Finally Made It To C&C……

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Several years ago, acquaintances in the dive community opened a lovely wine and cheese shop in Key Largo. They sold other gourmet-type items and it was kind of like having part of a Whole Foods available. Corks and Curds was an appropriate name. I don’t recall how the transition came about, but they eventually decided to install a wood-fired grill and become a restaurant. The thing is though they aren’t open at lunchtime and they aren’t on the water. They are ocean-side on Overseas Highway, just as the highways splits in Key Largo. (This landmark doesn’t mean anything if you don’t live around here) Anyway, while they specialize in pizza, they have other items and we kept saying we were going to have dinner at some point.

We decided okay, this year for my birthday would be it. I have mentioned in other posts that if you have a restaurant in the Keys and aren’t on the water, you have sort of two ways to go decor-wise. You can stick with the ocean-theme with art, etc., or you can go the opposite way which a few places do. C&C, as it is referred to, went with the industrial, loft-like look of exposed brick walls and wood. It works well although it is also a noisy place with not being very large and putting in as many tables as possible, plus a bar  that seats twelve. At least they don’t add loud music on top of it so the feeling is definitely one of camaraderie. We didn’t intend to have pizza – sold only in the 12-inch size I think – and I should have paid more attention to the many variations they offer. They have about six non-pizza entrees on the regular menu and nightly specials. I went for the sirloin topped with roasted shallot butter and Hubby had the special of lobster and crab lasagna. We split a salad and obviously had a nice bottle of wine. Interestingly, the portions are not designed for leftovers which is fine. The food was excellent.

The only other slightly unusual aspect was an espresso focus. That’s the only coffee they serve and at least two of their desserts are espresso-based. I was surprised there was no chocolate cake option, but the key lime parfait we shared was delicious.

Still Scrambling, But….

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Okay, I’m still behind on some things, but am making progress. My sister did finally call and so far, no complications and they can now manage with only the allotted therapy and themselves.

Completing changing topics though as I touch a bit on something that can be controversial. As I have explained, I mostly stay away from these topics, but I read something a few minutes ago that is too good an illustration of what I consider to be an important point. The Scientific Method was developed more than three hundred years ago in order to have an objective means of determining how things work. Essentially, develop a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, prove or disprove the hypothesis. If discovery during the process provides additional information, refine the hypothesis and start over.

When properly followed, this is a valid, objective method. It, however, is like most things humans are involved in. Real science is hard and often takes a long time. Once money is at stake or someone is impatient, shortcuts are tempting. Which brings me to my point of the term, “settled science”. There is little accuracy to that term. There is accepted science and again, this should mean science that has been adequately proven, especially against testing done by opposing views who ultimately agree. Now comes the “kicker” I am referencing. For hundreds of years the Shroud of Turin was accepted as a Holy Relic. Then came doubters who wanted to approach it from real science rather than religion. Lots of debates and in the late 1980s, carbon dating – valid science – indicated the cloth was from the Middle Ages, not 2,000+ years old. However, debate still continued and in testing recently released, techniques that did not exist in the 1980s has now validated the cloth is consistent with being 2,000+ years old.

Advances in technology constantly occur and conflicting data must be either resolved or something accepted as theory rather than proof. Now, in the practical world, there are times decisions must be made based on what is the best data available. However, once again, when conflicting recommendations are presented decision-makers need to be aware recommendations may be driven by non-scientific, but very real factors such as personal profit, be that money, reputation, etc.

Catching Up……

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In the week since my return, it’s been fairly jammed as I dealt with the most critical things first. Everything was productive and it was worth the time spent. In the 2.5 things I was able to accomplish for myself while gone, I completed the post-beta read changes to Shades of Remorse and my primary editor for scuba-involved books is available. I sent her the manuscript yesterday and she’ll be able to start next week. Hooray! My intent is for the book to be out the end of October/first part of November.

Sequencing in this one was tricky as was the use of a triple point of view (POV). As I mentioned in some previous posts, the long gap since my last book was I have never tackled a triple POV. There are different ways to do so and I don’t care for a couple of those techniques. It took a while for me to decide and quite frankly, it is complicated. Sequencing was difficult as well and in fact, even after the beta-read, something still felt “off”. I figured out it was the sequencing of four chapters toward the end. I had to move those around just a bit for the right flow. I’ll see if the editor responds in the same way.

Unlike most of my books, there is no view point from the “bad guy/woman” and so the reader doesn’t have the same insight as I’ve provided in the past. There are numerous linkages to “pick up on” as Detective Bev Henderson is faced with her first cold case as the story opens with finding a skeleton in the water. After the dead man is identified, there is more than one viable motive, but with forty years elapsed, there is no supporting forensics to help. Much is set against the backdrop of an old motel converted into apartments where four older women reside; one of whom is the widow. Added to the mix is the sudden appearance of the owner’s niece whom she had never met due to the estrangement of the two sisters.

