Lady Jane's

Black Skimmer

2008-12-06T06:51:00.002-05:00

The Black Skimmer: A particularly graceful and elegant waterbird; especially when compared to the....

Common gull, which will do anything and and pose anywhere for a bit of stale bread.

Face of God

2008-05-01T10:41:00.003-04:00

“I’ve seen the face of God, the true face. It was in the swamp during a dry spell. I came to a pond with no water. Fish were flouncing about in the mud, dying. A huge cotton-mouth came over the bank and into the pond. His body was as big as my leg. I said to myself, ‘Now the snake will feast on the fish.’ He took a fish in his mouth, but he did not eat it. Instead, he carried it over the bank and to a nearby pond with water, and then he turned it loose. He came back and did this again and again. I had never seen such a thing before, and I knew this must be the face of God.”

Excerpt from Allapattah (Forever Island and Allapattah) by Patrick D. Smith.

Whoops..

2008-04-06T05:06:00.019-04:00

It's started to storm here on S. Beach..

.. and I just let the cats out.

Update (7:37 a.m.) : Now it's lovely.. though really, I prefer the rain.

Oh, and 45G, in case you were wondering, the cats are A-OK;-)

Who would've guessed..

2008-03-16T00:12:00.013-04:00

that the best part of going to the Irish Festival would be...

...the falafel I brought home for dinner?

'scuse bite marks;-)

Lion Love...

2008-03-08T14:09:00.006-05:00

These two guys reared this lion from a baby in England but the authorities would not allow them to keep it once it reached maturity so they were forced to give it up. They took it back to Africa and placed it in a wildlife sanctuary, a year later they went to see it and were told it would not remember them.

They were wrong..

H/T 45Govt. More info here.

Unrepentant

2008-03-06T09:06:00.008-05:00

Willow, doing what comes naturally... though it still makes me mad (especially when he decides to share).

Miami Nights..

2008-03-01T12:23:00.053-05:00

Meet Will (right). He is the husband of Jamie, and owner of this sweet little yacht - America One - who gave us a grand evening on Biscayne Bay last night. (55ft little;-)

Thank you Will! It was lovely.

This is Jamie, Will's gorgeous wife. She is a long time colleague and friend and is leaving to open her own business.

If you're ever in the Miami area and need a wax, check her out: waxonwaxoff.com

On our way....

This is Ervin (left)
.. and a treat for the Tuscan;-)

Course, I wasn't the only photographer there..

I rather fancy this spot..

So nice to leave work for this..

Didn't see any Manatees..

Thankfully;-)

The best shot of the night..

and a few more, just because..

A truly lovely evening.. Thank you Jamie and Will!

Shaking it in Shark Valley...

2008-01-17T20:52:00.001-05:00

Shark Valley - Off Tamiami Trail, Miami

A few weekends ago, my Uncle was in town en-route from New Hampshire to Barbados. Unlike his 10 Bajan traveling companions, he was not in the mood to shop (we're similar that way), so I invited him to come on a bike ride I had planned the next day. He agreed. I picked him up from the hotel, and we took off for Shark Valley - a tram road in the Everglades National Park, about 25 or 30 miles outside of Miami.

First, I should probably tell you, the Everglades is NOT a swamp. Its a river... 'The River of Grass' as famously dubbed by Marjory Stoneman Douglas in her book The Everglades: River of Grass.

It's seasonally dominated by a shallow, slow-moving sheet of water that flows from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay, and its home to a vast variety of plants and animals, though regrettably, no sharks;-)

The ride around the park is a leisurely 7 miles up to a -very space age looking - viewing platform, followed by a slog of the first degree back to the parking lot! Bring Water.. LOTS of it!

First up, were these little beauties.. aren't they cute?!

Then, this one.. 'scuse the shakes - I may have been a bit close! You're not supposed to go more than 10 - 15 ft away from the gators, but that is just impossible on this road! Plus, my brakes were not quite up to par...

I love this bearded old man! He may be my favorite. Hey.. it's thistle! The last time I saw you, I was in the Scottish Highlands! Who've thunk it?!

These 2 are older and wiser, and must be sick of the gawking! Either that or they're seriously lacking manners...

Buzzards.. did you know they smell sweet? Its true, I saw it on Animal Planet.

My true favorite, is this perfect pair...

S-Bend plumbing.. via the Everglades!

Bajan Seasoning.. the Perfect Pinch

2008-01-04T19:15:00.000-05:00

Some of you may recall my Xmas Hols were spent in Barbados. Since I am not one to rub it in, I have decided to forgo posting pictures of gorgeous, tanned men carousing to the strains of the Merrymen, or girls in bikinis frolicking in the warm waters. Besides, the Daily Mail does it so much better, don't you agree?

Anyway, so what to do? Killem, kindly reminded me of a post I had planned to do on Bajan food, or, more precisely, what makes Bajan food taste so damn good! It's all in the Seasoning! It's a recipe made by many, but in my taste buds opinion, 'best' by Cummins.. a wonderful woman who has been with my Grandparents for ~~37 years~~ at least as long as I've been alive;-)
Learn to make this, and it will transport any fish, chicken or meat you cook, to a whole other realm/planet/universe!

