The holidays are drawing to an end. We had lots of guests, and lots to do. Last night we took my sister & clan into Orlando to meet up with the family that lived next door to us growing up in Tonawanda, NY. Connie looked Kyle up on the computer and to our surprise his brother Rob also lives here in Florida and his parents were visiting and all were available for dinner last night. What a treat to get caught up with all of them, they were like extended family, and sometimes you don’t know how much you miss people until you see them again. Ed & Joan live in Arizona now but with all of their kids and grand kids here in Florida and their active lifestyle they are great candidates for TV. I’m going to see if I can get them a lifestyle tour next year.
We are having a progressive dinner for New Years Eve. We will travel to the four corners of the villages by cart and eat too much and drink too much and enjoy our ever expanding group of friends. Every one is doing small plate type dishes this year as the full courses at each house last year was just too much! Watch out for us, we will be the crazies with the hats and horns! Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy Holidays to everyone! I hope your holidays are filled with health, wealth, friends and family!
We had our annual white elephant gift exchange and Christmas Eve extravaganza at Molly’s house last night. My sister, Connie and her family are here for the holidays, and we had to clean up and tone down the gift exchange a bit to accommodate the presence of kids this year. We are sort of used to “adults only” type of partying but I really enjoyed having my niece, Hilary and nephew Taylor here for the party. Juvenile humor seemed to be the prevailing theme last night as the favorite white elephant gifts were the fart machine and the pooping reindeer. What can I say; I hope we all never grow up!
Taylor said he missed the snow a little, but loved being able to swim on Christmas Eve. I took him up to see the over the top Christmas display on Hillcrest. He was impressed; I think they are enjoying our tropical holidays! I let him drive me home on the golf cart, he did a great job! Hilary is so grown up; I am letting her learn to ride the scooters. Weren’t they both babies a minute ago? I miss my girls and wish they were here.
We are off to Wesley Chapel today, to visit more family. My cousin Maureen has a nice party Christmas day and Connie and Mike have not seen her family in years. Her Dad, my Uncle Frederick and his family will be there, along with my Aunt Gloria. Every year more of our clan seems to be migrating south. Easier on the bones here! Hope to lure a few more down next year, Colleen you ready yet?
The guys all get up every year at 5AM to take advantage of the free Christmas Day golf at the Championship courses. This year both RC and Wayne over slept and had to be dragged out of bed for this important male bonding thing (a bit too much Egg Nog last night boys?). It is a little hard for us non enthusiasts to fathom what would possess people who golf at least 5 days a week to get out of bed at such an ungodly hour, but I think FREE is the definitive word.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa!
We had our annual white elephant gift exchange and Christmas Eve extravaganza at Molly’s house last night. My sister, Connie and her family are here for the holidays, and we had to clean up and tone down the gift exchange a bit to accommodate the presence of kids this year. We are sort of used to “adults only” type of partying but I really enjoyed having my niece, Hilary and nephew Taylor here for the party. Juvenile humor seemed to be the prevailing theme last night as the favorite white elephant gifts were the fart machine and the pooping reindeer. What can I say; I hope we all never grow up!
Taylor said he missed the snow a little, but loved being able to swim on Christmas Eve. I took him up to see the over the top Christmas display on Hillcrest. He was impressed; I think they are enjoying our tropical holidays! I let him drive me home on the golf cart, he did a great job! Hilary is so grown up; I am letting her learn to ride the scooters. Weren’t they both babies a minute ago? I miss my girls and wish they were here.
We are off to Wesley Chapel today, to visit more family. My cousin Maureen has a nice party Christmas day and Connie and Mike have not seen her family in years. Her Dad, my Uncle Frederick and his family will be there, along with my Aunt Gloria. Every year more of our clan seems to be migrating south. Easier on the bones here! Hope to lure a few more down next year, Colleen you ready yet?
