Baked Beans for Breakfast!

One of the really fun things about being out here on AMI at this time of year is seeing the smiles on all the people from up north who are down for a little winter break.  Sure they cause a little extra traffic and you can't always get into a restaurant as easy but they're good for the economy.  I can only imagine what it must be like for these folks to get on a plane in Buffalo, Minneapolis, Detroit or some other place way up in the frozen north.  A few hours later you hop off in Tampa, Miami or Orlando where it's a balmy 78-82 degrees.  I don't think you could get the smile off their faces with a jackhammer, at least not until about a day or two before they realize vacation is almost over and it's back to the snow shovel for another month or two before spring arrives. 


As usual we've had a great time out here on the island the last few weeks.   Denver, Daytona and DeLand were certainly a blast as well but it's time to pull out the backpacks and suitcases again.  


Saturday morning we're flying to Texas where we will spend the weekend with Ben.  He's arranged for us to stay in one of the cabins out at North Texas Jellystone Park where he works.  The cabins are pretty darn spiffy and it will be a lot of fun.  He's doing a great job and is actually going to be presenting at an upcoming annual meeting in a few weeks which is pretty cool.


Monday we'll be driving up to Fort Smith to see Sweet Baby James (almost eight months old now).......and Sarah and Joey as well!  SBJ is really quite talented now.  He's figured out that he doesn't need to crawl to get where he wants to go, all he has to do is roll.  Smart kid, doesn't scrape his knees that way!


Next Thursday we're off to the land where baked beans are served for breakfast!  We'll be spending time in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.  I'm not sure who started that whole baked beans for breakfast thing. I personally have always thought they looked better sitting by some good bar-b-q but you know how those Brits can be at times.  I've seen them served by themselves or slapped on toast.  Either way I'm happy to let you know that I've only observed them as a breakfast food and much to Beth's appreciation haven't partaken.    Baked Beans for breakfast and a few hours later "Brexit" starts taking on a whole new meaning!


We're starting with a few days in London.  One of our London days we're going to take the Eurostar (train) over to Paris.  Most of our time in the UK will be spent in smaller cities like York, Polperro, Bath, Conwy, Windemere before finishing up in Edinburgh.  We then fly to Cork, Ireland and spend a little time in the very coolly named city of Dingle before heading on to Galway and Howth which is a neat little fishing village with a great coastal walk that we're looking forward to doing again.
Should be a doozy of a trip as long as I can stay away from those baked beans.
http://www.visityork.org
https://www.visitcornwall.com/places/polperro
https://visitbath.co.uk
http://www.conwy-wales.com
http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/windermere-lake
http://edinburgh.org
http://www.cork-guide.ie/corkcity.htm
https://www.dingle-peninsula.ie
http://www.galwaytourism.ie
http://www.visitdublin.com/hooked-on-howth-Dublin


One of the funniest comedians I've ever heard.  This is a pretty funny little piece on the British.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9nmIMrzJFA

Breakfast of Champions!



SBJ!

A couple of wild parrots in the backyard today.

Beth's Aunt Sally and Uncle Dwayne being chauffeured around the island by their daughter Shelly.