Lets start:

Ingredients: ~~Cummins~~ (NO.. you can't have her!!)

1 bunch of spring onions (green onions)
1 Scotch Bonnet pepper
Bunch of parsley and dill (not too much)
1 sprig of thyme
1 sprig of sweet marjoram
3 garlic cloves
1 small onion
Lime juice, vinegar*, salt and pepper

*optional

Chop the green onions finely... Cummins is kindly demonstrating for you...
They should end up looking like this...
Now, mix in the dill and parsley. Not too much of either...
Here's the right amount of Sweet Marjoram (Gosh, I need a manicure, and please, don't anyone lift my prints from that!!)
Now the thyme. About this much...

The next ingredients (onion and garlic)
Forgive me, Cummins was getting a bit annoyed with me at this point, and you may notice a deterioration in the quality of pix:
Are grated into the mix..
Then chop in, oh.. about that much pepper - or whatever you can handle without steam coming out your ears...
Finally, add in some lime juice. Cummins is using frozen lime juice since limes are out of season at the mo. Just as good, but you should try to use fresh whenever possible.

Now, you just season with a pinch of salt, pepper and maybe add a splash of vinegar, bottle and you're all set to blow away your wife, mate, husband, lover, significant other with this lively mix of flavour and pepper in your next dish. Just slice a few slits in whatever you're cooking and Season! I am open for dinner invitations.. if one should feel inclined;-)

So, Cummins... since this is your recipe, lets make you famous - you deserve it!
Pose for the camera....

Ahhhh... I do love you Cummins!

Solving The Energy Crisis (Maybe)

2007-12-10T11:03:00.000-05:00

Since I am poorly today, and off work *cough, cough*, I've had time to peruse the papers, and one story that's caught my attention is about Wind Turbines. I am specifically referring to the "Minsters Plan Massive Building of Turbines Out at Sea to Power Britain", that's in the Scotsman today.

In it, it talks of plans where up to "7,000 turbines could be installed off the UK's coastline in a bid to boost the production of wind energy 30-fold by 2020."

Admittedly, I don't know too much about turbines, wind farms and the ilk, but I have been reading about something, that to me, seems much more simple and efficient - Geothermal Heat Pumps. Every home should have one!

Basically what happens, is you dig a big hole by your house, sink a series of pipes, commonly called a "loop," down in said hole, and then it circulates a fluid (water, or a mixture of water and antifreeze) that absorbs heat from, or relinquishes heat to, the surrounding soil, which then acts as a heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer. (You may notice, I am well versed in the art of copy/paste). Here's a visual for all you ~~men~~ visual types..

Seems simple enough doesn't it? They seem to have been around awhile, and even factoring in the average cost of $7,500 (£3,665) per installation, I am unable to determine why they are not more popular, or prolific. If more homes had them, it would surely help relieve, if not alleviate, our huge dependency on oil - good for the country - plus it would be great for the homeowner, as it translates to hundreds of $$'s saved in heating/cooling costs over the long term.

So, my question is, why isn't this more popular? (I am specifically referring to regions where it would be feasible of course).

If you're interested, or if you know, please let me know, as I am stumped. I did look at this pdf, but frankly, it was far too ~~boring~~ technical to complete.

Besides, I am far more interested in your thoughts than my own most of the time:-)

No Man's Land (AKA: My Dream Home)

2007-12-09T14:07:00.001-05:00

I tend to have a somewhat reclusive nature. On one hand, I am quite 'garrulous' (or so I've been informed) and good natured, but a deeper part of me craves solitude and self-reflection. Okay, maybe not so much self-reflection, but definitely solitude. Don't know why it is, but I've always pictured myself retiring to a little cottage in the middle of nowhere; there I would while away the hours in front of a crackling fire, with a cup a tea and a good book in hand. Course, I would have my dogs (and cats) at my feet, keeping me cozy.
In this mental image, the wind is always howling outside, and the cottage is creaking with age.

Yes, I may be somewhat strange.

But then, a couple of months ago - July 15th to be precise - the Daily Mail printed this gem of an article, replete with photos, of No Man's Land - a Victorian sea fort off the coast of Portsmouth. My jaw dropped, and my previous fantasy dissipated like water off a ducks back when faced with the possibilities (you know, for self-reflection and such) owning such a property would afford.
I mean, surrounded by the sea, your only neighbors dolphins, whales and the occasional sea bird, who could resist?

My true, previously unrealized dream, really involves vast open miles of North Sea, a helicopter pad, and luxurious accommodation.
Who knew?
Excuse me while I go root about in the couch cushions... this lifestyle doesn't come cheap, but £4M for this piece of paradise?
I'll take it!

Lovely, ain't it?
My own little spa..
I could be persuaded to entertain occasionally - I would have the room, obviously.
I might also install a cannon, you know for effect.. and maybe to keep the BBC licensing folk away...

The fact that No Man's land is still within the jurisdiction of the UK, did give me some pause, but I got over it.

