Category Archives: Leisure Moments

A Delightful Evening……

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NASCAR Driver Kenny Wallace receiving cooking tips from Miami Chef Adrianne Calvo during a fundraiser to benefit “Speediatrics”. This, one of many NASCAR charities provides funds to Homestead and Daytona Hospitals children’s programs. Photo courtesy of Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Even as I write this, the final race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship has just seen Brad Keselowski take the Cup and Jeff Gordon win at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. My husband is there of course, although he worked Friday and yesterday,  missing the Truck and the Nationwide races. Actually he was able to watch the Trucks and the last part of Nationwide on television. For those of you who have absolutely no idea what I am talking about, that’s okay because the races per se are not the point of this post.

The final races of the NASCAR season are held here, and there are different events that occur prior to the races. This year they added something new to the mix – a charity event of the Championship Taste 2012 to raise money for “Speediatrics”. This is one of the charities supported by the NASCAR Foundation. Speediatrics helps support children’s units at the local hospital and one in Daytona Beach. I had been to other fundraisers at the Speedway and didn’t realize this one was arranged differently. Instead of the usual bar and hors d’oeuvres set up in the Champions Club, this was outside under the canopies in what they called the Chalet Village. A series of tents featured several restaurants and one cookie maker and there were two or three bars. Iced down Coca-cola products and water were in containers as part of your ticket. When you checked in you were given a card with the names of the restaurants to help you track which tents you visited and a judging card . You strolled in any order you wanted to, the servings tapas-sized. There was also a raffle with some nice prizes and an entertaininng, “Chef’s Challenge” where drivers Kenny Wallace, Johanna Long, and Sean Corr competed in preparing a chicken and broccoli stir-fry under the eye of Miami Chef Adrianne Calvo.

Oscar and Golden Globe winning producer Jon Landau was instrumental in this effort. As the Celebrity Host, he was gracious and engaging making his way around to thank the attendees prior to the presentation of the $100,000 dollar check to hospital representatives. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and I only wished that I had urged more people to participate. I will certainly do so for next year if they hold the event again. Bravo to all who helped make Championship Taste 2012 a success!

Presentation of $100,000 check to hospitals. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Food and Love……..

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Champagne for our anniversary dinner.

This is a few days later than I intended since I was posting about the Belize trip. Our 24th anniversary was this past Monday, and the Belize trip was really a part of that celebration, just a few weeks early because of timing. In addition to scuba, one of the things that we enjoy doing together is cooking. We both have our specialties and we also try new dishes. We decided to go with “gourmet at home” for our anniversary dinner this year and that was initiated with a trip to Total Wine. Anniversaries are worthy of Veuve Cliequot champagne and Total Wine is one of the few places where we can find Loire Valley Anjou white wine. Yes, I am aware there are better whites, but the Anjou wines are quite good and I am sentimental about them. With that said, on to the simple, yet lovely menu we prepared.

Stone crabs are in season, so we began with those. We added marinated artichoke hearts to Hugh’s mixed green salad and skipped them for me. We had some leftover vegetables in cheese sauce and there’s nothing wrong with using leftovers for a meal like this. The main attraction was lobster in a modified hollandaise sauce served in puff pastry shells. And yes, I use the Knorr mix and Pepperidge Farm shells. I like Knorr and I find it much less stressful than tackling that type of sauce from scratch. (I do not wrestle with puff pastry sheets, although had the week not been so hectic, I would have used phyllo sheets and had lobster napoleans instead puffed pastry.) Dessert  was admittedly pre-made, a nice peanut butter and chocolate sauce ice cream pie; the very small one considering what we had for dinner. I think I have mentioned before that desserts are not my forte and I rarely bother with making them myself.

It was a delicious meal, and had it not been quite so windy, we would have dined pool side. Trying to hold down your napkin while eating does take a bit of the romance away. Oh, I guess I should have put candles on the table, too. Ah well, maybe next year.

Lobster in Puff Pastry Shell as main course

Belize, Day Two…….

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Overview of Casa Brisa by the Sea. Solar panel array to the left.

