A Thing of Beauty

I hear Idina Menzel singing "Defying Gravity!!!"

You can keep your shoulder pads and helmets. I'd take this any day.

More later.
*

A Winter's Tale - A Snowy Peace

At last. A quiet, restful night without pain, stress, or tension of body or mind. Woke up in the same position I fell asleep, so I was tired, indeed. Had a coffee in hand watching the snow continue to fall as the dawn broke today, giving that touch of gold luminosity to the blue/gray aura of the landscape. Magic.

Looks like we got what was forecast of this storm, and then some. Nothing and no one stirring outside. No birds singing or complaining. Everything still, laden with heavy snow. Beautiful, really.

Calm.  Peace. Deep, healthy breathing. All is well this day. I know the day is young and anything can happen, but positive thinking is my best friend and hope.  There it is.

I've never been a big fan of St. Patrick's Day. Never understood the connection between the religious fervor and the humiliation of public puking.  Just another excuse to get wasted, I believe. But, that's just me. Why do adults need an excuse, after all?

While not a fan of the hoopla, I do like Irish music and, of course the beauty of the country, culture, and people. I am also a really big fan of corned beef and cabbage at this time of year.  The squeaky crunch of crisp, steamed cabbage, with potatoes, onions, carrots, and leeks along with thick slices of tender corned beef makes my mouth water as I smell it cooking in the kitchen right now. 

Since I cook for one, I hunt for a small brisket - about 2.5 pounds, so I get 2, possibly 3 meals out of it.  Just enough to hold me for another year. Besides, it always tastes better as leftovers, at least to my mind. It takes a good 6 to 8 hours to do the recipe justice, so having started early, my supper will be early, too.  You see, there is a method to some of my madness. 

Hooray!  Just received an email confirmation from the accountant telling me that I will receive a nice refund for 2013. It will be direct-deposited in a few weeks. Not that I can plan to use it for a getaway holiday with my present physical health situation, but I can use some of it to pay down a few medical bills hanging over my head, and still squirrel some away JIC my health improves in the future and I can be away from the transfusion center more than 7 days at a stretch. 

Hey!  It's something to look forward to, ain't it? And I really, truly need something to look forward to anymore.

Probably spend the better part of the day learning my way around the Nexus, downloading apps, and resting quietly - waiting for that corned beef to be ready...

And so it goes.

*

Cleanup, Connections, and Crazy Rednecks

Spent some time today cleaning up the old place a bit.  Needed a little fluffing up, you might say. Let me know what you think, or if it makes a difference in your viewing experience at all.

• Enlarged the font size and changed the default. 
• Added a little more colour to various sections.  
• Updated the blogroll.

More to come when I figure out how to make those changes in the new Blogger. 

There were two new email messages from DL customers waiting for me today.  One sent a link to his new photo exhibit from his recent trip to New Orleans.  All in large format Black and White and all captured the city well. I replied telling him so, and sent links to NOLA music, food, and festival sites.It was the first visit for him and his wife and they fell in love.  Well, or course they did.!!

The other wasn't so uplifting.  Seems he was in a serious accident (thanks to a recent Snowstorm and asshole drivers) and following 5 days in hospital, will be recuperating at home for the next 4 weeks. Jeez!  And he writes to find out how I AM DOING!!  I wrote back with the latest, keeping it as positive as I could and telling him if he wants to chat, just give me a call.  I'm here pretty much all the time, anyway

I made it through the full moon without harming, or killing my neighbors.  The ones with the Duck Dynasty Welcome Mat on their porch, dontcha know. Seems they have a short memory about what is, and what is NOT recyclable in the state.  

They eat pizza. No, I mean THEY EAT PIZZA! Usually 2 or 3 large pies about 3 times weekly.  (She must be good in bed, 'cause she ain't much in the kitchen.) And, they insist on putting the empty boxes in the recycle bins.  They've been called on this in the past - many times - but it never seems to sink in.

