Jeanne's Memento

Jeanne sent the collage of part of the Sunset Cruise which I am posting almost a week after the event because it is good and this day turned cold and rainy after a promising start. No pictures of my own. My walks with Honey are also social events for us both. Rene bought some big milkbones for her. She tends to take them politely and then carry them home. We stopped to see Roger and Sandy to see how they were faring in Joe and Pat's RV. Sandy wants an RV and a dog of her own. I would say the experiment worked. Roger is more circumspect. I visited too long. Honey buried her Milkbone under a palm tree. A coon will find it tonight. Harley left the campground but Honey found an American Eskimo dog to play with. He too lives in isolation, in Kentucky, and needs socialization. Honey was great with him but he was funny. He kept pawing the ground like a bull.

I have been having swelly legs and am hitting the diuretics and staying flat on my back for a nap in aid of getting them back down, I have been walking and riding the bike daily. Probably need to watch the salt more carefully-starting tomorrow. Tony is fixing a rack of lamb (yum) and pasta with pesto (yuk) to bring over.

Chowderheads

I'll try this again-the original post went to Internet Limbo. Andre catches the fish, cooks the fish and serves the fish. A delicious chowder and "fishburgers" that will render any future McDonald's fish sandwiches inedible.

Everybody brought a little something good. I was grinning: Six years ago I never could have imagined myself sitting around with the Quebecois debating whether Canada was according Quebec its due in the Olympics.

That was our last truly fine evening. It rained on and off all day yesterday and cool winds today.

Tony just walked by with his three Jack Russell Terriers in camouflage coats! Jaysus! He is going to be a hit or get hit in Gillette, WY. After his third visitation yesterday I told him I was busy. I was: hiding meds and making sure they go into the appropriate dog requires paying attention. Buster is doing pretty well. Honey got two walks yessterdaaay and played with Harley, a big German Shepherd. She is game even though he was bigger.

Bid bon voyage to Pat and Joe for their month visit in Bathurst. Roger and Sandy will enjoy their RV for the month. Roger taught with Joe and Pat but is now a member of Canadian Parliament. Very witty and personable.

The young Latours are home.

Sunday, Funday

I had offered Jeanne and family a sunset cruise. Her son and his wife were visiting. I shopped all the way to Deerfield, picking up steaks at Costco, etc.,etc. and arrived about 2:00 to build a salad and otherwise get ready. Steve and Mariela, former and soon to be current neighbors of the kids drove their new party barge up from Fort Lauderdale on its maiden voyage. The electricity had gone out. They had their three dogs with them, we had three. Tahoe and Juneau are old friends. They tied up to the seawall and soon there was a circus of dogs. Jason got his multitester and fixed Steve's boat! I was impressed and so was Steve. They tried to load their dogs, two were on and one romped away so the other two jumped off too. Jason said give them some more time and they will be ready. So we did that and Steve got in the hot pool.

Our guests arrived. I had put a battery in the charger for the Sony and forgot to put it in. So I used three cameras and didn't take many cruise pictures. We broke out sailing hats. Cathy's pirate hat was eliciting thumbs up and "aarghs" from passing boaters.We had plenty of wine and I think I can safely say a fun time was had by all.

We had a great meal: Jason cooked on his grill and microwave: Ribeyes, asparagus, fingerling potatoes, salad, bread with dipping sauce, and more wine- key lime pie for dessert. The table exerted its magic influence and we were gabbing until 10:00.

While we were cruising somebody got into the pantry and helped herself to the liver treats. So I was not entirely surprised Honey joined me on the bed at 5:00 a.m. We had a nice lovey but I knew my sleep was going to be short. And it threw me off for a whole day. Monday included a two hour nap and accompanying loginess. Took my bike to loan the Latours and they couldn't stop gushing about the sunset cruise evening.

A few pix by clicking:

Sunday, Funday

Blue Skies

The weather has taken a turn for the better and spirits rise. Both doggies are feeling better and have walks. It works well to walk Honey first, then do a slow short walk with Buster. Honey is getting a dividend and is not so inclined to strain at the leash and Buster feels included.

