Category: CREATURE FEATURES (Page 3 of 36)
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! (Plus dogs and cats)
It was a torrential downpour this morning, yet I found myself dodging puddles and completing the 3.1 mile daily goal. It was actually refreshing without the sun draining all the energy out of my body. Rain soaked my shirt rather than sweat, but the lightening was too close for a post-run swim. I guess I accomplished both at the same time. I filled a rainy afternoon yesterday with the Midnight Run movie with a young Robert De Niro. Today will undoubtedly be more of the same couch entertainment.
We have a list of items to be corrected by the builder, so we’ve scheduled a meeting this morning to take full advantage of our one-year warranty. They are very slow in reacting to our requests. For example, we still don’t have the hatch to close off the attic access in the garage. Every home has one exactly the same so it’s hard to understand how this could be a three-month project. Fortunately, most of the list is comprised of small, insignificant corrections like window scratches and a chip in the granite countertop. Overall, our home is well-built and professionally finished. We’re very happy here.
Tally’s morning routine is also disrupted by the rain. Her daily trip to the dog park is delayed and lifeguard duties suspended. In the meantime, she’ll lay around in good-bed and pout. She does not understand weather, especially the thunder that frightens her. Yesterday, she ended up sharing the chair with me, a rare occasion indeed. One or the other of us is always in it but usually not together. I had to put her on my lap as she stared at me with fear in her eyes. She did not jump down right away as expected, but my wife was out running errands so she had no one else to turn to. At least, I’m her second favorite!
After two days of running on the oceanside streets of Amelia Island, I’m back on my standard neighborhood 3.1 mile path. The Streak has now reached 4,600 days, with the hot August temperatures looming. It was nice to have a break from the routine, but the strain of travel and unfamiliarity makes it good to be back home. Today is Matinee Monday, with a short drive to Port Charlotte to see Jungle Cruise. It was over 300 miles of driving on Friday, another 150 on Saturday, and 350 miles yesterday via Palatka, Florida. In the process we saw the new twin great nieces and my wife’s childhood neighbors, a reunion of at least 50 years.
Tally did not have a peaceful trip, especially after the impromptu beach fireworks display that caused her to drag my wife back to the hotel barely holding onto her straining leash. She was reluctant to go outside after that and relieved to get home to ham time. She also got a bit jealous watching my wife hold the twin girls. She’s very good in the car but always leery of where we are headed, considering the six days she spent in the back seat on the lengthy move from Portland to Venice. She will gladly stay behind with her schnauzer buddies on our next island adventure to Singer in a few weeks. It’s only 150 miles away.
I had some concerns about the aging 2007 Solara, our dog car, when we were ready to take off last Friday. The air pressure warning light came on and my first thought was a flat tire from all the neighborhood construction. Also, none of my credit cards would work when I got to the filling station. As it turned out, the WAWA was having computer issues and the tire held air the entire trip. My mind of course went immediately to potential doom even after the beautiful rainbow I saw the other morning. I had visions of us stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire and limited cash, but fortunately everything went smoothly on the remainder of our road trip. Hopefully, our travel luck will continue.
Another rainy day in Florida and the wet running shoes to go with it. I started out getting soaked but then it tapered off. It wasn’t until I went up on the sidewalk to avoid a passing truck and stepped into water up to my ankles that I got discouraged, but continued with heavy shoes to complete the 5k mission. I had taken a different route, hoping to just get in the minimum mile and staying close to home in case the skies broke. I managed to keep going. Tally is also discouraged because it’s the first morning when she hasn’t gotten to go to the dog park. She’ll miss her buddies with the rain expected to continue.
I spent the day with Agatha Christie, noting some of her mystery writing genius. I watched the ABC Murders and Ordeal by Innocence. I guess I also didn’t realize that the series Broadchurch was based on her stories. I will search for some more today out of boredom. At least we got out of the house yesterday to visit the chiropractor and do some grocery shopping. We’re definitely looking forward to the weekend’s road trip to Amelia Island.
