Month: December 2024

31 December 2024

I’m not sure Wade has made it home yet. Last I heard he was stuck at Dulles International. He had an opportunity for two earlier flights than his originally scheduled one but they ended up fully booked. They boarded standby before him.

His flight was scheduled for 8:39 pm but was delayed until 10:30 because of mechanical issues. The 10:30 flight would have him arrive in San Francisco around 4 am, so he’s got 22 hours waiting and flying under his belt. He’s never had this much problem and he’s flown around the world three times.

I still haver a residual cough and runny nose but I think my cold is pretty much over. I got 8 hours of sleep last night and got out of bed at 6:30. I managed a 1.5 mile walk (although I was tired afterwards). While on the walk, a neighbor asked me if I was a pastor. Of course, I’m the antithesis of a pastor. He was looking for somewhere to donate clothes. I told him about Living Waters Church on Riverland and he decided to go there. Too late I thought of Vietnam Veterans. He lives in the house that goes wacko for the holidays with a yard filled with stuff. Christmas decorations will last until May.

While on the walk, I came across Trumpet Vine, better known to me as Campsis radicans.

It was growing through a fence and I’ve never seen it in South Florida before. It’s in the same family as cross vine (Bignonia capreolata) the Bignoniaceae. I’ve written about kids smoking cross vine stems before. Campsis radicans is more common in the southeastern U.S. so I assume it was planted. It also has a hollow stem.

Hollow stems of plants reminds me of chinaberry trees (Melia azedarach). We had one growing in our yard when we lived in Morton, Mississippi. Archie taught me how to make a pea shooter out of the branches.

First, you would cut off a fairly straight branch of significant girth to hold a pea inside. Then you would heat up a straightened coat hanger until it glowed cherry red and inserted that into the pith of the stem to burn away the pith. It would take several heatings and burning to get through to the other end. You can imagine letting today’s youth heating up a straightened coat hanger.

Once you had the pith cleared and the inner diameter was sufficient, you could use the chinaberries themselves as ammunition. If not, you could make little darts. I have, on more than one occasion, inhaled too soon and sucked the chinaberry down my throat.

Believe me when I tell you a well blown chinaberry from the shooter could really sting. Archie and I used to have wars and I think Jimmie and I did also. The more I think about it, it’s a miracle Jimmie and I still have our eyes and our hands from some of our exploits. We also didn’t have any broken bones, if you can believe that. I’m sure helicopter parents shiver at the thoughts of what we did as kids.

Stay tuned!

30 December 2024

I fell again yesterday. I fell in the same place I fell several weeks ago: from the utility room into the dinning room. I tripped on a box in the utility room and splattered on the tile in the dinning room. Of course, I took the brunt of it on my right elbow (again) and my left knee (again) and added a side of ribs to this time. Thankfully, Wade was there and came to my rescue. Also, my Apple Watch did what it was supposed to do and asked if I were OK, otherwise it would automatically call an ambulance.

I could tell I would be sore today so I took a gabapentin to ease the pain. When I got up at 6 this morning, I was surprised I wasn’t more sore.

I got Wade off to the airport this morning and dropped him at the United terminal at 7 am. Later I got a phone call from Joel telling me Wade was stranded. I called Wade and he told me his direct flight to San Francisco had been canceled and he was routed to Dulles with a 6 hour layover and then to San Francisco, arriving at midnight. He has a four hour wait in Fort Lauderdale.

Both Joel and I offered to pick him up and bring him back to the house but he declined. He figured by the time we picked him up and dropped him off, it would eat into the time too much and he wanted to check on alternate flights. Christmas travel is almost as bad as Thanksgiving travel.

I ordered some food from Whole Foods this morning. I didn’t need much because I had stocked up for Wade’s visit. I need to mail a package to Wade but that will wait until tomorrow. I have an ophthalmologist appointment at 1 tomorrow.

