23/09/2010
Florida update
I have so many photos, videos and antidotes about Florida from the last few weeks that I have once again overwhelmed myself and posted next to nothing. It's a habit of mine. The short of it is that we have biked at lot, generally 15 to 20 miles nearly everyday, walked for miles on the beach and bobbed mindlessly in the sea until the dirt and confusion of the world washed away. Don't hate me. It comes back.
We have also spent a fair amount of time biking and driving around in an effort to get an overview of the area. Florida is amazing but I wouldn't be saying that if we were spending much time in the cities. When I say Florida I mean the beaches. They are amazing. Florida has over 8000 miles of shoreline. And the wildlife is beyond amazing, although humans have paved over most of their habitat, leaving them to fend like hobos rummaging for leftovers. Will we learn before it all goes away?
This morning I rode to the little coffee shack on the jetty at the south end of Casey Key. In case you're wondering, a key is a skinny barrier island. Got lots of photos of pelicans sitting in a tree airing their wings and a lizard enjoying the morning. After breakfast M. Lee and I went for what amounted to about an eight mile walk on the beach although we gave ourselves credit for 10 given that we were walking on sand. We wanted to see if we could walk all the way to Oprah's shack but we didn't get that far (this time). It is cleverly situated in the exact middle of the key, and being that the filthy rich do not allow public access to the public beach, it is a long walk from the public beach in the hot sun. However, we did see Stephen King's house the other day. It's on the north end of the key, which is much easier to reach. It looks like a huge warehouse. I suppose the hurricane shutters were down. Anyway, I got this photo of Oprah's place during a bike ride on the key. It sprawls out of the photo on both sides and is far more grand than it looks. Use your imagination. Go wild. It would be hard to over estimate.
This is about the time when baby turtles begin hatching from deep within the sand and scampering into the sea. There are several carefully marked nests long the shore but we haven't seen any of the little darlings make their famous short but perilous journey but we did find part of a turtle egg shell on the beach the other day. It was rubbery like a swim cap and, of course, I took about 40 photos of it. However, the big event today, as well as one of the big events of the whole trip, was spotting a manatee slipping through the gulf. A manatee! Sorry, Kristiana. I know you ordered a photo of a manatee but she was moving too fast. Still, a cavorting manatee happily nibbling sea grass in the sea? How cool is that? I still owe you a photo but, until then, use your priceless imagination and you will see her with your mind's eye. Isn't she lovely?
And the other day, while hiking in a wilderness reserve on a different key, we met this charming little gopher tortoise with sand on her lips. She was a beauty too. We were all stunned, Mr. Lee, the tortoise and I. Gopher tortoises are endangered and extremely shy so the three of us just stood there looking at each other not knowing what to do. Unfortunately, we did freak her out a bit but, in general, I think we did okay. We took a couple of photos and went on our way.
Labels:
critters,
Florida,
photos,
travel notes
21/09/2010
News travels fast in Bird Land
18/09/2010
13/09/2010
Alligator Alley Cloud Alligator
my first
wild alligator yesterday.
She was panhandling
at a rest stop
along Florida's infamous
Alligator Alley.
She was such a willing and
lovely subject that I felt bad
not sharing my lunch with her.
She was clearly disappointed
but feeding wildlife snacks
isn't good for them or us
so I managed to resist
her mesmerizing charm.
She had incredible hands.
Labels:
critters,
Florida,
photos,
travel notes
10/09/2010
Night wrap
We are so busy everyday, it's hard finding the time to post anything. Like tonight, it's after 10 and I'm sitting in bed in the dark writing this on my very overheated netbook, sweat running down my face and body. Don't ask why. If you do a blog, you will understand or maybe that's the wrong word but you get it. If you don't, well... you're lucky I guess. Anyway, we rented shitty "comfort bikes" as they are called and have been riding a lot. The bikes suck but it's still fun. Then we cool off in the ocean. I am really loving Florida. Yes, yes... it's the honeymoon phase but still ... a warm ocean two blocks away?
Tomorrow we drive across the state to spend the night with a couple of Mr. Lee's cousins. That should be interesting.
Labels:
critters,
Florida,
travel notes
08/09/2010
Yard birds
...which, in a round about way, reminds me of this little treasure Mr. Lee included on a Valentine card he made for me one year.
(UPDATE: Seems these birds are actually herons. (blush) Anyway, I heart cranes, herons, vultures, cockroaches. You name it. Life is cool.) Now on to the poem...
The Heart
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter - bitter," he answered;
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."
-Hart Crane
Labels:
critters,
Florida,
poetry,
travel notes
05/09/2010
Outtakes 09.05
Holy fucking god, there are a lot of rich people in Florida. The last few days we have been driving around the canals and keys. Palaces beside shacks but a boat in every backyard.