Modern Day Camping

2007-12-07T18:35:00.000-05:00

Gianinna and her computer! She was cooooold;-)

I was just a (teeny) bit jealous, as I had my laptop too, but couldn't pick up any signal. Now, I knew my laptop had wireless built in, but, I naively thought that meant it automatically picked up wireless, but oh no.. Who knew there was a wireless switch on laptops (besides, the 400,000,000 of you) that needed to be manually switched on?

Thanks to Staples for rescuing me from my wires;-)

Road Trip: $400
Best part of road trip?
Saving hundreds of $$$'s, cause I now have free internet!

Chalk & Cheese

2007-12-04T19:28:00.000-05:00

Ahh, ain't he cute? Look at that wicked little face..

And then, there's this...

'
Damn.

Strict Unbending Rules For Dealing With Stray Cats

2007-12-02T10:23:00.000-05:00

1. Stray cats will not be fed.

2. Stray cats will not be fed anything except dry cat food.

3. Stray cats will not be fed anything except dry cat food moistened with a little milk.

4. Stray cats will not be fed anything except dry cat food moistened with warm milk, yummy treats and leftover fish scraps.

5. Stray cats will not be encouraged to make this house their permanent residence.

6. Stray cats will not be petted, played with or picked up and cuddled unnecessarily.

7. Stray cats that are petted, played with, picked up and cuddled will absolutely not be given a name.

8. Stray cats with or without a name will not be allowed inside the house at any time.

9. Stray cats will not be allowed inside the house except at certain times.

10. Stray cats will not be allowed inside the house except on days ending in "y".

11. Stray cats allowed inside will not be permitted to jump up on or sharpen their claws on the furniture.

12. Stray cats will not be permitted to jump up on, or sharpen claws on the really good furniture.

13. Stray cats will be permitted on all furniture but must sharpen claws on new $114.99 sisal-rope cat-scratching post with three perches.

14. Stray cats will answer the call of nature outdoors in the sand.

15. Stray cats will answer the call of nature in the three-piece, high-impact plastic tray filled with Fresh'n'Sweet kitty litter.

16. Stray cats will answer the call of nature in the hooded litter pan with a three-panel privacy screen and plenty of head room.

17. Stray cats will sleep outside.

18. Stray cats will sleep in the garage.

19. Stray cats will sleep in the house.

20. Stray cats will sleep in a cardboard box lined with an old blanket.

21. Stray cats will sleep in the special Kitty-Komfort-Bed with non-allergenic lambs wool pillow.

22. Stray cats will not be allowed to sleep in my bed.

23. Stray cats will not be allowed to sleep in my bed, except at the foot.

24. Stray cats will not be allowed to sleep in my bed under the covers.

25. Stray cats will not be allowed to sleep in my bed under the covers except at the foot.

26. Stray cats will not play on the desk.

27. Stray cats will not play on the desk near the computer.

28. Stray cats are forbidden to walk on the computer keyboard on the desk when the human is asdfjjhhkl;ljfd.;oier'puyykmm4hbdm9lo9j USING IT.

Yes, Sam.. that means YOU!

FIREFOX/RSS - Why I Like It

2007-12-01T16:41:00.000-05:00

Let me start by saying, I am not technical, I don't really know what I am talking about, and please don't blame me for any computer problems you encounter if you try this.

Whew, now that's out of the way, here goes:

When I first downloaded FireFox, I never thought I would come to love it for the RSS feeds. I initially switched because my i-geek friend kept telling me how much better, faster and safer it was compared to IE (Internet Explorer), and I am always up for learning something new when it comes to the computer;-) Admittedly, it took a while (I am no longer 18 folks) for me to like it, as the 'tabs' are very different (I kept 'x' ing out all the time) and took some getting used to, but the RSS feeds kept me here.

Why use RSS feeds?

Because I read a lot of content (blogs, news etc) and the feeds allow me to quickly check websites for NEW content, without having to click through to them. For example, I am sitting here writing this, wondering how to pare it down a bit, and I decide to see if Theo has really gone to bed.. So, I click on my little Theo Spark button on the top of the window and up pops his headlines. I can see his last post - Bedtime Totty - and, since I saw that earlier, I can deduce he has indeed gone to bed at 7pm and nothing new is available. All of this can be done in a nanosecond, without disturbing what I'm currently doing (or adding to his already grossly inflated ego regarding his stats;-). The same goes for any of my favorite sites - I mean, if I had click through to Pioneer Woman every day, you're talking like 20 10 page loads (at least) - just to see if something new has been added! Crazy... I'm no stalker!

Now, the only blogger I regularly read that is not part of the wonderful world of RSS, is Hitch. I don't know why, but his blog just-will-not-load on RSS! I have theory its partly due to his famed and world-renowned (no Hitch, not that) 'flounces'. Maybe Blogger is waiting to see how long this return lasts before they put him on RSS? I doubt it, but bugger me if its not annoying;-(

Anyway, here is a current screen shot of my computer..
Ooh, bad pix! But, can you see those little orange boxes at the top? Those are my RSS feeds.. and they go all down the side too.

