Island life

A fast and furious week. Saturday found me at the beach with family - brother from the East coast with his kids. Neighbors gathered for sunset, then we headed up to my other brother's house for a lite supper of burgers and fries. I got home around 11:00 PM and began marinating two 7 lb. legs of lamb, peeling 10 lbs of spuds, etc. Sunday morning had me crawling out of bed as early as I could to get the food in the oven, steam the green beans, customizing a box and disposable serving dishes, and finishing the strawberry cream cake to take for my dinner.

We had a miscommunication. No one was home at my friends' house, no one was at her store (understandable on Easter) and no one answered cell phones. I returned home, put the food in the fridge, and headed out to my dinner at my brother's. It was a great day. NJ and MA are terrific hosts. I got home around 8 PM and called my friends again. Still no contact. I divided the food and gave half to Sarah and half to Lauren. They of course were thrilled. I felt badly that we miscommunicated.

Monday was a rough day at work. I was admittedly grumpy. Maybe too much weekend and/or not enough of my own personal quiet time. On Saturday at the beach my BB Storm got wet - it worked, but not properly. Fortunately, I had insurance. Called and made the claim. $50 deductable. (ouch).

Tax day loomed like a very dark cloud. Monday night I sat down and pulled out all the papers. Of course Gracie was fit to be tied: She'd been "home alone" much of the weekend, and of course all day Monday while at work. Now, here I was on the computer and she wanted to play. After several hours, when all was said and done, I was relieved - almost thrilled. I anticipated having to pay hugely. Instead, I get $1100. returned. Phew....

Tuesday and Wednesday were rather innocuous, except for the expected irritation that goes with my job. Wednesday evening, I was pleased with myself for having filed my taxes (with a return!) and managed to overcome the hurdles my elected officials unwittingly threw my way.
With those haunting tasks behind me, I jumped in and washed dishes ( i hate washing dishes and don't have a dishwasher - but really, Michelle - enough is enough!). With a sparklingly clean kitchen, I jumped in the shower for a long hot shampoo and shower. I gave myself a home foot soaking pedicure. It sure felt good.

At about 10:50 on Wednesday evening, my cell phone rang. (My cell phone rarely rings, particularly at this hour of the night). It was my boss. He was on his way up to the square. We'd had a massive water main break, and had to shut down the water distribution system island-wide. Would I call the media. (This is difficult because I am reporting without first-hand information). Within 30 minutes, the media had a reporter and camera crew in the square and had the boss on the 11:00 news. (I sure was glad I got the replacement cell phone or I'd've been in big trouble). Nearly 2 hours later, I crawled in to bed.

Thursday morning began with my cell phone ringing at about 5:30 am. It was the public works director. Would I call the beach school, would I call the health department, would I update the website with the boil water notice. The race was on. I threw on some clothes and brushed my teeth with bottled water. Boy was I glad I'd washed dishes and showered the night before!

I got in to the office and updated the phone message, the website, ordered portalets for town hall and put the TV on in my office. The local NBC affiliate was all over the story. In emergency situations, my job description changes, to inlcude stroking the boss's ego: "you looked good on Tv" "Good Job." I usually take lunch at 1:00 PM, so I left the office and went over to the local supermaket and picked up a couple of frozen dinners and several gallons of bottled water. At about 2:30 I sent a message saying I would not be returning that afternoon. I felt like I was running a fever. I closed the drapes, unfolded the quilt, propped up my feet and closed my eyes. Gracie wasn't compassionate, to say the least. She demanded attention.

About 9:00 in the evening i crawled into bed with a book by Deepak Chopra, a bottle of evian and a thermometer. I had a low-grade fever of 100. I read for awhile and then shut the lights. Gracie got up and peed the rug at about 3:30 in the morning (GRRRR....). I cleaned and deodorized, cursed and growled and went back to bed. As morning came and the sun rose, I took my temperature again. Still a fever. I called in sick.