The building manager called them on the carpet again, took out all the boxes, placed them at the foot of the stairs, and knocked on the door.  A loud argument ensued.  The male redneck stormed down the stairs, kicked and stomped the boxes all over the grounds as the female redneck sweetly asked him, "oh honey, come on now, stop."  You could tell her heart wasn't in it, though.  

The building manager even offered them a large heavy duty trash bag, in case they had never seen one before, but that only made him more crazed. So she finally left him to his own devices, screaming and stomping and carrying on.  He kicked his car, truck, and the building, too.

Having had enough, I put on a Disco CD and cranked up the volume - something I never do when anyone is in the building - and just let it rip as I prepared supper.  After that, all was quiet on the western front and the world was at peace once again.

When I went outdoors in the morning all pizza boxes were flat, stacked against one another and sitting by their regular trash can behind their stairs.  So, what was accomplished?  How long will this last?  Dunno, and me no care. 

It must be frustrating believing that you're the only important person in the world; that doing the right thing is for those OTHER people.  Yeah, well.

And so it goes.

*

Earworm: Scotch & Soda

For some reason this old favorite has been in my mind and on my lips all week. Don't know why. May be the full moon.

I knew things were out of hand when I woke from a dream this morning. In this dream, I was singing this song, accompanied by the original artists - The Kingston Trio - in an old long-gone Folk Coffee House in the Village in NYC.

It was then that I knew I had to act; find the damned song and post it just to get a little peace. Not surprisingly, the song and the singer's raspy vocal hold up well after 50 years.

I've played various versions all day, and this one is my favorite and closest to the original as I remember it.

And so it goes.

*

Transport, Translate, Transfuse.

The results of Tuesday's culinary challenges were quite satisfactory: Artichoke/rice/pasta/veggie salad. Cooked then chilled. Sliced olives and green onions added later. De-lish! Huge mess of braised short ribs with onions, garlic, celery and tomatoes was next. The aroma - O.M.G. I almost died and went to heaven.  I so miss a good mixed green salad, but that can't be helped.

I was pretty tired after all that so an early bedtime, following a hot shower was on my gay agenda. I slept well.

Deb and I hit the road Wednesday morning to drive to the hospital complex in Christiana. She had been there in the past, but wasn't sure of the way since the new highway construction made a confusing jumble of new ramps and changes to lane feeds. We found the campus with little trouble and hunted down the exact building housing the offices and the lab where I was to present myself for a full set of labs which would then be transferred to the Specialists upstairs.  Having noted the lay of the land - there are many restricted parking areas - we got our bearings and set off in search of a quiet lunch spot.

We had 1.5 hours to kill.  We ended up at the "Bugaboo Creek" steakhouse. It was open for lunch and there were few people around, which was a good thing. It appears to be part of a chain, but don't know where the other stores are. Um,

their mascot is the Moose!  I don't know why, but there it is.

Spent the afternoon/evening with the rather rotund Hematologist was brutal, straight-forward, and honest. His overt attempts to shock me didn't work for him, however.  That seemed to relax him somewhat. Copious amounts of blood drawn (I'm surprised I didn't require a transfusion then and there.) Another marrow biopsy needs to be scheduled,  continue taking the current meds, have a CBC done every week or 2, and be transfused as needed for the foreseeable future. 

Five hours later - A folder full of resources and the business cards for the hospital personnel working on my case was handed to me as I left, there's homework to do and 8 weeks to make a few important decisions. Attempts to translate the medical jargon into lay language makes my head hurt. I can't wait to see what more I find online.

Not ready to share more information right now (I would't know how to put it into words at this point;  At least the ball is rolling, who knows where.  Meanwhile I have to figure out how to make an income as I'm unable to work at my regular job.  It's pouring rain here today, so I plan to update the locos guys tomorrow, picking their brains about where to go from here.  Disability? Unemployment Insurance?

It's fascinating that the card for today is The Star. 

And so it goes.

It's Over! Lessons Learned?

I don't think so.

The delusional are still in denial, but the bullying has been smacked down. The whole world has been watching, shaking its head and saying WTF?  Thank you Mr. President for not caving in.

