Merry Christmas!

I was a little late making my holiday cards this year, mostly because I couldn't decide on a design. In the end, I sent out more than I usually do, because I found out that people still seem to like getting something in the mail. I don't have a list -- I simply go through my contacts and add or subtract, mostly the former. I regretfully omit some friends simply because I don't have a street address -- I don't Google addresses if doing so feels instrusive.

I send the same design to most, and for a few others I make cards that reflect the underlying Christian mystery of the birth of Jesus. The entire process from conception to getting the envelopes mailed takes a few weeks. It's a grounding experience that is as spiritual and joyful as any other during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

The 2022 card has simple bilingual messages (front: Merry Christmas  ~ Joyeux Noël; inside:  Happy New Year ~Bonne Année) and the image of cardinal (hand matted on red construction paper glued on the front; with the same image printer-generated on the left inside). 

For some, especially family and friends who live far away, I include a photo with a note on the back. 

I'm writing this as I watch the winter crew plow and shovel our neighborhood streets and driveways. The volume of snow reminds me of the snow filled days of my childhood. It's a good feeling, especially because we got the trash barrel out just in time, and back in the garage before the snowplow got to our house.

It feels a lot like ... Hanukkah and Christmas!

Ya Can't Fix Stupid

 

Scott and John attacking the job with resolve

I've always had a sneaking suspicion that I qualify for the "too stupid to live" label. Yesterday's clothes dryer incident yesterday reinforced that creeping angst.

On Thursday, using one of the sharpest knives in the drawer (from my great new Henckel knife set, a Christmas gift from Trudy and John), I sliced my left thumb while cutting bread for dinner. Yes, I do know how to use a knife safely, but I may need some retraining. Anyway, the cut required a rather clumsy bandaging job that impedes motion. This is, of course, a lame excuse for what happened yesterday morning.

As I always do, I cleaned the lint filter after a load of laundry. I noticed a layer of lint in the slot that houses the filter, so I used the previously successful methodology of dampening a paper towel, folding it up, and swiping it along the lint layer. The first pass was successful so I got greedy and went for  couple of small clumps lower down in the opening. To get a stubborn ball of lint on the left, I transferred the folded paper towel tool from my right hand to my left, but the instant I inserted it, my injured thumb lost its grip and the paper towel fell far down the slot.

Oh oh. I thought turning on the dryer might dislodge it, but the noise was awful so I knew that couldn't be good. I tried to reach for paper towel with the pointy end of a long paint brush, but was afraid of dropping it so I abandoned the effort and realized I needed help. I just didn't feel up to confessing my stupidity to Bob, so I let it go for the time being.

Fortunately, Chris invited us to lunch and I was able to tell my tale of woe during a fortuitous discussion of crazy dumb things! Scott promised to have a look that afternoon.

In the end, Chris, John and Scott all got involved. The attempts included pulling out the dryer from the wall, removing screws, vacuuming the slot, detaching the vent and using an industrial blower to get the paper towel out. Success! Bounty paper towels are certainly heavy duty, because the item was dislodged intact, with a small amount of lint attached to its surface.

The dryer was soon back in position for a test run. It works great and, as recommended by the guys, in the future I'll use a vacuum to remove any lint that escapes the trap. Although you can't fix stupid, I may be just smart enough not to avoid that same dumb mistake next time!

Seminole 2022 - Last Day in Florida

 Pix.

Today is our last full day in Florida. While the weather is great, the home environment is really not very comfortable (bed, couches, chairs, noisy A/C, plumbing problems, dirt ...) and we'll be happy to get home. Still, we'ver enjoyed the last week. A few highlights:

• Dolphin Cruise at John's Pass. It was a perfect day and we saw lots of dolphins and seabirds.
• Visit to Fort DeSoto Park. The day was sunny and warm, and we enjoyed watching people on the beach, as well birds in the water and in the air. Afterward, we had a snack at Sea Critters (margaritas, peel & eat shrimp, grouper nuggets).
• Short hop to Lake Seminole County Park. The park was much larger, greener and cooler than I had imagined. The alljgators didn't show up for a photo op, but I was OK,
• Our usual visit to Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, where the people watching is as fun as waiting for dolphins and manatees.
• Meggan and Scott's weekend with us, including great dinners at Stefano's and perennial favorite Salt Rock Grill.
• Meet-up with Lind O. and her husband Gerard for a wonderful lunch at Bon Appétit in Dunedin.

