Home and Hurricanes….

Posted on by
Reply

The quick trip to Louisiana for Daddy’s 92d birthday went as well as can be expected and there were obviously questions about Hurricane Matthew. I explained that as long as he went East or North, we were fine. West, not so much. And so we’re now very much in the “wait and see” mode because “deviation” is what matters about landfall around us. Despite the sophistication of the weather gurus, Mother Nature will do as she wishes. The likelihood for us is a lot of rain and maybe wind tomorrow. On the other hand, a “deviation” could shift everything. One would like to think with plenty of open water out in the Atlantic, other than messing with ships, Matthew could churn around for a while and do limited damage. Of course, that’s pretty much always the case in these situations. We, here in this area, haven’t had much hurricane activity since the summer of 2005 that was definitely active. Someone mentioned on FB this morning that we should engage newcomers in conversation to either bring up important points or answer questions they might have. I made the trip to the grocery store yesterday and filled the car.

An advantage for us when it comes to power loss is we have two Emergency Response stations in opposite directions within a couple of miles of us and they are on high priority for any restoration. I’m not sure where we fall in that “grid”, but I think we’re probably close. We do have a small generator although it’s a manual and getting it out isn’t really worth it if we are only talking a few hours without power. It won’t run the AC, but it will keep the fridge and stove going which are the main things.  So, we shall see what the next couple of days bring.

Day Three of Trip…..

Posted on by
Reply

We have become so accustomed to our electronics and connectivity that when they fail us we can get downright cranky. Okay, I’m sure there are people who cheerfully accept it, but I’m not one of them. Indeed, our house is beginning to look like a computer graveyard with multiple old laptops and what will soon be this Surface. The Surface is a cross between a notebook and a tablet. I bought it a few years ago to travel with because unlike a tablet, it has a USB port which means I can carry files with me to work on and then easily transfer them to my regular laptop that stays comfortably at home. The Surface with power cord only weighs a couple of pounds. Unfortunately, the Surface is suffering from some very odd behavior this trip. I can barely manage to access email and it took multiple tries to get to the blog. Anyway, such is modern life.

Today is actually Daddy’s 92d birthday and I’ll go back out to the assisted living facility this morning and take him somewhere for lunch if he’d like. If not, I’ll dine there with him and then be ready for the 2:00 cake and punch everyone is looking forward to. If all goes well, we will have set up a video call with our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter so they can wish him Happy Birthday. I’ll be leaving there this afternoon to spend the night closer to the airport and have dinner with another old school friend. I wasn’t able to link up with her the last trip, so hopefully this will work out. As for next year’s birthday celebration, who knows for sure. Apparently, there is one resident who is preparing for her 101st soon.

Trip, Days 1 and 2…..

Posted on by
Reply

In the on-going round of trips to Louisiana, this is the normal one where I always go for Daddy’s birthday. The flights were on time and uneventful – the weather no problem at all. That does help even though the planes between Atlanta and Shreveport are the “puddle jumpers” without much room and difficult for anyone who is above average size. Not a problem for short people like me, but my seatmate was pretty cramped. Anyway, I stopped by to see Daddy for a while, then proceeded south to visit with some old school friends since I hadn’t been down during the past few trips. This is the annual Antique Car Show in Natchitoches and even though the main event is tomorrow, quite a few were already on display. I think the oldest was a 1932 Ford, although there was a real variety of decades and models, to include a Studebaker.

Today will be all day with Daddy at the assisted living facility and I’ll take him to lunch somewhere. The food at the facility is okay and he keeps ice cream and other stuff, but there are certain things they tend not to cook considering the resident population. I’m not sure what he will be in the mood for and we will see how he is when noon rolls around.

This is one of those trips where I am doing multiple motels; one tonight, one tomorrow night, and a different one on Sunday. It’s the most practical approach even if it means not really bothering to unpack.