Now that the National (International?) embarrassment is coming to an end, lets make some tea, move on, and remember the bullies at election time, shall we.

More later
*

In-between Two Tuesdays...

...There was this ill-fated holiday.  Well, not what was expected, in any case.

In a nutshell:

All plans for dinners and large group get-togethers were cancelled.  All plans for visits to the new World War II museum, the Aquarium and Zoo cancelled, too as well as the much planned old cemetery photo excursion.  Did get to have breakfast with my dance teacher & her daughter which was lovely, an early lunch with the sister and her grandkids, and three other lunches alone at nearby restaurants where the walk to and from didn't exhaust me.  A Pimm's Cup and Roast Beef Po-boy at The Napoleon House (still the same after all these years). a shrimp po-boy at the Pontalba Cafe, then Red Beans & Rice with Andouille sausage, and Oysters Bienville (with the sister) at Felixs'.  I had a seafood platter delivered from another fave place that was too far to walk which turned out to be the best (and only true) dinner of the trip.  I think I wrote about this earlier.  Kept the ice bucket filled for drinking water or tea, and ice packs for the multiple fevers that showed their undying love for my body all week.

The Saints played on Sunday afternoon - and won.  I didn't know what that meant until half way through lunch the sister suggested I'd better get back to the room before all Hell broke loose. The fans (gay & straight) take over the Quarter after a winning game and the crowds are absolutely nuts. One of the housekeepers at the hotel described it best, "it looks like someone stirred up a giant ant hill." The images on the news fit that description exactly. Never seen anything like it and happy to watch on TV rather than streets.

Tuesday, 1 am: I awoke with a headache and fever of 101. The usual routine followed and I eventually dragged myself out of bed, showered and dressed for the shuttle. At 3:30 am (on the dot) the airport shuttle picked me up, already hot and drizzling as he put my bag in the van. We made three more stops at various hotels to pick up others catching early flights.  Shuttles usually make 10 stops before heading to the airport, but we were the only 4 onboard.  Therefore we arrived at 4:15 am rather than a half hour later. Self-checked my bag, got my boarding pass and woke up the TSA staff, being the only person in their usually long, snaking line. Made my way to the gate while searching for a place to snag a breakfast snack and coffee.  Nothing open until 5 or 6 am. Frequent flyers were recognizable by their paper bags and boxes containing piping hot coffee and breakfast foods from outside venues.

Hunted down a scrambled egg/bacon/biscuit sandwich (all fresh stuff, no rubbish) and a great cup of coffee and settled in to wait for boarding - another hour away. The headache was long gone but I remained feverish. Took two more Tylenol on the flight that seemed to help. Linda was waiting and had brought along a sidekick, Debbie (also a host at DL) for company and we had a nice ride back to the beach. They kept asking about details of the trip and I felt bad because there was little to relate. Lots of dead air in between small talk followed.  And that was the week that was.  Quite the exciting time, huh?

Arrived home and began feeling very tired; I'd been up and moving for 11 hours, after all. Unpacked and stored luggage, made a salad (not eaten), had a yogurt, lots of water and began to get chills again. Got into bed to warm up, found the fever was back (at 101.9), tried to read, but fell asleep around 2:30 pm. Woke soaking wet at midnight, changed everything and went back to bed until 5 this morning.  No pain, just weakness.  All things considered, it felt great to sleep in my own bed, surrounded by my own stuff in my own little place. Nice to be home, really.

Called to report to the Oncologist before the office visit tomorrow.  He is in surgery all day, they have my report. He ought to be up to speed in the morning when I see him for another set of labs and consultation.

Got out to do the things I slept through yesterday:  picked up the held mail at the P.O., made a short stop for a few groceries, then back home to make a substantial lunch.  Having eaten mostly grocery-store prepared sandwiches and salads for a week, I was ready for something of my own. Made a pot of tea for iced tea, prepared and ate my sandwich and felt better as I sat down to type this post. 

A few images will be forthcoming of scenes, but none of people, especially not myself. 

