Blogger Vacation

I am declaring a blogger vacation until I return from my sister's place. I will be playing computer games. I will be taking pictures of my sister's horses. I will be talking with her turkey. I will be sad to leave our outside Christmas lights. I know at least they will be here when I come back. We will be doing lots of cooking like Glendon wants to make a meatloaf and chicken and dumplings. I want to try my hand at lasagna again. I tried to use the pictures at her computer, but her computer would not let me. I kept getting kicked off the website. I figured a web entry without pictures is like a day without sunshine. I really like my pictures added to a small story line.

A New Dawn

The Christmas lights are turned on and the weather has turned cold. I haven't been back to see any more sunrises, since my sunrise picture session. I haven't reflected back to past Christmas season as much as reflecting back on pass friendships. My childhood friends who are no longer apart of my everyday life. Karen was a childhood friend who was considered my best friend at the time I was growing up. She married and moved to Georgia. She raised three kids and worked as a nurse. I haven't spoken to her in years. I wonder if she looks the same as the last time I saw her. I lost contact with her mom which bothered me because I have no one to find out what happened to her. This may remain an unresolved issue. Freddy who was another childhood friend and my next door neighbor met with an untimely death at the hands of a semi. His car ran underneath a semi. What was amazing is that I did not know this information for five years. Freddy married after high school and had one son. He divorced and remarried. He had two more children and a wife who wanted him to live in Indiana. He followed her to Indiana and the rest was history. One pleasant memory is the picture of the sunrise on twenty-seven avenue. This is what my dad looked forward to when he came over from Orlando to stay at the beach. He would dress in shorts and bare feet and proceed to the shoreline with a cup of hot coffee in his hand. This is when we took vacations on the North end of the beach. Now, I can share the beauty of a sunrise on the beach. I can enjoy my coffee in the morning and create new memories every day.

Sunny Saturday

It is a sunny cool day with a bit of blue color in the sky. The white clouds kind of trace around the sunlight. The plants look glowy and sparkle from the sun's reflection. Mom put a pork roast in the crock pot for dinner. I figure maybe a microwave baked potato. Plus, a salad with the tomatoes mom bought from the farmer's market. The plate of brownies is a reminder of the party mom and I did not attend because of the morning fog. They look so good. It goes to say"take a picture and it will last longer."

surfing in the fog

When this picture was taken, I couldn't even see into the ocean. Now, rain is coming back tomorrow along with some thunderstorms. It is nice to see our lights from the outside and to look over at my neighbor's yard and see her lights. I think more people on our street need Christmas lights. I wonder how it must of felt to be surfing out in the ocean and not to be able to see the land or what may be close to you?

Fog on the beach

The fog finally cleared out. There are stars outside in the sky tonight. I had been taking catnaps on the couch and when I woke up the last time, my eyes itched. They were red and felt irritated. I don't know why they are itchy, but they should clear up like the fog, soon. Dinner was soup from Campbell's called "Chicken Alfredo." Dessert was a smidgen of brownie and some tapioca. My mom couldn't believe people would be trying to sun themselves on a foggy beach.

Foggy evening

It is a London Fog this evening here at New Smyrna Beach. I keep expecting to hear a large fog horn blowing a boisterous deep extended sound. Will we get a return to clear weather? I don't know the answer. When I had purchased some groceries from Food Lion and was walking out to my truck, I notices the groceries were not there. I went back in to complain. The cashier was fickle with helping me and checking out customers. Finally, the lady who checked out after I did returned with my groceries in her basket. I didn't pick my groceries up , but she did. At least she was honest about it. Thanks to her, I got my groceries back and was able to slip out to my next destination Walgreen's.

Sunday had some sun

I went over to the North entrance on Flagler Avenue. There was a little white sail boat and two shrimp boats. The water did look a little ruff, but not too bad. There were quite a few people on the beach. I guess they were taking advantage of the warm weather. I guess it must be idea to have a warm day and cool water.

It didn't look like the hot dog guy on the beach was doing much business. Most of the people wanted to walk or build sand castles. There were a few surfers. The pelicans were also out catching the wind currents and drifting along the shoreline. We got our Christmas lights up thanks to our neighbor's son Bruce. He is nice and tall. He can reach places mom and I would have great difficulty reaching. Bruce knew where to put the hooks in the wood columns out front to string the lights. Both mom and I think he did a great job.

Gray Saturday

This is a calender I won't be able to get this year. It came from First Choice (Chinese) in Ocoee. The food was always good there. Now, it is home cook meals as the primary eating place. I think the weatherman just said it would be a "Gray Weekend." I have been watching some good old movies on Turner Classic Movie Channel. I forget the titles and names of the movies, but I remember the plot. I like plots with happy endings. I also like adventure movies and science fiction movies.

Neighbor update

This is a small capture of the sunrise from my house. The weather did rain yesterday and has turned cool today. Tonight's dinner will be chili which is good on a cool day. Christmas cards are going out and we have received some in return. Last night was a Rice a Ronni dinner with part of a chicken pot pie. The pot pie got a little too dark, so we had to toss out some of the crust. One of the two Italian families on the street has their Christmas lights displayed outside. The other one hasn't put out his decorations yet. There is more stuff to do. I have also seen the falcon back on a street behind our street.