I started looking at Marriott Vacation Club locations along the East Coast, envisioning a drive from Florida to Maine in the next few years, and punching the last of my 50 state travel ticket. Our Alaskan cruise next September will make 49. On the way to 50, we could stop at Hilton Head, Williamsburg, Washington D.C., New York, Atlantic City, and Boston, taking advantage of our ownership. The route would be at least a month long adventure, probably in September of 2024, two years from now, to witness first hand the fall colors of the Great Northeast. It would also give me the opportunity to visit the “other” city of Portland, making that coast-to-coast connection, and finally getting to Booth Bay that I’ve heard so much about. First, however, we continue our exploration of Florida this weekend, as I remain stuck on 48 states.
I’m down to the last month of being in my sixties. I was sorting through some old pictures yesterday, starting with some baby photos. My mom and grandfather were both amateur photographers and I was their constant subject, so I must have hundreds of pictures. The question is what to do with them? Most have already been converted to videotape and DVD, but it’s still hard to just throw them out. I have to at least get them down to a manageable level and not leave them for family to eventually deal with once I’m gone. At this point, I don’t think it’s likely I will ever be famous and collectors will be clamoring over my images. I’ll spend the rest of this week going through them since they were sitting in the hot garage in danger of heat damage.
It’s another Monday with a visit to the chiropractor the only item on my calendar. It was extremely hot and humid this morning – felt like 93 degrees. I was definitely overheated once I got back to the house, while the pool revived me. Running seems to get harder every day but somehow I keep going…one foot in front of the other in the early morning sunshine. I will be anxious for Friday when I’ll cut back to just a mile before our long drive to Amelia Island. Everyone I’ve talked to have stayed in a luxury resort on the beach, but we’ll settle for a Spring Hill Suites that is dog friendly. Tally would love to stay at the Ritz but they won’t have her.
It should be slightly cooler five hours north of us and a welcome break from the routine. We’ll see some of the Jacksonville sights and meet the great niece twins. I haven’t spent much time in that area, maybe a pass-through or two, so it’s new territory to explore. We’re doing a good job of wandering Florida, with only the Keys yet to visit. We’ve covered Marco Island to the south, Miami, Orlando, and Pensacola. In the next few weeks we’ll also stay on the Tampa beachfront and enjoy a weekend at Singer Island, directly across the state from us on the Atlantic. Later this year, we’ll get to Titusville and the Kennedy Space Center. With most overseas travel prohibitive, we’ve spent our time getting to know our new state.
Days are passing quickly – a blink of the eye and I’m running again. What happened to all that time in between? I seem to be always looking down at my feet hit the pavement, wondering if it will ever end? Today, I give blood, but it will be the only thing that distinguishes it from yesterday. Tomorrow, we go to the ballpark and watch the rookies play for a little variety. However, run…swim…write…watch…sleep is the norm. As Yogi Berra is credited for saying, “it’s deja vu all over again.”
I have a pile of birthday and get well cards on my desk in anticipation of a busy month. I look at the calendar and find that I haven’t torn off a page in more than 10 days. They still pass by whether I rip them off or not. Somehow, the word of the day does not seem as appealing as nature photos or travel sites. I hope my financial advisor goes back to pictures next year. I don’t care about napery, ailurophile, melee, provender, reverie, pyrrhic, mare, sibyl, or amphibology.
I just received a strange, hand-written letter from the local representative of Jehovah’s Witnesses, an indication that I’m now officially a Florida resident. At least, they’re not knocking on my door, so I’m thankful to live in a gated community. Ironically, it was signed by a guy named Brian. I find this funny considering that I watched a documentary on Monty Python yesterday that included a religious discussion about the movie, “Life of Brian.” He tells me I can find out more by going to JW.org. I’d rather go to a JW Marriott.