Note: The shot above is the courtyard of The Coffee Pot Restaurant as I waited for my friends to arrive. The covered part is in front with the high-walled, open-sky part in the rear.  Great place.

And so it goes. 
*

Sandy: Morning Update

Sandy is still hours away, but the fat girl is already warming up to make her entrance and sing.

Obviously I still have electricity, here's a quick update.  At 5 AM today, Governor Jack Markell ordered statewide Level Two driving restrictions.

According to state law, a Level 2 Driving Restriction provides that no person shall operate a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways other than essential personnel. Essential personnel includes those employees necessary to maintain the core functions of government and maintain health and safety by providing utility services, healthcare services, and food and fuel deliveries. In addition, some private employers have received a waiver from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency for essential employees.

First offense carries a $115. fine.  The second is $200. and the third carries a fine and 30-day jail sentence.

I've showered and had a coffee. A hot breakfast is next because I don't know how long my good fortune will last.  I will dress and check the emergency getaway bag to be sure I didn't miss packing anything I will need if I do have to make a run for it.

The winds are gusting to 55 mph and the rains are heavy and banding in some rhythm of its own design. The steady sounds are not annoying, at least not yet. The main Coastal Highway has already been closed between Dewey Beach south to Bethany Beach.  That narrow strip of land floods when the Atlantic Ocean washes over to join with Rehoboth Bay.  This will only get worse due the the high tides of the next 3 or 4 cycles. Each tide becoming higher than the last as Sandy draws closer to land. Remember there is also the full, new moon to contend with.

I'll post another update later, unless power goes out. Stay safe everyone, it promises to be a long week ahead.

Latest High Wind Warning for Delaware.

And so it goes.
*

Update: Hurricane Sandy & Me.

I didn't work today.  As posted last night, the mandatory evacuation began at 8 pm with Shelters opening at noon today and everyone getting out of Dodge by 8 PM tonight. Seeing photos of the restaurant completely boarded up on Face Book this morning, I sent a text asking if we were closed. Reply said "no, opening as usual."  Which was followed by an incoherent telephone conversation. Evidently, the Governor's message was not received by the locosguys, who pitched a hissy fit.  I was told to take the day off.  It's complicated. 

(Photo: High tide this morning on Rehoboth Beach. Note there is no beach visible, only ocean and the sea foam being pushed right up to the dunes. Photo from local newspaper website posted this morning.)

Last night during storm preparations I found that I neglected to remove the batteries from the emergency weather radio last year after hurricane Irene and they corroded, essentially ruining the innards of the radio. Salt air does that, I suppose. Since I was dressed for work anyway, I took a drive (hoping against hope) to try to find a new one.  No luck, of course. Most stores were closed, but those that were open had sold out of everything battery-related. Including batteries.

Northbound traffic was heavy, while southbound was empty, but for a few of us locals doing last minute things that ought to have been done last week.  Oh Sigh!

In any case, there are no hotel rooms to be had for 40+ miles.  Well, I have plenty of batteries, flashlights, and candles; canned goods, water, Kindle (fully charged) a land line phone as well as the cell phone. Unless the building blows down or washes away, I ought to be OK.  And if it does that's OK, too.

Bands of rain come and go, the winds are steady at about 15 - 25 mph. That will change as the night wears on.

And so it goes.
*

Still. Not Calm

The full moon this weekend brought out the coo-coos, no mistake about it.  It was chaos all around the beach communities. And, to make it more intense, it was NASCAR, a Classic Car show, Motorcycle weekend, some kind of end-of-summer Festival and, well, you get the idea. The crisp Autumn weather brought representatives from all the above into Rehoboth Beach at one point or another. 

It was like July - with traffic jams, people milling about on the boardwalk and beach - only enjoying the cool Autumn air rather than stifling heat.

Staggering into the restaurant blind drunk before noon was the norm for many of these folks and a major problem for other businesses, not just restaurants. The unpleasant full moon is waning and most everyone I know seems to be on pins & needles for some reason. Anxious, but can't put a finger on a cause. 