The head "volunteer" stopped by to apologize about Louise's impromptu concert and ask me to DJ a dance on the final Potluck March 8. That was satisfying if unnecessary. The neighbors will be returning today-Tony included....

I will be away most of today. Sunset cruise for the Latours. Need to shop and stop on the way to Deerfield. Honey needs a playdate. She was crazy to play today on the morning bike run and it turned out to be not much fun for me.

No Escape

Jeanne's good work: Her Potluck Collage and embellished Veteran's Picture from Monday's event. I was too busy to snap anything. Click on them to see better.

There is no escaping Tony. He is 150 miles away but through the magic of the cellular system, I lost 20 minutes I'll never get back last night but somehow missed tonight's call. He was having a great time and had to tell me he got flirted with and was spending money like he had it. I had lived through his cancer and prostate operation story at least three times so I asked him if he was still functional. Down here men discuss their prostate surgeons like women discuss their plastic surgeons. Better living through chemistry, apparently. One lady had too big a personality and big boobs, the other was too "country" sharing her airstream with three German Shepherds and southwest decor. Like I give a rat's ass. Just find somebody else to pester, Tony.

I had a brainstorm yesterday. I have a little flat screen TV that I bought for a song last season. I took it to Terese and Rene who have a keen interest in the Olympics. They were tickled pink. The sit in their VW camper and watch on these chilly evenings. WXEL said this was the coldest winter in 29 years, the fifth coldest since record keeping began in 1887. Still, there is nothing to shovel or skid on but it is a piece of history I could live without. We did have about 6 beautiful hours today. I did RV maintenance and "re-camped."

Buster wanted a walk today so he got one. Honey got a longer one. It was not enough but we have a new crop of dogs in the park so she played with a huge English Sheepdog- Clyde, from North Carolina and a big mixed breed from Canada. They played hard. Honey is insatiable. She will play all day and the cool weather agrees with her. She is getting more socialized with both dogs and humans. Several people have stolen a pat.

The "terrorists" next door continue to perplex. One person leaves in the van for days at a time. Now both bicycles are gone and the van is too. The van is crammed so the bikes did not leave that way. I am sure I saw four people emerge the first day but have only seen two since.

Breaking a Record

It has been 32 years since I have gone to a movie. I got so angry to the point of offering to step outside with noisy patrons during Superman that I swore off movies. Terese and Rene invited me to go to see Avatar with them and I accepted. The theater experience was pleasant. Ten dollar tickets seemed to keep the riff-raff out. $6.75 for popcorn seemed a little stiff but it was nearly a lifetime supply. 3-D has come of age. The visuals were amazing and 3-D is the only compelling reason to see this movie. The storyline and plot were very derivative: a little Western, a little Billy Budd, a little Green Mansions, a little Star Wars. It was too long by at least an hour-Cameron shot all this visual feast and couldn't seem to decide what to cut. But the genie is out of the bottle. I'll go again at an upscale, non babysitting theater.

Still coolish down here-this has folks seeking indoor activities. Upside: Honey has not "blown her coat," the refrigerator is keeping up. Better weather is coming. This is the Mantra of an entire nation.

I put the audio equipment away. It all fits in a big plastic storage bin. My neighbors had to fly home for a funeral so I am keeping an eye on their place. Moe is flying home to babysit for two weeks. Robert is relishing a "vacation." He is quiet to her noisy but has a dry wit. Patsy and Joe will go home for a month on the 25th and some friends will come down here to use their RV during that time.

Thwarted

The potluck was great-180 people and our logistic improvements meant people were served faster and the food was great and plentiful. Bob helped me set up the music equipment. He is one of those people who is just competent at everything. I asked him if his wife, Ruth, would be "Celebrity Tambourine Player." "Are you on drugs?" he asked. The dinner music was great- people liked it. The P.A. system was better if not the best. But Louise arrived prepared to play for thirty minutes or an hour after dinner. Turns out she had just inserted herself in the program. This was not new behavior and had eyes rolling. She had people leaving until the crowd dwindled. So there was no dance.

