The Hat and the Hat Trick

The hat pictured is not a fashion statement but it is functional. I have one for kayaking. It protects your face, ears and neck from the sun.


The Captain wears this hat 16 hours a day 7 days a week. The hat is how people in Marathon, recognize Andrew in a crowd or from a distance. The hat is how I identify him in a store when he strays with the cart, from the aisle I'm shopping on. Andrew's wandering generally occurs when I have heavy items to put in the cart.


Fortunately we have a shopping rule. When we shop together neither of us can stray more that
25 feet or two aisles from the other. This rule has served us well for over 20 years even though I have to lug stuff in search of the man with the cart.

On January 15, 2010 the Captain and I went grocery shopping. I was trying to decide what soda to buy when Andrew strayed. I picked two 12 packs and began looking for him. I searched the entire super store twice carrying the darn soda. There were twenty men with the same build, beards, wearing shorts and t- shirt. Where was the hat?

I decided to return the soda to the shelf. When I looked up I saw a familiar but hat less head smiling at me from the end of the soda aisle. It was Andrew.

He swears he never left the aisle. Andrew doesn't know why he took off the hat. He also doesn't know why he let me get off the bus yesterday EITHER!

It's a beautiful day in Paradise so I take a deep breath, tuck the incident into my memory banks and congratulate him on the HAT TRICK.

Key West - The Wet Suits

The main purpose of our trip to Key West was to buy wet suits. Neither of us owned wet suits so after 15 minutes of self-serve, we sought the help of sales clerk. The young man available sniffled continuously as we asked him questions. He was not taught the fine art of blowing his nose but was educated in sucking it in. But I digress.

The selection was limited. We both chose two full length suits to try on in side by side 5’ X 5’ dressing rooms. Getting into a wet suit is extremely difficult for people who lack experience with girdles and pantyhose. I came to this conclusion from listening to the sounds coming out of the dressing room occupied by the Captain.

Each room had a folding chair with arms that took up half the space which added to the hilarity. I managed to knock my chair on its side while wiggling and laughing. So, I admit my dressing room wasn’t soundless but even without the assistance of a bed I managed to put on both suits before the Captain got the first one on, in the right direction.

Key West - The Bus Ride

Key West - The Bus Ride

On Thursday January 14 2010 we traveled by bus (actually two buses) to Key West. Andrew is not a mass transit person so he took control of the bus schedule. He carefully considered our options and presented them to me.

Option1: get up really early and depart at 0530

Option2: get up really early and depart at 0611

Option 3 get up somewhat early and depart at 0812

Options 1 &2 were too ridiculous for me to consider. I retired so I wouldn’t have to get up before the sun.

Option 3 wasn’t the departure times I would have suggested, (0 933 or 1124), but what the heck you got to compromise sometime. After all we are in Paradise.

1700 islands make up the area known as the Florida Keys. Some islands are connected by bridges others are only accessible by boat. Marathon to Key West is considered the Lower Keys. We traveled from mile marker 50 to 0. The scenery was beautiful. The island names end with the word Key, for example, Little Torch, Ramrod, Summerland, Sugarloaf, Stock and Cudjoe.

We successfully transferred to bus two, the Key West downtown line at 0945. Both buses had signs which directed exiting the bus from the rear. Neither bus had a rear door but they both had one center side door. Seats facing the right and left of the bus are designated for the elderly. If you sit there you must give the seat to an elderly person who boards after you. In the Florida Keys this could mean getting up often so we sat in seats facing the front of the bus.

Andrew had studied the bus schedule and confidentially pulled the cord to request a stop on Caroline Ave. He looked at me and said “This is our stop get off”, so I did and when I turned around I saw Andrew signally me to meet him at the correct stop three blocks away.

Andrew got a few comments from other passengers who were also boaters. “You’re in trouble now“and “I won’t want to be in your boat shoes” were two of them..

I could see Andrew was genuinely upset even though the words coming out of his mouth sounded like "Why did you get off the bus".

I bet you are wondering how I reacted. I quietly explained that taking control of the bus schedule made him the captain of this adventure. And less quietly "because you told me to get off the bus"!

