Morikami Gardens Return

Art Jacoby, my photo buddy, and I returned to Morikami for a walk which we had not taken together since I got sick in March. I got some of my usual shots, as did he. And I made it around.

There is always a group that wants a picture. They asked Art, because, as one said, he has the bigger camera. I love group shots. Set up my own shot, shot and gave the group leader a card. We will see if he contacts me.

The gardens are not in full bloom, because even Florida has winter, leaving fewer places to hide. Paredeolia runs rampant in that place.

Just enough places to take a brief nap, though, amidst the trees and falls.

 

 

Valencia Reserve Renovates

They are closing our clubhouse to renovate. A hazard of living in South Florida. Condo dues up. Car and home owner insurance up. Health care up.  Food up. No services for a year. Costs a lot to live here and the risks of being killed in an auto accident are great. At least the building won’t collapse, we hope.

There is an auction to sell the innards. People talk with outsiders, while wives clutch their number.

I voted against the plan, even though it may not have been in my best interest. I felt a renovation, a new look, would help to maintain the value of my home. I still have an interest in contemporary comfort in my home gathering  hole. But alas, the new look, Late South FL Funereal will change little. No place to go. Nowhere to hide.

Blast From Past

Sharon was cleaning out her closet and found a blue jean jacket I had grown out of. Err, it shrunk and I expanded. The sleeves were rolled up girly style, like Sharon is prone to do and there was a tissue in the pocket (I use the sleeve for drips).

In years past, I wore this jacket. Oh, yes, how the years pass. Went from rebel to pariah. Saw things differently from many. Not always right. Seldom totally wrong.

Some years,  not so painless. Used pot to ease the pain, all bought illegally until recently.  And the last years, the ones to come, will be no different, pain wise, though more peaceful. ☺️  I will use the same remedy with my chemo pills and the blood transfusions.

The jacket I turned over to Sharon had been personalized. The one I got back had no decorations. Kowing what they meant to me, Sharon had saved them.

On the sleeve was a “Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers” patch. Do you even know what I’m talking about or does it make you wish you were high? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fabulous_Furry_Freak_Brothers

On the back was an American Flag, upside down, a sign of distress or extreme danger for the country or for the person flying it. Today, however, people have begun using this old war cry in response to political uncertainty or as a way to show their unhappiness with the direction the country is heading.

Also on the back, somewhere, was a Liberate Marijuana patch. Now, who would know now that one day in the not to distant past great penalties were exacted from people suspected of using marijuana. Oh my, stop and frisk, Reefer Madness, teen pregnancy (sic), Paul Sinclair, people sentenced to jail or forced to do community service. Worse than that, people rejected people who smoked or ate the drug and talked the talk or those who had seen the stars (and lived on them). Now, many states have made marijuana legal or available with a script from a doctor.

Debating whether to buy another jacket, one that fits. Florida whether makes it inutile. And who can predict the size I’ll be or whether I will be alive long enough to wear it, wash it, or decorate it?

Alice’s Restaurant Massacree

You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant, except Alice. We all got something there. Some of us even got to sit on the group W bench. Now there is no restaurant. And, with Alice’s death there is no Alice.

Through Arlo, a story of Thanksgiving, the draft and social justice is told. As Arlo described it, “(t)his song is called Alice’s Restaurant, and it’s about Alice, and the restaurant, but Alice’s restaurant is not the name of the restaurant, that’s just the name of the song and that’s why I called the song Alice’s Restaurant.”

words to alice’s restaurant

No Banana Today

According to the NYT and Associated Press among others, this Banana sold for $6 million at auction. Bought by a bit coin magnate who probably wanted to show that if people would buy a currency that had no backup, they’d buy anything.

I have a three week old orchid that could be bought for a lot less.

“Small Things” – Blah Day

So, I started out at a 10:00 movie which turned out to be Blah movie. Couldn’t hear most of the dialogue. Story did not live up to the reviews. Small Things…. Oh, look what I brought you for Christmas, a new family member. I wondered more about the town’s reaction to the last scene more than the movie itself, which was blah. So, the church takes in girls and works them in a laundry. A girl has become pregnant and is forced to sleep in the coal shed that the main character delivers coal to. He gets bribed to keep the story silent with a cash payment and semi promise that his daughters will be admitted to the Catholic school. In the meantime, he finds out he was raised by a protestant after his mother died unexpectedly. Blah. Blah. And he washed his hands a lot.

Movie give something to think about, but since I couldn’t hear all the dialogue, accents and bad sound, I had to fill in the blanks. Movie has great acting and good cinematography, but was not as suspenseful or exciting as I had hoped.

Then when I could not figure out what I wanted for lunch. Settled for Blah pizza.

Then I went to Doris. Got into a stupid argument with the owner over a $6.95 return of green olives. Picked up a lobster, drank complimentary sparkling and came home to get over the blahs.

Bok Choy

So, last night as I prepared dinner, I noticed how beautiful the Bok Choy looked. Slated for a stir-fry to accompany lamb chops, baked potato, and creamed spinach, I decided to take a picture of it and then cook it.

Alas, I got the shot ready by putting the Bok Choy on a stand and left the kitchen to grab a camera. During the trip, I forgot about the shoot and went on with the rest of the meal prep. Its write-offable as a senior moment or pills + a glass of sparkling wine.

Upon arising this AM, there on the kitchen counter, stood the noble Bok Choy.. Its expression? What happened to the fridge, it asked, throwing up its arms, looking for divine help.

Me? Not a believer in my own prayers helping out. I just looked for someone to blame. May it taste as good tonight with dinner.

Dental Hygiene

 

 

Have not had my teeth cleaned since November of last year. Scheduled for 6 months or four or something, I got sick and went into the hospital. Cancellation. Then I had a bleeding problem. My hygienist moved to West Virginia. And who wants to go to the dentist anyway.

I couldn’t clean my teeth when I was in a coma. Once awake and alert, I couldn’t hold the brush or floss. But I did my best.

New hygienist put on blues. Her name is Angelina and she got married recently. She said I didn’t do badly, dentally, despite the circumstances. No bleeding, either. Then, like I had done with the previous cleaner, I took her picture.

 

Sharon Turns 76

Sharon. Never be afraid of your lines or sagging. Don’t fear wrinkles or varicose veins. Don’t lose that spirit to live that looms so large that there is enough for you and still a little left over for me. Without you, life would be so empty and not worth living. You make me want to get up in the morning.

Our dear friend Howard Kane sent this orchid arrangement to Sharon. Lovely. Just lovely.