I'll think about how much I enjoyed swimming in the morning and early evening, and am glad that I learned how to take care of a pool. I'm fairly sure that hardly anyone (except my siblings and a few younger relatives) would have enjoyed the cold water. Scott showed me how to set the temperature of the pool, and I kept expecting the water to warm up -- which it did during a heat spell a few weeks ago. However, the inadequacy of Plan B (the sun) led Bob to ask the pool guy about it. He checked, and said the capacitor was shot, so there is no warm-up in my future.

I'll miss the enclosed patio where we've eaten most meals. However, it was hard to clean up to a satisfactory state and it's even harder to keep it reasonably acceptable.

Spring in Minnesota will be enjoyable!

Seminole 2022 - Winding Down

 Pix.

Time flies by, even when you're not having that much fun. It is a little too quiet for me on this residential street in Seminole.

I've kept myself occupied with watching the news (almost all disturbing), reading (I have a few books on my Kindle, including my choice for April book club), swimming (I've got the pool space quite nice now and I'm pretty good with the skimmer), and the ongoing cleaning project. Everything we step on or touch is fairly clean now, including shower curtains, dish towels, etc. Still, I'm getting a little tired of cleaning when I won't be reaping most of the benefits.

The weather is beautiful. The high humidity experienced last weekend has dissipated and yesterday was fresh and lovely. I got away with resisting the temptation to buy some warm clothes and am happy that I brought three swimsuits so I never have to put on a wet one. I really do like having my own pool.

Seminole 2022 - St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick (Wikipedia)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I've hardly ever gone out on this day, for a variety of reasons, including crowds, green beer, and false good cheer. Bob associates the day with a meal of corned beef and cabbage (usually greasy and disgusting) and years ago I started making it for him and Chris, who also enjoys it. It's grown on me over the years and this morning I have corned beef simmering on the stove because I don't want to babysit the oven later in the day. Once it's tender I'll simply refrigerate and save for later.

Our Lady of Kyyv (tweeted by Fr. James Martin, SJ

Yesterday I walked to Winn-Dixie and picked up cabbage, red potatoes, carrots and Irish soda bread. When I prepare at least they won't be cooked to death. We'll eat on the patio as we usually do. A quiet day, one more suited for reflection than celebration this year.

It's hard to be on vacation while the war in Ukraine rages on. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the British parliament via video and received a standing ovation. On Tuesday, he spoke to the Parliament of Canada. I didn't hear the speech but was touched when I read the trascript and saw that he addressed the Prime Minister as "dear Justin". Zelenskyy spoke virtually to Congress yesterday and to the German parliament this morning. He is fearless, demanding, full of passion. Today's news shows continued relentless bombing of Ukrainian cities.

Seminole 2022 - Lunch with Canadian Friends

 Pix.

Wednesday was a good day. We drove to Dunedin, a new destination for us, partly along the beach, through a lot of Clearwarer that we hadn't seen before.

Bon Appétit is a pleasant restaurant right on the water with a solid dock and waterfront area. Linda and Gérard were waiting for us outside the restaurant and directed us to the parking area. It was a little windy and we decided to eat indoors, where Linda had reserved a table. We could have waited for first come/first served patio seating, where reservations aren't avaible, but we were very happy with our table and our waiter, Jonathan, whose nametag identified him as an Ohioan.

Three of us had salads (Greek for Gérard, Caesar for Bob and me) with either grilled chicken or salmon. Linda chose a hamburger with blue cheese on lettuce instead of a bun. Dark beer for Gérard and me, cabernet sauvignon for Linda, "just water" for Bob. Food and service above average.