Here check this one out... Here you can see I am on Hercules, but I am also looking for his other headlines (RSS only loads one page at a time). If I wanted to, I could move from him to Tuscan or The Telegraph.. or any other feeds I have running on my system, in just one click. And, if there is nothing new, I don't have to click at all. It's a real time saver, and I just LOVE it
One word of warning to all you blogger's out there - if you don't put a Headline/Title, RSS won't read that post.

How To Start?

First, you need to download Firefox (Google it if outside of the US).

Once downloaded you can start using it as your primary search engine, and anytime you run across a blog you like, you can either click on Bookmark this page (which will act like favorites) or Subscribe to this page, which is RSS, and will create those little orange boxes in your toolbar.

(I just found an expert to explain further if you're interested).

That's IT!

P.S.
The tabs.. you get used to them.. I like them more than windows now. Also, I still keep IE around - my credit card virtual number pop-up thingy doesn't work with FireFox - so its good to have both, but other than that, I am thoroughly happy with my browsing experience.

P.P.S. There is another program called a Reader (Google has one) which is super fast and convenient if you read a LOT - oh, say 25+ blogs/sites. I have it, but I don't like it as much as it forces me to click on the post to read the comments (and on the blogs I read, the comments are usually the funniest part).
The thing about Readers is they save everything.. that means, if a blog gets closed, or a post gets posted then unpublished, Reader keeps a copy. I am not so comfortable with that notion, but its good to know..

If anyone has been wondering about RSS, I hope this helps.. and remember.. I am not liable!

Brothers

2007-11-30T07:16:00.001-05:00

Daisy has inspired me! Here are my 'brothers' - the real apples of my parents eyes!!
(I do have a 'human' brother too, but he's not as pretty)

This gorgeous boy is Spike..He had some crazy hair when he was just a pup, hence the name Spike...

His beautiful and regal older brother Jack...
Out running at the Barbados Clay Pigeon Club (Dad takes them there every day for their.. shushhhh, *walk*)..
Jack looking wistful (probably dreaming of going shooting, and peeved to be indoors)..
Spike.. he LOVES the sofa..
and the bed/ball...
Sorry, but I doubt any dogs can compare..

... to these two!

EARTHQUAKE!!! (update)

2007-11-29T18:54:00.000-05:00

For more than 20 seconds an earthquake which measured five on the Richter Scale shook the island to its inner core and left Barbadians badly shaken as well.

The earthquake which originally measured 7.4 on the Richter scale vibrated its way through the Eastern Caribbean sometime after 2 p.m.
By the time it reached Barbados, it was measuring five, but it was enough to scare the living daylights out of all those who felt it.

A resident checks the damages on his apartment building in the St. George parish, central Barbados, after a powerful earthquake rocked the eastern Caribbean on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.4, was centered 26 miles, 42 kilometers, southeast of Roseau, the capital of Dominica, where the shaking lasted for about 20 seconds. The quake was felt hundreds of miles away in Puerto Rico to the west, and Venezuela and Suriname to the south.

Update: 6:48am - Miami Time

I've been informed (by reliable sources - Mum & Dad) that Barbados has just sustained an earthquake!!!

Apparently, people were fleeing Grantley Adams airport in terror (Dad was flying in and missed it by 1/2 hour) & Mum said the chandeliers were shaking! I lived in Los Angeles for several years, so they're nothing new to me, but it does not bode well for Martinique and Guadeloupe... who apparently got it worse.

Factoid #1: The last time an earthquake rocked Barbados was back in 1953.
Factoid #2: Today, Nov 30th, is independence day in Barbados (independence from England).

Breaking News Via Lady Jane... I like it!

Road Trip Rehash - Part 2

2007-11-28T21:08:00.000-05:00

I have decided to rush through Part 2 as frankly, work has been killing me (nothing like a vacation to make you need a vacation!!), and I am bored, and don't want to bore you, with the retelling. Anyway, for posterity, here we go, Savannah and beyond...

We stopped in Savannah as one of the fellows from The Hostel in the Forest had asked for a lift to visit his Mum & Dad for Thanksgiving (even though "he could only stand one night" due to fact "they watch TV"). *kids*
The 'squares' - which make up the historic city - are quite beautiful...
And the perfect place to relax and read the paper...

CHARM oozes in Savannah, and its a great place to stop and bike around... Speaking of bikes, these are ours (yes, we did use 'em) in front of an old home...

Bit more majestic..

Famous too: Owen-Thomas House...
(Famed as a place where Lafayette spent the night in 1825, as well as being considered the finest example of English Regency architecture in America - by architectural historians).
Now, off to North Carolina!!!
I confess, when I first saw the mountains, a shiver went through me.. and not of the cold.
The picture doesn't do it justice...
We climbed one too.. up to the flag.
This is Chimney Rock, and the only reason we climbed, is we were too poor to pay the entrance, so snuck in and hiked. It was not easy in the least!
Here's Chimney Rock from another angle. For some reason, they don't use this angle in their advertising publications....
The reason we were poor? We'd gone skiing...
Okay, we didn't ski, we tried to ski, and the only thing I have to say about skiing is DON'T DO IT!!! (Or, at least not without all protective equipment, and the possibility of a snowmobile ride back down). Admittedly this would have been nicer without the snow machines.. they were HORRIBLE (and very, very LOUD)...
I was miserable, and every hair on my head turned into an icicle. Gianinna uses the photo as a 'pick-me up'. Needless to say, you won't see it here. We weren't the only miserable ones though...
Back at camp...
This was nice - and a surprise - as we only went for a little bike ride around the park, not expecting to hike up and see this...
Nothing as impressive as the BIG ONE though....
Pretty country.. I'm glad I went.

