Weather here is a pendulum between crispy and foggy mornings, and the the dull humidity that hints at summer. Rode with a small group toward St. Augustine the other morning. Only five people, but dedicated, and the allure of several Irish accents (and a cool Irish Post jersey) kept it lively. We turned around at a parking lot for a nature preserve, with the weird acronym GTM NERR for an even weirder name. But beautiful as the fog lifted, photo.
This in contrast to a week ago, when the back yard was socked in with fog, and the tall pines were eerie, photo.
The dogs are feeling cramped, and a bit restless without the wide, calming ranch vista to survey. The beach is off limits to them 9-5, and understandably so, but that leaves cool mornings and dark evenings. Soon, though, they'l get to check it out. With tons of shells and the odd jellyfish, photo. Better than pulling the tick out of Grover's head like I did this morning.
Painting the house now, photo. The new paint is lighter, and the walls are flat, so it's going to take a second coat. Fortunately, the paint is low-VOC, so the fues can't make me or the animals dizzy.
Amy's really caught a virus, and coughing like a demon, but is slugging in to work. In the beginning there is no allowance for sick days. Ironic, because that's when lots of people are under stress and get ill.
Trying some new restaurants. All you who come visit will get the benefit of that!
I have to sneak off to Starbuck's to post the blog because Comcast sucks and their box can't shake hands with my computer, although Amy's hooked up. She's got a new email with Comcast, but my new one will have to be in the future.
Til the future, then...
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The A1A
California has coast highway 1. Nice. Beautiful. Post-cardy. You can drive off a cliff if you're not careful. Makes it exciting! (see picture)
First Coast (named from earliest Euro-settlers) has the A1A. Flat, sandy, passing treasured seaside homes, a little swampy-smelling. Also, did I say "Flat"? A bit boring...
But it's what they got. Can't change it; gotta love it and ride it. So I went to a group ride this morning at the ungodly hour of 7:30 am. A bit difficult to be ready to roll, flexible, energized, on-site then. But I did it. And the dogs went into the morning with excess "good morning" energy, and a bit confused.
Unfortunately, I was all by myself. (picture) At the appointed hour, I was the sole annointed rider. I guess you could say I "led the group"! At about the half-way point, I pulled off the road to peek at the ocean. (picture) This is a location for RIGHT WHALE calving. Only about 300 left in the world, and they nurture their young right here. Didn't see any, though.
On other fronts, Amy and I tried - quite successfull - a local seafood restaurant. Really good, really casual, really local color. If we're not careful, we may wind up with a booth named after us! Good oysters, too. The outside tables were surprisingly empty in the 50 degree weather.... It is a bit like Stinson Beach here, I told Amy. Hopefully a bit warmer in summer! And we'll see about fog -- it's a big "I don't know" as of now. I saw a smattering of it this morning on the coast, but not really FOG fog; just wispy overcast down low enough to reach.
We've still got a defunct dryer to replace; a master bedroom closet down to the slab, with carpet tacks; scuffed paint all around; wobbly ceiling fans; and missing item that may or may not be inside still unsolved cardboard boxes. And a dog schedule to work out. Mostly for Grover, (pic in previous); Grendel now sleeps like a cat all day. The reason I know he's NOT a cat because when he wakes up, he has bed-head (hair all smushed close to his head on one side.) It's both comic and tragic. But it's his new look!
Sunny weekend ahead - maybe better photos to come....
First Coast (named from earliest Euro-settlers) has the A1A. Flat, sandy, passing treasured seaside homes, a little swampy-smelling. Also, did I say "Flat"? A bit boring...
But it's what they got. Can't change it; gotta love it and ride it. So I went to a group ride this morning at the ungodly hour of 7:30 am. A bit difficult to be ready to roll, flexible, energized, on-site then. But I did it. And the dogs went into the morning with excess "good morning" energy, and a bit confused.
Unfortunately, I was all by myself. (picture) At the appointed hour, I was the sole annointed rider. I guess you could say I "led the group"! At about the half-way point, I pulled off the road to peek at the ocean. (picture) This is a location for RIGHT WHALE calving. Only about 300 left in the world, and they nurture their young right here. Didn't see any, though.
On other fronts, Amy and I tried - quite successfull - a local seafood restaurant. Really good, really casual, really local color. If we're not careful, we may wind up with a booth named after us! Good oysters, too. The outside tables were surprisingly empty in the 50 degree weather.... It is a bit like Stinson Beach here, I told Amy. Hopefully a bit warmer in summer! And we'll see about fog -- it's a big "I don't know" as of now. I saw a smattering of it this morning on the coast, but not really FOG fog; just wispy overcast down low enough to reach.