A number of years ago Temiscaming friends started and annual lunch tradition, sometimes with as many as five or six couples COVID cust short our stay two years ago, and we didn't go to Florida last year, so we hadn't seen Linda and Gérard since 2019. We four were the only attendees this year and while we really missed our other friends, it was so much fun for Linda and me to catch up. The husbands talked amiably beside us as we chatted non-stop.

It was beautifully warm in the late afternoon so I got my swim in before the evening rainstorm. It was a fine day.

Linda, Gérard, Cath, Bob

Seminole 2022 - Clear Weather

 Pix.

We're learning our way around this part of Pinellas County. The topography of this section of the Gulf coast is challenging, such that there are many angled roadways and, it seems, lots of streets that end because they terminate at some water source. Many drives require a lot of turns and it's easy to lose sight of the ultimate destination. Fortunately the Google Maps app comes to the rescue.

Yesterday we drove to St. Pete Beach "the long way", east on Park Boulevard then south on Park Avenue, east again on Pasadena to the Gulf. We sat on a bench watching a guy paddleboarding as a young family fished on the boardwalk, competing with pelicans and an aggressive great blue heron.

For dinner we had leftover noodles from Stefano's and shrimp, simply sauteed in butter with a little salt, pepper and garlic powder (that's all I had). This morning we woke up to a day that promises to be a little warmer. I hit the pool early and worked a little more on all the debris from Saturday's storm. I added some water to bring up the level. The pool guy comes tomorrow so he'll do a mch needed professional job.

Seminole 2022 - Cold Spring Break!

 

Surfers at Sand Key Park

Pix.

Not a great beginning for spring breakers! The temperature fell steadily all day yesterday and the wind was crazy. After it died down a little, I swept the pool deck as well as I could but left the overturned chairs where they were. Decided against a swim because of all the debris in the water.

We went out in the afternoon and drove north on Gulf Boulevard. Stopped for the first photo op at Indian Rocks Beach and I could barely hold my camera steady enough to get a few shots. It was strangely exhilarating and very enjoyable. A few people were walking on the beach, most of them in long pants, sweatshirts and jackets. We moved on to Sand Key Beach, where I loved watching the crazy surfers in the high waves.

You could tell which of us was the native Minnesotan. Bob, of course, brought clothes for every season and was comfortable in the cold and wind. I, on the other hand, made the strategic decision of packing only a carry-on bag, leaving behind the dress-up clothes, many extra pairs of shoes, sweatshirts and long pants. I couldn't remember ever needing warm clothes in the many years I'd packed them, so I was quite confident in my decision. However, yesterday I was definitely a little chilly in shorts, a tee and my light Vikings windbreaker. This morning, I woke up to about 39F, almost unheard of in the Tampa area at this time of year.

I'm not buying something warm because I'd have to get it home and I'm not going to stuff that bag. Meanwhile, I think I'll get leaves and branches out of the pool. I love swimming in warm water on a cold day. The sun is shining and a warming trend is on the way. 68F later this afternoon.

Seminole 2022 - Wind and Weather

Windy afternoon in Gulfport

Pix.

Being a creature of habit, I stick to my home habit of changing sheets on Friday. While the sheets were dring, I hosed off the pool deck, skimmed the pollen off the pool surface, and did some incidental cleaning, like the cushions and outside furniture.

After lunch, we took a drive to Gulfport. We don't use a standalone GPS anymore, but my phone works really well and we made it without incident. We enjoyed spending some time in the pier but didn't stop in one of the waterfront bars for a beer.

Front yard during heavy rain

I didn't swim yesterday evening or this morning, because of high winds and then, today, heavy rain, with thunder and lightning. I took advantage of water on the patio to mop it, but my tools are somewhat inadequate so the best I can say is that it (along with everything else) is cleaner than it was when I arrived. The Players championship has been delayed until about noon. 

Spring break in this area started today and there are vacationers from all over who've returned to Florida after an absence. If I were here for only a week, I'd be sorry to see a forecast of cold, windy weather with (much needed) rain.