Today, the uneasiness remains. My dreams overnight reflected the emotion  (In a large house, surrounded by strangers, couldn't find a bathroom, kitchen, or any place to be alone) and I awoke exhausted with taut muscles in shoulders and legs. I got out of bed carefully, looking like a hunchback and praying that nothing would snap while walking to the kitchen.

No plans for the day. Just hang out at home, read, and do some cleaning.  The rain and winds are excuse enough not to venture outdoors.  Maybe tomorrow.

A big pot of cabbage soup is in the making, I mean, it being October and all. No soup bones, so chopped, smoked beef sausage will fill in, instead.

And so it goes.
*

"The Kid" A long Over-due Experience.

Chaplin and 4-year old Jackie Coogan in his first role.

On the Gay Agenda this evening.  One of the best films of all time.

And so it goes.
*

Summer: Not Gone, Hardly Forgotten

"Summer's gone and no songbirds are singing."  OK, who remembers this one?***

According to the calendar,  Autumn arrives over a week from now, the birds are singing wildly, and Summer weather is still with us, only the visitors have gone, for the most part.  All of this leaves us staring at one another and coping with life, as we came to know it, coming to a screeching halt. 

Still a lot of activity in town and plenty of beach-goers coming out of the woodwork now that the tourists are back home.

The restaurant remains busy, though business is down by a third from last month.  Weekends are still very busy and we are gearing up for Jazz Fest and Sea Witch Festival in October.

The work schedule has changed and I am back to a 5 day week. It feels strange to have the luxury of that extra free day after 5 months, but it is a welcome change.  While the extra day's pay will be missed, I can enjoy the rest and relaxation. Everything is a trade-off, isn't it.

Visited the Farmer's Market to pick up fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, early kale, white sweet potatoes, and tiny fingerling potatoes - great for pan-roasting.

While walking around the market I saw a few people from my previous life who ducked into vendor tents to avoid making contact. I chuckled and when I finally caught the eye of one, waved politely and kept moving. Tiny-minded, little people are all round us, I hope you realize that.  No matter where you live.

Oh, Christ on a cracker, who gives and fig anymore.  Get over yourselves! 

Tomorrow's plan is to head up to the beach at Cape Henlopen, enjoy the sound of the ocean, search for conch shells for the daughter of a co-worker, and do some photography. A tiny bit of grocery shopping will finish off the outdoor entertainment.

***Paul Anka

And so it goes.

Our August (month, not lineage) Visitors

Elaine Stritch sang the great Noel  Coward song "Why do the wrong people travel?" in the not-so-big-hit Sail Away.  The song was introduced almost 50 years ago, became an instant hit with seasoned gay travelers, with lyrics as relevant today as back then.  Only modes of transport and the names of the people have changed to protect the innocent.

I've always been embarrassed by other Americans when I've traveled out of the country.  Well, truth be told, even only to another state. A few of the words associated with such travelers: arrogant, ignorant, stupid, selfish, rude, pushy, demanding, obstinate, whiny, and needy.  That's not all of them, but a damn good start.

That said, there's been little time (or energy) for a personal post this week. Though the entertainment provided by our August (the month, not lineage) visitors has been rather amusing, all we seem to have the time for is a good belly laugh when the traveling crazy show has moved on.

No explanations or detailed stories, but this may give you some idea - from our vantage point in a tiny resort town on the Atlantic Ocean - of the cuckoos of August.

Walking to work, about to cross the main avenue when a lone car speeds up so that I have to wait for it to pass.  Rolls down the window and screams "go to the crosswalk, a**hole."  and speeds away. In this little town pedestrians have the right-of-way, no matter what. This notice is posted everywhere.  Maybe the jerk can't read.

As I was being relieved by the boss the other day, a party of 16 entered and when told their SUV size baby stroller had to remain outside the building, went ballistic and made an Oscar worthy scene. The boss pointed out the crowded dining room and asked what would happen if there were 4 or 5 of these monsters in the house and a fire broke out?  The mother puts hands on hips, throws head back and says, "what are the odds of that happening?" and I said, "maybe you could ask the folks on the Titanic."  She was not amused, but had no snappy comeback. They left in a huff. 