My cold seems to be better and Wade didn’t cough as much last night as the night before, so hopefully his cold is getting better also. I feel badly I infected him even though I wore a mask until he did come down with his cold.

I’m ready for the holidays to be over so I can get back to a regular schedule of events. I need to start walking again, and I hopefully will be able to restart my yoga and my swimming. I guess that can be my new year’s resolution.

Stay tuned!

29 December 2024

Wade must really be sick. He passed up a chance to go to Rosies and get a BLT. He coughed most of the night and doesn’t feel well. We were scheduled to go to Lincoln Road on Miami Beach this morning but the weather report was rain, rain, rain. We’ll lie low today, nap, build our strength, and then go to Flanigans with Keith and Joel tonight. It’ll be a low key day.

I read in The Guardian that a tornado touched down in Brandon last night. I’ve checked with all the family in the area and everyone is OK other than not hearing from Archie and Tanis. I suspect Tanis’ phone needs charging.

Interestingly, on Facebook, was a photo of a newspaper article from The Progress Herald about a 1966 tornado in Scott County. I remember it vividly. As senior boys, we went out into the fields and forests looking for bodies after the tornado. Fortunately, we didn’t find any. I think I’ve read where every state in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii have all been hit by tornadoes.

I got good news late the night before. My latest Signatera test came back negative. That’s five tests in a row that have been negative. It’s a test for circulating tumor DNA. Hopefully that will continue to be negative forever. The test is good for colorectal, breast, esophageal, non-small cell lung, ovarian, Fallopian tube, primary peritoneal, and skin cancers.

Yesterday, Chris and Judith Reiss came over with their son Josh, his wife Sabrina and their daughter Laura to view the Christmas tree. Apparently Judith’s favorite Christmas tree with fiber optics died this week and they wanted to see mine. Laura gave me a box of chocolates. Eliza, her sister, stayed at Judith and Chris’. They leave next week for London. It was good to see them again. Laura liked the tree and kept finding new and unusual ornaments on it.

Tomorrow, Wade leaves for San Francisco. I hate to see him go. We’ve had a wonderful time together even though I gave him a cold. Hopefully he’ll be over it soon.

Stay tuned!

28 December 2024

I had a real nightmare last night and I think I know what brought it on. Wade and I watched Ant Lee’s Brokeback Mountain with Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. In the movie, towards the end, Jack (Gyllenhaal) is ruthlessly beaten to death with a tire iron by three men and left on the side of the road. Although the death takes place in Texas, most of the movie is in Wyoming. Shades of Matthew Shephard who was beaten by two men, tied to a cross piece on a fence and left to die. I remember traveling through Wyoming and seeing the exact type of cross pieces on fencing there.

My dream took me back to high school where we had an exam and as I prepared to organize everything for the written exam, stuff started disappearing from my desk – a book, a pen, a writing pad. When I would walk around the class and eventually find it on someone else’s desk, something else would disappear on my desk. It resembled a whack-a-mole situation and I could never start on the test. A lot of familiar faces from high school were there and as I confronted one person about taking something, someone else would steal something else.

Finally, I broke and shouted to the class that I hoped they all burned in hell. I told them that I didn’t believe in God but they did and their God would condemn them to fire and brimstone. That startled them a little.

I know I’m lucky. I didn’t end up like Matthew Shephard. Other kids did or they committed suicide. I just don’t understand the hate. I certainly showed my hatred of harassment in my dream. I was constantly picked on in high school and once, almost choked to death by a bully. All because I was different than them.

On a more positive note, Wade and I joined Melinda, Joel and Keith at Bombay Darbar on Las Olas for some tasty Indian food. Everyone order medium spice but some ordered the vindaloo which comes pretty hot even though you order it mild. I can’t imagine ordering “Indian hot.”

I had my usual fried okra dish which I love. Others got fish vindaloo (Joel) or lamb vindaloo (Wade) or wings (Keith) or mushroom curry (Melinda). The service was great and the food really good. Wade finished his lamb curry last night for dinner.