The day began as the earlier evening had ended, although with coffee as the morning beverage. The screened gallery of our friends’ home is surrounded by palms and other trees, the water veiwed through the fronds. There are an amazing number of dragonflies, gheckos of course scampering about both inside and out. There is a lovely warbler that we haven’t seen since we lived in Puerto Rico, a “banana bird” that won’t stay still for a photo. And for you birders, check out http://ambergriscaye.com/birds/ if you are not already familiar with it. Since the lots around this area are undeveloped, my friends had a trail carved through the property, again, taking out as few trees/plants as possible and none of the palms. As we paused at one part with a small beach, the indention stretching across the sand was evidently from where the crocodile had passed from one side of the property to the other. In what is essentially a small nature preserve, the ocelot that was hanging about hasn’t been seen lately, the anteater and sloth make periodic appearances and I was told that the boa hasn’t been in the carport (that actually holds the windsurfing equipment) for a while.  The bulbous termite “nests” that are in the trees are fairly static, and apparently the wild pigs come around infrequently.

After our stroll, it was in to town to get the tickets for the water taxi for the return trip to Belize City, lunch at Palapa, a very casual open air bar and grill where we sat and watched our second stingray of the day glide by beneath us, as did several schools of fish. You could see the charter dive boats moored to the reef in the distance. Then it was on to Mexican Rocks, a closer set of patch reefs, where we spent an hour snorkeling. Our friend felt it wasn’t as good as the last time they’d been there, but anemones, a ray, rock beauties, a flounder, lots of parrotfish, a couple of flamingo tongues, tangs, yellow and orange coral, lavender sea fans, and other assorted reef fish gave us plenty to see. We opted for the slightly longer boat ride back to the house to see yet another part of the island, going past small inns, condos, a row of dive shops, and beachfront properties of various sizes. Like many such areas, Belize was hit with the real estate bust, the tourist industry dipping, but still holding as an important source of income. The Belizeans exude smiling warmth for those who come to visit.

A brown pelican just swooped across my view and one of the black and orange banana birds rested momentarily before flitting away. Ah, one of the warblers – oops gone again. Oh well, I shall have to be content with showing another view of the property as a photo. Anyway, in a few hours we head back to Belize City to catch the dive boat. We lose connectivity later today so I will maintain a daily log that I will use to post the rest of the trip once we re-gain connectivity. So long for now from http://casabrisabythesea.com/

 

Ibis in the Neighborhood

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Flock of Ibis Outside the House

I know, more about birds. The thing though is that there are moments here when you just can’t help being fascinated with the bird and wildlife. We have two what I call ponds and real estate agents call lakes where you can see herons, egrets, etc., on a daily basis. Both are fairly close to the house, but not within direct view, although one of them is on my regular walking route. Anyway, that means that we also get those birds transiting often, with one occasionally landing in the back yard to check out the pool in case it’s a body of water of interest. Unlike the frogs that tend to fall in and can’t get back out, the birds quickly understand that the chlorine (even the mild level that we use) is not to their liking.

We have two different flocks of tropical birds that regularly come over or around the house; one of green parrots and then the ibis. The parrots streak by so quickly that I have never been able to get a shot of them and the ibis roam from yard to yard. Until the other day, their roaming and my ability to snap a shot didn’t coincide. Granted, I didn’t get as close to them as I would have liked, but then they might have taken flight and for sure I wouldn’t have gotten that shot. I love these guys as they meander around, poking their beaks into grass and shrubs. I have no idea how long we will have them in the neighborhood. Since they certainly seem to have plenty to eat and no danger of predators, maybe they will take up permanent residence. They have been here for several months, but I don’t know if that has any significance. So, if there is an ibis expert out there, what are the odds that we’ll get to keep them around?

 

Deadly Doubloons and Geography……

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Someone asked me the other day why I didn’t get Deadly Doubloons out in mid-summer like I planned. The truth is that I was delayed in trying to work through a few details. Although we’ve been diving in lovely Grand Bahama, I needed to put part of the story in the Out Islands. I originally chose Long Island, then mentioned something about it to a dear friend who has spent many years in and around the Bahamas. As I discussed a particular plot point, he said, “Long Island doesn’t really make sense for that.” Oh dear, and okay, back to the map.

