It was raining all the way and the service stations were closing in front of my very eyes but I finally did top off the gas tank on the way down. It was only "misting" in Deerfield but we ended up back here at John Prince in a gully washer. Deerfield got it this morning.

It was nice to have a nice party and enjoy somebody else's annoying relatives. Number one, you may never see them again. Number two, kinda makes you grateful for your god-given annoying relatives.

Bum Day

They can't all be good. Monday sucked. It has turned cold and windy. Of course that is relative. The rest of the nation is enjoying blizzards. We are enjoying jackets and windbreakers. I went about my business feeling more and more put upon. Mean without provocation, tired in spite of sleep. By 9:30 p.m. it was obvious a bug was working on me. Took my antibiotics, an Aleve and escaped reality. A big cramp woke me up about 3:30 a.m. and I am apparently up for the day. I have that "had a fever feeling." My mineral tablets tried to reverse themslves on me this morning. The soup I made yesterday is untouched and available. Rest and recuperation Tuesday.

Busy Sunday

This is an A-Liner camper with screenhouse down by the lake. A-Liners fold flat and are very easy to tow. Very well designed. This was taken on Honey's long walk this morning in the cool of the day.

I needed Mountain Dew for me and hamburger for the dogs. I also wanted to try the local Dollar Tree store when it might not be so busy. It wasn't very busy but the humanity in there broke my heart. Elderly ladies putting on a good front in Sunday best doing their Christmas shopping; some pretty obvious mental cases; an alkie buying some necessities; ethnic types making their meager holiday and a few cheapskates like me. I went to the next door Winn-Dixie-very nice supermarket for the burger. They had whole pigs for 99 cents per pound. An ethnic thing. On the way up Dixie, I saw Walgreen's had already marked down their Christmas lights so I stopped in on my way down and got several strings at $1.99 per hundred lights. But they got me on some other stuff. I walked out of there with a digital TV. I had been shopping Wally World and the best price I had found was $229.00 for a 13 inch screen. Walgreen's had one with a 10 inch screen marked down from $189 to $119. It is featherlight, LCD, operable on 12 volts. I am watching it now and it is a very good picture and sound TV. Just the ticket for me. It can go with. If I want the big screen effect I just get really, really, close.

Gave myself my "summer cut"- the hair and beard are shorn short. Still ugly.

I had hauled a Christmas toy back and forth twice and finally installed it on my picnic table with a sign that says "Clairvoyant Santa//Make your Christmas Wish/ Squeeze his finger for your answer." Of course it farts when you squeeze his finger.

I was invited to Deerfield for dinner and scooted. Jason had gone to the Fresh/Organic Market and had bought small roasts of beef Filet, sweet and white potatoes, and asparagus which he prepared to a "T." Rainier Cherries and Jarlsberg Cheese and crackers for snacks. Angel Food cake and fresh strawberries and blackberries for dessert. The cousin dogs had a ball chasing and playing. The canal was busy with returning boats because the day had become perfect. We dined by the pool and watched boats and dogs and chatted. A great evening. They/we, have an embarassment of holiday invitations so we tried to make a plan. Good reasons to attend all of them.

Two thousand lights on the kid's Christmas tree. Their live birds are freaking out about the lifelike birds in the Christmas tree.

Dis n' Dat

Just living today. Little bit of housework, little bit of playing with the dogs. Took healthy doses of minerals and they seem to be helping. When you take a diuretic I think you can get low without knowing. I started to get new backyard neighbors (from Quebec) in a big coach. I could tell they were going to be trouble-they hit the ground mad. They moved to another site and I got some better ones (from Quebec) in a tiny old camper. Their camper was so dirty I wanted to wash it. Luckily he decided to do that very thing and my stuff was handy so we did it. Looks pretty good. His wife was shell-shocked-no English, strange setting. She was pissy and he was sweet with her. They are newbies. He was a vo-tech teacher for 32 years and has little English but a great attitude and positive outlook. I think they will be fun. They have a toy poodle. Buster made friends. Tim was present when they pulled in and the meet and greet gave me a graceful way to cut short the visit with him. I needed a Tim break. A little too much drinking and cooking involved for a steady diet. Publix deli cooked tonight. I needed dog food and the deli was handy.