A long, tall, and old Texan and his little lady joined us for lunch.  He asks the server "what beer do you have on tap?" and as the server begins reciting the list, the Texan interrupts asking, "how about Bud Light?"  server, "we have that in bottles." Texan, "well, what have you got on tap?" same scenario second time around, and then (honest to G*d) even a third.  The little lady orders a Chardonnay and the Texan orders (wait for it).....a margarita.!!?!!

Last evening a herd, 'er group of 50 attempted entry, only to be turned away by the boss.  They were dumbfounded and demanded to know why they couldn't be served (honest, really? they were a busload of morons who had never seen the ocean) and apparently couldn't understand that at that very moment there was a 45 minute wait for any table in the place.

As the busser was clearing the table of a family of 5 today one of the adults motioned me over and asked, "where is this busboy from?" I checked to see who it was and said, "Romania, he's a student.  Was there something wrong?"  "Yes, I want my table cleared by an American, not a foreigner." "Well, in that case," I said, "one of your kids can do the honors.  None of the American students want to work this hard, so we try to hire the best workers we can find.  Sadly, few are American."  I went back to my station as her jaw dropped closer and closer to the tabletop.

One more:

My shift ended late today and I didn't hang around for an AS cocktail, choosing to walk home, instead. As I made my way up the street there were many cars in search of parking spots (free after 5 pm - a permit is required at other times) driving fast and recklessly starting and stopping where they "think" there may be a spot, but it isn't.  As I walk, one car passes dangerously close and yells out to me, "why the f**k don't you use the sidewalk?" and continues on his frantic search without taking notice that there are NO sidewalks on my street.  Good luck finding a parking spot, you dumb-ass!

I made it home safe and sound - - this time.  Tomorrow?  Who knows?

As the boss always says, "You can't make this stuff up, but nobody believes you, anyway."  Truth is stranger than fiction, and that's the truth!

And so it goes.
*

Fresh as a...Sunflower!

Saturday was much better than Friday.  After the hot bath and early bedtime I woke relaxed and refreshed. Another joy was to discover the morning temperature was 65' F so I decided to take a walk on the Boardwalk before heading to work. 

The air was crisp and salty, people walking, biking, or just lounging on a bench enjoying the ocean and a morning coffee made for a serene atmosphere. The sound of the waves is always intoxicating, but enhanced by my jubilant mood.

Yes, I had to be at the restaurant an hour earlier, but that was no chore this day. The prep crew all arrived on time - and in good spirits - for a change. The morning went like clockwork and lunch was busy, bright, and cheerful.  The change in weather (not to mention the full moon) had an impact on everyone's mood.

When I checked my email last evening there was a note from blogger buddy Peter, containing this bouquet of Sunflowers that really made my day. Thanks Peter.

This morning appears to be a duplicate of yesterday, but I have to be at work by 7:30 am so I'll get just a brief 2-block stroll on the boards before work.  That's OK,  it's a brand new day and I look forward to a brisk brunch crowd.

More later,
*

Plenty 'a Nuthin'

I realize that my personal posts have been few lately. My friends, I am one totally spent, ragged heap of humanity right now. The longer hours and big crowds of guests, as well as the other tourists, send me to the trusty Organizer every morning to find out what day it is and what time I am to be available - for kitchen prep crew, contractors, plumbers, and/or servers.

Don't get me wrong.  I don't mind the extra hours, but what I do mind is the time isn't dedicated to my regular responsibilities, but to the folks mentioned above. I prefer to get all my preparation done before anyone else arrives.  Do it in peace and do it thoroughly, because the responsibilities vary from day to day.  Weekday and weekend.

While the moon is full tonight, I'm empty. I have nothing.  I didn't have an after-shift cocktail tonight...I am that tired. No music; quiet is preferred this evening. A good soaking bath in Epsom Salts is first up, following that I will attempt a salad and maybe a glass of wine before stumbling into bed.