The Veteran's ceremony was more touching than I anticipated. I had downloaded the "Star Spangled Banner" and "O Canada" to play. Doug Altman had written two prayers and a bilingual woman did them in French. Doug is not a vet but he is a member of a Harley group called the Guardians who make sure Veteran's burials are not disturbed by the likes of the Westboro Baptist Church. Yesterday afternoon they all attended a funeral of a homeless vet for whom the American Legion paid to have a service.

We had a gorgeous day and a mild evening yesterday. The cool is back today.

Valentine's Day

My sweet kids invited the old man down to Deerfield for a Valentine's eve prime loin dinner with dutch potatoes and squash, sourdough bread with three dipping sauces, a nice bottle of Cabernet, and warm company. Jason apologized for not having a dessert but they had given me a box of Godiva chocolates so coffee and chocolates hit the spot. Their neighbor Marcia came over so we wined and chocolated her. She was processing a lot and needed to talk. Their neighbor, Lew, earlier this week, finished a call from Bank of America about a late mortgage payment, sent his wife to the grocery store, went to the bathroom with his 12 gauge shotgun and ended his relationship with the bank. He was a nice man. I had met him at two parties at the kids.

Sunday, Tony packed up and went to a week-long meeting of Airstreamers near Tampa.

A beautiful sight! Tony's Airstream rounding the bend on the way out. But I got a call an hour later-he was convoying with an 80 year old couple and was having a hard time keeping up. "Everyone wants to go to heaven but some people are in a hurry to get there," said Tony.

The sound equipment was unpacked for a trial run before I set it up for the potluck tonight. It has been chilly and I was in a sleep deficit-I crashed-in a blue funk, and my bones were on fire. The "popped knee" gives me no trouble during the day but hurts like blazes when I sleep. Sleep and Aleve provided some relief and I feel pretty good today.

Buster had a bad couple of days -lots of coughing. I think he had a good night. Honey is edgy. I am careful to exercise her because it makes life better for her and for us.

Miss Pineapple

Miss Pineapple wears the shades most of the day. She came with the workman who put nitrogen in Tony's tires. it costs $10.00 per tire for this service. Nitrogen is supposed to prolong the life of tires and keep them evenly inflated. Somehow I missed out on this tidbit and have never put nitrogen in my tires. Tony takes off for Tampa tomorrow. It will be a blissful week. He brought me another half of a smoked chicken tonight. This after Linguini with Pesto Sauce last night that was so medicinal tasting I could not eat but a few bites. He has his kind side but it keeps the door open to his constant presence in the tent-house. He looked like Ahab the A-rab when the chicken came. We had a violent thunderstorm that knocked the electricity out. I was the first to report it. It took awhile to fix it. I had enough battery to stay up but not knowing when the juice would return, I gave up on watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics and went to bed. Then I got up again when the lights came on and was right on time for the thrilling first minutes and satisfactory march of the athletes. I like the positive and joyous feel of the Olympics.

Honey exposed herself as a performer. I left the dogs tethered for 30 minutes while I went to hang a sign. Bill and Sandy noticed she did not bark at a single dog or person in the whole time. She was mighty glad to see me when I returned but they think the fierceness is a show for me. (I think she is just protective of me because she loves me so very much.) Who knows what goes on her pretty head.

The Canadians seem to be covering themselves with glory in the opening show. I am going to close and watch.

Sunrise

Buster came to join me in the bed very early. He was in distress. I thought, "Here we go." He wanted out. He disappeared in a flash. Then I saw him across the street. He had the drizzlies. I won't keep you in suspense. He seems fine tonight. Wanted to go on a walk for the first time in a long time so we did a "Buster walk." Honey gave me an "Is this all?" look but she had both a morning walk and an afternoon run with the bike. The tuned up bike is running schmoooth. The saddle is comfier and non-absorbent. On the trek to get the bike I got the propane bottle filled and took a new route down to Boynton. We passed by Aberdeen-the golf course seen on a lot of TV sports presentations.