Watching PBS tonight. I needed this laidback day.

Whassup Dewed?

The cold front has struck: it will get down to 61 degrees tonight. The grass is soaked because it is dewing out. It was a beautiful warm day and a lot of moisture was in the air just waiting to be wrung out by a cold front.

Lake Osborne is a pretty big urban lake. The RV park abuts it in places. There is a two week maximum on lakeside sites.

I spent the day fighting off sleep, dealing with charlie horses in legs, hands and jaw (ouch!). Dr. Internet was consulted because it seems to be something other than potassium unless I am throwing that stuff off faster than most. Low calcium could be a culprit. I take a calcium magnesium zinc supplelement but I only take 2/3rds the recommended dose because I figure I am getting some in my grub. Perhaps not. Took a double dose and the numbness in my hand seems less, shoulders less painful. I'll try that course for a day or two.

Cook's Night Off: Tim cooked ribs on his grill tonight and did a superb job. He packed some fresh asparagus and fresh mushrooms in a sealed foil pouch and they turned out excellent. He had been sipping the tequila while he cooked so he told me about the other dishes he had intended to cook while we ate the ones he did cook. We had "bag salad" (his term) to go with and it seemed like a great plenty of stuff to eat. The ribs were falling off the bone moist and tender and seasoned so well that barbecue sauce was not really an improvement. I did cook liver for the hounds so it was not a complete day off but a welcome respite and no clean-up!

Start Slow, Finish Slow

The intent was just to enjoy the day, finish a few Christmas purchases and veg out on a fair and sunny day. My shoulders have been sore for a couple of weeks and my left hand is numb on the outside and practically useless-weak. May be carpal something . NSAIDs and rest seemed reasonable. I am scaled way back on the gift giving save for immediate family. Money is tight and no obligations are gifts in themselves. Lori gave me some suggestions since I asked and I did those. They are quite generous to me and I am clueless in shopping for the well-off.

Tim wandered by with a sack full of Dolphin (Mahi, mahi- not Flipper). I invited Greg and Lew for dinner but they declined-they had steaks in the fridge but might stop by for dessert. I went to the big Publix in Lantana and K-Mart. I couldn't face WalMart even for the savings. I found everything I needed at good prices. The ritzy Publix is often cheaper than my little neighborhood one. I got a nifty small rice cooker/steamer for $10.00 at KMart. I had hit the Internet for Mahi recipes and needed a few ingredients.

I impressed Tim with Mahi cooked two ways: traditional with toasted pecans, and with Cajun/maple syrup glaze and glazed onions.. Both were very good. I served my marinated mushroom salad, jasmine rice, grilled hearts of romaine drizzled with olive oil, Chicago rolls, and store bought brownies. I blew the top off my little grill lighting it. That was impressive too. Tim was raving about the meal but he was also nearly paralytic with his meds and alcohol. I shan't get a big head about my culinary skills until I hear the same review in the glare of morning sunshine.
Greg called pleading an upset stomach so they did not come to share dessert. I listened to my iPod on my boombox, in the dark screenhouse, which was a very pleasant thing to do.

It's a Dog's Life

Post-lesson critique. Honey and Juneau had their lessons. It was a bit brutal for Honey as she got the first taste of the electronic collar on the "correction" setting. But it was effective and fast and Eddie got all the credit for being the a-hole. After she caught on, it went amazingly well and I really do feel hopeful. As quickly as she learned, I think the "vibrate" setting will be about all that is necessary in short order. She does come when called most of the time and with the collar for backup for awhile she is not going A.W.O.L. Our school daze are over unless something comes up. Juneau continues learning the fancy stuff.

Lori and I went to a little bistro she knows about in a toney plaza. She sips her cappucino. We were next to some Italian men-speaking Italian. As usual, we had a little memory to make. The plaza had constructed a stage which made it necessary for us to direct others and each other as we backed out of the parking area.

My meal was billed as a "roast sirloin of angus beef" That is how you charge 11 dollars for a roast beef sandwich. But it was a great sandwich in a nice place. The local clairvoyant was setting up to do readings as we left. I passed. Lori is fun and I always enjoy her company.