The Summer is already half over which, in many ways is hard to wrap my head around, but a part of me is happy in that knowledge. I'm over the hump, so to say.

And so it goes.
*

WTF? No, Really. These Headlines Could not be Made Up.

I go to work for a few hours and come home to news like this? Feh!

A 70 year old man (in Philadelphia) is stoned to death because the Bible says it must be so.

Radiation found in Japanese food in towns near damaged power plants.

Sarah (Mooselini) Palin insists that the GOP lost in 2008 because SHE was not at the top of the ticket.  Yes, read that again. 

The first radioactive plume from Japan heads to the west coast of the US.

US Forces are firing missiles at government targets in Libya. WTF!  Yes, please read that one again, too.

Returned home to find a note tucked under the windshield wiper on the car from some delusional soul telling me that I am parked in their space.  No signature or phone, or address. Um, I am parked on a public street in almost the same spot I've parked for close to a year.

The 'supermoon' will be visible tonight and I am locking the door, turning off most lights, and dancing in the dark. No wait, oh never mind.

Where the hell are those olives? 

And so it goes.
*

Extreme Super Moon Coming Saturday

Just what we need this post-St. Patrick's Weekend.  Promises extra high tides and more beach erosion. Still, it ought to be a beautiful sight:

It's called an "extreme supermoon" and when it rises in the eastern sky on Saturday, it won't just be full, it also will be making its closest approach to Earth in 18 years.

If no clouds get in the way, it should be a great night for stargazers. But the moon, which will appear about 10 to 15 percent larger than normal, could create abnormally high tides from Friday through Sunday, experts say. And that could mean beach erosion and minor flooding along the shoreline.

"The tides are definitely going to be higher, not only in Florida, but worldwide," said astronomer Arnold Pearlstein.

The best time to view the moon will be at sunset — about 7 p.m. — on Saturday, when it will be closest to the horizon and should look "huge and orangey," Pearlstein said.

Jay Albert, of the Astronomical Society of the Palm Beaches, said the best way to view it will be with the naked eye, not a telescope. The lunar surface will be too bright to easily discern mountains and craters.

Some think the supermoon is a harbinger of global chaos, including earthquakes and hurricanes. Others, such as Pearlstein, disagree. But he said, "It's going to be interesting to see if there will be more wolves howling at the moon."

Maybe not wolves, but the crazies will be out in force.  Should be a fun weekend. Stay tuned.

And so it goes.
*

Weekend's End

As I walked to work yesterday I noticed roofing shingles, garbage cans, tree limbs and other debris cluttering the streets, in some cases blocking traffic movement entirely. It was all gone when I walked home.  Not a sign of where the transformer exploded the night before, either.  It only impacted the north side of the town.  Lucky us.

Didn't check the mailbox on Friday and when I got home last evening the poor thing was bulging to bursting. Stuffed it into a bag and went up to the apartment. Most was information about the Medicare supplemental insurance plans that now number 14, received in the last 3 weeks. I didn't realize so many companies had their grubby fingers in the business. 

Opening the door, I noticed that a large painting had come crashing down from its place on the wall.  Seems those stick-on picture hooks aren't as good as they're cracked up to be.  There are 4 other paintings/photos hung in the same manner, I guess it's only a matter of time for them, too. At least the paintings are glass-free, so only frames require replacement.  Not so for the photos and watercolors.

There was a message from Verizon on the answering machine, too.  Seems the fed has added a new fee for both phone and DSL usage.  I guess they need the extra money for wiretapping, dont'cha know. 

Everything is still this Sunday morning.  Only the cardinals are raising a racket outside. A walk on the boardwalk will be a nice way to start the work day.

More later.
*

Dusting off the Nikon and a Dusting of Snow

Yes, the temp of 74'F last weekend was just a teaser. Last night it got down to 30' and I woke to about 3" of white all around.  Not bad, actually, it could have been much worse. Those north and west got hit with a lot more. (Ooooo, a red velvet cake in the form of a Nikon. Yum. Click to embiggen.)

