Meet a "bug"

This is the Florida spiny lobster.  And right now it is mini-lobster season in the Keys.  That is two days where you can get a jump start on the regular season and  try to catch the critters.  Each licensed person can take six per day.  So, you spend a whole lot of money coming to the Keys from all over the country to hunt "bugs" as they are affectionately called, and it would be much cheaper to go to the fish market and buy them.  But, it must be lots of fun because right now there are dive flags bobbing out of the water everywhere you look with people searching for them. You "tickle" them out of a spot in the coral with a long stick and try to grab them and put them in a mesh bag. Or, do it the way we did by dragging people behind the boat on towlines and when they saw one, they let go and dove down.  Matt speared a bonus grouper that way and the poor fellow was left trying to stay afloat while holding up a large fish overhead while we boated back to get him.  It is not about the bounty, but the hunt.  It does get a bit crazy down here during mini season.  There are always arrests for people taking more than the legal limit.  And of course, boating accidents.  And dive accidents.  But generally the locals stay out of the way and let the tourists in.  Heck, I can go find a lobster on the wall of my canal if I want to.  But that would be like eating my pets!

The first time I was introduced to this delicacy was when my cousin pulled a tail of one out of his bathing suit when we arrived at the dock after a day of fishing and snorkeling.  He hid it there because apparently it wasn't season and he figured the Coast Guard doesn't check trunks.  Of the clothing category.  I could not figure out why he was digging around in his pants!

My grandson was a wee fellow when Harry bought some lobsters from a guy selling them on the roadside for dinner.  Jack watched as Grandpa Harry prepared them for grilling (which is a bit brutal since you pull the tail off and throw the rest in the canal.  We sat down to dinner with the lobster meat prepared and ready to dip into butter and Jack refused to eat.  He kept repeating "no like it bugs."  I was amazed, since he had never heard them called bugs. He had figured the whole thing out - from what was a creepy looking critter in a cooler to the pile of delicacy on his plate.  And he apparently didn't like its looks.  They are kind of creepy!

My Life in July

My Greats and Grands

Culture in a parking lot

My best Oncidium

I selected these photos to represent some of the past month's activities.  I took a trip to Kelley's Island in Lake Erie to hang out with family.  First stop was an Indians game in Cleveland - literally from the airport - to game - to Kelleys the next day.  No visiting with Cleveland friends, sorry!  Matt, Jack, Ruby and I sweated our way through the game and I swear, I spent a million dollars on peanuts, cotton candy, gatorade, icees, beer, hot dogs.  We were dripping, sticky messes in the heat wave that made the Keys look like Iceland.  The weather cooperated on the Island, however, and we had a great week.  Lots of people visiting, commotion, laughs and fun.  Perfect family time.  It is pretty cool how you can entertain yourself on an island with no movie theater, no bank, no drug store, no fast food restaurant, etc.  Lots of boating time.  Lots of kiddie time.  We even did some fossil collecting.

The second picture was taken at a party thrown by our favorite local Thai restaurant for its regulars.  Never, ever, have I seen a party in a parking lot for regular customers.  Great food, drinks, sushi and entertainment.  We love our Num Thai family!  I appreciate the small town life more and more.  On the 4th of July, I hopped on my bike, rode to the main street (there is ONE through 100 miles of Keys and it is a National Scenic Byway now) and watched the parade.  Immediately saw people I knew, laughed at the corny floats - usually with a marine life and patriotic theme - and totally enjoyed myself.

The last picture was taken of a plant I took to my Orchid club meeting last night.  I was bursting with pride when the speaker asked who brought it in for judging and said it was the best example of an Oncidium Sweet Sugar in bloom that he had ever seen.  Oh, boy.  The speaker is my orchid growing idol so I was so excited.  You should see his property.  Mine would fit in his driveway.  I have posted photos of his place before.

Lastly, I have been busy with volunteer work and an email fundraising campaign that was successful.  Now I have piles of items to mail to donors and hope to see our furniture again soon.

Life is good.  Summer in the Keys is turning out to be more comfortable than up north.  Golf game tomorrow.  Work days in there also.  Next up will be a fishing trip when Mr. H-bomb finishes his work on the motel's ADA compliance updating. Hope to post some big mahi next blog!

It's a Small World

I hope my title doesn't start your brain "flashbacking" the lyrics to Disney's Small World theme song.  After visiting that venue about a million times during my children's growing up years, the song would swirl in my head (and make my head swirl like those little puppets) for days after.

My "small world" event happened this past weekend at an EWGA semi-finals golf tournament in Bonita Springs, Fl.  After getting my butt kicked in our practice round by a course that ate up golf balls like they were buttered popcorn, I went to dinner with the two women I had driven over with from my Miami Chapter.

During dinner we were sharing histories and getting to know each other and one of the women, who had grown up in California, said that she used to go to Ohio (where I am from)  to visit relatives in Youngstown, where her father grew up.  Wow, we marveled over the fact that I grew up in Youngstown for a while and the fact that I knew where her grandparents lived and that she knew many places I knew.  Then she commented that they also would visit Bessemer, Pa. all the time.  What??  That is where my father was from!  A little tiny community with a lot of Swedish immigrants.  She asked my father's name and I told her Nord.  She said that was odd, her mother's best friend was a Dorothy Nord who had even been to her house in Miami when her mother was very ill from cancer years ago.  Bingo.  This is my aunt!  She was married to my father's brother.  Well, we were just amazed and discussed all our common memories.  She went to the same Presbyterian Church that my father's family belonged to when she visited (she even recalled Rev. Picklesheimer - who's widow married two of my uncles in sequence making her name Pauline Picklesheimer Nord Nord, much to the niece and nephews merriment), she swam in the same quarry, etc.  She even recalled the house and street her grandmother lived in.   The next day, she said that she had had trouble falling asleep thinking of the coincidences, and I did too!