Santa story

In the days of rainy weather, this picture is very appropriate for the subject which I am about to recall. Many years ago, when I lived in a suburban neighborhood of Pine Hills, Florida where life was evolving into something I would not recognize today. This was a period when I was young and going to a Catholic school and was told the truth about Santa Claus. I learned he was a Saint from Germany. His name was Saint Nicholas and he lived many years ago. I guess I figured it out no more waiting all night long to see Santa Claus flying in on his sled to deliver a mess of toys in front of my Christmas tree. I couldn't wait to share this with a neighbor kid who was sitting outside on the curb. I don't recall his name. I wanted in my mind to call him Kevin. He reminded me of a dorky skinny little guy I would like to call Kevin. His real name escapes me. Anyways, I broke the news and didn't think anything would occur from sharing what I learned in school. I was wrong!!! The little dorky kid went home and told his mother. I could hear his home door open and the earth shook. The mother had taken her first step outside. Every step closer she came, the earth shook. It was like a California earthquake in Florida. Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom. I was sitting on the curb and this big mass of a woman towered over me with her tight curled perm and monstrously loud voice." How dare you tell my son there is no Santa Claus." " What gives you the right to do that?" I was speechless and knew whatever I said would make no difference. I was guilty in her eyes. I was consoled by my neighbor Mr. Cardy who told me " she doesn't know what she is talking about." This statement made me feel a whole lot better and life got back to normal as I remembered it.

Rainy Monday

The garbage got taken out this morning. I ran through the rain drops. I also took some ocean pictures on the Flagler entrance. The weather kept many away from the beach. It was very easy to find a parking spot. The rain made me appreciate a warm, safe and dry house. When I closed the windows, it is like I closed out the rest of the world. Today, I got to watch Bonanza in the afternoon. I received an update from Martha Bird who is a friend of Russ Williams who is a friend of the family. Here is a manger scene to get me in the Christmas mood.

Television and Food

I took a picture of my favorite truck. This morning on the breakfast menu was a porterhouse steak with a fried egg and hashed brown potatoes. This evening for dinner, mom made round steak with tomato sauce and mushrooms. We also had mashed potatoes and a salad. Dessert was tapioca pudding which we will devour later in the evening. I like the rain, but I am ready for some sunshine. I am tired of the grey skies and no sunshine. I saw one good Barbara Stanwyck movie. The second one was a bit harder to follow.

Saturday Evening

The rain has finally cease flowing down on the soil here in New Smyrna Beach. The cool air has encompassed the night sky. I hung a load of clothes out on the clothes line late in the afternoon hoping to capture some sunlight. However, the sun set too fast and the light from the sun was way too low to dry clothes. The clothes will remain on the line overnight. Tomorrow will be more sunny and the clothes should be dry. If for some reason the sun does not dry the clothes, we have a indoor clothes dryer that will finish the job. One of the drawbacks about rain is that your clothes can not dry on the clothes line. However, it is balanced with a plus by letting the clothes have a clean fresh smell.

The picture on the blog shows a reflection of sunlight upon the waves and the salt water. The sky shows a grey color versus a blue color sky. I think it adds a different tone to the picture. The waves are about one to two feet. It isn't cutting up real bad.

Dinner tonight was grilled cheese sandwiches and French onion soup. Mom and I settled in to watch "My Fair Lady." We saw the movie all the way through to the end. Now there is another movie on which I know nothing about the plot.

Homeward bound

This is something we really need "rain." There are brown spots in the front and back of my yard. I looked across the street and there are brown spots there. I have seen no trace of any falcon in this rainy weather. The St. Johns River Management can not fine you for having rain showers come down from the heavens. This is what we really need. Just a steady rain. Dinner is leftover split pea soup and salad. Mom put some cheese on top of the salad. She plans to add ranch dressing. I don't know what we will watch on television. I hope it will be something good.

A Winter Ocean

Dinner was split pea soup with dinner rolls. It was very filling. I saw a falcon on my trip over to the entrance on Flagler. I have no idea if it was the one that was hanging around here or not. It was perched on another power ball on top of a power pole. This is the month you can drive on the beach without paying a toll. I noticed the toll booth gone, so it is open season for driving. At least until January. Mom and I did not get much of the rain storm that was suppose to be such a threat last night. Mom and I did notice the ground being wet.

On top is a ocean scene with pelicans flying fairly low to the water. Down below is a shrimp boat picture which is out to get a daily load of fish. These boats remind me of the boat in the movie " The Perfect Storm." The big giant wave coming down on the boat seems mind boggling. Meantime, today someone will get an extra dose of fish. Today this boat will be a success at catching what it needs to catch.

What to do in stormy weather

The sky is turning dark. Night is really here. My bathroom light is burned out, so I need to get a replacement tomorrow. It is a little late to go shopping for a bulb tonight. I am very stuffed after eating pork loin for dinner along with a half of a bake potato and sweet potato. Mom also had some Cole slaw and pineapple cut up. I had made a fresh batch of tapioca, earlier in the day. I ate some and probably more later. I have no clue regarding what is on television this evening. Mom and I will be doing some channel surfing.

Just an ordinary day

"Leave poor Tiger Woods alone." Please, not another Tiger Wood's story." I wonder if there are other people out there who feel the way I do? There are so many more necessary things to talk about such as: lack of jobs, hunger in America, and taking care of our families. Tonight will be the speech by President Obama about America in War. I hope he says some things which are worth while. Meantime, I will batten down the hatches to get ready for the line of thunder showers coming through tomorrow. The weatherman says to get the weather radio ready. Tonight, dinner was hamburgers and a little bit of chips. I don't know what tomorrow will be. I do know mom got a pork loin roast. I think this would be pretty good for a Wednesday dinner.