Finito!

Road Trip Rehash - Part I

2007-11-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

I was a bit worried about this trip as I have a preternatural fear of breaking down on the side of the road AND of not knowing where I am going. I really don't know where it comes from, as the rest of my family are quite adventurous behind the wheel, and some of my fondest memories are of summer holiday road trips through France, England and Scotland.

Prior to this, my longest road trip was cross country - when I moved from Los Angeles to Miami. My 2 cats and I traveled for 6 days in my trusty Toyota Tercel 4WD - with military like precision: Drive 8 hours, find motel before dark, sneak cats in, eat, sleep, drive 8 hours, find motel before dark, sneak cats in.. etc. etc.
No lingering around different cities, exploring... no, that would have required getting off the I-10 with the inherent possibility of getting lost 'somewhere I didn't know'. (Yes, I know.. very sad). The one exception to my 'only drive in daylight' rule, was when I got stuck too long on the road and had to navigate through the Louisiana swamps - AT NIGHT - desperately following fading tail lights (must have been driving a bloody Ferrari) to keep me sane. *shudders remembering* Anyway, suffice to say, I usually fly.

So, for this trip, I was quite glad my friend Gianinna decided to join me, and it was for her that I made some deviations from my previous plans. One of which were the springs.. I didn't go. Gianinna had never seen St. Augustine (the oldest city in the US) and we decided to stop there for a little lunch at the Spanish Bakery, before continuing on to Brunswick GA, where our Treehouse awaited us. Here are some pix from St. Augustine..

Cute old house..

Another..

Lovely boat in the harbor...

The Fort (Castillo de San Marcos)...

Cobbled streets..

Charm just oozes out of St. Augustine, I highly recommend it...
Even if it is a bit touristy....

And there's that lunch I just mentioned...

Alas, we didn't have as much time to spend in St. Augustine as it deserves.. I, of course, had an agenda - get to Brunswick GA before sunset!

Aha, the Hostel in the Forest
(Gianinna's favourite part of this trip), good food (vegan though), good company, (thank you John from Colorado for pumping up my bike tires) and an altogether great experience!

Here is the campfire where we stood in a circle holding hands giving thanks for the day, before dinner.. (try it - its good:-)

This is the near freezing lake that we swam in.. okay, a little truthfulness here, (the following may be TMI for some of you, so feel free to skip ahead). G and I took the canoe out to a platform that was floating in the center of the lake, and the two of us trying to get out of the canoe onto the platform was so funny, we (alright, I) peed my pants laughing:-(
In my defence, there were no bathrooms... only a sawdust receptacle for 'deposits' only - something about ammonia disturbing the PH balance. Anyway, now you know... we had to swim. Besides, the mosquitoes were KILLING us.
I do hope you will revisit this blog again someday....
Here are the chickens.. they have a grand life (oh, except for the 3 or 4 minutes when a hawk came a visiting... damn, they can move fast in a hurry! Luckily, no chickens were hurt in the ruckus, although it did seem to excite the rooster terribly, as one poor hen got a really good lay right after!.. *cough cough* True story!
This was our 'room' for the night.. its a tree house called the peacock. We stayed in the top part (good thing there's no alcohol there) with 2 screened walls, and 2 solid walls, a single bed as well as a bunk bed (which G fell out of.. again, perfectly true). It was quite lovely...

And the 'world-famous geodesic dome' (Apparently, Geodesic means built with triangles.. and here I was thinking it was something fancy and geothermal like.
See, its getting dark too, we got there just in time;-)

Good night all,

Next stop.. Savannah.
To be continued....

Gone Camping...

2007-11-19T23:06:00.001-05:00

A little camping humor...

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go on a camping trip, set up their tent, and fall asleep. Some hours later, Holmes wakes his faithful friend.

"Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."

Watson replies, "I see millions of stars."

"What does that tell you?"

Watson ponders for a minute. "Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, it's evident the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?"

Holmes is silent for a moment, then speaks. "Watson, you idiot, someone has stolen our tent."

Road Trip - 2

2007-11-18T13:57:00.001-05:00

The way this trip is going, I (well, we as my good friend Gianinna has decided to come with) are in for a spiritual re-awakening. Not what thought I needed when I started planning, but since thats the way it appears to be shaping up, I'm 'going with the flow' so to speak. Here is my proposed routed, to be started at 5a.m.(or thereabouts) Tuesday.

A long drive North from Miami with a quick stop at Blue Springs State Park (Hopefully Manatees will be there.. I just LOVE those tubby sea-cows)

First night in Brunswick GA, at the Hostel in the Forest, where this awaits me..

Yes.. its a tree-house.
Now, "why would you want to stay in a tree-house Jane?" I hear you ask... Well, simply because its $20 p/n which includes dinner - vegetarian dinner - but dinner none the less.

