Category: Tally (Page 4 of 31)
Our third schnauzer
Another run in the rain, although more of a steady sprinkle today rather than the gushing downpours of the past week. I started out in the wet shoes from yesterday and took advantage of the cooler temperatures – only 77 degrees. It never stopped during the course of my 3.1 mile route, but there was no lightening or thunder, just gray skies. None of the familiar faces were out in the neighborhood and the dog park was empty. Tally did get to visit with her dog cousin, Mango, yesterday when we took some lobster mac & cheese over to the grandkids.
I watched two movies yesterday, Raging Bull and Usual Suspects. I found them both hard to follow. I then sipped on some whiskey tastings before dinner, Copper Fox and Bender’s, part of my recent shipment from Flaviar. The Rossville Union remains to be sampled. This afternoon we’re headed to Fort Myers to see the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford winter homes, a flashback from my childhood. I remember going there with my grandparents over 55 years ago. My wife wants to visit as part of her new “Tourist Thursday” plan. It will be the first of many Florida sites that we’ll explore in further familiarizing ourselves with the area. Our only other plan for the week is a “Meet Your Borrego Neighbors” get- together on Saturday at the clubhouse.
Water aerobics was cancelled this morning, so my wife will be just as restless as the dog. Maybe we’ll get an early start on our hour-and-a-half drive? I’ll be anxious to see if there’s anything I remember about the museums and gardens. I vaguely recall a dollhouse that Edison built complete with electric lights. Maybe there was a Ford parked in the garage? My mom was into miniatures at the time, so we spent a lot of time admiring the craftsmanship and creativity involved in its construction. I’m sure the years have played with my imagination in what it actually looks like. It will either be bigger or smaller than what I recall, like all my other memories of life.
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.