Given the early hour, I snapped a few Sunrise pictures. The bottom one is my view across the park. The top one is our campsite. The middle one is the best damn guard dog in captivity.

I was invited to Andre H's house for fresh bass fillets. I took a great salad, Francoise's wife cooked a rice dish. Nicole made a potato/sweet/potato/carrot/onion melange. A nice Chardonnay to start, coffee and chocolate almonds to finish. Andre bought an accordion just before he came down. He has the magnaminous smile of a musician down-the fingering is coming along. He is going to be serenading the north country around the campfire before long. We sang "Happy Birthday" to Francoise, who was 77 yesterday -not a pill goes in his skinny body. His wife is perfectly bi-lingual, seems perpetually amused and easy to get along with. She takes pills.

The wind destroyed Andre's tent so he got a new one and I have to say I am impressed with it. It turned breezy and cooled right off tonight and we were just fine.

Tony was over for morning coffee-he brings it, and for a Regis College graduate, I have to admit he can can cram more effing eff words in a sentence than a Wyoming roustabout. His same old stories are becoming more detailed. The pictures are becoming clearer. After the episode with the Colombian Internet Bride and divorce, he said his son came up to him, shook his hand and said, "Congratulations, you are the dumbest man I know." Tony presents well but the wife who bore his children is now married to an ex-con. As such, he cannot hold a Florida state license for anything so his wife is ostensibly a foreign and exotic car mechanic while hubby number three does the mechanicking. I am starting to feel Tony is toxic-my first impression was right.

Slow Day

I had the slows today. Spent two hours fixing a three dollar flashlight and 30 minutes not fixing a three dollar solar yard light. Tony was busy so I had most of the day to myself. He had his carpets steam cleaned and the Sears repairman failed to show to fix his microwave. He did come over to complain about that. He likes to do laundry, cook, and iron but thinks he needs a cleaning lady for his 32 foot Airstream. He is still coming to terms with coming down in the world though there are many who would like to be in his shoes. He will be going to Tampa for an Airstream gathering for a week. Yay! He says the group is comprised of geriatric cheapskates. Sounds like a blast.

I went to the Social Committee meeting this morning. They would like a little background music at the President's Day potluck. I will do that. Little does he know it will turn into a DANCE. I broke out some of the equipment today.

Before that, Honey had a great walk. She has playmates all over the park. Pumpkin and Lily and Lola. It was not very far but she got a ton of exercise. Buster too, had the slows. I am afraid he is fading. He is getting lots of loveys. Those are a good idea even if he rallies. Honey looks forward to her morning rub. Bonding time. She is so independent.

Visited with Bill and Sandy and Moe. They are all kind of fun. The women are v-e-r-y chatty and animated. Bill and Robert are mostly amused and tease them about it.

I called the kids. Lori's email said Juneau was sick. They had already had him to the Vet. Dogs are eating the dead iguanas, getting botulism and paralysis sets in. Supportive therapy can get healthy ones through it but a lot of dogs have died. The vet said she didn't think that was his problem and he is eating today.

Velo's called. My bike is ready. I will fetch it in the morning and I bet it will go a hundred miles an hour now. I picked out a new saddle. The old one had a split in the cover and rain would get in there. Chapped my ass.

Coasted on yesterday's soup and am enjoying a cooling rain tonight.

Sunset from my backyard

The Sony has a "twilight, handheld" setting. It doesn't seem to work as well as the panorama feature but I am not especially steady either. It improves twilight pictures but is not a panacea. I snapped this in between two of Tony's 10 plus visits today. He seems either terribly lonely or he can't stop flapping his gums. I escaped early to go to Boynton to take my bike for a tune-up. I saw Tony on my way out. He was on his way to Pompano to give his kids their Christmas presents. He had invited them to visit him several times and they didn't. Hmmm.

