Mirror Images

June two years ago, we were in New Zealand ..... on the other side of the world, on the other side of the equator, on the other side of the calendar. How exotic, you say. What an adventure.

Nope. Same old.....same old. It doesn't matter where you go, you still take you with you.

Here I was two days ago, buying shrimp from the seafood truck in Fort Myers.

Here I was two years ago in Paekakariki. I don't remember what I bought, but it definitely was not shrimp. They just don't have them, mate.

Here.....spying a rainbow from our window.

From our window in New Zealand. Looks like the pot of gold is right in the water.

Sunset this evening on the Caloosahatchee River.

Sunset two years ago on the Pacific Ocean.

So that's us ......... seeking rainbows, sunsets, and seafood wherever we go.

Beach Books

We spent a weekend on Captiva with some friends from up North, who had neglected to bring along a beach read. Tsk. I just happened to have a couple of Randy Wayne White paperbacks in my bag. That's me ... always prepared.

Randy Wayne White, you say incredulously. But I thought you were a serious literature buff. Well, this is Florida, people. Certainly you've seen CSI Miami and Miami Vice. Does that look like serious literature to you?

In March we were at Doc Ford's on Sanibel, wining and dining; and Mr. White (he's a local and part owner of the restaurant, which is named for the protagonist of his novels) was there signing his latest. The wine made me do it.

Meanwhile, I have become ensnared. After reading the most recent, I began with the first and am turning pages until I have digested all sixteen. Do I have to have a reason, people - it's Florida.

http://www.randywaynewhite.com/Welcome%21.html

The shrimp boats are part of the view from Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille at Fort Myers Beach.

I'll be at the bar with my book.

Hide and Seek

Can you believe that ancient sailors actually believed that these creatures were mermaids? Of course, modern standards of beauty are probably waaaaay different. I mean, really. How many Angelina Jolies are there among us? Actually, not too many, I hope.

But, I digress....you've gotta be quick with the shutter finger if you hope to snap a photo of one of these beauties. They only poke their snouts out of the water occasionally in order to breathe, and take my word for it, they have a face that would stop a clock, as the saying goes. In fact, I think they look more like pigs although they are often called sea cows. At any rate, they are huge and oddly graceful in spite of their tonnage. Everybody loves them.

And continuing with the mermaid imagery ....... they do not have scallopy scales. Their skin is actually smoothish and these particular ones were sporting some barnacles. They're probably heading over to the spa later for a massage and a good skin cream.

In case you're curious ,,,, the temperature is in the high 90s, and the humidity is about a hundred and ten; but I'm out here taking photos of manatees just to keep you entertained.

Do You See What I See?

Yes, people ...... it's a manatee ..... Florida's most beloved resident. OK ....... well, maybe Mickey; but he's a mouse, for God's sake.

I can hear you, whining about picture quality and focus and smudges and blah-blah-blah. Well, just try taking a picture in the midst of a driving rain storm (lightning is still streaking across the sky, and it's midnight) from 20 stories up. I know. It looks more like a giant shrimp or maybe a squid; but, no, it's one of Florida's gentle giants.

You'll have to take my word for it. (click on photo)

Monsters @ the Beach

I've heard through the grapevine (on Wellington Road) that the large continent down under can be quite dangerous with the crocs attacking and devouring small children. However, as I recall, it was a ray that did in Steve, the Crocodile Hunter. Both the Gulf and the river that runs by us are swarming with the critters. In fact, today at the beach the stingrays outnumbered the beach-goers. We have yet to see a shark.

This yellow big-clawed Excavatorus is evidently asleep at the moment, but usually creates quite a ruckus as he digs up the beach in search of his prey.

Here the giants seem to be gathered around the watering hole for a bit of sippin' and socializin'.

The Dozosaurus. What a bully: pushing and shoving til he gets things settled the way he wants.

Uh-oh. Keep your distance. It looks like the seasaurus is barging (I try) up on the beach, and he and the clawed one are facing off.

Who me? I'm not afraid. I know these monsters are just dredging the channel between Sanibel and Captiva Islands after Hurricane Charlie rearranged the landscape.

The sharks? Well, that's another story.

How Hot Is It?

Some days are just too hot and humid to get in the water and swim ... exhausting to even think about moving. I can't imagine lifting a fin or getting my tail in gear.

Some days it's a desert out there; I'm all prickly and too tired to bloom.

Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun ...

Last Day of School / First Day of Summer

School's out. School's out. The teacher let the fools out. Isn't that how the ditty goes? Were the teachers shouting those lyrics? At any rate, the big yellow buses were making their last runs, and I don't think any of the students minded getting wet.

Many of the newly released prisoners headed to the playground on their first day of parole. Such joyous laughter accosted us on our walk to the market this morning. Usually the park is practically empty, but today there were groups of children swinging and blowing bubbles. I didn't know kids did that anymore - didn't stop me from catching one though. Hey! who knows when I'll get another chance?

Others preferred cooling off in the swimming pool - with a friend, of course.

Moi ... I'm spending my summer on the beach.

Like I said ... who knows when I'll get another chance.

Apologies to our friends in New Zealand who are huddled next to their stoves in their thermals.

Pelibirds

Check out our wingspan. It helps keep us on top in the world of aviation. Cleared for take-off and another safe flight.

Water landings ...... no problem. We may not look graceful, but we can land on a dime.

We can fly low .....

We can fly high .........

Hey, dude, you're invading our space.

Road Work

Takin' the long way home from the beach ..... just to check on your stimulus dollars at work. We were warned weeks in advance that there were going to be delays while they paved our favorite avenue, and the signs advised us to find an alternative route. There were ...... and we did. However, we thought we would take a peak at the progress ....... just for you, of course.

We thought it might be a good project for the World's Cutest Construction Supervisor ....... if only he didn't have his equipment involved in other parts of the world.

The Hokey Pokey

You put your left foot in ......

Tis the Season

June 1 is the first day of the season - the hurricane season, not the tourist season .......... although you might say that they all are visitors to the Gulf Coast. Can you believe it? Downsides to living in Paradise.

So........we're getting our lists and checking them twice.

And now that we know your names ............ we'll be cancelling your reservations.