This morning we’re headed to the waterpark to meet up with my grandkids. I’ve already completed my run and swim on this sweltering Monday morning. I was completely drenched after my 3.1 mile run in these humid conditions, so a few hours in the pool sounds refreshing. I can just imagine, however, the crowd with school out for the summer. This is why I prefer the quiet, solitary surroundings of our backyard pool. It’s just perfect for our needs, plus we have access to two community pools, but my grandkids like the lazy river and slides that give them plenty to do rather than just splash around.
We made more plans for our summer drive, including tickets to the Grand Ole Opry. Two days in Nashville, Tennessee will now be filled with music, museums, and a Nash-Trash tour of the sights. We start in Panama City and then travel to the University of Alabama before making our way to Nashville. Indianapolis and Decatur will follow before we head north to Ludington, Petoskey and Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel. On the way back, we’ll stop in Cleveland, Canton, Asheville, and Hilton Head before returning home.
We’re going to borrow my son’s Chevy Traverse instead of renting and pay his mortgage for its use. (“See the USA in your Chevrolet.”) This way we both benefit, while he’ll use our cars while we’re gone. We’ll have plenty of room to take some consignment items up north like furs, coats, and clothing that are more likely to sell in the cooler weather. We’re also transferring a few goods to my wife’s sister and providing ourselves a more comfortable means of travel. Gas, of course, will be our biggest expense since most of our lodging will be at Marriott properties and we have a resort credit at Hilton Head. I think we’re ready for a Road Trip!
SEE THE USA IN YOUR CHEVROLET:
Theme song from NBC’s “The Dinah Shore Chevy Show” (1957 – 1962) Dinah Shore – 1957
See the USA in your Chevrolet America is asking you to call Drive your Chevrolet through the USA America’s the greatest land of all
On a highway, or a road along the levee Performance is sweeter Nothing can beat her Life is completer in a Chevy
So make a date today to see the USA And see it in your Chevrolet
(Travelin’ east, Travelin’ west) (Wherever you go Chevy service is best) (Southward or north, near place or far) (There’s a Chevrolet dealer for your Chevrolet car)
So make a date today to see the USA And see it in your Chevrolet (Or my son, Adam’s)
In every autobiography that I read, fame seems to be the product of three factors: talent, exposure, and breaks. To be fair, often persistence fits in the mix and if you believe that you’re good at what you do then confidence then plays a role in success. I’m currently reading about the writer James Patterson, wishing that somehow I could have made a living by writing. However, my lack of confidence in my work has prevented me from getting any exposure.
I write this blog every day to hone my skills. I’ve tried my hand at four different novels, but they sit in a drawer gathering dust. I’ve made only marginal attempts to improve on them and certainly haven’t sought professional help or made any attempt to publish. I’ve also written hundreds of poems, some that would make great lyrics, but once again they sit unnoticed. I share them with my wife and make them part of this blog and on occasion read them at a get-together. If there is any talent, there’s certainly little exposure, and therefore little chance for a break.
Computers and spell-check make writing a book easy in these modern times. I can’t imagine trying to compose on a typewriter or with paper and pencil as James Patterson started his career. I also don’t know anybody in the publishing business and have not been proactive in finding help. I could self-publish just to say that I’m officially an author, but I’m not sure it’s worth the investment. I enjoy writing, even if it has little or no audience because I don’t have the confidence to share. Rarely, do I post any of my writing on Facebook or other social media outlets. I also never get feedback on this blog, so there may come a point where I stop paying for this site, imaging that someone will recognize my talent – if there is any!
I’ve spent my whole life in sales, yet I can’t seem to sell myself. An agent would be helpful, but I don’t know how to go about finding one. I’m not really even seeking fame – just a reason to continue writing because I enjoy it. A few bucks for my efforts would undoubtedly be rewarding, as would some constructive feedback. Come on – somebody give me a break!
An hour of sweat every morning is the price of living a tropical life. My runs in Portland were usually cool and cloudy, if not in the dark. All the lawns but one are now complete along my route, while it was dozens a year ago when we first moved here. Soon, there will be little construction at all in our neighborhood and new asphalt will be laid. Just like every other day there was action at the dog park, on the pickle ball courts, and at the resort center pool/fitness center. On Saturdays like this, there is little mowing and trimming going on. I saw a few bikers and walkers but no other runners along the path.
