I am, so they claim, exiled at last to Saddlebunch for over 5 months, maybe even longer if I can manage it. This is after I got sent to the almost-annual pilgrimage to Lauderdale, the sacred purpose of which, near as I can tell, is to drink every free beer in sight. What else should I do at conventions? Make sales? Sorry, I'm just a bored programmer.
Now as ever, it was my extreme pleasure to be returned home on the little Beechcraft 1900's I've come to know as "Indiana Jones' Plane." Although I could have done without the rude, chuckling comments of the teenage drunks I shared it with, whose clear goal upon arrival was mere inebriation. Point is I get home okay to face another nastily-demanding week of work for the record books. That's exactly what I got.
Somewhere during all this week, the clothes-washer water coupling broke in my condo back in Orlando and I had to get it fixed. Still no word on the damages to the ceiling of the unit below, but at least I got my stuff fixed (Thanks Dave!) And that condo appears in Realtor's MLS listings, with decent pictures. If I'm not careful, I just might lose it forever, sometime in the next few months (some people whisper that I should keep it, I'm not so sure).
Above, a Bridgey-Bridge at Bahia Honda, from Grace's XV6800 phone cam.
I Cain't Swim, 1977 - 2008
And today, an absolutely life-changing thing has come to pass: I, in the presence of two adult judges (Grace and her mom), was verified to have been swimming a breast stroke, unassisted and unaided, in the salty ocean around Bahia Honda (where only locals were admitted today due to the promixity of some Tropical Cyclone).
Speaking of that thing, Tropical Storm Fay's path appears to have been modified to exclude us anyway, so what's the big fuss about? We had no plans to evacuate even when the dotted line went right overhead (although did did make sure we had a damn lot of water). We've pulled the kayak out of the water and are considering putting up storm shutters, but not expecting much more than a possible power outage. I'll let you know how it went.
Another frontier I have conquered, is, reluctantly enough, that of the scorpion.
The day I got home from Lauderdale, several hours later, the entire Grey Cat Tribe (plus Colby!) was gathered paying attention to the same spot, underneath the living room UPS. This can only mean that an insect or small mammal has been cornered. This night, it was none of the above. It was a Hentz Striped Scorpion (Centruroides hentzi), who, being a member of Centruroides, has a stinger that you really do not want contact with, if avoidance is a possibility. Aside from his swift departure via one of those long Bic grill lighter things (+2 style points), and an even easier dispatch of a scorpling in the sink a few days later, they cause you to re-think a lot about your daily processes. You start shaking out your shoes and not sticking your hands into dark places. But so far I'm 2 and 0 and perhaps I can remain so for awhile yet.
Oh and Pippi jumps into the ocean on purpose now. And swims pretty far. And takes her own sweet time coming back. Pirate dog.
-Chris