Much earlier in the day: My latest WiFi cleeyant (Quebec for client) brought me a pint of pure Maple Syrup as a thank-you. "We have a small sugar house." A very nice man and gracious too. Greg and Lew stopped by walking their dogs. I "Old Englished" all my oak cabinets. There are a lot of them. This coach, though dated, is very luxurious.

I received the email version of my blogger friends Christmas letter. They raised the bar. I'd better get busy.

I also got my Cretaceous Oil dividend check-up 25%. Those days are over. My take on the $50 billion Ponzi scheme: Bernie Madoff with with Shylock's Ripoffs while the SEC Jerkoffs were asleep at the switch. Precious little talk about privatizing Social Security these days. I'm totally unmotivated because I was smart enough to see the "market" for what it was: a crap game run by crooked dealers, but I keep wondering when somebody is going to walk up to one of the mega-crooks and put a bullet in their head. Down here, the heirloom jewelry is hitting the pawn shops, condos are being marketed where there is no market, the Mercedes are being auctioned. Formerly wealthy parents are moving in with their kids. I still don't get why they are reluctant to help manufacturers and so willing to bailout bankers. Two trillion dollars "loaned" and Treasury Secretary Paulson says we can't even know who got it.

Rainy Day

On and off rain-not hard, all day long. Warm enough. It was the blessedly peaceful day I had been looking for: concentrating on inner space, the RV is getting ship-shape. The vacuum ran, the dust cloth unlimbered. Some stacks disappeared, some stacks merely got moved. The Italian Wedding Soup became Evolution soup. Greg came over in a panic. His computer died while he was transferring his photographs to DVD. I walked Honey over to his campsite to play with Pupper while I worked on his computer. It was a ten minute job. A new WiFi client came over and I got him online.

I know Amazon really keeps track of its customers. Jason had looked for a certain item for Matt. We had talked it over and Lori and Jason would get one part of this gift, and I would get the other for the Oregon family. Jason called Sunday from the airport and said Amazon was out. I said I had checked the day before and they had 178 "new and used." So I checked again and I guess as an Amazon "frequent flier," I got lucky on their item. I signed up for a phone text message for the out of stock item. That ship came in today. It is done. Wrapped presents will arrive in Oregon tomorrow and the next day. Got 'er dun! On time for Christmas.

I have new next door neighbors. Quap, they are from Quebec. She is quite chunky. She thought she got an ant bite and he went right to work putting cream on her unreachable feet. Their patio area looks right into my kitchen/computing area. I think I will invest in some window film to temporaily darken my already dark window. I'd hate for them to discover me with a finger up my nose or some other social error. On the other hand I don't want to miss a thing.

The park is is starting to get more residents.

Bad Boy, Bad Boy, Whatcha going to do."

Sunday afternoon the area was crawling with deputies. Eventually the young man in the brown Buick was packed up and escorted off the grounds. I was washing my rig and missed parts. Tim said he heard a woman shouting the "B" word. Joe said he saw a young woman running by his rig and saying she called the cops to say they were no longer needed. A cruiser cut right across Scout Hill in pursuit of same girl. Hour long palavering. Shirt donned, Buick left with Cruiser 5 feet from the back bumper. Much quieter in the long term tent camping area.

Fun with the Quebecois. A couple in a Rialta-bigger than a van not as big as a Class C camper, were freaking out because their camper wasn't level. The plastic blocks didn't satisfy. They decided to dig holes for the back tires. I loaned them my shovel telling them if they got in trouble they didn't know where the shovel came from. The man dug some neat little holes. The camper was level. Joe said he watched with great amusement: they got stuck in their own holes. She was shooting shell rock thirty feet trying to drive out. They got caught and borrowed the shovel again to fill in the holes.

Jan and Bob drove Patsy to the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Patsy was dressed for travel with her passport, money and ticket in a lavalier wallet.