This crane didn't seem the least bit concerned when I took her photo.
but the crabs really hated it. I chanced upon about 100 basking in the setting sun. In about 10 seconds they managed to disappear.
The gestating turtles didn't seem to mind the camera but you never know.
I guess I was the lucky one here.
This crane didn't seem the least bit concerned when I took her photo.
but the crabs really hated it. I chanced upon about 100 basking in the setting sun. In about 10 seconds they managed to disappear.
The gestating turtles didn't seem to mind the camera but you never know.
I guess I was the lucky one here.
Labels:
Florida,
photos,
travel notes
02/09/2010
Outtakes
When I first saw it, I thought it was a shark
and that seeing one around that particular pier
is a fairly rare occurrence. Beginner's luck, I guess.
A dolphin!
is a fairly rare occurrence. Beginner's luck, I guess.
A dolphin!
This is just an urban park but
it still has the feel of a real Florida swamp.
it still has the feel of a real Florida swamp.
Okay, it's been a long day so that's it for now but, if you'd like to see a few more, I posted some others here.
Labels:
Florida,
photos,
travel notes
Nevada - Florida Express
We're here. Florida. What's not to love?
Don't get me wrong. I love Nevada but this is great. We're staying in a 50's era apt. for $28 a day, renting a black bug for $16 a day. It's nice as Hawaii at a fraction of the cost.
Anyway, gotta go. My only regret is that I didn't bring my bubblegum pink COEXIST tshirt. Pink. It's Florida, man. What was I thinking? There was a old guy Floridian on the plane returning home from Vegas,,. pink sport coat,white slacks, gold chain, over-sized sunglasses, white panama style hat... younger lady friend, talking about how he loved throwing bacon under the trailer to attract the bears. Florida...
Well... gotta go...
Labels:
Florida,
photos,
travel notes
30/08/2010
Local news at 11:19
Packing is really hard and especially this time as all we are taking is carry-on luggage. As it is, I chase myself through the day, picking up after myself and trying to figure out where I put the damn thing and things and where the hell is it? and now I have to plan what I am going to be wearing and needing for a month and a half. ARG! One thing I did decide. I'm not bringing my bubblegum pink tshirt even though it does say COEXIST. Anyway, back to work. Time's running out.
Labels:
local news,
videos
28/08/2010
Babette's Lucky Day
This morning about 6 AM the magpies were screaming like hell so I went out to see what all the ruckus was about. Just then Babette (the squirrel formerly known as Bob) came skidding around the corner at top speed, blasted by and dove under the lilac bush, the cat coming behind her like a steely gray ground missile. Babette took advantage of the distraction, did a 180 and shot back to the Bird Park and I chased the fucking cat off in the opposite direction. It clawed its way up and disappeared over the fence and presumable went back to it's own yard. Talk about lucky. The magpies hate cats. This isn't the first time we've double teamed the bastards.
26/08/2010
Return of Bob or is he Babette?
I don't have any new photos of little Leo but I hear he is happily nursing at all hours of the night.
But Bob is back and I not only got more photos of him, here's an :11 sec. short of him dining on a tiny sunflower. One thing though. On closer examination, it seems Bob may be a girl.
But Bob is back and I not only got more photos of him, here's an :11 sec. short of him dining on a tiny sunflower. One thing though. On closer examination, it seems Bob may be a girl.
25/08/2010
Baby Leo, one day old
Here he is.
Baby Leo, one day old.
We got to meet him last night on skype, hence the grainy photos but still... such a beautiful, beautiful little boy. He's far far away in Montana so I'm so grateful for even this.
Labels:
family
24/08/2010
FOX News and Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal
Here's one for the brain drain....
Jon Stewart points out how Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, a New Corps co-owner, is the same man FOX News accuses of funding terrorism. You can watch the hilarious, astute revelation of this FOX News circle jerk here.
Prince Alwaleed heads a board of directors meeting attended by
News Corporation executives. (AN photo)
News Corporation executives. (AN photo)
Labels:
reality checks
23/08/2010
There is a baby!
"There is a baby."
This was the message our very exhausted son-in-law left on our answering machine today.
He was born this evening. I don't know much more than that, just got the call, but it sounds like all's well. So, whew and YAY! More later.
Labels:
family
22/08/2010
Baby Watch 10, the time has come
The time has come |
21/08/2010
Baby Watch 9 or Tumbleweeds to Black Rock
It's that time again so...
my G'ville expat friends now living in Mexico showed up the other day. They are like human tumbleweeds...
that blow in from the Sonora Desert enroute to the Black Rock Desert where they do the Hokey Pokey Consortium
then blow back to Mexico. As usual, I'm not attending. I have no interest in hanging out on a wind ravaged desert playa for a week even with The Spectacle. Is that so wrong?
Anyway, September 1 we leave for Florida then Costa Rica, in all for a month and a half. And yes. We are still waiting for Baby.
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