Jan, my friend, is going to recollect names and I am going to call my remaining living Aunt Betty who, despite being in her 90's, has absolutely phenomenal recall, to see what she remembers of the Benson's from Bessemer. 

We had such a fun weekend.  I have plugged EWGA (which stands for Executive Women's Golf Assn.) before because it is a wonderful organization and a great way to meet bright and interesting women.  And the golf events, leagues and opportunities to play are outstanding.  You want to learn to play golf by the rules? Join this organization.  They are not all perfect, by any means, because competition can bring out an ugly side in people.  But, most are wonderful, and they love to have fun.  At the awards luncheon, after the tournament, the bar at the resort golf course actually ran out of white wine. Because these women love to PARTY!  There was loud whooping, and cheering and friendly inter Chapter teasing,.  The Naples Chapter chanted "drum roll" and a winner from their Chapter had to roll on the floor back to their table with her trophy.  It was a hoot.  And now, I have a new friend who shares a bit of history with me.  Cool!

Miami Contingent

Old Seven Mile Bridge

 

I had a nice surprise today at work when a guest coming in to the office to check out was wearing one of our Friends of Old Seven hats.  He picked it up at the bridge itself where we have a people set up to answer questions, get signatures on our petitions, take donations and sell items for the cause. 

If you haven't seen our new website, please visit www.friendsofoldseven.org.  I worked hard with a design group to create it,  and am proud of the outcome.  We sell a few items there and all the proceeds are going back into the organization.  But, we are desperate for money.  It costs a lot to get the word out.  And, with the economy in the toilet, people are not doling out the monies to charities like they might have in the past.  We are working on different types of fundraisers but need to come up with a substantial amount in order to hire an engineering firm to give us actual repair numbers to present to the County Commissioners in September.

I am talking like $100,000 by Fall!

Think about donating for me.  I have been responsive over the years to so many requests I cannot count.  Now it is my time to ask.  I know it isn't going to cure cancer, or give a sick child a dying request or help someone who is the victim of a natural disaster or political unrest.  But, it will help to save and restore a part of history for hundreds of thousands of people to continue to enjoy each year.  And maybe it will remind them of what people can accomplish.   Just go to the website, and click on the donate button.  Hey, will spending $10, or $20 (or more?) really impact your lifestyle?

Busted

The top photo shows a pool at our rental that is getting a new pool deck.  The bottom picture shows the workers who were supposed to be installing the deck, in the pool.  The workers did not know the renter was inside taking the photos.   Enough said.

Sea Dell Flora

Too Complicated

Thomas Jefferson said, "If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour? "

This was written in the 1700's and apparently, not much has changed.  Currently, 47% of Congress are lawyers.  Not a problem, until you realize that the legal system isn't exactly working for you but for the pockets of the lawyers.  And who writes these laws??  I guess we can only blame ourselves, because we elect our own Congress.

Not all, of course, are self serving!  We all know wonderfully ethical lawyers who are honest and practice for the right reasons.  I have two in mind, and one of them reads my blog and will know who I am talking about.  So, if you need a wonderful lawyer, contact me and I will give you a referral.

Unfortunately, owning a business throws you endlessly in front of the not-so-ethical types.  We have just been slapped with a lawsuit because, on a particular day in March, we did not have a handicapped accessible room available to a walk-in, who then submitted charges through the Association for Disabled Persons that we do not have a handicapped accessible room.  And, in addition, we did not have steps to our pool, have a picnic table for him to sit at, nor did we have a handicapped parking space marked.

GUILTY YOUR HONOR... of one thing.  Our driveway is not marked for anyone who is handicapped because people park in front of their rooms and we have no markings on our driveway for anyone.  We are equal opportunity "parkers" at the Sea Dell.  We are a little Mom and Pop place so trying to comply with all local, state and federal regulations is a bit overwhelming.  The one room we have that is handicapped equipped was already booked and rented.  In fact, we had NO rooms the date the guest attempted to procure a room.  We do have access to our pool via a second entrance that does not require steps and we do have round picnic tables available for a person in a wheelchair.  All photos submitted with the suit were hijacked from web sites and only portrayed aspects of the property that were not in compliance - for example, the steps to the pool and no photo of the other entrance that is pool level.
As for the parking.  Well, we will get on that because if we are supposed to have it, we will and that is our oversight.  But why not inform you of your infraction with a time limit to correct it?  I didn't even know our size property had to have a designated spot.  Oh, wait, giving you an opportunity to correct your infraction would mean another lawyer doesn't get to sue you.

What is the problem, is that to represent ourselves against this claim will cost, according to one of the several attorneys who have sent us letters offering assistance, about $20,000.

So, do I think the law firm representing this person who was denied a room is doing this out of the goodness of their heart?  Oh sure.  I think this is another example of ambulance chasing.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if persons who reported the property didn't receive some sort of kick back. 

We have had many, many handicapped guests stay with us.  We have allowed service dogs because we have to by law even though several times I knew that the dog owner had purchased the service dog's identification coat at Petsmart and they were just a pet coming on vacation.  We routinely offer rooms for every conceivable charity fundraiser around.  We try to be good citizens of the community and our reviews show how favorably former guests think of us and our property.

So why, when you try to do the right thing, does it always feel like there is some law firm named Bill, Padding & Howe just waiting to send you that letter that will kick your teeth in.