Lew and Greg emerged from seclusion and brought their dogs by Monday afternoon. Pupper and Honey really hit it off playing. Pupper eventually got amorous which amused the four men and five large dogs, as Tim and Milo had joined us. I had a pot of soup on. Tim had four fat red snapper fillets caught fresh. I made a dash to the store for potatoes and go-withs. We had soup and hard rolls with butter, Snapper cooked to our own specification on my Weber grill, banapple salad (very good), baked potatoes, and fresh cut fruit with cream cheese dipping sauce. We sat in the dark smoking, drinking and B.S.'ing until 8:00 p.m. Tim is nice but not too deep. He tells kind of boring stories from his life and like Chris Farley doing interviews on SNL , ends them by muttering sotto voce, "that was cool." I heard how the mighty hunter caught our supper about four times. I was having a hard time being appropriately responsive because my mind was way elsewhere. Greg is going fishing with Tim on Wednesday. Spontaneous, tasty, fun, new friends, dining outdoors with our dogs on December 15: life is good.

Foundered!

Tim and Milo are best buddies. Their portrait from yesterday. I took Tim his dinner this morning. He came over for a visit this afternoon and said he enjoyed his breakfast if you can call medallions of pork loin, pork stuffing, baked potato and applesauce, breakfast. Milo and Honey are becoming friends- Buster is continually alarmed by Milo.

The Goldcoasters Santa with kids and treats from last night. A pretty elaborate performance. Goldcoasters appear to have mostly $250,000.00 coaches. They take a monthly trip to a gathering place usually for a weekend because as one told me some have to work or have working wives. They seem to enjoy each other's company and hold each other and themselves in high regard.

The Flynns put together a Christmas Feast for Harold, Julie and me tonight. Stuffed Cornish Game Hens, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable medley, cranberry sauce, cole slaw, home canned Chow and beets. We started outside with a few beers. Rain chased us in. We had Blue Nun wine with dinner, and aperitifs with dessert cakes. I nearly foundered and know I was spilling sugar but I enjoyed it ever so much. Good conversation, good humor, easy hospitality, interesting stories.. All this put together only with the aid of bicycles, mind you and preparations for separate departures to New Brunswick over the next couple of days. As they recounted their busy itineraries in Canada, I thought they are going to have to come back to John Prince Park to rest up afterwards.
Joe and Patsy's kids have done a makeover on their house and Harold and Julie have a family celebration in a different town nearly every day. The rain let up and we made a break for home-me to my Metformin for some mediation of the sugar. Self abuse of the elderly kind- a terrific food glut. I'm smiling. Cooked for the dogs to cure the stink-eye I was getting.

What a Day This has Been, What a Rare Mood I'm in..

It was a challenge getting to the Green Market today. The Lake Worth Christmas Parade had the bridge closed down. But I was on a mission. My return to the market was greeted with dancing girls. A lovely sight they were. When I requested my favorite chocolate cherry bread the lady said it would never return and the baker and their $25,000.00 were likely gone forever, too. I had to settle for a new brand of soap for Lori, also. I have a line on where the Naked Lady Soap can be found (unlike the baker) I bought some gew-gaws and produce- apple/bananas?-I'll let you know. I had to drive north to Palm Beach to cross the water and on my way back I saw Patsy peddling her bike way up Dixie. I had met her when I was leaving the park. She was rollerblading then. Here she is below getting ready to tow her kayak to the lake to boat with Doc Rosenberg. It wears me out to watch her.

Carny people are bad, bad, people. Earlier in the day Tim had complimented my Christmas decorations as I planted flowers and strung more lights. I told him the lights weren't the only thing lit up when that process was taking place. That gave him leave to bring me a mug of something quite delicious of his own invention. Tequila was mentioned once or twice in the ingredients. The hours between 4:00 and 7:30 p.m. are hazy. I know I started dinner and he didn't last until it was done cooking. I took a passable portrait of Tim and Milo. I took some pictures of the Goldcoaster's Santa giving gifts to the needy. I fed the dogs, I ate dinner. Tim is not very forthcoming- I deduced and asked him and he confirmed that he ran away from home at age 12 and joined the carnival and has been doing it ever since until age 52. I would not be surprised if he had spent some time in the slammer. There is just an an air about him I have seen before in my prison work. If he brings any more of that potion around here again...I am going to have to buy him a bottle of Tequila. Dinner at Flynn's tomorrow. The "season" has started.