The guys all get up every year at 5AM to take advantage of the free Christmas Day golf at the Championship courses. This year both RC and Wayne over slept and had to be dragged out of bed for this important male bonding thing (a bit too much Egg Nog last night boys?). It is a little hard for us non enthusiasts to fathom what would possess people who golf at least 5 days a week to get out of bed at such an ungodly hour, but I think FREE is the definitive word.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa!
Friday, December 12, 2008
What have they done?
I am saddened today, by what the short sighted outgoing losers in the Senate did last night. Killing the auto bridge loan may feel good to some cynics, and those that think they can remain unaffected but this will touch every American sooner or later.
Let me put a face on a couple of the “sooner” victims:
Meet my niece Stephanie. She is a sweet sprite of a girl, 23 years old. She is a talented artist. She got hired at the Delphi component plant in Lockport NY about a year before I retired. Steph is a hard worker, taking on the jobs in the plant, that most guys thought were too hard or too dirty. She liked those jobs because the day flew by and no one bothered her as long as she got the job done.
Stephanie quit college when her Dad (an electrician at the plant) got sick and died from colon cancer (a disease appearing 10X more often in the tradesmen at our plant, than in the general population). Steph has always wanted to return to college but due to concessions that the union labor force took, tuition assistance is not available to her and the $15.00 per hour she is getting paid was not enough to get her ahead enough to take a leave to go back to school.
Yes I said $15.00 per hour. No, not $70 per hour like the media reports; that figure includes, inflated projected costs for a benefit package none of the tier two employees ever received (health care reform anyone?), and the legacy costs of all of us that retired before them. I was the highest paid hourly employee in the place, a Journeyman in advanced engineering. and have never been paid more than $30/per hour ( I had a 4 year degree, 4 years apprenticeship, and hundreds of hours of additional specialty training).
Delphi is in its fourth year of bankruptcy, and after we were all forced out, the plant is now down to around 2000 employees from its peak of 11,000. Stephanie got her lay off slip today. The official word is it will only be for 6 weeks (Merry Christmas), but the rumors are that they will never be called back, now that the bridge loans have been killed.
Meet the Josie’s crew. Josie’s Place is a little gin mill around the corner from the plant. Mike and Barb, Diane and Jim are the second generation proprietors. Mike and Diane’s parents opened the bar and along with the income from their farm, and Big Mike’s job at Chevy, supported a large family on the regular factory crowd.
We frequented the place for its friendly atmosphere, good polish home cooking and reasonable prices. We looked forward to Lunches of Spaghetti on Thursdays, the Steak Special on Tuesdays and Fish Fry on Fridays.
After we all were forced out the business began to falter. Mike and Barb have a large family and are worried because they are just starting the college thing. Diane went into the factory (as a 2nd tier employee) when her husband Jim was forced out, to supplement their family’s income. She has since been permanently laid off, and the future is uncertain for the business and the families that depend upon it for their livelihoods.
So it goes in the small factory towns around the country. These are the faces that I want you all to see when I hear anyone say dump the Union, and let those businesses crash and burn, it’s their fault it came to this. Don't get me started.
Happy Holidays!
Let me put a face on a couple of the “sooner” victims:
Meet my niece Stephanie. She is a sweet sprite of a girl, 23 years old. She is a talented artist. She got hired at the Delphi component plant in Lockport NY about a year before I retired. Steph is a hard worker, taking on the jobs in the plant, that most guys thought were too hard or too dirty. She liked those jobs because the day flew by and no one bothered her as long as she got the job done.
Stephanie quit college when her Dad (an electrician at the plant) got sick and died from colon cancer (a disease appearing 10X more often in the tradesmen at our plant, than in the general population). Steph has always wanted to return to college but due to concessions that the union labor force took, tuition assistance is not available to her and the $15.00 per hour she is getting paid was not enough to get her ahead enough to take a leave to go back to school.
Yes I said $15.00 per hour. No, not $70 per hour like the media reports; that figure includes, inflated projected costs for a benefit package none of the tier two employees ever received (health care reform anyone?), and the legacy costs of all of us that retired before them. I was the highest paid hourly employee in the place, a Journeyman in advanced engineering. and have never been paid more than $30/per hour ( I had a 4 year degree, 4 years apprenticeship, and hundreds of hours of additional specialty training).
