Proof of Life

Hello from the Gulf of Mexico where the temperatures are rising. Finally, we're able to leave the condo with just light clothing. No snowsuit required.

Yesterday, we took a drive a little further south to Fort Myers Beach, where we had lunch with my friend's family. Her dad is down here wintering in comfort.

While this critter appreciates a bird bath in the Gulf, I think the water temperatures are still a bit too chilly for a swim.

The wind, which is no longer out of the north, has died down enough to allow us the opportunity to walk the beaches in relative comfort. I'm thankful for that. The day I took this picture was cold, but tolerable, because we were walking.

This critter, a one man band, looked insane, drew a crowd (see his tip buckets?), and entertained the masses at the pier on Fort Myers Beach. He was truly awful, but like staring at a horrible train wreck, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. I have a feeling he sings all the the way to the bank.

What kind of knitter would I be if I didn't at least sample the local offerings? We stopped by, A Good Yarn, yesterday morning. My friend, who doesn't knit, truly indulges me. I know I'm blessed, but call us even as she is frequently the recipient of my goods. On our way back to the condo after seeing, The King's Speech (most excellent), we saw the store and decided we needed to visit the next day. I'd checked their website and noticed they carried, Three Irish Girls, which I've only heard about.

It turns out, they carry a special line of TIG, one that's dyed specifically for them. Each color comes from a photo from around, atop or within the Gulf. Sea Flower was a close second to my choice, but really, how could I not buy a sock yarn of this colorway?


On the way home from the beach, I cast on the left front of the vest (this is Cloud Chaser). Fairly soon, I'll be working on that collar. To this point, it's all been easy enough, but I have a feeling the collar will give me an opportunity to practice my swear words. We'll see.

Greetings my chilly friends, from a rather nippy paradise

It's a little frosty in the Sarasota area tonight. While the temperature states it's a balmy 51 degrees, I can tell you that the "real feel" temp is quite different. Tomorrow may have to include a trip to Marshall's to buy some socks.

What? I packed one pair of shoes, one pair of socks, and I won't admit to how many pairs of flip flops may be residing in the closet right now. Given the current temperature, it's certainly more than I need.



We had an action filled day beginning with what should have been a one hour trip to the airport, but took two because of a surprise snowfall and icy road conditions and all at insane o'clock. To avoid missing our trip out of hell save time, we had to park in the extortionist long term parking deck at the airport. Still, we persevered and made it safely to Siesta Key by noon, had a late, and delicious breakfast (al fresco) at The Broken Egg, followed by pedicures and a little shopping to stock the fridge and vodka cabinet. By 6PM, we were spent, but somehow managed, wrapped in sweaters, jeans and blankets, to watch a glorious sunset on our first night here.



When we parked in the long term lot, I had the presence of mind to leave my ticket in the vehicle. Sometime tomorrow, my husband and son will fetch the car from that lot that's charging $20 a day to park so close to the terminal. Bless them both for saving us from that obscene rate. I think I owe them, but now I find myself wondering what I should do with the savings. Perhaps I should buy a down coat.

A down filled sky. Too bad it's so ccccccccold.

Do they even sell The North Face products down here? Perhaps thermal under armor is in order.

I jest with you though, because while the low may be 44 degrees here tonight, it's highly unlikely Detroit would even hit that as a high temperature on Sunday. It's beautifully warm enough for me when the sun is shining in the afternoon. In fact, while at breakfast, it was so warm in the sun that I broke into a sweat.


And yes...the sand really is so white it looks like snow. Unfortunately, it's so chilly, it sort of feels like that, too. This really is the most beautiful beach I've ever seen. It's so white and feels like powdered sugar, or at least it does when the sun is shining.

Sunday's agenda? Dinner at the Columbia restaurant on St. Armand's Circle in Sarasota, which will include the sangria and their very famous 1905 salad, not to mention the utterly delicious black bean soup, and finally, a trip to the theater to see, The King's Speech.

For the rest of the week, we are mulling over a trip to Captiva & Sanibel Island, the Florida Everglades, and possibly, a trip to Universal Studios. All is up in the air, but for right now, we're chilling, sipping vodka cocktails and snacking on pizza.

Weather aside, it's a perfect beginning.

¡Adiós!

Photo Attribution: Forest & Kim Starr

What fresh hell?