I did not get mad because I’m in Paradise where it’s easy to forgive!. Forgetting is another story. I’ll save this ‘get off the bus’ memory for future use..

Wind, wind, wind

January 10, 2010-Day two of the wind

The boat rocked bow to stern for three hours then starboard to port until dawn. It’s like being on a ride controlled by a sinister attendant. We are at Mother Nature’s mercy. She is powerful and sometimes a cruel reminder that paradise like a beautiful rose has it’s thorns.

We had a few hours of relief when the wind’s direction turned to the North by Northwest which allowed us to eat breakfast before the rocking and rolling resumed.

We are not stranglers to wind but this wind is different. It changes direction often throughout the day. Its speed is 20 mph with gust to 35. It’s ridiculous that paradise is plagued by these insane winds. I want so much to go back to complaining about the heat!

Andrew found a green dragon fly on our deck. It must have frozen to death last night. The water temperature is getting too cold for the some of the fish and mammals. Andrew saw puffer fishes struggling near the surface this afternoon. The news channel reported manatees leaving South Florida in search of warmer water. Iguanas are dying and dropping from the trees. This is bizarre and it won’t end for two more days. I can’t wait to bitch about the heat!

Another day in paradise by Tut

After breakfast and a trip to the litter box I napped on the upper deck.

Sallyann reorganized one galley cabinet.

I watched a pelican poop on the lanai roof.

Sallyann joined me on the upper deck where we both watched the pelican poop on the lanai.

Pelicans poop a lot!

The lanai

Andrew decided to take me for a walk. This is how I look when Andrew tries to coax me down the deck ladder.

After the walk I ate some Chia pet greens and

pondered where I would take my next nap.

How did you spend your day?

Jan R and Richard R's Visit Including Crane Point

12/30/2009 we went to the Crane Point Museum and Nature Center.

Richards pointing for theatrical effect. He's holding his new Android. Andrew's hat is also theatrical.

Andrew at the wheel. Richard strikes a new pose still holding the Android.

Trading places but not releasing the Android.

Jan and I continued the Loop as the men played.

Palm plant

BEES!

Crane Point is 63 acre of what Florida looked like in its natural state (before Tiki bars).

Blue bush flowers

Some kind of cones

Barbed wired cactus

Spider

Adderley House is the oldest house outside of Key West.

Red cactus flower

This is my favorite photo of the day.

View from Crane Point

Faro Blanco

We walked 3 miles on the Crane Point property

Goodbye Crane Point

Hello rest and recuperation

12/31/2009 Cruise

Richard and Tut bond as we cruise around the island.

Jan bonds with her Anroid.

What was life like before Androids, oh yea, Crane Point.

December 26th Pet Xmas and New Year's Resolution

December 26^th Pet Xmas

Someone, probably from the ASPA, got to Kmart, CVS and Publix before us and bought all the Cat stockings. We did get a ½ price Chia Pet for Tut and a can of tuna. We’re sure he’ll appreciate the Chia Pet once the cat greens grow to an eatable size.

New Year 2010 Resolutions

‘Lose excess weight’ is on the top of my list as it was for the past decade. This year I am determined to change my diet and eat healthier. To start with I’m giving up all fruity drinks which are loaded with calories. Good bye pina coladas, margaritas and strawberry daiquiris. I only drank these 5 or 6 times a year it should be no problem.

Candy, I can‘t give up candy altogether. So, I’m cutting down my consumption from a bag a day to 3 or 4 servings per day. Chocolate, which is in its own food group, is necessary for one’s mental health. Never mess with your mind. Cake, I don’t particularly like cake so I’m giving it up completely.

Cheese, crackers, cookies are all things I should give up. Have you noticed the pattern? All the food I have a passion for start with the letter ‘C”. It would not be politically correct to avoid or eliminate foods just because their names start with a ‘C”.

Perhaps giving up one food item that starts with each letter of the alphabet is the way to approach this year’s resolution. Alligator, brussell spouts, cake, dried prunes, fruity drinks, garish... ok this could work.