Day 7 under the transom

Wow, what a day. Dolphins, egrets, white pelicans, brown pelicans, osprey and deep in the heart of tarpon country.... Somewhere there is a dolphin wearing my (actually Nonie's...sorry) Oakleys.

The day started quickly, not how we usually move. We were out the door, packed, ready and sunscreened at 0915. We were to meet John Carroll at the launch beside the Sanibel Island causeway. For those that know us, believe it or not, we were on time, even early.... I know, shocker...

After some quick intros we were off to North Captiva. It was blowing like stink today, and it's a long fetch so it was a lumpy run even in the Cat... It would've been downright uncomfortable in a monohull. All hands bumped around a bit, but happy. Corrigan slept like a rock, and even Max was sedate. We tooled in by a new restaurant on North Captiva... Strangely, here were all sorts of dead fish on the water? By all sorts I mean 20+, odd. John claimed it was red tide.

Next stop Cabbage Key, formally owned by Rinehardt, an author, now the same dwelling is a restaurant known from the Jimmy Buffet song a cheeseburger in paradise. Max was out of his mind as there was a huge tortoise eating lettuce and tomatoes on the deck, and a 4! foot long rat snake...!

Another cool thing about this bar was that the walls were covered in money. People come, sign their names on a bill and post it. Each year they tear them all down and give it to charity... I'm talking 50k... The story is that an older fisherman who liked his drink, in times of good money would staple a few bucks to the wall and write his name on it so that another time when he was broke could still have a drink or two.

The rip home didn't seem to take long and we were 35 knots right into the wind the whole way back. It was less bumpy than the run out. It was this leg, while securing a hatch that the Oakley sunnies I have been mocking Nonie about for years, blew off my head into the drink.... Bloody hell

We were going to go to lighthouse beach, but we were all tired so...home to LHB for a swim and supper.

Day 6 draws to a close with Lovers Key

First let me say, last night was pure torture... Max went to be at 8, then up yelling for me at 11, I didn't respond, which pisses him off further. The yelling finally pulled me out of bed at 1230... Poor bugger had thrown all his blankets over the edge and was shivering due to a ceiling fan... Now I feel like a shit, so I brought him into bed.... Bad idea... That monkey didn't sleep a wink till 5ish, and he spurred me with feet, knees, and elbows till at least then. Now, I'm POed so I put him back in the crib at 0500... At 0600 he is upset cause he has pee'd the bed.... :(

Despite the horrible night, I want to be sure he had an active day so he sleeps tonight. I don't want him to be a monster on the boat tomorrow. Off to the beach!!!

With this Keureg coffee/tea maker (which I'm really starting to love) and some work emails and a face time visit from Adrian we were late getting going. The good news is we closed down Lovers Key, we didn't leave the beach till it was all but abandoned.

For those who have never been to the Gulf coast, let me give you my feelings. The water isn't as clear as you imagine the Caribbean Sea, and no swell, but plenty of wind waves, and piles and piles of shells.... It is unbelievable how many shells. The beach is literally made of shells. Now don't let me make you think that there is no sand, there certainly is. Max and I felt like gold rush pioneers panning for shells when pouring bucket loads of water on the sand exposing the shells below.... Fun stuff. I would suggest some beach shoes for those tenderfoots, as there was a berm of shells you needed to cross to get to the water's edge.

This is the portion of the blog where I rant a bit. I think I understand the whole Republican, Democrat dislike. Today while reclined on a chair trying to enjoy a sandwich my lovely wife had made, a god damn seagull pulled it ( yes, pulled it!) from my hand...what a ballsy little bastard. And there were piles of them... So while swinging madly, hoping to Dave Winfield one of those little bastards, one promptly took a dump on my foot.... So, I know that is quite a leap to compare the GOP and Democrats, but the GOP is always whining about handouts and the welfare state, so if you squint, and cock your head a bit, you can get the reference. GOP is the sandwich, seagulls the democrats... If that's their limited understanding, then I guess I can understand their anger.

It's now 8ish, I'm burnt to a crisp, and enjoying it. Corrigan, who slept soundly at the beach between feedings is passed out beside me, Max was out like a light, and even Nonie, the queen of white Canadians got some sun...and provided ogling entertainment for a frenchie in a wheel chair while breast feeding.


A great day in SW Fla.

Day 5 full day

So I didn't post yesterday... Yesterday was one of those days that make you think twice about parenthood.
MadMax was with us for most of the day, he was with me from 0445 till 0725 alone screaming....good lord. On an up note he has apologized a few times for being mean yesterday .

Not much happened yesterday, pool, walk, nap, pool again, supper, bed ... Life in the south.

On our walkabout we met a nice couple working in one of the garden plots, tending to their tomatoes. Max was quite concerned about the model turtle in their garden with poo coming from its bum....? The lady politely exclaimed that no, young Max, that is the turtle's tail .... Max laughed uproariously at this foolishness and exclaimed again that it was just poo.... Sigh.

Nice shake and bake chicken meal and early bed. The humidity is up now and the lanai is warm even at night .

Today is recycle day, so all the grey haired keeners have their boxes out at 5 the day before? Trying to keep up with the Joneses I too put ours out before dark, but then realized the foolishness when I had to make a few trips in jammies to place things in the bin before an 11 am pickup today.