I need to clean the pool filter today and wash clothes. Wade’s still abed and Chris and Judith Reiss want to come over this afternoon to see my tree. My friend Maureen is finally coming home from the hospital after a corrective surgery to a hip transplant.

It won’t be long before the new year is here. Stay tuned!

27 December 2024

The week is flying by pretty fast. Last night was with Michel, Nancy, Joel, Keith and Wade. Michel and Nancy really put out a spread to munch on. They always do a real nice set of appetizers. We caught up with everyone and had a few laughs and giggles.

Once Wade and I got home, we watched Maria on Netflix about the life of Maria Callas staring Angelina Jolie. It was an interesting movie but somewhat disjointed. You went back and forth between past life, present life visiting the past and present life. The term flashback doesn’t really cover the way the director did the movie.

Of course, Wade is my leading expert on opera and he has a dislike of Callas’ voice. He’s heard her sing in person and appreciates her work in several operas but he feels she strains to reach certain notes or to project her voice adequately without stress.

From that, I headed to bed and got a good 8 hours of sleep. When I got up this morning I cleaned the oven of the grease layer from the Yorkshire pudding and finally put away the dishes from Christmas Day.

When Wade got up, we began a discussion of the movie again and that lead to Wade giving me the background of Callas on several operas. Then I asked the question who was the best soprano he has heard and he’s heard them all: Nillsson, Price, Sills, Callas, Flemming, and many more. Each brings their own particular voice to a specific role. Some sing one role better than another. Still, I think he appreciates the lady from Laurel, Mississippi the most. I’m amazed at the opera knowledge that comes out of Wade’s mouth.

We’re scheduled to go eat Indian food with Melinda and Joel at 12:30. Wade’s washing clothes at the moment and it’s raining so I won’t be cleaning the pool filter this morning.

My cold seems to be better. I still have the cough and a little congestion but no fever.

Stay tuned!

26 December 2024

What a great day yesterday! We had a great time. People started arriving a little after 4:30 and I think the last person left around 9. Everyone knew everyone so the conversation was free flowing and the laughter a constant. Good friends all.

The rib roast turned out perfect. I pulled it when the internal temperature reached 135. We let it sit for about 30 minutes to finish cooking.

The butcher had removed the ribs and then tied them back to the roast to get the flavor. We had both medium and medium rare.

We served from the table inside and then ate outside on the patio.

Wade’s Yorkshire pudding turned out spectacular!

The outside was crispy and the inside was like a creamy bread. The drippings from the rib roast added to the flavor. He hit a home run with this one.

Melinda and Barb did a great service by processing the dishes for the dishwasher which saved me and Wade from doing it. We also had Joel’s cake and the cake from Susies that Wade brought. Wine flowed freely. It’s great to be among such good friends.

Wade and I had a late lunch at Lester’s Diner and we are now getting ready to go over to Nancy and Michels.

Stay tuned!

25 December 2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

I feel well on this Christmas Day even though I have a cold. The mucous in my nose is turning green (TMI) which means my sinuses are infected. I slept well with my trusty NyQuil capsules.

Last night Wade and I watched two movies: Das Boot and God’s on Country. I have seen both. Das Boot is pretty heavy and I saw it last when it first came out in theaters years ago. As far as God‘s Own Country, I would recommend you activate the subtitles because the English accents keep you guessing what they are saying.

It was after 11 when we finished both movies. Wade headed to the bathroom for a wee and I needed one also. I stepped outside and fertilized the flowers and on my way back I fell. I landed on my right elbow and left knee cap. The Apple Watch immediately asked if I needed help and I say I had fallen but was OK. That, in my opinion is the best reason to own the watch. The falling stuff really does work. As you might guess, I’m sore all over today, especially the elbow and knee.

