Fat Tuesday

44F degrees last night but no snow.  We couldn't sleep. My companion pointed out he had never been to Mardi Gras. Well, as a matter of fact, neither have I. Sure I've been to New Orleans before, I love that place.  The incredible music, the jumbo gulf shrimp, the Cajun cuisine, those flaming hurricane drinks (yummy!). Before Hurricane Katrina, some of the world's oldest pianos still in use, were in New Orleans. 


As a fellow piano player, I cried out loud years ago, when a woman, her voice cracking, tears streaming down her face, was put on TV showing her flood ravaged home after Katrina.  There stood a ruined old piano. In halting speech, interrupted by tears, she told how she used to play it everyday, and it had been in her family for over 300 years. 


So we were driving late last night when I became very tired.  My eyes were getting heavy. I couldn't stop yawning.  I had the motorhome on cruise control, but oh how I seriously needed a cup of coffee.  There was no where to pull over at all. Very few cars were out on the road. 


Yawn. 


I continued to yawn. 


Finally, I had no choice. With the cruise control set on 65mph, my co-pilot took over the driving.  I went back to the kitchen to make coffee.  While the pot was still dripping, I made a quick trip through the bathroom. That's the fun part about traveling in a motorhome, having your own bathroom and kitchen with you all the time. 


Since my companion was doing such a great job of driving, I decided to sit down at the computer to check the weather and map.  Heck, might as well post this too, while I'm sitting here sipping my coffee, enjoying a break from the driving. 


Then I realized, I had no pictures of my co-pilot driving, so I snapped this off quickly.  He really enjoys the steering wheel cover with the memory foam. It's so much easier for him to a get a good grip. For me, it prevents my fingers from seizing up with the infamous arthritis finger curl. For some reason, the memory foam reminds me to relax my grip. 


Well, I am going to post this, then make a snack for me and my buddy. 


Mardi Gras here we come!


Oh, and the picture I promised you is down below....

My copilot steering the wheel estate toward Mardi Gras. 

Monday Madness

Super busy and wore out. We had incredible winds that nearly blew me away!


Traveling on Tuesday. Or sailing. 


More later. 

Cowboys and Crocodiles

Crocs and Cows


We have cowboys with their 10 gallon hats, horses and dogs out rounding up the cattle while hunters prey on small game. One of the swampy lakes I like to photograph because of it's mirror image of the surroundings revealed crocodiles recently. I thought I set my camera correctly (ha ha ha) but all I got was blurry images. No way to tell if it was a crocodile or an alligator. We have both in Florida, so could have been either one. 


Alligators have a rounded snout, crocodiles have a pointy snoot.
The alligator has an overbite with a larger upper jaw, while the crocodile has identical sized upper and lower jaws with teeth that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle (unless they saw an orthodontist). Crocodiles can live in salt water at length where as alligators can not. They protect their species by communal sharing of nests while utilizing a neighborhood nanny. One mother may tend to the hatchlings from many different parents (similar to  modern daycare in America.)


Sorry, no croc pics today. But here's a gorgeous sunset from January 2010 at Long Point Park south of Melbourne, Florida.

Dirt Sucker


Why isn't my little handy dandy antique Singer hand vac  working?  I bought it used at a second hand store for a bargain. It's powerful with the original long heavy duty cord of yesteryear. I vacuumed several of their dusty shelves for them and tidied up the floor. Then I paid for it, after recieving a discount, then brought it home. I should note, the cashier was ringing it up when she said matter-of-factly "Do you qualify for a discount?" while staring intently at her cash register, hand poised to attack the keys should I cough up a reason for a discount. At that point and time, I was having a rough time with my health. I had no idea what type of discounts they offered. So I said "Well, I'm  broke, sick, weak and  tired. Does that count?"  Without any hesitation she announced "Twenty percent!" as she banged that into the register. So my used bargain vac was further discounted.  


I thought I gave the Singer  a good home. But itjust  sits there and does nothing.  Then I found out you have to actually plug it in, turn it on, pick it up and move it around while it does the  dirt sucking. Apparently just buying it and setting it out optimistically does not make it work. It's a human interface device. 


I came across that term one day on my laptop. I plugged in something. My screen flashed up "WARNING: Human Interface Device Detected!"  


That needs a warning?


Gee wiz... I thought the laptop was a Human Interface Device. It certainly doesn't turn itself on and type for me. 


Paperwork. 


I have to wrap my brain around the mountain of files and paperwork.  Next week I have an important appontment. They expect me to be articulate and organized. Ha ha ha!


Who are we kidding?