Off to the pool for a swim and some sun. Barb and George, a nice older couple who are quite taken with Max dropped by the pool with their dog Sammie for Max to see. George is also sure that Nonie and I should buy their condo, then rent it back to them... 300k oh boy... They're having an open house on the weekend, we probably will drop by for a look.

John Carroll has emailed, we have a boating date on Wednesday morning beside the Sanibel causeway... I'm psyched.

Max is napping, Nonie is painting her toenails, Corrigan is asleep... All is as it should be in SW Florida .

Up from nap, we're all off to Miromar retail therapy HQ... The place has a lot of shops and fountains ... I didn't do any purchases, but Nonie did well at Gap and Under Armour. Max had a goo time at 'play land' and added to his list, and mosaic of injuries with a Fresh skinned knee. He did happen to pick up a little Philippine language while watching the begging Coy....I guess I shoulda taken a photo.

See you tomorrow.

Full day 3 underway

Another sunny day in SW Fla....why don't we all live here.
Max was up early, as usual, nice breakfast and we're off to the pool.

The pool closest to our house feels like our private pool. Max and I had a nice swim, mom sat with Rory and had a read.

Enclosed is a pic of how we roll these days... This is a low volume stroller day.

Sadly there was some damage today... Max broke the cover on the outside GFCI... Looks like a trip to Lowes this afternoon. On the upside it will allow me to look at, and for hurricane window covers for Rockledge.

Afternoon naps for all - hurray! Out to Lowe's to replace said GFCI cover, then back to the Town Center (notice the American spelling) to play in the fountain (splash pad?) and playground. Picked up a few more groceries (beer and diapers are cheap! Whoa, that seems inappropriate...) and had a traditional family meal at the table (read Max taking forever to eat ("I'm still chewing something") and Corrigan letting out pterodactyl-like screams at irregular intervals. Ahhh, vacation... All in all, another day we are grateful to be in the warmth of Bonita Springs.

Corrigan passed out as I type

From the Lanai- start of full day 2

The day started EARLY with Max talking with me at 0500, 0600 and eventually up at 0700.
Sun is up, and warming up quickly, but even in Florida this time of year, man it's chilly in the mornings. (60's)
I'll go take a few photos for you in my jammies :) hope the neighbours don't mind.

I took a few pics of the walkway and the rental. There are a lot of flowers and trees in bloom here... Feels great to see and smell them.

Side note... Whomever bought the Sumatra dark roast coffee for the Keureg.... Sweet Jesus! I can barely see straight, I feel like my eyes are vibrating, luckily I can find my way to the toilet by feel.... Sheesh, gotta take that off the shopping list.

Ahh, just back from a nice swim in the big pool. It is warm out now, in the 80's. Max started to get a little sookie, so that means tired or hungry. We're heading back for some lunch and a group nap (which, by the way is one of the best things about having kids...the guilt free naps)

After a nap and some FaceTime with Mom and Dad we geared up (never a quick feat) and were off. This time for some shopping, groceries, the Disney store, J Crew and Target. The way home was clutch... We stopped by the Town Center which has a great play ground, swings, slides, a run through automated fountain and a huge wild rookery for birds. We were there for sunset so we could see all the birds coming in to roost. Max had a wonderful, soaking wet time in the fountain. Sorry no photos of the event on this machine.

Hope you all had a nice day.

Day one in sunny SW Florida

So here we are, our first full day back in the lands of the Calusa....the flights in were, ummm, Hmmmmm let me think of the words..... I don't think I have the words, but imagine stubbing your toe at the same moment you hit your finger with a hammer, while someone sprays your eyes with lemon juice.... Wait not done, now try to be pleasant and not scar your child while the two of you squeeze into a gym locker so you can change his bum at 30,000 ft.... Murderous rage, Sigh, I'm still not relaxed yet.

Kathleen, owner of this piece of paradise has been a saint as usual. She has had the phone and Internet connected today, and judging by the bite marks, and lash scars on the dude who set it up, she was succinct in her request...hee, hee.

I'm on beer #2, there is a little (sick, we think, with the cold we had last week) girl passed out on my legs, and it's about 75 in the shade.... Pretty nice

Shit! Just took a nice photo but it says with this browser I can't link it.... Damn you apple and your walled garden BS!

We had a nice chat with Margaret today on our way back from Publix...I still can't say or type that without think pubic, anyway.... There are 4 condo doorways on our walkway, and according to Margaret, we're doing well on the democratic members scale in a GOP bonehead state that is FLA. she is a smiley sweetie pie, I like Margaret.

Max is napping, Corrigan is out cold, Nonie is reading with a Keurig Chai tea, and I'm blogging with a Heineken ... The relaxation is starting.

Kathleen called this A.M. to say the weather is horrible at home, Allison says record low temps, and I got an email from my boss looking for my work car keys so they could plow...wait, wait, I'm having a hard time typing I'm laughing so hard.... Sucks to be you guys.

The day is coming to a close, we had a nice meal at the supper table after a swim in the very warm pool. Max is still leery about jumping in... I don't know why? We'll work on it, that will be my project this week.

Let me turn you to Nones for a few thoughts...
Hello All! I can't tell you how good the warmth of the sun feels on this tired mumma. It feels strange to see the sun set before supper when the temps make you feel like it is summertime. I feel very blessed that we four are here together and knowing that we have many days ahead of us to do nothing but smile.