Wade wants to go to the Original Pancake House for breakfast. We’ll come home from that and start preparing for this evening. One thing we were short on was eggs. Wade ate the last last night. I put in a text to three neighbors and all three responded. Nicole and Stephen sent over two. Before too long, Stacey brought over four more. We now have a half a dozen.

More to come tomorrow! I hope everyone has a great holiday. Thank you for being friends with me and reading my blog.

Stay tuned!

24 December 2024

It’s Christmas Eve and Santa’s on his way. As a little kid, this was my favorite time of the year for several reasons: Grandma Laura’s tea cakes, the Christmas tree my Grandmother Ruby put up with bubble lights, and getting to see my cousins since Dad was stationed in Havre de Grace, MD.

One Christmas Eve, I swear I heard jingling bells on the roof of Grandmother Ruby’s house. That was proof enough for me. Santa had to be real.

Unfortunately, life began to teach a much tougher lesson and one that sometimes turned violent. However, every Christmas I do play carols, I’ve started having a tree again, and I give very simple, inexpensive presents to friends. I send out over 90 Christmas/Holiday cards every year. I just made it before they would arrive too late.

Wade arrived around 8:45 last night and Joel and Keith took him to Outback to eat. I didn’t go because I wasn’t feeling too well with my cold. When Joel and Keith dropped him off, Wade came bearing gifts. More See’s chocolates! He also brought a beautiful cake from Susie’s Cakes in San Francisco. These cakes are known throughout the states and the prices are pretty steep. Wade managed it as take on baggage and it made the trip perfectly.

I’ve come to the conclusion in my life, after 76 years of experience, that chocolate is one of the best of earth’s foods.

I let Wade sleep late last night and we got to stirring around 10 am. From here, we headed to pick up Joel and go to Rosie’s for lunch. You’ll never guess what Wade and Joel ordered.

BLT with sweet potato fries! Both Joel’s and Wade’s disappeared over the course of the meal. Me, I wasn’t so hungry and I ordered their giant pretzel.

From Rosie’s we headed to Walgreens to pick up another prescription ($140 for Jardiance and that’s with the steep discount.

From Walgreens, we headed to Whole Foods to pick up the 4 bone in standing rib roast.

That’s a massive piece of meat! The recipe is simple as apple pie. You let it air dry in the refrigerator for 3 hours or more. Then you pull it out and let it come to room temperature for 3 hours. You coat it with olive oil and salt and pepper generously. You preset the oven for 450 and put it in a rack with a pan underneath, fat side up. That cooks for 30 minutes. You then lower the temperature to 350 and using a meat thermometer pull it out whenever it reaches your preferred temperature: rare, medium or well done.

The big problem willl be the Yorkshire pudding (also easy) with oven time. It also starts out at 450 and then goes to 350. Keep your fingers crossed. I’ve done popovers and they came out well but that doesn’t mean the Yorkshire pudding will.

The menu now includes cookies, a squash casserole and roasted potatoes from Melinda. From Barb, we are getting a salad and some Brussel sprouts. From Joel and Keith we are getting dessert and from Tom and Kurt we are getting wine. It should be a fun Christmas evening.

Stay tuned!

22 December 2024

It’s been a beautiful day in the neighborhood boys and girls and I’ve been stuck inside with a worsening cold. My sore throat is rawer and my cough is worse. I’ll bring out the heavy ammo tonight and take some NyQuil. That will at least put me to sleep.

Even though I felt lower than a frog’s knee, I knew I needed to get some things ready for Wade’s visit. It’s funny what you notice but I saw his room needed a good dusting. The dust was really thick on the bookcase and DVD case.

That meant I needed to remove everything from the bookcase and DVD case, dust the DVD’s, books, shelves, and other junk that accumulates on shelves. I did it in two stages with rests in between. Tomorrow, I vacuum, mop, clean the bathroom, and then pick Wade up late afternoon at Fort Lauderdale International.