You can see why this novel is especially complex.

Headed Home….

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Am at airport lounge to relax a bit before my flight which is supposed to be on time. Another somewhat difficult morning for my sister, although not as bad as the other day. She is getting around well on the walker and allegedly PT will start in a day or two. The Occupational Therapy evaluator is due at noon to set that up. It still concerns me she was discharged a week ago and no therapy of any kind will begin for more than a week. She has been doing some of the exercises they did in the rehab facility and as I said, on the walker an increasing amount over the past few days. Here’s hoping there are no complications.

Now to get caught up on all sorts of tasks. The thing is we are going on the long trip in less than three weeks; the trip we booked back in February. This time frame was supposed to be my time to take care of multiple things before departure precisely so I would not be jammed getting ready. The best laid plans and all that…

Progress and Other

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Marginal luck with PT in the sense of the evaluator came and was thorough. The OT evaluator did make an appointment for noon Monday. The woman who was supposed to come help give a shower Thursday never contacted us and when I called Friday, there was a surprised response. No, she didn’t contact us. Nor did she on Friday, but I didn’t call back as it doesn’t seem to do any good. The paid service woman will start Monday night at 10:00 to stay until 6:00 each morning. She will provide the shower which hopefully will help relax the muscles as well. Since they are a paid service, that might go more smoothly.

Moving around with the walker is better as is certain other things. We made a slight adjustment to allow for ease of dressing that seems to be working. My sister was also able to stand the entire time she was brushing her teeth for almost five minutes. This is a good thing.

Progress and Other……

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In the on-going tussle, the promised aide to give my sister a shower did not show up yesterday as promised. Hopefully she will come today as will the promised PT. On the other hand, using the walker is becoming easier and I think we’ve worked out a way to position a chair in the master bath where she can sit to be able to brush her teeth.

I did use their wonderful pool the other day. It also has the soft chlorination system as we have which is a great feature. It is a huge pool with an actual deep end and a shall “sunshelf” which serves two purposes. At only a few inches deep, it is perfect for certain leg exercises and for simply lying down to have water under you and relax in the sun if you are that type. The two dogs also love it as they walk back and forth in it. The custom design of the pool was to combine fitness training with recreation.

 

More Delays….

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In the manner anyone who has been through this will recognize, there is yet another delay in getting the home health support started for my sister. “The scheduler is out” is the same issue 24 hours after our first call. The promised wheelchair for yesterday was in fact delivered although it was 8:00 p.m. A nice young man who had two more stops programmed.

On the other hand, the supplemental private-pay care needed for a while responded almost immediately with a text (might have been email) verifying the conversation and had set an appointment to come this morning. A very pleasant young lady who is in fact recently moved to Houston. She speaks highly of the company and if she is typical of their staff, that is a positive indicator.

Family Afternoon…

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First night at home for my sister went better than expected and they had already planned a “Glad You’re Home” lunch with the grandchildren. Although I have seen the photos of them growing up, I’d never actually met them. Grandniece is starting sophomore year at parents’ alma mater Baylor and her brother is about to be a senior in high school. They are quite fun and do look more like their dad than their mother. Their dad prepared quite the feast with a favorite for each of them plus a little. It was definitely a “mixed grill” kind of meal and not surprisingly, he prepared extra for them to have leftovers to take with them. Oh, grandniece is not only majoring in pre-med, she has spent her summer training to be an EMT. She’s close to completion although I’m not sure she’ll have time to finish certification before she has to return to college.

I did have time to go for my walk along the lake again and there was a different mix of people out.

Out of Rehab…..

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The usual long time to get paperwork done to discharge my sister. Successful movement into car and then home into fancy recliner. It has the correct kind of back support for her. The assessment for home care won’t happen until tomorrow though instead of today which means actual care probably won’t be until Wednesday. The wheelchair that was supposed to be delivered today apparently will also be tomorrow. Fortunately, that is okay. There are a couple of new medications and those are being picked up now. There are some other things to work out and we’ll see how all that goes.

 

 

Another Day of Prep….

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We are splitting time with my sister today. Her husband went in early and I am going in a while for an afternoon visit.

I had a chance this morning to go on one of the walking paths my sister told me about and I can really understand now why she loves this area. The path – actually trail – goes in different directions. The one I took was mostly by the small lake which also has part of the golf course on the other side. The houses along the lake are nicely landscaped as can be expected. The houses are across the paved path so don’t have direct access to the water, but a lovely view and about twenty steps from the back of the lots to the water. No swimming and no way to put a boat in, but there is catch and release fishing with numerous spots to comfortably fish from the bank. Only other joggers, walkers (to include dog walkers of course) and cyclists were out. The incredible amount of mature trees are a benefit except in the situation of the storms which as I mentioned recently wreaked havoc with massive tree falls and downed power lines for more than a week. There is still a lot to clear out and will probably take at least another week.