Today’s plan includes a trip to Costco and a Date Night dinner. I’m all caught up on television series, so college baseball will be my sole focus. Tally has already claimed my office chair. I should still be in the healing stage from my eyelid surgery, but that will need to be rescheduled. A visit with the chiropractor, a dreaded colonoscopy, and an echocardiogram are on the medical docket for next week. Hopefully, we’ll get in a movie.
As you can see, life is pretty sedate once my morning run is out of the way. I now claim the 401st longest running streak ever in the world at 4,913 consecutive days. This includes both active and inactive streaks, while I’m currently ranked #226 of those still actively doing the deed every day. (Another 3,743, who have completed at least one full year of daily running, are trying to catch me). There are only 50 of us that are over 70 years of age in this group, with most of these tireless elders ranking near the very top – two have exceeded an unbelievable 50 straight years. (www.runeveryday.com) Only four are over 80, indicating that my running days are nearing the final decade. I often wonder what will eventually bring this daily habit to its inevitable conclusion?
It’s Fridayyyyyyyyyy! Yeah – we used to think, getting up to face another day. The weekend is finally here! It gets so ingrained in you that even in retirement Fridays are special, although they’re really just like every other day at this stage of life. Yes indeed, a life of Fridays is what I have – day after day of doing as I please. I could no longer handle those days of steady work, raising kids, and trying to make ends meet. It’s exhausting to just think about it, but somehow it all worked out. So here I am, at age seventy with a lifetime of memories and still trying to make ends meet.
In the next five to ten years I’m probably going to regret not having worked a few more years or saved more money. I may even have to find another career if I want to travel in the future. Or, will I remain content in this resort community and lose that urge to see the world? Many of my neighbors still have second homes while others never go anywhere. Is this by choice or necessity? I’ve always maintained a budget but have never really lived on a fixed income. There were always opportunities to get bonuses and higher commissions, so we always lived well above our means. The reality now is that the flow of income is dwindling but our need to spend has yet to change. We’re still making home improvements and planning our next great adventure. What happens when the spigot gets turned off?
It seems like this is about the only thing left to worry about in retirement. I can no longer contribute to the education funds for my grandchildren, buy expensive jewelry for my wife, or even afford the payments on a new car. We’re even thinking about dropping back to one car and maybe a golf cart. Yes, I can continue to live with the luxuries of our resort community for many years to come, but airlines and cruise ships will no longer be in the budget, unless we can magically figure out a way to earn more!
The intense Florida heat is allowing me to sweat off a few unnecessary pounds. My diet is still filled with too may sweets as I continue to live up to my “Cookie Man” nickname. Black & Whites, Chocolate Chip, and Oreos are my favorite snack foods. Neighbors bring us cake, Nazook, and lemon bars. I’ve even had some ice cream this week after hot dogs, nachos, and popcorn at the ballpark. However, my shirt and shorts are soaked in sweat when I return from my run, typically now in 80-degree temperatures in the early morning. I’m apparently burning off the calories, and have been able to stay away from alcohol.
I could stand to lose five more pounds to get rid of my round belly protrusion. I’m obviously many years past having washboard abs despite the sit-ups, push-ups, and pool laps that I attempt every day. Muscles continue to sag while flab is now my biggest enemy. I should probably go to the gym since it’s one of the many amenities in our resort community that I’ve failed to take advantage of using. It’s all a matter of making it a habit, and adding it to the routine list.
We haven’t found time for a movie yet this week, but continue to watch The Staircase, The Offer, and The Time Traveler’s Wife on TV. I finished two Peacock series yesterday titled The Defeated and The Northman. Skinwalker Ranch barely holds my attention. I will have to abandon my office this afternoon so the cleaning crew can do their once-a-month duties. My wife will be engaged with her Duplicate Bridge club and is enjoying an Aqua-Fit class while I write. It’s just another day in paradise!
I have fond memories of the College World Series or CWS for short. This dates back to living in Austin in 2009 and watching the Texas Longhorns make it to the final game in Omaha. They had won it in 2002 and 2005 under coach Augie Garrido, so expectations were high as we followed them throughout the season at nearby Disch-Falk Stadium. I can remember sitting in a bar with a friend for the final three games culminating with a disappointing 11-4 blowout loss to LSU. At that time, I thought it would be really cool to make the trip to Omaha.