Decorating in the Dark

Grey, overcast, after a rainy day yesterday so we went shopping to PetSmart for chains-Honey ate through another leash in a matter of minutes this morning. And she has already eaten through the nylon handle of the chain leash I got this morning.
PetSmart makes me smile because pets are welcome and people do bring them. The variety of things available also makes me smile. I did a little Christmas shopping for Juneau and Milo as well as my pups. Walmart was next door and I picked up some cleaning supplies, and drinking water and shopped for a sound system having cleared dances with the management. The former volunteers are threatening a work stoppage because their perks went away. They can sulk if they want to- I came to have fun. That said - the equipment I wanted is not in stock. There is still time.

I visited with Tim for awhile-he did an interview for a spot job today. I gave Milo his present and we shared our pupcorn treats with him. Patsy came by to invite me to Vespers and I took some wine Lori had pressed on me- only a glass gone from a $38.00 dollar bottle of Riesling. Patsy and I declared it very good and we polished it off. She and Marilyn are easy to visit with. Hal and Joe came in about six. Joe can be a stitch- a charming Irishman-and they can be really charming. He makes me laugh.

I was feeling no pain when I got home and decided that decorating for Christmas was best done in the dark. A visit to Home Depot for bedding plants this afternoon yielded some great petunias and some cheap Christmas ornaments. I have a nice island of mulch with three palm trees in my yard. I had conceived a scheme while completely sober. It included a lighted deer. The Home Depot ones were $70.00 which I deemed a bit steep. I decided to try Big Lots and scored one marked down to $16.00. Assembling it in the dark was the only real challenge of the evening. My efforts produced a cheerful if less than meticulous product. I am surrounded by anal-retentives so I think my free-spirited display is really good for the neighborhood. I will re-assess in the morning but I am inclined to let it be.

Holy Mackerel

The really strong hot winds have been replaced by a steady downpour. The land is dry, the rain is welcome- the lightning is not. Until the rains came we got several practice walks in with Honey, got three "clients" going on the WiFi network, visited with several neighbors and worked at settling in. I ordered 1 inch contact points for Honey's collar. In another instance of the joys of Wyoming living, my Fedex man called and said I had a package. I asked him to sign for it and take it to Janet. It is the update to my electronic version of the New Yorker since day 1.

Tim, my workmen's comp "carny" friend brought me a beautiful half of a mackerel he had caught today. He likes to catch them, not eat them- well, guess what, I like to eat them. I dredged the fillets and cooked them in olive oil after frying two thinly sliced potatoes. Delicious eating. Can't get much fresher than that. Buster likes fish, Honey does not.

Per my medical tests, and now hearsay dieting success by my older brother who has reportedly lost 60 pounds (? must have said 16) following the Prevention Magazine "belly fat diet," I am using mono unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) as much as possible. Olive oil, avocadoes, nuts, etc., are examples of rich MUFA's.
Painless substitutions if you ask me. They should improve my good cholesterol even if the pounds don't melt away like magic.

Honey Goes to School

I don't suppose I will get much sympathy from the Wyomingites when I say that it is 10:00 p.m. and I am running the air conditioner. Hot winds, occasional squalls wetting down the parched grass: one squall came through Deerfield and passed before I could finish saying "Oh Shit!"

We met Eddie the dog trainer and he was very helpful but the electronic collar is only useful to Honey on vibrate. Her fur is too thick and she needs special electronic prongs. That is not a real problem because she needs work before that will be effective. She has a new "pinch collar" and the vibrating collar. We had a good long lesson. She will come with vibration and pinch collar on a 33 foot lead which is very hopeful. She worked pretty well and I learned a lot too. We will work on our lessons and meet again on next Wednesday. Meanwhile she is to be leashed at all times whether I am on the other end of it or not.

Jason came home for part of Juneau's lesson. Juneau can do some fairly advanced stuff. We ate Mexican takeout which was excellent and generous and loaded up to come home. We had a big detour because Boca Raton, a highly Jewish area, was having their Christmas Parade. Jesus presents a "monetization" opportunity for all without regard to religion, race or creed. Monetization is the term the Governor of Illinois uses for "shakedown." What is it about Illinois? The former Republican Governor is in the slammer for 6 plus years for monetizing. The current Democratic Governor deserves the same if the allegations are true.