As for me, I have my Kindle, my camera and daily Spanish on Duolingo, so I'm just fine until I turn on the TV and am assaulted with images of the tragic war on Ukraine.

Pix.

Florida is pleasant even on a rainy day. I got to swim morning and evening, at the usual time. Continued on the ongoing cleaning project (today's items: llaundered shower curtain and liner in our bathroom; washed and dried four glass patio doors. The tiles inside have now been mopped twice and the place now feels pretty good. This weekend I'll get the patio done again. Note to self: it may be a bad sign when one's husband openly mentions OCD and related disorders.

We drove in the rain to Treasure Island and stopped at Seabreeze Island Grill for drinks (margarita for Bob, cabernet sauvignon for me) and appetizers (delicious grouper nuggets and coconut shrimp).

By evening the rain had stopped. Weather forecasts sounded dire, including wind chills by Sunday, but this morning is clear and beautiful.

Seminole 2022 - George C. McDonough Nature Park

Pix.

I like finding new parks wherever we go. Some are great and others are a disappointment. McDonough Nature Park is one of the best! It's also known as Turtle Park, and the turtles are visible at the park entrance -- sunning on a little island, swimming around a bubbler, lounging on the rocks. Children and others are delighted.

Birds of prey (eagles, hawks, vultures, owls) injured in the wild, rehabbed incompatible with a life "on release", are displayed in large enclosures. Seeing these majestic birds in captivity always makes Bob sad so I generally do not post any photographs. They actually seemed fine to me, especially the ones paired with another bird of the same species. Anyway, the education programs are valuable.

I walked all the way to the Intracoastal Waterway and was fortunate to hear an osprey making a fuss in a tree overlooking the water. He or she seemd displeased with the few visitors that afternoon and I was hoping that he/she wouldn't take some kind of dislike to me as I watched a shot a few photos.

We stopped at Winn-Dixie on the way home and I raced in to grab a few things for the pantry. We had drinks and a picnic supper on the patio. After dinner, I did my quick cleaning of the pool and was dismayed to find a baby turtle in the pool.  I got him out gently and he walked away toward the grass. I was, however, dismayed to see him back in the pool this morning. I got him out with the shallow pool skimmer and off he went into the garden. I made small pool with a sunning rock for him but I haven't figured out what to use as an on-ramp yet. I hope I won't have to make a trip to the turtle pond with him!

Seminole 2022 - Warhawk Nation and Other Musings

 

Seminole High School is the building on the other side of the fence

Pix. 

It seems ironic that the most peaceful messages I receive every day are from Seminole High School, with its jingoistic Warhawk Nation brand. I started my week with a recorded blast of the school song, the pledge of allegiance, uplifting messages from the administration, encouragement to all students, and a reminder that these are the last few days before spring break.

Our rental house abuts against the SHS property and we see the kids on the street when we go out at the end of the school day. Because mornings are chilly, they are almost all overdressed for afternoon heat, and I couldn't help thinking that many Minnesota kids would prefer to be chilly at the beginning of the day rather than too hot later. Anyway, they look like a cheerful bunch and I love hearing announcements during the day, between the period bells. I wrote a note to the school yesterday, letting them know that positivity and optimism have an impact beyond the student body. I did not mention the opposition of Florida's indigenous people to mascot Wally Warhawk and various other offensive manifestations of school pride. Surely this issue could be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties!

Meanwhile, in war news,  Russia continues its murderous assault on Ukraine. I just heard on NBC that one hundred refugees per minute cross into Poland. The images of displaced people, including so many children and animals, are shocking and so very sad. I can't help remembering the songs of protest during the Vietnam War. 

RIP Laura Nyro whose lyrics to Save the Country are poignantly 60s ... "in my mind I can't study war no more!"

Seminole 2022 - My Own Pool

My pool

Pix.