Besides, it affords me the opportunity to discover rare and distinguished breeds of hens (quite useful if I lived on a farm)..

.. and socialize in the Main Dome..

.. meeting new people (with really big cabbages!)..

It looks a bit like a hippie commune (see, told ya 'spiritual re-awakening'), but its not really - they're world-renowned for their geodesic domes, and besides, they're living in an ecologically fragile spot, so they need to be organic/self-sustaining/recycling ~~hippies~~ etc.

Besides, I was really lured by the their claim of being only 1/2 mile East from the "Best BBQ on the Planet" .. that, and the $20 price tag.

No more posting for a while..

Going Camping..

2007-11-17T19:43:00.002-05:00

Okay.. I've found my final destination - Cherokee KOA, NC.
Per Hercules' advise (it's cold as F**K), I have decided to ditch the tent, in favor of a cabin on the river. This is what it SHOULD look like....

Its called a Kamping Kabin (cute huh?)

Unlike my previous holiday, where I dilly-dallied a week away and went nowhere, I have given my credit card in deposit for this spot, so hopefully that will offset the procrastination that sets in once I face an umpteen hour drive on a holiday week.

RSS

2007-11-13T19:49:00.001-05:00

How many of you use RSS feeds or Google Reader?

Just curious..

Road Trip

2007-11-10T19:58:00.000-05:00

Week after next, I am on vacation (yeah!!!) and am thinking of taking a drive to points North.. either Tennessee or North Carolina, I haven't quite decided the final destination. I have decided however, to take a page from the fab Electro Kevin and make this a camping trip.

Now, I'm not really a camper.. the only camping I've done thus far, included a log cabin with A/C. Here, this is the one:

Cute yeah? Well, its cuteness aside, it was right next door to a wildlife safari which was lovely - especially in the morning when the lions were roaring for their breckie... I kinda fancied myself in Kenya for a bit! Anyway, since he (Kevin) seems to enjoy tent camping, I'm sure I can bear with it... Besides, I'm in real estate advertising, and this has been a crap year.. so there is NO choice in the matter!

The only bad thing about driving through the state of Florida, is its such a long state, and being flat to boot, it becomes very boring. The good thing about driving through Florida, is the chance to visit the springs. There are more than 600 springs in Florida, including the largest number of first magnitude springs in the United States. The Orlando Sentinel has an interactive map here.

The last time I went on a road trip, I spent most of my time in St. Augustine (lovely, lovely town) and visited Blue Spring from there. It was GORGEOUS.... sublimely Florida! The power of the water coming up is astonishing! You can barely get close to the vent itself, and the water is a constant 72 degrees, clean, clear... the ultimate refreshment from the Florida heat (that sounds corny, but its true!) The great thing about going in winter (even though November is not technically winter) is the manatees are frequently spotted in the springs as they try to keep warm. Here is a photo (not mine) taken at Blue Spring of a Manatee and her baby:

Course, I'm lucky as I get to see lots of manatees from my balcony at work, but I never miss the opportunity to see more.. they are truly incredible mammals.

So, for the next week, I will be plotting my course of adventure and of course, will take you all on holiday with me!

P.S. Please feel free to leave any suggestions of places to visit.

Flying Fish

2007-11-04T15:15:00.000-05:00

Some of you may recognize from the flag that I was born in the Caribbean - Barbados. While Barbados has MUCH to offer, what I miss most - besides family - is the food.
(umm.. and the sand that feels like you're walking on icing sugar, beautiful water/scenery/laid back lifestyle.... let me think about this!)

Bajan food is a mixture of African and English, with the local ingredients the star attractions.
One of the best cooks I know is a wonderful lady by the name of Eileen Cummins. We call her by her surname (maybe this is not good in today world, but that is how its done there). Cummins has been with my grandparents since before I was born, and to this day, nobody cooks quite as sweet as she does... though my mum is a very close second!
Anyway, one of my favorite dishes is fried Flying fish. When paired with Coo-coo(a cornmeal mush - like polenta, but better), its the National Dish. The image below is of a Flying fish, so named because they 'fly' through the air to escape predators.

Not many other islands use FF for eating (too many bones); they use it mainly for bait...BIG mistake! Bajan's know that "da tougher the shell da sweeter da meat" .. and that is certainly true for FF as deboning is a nightmare.. heck, I wouldn't even try. Thankfully there are people skilled in the task, and I have never gotten a bone yet.

Here's my version, substituting the Flying Fish with Tilapia.

First, the seasoning.. a mixture of shallots, black pepper, white pepper, green onions, thyme, sweet marjoram (sometimes), garlic, hot pepper, clove, vinegar and salt.

OR, as in my case, store bought with a little added habanero.. I like things spicy!

The fish subsitute.... its okay.

Always clean your fish with a little lime juice.. not too long now.

Slice in some slits and stuff with seasoning..

Egg bath: Add a little touch of baking powder (no, I don't know why, but whatever Cummins does, I follow..

Now for the breadcrumbs. I seasoned these with Parmesan cheese, salt/pepper and parsley...