I started the day feeling like hell but gradually got better. Took a long hot shower, robed it to my house, and took the requisite 20 minutes to put on the torture socks. I got a few things done-not much.

Pooped out

The WiFi station is operational, the flyers are out.

Honey slipped out again, terrorized a guy heading to the showers and took off for the lake. I took off after her, then returned for the van. She was having a ball and I was not. She would jump into the sludgy shore and run in the lake, hide in the bushes, and dance away whenever I got close. Campers tried to help me. The Park Ranger tried to help me. I got a workout. She finally started to follow the Van. Buster gave her hell. She made it home and I caught and leashed her and started for the store which I had strted to do when she ran away. A ride in a warm van with a wet stinky dog was no picnic. Any reluctance about the electronic collar was erased. It is charging as I write this. I hope it works and I get trained tomorrow. Frankly if I had it on her today she would have been dancing.

I got a lot done around here today. Working off the anger.

A neighbor,Tim, and his black German Shepherd, Milo came looking for Honey to play. I bought him a Corona- a first for him. He had mentioned he had a plate in his back. Turns out he is a Carny and got injured breaking down a ride. He had interesting information on the Carnival business and South Florida scams and scandals. That was fun. Honey tried all her tricks trying to get Milo to play but he was halfhearted.

I am very tired tonight. Early to bed and one more good day should do it on getting ship shape. Tomorrow will have an interruption for Honey training in Deerfield.

A Rustic in Metroland

Lori sweetly offered me their Electronic Collar as it was the last one at the BassProShop and clued me in that there might be one at Gander Mountain. I called and since the recession hit, customer service has i-m-p-r-o-v-e-d in South Florida. Larry said he would have 4 at the archery department for me to inspect. It was more of a trip up I-95 than I expected but I found the store and what a store it is! Cabela's Plus. Having met with success and with collar in hand I took the Federal Highway home. A lot more stop-and-go driving but I had never been this far north so I enjoyed the sights from ghetto to yacht club. I had not eaten and was fading about lunch time so I stopped for a $12.00 omelet. At IHOP! Criminetly.

The campground WiFi is still in the "someday" stage and my notoriety from last year's Internet Station is still alive-people are knocking and the RV isn't rocking. I use up nearly all my Verizon capacity so I inquired about a Sprint Aircard over the phone. As I had heard, you can put it on hiatus when you are not using it-so I plunged. "Anthony" had never met anybody from Wyoming and he got the giggles when I told him my email address-my name at wyoming.com. The Sprint card is blazing fast the beggars can use the Verizon account. A WiFi Hotspot will be operational tomorrow.

Lori bought a "package" from the Eddie the dog trainer and she gave me an hour and half session on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. How very generous and hope-giving. Honey was pretty good today and because I didn't buy a chain tether, I repaired the old tether and coated it liberally with hot sauce. I only left her for a minute but I heard her lapping water right away. The E-collar will benefit Buster too because every time I correct Honey with a sharp "no." he heads for the couch. Not fair to the well-behaved dog.

Puttery Sunday

It is the territorial thing: Honey was a snot to passersby, two ladies who got my mail by accident, Greg, and a bicyclist-she went after him and went head over teakettle when she came to the end of her tether. Then she quickly chewed through the tether and was off. Would not come when called. I called Jason because he told me they were going to Camping World to pick out an electronic collar for Juneau as recommended by their trainer. I hate to do this but one dog bite and I am looking for a new place to stay and she is looking at euthanasia. This particular model has two settings (at least) one is a vibrator, the other shocks the dog. After a shock or two the vibrator is usually enough to produce compliance. When not on her territory, she is completely compliant. It is like having two completely different dogs.

As a result of her behavior we were stuck inside until the Scouts packed up and left around noon. It is going to be a long winter, if I can't get this stuff nipped in the bud. I will definitely get a chain tether tomorrow.