My chest feels like an elephant is sitting on it. Several co-workers have had this "crud" for some time now. I guess it's my turn. Pisses me off, because I've been very healthy. I HATE being sick. This crud better be gone when I open my eyes tomorrow morning.

I look forward to some time when I can write creatively, when I can devote time to things I love, when I can enjoy spring in southwest florida, take my dog for a long walk, take my kayak out... Live!

It's been a rough week... I hope yours has been better...

Mares eat oats and Does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy.

There is a retired couple that have become friends of mine through association with my work. He served on an advisory committee that I staffed. She opened a florist shop here on the island and helped me out with centerpieces for a Clerks' event that I was in charge of last summer. He has been battling cancer for a couple of years now. When I saw them at Gretchen's Christmas party, he looked pretty good - sitting down. When it was time to go, he could barely walk even with assistance. He was in hospice care until they sent him home a couple of weeks ago. When asked what we could do to help, she asked for dinners three nites a week. There's a great group of people on this island, and friends quickly jumped in to bring meals and handle other light duties. Last week I offered to bring Easter dinner, and she graciously accepted. Thursday he went back in to hospice. His daughter is here as well as other family members.

Last night I poured through cookbooks. Easter dinner for six. I don't eat ham or lamb and my preferred Easter dinner is salmon. In talking to a friend, I mentioned my deliberation over menus, and she said, "Ham. Just put a ham in the oven. It's easy and they can make sandwiches after." I labored over putting together a delicious, yet healthy menu around ham. Finally I sought the opinion of my daughter Lauren. "Mmmm. Lamb. with mint jelly. I've been craving lamb. We haven't had that in a long time. Make lamb. Make lamb for ME!"

This morning I went to the market and bought two 7 pound legs of lamb, 10 pounds of potatoes, 2 pounds of green beans, plenty of salad stuff, (including spinach and feta cheese), ..and mint jelly. There's a greek restaurant here on the beach that has delicious greek food. I worked there the first couple of years I lived on the beach. (that was in the early 1980's). Manny still owns it. He taught me how to make spanikopita (spinach pie) and baklava. So I called him last night and he told me how to make the lamb and potatoes. I will make full course dinner for my friends and deliver it to their home tomorrow. Lauren will have a leg of lamb (with mint jelly!) and a whole lot of potatoes to take back to school with her. I will also make some tzatziki sauce (Manny taught me that, too). I suggested making lemon rice, and Lauren quickly responded, "No. no rice. That's all I've been eating all week." (oh, the trials of the college kid...) I am having Easter dinner with my brother and his wife, and am bringing desert. I will make a Strawberry Cream Cake - it's very light and not too sweet with fresh strawberries. It'll be perfect.

a pet peeve

i am bothered by the preponderance of advertising by pharmaceutical drug manufacturers on the national evening news. This has bothered me for quite some time. Initially, my immediate response was to stop watching the national evening news. What you focus on, you attract. Lately, perhaps out of boredom or lack of compelling reading material, I have occasionally switched on the nightly news. I prefer NBC with Brian Williams. (I'm still intrigued by the white outlining around his eyes - how does he do that?!?) Every commercial - or at least a good 95% of them, are by drug companies. The ad beats the viewer up with all the suggested data: you could be a candidate for a heart attack, a stroke, bone loss, brain tumors. "Ask your Doctor what.... [blank] can do for you" Side affects may include: criminy. a whole laundry list from dizziness to an erection lasting over four hours. God forbid I should ever have an erection that lasts four hours. It begs the question: why do they have so much stinkin' money in these "economically hard times"?

Such Things

Whales in Water, Witches on the Walk
Babies Dying, Secretive Talk.
Shrimp in the Shrub,
Bodies Reborn
Everyone gathers to hear Doves that Mourn.

Cakes, times two,
One says , " I Love You"
An Opinion surmised, a demon exorcised.