Tally is back from the dog park and has already taken over my chair. A quick romp with the other dogs and she’s exhausted. I hate to kick her out, but we can’t both spend the afternoon in that chair. She enjoyed her first oyster last night after we put them on the grill. She also devoured a tiny crab that had crawled inside the shell, so her days seem to be filled with more excitement than mine. Strange new creatures to stimulate her curiosity and appetite, while the highlight of my day is to give blood.
I finished my run this morning all wobbly-legged like those competitors you see at the end of the Boston Marathon just before they collapse. It was eighty degrees and 100% humidity with a light mist. I thought to myself: it’s just a leisurely 5k not a frickin’ marathon. What are you …seventy years old? Just yesterday, I still had a lot in the tank for the last mile, but today was a different story. I thought a lot about a friend of mine anticipating prostate surgery, and how lucky I should feel to just have to worry about another day of running.
There are many familiar markers along the route I take, including a pot hole at the half-mile mark, a Dodge Charger that sits in someone’s driveway, the utility box that sits at one mile, two benches that I think of as benchmarks, and the Venetian bridge at the half-way point. When I pass them all the second time I know “I’m getting closer to my home.” Sometimes, even Grand Funk comes up in the music rotation to perform that very song as I make my way back. I’m a sweaty mess when I finally make my way to the pool – this morning in a light rain. Schnauzer Tally sat under cover rather than perform her normal lifeguard duties.
Tally had a big day at the beach yesterday. We even shared a Chicago dog even though today is technically National Hot Dog Day. The entry to Broward Beach is a dog park with secure fences to protect us all from the alligators that lurk in the surrounding swamp. The exit leads to a wooden walkway and access to the sand. It’s one of two dog-friendly beaches in our area. Tally can sit in the shade of our umbrella or romp with the other dogs, even though many of them actually get in the water. She stays on the fringe area, avoiding the water at all costs, just as she jokingly performs her lifeguard responsibilities with me while swimming in our pool. There was a brief moment where she tried to follow me into warm Gulf, but a wave soon sent her scurrying back to safety.
We were all tired from a day in the sun, even more reason to get in under the covers at the standard 10 p.m. self-imposed curfew. It’s well past the time when most of our neighbors roll up their sidewalks. There isn’t a bedroom light to be seen when I take Tally for her final outing. Back in Portland, I didn’t have to stay up late to watch sports, but here most games don’t even start until 8 or 9p. I usually check the scores before bed time but typically have to wait until morning for the final results. I uncharacteristically took my phone to bed and happened to check it after doing some reading. The Milwaukee Bucks were about to claim their first NBA title in 50 years, so I stayed up for the celebration, monitoring it on the small screen. At the same time, both the Sox and Cubs were pulling off miracle comebacks. It was the most remarkable half-hour of TV sports I’ve witnessed in a long time. The Cubs scored 6 runs in the ninth to stun the rival Cards, the Sox came back to beat the Twins, and Giannis scored 50 to claim the crown. It made for sweet dreams – Grand Funk!
I spent most of yesterday in front of the TV, watching classic movies like Chinatown and The French Connection. I’ve seen both of them before but remembered very little – one of the benefits of getting old. My wife went antique shopping, leaving Tally and I to fend for ourselves. I even made my own lunch and used the microwave for the first time. Such a sense of accomplishment! Today, we have plans to go to the beach once I’ve finished my writing and Tally returns from the dog park. Tally needs to work on her tan. We’ll even make a stop at Dog Friendly for a gourmet Chicago dog at the main neighborhood recreational center and eat at the tables by the bocce courts. Tally likes a good dog, and gets a few bites for being a good girl.
We’ve been checking out things to do with the grandkids. We took them to the Young Frankenstein musical the other night and my wife picked up some discount tickets to the upcoming circus. This week is my son’s 47th birthday and we’ve yet to make a plan around his work schedule. However, he and I are going to see the Braves vs. Rays rookie ball exhibition game on Friday. We all passed on going to this Wednesday’s Cool Today Stadium presentation of The Lion King (2019), since it wasn’t nearly as good as the original and not worth seeing again. This is part of their summer movie nights that will also soon show Tom & Jerry, as well as Jumanji – both worth the price of admission. Keeping busy in this neighborhood is not difficult, but I still prefer those quiet days of air conditioned comfort here in my home office.