As a result of an email I scooted down to Boynton to Casual Male-"outlandish prices for outlandish bodies." Twenty percent off until store closing today. I got some pocket T's , a pair of shorts, and a robe. As close as I am to the bath house the robe will save me packing a change. Changing there almost always results in wet cuffs, and a damp bottom from sitting on the benches in clean undies to tug the socks on. I don't see too many men in robes but the ladies almost all head there in "wrappers," or "house dresses " or whatever you call them.

Puttered and nested-progress is discernible only to me.

Surprise!

Now it can be revealed, as the British news sites say: Lori threw a 39th SURPRISE birthday party for Jason. We had quite the little conspiracy going including the quiet little dinner party last night. Jason called after I got home tonight and I could tell he was very pleased and pumped about it. The food was fabulous-no real meal but the canapes were outstanding and a new taste appeared about every 10 minutes all afternoon, very filling: sushi, steak on skewers, tuna on fried plantain,pizza, miniature cheeseburgers, chicken roll-ups, miniature hot dogs, etc., etc. All to a background of steel-drum island music-Day-O, Day-O.

The people were so nice and diverse-every hue and ethnic background and every other measure of diversity was present. Every social class, every whatever. Life is so much more interesting-people have things to say and learn.

Click on the slideshow to go to the web album for larger pictures.

An Energizing Variety

We live in a high crime neighborhood. Raccoons had plundered the dog biscuits and marauding birds were boldly entering the screen house to help themselves also. Steps have been taken.

About 10:00 the early bird arrived in the invasion of 400 cub scouts, with parents. He insisted on playing his religious radio station at full blast so I gave him a taste of sin music from the iPod. The scouts have packed the park and it sounds like they are having a really good time at 11:00 p.m.


Patsy came over to invite me for vespers- her husband Joe's birthday is today and a slew of them headed for TooJays. Honey escaped the RV and led me on another chase and annoyed another camper during the party. A lady with a dachshund and treat finally lured her and I grabbed her leg (Honey's, not the lady's), removed my belt and led her home.

Lori had some stuff to do in Deerfield so I got my birthday boy all to myself. He had wanted to go to the Macaroni Grille which we found shuttered and the building for lease. That was a shocker-there was always a waiting line at that place. Carrabas served admirably as a substitute but it looked like their menu selection had shrunk. It was delightful to see the lad. Dining outside on a patio on December 5, is a decided treat.

At Patsy's we started asking about folks who are usually here by now. Fully 20 couples have been hit so hard by the recession, they can't travel. Ken, a social committee stalwart, had to go back to work.

After dinner, since I was in the neighborhood, I made a WalMart run. Publix groceries are good quality but very high An occasional run to Wally world is in order. Prices are very similar to my Wyoming Walmart. I don't understand why groceries are so high down here.

I got the wifi network set up and secure. Hopefully it will reach Patsy's. I gave her the codes. Cleaned and stowed and pitched.

No Pictures

I need to get cracking on the picture taking but unless you have a unhealthy interest in junk drawers and dust bunnies, nesting, and zen and the art of furniture arrangement, there is not much to see. I have too much stuff! All cameras are accounted for- the Oly Uzi was hiding in plain sight.

The whole area is a beehive of activity. Twenty new shell rock base campsites have gone in directly across from me. They are all dry camping sites to accommodate a group that comes annually and will hopefully be vacant most of the rest of the winter-Haitians laying sod, park people with water trucks and "steam" rollers.

New Brunswick friends Harold and Julie paid a visit- the private campground up on 10th Avenue is not working out and they can't get in here now. Their group is thinking of moving up to Hobe Sound. I'm glad I didn't jump on that "opportunity" last spring. I have a GREAT site this year.

WXEL is having their pledge drive and I donated and got the David Foster music CD. I didn't know him from Adam but he produced some great music over the years. I belong to PBS in Wyoming and here. I should also get the coupon book which is useful.

The fuzz face kids were good today. Honey has found here "spots" right here in the yard and is all systems go. Oh what a relief it is.

I inaugurated my nice gift towels this evening-the showers here are great. There was supposed to be a birthday dinner for Jason tonight but he got his usual after flying headache and sleep is what gets him beyond it. We'll do it another time when he can enjoy it.

