Exotic Florida

Floridians love exotic pets.  When my older son was young he had a pet fish.  It wasn't just any fish, it was an Oscar.  Oscar fish are native to South America but they're all over the place now.  My son's Oscar was big.  He kept it in an aquarium on his desk - with a piece of plywood over the top because Oscar was always trying to escape.

I was scared to death of him.  The Oscar, not my son.

Sometimes Oscar would bump up against the plywood so many times that he'd actually flip it and fling himself out onto the floor where you could hear him flopping around all over the house.  If Scott wasn't home I'd have to pick up Oscar and throw him back into the tank.  Very scary business.

What did he eat?  Anything that went into the tank.  Oscars eat mice but I don't remember Scott ever feeding him mice.  His favorite treat was raw hamburger. (That's Oscar, not Scott.)

We in Florida read all the time about folks trying to sneak exotic pets and foods into the country.  There are whole areas in South Florida where parrots and other exotic birds have been let loose.  We also have a big problem with pythons.

And speaking of pythons, this morning's paper had an article about a Brazilian trying to get through airport security in Miami with several baby pythons and tortoise hatchlings in his underpants.

I hope they let him go.  I think having baby tortoises and pythons in your underwear is punishment enough. 


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What a Difference a Decade Makes

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.  I guess we will all evaluate our lives a bit in the next couple of days. 



The photo above was taken in 2002 at the annual Winter Park 4th of July party.  I was having a nice time with my Oldies and my late husband, Ken, who was terminally ill.  I can't tell you how difficult it was watching this brilliant, energetic, creative man disappear before my eyes.  But I was determined to keep him at home until the end, even though I was aware that care giving spouses tend to die before the patient.  I was exhausted in body, mind and, occasionally, in spirit. But I figured I'd probably spend the rest of my life "resting" in front of the TV set.

The photo below was taken a few months ago in Venice Beach, California.  Dave and I are having a fantastic time on one of our many fabulous trips. 

What a difference a decade makes!  I've had a life full of love, hard but meaningful work, and a big beautiful family but, for some strange reason that I don't understand, this is My Best Time.

God works in mysterious ways. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Fun on the Road

Just arrived home from our annual Christmas trip to the north.  Lots of fun seeing families.  Hope you enjoyed the holidays wherever you were.  Some of you don't celebrate Christmas. I wish you well - as well!

Driving back from Atlanta was a bit of a challenge due to every other American and Canadian heading for our neighbor, Disney World, at the same time.  I felt bad when I heard on the radio this morning that Disney and Universal had to turn folks away yesterday.  They were full up.

But we made it home despite the massive traffic.  Here are some highlights.

On the way up north Dave had a little health issue.  We found a clinic in Macon, Georgia.  They did blood work right there on the spot so we were in and out and on the road with our antibiotics within a couple of hours.  These clinics that have sprung up around the country are terrific for little stuff.  And so convenient.

We like to pick up those little coupon books for hotels and such.  On the way up we stayed at a place that was discounted to $40 plus.  Not so great.  On the way back we stayed at a Country Suites, discounted at $50 plus.  What a difference ten dollars makes!  It was nifty, with indoor pool, work out room, warm cookies and the big breakfast that I love.  As you know, I don't actually eat the big breakfast but I like to look it over.

Prior to starting our travels we headed to the library to check out books on tape.  Yes, we're still old school.  We listened to six hours of a David Baldacci mystery.  It was OK.  Then listened to Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion 25th Anniversary series.  There just isn't a better short story teller.

One from his early days was about a 13 year old nerdy little kid who loved to write, (much like Keillor himself.)  His 17 year old cousin came to visit and, via a sweet, sad, funny narration we learn that the cousin is pregnant.  The boy eavesdrops on the conservative, Lutheran, Lake Wobegon parents and other relatives and learns that they're going to throw her out if she doesn't write a letter of contrition, stating what a vile and wanton sinner she's been and how she fully repents.  The kid tells his cousin what she has to do and she says no, she can't write such a letter because it wouldn't be honest.  The kids says, "I'll write it for you."  And he proceeds to write a very flowery, apologetic letter of contrition that only a 13 year old writer could pull together.  Especially since he's not really sure of what she did to get herself pregnant.  He's very proud of what he's written. 

But then the phone rings and it's the cousin's boyfriend asking her to marry him.  She does and they stay married for 30 years and the boy never gets to show off his excellent letter.

I'm happy to be home with lots to do, but I miss the folks in Lake Wobegon - as well as my own family.


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My Favorite Restaurant

You already know how I love McDonald's.  So what a cool experience last week to sit on a plane next to a man who works for McDonald's.  OK, I know that almost everybody in the country has worked at McDonald's at one time or another, but this man had been an exec - and now does consulting work for them all over the world.  And he's darn proud of his company - as well he should be.

We talked about consistency, safety (when have you ever heard of anybody getting sick eating at McDonald's?) and decor.  And, yes, after we talked a while I was able to express my disappointment with the Asian Chicken Salad going away.  Good news - It'll be back. 

They must just like to tease us with it, like the McRib.

Following are some fun facts about McDonald's.

The first McDonald's drive thru opened in 1975 on an Arizona military base to serve soldiers who weren't permitted to get out of their cars while wearing fatigues.

McDonald's is the leading foodsource retailer on the planet.

Ronald McDonald speaks 31 languages.

My sister in law's dad was the only person I know who didn't like Ronald McDonald.  Many years ago he was a local Popeye impersonator in Indianapolis and he was jealous of Ronald because he got all the good gigs in children's hospitals. 