More New Homestead Dining…

Posted on by
2

It’s not really that I’m fixated on food at the moment. It’s more a coincidence of timing that we now have another nice restaurant in Homestead. Equally important, it fills a missing piece in our culinary line-up because the cuisine is predominantly Spanish. I don’t mean Latin, I mean Spanish as in paella and genuine Serrano ham as a tapas, and cod as part of the Seafood Cauldron. There are crisp white wines and dry reds to enjoy and a full bar. I prefer to refer to it as the Hotel Redland Restaurant, although the new owners have retained the Whistle Stop Café name. The Capone Burger and chicken can still be ordered as can some pasta dishes. Although we had seafood the other night, I have been told the lamb is excellent. Yes, the table settings are pretty and Chef Loannis Valle trained in Barcelona. (http://www.hotelredland.com/)

They also feature a Sunday brunch (10-2) and if you’re looking for a Friday special, they have jazz. The dining room is charming and the staff attentive. Some of the dishes may be unfamiliar, but they will gladly describe them for you. If you have a sweet tooth, the fried ice cream looks as pretty as it tastes.

Although parking in the back is somewhat limited, there is the large lot a very short walk across Flagler. Hotel Redland is 5 South Flagler, 305 246-1904

More Good Burgers and Brisket….

Posted on by
Reply

Sports bars are not for everyone. They have their own atmosphere rather than ambience and if you’re looking to have a quiet conversation over a meal, it rarely works. On the other hand, if you want camaraderie and laughter, you’re likely to find that. Downtown Homestead on Krome Avenue is taking another swing at a sports bars after the last one encountered a series of problems that caused it to close fairly quickly. We hope Lucky’s Saloon will fare better. And speaking of fare, if you like a good burger or a nice brisket sandwich, this is the place for you. They special blend their burgers and cook them to order. The brisket is slow-smoked and it’s one of the few places where you can get Tator Tots as a side. Their sweet potato fries are excellent, too, so it’s a bit of a choice to make. The beer selection is good, the beer served appropriately cold and they have a full bar if you’re in the mood for something stronger. What makes Lucky’s different from most sports bars is they are attentive to salads and have a selection to suit most tastes. They do chicken quite well also. I haven’t tried the chili, but was told it was good.

Big TVs for sports isn’t the only draw – there is Trivia Night, Taco Night, Karaoke Night and the immensely popular Line Dancing Night, plus live music on Saturday. It is noisy, no doubt about it, so you do have to take that into account. The staff is friendly though and the prices are reasonable. Here’s a big “Thanks” for opening and do give them a try.

Perspective Is Important……

Posted on by
Reply

I was more or less watching an Animal Planet show the other day that shall remain nameless for reasons that will become apparent. There was an individual on the show who was a big name in the music world. He shall also remain nameless since a) I don’t recall his name, and b) it’s not relevant. Now, do not get me wrong – touring, making records, constantly juggling the demands of productions is stressful and there are a lot of demands. The point though is that when the guy was being interviewed about a particular subject, he made the comment of, “I have the most stressful job in the world.” Really? Okay, it’s an expression and was probably no more than that, but still. Go on a combat patrol with a squad, be an aide volunteer in one of the world’s basket case nations, ride along with a cop in an inner city, work extended emergency rooms shifts in an urban hospital, and then think about the definition of stress.

There’s an old joke about a college student who writes home (which goes to show how old the joke is) with a litany of revelations all guaranteed to distress her parents (an obviously inappropriate boy she’s fallen in love with, etc.), and at the end of the multiple events, she closes with, “Okay, none of this has happened. I did get a D in chemistry though, but I hope you keep it in perspective.” This is not to say we don’t have problems that impact us or stressful periods. On the other hand, there are always times when something temporary is temporary and taking a step back, plus a couple of deep breaths and perhaps a soothing beverage (of whatever type works) will do the trick.

Sly, But Fun….