Hotel arrangements have been made for Amelia Island, our next travel adventure at the end of the month. In the process, we’ll also be meeting my wife’s twin grand nieces in Jacksonville. It’s the beginning of an active month of August, with a Singer Island weekend, White Sox baseball, and my 70th birthday bash with Santana & Earth, Wind, and Fire. Tally gets groomed this Friday in anticipation of all these festivities, some of which she’ll be left behind. It’s the Dog Days of Summer and she needs to beat the heat with a shorter cut and some cool shade.
It was an overcast morning, with a little relief from the heat. I live in a neighborhood without mature trees so shade is hard to find. My morning run is strictly asphalt and sidewalks with the half-way point being a Venetian bridge that spans the man-made canals that give our neighborhood some character. The Italian influences are numerous with even a night of homemade meatballs, sausage, pasta, and bread that we will participate in for the first time during the upcoming week. We were also at the Cafe Venice last night for dinner. There are times we you might even think you’re in Italy rather than Florida.
My wife has a first time Yoga class this morning once she gets back from the Dog Park. This is where she got the scoop on Italian Night and met one of the volunteer chefs. We also made arrangements to join a couple of our new friends in the neighborhood. Their schnauzer, Sophie, and our Tally are good playmates. My wife has gotten lots of good advice from these folks including dog sitting, grooming, dining, and home improvement contacts. They have been a valuable resource in our relocation process. The Dog Park is a gold mine for neighborhood gossip and potential new friendships.
I passed on the opportunity to go to Toy Con in Tampa with my son’s family this morning. I did however make arrangements for him to join me for Rookie ball at the nearby Braves stadium and a trip to Tampa to see the White Sox. This will also be an opportunity to renew another old friendship dating back to my radio days in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I haven’t seen this WMEE-97FM buddy in fourteen years when we also got together for a White Sox game in Chicago. He’s also on my list or next year’s return trip to Bloomington for an IU Football game. We used to be co-season ticket owners for many years, so we’ll have a lot to catch up on. I will call him this afternoon to confirm the Sox game against the Rays later next month, since we’re now both retired Florida residents.
While I was looking up dates for Braves Rookie ball, I also noticed that there was a concert planned for the neighborhood stadium. A Styx/Journey cover band called Majesty of Rock will perform the night before I travel to Tampa for the ballgame reunion. The septuagenarian birthday month ahead is bustling with activities including the Santana/Earth Wind Fire concert also in Tampa. We also have plans to travel to Jacksonville and then Singer Island during this August celebration. August is Active with Activities!
It’s another non-weekend, a Saturday that was once special now just another day. Or should I say, everyday now feels like a Saturday? The only drawback of retirement that I can ever think of is having to give up weekends and holidays. Maybe we’ll make this one a Date Night? Like every day, it started with a dog outing, run and swim. Now, I’m in my happy place, surrounded by sports nostalgia and sitting at the keyboard with little to write about.
I’m watching Big Shot on the Disney Channel, with little left that interests me on TV. I even went through the entire Bosch series again out of boredom. I miss the early game starts on the West Coast, while 8 or 9 p.m. is too late to start getting involved. In the evenings, my wife and I have been watching Loki, WandaVision, plus The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, also Disney productions in conjunction with Marvel. Yesterday, we did have a change in the routine with a late lunch with old friends in Punta Gorda at Fisherman’s Village. However, a couple of margaritas resulted in an afternoon nap.
It’s another beautiful day in paradise, so it’s hard to feel sorry for any boredom I might feel. Tally just came back from her daily visit to the dog park and promptly took my office chair. It’s a game we play every day, vying for that comfortable spot in the corner of my little sanctuary. Chair Wars! I hate to kick her out, but she has a chair of her own. If she could only write.