The above chat ate up 20 minutes and answered nothing. I took more screen shots, but you get the message. Though Chauncey was quick to answer initially, she (or he), needed much prompting to do so after an initial greeting and appears very tight lipped, so to speak.

Sometime last night, I lost my Verizon cell phone somewhere in Detroit. Another human found that phone and used it at 11:36 PM. They're not using it today though, as the number is shut off and a replacement phone is on its way to my house.

But, oh, the hassle to get even this far with Verizon was excruciatingly painful. I don't know when it happened, but sometime over the past two years, Verizon has gone completely automated. If you want to speak to a human, it must be done over the internet utilizing live chat. While I've done this with a Mac Genius without an issue, my experience with Verizon was awful. Either their chatters are multitasking and therefore inattentive, or they don't give a rat's ass how much time they're costing me. In 40 minutes, Chauncey and I exchanged less than 100 words, with me asking every 5 minutes, "hello? are you still there?" At which point Chauncey would answer, "yes," and only that, apparently having already forgotten the question I originally posed. I would have logged into my online Verizon account to handle all of my problems more readily, but I had forgotten my password. Verizon prompted they could text my password to my phone, but, hellllllllllo??????, my phone is LOST!!!

What I was avoiding was going to the Verizon store on the day of their iphone launch. Can I pick a good day to go? So, after 40 excruciating minutes with Chauncey, I packed up and headed to the Verizon store. I was in and out in 5 minutes, having learned I have replacement insurance. I got home and called the phone insurance company and promptly entered...you guessed it....automation hell.

Again.

I've spent 2 hours trying to order a new phone--two hours I had slated for a manicure.

Tell me, how is this technology supposed to make our lives easier, and in which country do you think Chauncey resides?

Tricky Dick

I've not written about Mimi in a long time. This woman, my mother in law, was one of the kindest people I've ever met in my life, but she was a little whack-a-doo by the time her brain metastasis was diagnosed. Oh, in hindsight, there were signs that something was amiss long before the fateful CT scan that came with bitter news.

Her personality had changed tremendously and at times, she got a little mean. Not mean in an adult sort of way, but in the way of a 4th grade school girl. If she didn't like what somebody was saying, she'd stick her tongue out and make horrible faces behind that person's back. She did this to my colleague's mother at a bake sale, and while I agreed my colleague's mom was being a bossy pain in the ass, it's just not acceptable to mock people, and that's what Mimi was doing. I had to pull her aside more than once, with little effect, to plead with her not to make faces at the adults who were present.

Little did I know it was the cancer talking.

By the time we scheduled the lung biopsy and wedge resection, I knew what was up in her noggin. The day of surgery, the pre-op staff came to get me to calm Mimi down. She had it in her head that the patient waiting for surgery across the aisle from her was Dick Cheney, and Lord, she was giving it to him good. Here was a man she detested and she was not going to miss her opportunity to let him know exactly what she thought of him and his politics.

While I never found out what happened to this man, and I deftly avoided eye contact with his family in the waiting room, I hope he did alright. If he heard what Mimi said that day, I hope he forgave her lunacy.

Me, I'm glad I find humor in those memories. In the thick of things I was mortified, but 5 years down the road, I'm able to find laughter in the things she said and did when she was ill.

And she was right--that man was the spitting image of Dick.

Bemused

Don't think I wasn't worried when I googled the following words: man killed at cockfight. I had no idea what would pop up, but fear not, this link will only take you to the MSNBC story that is ultimately only about karma.

I have no idea how the man was involved in this brutal "sport" but have to think that if you engage in something despicable, you shall reap what you sow. He incurred a laceration in his calf from an armed bird and bled to death.

In the video on MSNBC, the announcer shared that no charges would be filed.

I know. I'm still scratching my head over that one.

Perhaps the authorities thought it was justifiable homicide and let the rooster off easy.

Photo: Superbass 10:09, 24 July 2005 (UTC) Wiki commons

Compare and contrast

I've always loved to comparison shop for the best deals, and I'm thinking perhaps we should have done a little more research before we booked in the Sarasota area, but I won't worry about things too much. We do have a car, and if we feel the need for more warmth than Sarasota has to offer, we can cut straight across the state to an area that has been boasting 80+ temps and sunshine this week.

To make me feel better, I did a different kind of comparison. You tell me which one looks like the best deal possible.

Detroit's future forecast:


Or the Sarasota, Florida forecast?


Yeah...that's what I'm thinking, too.

Hey! Look who learned to take a screen shot with her MacBook!