My computer seems to have dumped all my emails from August 27 to December 2., 2008. If I owe you, please forgive me and re-send the important ones.

Honey has an Adventure

I stupidly stepped out to do some work in the screenhouse, turned my back on Honey and turned around and she was trotting toward the lake. John the campground (all dogs must be leashed!) manager said "She's taking a walk!" She was on a trot, I was on a fast waddle. We played hide and seek in the bushes-I tried to trap her and she was off again. I finally figured out I was no agility match for her and had reached the "If the dog catcher gets her-he can keep her," stage. But I did go unload the bike, grabbed a leash and set out. A Palm Beach Sheriff's car drove by with amber lights flashing and the deputy grinned and said "I see the leash- I think that one is yours." Honey was scooting for the RV. She had found half of a used rawhide chew and was so proud of herself. She knew she was in trouble and headed right in. As she was home I could apply no consequence but I was hot. She tried the same trick later and I grabbed her by the tail and gave it a good yank-she yelped I was glad.

On a positive note, her leash work is improving by leaps and bounds with two long walks every day. We saw Al and Snickers and stopped to see Ted and his wife. He is my very first John Prince friend- 80 something and still gardening like crazy. Greg stopped by to bring me a candy bar after he slaved all day sealing "Pops" driveway down in Boynton. A sweet surprise.

Things are moving apace with the settling-in aside from a distraction or two. Grocery shopped today and was greeted warmly by my Indian (Hindu-type) friends at the liquor store where I buy cigs and lottery tickets. Refrigerators are working and if it is December Coastal RV needs to come repair the leak under my sink. I am about 100 feet from the bathhouse though so no big whoop until Mike can make it.

Settling In

The RV is sited, the awning is out and two walls of the screenhouse are up. Lots of work big and small done and to do. The day started with Lori off to Pilates. Honey and Juneau chased each other and burned off a lot of energy which was good. My doggies spent a lot of time in the van while I hurried to get things out of the RV so we could get in. Honey de-stuffed her pillow. I feel lucky at that.

I imposed on Greg to haul me back to the storage yard to pick up the Van. He waas clear down in Boynton when I called. So I took him to dinner at the Grumpy Grouper. He was a little on the lonesome side- Lew is on a cruise with his very aged parents and 14 family members. Greg opted to let the blood relatives have their time-though he is treated as one of family. It was great to have a visit with him-it is good to see him.

The heaters are on-it is a little chilly. The lows here are still higher than the highs at home. They raised the lot rent so I will use the juice I need with a clear conscience The park is still looking empty but Lisa said the long-term stays are filled. They approved a longer stay. My site is blocked until May 6 but I doubt I will stay that long.

The buzzard has landed

I spent the evening with my lovely Lori. Jason had to fly to New York and will be back tomorrow. The novelty of my trip had worn off about Birmingham, Alabama and today was all work. But we made it in one piece and scouted the propane place and looked at our site. It should do admirably. More sites are goiing in across the street and that does not thrill me but I can live with it. I visited with Pat Flynn and Marilyn from New Brunswick-their hubbies were off doing something golf related. Nice visit and nice to see some friendly faces. The park is nowhere near full from appearances.

Lori and I played with the dogs and yakked. She fed me my favorite seasonal food-leftover
Thanksgiving dinner. And we yakked some more. She is a peach.

Tomorrow we take turns with the dogs while she goes to Pilates and I retrieve the coach and set up camp.

Florida! Exit 192-I-10

I reached this Flying J at 12:32 a.m. last night/this morning, walked the doggies, fed them, and dozed in the car. It is 6:20 a.m. Monday morning and I will repeat the routine before we hit the road. Right now I am subject to the ministrations of the world's most cheerful waitress- beinging "sweetie pied" out of a fat tip. This will likely be my last Flying J post-I am in solidly red Verizon Wireless country and will need the wifi service no longer. God Willing, I should pull into Deerfield this evening right on time. When he called last night Jason said that they had heavy rain yesterday. And don't let anybody tell you Wyoming has the worst winds- Alabama is no slouch in the wind department. I have had light rain and attendant weather since Kansas City and finally drove out of it in Dothan, Georgia- home of the INTERNATIONAL Peanut Festival.