I had a similar problem with a tricky part in killing off one character as the same friend and my husband persuaded me that what I wanted to do was far too complicated. A simpler approach would be just as effective and more manageable. I have also learned, however, that when one is contemplating how to murder a character, one should be cautious about having the discussion in public. I was engaged in such a conversation at lunch one day and my companion indicated the table within hearing distance where four policemen were lunching. “You have gotten a couple of odd looks,” she said in a low voice. Yes well, I can see how certain words and phrases would have raised an eye brow or two.

I have also been asked where I get ideas and the answer is, “Everywhere.” I certainly watch more true crime shows than I did in the past and I pick up bits and pieces from different stories that people tell. The beauty of fiction is you can blend characters and modify actions, although I go to a great deal of trouble when addressing certain technical details in a plot. For example, way back when I did Orchids in the Snow, I had to change a scene because I discovered that an event at the core of the scene was historically inaccurate. Ah well, it wasn’t that difficult to change.

I do appreciate friends, and sometimes total strangers that I contact through Internet searches, who help keep me straight on details that I have questions about. On the other hand, there are times in my fiction when I definitely stretch the envelope for the sake of a story. I do usually include an Author’s Note when I do that though. At other times, whether or not I stretch the envelope is a matter of perspective. One of the most amusing along those lines was when I had a situation where I had a character engage in a one-night stand and some relationship complications emerged from that. I was told by one reader that, “Really, no one has one night stands anymore – it just wasn’t believable.” Well, maybe people in her world don’t do that….

Quilting as a Craft……

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For reasons that I can’t completely explain right now, I have recently become somewhat involved with the craft of quilting. Although I am not a quilter, I have been around quilts all my life and it is a popular craft for Army wives. The reason is quite simple. Many Army posts were in remote locations and no one had any money to speak of. Gathering to quilt was practical and social in nature and the tradition has carried on. Anyway, my skills in sewing and needlework have always been rather anemic compared to my sister and I let it go by the wayside rather than pursue it. However, in the past two months as I have spoken with quilters, observed them, viewed a number of web sites, and learned more, I can literally feel myself being drawn into both the craft and the companionship.

There is a great deal to learn about quilting with some incredibly intricate levels that you can achieve. Fortunately, it appears that you can also begin at a novice level and still produce quilts or quilted articles with rudimentary skills. I don’t yet know how deeply I will go into what seems to be an enjoyable endeavor, but I will keep you posted. So, all you experienced and fledgling quilters out there – drop into Charlie’s Corner Cafe and tell us about your experiences.

Deadly Doubloons Is Ready……

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Ah, I had hoped to have this one out for summer reading and I suppose technically it is still summer. At any rate, Deadly Doubloons is now available. For those who are familiar with some of my characters, Chris Green first appeared in Shades of Truth, then had a more prominent role in Shades of Gold. She is the main character in Deadly Doubloons and her first adventure is one that I trust will be both intriguing and fun. Someone asked me the other day where I get my ideas. I think that like most authors, they come from bits of conversations, something you see and say, “Hmmm, what if I did such-and-such…

In the case of Deadly Doubloons, a friend who is an avid underwater photographer wanted me to feature a shady banker who was also semi-obesssed with treasure hunting. That was a good foundation that I then built upon. The end result is something that I hope others will enjoy as well.

Five, Five, Not Just One…..

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I have posted before about the wonderful native and migtatory bird population that we have in the area. A couple of days ago, a friend and I went for lunch at the Bayfront Park which is adjacent to Biscayne National Park. When we went in, we’d passed a large flock of ibis as well as a sprinkling of egrets and herons.

When we came back out and passed that same stretch, my friend, who is still a newcomer to the area, made a comment about the “pink ibis”. I hit the brakes. “No,” I said, “ibis are white or brown.” With no one behind me, I went into reverse and there it was – a roseatte spoonbill. Wait, two, no, three, hey, four and one more you could hardly see. Since my friend is a wonderful photographer (www.shortstackphoto.com), she had her camera with her and jumped out as I practically babbled. Of course we were on the opposite side of the road now and she had to wait for the truck pulling the boat on a trailer to pass, then the cars queued up behind it. And naturally, the sound of that many vehicles caused the birds to move a bit further from the road. That was okay though.