Delphi is in its fourth year of bankruptcy, and after we were all forced out, the plant is now down to around 2000 employees from its peak of 11,000. Stephanie got her lay off slip today. The official word is it will only be for 6 weeks (Merry Christmas), but the rumors are that they will never be called back, now that the bridge loans have been killed.
Meet the Josie’s crew. Josie’s Place is a little gin mill around the corner from the plant. Mike and Barb, Diane and Jim are the second generation proprietors. Mike and Diane’s parents opened the bar and along with the income from their farm, and Big Mike’s job at Chevy, supported a large family on the regular factory crowd.
We frequented the place for its friendly atmosphere, good polish home cooking and reasonable prices. We looked forward to Lunches of Spaghetti on Thursdays, the Steak Special on Tuesdays and Fish Fry on Fridays.
After we all were forced out the business began to falter. Mike and Barb have a large family and are worried because they are just starting the college thing. Diane went into the factory (as a 2nd tier employee) when her husband Jim was forced out, to supplement their family’s income. She has since been permanently laid off, and the future is uncertain for the business and the families that depend upon it for their livelihoods.
So it goes in the small factory towns around the country. These are the faces that I want you all to see when I hear anyone say dump the Union, and let those businesses crash and burn, it’s their fault it came to this. Don't get me started.
Happy Holidays!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Artsy Fartsy Village
I read the posting today on The Talk of the Villages by Cabo35 on a dreamy proposal for development where the Buffalo used to roam in Lake Sumter. It started me thinking again (I get into trouble when I do that sometimes) about a plan that has been rattling around in my head for the little area by the Post Office on our Historic side.
The area that I have had my eye on is behind 441, the section by the over pass, that I am told used to be the original Town Square. It is now occupied mostly by unremarkable Doctor’s offices and labs, a Crematory, a Barber, my favorite Mexican Restaurant, A Veterinarian, and a Sheriff's annex.
If I had a gazillion dollars to spend, I think I’d like to scoop up all of those clusters of Spanish style buildings on LeGrand Avenue and make an Artsy Fartsy Village that you could park and walk and explore. I can picture it becoming an “Old Towne” like I have visited in Tucson AZ, Jerome, Az, Albuquerque, NM, Sturgis, SD, Jackson Hole, Wy and several other quaint western cities. These quirky little artisan areas were filled with galleries, folk art boutiques, eclectic eateries, reflecting the old time local flavor of the city within which it was contained.
My new Village area would be a haven for artists, mystics, ethnic food, and be frequented by residents and tourists alike. Incense, pottery, candles and souvenirs would be available along with ice cream, hot pretzels and hot dog type food carts. Day spas and a Zen like tea house would be there to sooth the harried traveler. Music would fill the air, mixed with the smell of fresh flowers and home made candy.
I think it could become a destination, unlike anything that I have seen in our area. The closest that I can come to the ambiance I feel in my mind, here in Florida is St Augustine. Mount Dora has some of the type of shopping and eating establishments that I can picture here but I still would like to see something like this right here in the Villages. Mr. Morris?
The area that I have had my eye on is behind 441, the section by the over pass, that I am told used to be the original Town Square. It is now occupied mostly by unremarkable Doctor’s offices and labs, a Crematory, a Barber, my favorite Mexican Restaurant, A Veterinarian, and a Sheriff's annex.
If I had a gazillion dollars to spend, I think I’d like to scoop up all of those clusters of Spanish style buildings on LeGrand Avenue and make an Artsy Fartsy Village that you could park and walk and explore. I can picture it becoming an “Old Towne” like I have visited in Tucson AZ, Jerome, Az, Albuquerque, NM, Sturgis, SD, Jackson Hole, Wy and several other quaint western cities. These quirky little artisan areas were filled with galleries, folk art boutiques, eclectic eateries, reflecting the old time local flavor of the city within which it was contained.