The bike shop had changed hands and I think for the better. Wednesday will tell. When I returned to the park I noticed a dog and put on the brakes. He was a dead-ringer for Buster. I spoke to his owners who had no idea what kind of dog he was but had him for 15 years. The lady walked over with her dog and we visited for quite awhile. She has British accent and is a Reiki Master (psychic) healer.Very interesting insights.

I made a pot of soup today. I was not hungry and ate nothing until I started the soup at 2:00. Then I was rooting for the slow-cooker to cook faster. Seminole Wedding Soup. Very tasty.

Super Bowl Sunday

Patsy and Joe had their annual Superbowl Party-pre-party, really. Everybody brought something good. Doc Rosenberg made some Mead-hot spiced wine with honey. It was excellent and left him reeling in record time. It was funny.

Jan Rosenberg made some Korean shish-ka-bobs that were quite tasty. Other burgers, salads, fruit, brownies and so forth of a more conventional sort rounded out the buffet. I went to the Joy Luck and got 40 chicken wings for $20.00. They sold well but I had leftovers so I took a plate to the "terrorists" in celebration of no explosions, and some to Tony who was three sheets to the wind. I didn't really have a favorite for the game so I was happy for the Saints. Tomorrow will tell how I did on the pool. My expectations are not high but I made a little last year.

A pleasant way to spend the evening of a sort of chilly day. The change in the weather brought fierce winds yesterday. It was the day that my awning should have gone away but didn't. The neighbors lost the use of their gazebo tent because the wind broke their supports. If my awning didn't go yesterday, it probably won't. The table is installed under it and it is a good arrangement.

Poker and Birthday Party

Lori's birthday was Monday, the party was Friday. Sharon and John from Phoenix flew in and the "usual suspects" showed up for Barbecue: chicken wings, pork, beef, chicken and cornbread and the trimmings. Jason and Lori had new pool lights installed: L.E.D."s that are programmable and can rotate through a rainbow of colors as they mix and change. Very cool.

The party started on time and the schedule disintegrated from there. People had a really good time. I was the butler. Got them oiled up and tapered them off. I had most of the cleanup done before I left at midnight-that meant home at one a.m. I was on my feet too long. My lower cartilege -free back was aching. But the party was a great success and the kids were able to enjoy it, too. They should change the name of "Guitar Hero" to "So you think you can sing." The ladies who were trying to be "The Bangles" should have called themselves "The Dangles." Age is no barrier to having a good time, though.

As you can see above, the big winner of the first round was the Birthday Girl!

There has been no shortage of drama in the park. After our spontaneous Happy Hour at Chateau Latour, they were bedding down when they heard blood curdling screams and somebody was knocking on their door. They called 911. The biker chick next door claimed her husband/boyfriend was beating her. The scene drew four deputies and a fire engine/EMT unit. Not a mark on her. She evidently had taken some PCP and freaked. They were gone bright and early the next day. But Jeanne was just thrilled. She was in on it and had to complete a statement for the police.

I went to the police. As you all know, I do "strange" without batting an eyelash. But the folks who moved in next door last Saturday were "just wrong." Four men below age 30 from Michigan checked in in a toy hauler and a van from Michigan. Only two have been seen since.
No toys came out of the hauler save for two bikes and the men are seldom seen. They aren't here for the Florida sunshine. They seem to be memorizing things and one took off on the bike in black slacks and a white shirt and came back the next day in t-shirt and shorts. They back in so their license is hidden. They only leave at night. I spoke briefly to one and he said tremulously that the helicopters at the airport were "disturbing my psyche." The possibility of terrorism at the Superbowl was not even on my radar until these birds showed up. Tony originally had them pegged as gay but he is now freaking out. We laughed about Jack Bauer showing up, kicking the door in and finding them making love. (not his term) If they are innocent, no harm so far. If they are not, someone is forewarned.