The CWS tends to be more of a Southern and West Coast tradition, since the last Big Ten team to win it all was Ohio State in 1963. Indiana made the final 8 in 2013, adding to my interest in going to the event. When we moved to Oregon, I adopted the Oregon State Beavers who had won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. In 2018, a good friend and I decided to make the trip to Omaha and were rewarded with a somewhat surprising Oregon State presence. (See Post #1707). It was a remarkable experience watching the Beavers ultimately win it all after moments of Arkansas triumph and obnoxious chants of Pig-Sooey! Because of some rain delays, I did not get to watch the championship game but listened to the final innings when I arrived back in Portland. Beaver catcher and tournament MVP, Adley Rutschman, was just called up be the Orioles a few weeks ago to make his Major League debut. It’s fun to follow these kids from college into the pros, as was also the case with Indiana’s Kyle Schwarber, Dansby Swanson of Vanderbilt, and Jackie Bradley, Jr. of South Carolina.
I’ve continued to follow the CWS games on TV every year, starting with the initial NCAA seeding. Indiana has not been back since, and once again the BIG will fail to have a presence. My Hoosiers were eliminated in the conference tourney by Iowa and never make the field of 64. Unfortunately, Oregon State games are often televised too late for me to watch on the East Coast. I was able to watch them beat Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon and advance to the Super Regionals (Sweet 16). They will play the first game of a best of three series against Auburn on Saturday night starting at 10:30 p.m. my time. I will probably find out the results by monitoring my phone sometime in the middle of the night. Hopefully, they can get back to Omaha and the game times will be earlier. I will not be there this year, but the memories remain.
My eyelid surgery was cancelled for today, so I will have to wait for another appointment that could take months. I’m disappointed in the lack of communication from my doctor’s office. I’m having second doubts about having the procedure at all. It does alleviate any concerns about running tomorrow morning since they were discouraging any form of exercise following the surgery. I completed consecutive day #4,909 in 80-degree temperatures. I do like how the sun’s rays make the asphalt pavement sparkle like diamonds. The heat at this time of the year is what drives many of my neighbors to maintain second homes up north. As a result, it’s currently very quiet on our street.
We had juggled our schedules to accommodate for the surgery and now find our day to be completely open. It will be 50 days before we hit the road for our journey to Michigan’s Grand Hotel. We’ll schedule at least one neighborhood get together later this month and try to get to some more of the nearby tourist attractions to expand our knowledge of the area. Movies, Costco, and beach time will be the extent of our upcoming travel. We have a dinner reservation for my wife’s upcoming 66th birthday that happens to coincide with Father’s Day. We’d also like to see the Sistine Chapel exhibit in Sarasota and catch one of the circus performances at the Ringling Museum before our membership expires.
Our outdoor kitchen appliances are being delivered this week, so construction can begin on that project. Hopefully, we can get it done before we hit the upcoming vacation windows. Our grill will finally have a permanent home, so there will be no more need to secure it with the threat of storms. The venting, backsplash, countertops and cabinets will be installed by the same person who built our office and closet/pantry shelves. Home improvement continues!
I had written a few weeks ago that the White Sox had turned the corner with their home series victory over the Yankees. However, both the Red Sox and Blue Jays quickly proved me wrong. Then, they continued to play poor baseball, dropping the first game (Friday) of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays and were stuck on a four-game losing streak. An old radio friend and I were enjoying our annual ball park trek to see our beloved Sox on Sunday, hoping to finally claim a victory. We watched them helplessly lose last year and several times in Chicago back at the turn of the century, thinking there was some kind of curse preventing us from seeing them win while together. He proved that it wasn’t him (just us), by going with his wife on Saturday to watch them snap the current losing streak with a game two victory.
My son, a lifelong Cubs fan, joined us for the trip into St. Petersburg and Tropicana Stadium. The two of us old guys had our throwback jerseys on in anticipation of perhaps breaking the curse. On the way into the park, I was surprisingly accused by a young woman of grabbing her butt. I assured her that it was accidental, since she had cut in front of my awkward arm swing while the back of my hand grazed her behind. She looked incensed but I was there for baseball not groping other fans. I apologized for being so forward, and tried to keep my wandering hands to myself for the rest of the day.
The guy right in front of me grabbed a baseball while I was still sitting on my hands. It was as close to getting a game-used souvenir that I’ve ever come, but my hands did not react. I sat there envying his girlfriend who shed a few tears of joy when he presented her with the ball. It reminded me of being a teddy bear hero at the state fair.