Fry up... (until done)...

Serve with red beans & rice.. while not traditional, is very good with this spicy fish. A nice cooling avocado & cucumber salad would be a good addition also....

(The rice and beans are courtesy of Zatarain's.. they're excellent- especially with the addition of a ~~lot~~ little sour cream).

Bon appetit!

Daisy

2007-10-30T13:04:00.000-04:00

The other day, I wrote a little blog post entitled 'Friday Foto Diary', which I thought was a fascinating insight into the inner workings of a major newspaper. I went deep - into the bowels of the building so to speak - just to bring the processes of newspaper production to life for you, my readers, all 4 of you.
It was some of my best work, even if I do say so myself.

Well, during that post.. as an off note really, I mentioned 'Daisy' who is a co-worker of mine. Well, Ms. Daisy proved to be quite popular. In fact, she stirred up a bit of a frenzy (or at least, I hope that was all) among my male readers to the point where I received 18 comments (okay, at least 1/2 were mine.. but still!!) The main topic.. you guessed it: "Daisy's so pretty!", "More Daisy!" "Tell Daisy she's..... !" I'm sure you get the picture.

Never mind all my technical know how! That was forgotten & ignored *sniff, sniff* compared to totty! Unbelievable.

Since all you want is Daisy, that's fine... but I'm adding a few of her friends too! So there!

Daisy... posing.

Big Hair Daisy

Here's Sunnie. She's stunning...

She could be a model... don't you think?

Here's the delightful Kirsten.. she doesn't work here anymore, and I miss her....

She was one of the funniest, nicest people I have ever met..

Now, BACK OFF... no more Daisy!!!

Hat Tip to Jenny Romney for the cool photos.

Barbary Dove

2007-10-28T14:07:00.001-04:00

Around here, the birds love me... I feed them cat food. They let me get close (3ft) and take their picture:

Thats all. I am not feeling well. I am going back to bed. I hate hangovers. I love parties though! And birds.

Friday Foto Diary

2007-10-26T19:19:00.001-04:00

7.00 a.m.

Quick check to see if the ~~UFO~~ 'Orb' is anywhere around.... ummm, yesssss! *Closes door quickly*
10:30 a.m.
Depart for work (I had a rough day yesterday... gimme a break!)

10.40 a.m.
Arrive at work... Hi Guys!

10.45 a.m.
Time for a quick ~~ciggy break~~ weather check before I go upstairs.... Loving it!

11:00 a.m.
Upstairs for a quick (15 minutes) massage. Here are my girls getting a manicure (they should have gone with the massage... whew, it was good!)

12:30 p.m. - Lunch (I had Cashew Chicken.. thanks for asking!)

1:30 p.m. Work... Hey, how about a tour of the place??

Lets start at the beginning - The paper.
Here its being unloaded from the trucks to our storage room (this guy has a great view).

What next... well, we better go to the Plate Making Room. That's where the images of the pages are sent down to a big machine and then transferred to aluminium 'plates'. Don't adjust your monitors - it's a very yellow room (no, I don't know why, but I'm sure its deliberate and very technical).

This is the big machine I just mentioned...

And these little beauties, are the plates...

They need to be sorted to go to the right press. That task is handled by the sorting machine...
(yes, I know its all very technical, but please bear with me)

Next, the plates go on the presses. The presses are huge, dirty and very, very noisy. The proper attire must be donned. (Safety first!)

OK, here we go... don't blink or you'll miss it.
That's newspaper - and a very startled pressman.... "what!"

After explaining he was ~~never~~ going to be famous, he lightened up and cracked a smile...

Graciously, he took over the tour. Here you can see the aluminum plates on the press - all ready to print - fascinating stuff right?

Abracadabra! Whammo! Presto! Shebang.... There's your paper!
Now, if only they can get a dustpan and brush down there. (I'm ashamed, yes I am).

Finally, the fresh and shiny newspaper is grabbed by these hooks and whirled up to the pre-print room for inserts and packaging.

It's a dizzying sight (when it has newspapers on it)....

I should mention, none of this would happen without....

OK, shows over, lets head back down and do some work!
Quick check in the cafeteria to see what I missed.... oooh, chicken and pasta.

Lovely view when you eat..

Course, the executives have it better...

And the Publisher... well, lets just say its a 'club'.

2:30 p.m.
Back to WORK!

Hi Daisy!
Isn't she cute?? She's also adorable, sweet and single... if there is any nice guys out there.. you may email me (recent photos only please!)

Here's Gianinna - my very good friend. I love this girl.. and her mama's cooking! She also happens to be unattached at the moment...

Ervin!! My buddy! Poor fellow, he puts up with a gaggle of girls and holds up admirably!

3:30 p.m
Ah, time to go to work! Damn, is that my desk??

Best take a quick break - see how the other half live....
Not too bad from the look of it!

Such a beautiful day. Dolphins are a common sight, as are Manatees...

Storming on South Beach, and heading this way!

Best check the traffic report...
All clear!

5:00 p.m.
I'm exhausted.... homeward bound!

All in all, a good day. Hope yours was too!

UFO Sighting?