There's nothing I like more than a good pool. I can remember almost every pool I've ever been to, and I've hit a lot of them over many decades. I think the worst was a frigid unheated pool in California nearly thirty years ago where I insisted on a swim in the frigid water, and one of the best was an infinity pool at Hotel Las Brisas in Ixtapa. Our pool at Sunrise Resort in St. Pete Beach was pretty good, especially in the early morning or late evening. The pool at this house looked fine in pictures but the reality was something else again. My feet were filthy from the concrete and I created a small muddy puddle when I sat on the furniture in a wet swimsuit.

Bob showed me how to use the net so yesterday I cleaned the water surface, fairly successfully. Then Scott got the hose and together we cleaned the deck.The grit had really been driving me crazy but we got it looking pretty good and definitely a lot cleaner. Then Scott hiked up the pool temperature to 80F. He told me that it had been set at 54 (!) and while the water was warmer than that, it was certainly a little too brisk, even for me. It had already warmed up yesterday afternoon and by this morning it was still refreshing -- well on the way to "just right".

This morning Scott added some water to bring it up to its proper level and, well, it looks and feels great. Early this afternoon I mopped the enclosed patio and, while it needs at least one other pass, it's a lot brighter.

So, after just a little effort I'm really enjoying my pool. 

Seminole 2022 - A Good Weekend

 

Pix.

We had a pretty good weekend. On Saturday morning I found a good mop and large bucket. While Bob was showering, I swept all the floors and washed the indoor tile. The difference was immediately visible and a sense of clean space began to take hold. The counter and table surfaces are pretty good from repeated cleaning.

Meg and Scott arrived in the early afternoon in time for lunch. We at on the outdoor patio and later in the afternoon I went for a swim. We finished the day at Stefano's, a venue Scott found online. We all loved the space and the food. We all chose something different: Bob (salmon - "best I ever had"), Scott (spaghetti and meatballs), Meg (scallops), me (seafood pasta). The pastas were all perfectly prepared and the wine (pinot grigio for Meg, cabernet sauvignon for me) was good too.

On Sunday we were out and about, hitting Bongo's on the Beach for noon drinks and appetizers. We had dinner at one of our favorites from previous years, Salt Rock Grill. More good meals, maybe a little too good. This is a fruit and veggies day.

Seminole 2022 - Acceptance and Enjoyment

 

Pool Area

Pix.

Thursday was a more normal day, as reality sank in. We are going to be here for a month so we might as much enjoy our time in the sun. I really enjoyed both my morning and evening swims, especially as I try to make sure my right shoulder (recently treated with physical therapy for rotator cuff tears) is properly rehabbed before I get by to my Y swimming routine.

We've got our bearings now and had no trouble getting out to a main road, Hwy 694/Park Avenue. Traffic seemed like less than we were once used to once we got to Gulf Boulevard. The coast is, of course, overbuilt but the Gulf of Mexico and Boca Ciega Bay are very beautiful.

We drove to a few favorite places, including the boardwalk at Land's End and the very end of Pass-A-Grille. We had fish & chips and conch tacos delivered from DJ's Clam Shack which we enjoyed on the patio. Because the shade is inoperable (or, as we say in Minnesota, "broke"), we sat in the hot sun of the late afternoon.

TV is working well. WiFi is good. Watching the terrible war in Ukraine, I feel sad and very angry.

Seminole 2022 - Day 2 (Still Married)

 Pix.

Let's face it, the choice of this property was mine. I did have my doubts when I saw only one review and noticed right away the absence of basic safety equipment (like a handrail -- and more) around the pool steps. I did look up property valuation compared with similar properties in the residential neighborhood and was reassured -- of course, location-location-location applies, and this is a great location.

Bob has been very kind in not blaming me, but I am defensive about every innocent negative remark. Yesterday's included shades that almost fell apart in the enclosed patio, toilet issues (fortunately not clogged ones), uncomfortable seating, TV problems (to which I am fairly indifferent, especially with Live-TV on my laptop for the news and a few other programs I watch). So many more. Seems we're used to the good life with solid doors, soft-close cupboards, lots of outlets without overloaded power strips, new plumbing, shades that don't fall apart. The list goes on.