Posted on by
Reply

There actually are romantic comedies that guys can enjoy, too, but I’m not certain if Music and Lyrics falls into that category. If you want something entertaining and a great soundtrack, rent or find this to either watch or record for when you have time to sit and watch. It requires no great concentration, and the more-or-less predictable ending is delightfully executed. The main characters, Alex and Sophie, played by Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, are wonderfully drawn and acted. The movie highlights the foibles of celebrity status in both the has-beens and absurdly young rising stars. In essence without giving away too much, Alex was in a highly popular band that broke up, leaving the other members to do okay, yet never to regain their former glory. Through an odd set of circumstances, a young singer who has zoomed to the top gives him an opportunity for a comeback through a specific song she wants as a duet. The comedy of the timeframe allowed is well worth a chuckle and the way in which this all leads to Alex teaming up with Sophie is filled with great, droll exchanges.

Not being in the music business (there is a fabulous scene about that toward the end), I don’t know how accurately the process is portrayed, but it seems reasonable. The interaction with Alex’s agent is always funny as is the relationship between Sophie and her sister. The subplot of an event in Sophie’s past that emotionally threw her out of balance is well-drawn to show how we can allow others’ opinions to affect us. It is a lovely little movie you’ll probably want to watch more than once.

Fun To Hear…..

Posted on by
Reply

with-dad-spet-2016Yes, I did promise not to do many “proud Grandma” posts. This is related to books, however. As a note, I do not and don’t ever foresee writing children’s or young adult books. My brain doesn’t work like that. Naturally, I am a big believer in starting children on books as early as possible. In fact, when the current “proud daddy” was an infant, my aunt, the librarian, sent Pat the Bunny and in the letter she said it didn’t matter that the baby couldn’t understand – that the act of reading to an infant was a great foundation. I took that to heart. Did that lead to a lifelong love of reading? I don’t know for sure since there were plenty of other influences in the house to encourage reading. I have no reason to think it wasn’t a factor though.

Anyway, last week when we were talking, my son wanted to let me know that even though Amelia’s vocabulary has not yet progressed to sentences, she does now go and get books and bring them to indicate she thinks it’s reading time. She apparently points to certain items and words in what may or may not be her version of reading. There is obviously a ways to go yet, but hey, it’s a start.

When It’s Heartbreakingly Difficult….

Posted on by
Reply

Emotionally intense content alert. This is not a new theme for this blog, but recent events of people around me caused me to want to say once again that as Baby Boomers, we face two different, yet related issues. First, if your parent/parents or other aged relatives are still living, the time may come when they are simply not the person you knew. Dementia has a heartbreakingly wide range, not all of which is easily categorized. In some cases, dementia can be combined with terrible pain due to an injury or an illness. In either situation, I would strongly urge you to consult with Hospice. If the individual has left a home setting and is in an appropriate care facility, the facility  is usually linked in with Hospice. As I explained in Your Room at the End: Thoughts About Aging We’d Rather Avoid, there may be multiple hospice organizations in your area. If so, you have a choice as to which one to use. When someone reaches the stage of severe dementia, they may well not be able to make personal choices and the chance of improvement is highly unlikely. Although every individual situation has to be properly diagnosed, everyone over the age of about 60 can be defined as being in a terminal state. Severe dementia is not life-threatening, but most of us have become so accustomed to taking routine medications for conditions such as high blood pressure we don’t even think of that as “artificial means”. (We tend to view “artificial means” as only being hooked to a machine.) Making the decision to cease all medications except for sleep and pain can be heartbreaking and create questions and self-doubt.

This leads me to the second issue which is none of us want to believe this will happen to us. It seems too unfair, too unkind, and surely there will be a treatment/cure before then. There is nothing wrong with hoping for that. It is incredibly important, however, to make your wishes known in the event you do suffer severe dementia. The sentiment of, “I won’t care because I won’t know what’s going on”, can be said cavalierly if you’ve never heard the panicked voice or sobs of a parent/elderly relative who suddenly can’t comprehend where they are or why, “they can’t come home.” It is true that in some cases, severe dementia does not cause distress and an individual can comfortably live in a “time or place” they have mentally created, knowing you less as the person you are and more as someone from their past or simply, “a nice young man/woman”. I urge you to have the courage to address this possibility as clearly as you do the eventuality of an illness or injury that leaves you in a coma. If you can no longer make choices for yourself, be certain whoever is in charge (and legally designate someone) knows what you want done.

