anhinga

For my northern friends, this is a picture of an anhinga bird. They are common here in Florida. This is a diving bird. It dives into the water to catch a fish. But here is the interesting part, the bird does not have any oil glands to secrete oil onto the feathers to make them waterproof like a ducks. We all know that water rolls off a ducks back and I have seen that many times. That is due to the coating of oil on the duck's feathers. But not this bird. When it swims back up to the surface it can't fly. The feathers are waterlogged, heavy, and all stuck together. The bird must find something like a stump to climb up onto to fan its wings to let the feathers dry. Until the feathers dry, it can't fly away and so this is a very vulnerable time for the this bird. The anhinga. An interesting bird and an unusual bird and an unusual name.
Tune in tomorrow for my next nature story. LOL (Laughing Out Loud). Lew

cherry turnovers

For breakfast this morning we had grits and cherry turnovers. Yes, grits. In the south you eat grits, not hashbrowns. Hashbrowns are for northerners. The turnovers were really good. Mary had to make them. They weren't the pre-made kind whereby you just open the box and pop them into the oven. They involved some work on Mary's part and they turned out nice and flaky and hot. Very hot.

Have you been following the Casey Anthony trial on television? Have you ever seen the attorney Jose Baez in person? I have, once. Where? At the courthouse? No, actually it was at a sandwich restaurant called Beefy King.

Mary and I like the pastrami sandwiches the best and that is what we always get. So there was Mary and I sitting at a table chowing down on our pastrami sandwiches when who walks in and orders a sandwich? Jose Baez. We were so amazed that we just stared at him as did some other people. He looks just like he looks on television. By the way, he has good taste in sandwich shops. So that's it. I got to see Jose Baez order a sandwich and eat it at a table. What kind of sandwich did he order? I have no idea. I couldn't tell. Have a great day and have a nice juicy pastrami sandwich today. Juicy, not dry.
Take care. Lew

peace and happiness

“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. - Mahatma Gandhi—

Good words to pattern one's life after. I believe that the second greatest thing that I can do in life is to bring happiness and joy to others. I have met people who will have a grumpy expression. After a few minutes of chatting they start to smile and that makes me happy as well. So what is #1. I think that the greatest thing that I can do with my is to relieve suffering (both physical and mental). This philosophy is what drives me. I hope that I have made a difference in people's lives for the better. By the way, I also like Desidarata.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

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Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.

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If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

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Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

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But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

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Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

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Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

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Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

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Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

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With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

"Anonymous"

Desidarata helps to keep me on track when stress comes into my life. It helps me to "stay the course" as they say.

Be happy and be kind. Lew

Dandelions

I remember the bright yellow dandelions of summer growing in our front yard when I was a child. They had such a bright and intense yellow color. My mom liked the dandelions also and so they were allowed to grow unchecked giving us a beautiful carpet of the yellow flowers in the front yard.

And then came the fun time when they went to seed and formed these fluffy white balls.

I would blow on the fluff balls scattering their seeds to the wind and watched as they floated away on their little parasols. For a young child on summer vacation each day was an adventure. What a delight those dandelions were. Lew

the stent

The stent was not any ordinary stent but the newest and top-of-the-line Ion stent. Wow! (I think). I spent Friday getting a stent put into one of my coronary arteries. I had to stay in the hospital overnight and eat the hospital food. But I am home now, and glad of it. It is nice to be in familiar surroundings.

These stents have always reminded me of the old Chinese finger locks. Remember those? When I encountered one of these toys for the first time as a child I pulled like crazy but was unable to remove my fingers. And of course the harder that I pulled the tighter that the Chinese finger locks grip my finger. Finally someone took pity on me and released me from this device. Well, have a good day. As for me, every day that I am above ground is a good day thanks to the cardiologist and the stent. As Mr. Spock would say "Live long and prosper". Lew

surfs up

Each summer as it gets hotter and hotter, the water from the cold water faucet becomes less cold. Eventually the water from the cold water faucet starts to become a little warm as it is heated on its way from the well to the house. And eventually it gets warm enough whereby I can take a shower without ever turning on the hot water faucet. We seem to be getting close to that point and are almost there. Even the surf temperature is warming up and is currently at 82 degrees.

This makes it very pleasant to go swimming at the beach. But that is the good news. So what is the bad news? The warm ocean water is what drives the hurricanes. And in Florida, that is bad news.

Hey, gotta go, surfs up. Lew

Casa Feliz

On Tuesday we went to a Mediterranean style home in Winter Park, Florida that was open for touring. It is called Casa Feliz.
It was a magnificent home. It was pleasant and relaxing to casually stroll the grounds as well as the house. There were fountains which were nice to see on a hot day.

The grounds had an abundance and large variety of colorful flowers. There was a nice planter of cacti and succulents in the courtyard.

The interior of the house was absolutely magnificent. Regretfully, I didn't take any pictures inside the house. But it the house had a warmth to it with it's Mediterranean architecture and interior decor. I can just imagine how nice it must have been for the original owners to live here.

It was so nice to take a tour without being crowded by others like at the tourist attractions. There were only two other people visiting at the same time as us and we had a very nice tour by a knowledgeable and personable docent.
Have a pleasant day with a nice cool drink of ice tea. Lew

disapperaing garden hose

What on earth is happening to our garden hose? It is being buried by some very industrious ants.

Can you see the entrance to the mound circled in yellow? This is Florida sand. Look at how white the sand is. It is called "sugar sand" because of its white color. I don't need to go to the beach, I can just dig and play in the sand right in the backyard. This is an empty lot across the street. Just look at that lovely pure white sand.

It is hot here in Florida as well as in the rest of the country. I know that I have lots of fellow sufferers and as they say "misery loves company". How did people survive before central air conditioning? Stay cool. Lew

smart kitty

Yes, this is certainly a smart kitty. Her name is Molly and she is making sure that she won't miss the next meal. A sweet little kitten who is the runt of the litter but if she gets packing away the food she may end up the biggest of the litter.

It is a hot afternoon and the kittens are stretched onto the cool cement of the garage. And what are they doing, you ask? Waiting on their next meal. Naturally. How do you like the little charlie chaplin moustache on the black and white kitten. Have a nice day wherever you may be. Lew