Not sure how he was planning on eating this Sheepshead



Daytona Beach Revisited!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of doing a Mission Integration Peer Review at Florida Hospital-Deland.
It's always a thrill to meet with hospital leadership and some of their team.  As is always the case they are doing great things for their patients and communities they serve.
We took the opportunity to come over a few days early and enjoy a little time at Daytona Beach.  So Beth and I packed up NaNa Wednesday morning and we were off to the other coast. Had lunch and visited with my brother in Bartow for a bit which is always a treat and we were here by early afternoon.
If pressed I'd have to pick the west coast beaches of Florida over the east coast beaches.  However it's really not fair to compare the two as they are both quite spectacular  The water is a little clearer and calmer and it's a little less crowded on the west coast.  Surprisingly it's fairly quiet over here right now even though this is "high season".  I'm sure the action will be picking up soon with the NASCAR crowd, Bike Week and spring break coming up. 
I had been through Daytona Beach a time or two over the past few decades but the last time I stayed in this area was during my college Spring Break way back in the dark ages of the late 70's.  FORTY YEARS AGO!  Now that stay conjures up a few memories that I'm glad are buried deep in the past and thankfully occurred years before cell phone cameras and youtube.
This visit has been a great one.  We were fortunate enough to get a room overlooking a magnificent wide stretch of beach a few miles south of the boardwalk.  We were also pleasantly surprised when we drove the 5-6 miles from the hotel to the Ponce Inlet lighthouse.  It's the tallest (175 feet) lighthouse in Florida which for a small fee you can climb.  There is also what looks like a nice little museum on the grounds.  It was late in the day and they were closing so we were not able to go in but if we're back in that area again I think it would be worth the investment of a couple of hours and a few dollars.
Daytona Beach is still one of the few beaches that I know of where you can actually drive on it for quite a few miles.  One noticeable difference is that it's much more regulated now which I'm sure has lead to a significant decrease in ER visits and the privilege of driving on the beach now costs $10.  Not a bad deal but don't worry Debbie we didn't do it!
One of the most surprising things about this visit is realizing how much damage Hurricane Matthew did to this area last fall when is skirted up the coastline from south Florida up to the Carolinas.  There are still a number of places that are closed and you can still see damage everywhere.  I was talking with one local who said that the Hilton hotel had sustained over $40 million dollars of damage.  So much for Paris's trust fund!
We've enjoyed some great food at a few local places (Crabby Joes, Leanh's and Aunt Catfish), had some great walks on the beach and boardwalk but without question the most memorable thing has been the sunrises. We get treated to so many great sunsets over on Anna Maria Island (AMI) it was fun to get a few mornings of sunrises. 
This morning we came within 13 seconds of getting to see a rocket launch from the cape.  It was an unmanned rocket carrying supplies and scientific equipment to the space station.  The morning clouds that made for some amazing pictures had cleared and I think we'd have had a nice view but the launch was scrubbed with 13 seconds until liftoff due to a malfunction on a second stage thruster.  I'm sure it was the right decision, those rockets don't come cheap but it would have been fun to watch.
NaNa had a great time sharing stories with us of coming over here in her younger days and comparing Anna Maria Island to Daytona Beach (she couldn't find any similarities but she enjoyed looking for them).
We're heading out from here in a few minutes, maybe we'll catch the sunset over on AMI.

The Early Show!

Beth and I have always been early risers.  Sleeping in for us would mean still being in bed at 7:30.  It's happened a few times through the years but you could probably count them on one hand.


Since returning from Spain we've stayed on a pretty good schedule.  Our schedule has been something along the line of in bed by 9:30 and up by 5:30 or 6:00.  It's a pretty good routine and it allows us to enjoy a real treat out here on the island every morning.


We get our coffee and tea and head out to the lounge chairs out on the canal.  Often times we're out there before the sun comes up and this past week we were treated to a beautiful full moon for several days. 
At the first crack of dawn the show really begins!  Anna Maria Island (AMI) is home to a ton of birds of all shapes and sizes.  In addition to the average "run of the mill" birds that you can see pretty much anywhere there are some really fabulous coastal birds such as pelicans, ospreys, herons, egrets, wood storks plus some really loud wild parrots that call the island home.


The action picks up quickly as the birds start their daily routine of gathering food usually in the form of some unsuspecting fish in the canal or a bug or worm from the grass.  The feeding frenzy is in high gear when Captain Matt who lives next door comes back to his dock after catching bait for his daily charter fishing trips.


It's not unusual for him to have a dozen or so pelicans and egrets riding along with him on the boat as he comes down the canal.  These guys and the others that are waiting on the dock, sea wall and boat lift know that a feast is on the way.
Matt always catches plenty of bait mainly because the lifespan of some of these baitfish isn't too long. So the rule of thumb is catch plenty, there'll be some floaters before you know it.  These floaters may not make it on the hook and into the belly of a fish but they do become part of the food chain as a tasty breakfast treat for some bird.
Watching them jockey for position, fuss at each other and fight for a tasty early morning treat is a pretty darn good way to start the day.................AMI, hard to beat!