My new Village area would be a haven for artists, mystics, ethnic food, and be frequented by residents and tourists alike. Incense, pottery, candles and souvenirs would be available along with ice cream, hot pretzels and hot dog type food carts. Day spas and a Zen like tea house would be there to sooth the harried traveler. Music would fill the air, mixed with the smell of fresh flowers and home made candy.
I think it could become a destination, unlike anything that I have seen in our area. The closest that I can come to the ambiance I feel in my mind, here in Florida is St Augustine. Mount Dora has some of the type of shopping and eating establishments that I can picture here but I still would like to see something like this right here in the Villages. Mr. Morris?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Where the Buffalo used to roam.
I took Erika with me to Yoga last night. She has a tendency to let her nervous energy distract her, and that scatters her focus and makes her less effective in general. I know about this because she inherited that gene from me. I have had to fight the “drunken monkey mind” (as my yoga teacher refers to it) all of my life. I have found some very effective calming techniques in yoga class and I would like Erika to see if they could help her stay on task and organized.
My weekly cart ride to yoga class has been filled with several experiences bordering on spiritual. Last night we witnessed a beautiful orange and red sunset that seemed to explode over Lake Sumter. Another night I saw a double rainbow, and on another trip I watched a big grey bird catch a snake for dinner.
But, the most amazing sight I have ever seen was just days before they took the Buffalo away. I witnessed the birth of a Buffalo calf. Several carts were stopped and I joined the dozen or so onlookers witness a miracle. Quietly we watched as the mother gave birth. Immediately, the rest of the heard gathered around their newest member and urged it with gentle noses to get up and therefore be safe from any predators that might be lurking in the area. Wow.
I miss the Buffalo. They had a special meaning for me. Being from the Buffalo NY area, I thought that the symbolism was, somehow destiny driven. This majestic beast was the symbol of my home community. This noble beast held sacred stature to my best friend’s people. The bison was the mascot of my Buffalo Bills! I loved bringing visitors to view this unusual sight in my Villages.
I wish that the Villages would not have taken them away. The rumor is that someone got too close and got a head butt, and sued. I am not sure about that story, but if true, I would think a double row of fencing would have been the less drastic approach to keeping people at a sensible distance from these large, dangerous wild animals. Personal responsible behavior, it seems is a thing of the past, and over the top knee jerk reaction is now the response to threat of lawsuits.
I am still suspicious; their grazing field may have been needed for the new development near Sumter, and the recent introduction of Buffalo meat to several of our local grocery stores shelves makes me beyond sad.
My weekly cart ride to yoga class has been filled with several experiences bordering on spiritual. Last night we witnessed a beautiful orange and red sunset that seemed to explode over Lake Sumter. Another night I saw a double rainbow, and on another trip I watched a big grey bird catch a snake for dinner.
But, the most amazing sight I have ever seen was just days before they took the Buffalo away. I witnessed the birth of a Buffalo calf. Several carts were stopped and I joined the dozen or so onlookers witness a miracle. Quietly we watched as the mother gave birth. Immediately, the rest of the heard gathered around their newest member and urged it with gentle noses to get up and therefore be safe from any predators that might be lurking in the area. Wow.
I miss the Buffalo. They had a special meaning for me. Being from the Buffalo NY area, I thought that the symbolism was, somehow destiny driven. This majestic beast was the symbol of my home community. This noble beast held sacred stature to my best friend’s people. The bison was the mascot of my Buffalo Bills! I loved bringing visitors to view this unusual sight in my Villages.
I wish that the Villages would not have taken them away. The rumor is that someone got too close and got a head butt, and sued. I am not sure about that story, but if true, I would think a double row of fencing would have been the less drastic approach to keeping people at a sensible distance from these large, dangerous wild animals. Personal responsible behavior, it seems is a thing of the past, and over the top knee jerk reaction is now the response to threat of lawsuits.
I am still suspicious; their grazing field may have been needed for the new development near Sumter, and the recent introduction of Buffalo meat to several of our local grocery stores shelves makes me beyond sad.
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