2007-10-25T07:30:00.000-04:00

I love taking pictures, and take a lot of them. Currently, I seem to be fixated on the sky (and Willow) and take an inordinate amount (well, I do have a 2GB card) while I try to capture the moment. Anyway, today, the sky looked like it used to in England, just after/before a snow. Now, even with the slight cool in the morning air, we all know this ain't gonna happen in Miami, but I still snapped a picture...

Hmmmm...now where did that 'orb' come from?? (There is nothing but clouds to the naked eye).

Bemused, I quickly snapped another...
Still there! And, it looks like its... yes, it's moving!

OMG! Its STILL there.. bottom left corner for all you fogies that need glasses!
(kidding)

Very, very strange. Maybe I should alert the Herald??

Dog Diary V. Cat Diary

2007-10-24T19:55:00.000-04:00

Excerpts from a Dog's Daily Diary:

8:00am Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30am A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40am Walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30am Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00pm Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00pm Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00pm Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00pm Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00pm Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00pm Wow! Watched TV with my master! My favorite thing!

11:00pm Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary:

Day 683 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the floor.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. The audacity! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded! The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. The captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe.......for now.....

Florida Panther

2007-10-21T09:24:00.001-04:00

Today, I changed my profile picture from a Tiger to a Panther. I am very drawn to big cats. Their power, stealth, beauty, grace - their all round magnificence - delight and humble me.

Here in Florida, our state animal is the Florida Panther ‘Puma concolor coryi’ and is one of the most endangered mammals on earth. It is tawny brown on the back and pale gray underneath. The Florida panther is one of 30 Puma concolor subspecies known by many names – puma, cougar, mountain lion, painter, catamount and panther.

Height 23-27 inches at the shoulder for males; females are smaller
Length 7 feet from nose to tip of tail for males; 6 feet for females
Weight males average 130 lbs; females 70-75 lbs

Lifespan 10-15 years

Habitat loss and uncontrolled hunting reduced the Florida panther to only about 35 animals by the 1980s. Cougars once ranged in the thousands across the eastern United States, but the Florida panther is the only cougar subspecies that still survives east of the Mississippi. Protection of some vital habitat has raised the panther population to some 80 animals in recent years and also has helped other listed species, such as wood storks and eastern indigo snakes. But habitat loss persists as a critical threat.

I am blessed to live in a country where there are still big cats in the wild – not fenced in game parks - but just outside our urban boundaries. These cats, while a federally protected species, are still hunted to this day. Generally, I support hunting and have grown up around it. My father loves to shoot, and he would bring home pheasant and deer, rabbits etc. throughout my childhood. We ate a lot of game when I was growing up in England, and to a smaller extent, Barbados. What I don’t understand, is the desire to kill an animal purely for vanity. To hang it on a wall somewhere, as if that’s something to be proud of. What's even harder to understand, is that people do this knowing this species is hanging on by a thread. Is this simply ignorance, or man’s ego that he must dominate every creature? I don’t really know, but it saddens me deeply.

Happy Hour - It's a Good Thing

2007-10-15T09:56:00.000-04:00

When you think of the newspaper industry, doesn't an impression of a craggy reporter hunched over his typewriter with a cigarette in one hand and a scotch in the other come to mind?
No?
Just me then?

Well, it's kind of a known fact that the newspaper field attracts (or creates) those with a 'thirst' (to put it mildly), and the advertising division has its fair share of heavy drinkers. Before working here I hardly ever used to drink, but now, happy hour is a frequent occurrence in my dept. Frankly, its almost as if we need a tipple every now and again - must be the stress of deadlines.

Lovely Evening

2007-10-13T21:18:00.001-04:00

All in all a very pretty day in Miami. Now, if only if would get COOLER!!!

Willow

2007-10-13T21:08:00.000-04:00

Just because he's beautiful!

Beautiful Morning

2007-10-13T07:14:00.000-04:00

This is the first Saturday in weeks where it hasn't rained (not that I'm complaining - It could rain every day and I'd be happy).

Rainy Barbados

2007-04-10T19:47:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite. I love a good downpour (did I mention I lived in England?)

Barbados Beauty

2007-04-10T19:43:00.000-04:00

Here's a nice pic of Barbados in all its gloriousness!

A True Gentleman

2007-03-31T13:10:00.000-04:00

Anthony 'Tony' Winston Tempro
February 23rd 1918 - March 31st, 2007

Died at approx 10.15 a.m.
My beloved *gramps*
You are one of the funniest, nicest, kindest, most

generous and gentlemanly of men I have ever known.

I will miss you.
May you rest in peace and bless heaven with your presence.
G.W.S.

Willoughby

2007-03-24T08:57:00.000-04:00

Willow, Willowina, Precious Pumpkin - they all refer to Willoughby - the most beloved of my 3 cats. Poor fellow, he had to go to the vet yesterday to get his ears cleaned out - and they PUT HIM UNDER! I hate to see my poor boy stumbling around and falling over - and this is a full 24 hours later! (the vet said he is very susceptible to the anesthesia)
I will keep him inside for another day - even with his incessant and highly demanding cries about it. Don't want him falling off the balcony.