Still, it put a damper on plans for the free day. Reworked the 2-day agenda to perform some chores originally planned for tomorrow. It's for the best so that if tomorrow is sunny and warmer, I have a shot (no pun intended) at getting out and doing a bit of photography, which I haven't done in almost a year. Weather or work always interfered and it's been gnawing at me for a while now.

Unlike blog-buddie Mark (Our Simple Lives...) who is great at portrait photography (especially of his 4 beautiful kids), I take snapshots of people, for the most part. Sometimes I see everyday things in a different way and try to capture that difference.  It's hard to explain, really. Maybe if I get brave sometime, I'll post some of these.  Maybe not.

One of the chores today then, was to break out the Nikon, dust it off, and try to remember how to use it.  I'm a bit rusty, but some is coming back to this tired old brain.  Thanks to blog-buddie & friend Ron, (Retired in Delaware) I have a little digital camera with me every day. But that made me lazy.

One of my coworkers recently joined a local digital camera/photography club and seems to enjoy the experience.  Maybe I'll follow his lead next Fall after the season is over and there is more free time to play. The club membership year runs from September to May, so it isn't worth the money for me to join for only 2 months - at full membership fee, btw.

After gathering all the year-end tax information I broke out in a cold sweat and decided to have the returns done by a pro who is the accountant for the restaurant and suggested by the doslocosguys. It can't be any worse than my botched attempts of the past. The returns should be ready any day now; I am apprehensive and hopeful that I won't have to pay as much as the past 4 years.  I've got fingers, toes, and eyes crossed. 

Needless to say this makes it difficult to walk and see clearly causing people to look at me kind of funny. I do not mean "funny" as in Ha-ha!

And so it goes.
*

As the Full Moon Wanes

Saturday and today were hugely busy days at work. The jovial craziness continued unabated and, as my shift ended this evening, it looked like there was more in store. Not one party-pooper in the lot.   I love when that happens.

One episode really made my weekend.  As I was at my station with a server at my side, in streams a party of 8 delightfully joyful younger folks and as the entire party is finally in the room, the last 2 people to enter scream, "God, it's him... and him, they're both here! Oh this is just the best." I recognized the two immediately. They came in during my first summer on the job and we had a ball together as we talked about the beach, menu items and their stay in town.  They returned last summer and were happy with this very server, and that I was again welcoming them with a smile and hug.

It seems that they raved about me/us to their friends who were a part of this group. The facial expressions within the group were priceless as the snappy patter and bantering went back and forth.  Fortunately, I was able to seat them so the server was able to serve again.

As I said, it was very busy so I didn't have the time to spend with them that I would have wished.  They enjoyed cocktails, good food, and a good time was had by all. They were visiting to check out rentals for the coming season.  I hope they find something they will enjoy.

The kicker came long after they left.  After the server had closed out for the day, the Gen. Mgr. walked up to me with a big smile on her face as I waited for my festive a-s cocktail.  I asked what the big smile was about. She handed me the food check from that group on which was written a compliment about me and signed by all 8 of them.  They did the same thing with the second check for the server.

The server and I had a laugh and shared a hug as he headed home for the evening. We knew without using words that those 8 wonderful people made our day.

And then, several old friends from the previous life walked into the bar just as I was about to enjoy my festive after-shift cocktail and, as those in the past, were surprised to see me, having been told that I moved away after the breakup.  Their initial reaction was tentative, but became more comfortable as I brushed off, or made jokes, about those rumors. We shared a short chat as I enjoyed my drink and said our good-byes.  No mention of staying in touch, or getting together socially, and that's fine.  They are from the past.  I don't need baggage from that life.

While I'm not so crazy about my life as present, I love my work, the wonderful people I work with, and those I meet daily. I'll take what I can get from both.

Still, I am exhausted (back of hand placed on the forehead) and need the essence of a few olives to pull me through.

And so it goes.
*