We've still got a defunct dryer to replace; a master bedroom closet down to the slab, with carpet tacks; scuffed paint all around; wobbly ceiling fans; and missing item that may or may not be inside still unsolved cardboard boxes. And a dog schedule to work out. Mostly for Grover, (pic in previous); Grendel now sleeps like a cat all day. The reason I know he's NOT a cat because when he wakes up, he has bed-head (hair all smushed close to his head on one side.) It's both comic and tragic. But it's his new look!
Sunny weekend ahead - maybe better photos to come....
Thursday, February 10, 2011
One of Two Places
I'm sitting in a chain coffeeshop (guess) and posting this with some photos to share. So much to relay, I may have to sketch it out and fill in some additional stories next time.
It's winter here, getting to freezing at night. But I should be grateful we're not getting slammed with the HUGE winter storm covering most of the country. So, even though I have a touch of a winter cold (thanks, Ms. Sneezer at the airport...) I am grateful. In fact, this place -- northern Florida -- is one of two places not under a winter storm siege; the other palce is northern California, from where I came. Interesting symmetry.
Sun and blue sky greeted me, but frowned into a rainfall overnight. We are at sea level, so there is a bit of flooding, but at least our yard is above the water level.
I finished Earth Island Journal, then spent the next several days catching up with friends on my move, and took a redeye out here. Thanks to the Nalles, Robert and Tristan, Matthew, Grant, Tyson, and of course Ian and Susan, who've put up with so much over the years! Mt. Tam was particularly difficult to leave in the good light and good weather of the past few days.
And while I was wrestling the magazine issue, Amy had landed and was directing the movers and pets around, doing all the usual to set up a household. I got off easy on that count. At least I thought so until I opened the door to "Studio B" (my room - Amy's is "Studio A"). What a stack of boxes! I have to say, ahem, some were not even mine. So I tackled the garage, cleaning it and organizing the overflow of boxes out there. Then I cleared out the gutters, which were clogged with very long pine needles, perhaps ten inches long.
So we're in a little beach town, or maybe not so little. Actually it's a north-south string of beach towns, and together they make up a medium-sized town. Usual chain stores with a few smallgems tucked away: the 30-year old family hot dog cart; a drive-through bagel shop; and a greasy spoon breakfast joint. Walking possible to all.
The next week should shape up well - Amy's birthday, when she gets her "mystery" present from me, and we get beach cruiser bikes. And the inept dryer in the rental house might have to go in the garage as we could replace it with one on sale at Sears, (saving time and energy.)
The bonus was walking Grover to the beach last night - cold and sick though I was, and tired as he was, unused to walking any distance. He blended right in, at least in terms of color.
##
It's winter here, getting to freezing at night. But I should be grateful we're not getting slammed with the HUGE winter storm covering most of the country. So, even though I have a touch of a winter cold (thanks, Ms. Sneezer at the airport...) I am grateful. In fact, this place -- northern Florida -- is one of two places not under a winter storm siege; the other palce is northern California, from where I came. Interesting symmetry.
Sun and blue sky greeted me, but frowned into a rainfall overnight. We are at sea level, so there is a bit of flooding, but at least our yard is above the water level.
I finished Earth Island Journal, then spent the next several days catching up with friends on my move, and took a redeye out here. Thanks to the Nalles, Robert and Tristan, Matthew, Grant, Tyson, and of course Ian and Susan, who've put up with so much over the years! Mt. Tam was particularly difficult to leave in the good light and good weather of the past few days.
And while I was wrestling the magazine issue, Amy had landed and was directing the movers and pets around, doing all the usual to set up a household. I got off easy on that count. At least I thought so until I opened the door to "Studio B" (my room - Amy's is "Studio A"). What a stack of boxes! I have to say, ahem, some were not even mine. So I tackled the garage, cleaning it and organizing the overflow of boxes out there. Then I cleared out the gutters, which were clogged with very long pine needles, perhaps ten inches long.
So we're in a little beach town, or maybe not so little. Actually it's a north-south string of beach towns, and together they make up a medium-sized town. Usual chain stores with a few smallgems tucked away: the 30-year old family hot dog cart; a drive-through bagel shop; and a greasy spoon breakfast joint. Walking possible to all.
The next week should shape up well - Amy's birthday, when she gets her "mystery" present from me, and we get beach cruiser bikes. And the inept dryer in the rental house might have to go in the garage as we could replace it with one on sale at Sears, (saving time and energy.)
The bonus was walking Grover to the beach last night - cold and sick though I was, and tired as he was, unused to walking any distance. He blended right in, at least in terms of color.
##
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