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. 

Doldrums

I looked up the word doldrums and Wikipedia presented lines from the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner:

All in a hot and copper sky,
The bloody Sun, at noon,
Right up above the mast did stand,
No bigger than the Moon.

Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.

I really understand this now, living in a sub-tropical climate.  Nine months of the year, the weather is glorious with bright blue skies and perfect temperatures.  But, after Memorial Day, we receive our version of my old Cleveland winter where being outside is less pleasant than inside.  Only difference; you don't get depressed!  But, it is hot, and humid, and something happens to your motivation.  You move slower.  It is hard to get into a project.  You want to nap in the afternoon.  I totally understand the concept of siesta.  And why people call it "Island Time."  As usual, there are reasons behind the stereotypes.

Driving to work yesterday, I was enthralled with the flat calm waters of the windless day that met the sky in a seamless blend with no beginning or end to the horizon.  The clear waters of many shades of blue and green change daily and never cease to amaze us.  And, by the end of the day on the drive back home, the large cumulus clouds had built, promising either a tropical shower or a glorious sunset. 

Doldrums are hard for me.  I feel guilt over any lethargy.  I have to force myself into the luxury of plopping down in a chair on the porch overlooking the canal with a book.  And, two books in one week later, I managed to begin the decline into laziness.  I believe I will now go wallow in slothfulness and watch a TV taped Mad Men show in the late afternoon while the chainsaws drone on and on outside as our coconut palms are stripped of there fruit in preparation of hurricane season.

Have I gone mad turning the TV on in daylight? 

Lucky Mom

Captain Matt came down for a long weekend to fish with his friends, Johnny and Rune, from Norway.  Matt captained them about six years ago, when he was working as a fishing guide, and they have returned twice to go out with him.  My cousin, John Mitchell, came down from Boca Raton for the day and joined us.

It was one of those perfect days on the water.  Flat calm, deep blue water, gorgeous skies and interesting things happening everywhere.  I still find something new every time I go out into the Gulf.  This trip was no exception.  This year was a new first - pods of Pilot Whales.  Not one, but many.  They were shyer and much smaller than the Sperm Whales we saw last year, but nonetheless, a fantastic sight.  But one dumb cluck went after my favorite lure that was trolling behind the boat and chomped it off.  My cousin imagines he is the punk of the group with a new piercing hanging from his lip (which will quickly rust away).  I hope he is enjoying my $10 Billy Bait mini-turbo slammer.

Later, a simple piece of plastic floating by itself in the Gulf Stream produced a school of Mahi-Mahi.  They hang out under the debris eating the little bait fish that work on the seaweed.  One little piece of flotsam is all that is needed.  I have caught many fish under one thin reed of bamboo.  It just needs a little time in the water to get a little bit of seaweed on it.  It is a hierarchy of the food chain right before your eyes.  We trolled past it and BAM, we hooked up.  Leaving that fish on the line brings the rest of the school toward the boat and then we have fun.  We cast chunks of bait out on light tackle and catch our dinner.  The fish are jumping, the lines are getting crossed and we are all whooping and hollering.  Such fun and chaos.  When we have kept enough bigger fish to eat, the rest are thanked and let go.  And when the action is over, the boat is a mess, we are a mess and high fives all around.

We then saw a school of small Bonita busting the surface of the water and jumping about.  We hustled over to the area, imagining a school of tuna underneath chasing the little Bonita about. Instead of catching any tuna, we caught one of the little Bonita and John had a brilliant idea to leave it out as bait.  We hung around for 5 or ten minutes with chum floating from our chum bag and watched the school of Bonita under the boat. Amazing to see so far down into the clear water.  Suddenly, another BAM and a sailfish was leaping and tail walking and the battle was on.  After bringing the fish to the boat, Capt. Matt and Johnny hoisted it up for a very quick photo and then back into the water to be carefully re-oxygenated, and released to enjoy feasting on the Bonita. 

Later today I will be going out to try for a Tarpon under a bridge.  We caught the bait right out in our canal last night.  I live in a magical place.  Wish me a lucky Mother's Day!

 Hanging on to my boy!

 Johnny, Capt. Matt, Rune and John

 Wonderful fresh fish for dinner.  Thank you bountiful sea and Happy Mother's Day to you, Mother Nature.  I thank you every day!

Job Perks

I have only one thing to thank the TSA for - beer!  Because guests cannot take it home, so they leave it in their refrigerators, and then it goes to my designated fishing refrigerator in our Banana Room apartment.  And from there, it goes in the cooler and out to sea, with me, and whoever else is accompanying me.  And next week, that will be my "bestest" fishing buddy, Matthew Douglas Urich.  Well, maybe he is my second best since his son, and my grandson, Jack, is my favorite.  Look out Tarpon, Bonefish, Redfish, Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo and whatever else we encounter.  Here we come!