The game looked promising after the Sox scored six runs in the first two innings, but the Rays eventually scored five and had us on the edge of our seats with Liam Hendricks on for the save. Yasmani Grandal was out of position with the numerous Sox injuries and failed to make a critical play at first base. It nearly caused the curse to continue, but fortunately did not become a deciding factor. Bad Hands!
The storm passed by relatively harmless, leaving several inches of much needed rain in its path. Areas to the south of us were hit harder, but the first storm of the new season is behind us. We went about the reverse drill this morning, putting everything back in its place before the next threat of turbulence. It’s just another lazy Saturday with clouds in the sky and the chance of more showers.
We had to turn down a dinner date with some neighbors next week because of the minor eye surgery that I will undergo that day. I’ll be put-under for only the third time in my life, including two colonoscopies, and am hoping that healing time will be quick. My sagging upper eyelids are apparently interfering with my vision capabilities, so the skin needs to be trimmed back. Next week, I’m back at the doctor for my third colonoscopy and another nap. These are the signs of aging.
I responded to a Facebook post this morning about my childhood grade school, Rice Elementary. I didn’t remember there being a morning and afternoon option, so I can’t remember which one I attended. All I can recall is the nap/cookie breaks, and getting my soft rug out of the cloakroom to spread on the linoleum floor of the classroom. I think it was Mrs. Ingram that was my teacher, probably just out of college. I went there through the fifth grade before transferring to Beardsley when we bought a new house and moved districts. Fortunately, I was reunited with most of my Rice friends the following year at North Side Junior High.
My Rice years included Indian Guides, a brief stint in the Boy Scouts, touch football, track, and basketball. I could walk to school from the house, unlike Beardsley and North Side where I took the bus to and from school. My ambition of being on the Safety Patrol was never accomplished. It was also difficult to continue in sports after moving schools because there was no connection with the coaches, along with the unfamiliarity with the other players, so basketball in particular was no longer a big part of my childhood life. However, the move was undoubtedly helpful in expanding my circle of friends and the ability to make new ones.
I’m making new friends again here in the neighborhood, just like at a new school. Most of my encounters are at parties and get-togethers since I’m not involved in organized activities like pickle ball, bocce, or the whiskey club, for example. Running in the morning is often a solitary experience, although I have connected with a few other like-minded exercisers. I’ve even participated in a couple of races where I’ve met some fellow runners. Most of the time, however, I hide in my office, content with being alone.
Just before we went to bed last night, storm warnings were issued. We began the tedious process of moving indoors all the outdoor potential projectiles that double as décor and patio furniture. Hanging and breakable items are safely stowed away, while cushions and yard ornaments are secured in the dining room. It will be a drill that we will practice many times during hurricane season, especially when we are traveling. We’re not really worried about the house and roof – it’s all steel reinforced concrete and tiles. We also have high-impact safety windows, so there’s no need to put up shutters. However, the lanai structure is comparatively fragile and the screens subject to tearing. The biggest section ripped in the last major storm, but has hopefully been properly repaired and therefore less vulnerable.
We’ve talked about installing drop-down steel curtains around the perimeter of the enclosed portion of our lanai. This would save a lot of hassle when it comes to protecting our patio furniture. A push of a button would lower them into position. However, they are very costly, especially considering the four large openings that need to be protected in our house. Some of our neighbors have them and generators, so they are much better prepared for the storm. The good news about hurricanes and tropical storms is that they can be tracked, so you often have days to get ready. We try to always be stocked up on food and water, but you never know what to expect. Plus, we’re looking at an “above normal” season.
At first, the nameless storm was going to hit this morning. However, conditions right now are very calm and I was able to get both my run and swim in without any problems. Now, we’re looking at mid-afternoon before the first signs of trouble. This is a tropical storm coming off the Yucatan Peninsula and headed towards Fort Myers. It’s apparently of greater concern than those coming from the Caribbean or Atlantic because the path to get to us in much shorter. They are also somewhat rare, so we’re all paying close attention to whether or not it gets a name or simply fades away anonymously.
Hopefully, it will just generate a lot of rain, something we need badly to fill the canals in our neighborhood. Currently, the water levels are about two feet low. High winds are the greater concern for us in this our second June-November Hurricane season while living here in Florida. Batten down the hatches – a storm is coming!