A $200 Pizza – Worth Every Bite……

Posted on by
Reply
Topside View Jules Undersea Lodge Key Largo

Topside View Jules Undersea Lodge Key Largo

In general, I wouldn’t recommend paying $195 for a pizza or a sub sandwich, although Tower Pizza in Key Largo does have good food. In this case, however, thanks to a friend who bid on “Lunch at Jules” at a charity auction, I finally experienced the three-hour session offered at Jules Undersea Lodge. (http://www.jul.com).  The single drawback to the wonderful diving we have in Key Largo is there is essentially no shore diving because the water is too shallow. (Yes, I know there are a few spots, but not like in places such as Hawaii and St Croix.) This makes it especially difficult for training when the weather keeps boats from going out. On those days, everyone who can’t wait for the weather to clear heads to the lagoon at Jules.

The lagoon is not large, but it has the distinction of being home to the underwater habitat (two actually) that was moved from the original location in the Caribbean. The two-bedroom habitat with a kitchen/dining/living room was of course designed for research to prove the viability of living underwater for extended periods of time. And while researchers do still use the habitat, it’s available for recreational options from three hours to overnight. It’s something I wanted to try, but since Hubby has to spend lots of training time with students in Jules, he wasn’t especially keen on the idea. Having now done it once, I’m not saying I would go again just to go, but it’s definitely the sort of thing I would do in the same manner that I take visitors to South Beach.

Okay, enough intro – I’ll describe the way it works. First, the staff is terrific in making sure you are comfortable and taken care of. (If you have your own equipment, you can subtract the rental fee. In this situation, my friend didn’t have equipment and I didn’t want to mess with hauling and cleaning my own gear.) You either have to be a certified diver or you can sign up for the one-day Discover Scuba – type class and that is a separate fee. Since both of us were certified, we arrived to what was a very quiet day and filled out the initial paperwork, to include our choice for lunch. There is a hot shower on the grounds and a hot shower in the habitat and they provide towels, shampoo, conditioner. I treated it like I would being on a dive boat and wasn’t going to bother with that part, but it is available. I did have a pair of shorts and t-shirt along just in case. You leave your shoes at the dock and anything else you take gets very carefully wrapped and placed into a watertight box. They are especially careful with your phones and any other electronic item you’re carrying.

There are steps that lead down into the water, so you simply sit on the step to gear up then launch into the water. Your Operation Specialist for the day will either enter the water with you, take you over to the habitat to orient you or you can do as we did and go for a dive of X-minutes (in our case about 30), then meet the staff member at the habitat. The lagoon is chockfull of items like old cannon, a second, smaller habitat, and is only about 25 feet deep.  The visibility is not particularly good due to several factors, however, there were plenty of fish and a nice crab. Nurse sharks will occasionally cruise through, too.

When we finished the dive, we made our way back to the habitat, swam underneath and came up into the “moon pool” as our guy was patiently waiting to remove our gear and give the orientation. This is like the foyer. The two bedrooms are to the right, the shower and marine head are straight ahead and the public area is to the left. Yes, there are portholes in the bedrooms and public area. Benches wrap around and there are two tables. The small fridge is packed with water and sodas, a little basket hold packs of snacks, there is a sink, microwave, TV with DVD player, some books, decks of cards, and a couple of board games. My friend opted to take a quick shower and then we settled in to pass the time until our same guy returned around noon with our piping hot lunch brought to us in a watertight container. When the staff called a while later to give us our “ten minute warning”, it hardly seemed like three hours had passed. We repacked our belongings and our guy secured them before we slipped back into our gear for the short swim to the dock to end our adventure.

Moon Pool Entrance Jules Undersea Lodge

Moon Pool Entrance Jules Undersea Lodge