Denver Days!

A full week of work!  Yes, that's right, coat, tie, real shoes, the whole enchilada!
I flew to Denver last Sunday and spent the week as part of a Mission Peer Review team surveying our five hospitals in the Denver area.
It was fun spending time with some of my favorite people in the whole company and meeting so many others during the week.
One of the highlights was having dinner with an outstanding young man who interned with me a few years back. He is now completing the Porter Hospital Administrative Residents program and is destined for greatness in spite of his time with me.  Great seeing you Spencer!
It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone healthcare is tough. It's inspiring to see it done across all of Adventist Health System in such a compassionate and kind manner.
I'm loving this almost completely retired life and proud to still have a little connection.




Sweet Baby James-7 Months Old!

A few more pictures from Marbella and Malaga as well as sunrise from the Norwegian Spirit

We're back on American soil although for a while we weren't so sure...."Welcome to Miami!

Below are a few more pictures from the last stop on the cruise as well as a spectacular sunrise.  I'll be adding additional pictures and some captions to the posts from this trip over the next week. 

Paseo Espana-Malaga

Along the Boardwalk in Marbella

Park Bench in Marbella-All the benches were similar to this one but individually designed

Fountain in Marbella Park

Original "Mayors House" in Historic District of Marbella- Built in the 1500's

Marbella

Old Center of Malaga

Roman Theater and Ruins in Malaga

Government Building-Malaga

Those magical words heard around this time of year!

It was an uneventful and early exit from the ship this morning. We had plenty of time so we walked from the port to Placa de Catalunya where we caught the bus to the airport.  The temperature had warmed up considerably in the twelve days we were on the cruise making it a great little activity before being on a plane for most of the day. 

I've mentioned it before but it was really evident this morning, Spain starts their day a little late in the morning. We were walking through what can be a very busy area at what in the US would have been rush hour. While the streets weren't deserted they certainly weren't busy. I've never been one to sleep in late but I do have to admit I like the Spanish "ease into the day" pace. That afternoon siesta isn't bad either!

We're currently somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean with about another 6 hours until we land in Miami. I've got time on my hands but will try to keep this blog shorter than those long classic novels like Moby Dick and War and Peace that I never read. 

So if you're wondering how this lifestyle is suiting us, if we're tired of spending so much time together or how long we're going to keep it up the answers are; love it, not at all and no plans to stop unless health or other circumstances force us to settle down. 

We know what we're doing isn't for everyone but there are more of "us" out there than you might expect. We often find ourselves laughing at the fact that we don't miss any of our "stuff". Not paying a utility bill or having to fix or replace something, what's to miss about that?  Yard work?  Yes it's good exercise but so is a walk or bike ride. 

We are together a lot but that's nothing different than prior to retirement. We have a language of our own between us, it's verbal, gestures, strange faces and often just sitting quietly for extended periods of time watching the world go by. 

The "how long" is something we don't have complete control over. We may get tired of it, we may have to change it up down the line. The one indisputable fact is we're grateful for the opportunity and try to appreciate every minute of it. 

So what's next?  February will be mostly spent on AMI helping out, entertaining and being entertained by NaNa. I haven't lost a game of rummy or checkers to her all year, I'm sure she's ready to pounce on me like a tiger. 

Additionally, I am so happy that I still have the opportunity to work a few days every now and then with Adventist Health System as a member of a Mission Integration Peer Review team. 

Next week I'll be in Denver for most of the week reviewing our five hospitals in that area. Even better, several other team members I'll be working with are great friends I haven't seen in a while. 

So those magical words now that you've suffered through another blog?

"Pitchers and catchers are reporting for spring training"!  Baseball season and spring are just around the corner!