Tony is becoming a pest. He is here four or five times a day-coffee in the morning and very generous glasses of wine in the evening and stopping after he walks his dogs and empties his garbage. I listen. I have sympathy-he has essentially lost everything in the downturn save his dogs and his Airstream. His goal is to become a well-paid Professional Photographer. General Contracting in South Florida is a non-starter right now. As he is going to Gillette, WY for the national Airstream Convention and a photography workshop in Jackson, he was angling for an invitation to park at my house. I had to disabuse him of this notion. I told him I was a recluse when I am in Wyoming and like it that way. Now he is working at at "why" and "how much?" of a recluse I am. "Because," and "none of your beeswax," are the answers to those questions. I am trying to be gentle but...

S'mores and more

Marc and Jean came by on their bicycle built for two. They wanted to know if I wanted to join them for lunch at the Pizza Palace. I did but took the van-good thing because they decided to have a happy hour. The van was needed to take the supplies. They have plenty of leftovers but they bought plenty. Jeanne had never had or made S'mores. I had enjoyed this very common camping treat once before at the Nob so I was the expert. Marc fired up their portable fireplace and we had wine and cheese, crackers and dip, and S'mores along with a rip-roaring good time. We are like old kids. Good humor and wit and the laughing starts. The coon family tried to join the party and and Andre goosed it as he chased it over the fence. Mass hysteria. I had taken a bottle of my favorite wine and after it was widely praised by the French, revealed it costs $2.97 a bottle. Not quite "Two-Buck Chuck," but certainly affordable. Terese sketched me in her journal. An amazing likeness in short order. My straw cowboy hat caught her imagination. I am enshrined along with the very excellent sketch she made of her mother as she lay dying a few months ago.

I am going to change my campsite set-up. The picnic table is going to go under the tent. I can't depend on the weather staying stable long enough to extend an invitation so I will move the show under the big top.

I will go to Deerfield to buttle tomorrow. Lori is having a Poker Party/Birthday party. They went to a poker party last weekend and Lori won both games. She likes that.

Celebrating Groundhog Day

Taking pictures in my backyard and straightening up after a good rainstorm were morning activities after after the dog walk. Patsy biked over to see if I had received her email from two days ago. I had not. It was an invitation to dinner this evening. I accepted on the spot. They blew it out. Said it was a Groundhog Celebration Canadian style: Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, steamed turnips, steamed carrots, and Marilyn brought a mince pie with homemade mincemeat. It was all scrumptious. The only complication is yesterday's pot of pea soup was working its magic. I was under pressure. A smoke break provided some cover but shortly after eating the pie I knew I was in trouble. I left hastily and had a 400 yard walking-fart extravaganza.

Tony hollered out his door as I went past. He had been over four times-was going to give me a smoked chicken half but the van was parked, my bike was parked-I had walked over to Patsy and Joe's under my umbrella. Tony thought I was dead or dying in the RV. After initially being touched by his concern I really felt trespassed upon. I don't want a keeper, nor a nosy parker neighbor. But, I had more immediate concerns. I hope to be beyond this by tomorrow.

The book was finished last night. As tempting as it was to start the sequel, I did not. I get lost in them and saving some for more rainy days makes sense. Joe says they have been coming here for 12 years and have never experienced a season like this. Many of my plans to entertain, have movies, etc. have been waiting on decent weather. But I am not bitching-rain is not the same as snow and cold. I am having a good time, just not the time I expected.

Laid Back Day

The change of pace I was seeking has happened. Tony went to a photography workshop in Miami over the weekend. He said it was good. The break was good for me. I visited with the other neighbors a bit yesterday, read my novel. Terese had this trilogy in French-it is by a Swede. I downloaded it onto the Kindle for next to nothing. Terese is reading some raunchy stuff. A mystery but with a Swedish sensibility about sex. Fixed chicken livers for us last night and the dogs got a repeat tonight.

Since it rained all day today it was more of the same for me. Made a pot of pea soup and some tuna salad. Pretty gentle, if constant rain. Took a diuretic and with the soup, we have a "cleansing diet" going on. That was something we never heard about until the last few years.

I finally remembered to get some iron tablets down here. I thought I had packed them but they are not to be found. I had the foresight to go to WalMart last evening so we are provisioned. The iron pills do seem to pep me up.

The rain is supposed to go away tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile life at camp is very agreeable. \