I explained my excitement; that the spoonbills normally hung in the Everglades and in the time we had lived here I had only seen a total of two. It was also a little early in the year for them. I always enjoy ibis anyway, but having roseatte spoonbills mixed in with them was a real treat. Yeah, I know, but hey… if you like cool birds, it was a lovely little moment.

A Boatload of Sushi….

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One of the small “boats” of sushi at Num Thai Restaurant

As I have mentioned, I don’t do sushi, although I love Thai and other Asian cuisine. We have two nice Sushi/Thai restaurants in town and one that many of our diving friends in Key Largo enjoy. So, after spending time viewing all manner of marine creatures during the day, there is a periodic gathering at Num Thai in Key Largo. Last night was to welcome back a couple who have been sailing the Caribbean for a number of months now. They are only here for a short time before they set sail again and we were all delighted to get together. One of the signature aspects of Num Thai is that they have these wooden “boats” you can order filled with a variety of sushi and since five of the eight were up for that, the waitress decided that two identical boats would be easier to manage. There was general agreement and my goodness what a boatload of sushi it was! And yet, despite what looked liked a massive quantity, the array was handily consumed by the those who eat such things.

The three of us who prefer food cooked shifted around to sit together to make the process simpler and my chicken green curry was excellant as were the crunchy fried shrimp. In either case – raw or cooked, the Kirin beer was cold, the sake warm, and the friendship filled with laughter. Who knows, we might have to have another round as a Bon Voyage!

 

Guest Post – Midlife Motorcycle Fun, Part II….

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If you missed Part I of yesterday’s Guest Blog, do scroll over to it. My husband’s cousin, Margaret, is enjoying her own motorcycle at age 58, and kindly sent a guest post. Yesterday was Part I as she recounted the first part of the Motorcycle Safety Class that she took. The story continues today in Part II.

Margaret, ready to ride her own motorcycle.

Margaret’s Post:

The next day we were there again at 6am.  Everyone was tired and coffee just wasn’t doing anything for us.  We begin riding and doing more intricate turns and maneuvers.  I found out I like turning left but not so much to the right.  We had to learn how to do a figure eight within a small box outlined on the parking lot without touching the lines.  We also executed emergency stops and learned how to swerve to miss an obstacle in the road.  I started to realize how skilled Bob is on a bike and began to wonder if I could get to a level of riding where I would be safe on the road. I passed the class even though I began to worry about the right turns.  I didn’t pass with a perfect score, but I did better than most of the inexperienced riders! In retrospect, the instructors really were very good and the class is structure to make sure you learn all of the basic skills to succeed.

I knew I wanted to continue riding and see where I could go with my newfound skill.  I was very aware that a motorcycle license doesn’t mean that you are ready to ride everywhere, all it means is that you are qualified to begin to learn how to negotiate riding in real life situations.  I didn’t want my newly won skills to erode so we immediately began looking for a motorcycle for me. A week after the class I bought a new Harley Davidson Sportster.  It is perfect and I love riding with Bob.  He swears I’m doing really great on the bike but I also remember he said that about our girls when he taught them to drive.  (At that point they were NOT doing well driving!)

I got my license on June 6th and my bike June 16th.  I began practicing by riding around our neighborhood.  Last weekend we went on a 60-mile ride.  Bob rides behind me and we can talk through our helmet communication set and he’s also there to offer some advice. We both love riding and are looking down the road for our next trip!

The main point is, though, I proved to myself that at 58 I could still learn new skills.  When you are on the bike, your ride is always up to you, no one else, its all about your skill and judgment reading the road and the traffic around you. I am very proud to say “I ride, that’s MY bike.”

Congratulations, Margaret, and thanks for sharing. So, fellow and sister Baby Boomers – who cares if we’re in our fifties, sixites, or whatever. If you want to try something new – go for it. Charlie