Malaga, Marbella and a kind deed

It's kind of hard to believe that this chapter of our journey is coming to an end.  We landed in Barcelona on January 5 and by this time tomorrow we'll be on a plane headed to Miami (assuming we're not included in the new travel ban). 

It's been a great trip. It has allowed us to revisit some familiar places and we have enjoyed learning a little more about them. Additionally we've been to some new places such as Mallorca, Spain, Malta and Casablanca, Morocco which were interesting and unique. 

We don't pick favorites because every place is different but we're very interested in spending more time in Mallorca,   Madeira, Lanzarote and our last port Malaga, Spain. 

Along the way we've met some terrific folks such as Anne and her daughter Beth from Australia who were on the first cruise with us. Beth, good luck in your last year of high school!

The second cruise we enjoyed visiting with Jack and Louise from Canada who like us are "global wanderers" (sorry we never got back together), Jeff and Steph (Jeff is from the U.K. and Steph is originally from Bulgaria) and some folks I'll bet we see again, Jim and Joanne from Ft. Myers. 

The world is mostly made up of really nice people. It's a shame that a few have to ruin it for the majority. 

One exceptionally nice person we came in contact with yesterday was a bus driver in Marbella.  Her kind actions are a story worth telling. 

When we got to Malaga yesterday morning we decided to try to check out another coastal town about 40 miles away called Marbella. As usual I knew nothing about it but Beth was familiar with it. She even told me that the Obama's had vacationed there a few years back (She think's it was just a girls trip and Barack was left at home). 

Well hearing about that made me even more intrigued because I wanted to see where our tax dollars went so I was excited for the opportunity. 

Getting from Malaga to Marbella was easy. It was a short bus ride on quite possibly the most comfortable bus I've ever ridden. If only I could have half that much padding and leg room on tomorrow's flight!

Marbella was a very nice and somewhat typical Spanish beach town. There was a long promenade along the waterfront as well as a picturesque historical district with it's narrow alleyways filled with shops and cafes. 

We only had a few hours so we really only scratched the surface of what seemed would be a fun place to spend more time. 

When we got back to the bus station and started to board the bus going back to Malaga, the driver noticed there was an issue with our tickets. Her English was as minimal as our Spanish but she said something along the lines of "please come with me". 

She took us back into the station and showed the tickets to the agent. We weren't exactly sure what was going on but finally figured out that when we bought the round trip tickets that morning in Malaga we had been overcharged. We're pretty positive this was accidental because the agent who sold us the tickets had been very helpful and friendly.  She made sure we were refunded the amount of the first tickets and that new tickets were issued at the correct price. 

Now to me this is the best part of the story. The total amount we were overcharged was a little over five dollars!

All she had to do was tear our tickets as we boarded.  We would have been on our way and never known the difference, but she wasn't going to allow that to happen. We thanked her in Spanish (one of the few words we know), English and maybe even a few other languages as we got of the bus. There were some great life lessons in her actions that I hope I will remember and apply. 

Back in Malaga we had a few hours to enjoy this really special city. We had spent a few days there a few years ago (this is where I forgot some of my clothes the first time). We really enjoyed it then, and it had seemed to only get better. The waterfront park was pristine and had been expanded to include a new art museum. 

Art is somewhat a centerpiece of Malaga because it is the birthplace of Picasso. There is a small but very interesting museum dedicated to him and his art which is located right next to the home he was born in, which obviously is on the national historical registry. 

Malaga also has a very nice beach that we were able to stroll for a short while before heading back to the ship. 

We set sail for Barcelona under clear skies and totally calm seas. 

As I'm sitting here this afternoon those words from one of my favorite Jimmy Buffett songs are starting to once again(and again and again) play in my head...."and those harbor lights, oh they're coming into view.  It's been a lovely cruise" or in this case cruises!

Malaga Port

Start of the Beach in Malaga-Several Miles

"The Cube" in Malaga-Part of their new Art's Complex

Cathedral Door in Malaga



Malaga