Wade and I have set Christmas dinner for around 5:30 at my place. We intend to do a standing rib roast with Yorkshire pudding. Melinda will bring cookies, a squash casserole, and roasted potatoes. Joel and Keith will bring dessert and Barb will bring either a soup or salad depending on the weather and a green veggie. Tom and Kurt will bring wine. It should be a good time out on the patio.

The only problem is my cold. Hopefully, I’m no longer contagious and won’t make everyone sick.

On the day after, we are heading over to Nancy and Michel’s for munchies and Christmas cheer along with Joel and Keith. It’s great to make the rounds (if I can make it with this cold) and see great friends during Christmas/Hanukkah.

I’m not sure what else Wade has planned other than a BLT at Rosies. Several times. In his defense, the BLT there is the best.

So, the coming week means too much food, too much drink, too much laughter, too much friendship. Naw – not possible.

Stay tuned!

21 December 2024

The cold virus marches on. I’m not sure if I’m still infectious or not but chose not to take a chance and turned down a lunch offer for today with Barb, Joel and Keith. I didn’t want to give them what I’ve got. So far today, it’s been cough and runny nose. Last night it was cough and sore throat. I seem to be running through a checklist of symptoms.

Today was wash day and I finished that up around 2 pm. In between time I was figuring out where to store some of the things AJ wanted me to have for taking down the Christmas tree.

I ordered 4 roll-under-the-bed bins from Amazon to store the decorations of the tree.

Apparently, you layer the decorations in these bins with bubble wrap between layers. That leads me to bubble wrap.

This wouldn’t fit under the bed. I strung it up in the utility room so it can spin off the bubble wrap. I have no idea how much he will need but I suspect I’ll have a lot left over.

Two of the bins came yesterday at one time. The second set of bins arrived much later. The UPS guy must have missed the second box on his first delivery. I thought everything was so computerized it would be hard for any miss deliveries. Oh well, at least it arrived.

You know I’ve been listening to 50’s and 60’s music lately. Last night I shifted to gospel/religious. One religious song I was not familiar with until a few years ago was “You Raise Me Up” by Selah. The lyrics were written by Brian Kennedy and the song composed by Rolf Løvland. It has one of the most haunting melodies I’ve heard in a while with beautiful lyrics. The song doesn’t have to be religious, it could be about any individual.

Other than songs like “This Old Man” and “Itsy Bisty Spider” the first real songs I learned were in Sunday school or church. Although I am no longer religious, the music still has a strong pull on me. A good hymn will move me as much as Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.”

I keep going back to the time Tom, Kurt and I went to Lips for Easter Brunch (bottomless mimosas) and the drag queens sang hymns. Kurt looked over at Tom and me with a look of awe. Tom and I knew all the words to the hymns.

The most moving gospel/religious song I ever heard was “The Holy City” by a guest soprano at a Methodist Church service in Morton. Our Church had burned and we met Sunday day service at the local Baptist Church and the Sunday night service at the Presbyterian Church. It was at the Baptist Church that I first heard the song. The soprano’s voice sent chills down my spine and it was all I could do to stay in my seat during her performance. Music really does have the ability to move the soul.

It reminds me of Handel’s “Messiah” where you are supposed to stand for the Hallelujah chorus based on the idea King George II was so moved he stood at the London premier in 1743 (when the king stands, everyone does) although there is no evidence he even attended.

Something akin to that occurred with the first opera I saw at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco many years ago. It was the Act II duet of Rigoletto, my favorite opera.

These were not the two singers in the opera I saw but their voices are similar to the performance I heard in San Francisco. Mine was the 2006 version performed by Gavanelli and Swenson whose voices in the Act II duet were the most harmonious I had ever heard. I was sitting next to two old ladies who I established a rapport with and who were season ticket holders. I could tell they were as moved as I by the performance.

Maybe you remember the old television show “Name That Tune?” I was an avid watcher. As the years have accumulated, I’m pretty good at naming that tune these days when I listen to the radio. It’s a sure bet that if I don’t know the tune, my brother Archie does.

Stay tuned!