These are the things
Appearing in my dreams

The Fruits of My Labors or, Welcome to My Garden

JADE

FRANGIPANI

SOON2B LEMON TREES

CROWN OF THORNS

DAY LILIES

CHRYSLER IMPERIAL (red) and JOHN F KENNEDY(white) ( in Carnival Glass Vase)



PONYTAIL PALM (tho' not really a palm)

More fruits of my Labors

CAMELLIA BUD

MANGOS

"FLASHY DUDE" ( a bromeliad)

ANTHURIUM

BOUGAINVILLEA

A Week in Review

Where has the week gone! It has been a reasonably normal work week with the usual demands, deadlines and commitments. There were no council meetings this week which allows me the opportunity to get to all of the OTHER stuff that is required in my position that gets back-burnered when we're in marathon meetings. Yesterday I actually had time to put the "finishing touches" on a few projects that I pull out "when time allows" so it felt good to click Done. I went to the dentist Tuesday afternoon. I had my teeth cleaned and had the permanent crown put on in place of the temporary crown that was put in place of the tooth I broke which was the kick in the ass I needed to get to a dentist. It surprised me how good I felt when I left the dentist. I gave natural childbirth to ten pound babies, and would choose labor and delivery over a dentist visit any day. And even though the hygenist gave me a balling out and I have some serious work ahead of me, I left feeling very good - sort of how one feels after having completed a dreaded task. I go back at the end of April and again at the end of May. I think we are going to have an ongoing relationship for quite some time.

I took Gracie to dog beach after work on Wednesday. It was close to sunset and I hoped that being mid-week and late in the day that dog beach would not be crowded. http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/do/moreinfo.php/ID=23809/detail=beach

It is the only place in Lee County where dogs can be leashless at the beach. It can be a problem when there are a lot of dogs and a lot of irresponsible pet owners. It can also be a problem when ones dog is a super high energy seven month old puppy that doesn't stop running and jumping the whole time there. That's why I'd hoped it would not be crowded. There were a few people there with a few dogs that left as soon as the sun dipped under the horizon. The park closes at "dusk". It was good to let Gracie RUUUNNNNN. And run she did!

Yesterday I read the comments on a website that offers writing prompts. The prompt was what would you like your first thought to be tomorrow morning. Some comments were very common, like TGIS. I mused at what I would like my first thought to be. This morning, my first thought was, "..it's Saturday. I don't have to go to work. Gracie needs to go out. I can go back to bed and back to sleep. I love my bed." Now that I'm up I have no plans for today or for this weekend. It's overcast and there's a front coming through with cooler weather forecast for next week. I should like to do some gardening. My roses are doing superbly! The frangipanis are sprouting leaves and flower buds. The bougainvillea is in full fuschia-colored bloom! The plumbago is showing its cobalt colors and the lillies are emerging from the soil. I just love it!

There is one other thing I want to comment about. Earlier this past week, Gracie and I were walking along the "hidden path" which is a small gravel pathway that cuts through a protected wetlands. I travel this pathway four times a day as it takes me quite easily to work and back. As we were meandering along, suddenly a very large black vulture shot up from its perch and scared us both! Later that same day, we noticed a vulture circling in the same area. The next day or so, I could smell "dead" and saw several vultures perched in the trees along the path. All week long, the vultures were in the neighborhood. Then yesterday a man came to the front desk at Town Hall. I recognized him as the old man who lives along side the hidden path. He's lived there forever and is as old as dirt. He rides a bicycle with a T-perch for his Parrot that he takes out to the beach on frequent occasions. He came to Town Hall to report that someone is poisoning raccoons in his neighborhood, that he's found several dead with no sign of injury. We have some young environmentalists on Town staff that were quick to point out that poisoning raccoons results in the birds eating the carcasses and then the birds are poisoned. It's a felony to mess with birds of prey. I know the raccoons are a problem in our neighborhood. I know of one neighbor who feeds the feral cats which ultimately feeds the raccoons. I know of one neighbor who had at one time talked of poisoning the raccoons. Boy do I ever want to mind my own business on this one.

So that's a pretty good capsule of my week. I think today will be a putter day. I'm off to putt.