Yesterday we hit the Dollar Store, one of my favorite places which but Bob is definitely not a Dollar Store shopper. I stocked up on cleaning supplies, though I feel a little disheartened and will not get into my habitual cleaning frenzy. Just praying that the washer and the dishwasher work. If not ... oh well, let's not go there.

On the positive side, we are getting a few laughs. Our worst vacation experience is still Barker Lake Lodge nearly 10 years ago and we still crack up when we think about it. "It's gonna be warm", said Bob cheerfully a few minutes ago. While the bed didn't seem quite as comfortable as it did on the first night, it was still pretty good. I'm hoping that the two small bruises inside my right elbow are from a bang and not an insect.

Already inquired about getting back to our longtime rental in St. Pete Beach next year. Sunrise Resort is looking better and better!

Florida 2022 - Seminole

We returned to Florida this year for the first time after leaving two years ago at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year we stayed home and lost our St. Pete Beach rental of many years. After much dithering and indecisision, Bob and I decided to try a new rental in Seminole, an "upscale" community north of our old favorite St. Pete. Using our Delta credits from 202, we sprung for first class on Delta.

Yesterday was our first day. Jim M. gave us a ride to the airport and our flight left right on time at 9:30. While flying first is not what it once was, the seats were very comfy, especially for me, a frequent occupant of the middle seat. My "charcuterie and cheese" breakfast was delicious. Bob took the "banana bread" menu choice and we shared our selections, including really good fruit and nuts.

Tampa International (TPA) seemed less busy than I remember. I had reserved a Hertz car through Delta and the line was short. Probably because we ended up forking over ore $$ for the extra driver and a vehicle upgrade, and but that Chevy Malibu isn't much of an upgrade: noisy under the car (Bob says A-frame), left signal that won't turn off, chemical smell that I hate. Inauspicious start.

We took the wrong exit to Seminole and drove through construction to get to the house. Let's just say that it photographs well but needs many updates, like everything (plumbing, electrical outlets, TV, furniture). The look is dated and dingy and the pool lacks a railing on the stairs.

Our bed, however, is very comfortable and the coffeemaker is good. The outdoor space also looks very nice. This morning I feel a little more positive but have mentally gone through every room and updated everything.

Still, it's Florida nad the weather is beautiful!

Let the be light ... or not!

Love our automated Hunter Douglas Silhouette shades. However, one of the sets of four shades wasn't working properly with its remote. Although the shades worked fine on my phone app, Bob prefers to use the remotes. He was driving me crazy trying to get shades lined up. Over a period of several months, we learned how to change batteries in the shades and in the remotes, reset shades manually, fix mis-alignments between the little puck that fits in the "Pebble" remote holder, reset the hub, and all kinds of other things, some of them useful.

On the first Saturday of the Olympic games and the day before the Super Bowl, I took it upon myself to fix this irriting problem. Now. I pulled out the now familiar instruction booklets and fiddled with programming the living room remote. Big mistake, because I couldn't get any of the shades added to a remote configuration routing. After an hour or so, I decided to call Customer Support. I was a little surprised when the recorded instructions advised me to press "1" if I'm over 50. Well, I'm two decades over 50 but I felt a little insulted, thinking that there was a special dumbed down assistance protocol for seniors. Turns out I'd mistakenly called the wrong number and was connected with a very nice lady who wanted to sell me a medical alert system.

Finally, I got the right number but the so-called "hot line" is hot only M-F at 9 AM EST. Next, I called the retailer, Viking Blinds. The designer was busy with customers, but she got back to me later that day and provided a link to instructions, which I already knew but no matter. I contact Hunter-Douglas on the Monday but I really needed more help than HD could provide.

Finally, it dawned on me that Bob had been right all along: the remote was defective. We brought it into Viking Blinds and the lovely designers there agreed with us. They ordered a new remote (free) which was immediately shipped by HD. Bob and I worked together on the operation and we were in business 10 minutes later. The shades work perfectly.