The highest McDonald's is located in Kuala Lumpur Tower in Indonesia.  This is where Dave was born.  Not in the tower but in the city.

The golden arches are the most recognized symbol in the world.

There are 179 McDonald restaurants in India.

While I was in Denver and was sharing my love of McDonald's with a very sophisticated friend, she surprised me by saying she felt the same way.  She's been all over the world and said she's eaten breakfast and/or lunch at a McDonald's in every country she visited.  She added, "I'd eat dinner there as well if they served alcohol."

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Is That Grandma's Underwear Hanging in That Tree?

We're on day 15 of an on going washer/dryer saga.  Don't worry, I'm not sharing the gory details.  Just know that we've been inspired, once more, by Harry Truman who was known, among other things, for washing out his own undies when he was traveling.

But we're keeping our sense of humor.  And feeling grateful for this time of year when something wonderful is happening every day.  Yesterday Dave attended a party at his art class where they had a smorgasbord of great food.  Dave loves trying a little bit of everything.  The artists exchanged cards they'd made for each other.  I attended my favorite annual Christmas lunch with my Power Rangers.  I love them so much.  Last night we had pizza and salad with family members. 

We've already given and received gifts and we've given lots of gifts to less fortunate folks.  Our church makes it easy to do.  And the parties just keep coming. 

We're feeling blessed that we have the means to do this.  And to do so many things together - like work out at the same place the Orlando Magic works out - only Dwight Howard might be turning in his towel for the last time soon. 

We're blessed that we can afford a new washer and dryer.  And that some day they will show up. 

In the meanwhile, we have laundry hanging all over this condo.  Not actually outside, however, because our condo board has strict rules about where you park your car and where you hang your undies.


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Flying too High With Some Guy in the Sky...

We're getting ready to travel.  It's that time of year.  I don't like to travel but I love being in other places.  As you know, we flew to Denver last week.  Since we flew Southwest, we didn't get to sit together.  When we came down the isle Dave pointed to the first desirable seat and said, "You sit here."  Yes, he loves me that much. 

But it worked out well because the guy next to me was an exec for one of my very favorite restaurants, McDonald's.  I'll share with you soon some of the exciting things he told me about Mickey D's.  All in all, a good flight each way. 

Next week we'll fly from Atlanta to Chicago for a couple of days.  I'm hoping we'll have no craziness like what happened to some women flying from New York to South Florida last week.

Three old ladies in three separate incidents were strip searched in the airport by the TSA.

- Lenore, 84, was a suspected terrorist because she had a defibrillator for her heart. 

- Linda, 66, was suspected of being a terrorist because she was wearing a glucose monitor.

- Ruth, 88, was suspected because she was wearing a colostomy bag.

Thankfully, at the present time, I don't have any spare parts but you never know what the TSA folks will find suspicious so I'm going to try, as I always do, to mind my "Ps" and "Qs"  when I go through security.

And here's a personal note to Lenore, Linda and Ruth.  Don't let this depressing incident at the airport keep you from enjoying your holidays - and especially don't let it keep you from flying wherever you want to go in the future.


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Harry is Gone



Harry J. Welch 1921 - 2011

This past week Dave and I were in Denver for a memorial service for Harry Welch, whom I've affectionately called "My Oldie" in this blog.  He died over a week ago. 

Last Saturday, during the Christmas Parade I was really missing him because, as you know, Harry stopped more than one parade to allow his wife, who was the love of his life, to cross the street to have her hair done.

There is no way, at this point, to convey how I felt about this larger than life character. But his family and the minister did a good job of capturing who he was. 

His son wrote the following words about him in a song:

This is the man that I remember,

He was strong and caring and smart,

He saw the world as a Van Gogh painting,

He knew life as a work of art.

About a dozen years ago Harry was invited by a man in Winter Park to be a part of a small group of men to gather and discuss great ideas in philosophy, history, theology, and so on.  I, of course, teased Harry by referring to it as the Woman Haters Club.   Later on this same man started another group for both sexes so I was able to be a part of it, along with Harry.  And I was reminded once again, as we discussed great books,  of what a brilliant man he was.

Last week I wrote this man to tell him Harry had died.  He wrote back saying: 

I'm so sorry to hear about Harry, who I always adored.  He was a very special guy with an amazing mind and sense of humor, and I'll miss him enormously.

And so will I.

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The Parade Was Ten Hours Long

Yesterday we went to the Winter Park Christmas parade.  Well, we went to breakfast as we usually do, ate, read the paper, talked with folks, and then walked outside to watch the parade for a bit.

The parade is always lots of fun.  It's one of those parades that it seems like every person with a kid, a wagon or a dog can march in.  I've told several people that it lasted ten hours but it really didn't.  Only two-three hours.

I do tend to exaggerate.  I like to exaggerate.  I've said to Dave, "If anybody ever tries to put me in an MRI, just shoot me."  But I don't actually want him to shoot me.  I just don't want to suffocate in an MRI.  Sometimes I say "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."  But I couldn't - and I wouldn't, even though it looks like the government might lift restrictions on slaughtering horses for human consumption.

When I exaggerate I'm using hyperbole.  One of the features of hyperbole is that what is said is not logically possible. 

But I'm in good company when I use hyperbole.  None other than Jesus used it extensively when he was walking among us.  He said things like "get the log out of your own eye," or "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off," or "If you have enough faith and say to a mountain, 'be lifted up and thrown into the sea' it will be done." 

Jesus is telling the truth - but using hyperbole.  We need to take his words seriously but not literally.

So when I say it's raining cats and dogs.  You know what I mean.

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