I'm Always Mentally on Vacation: March 2012

Live Web Cams

I love a webcam, especially ones that unfold a familiar scene.

I am always looking at the Harbor Cam on St Croix. I see friends, nice weather and daily activities of the downtown boardwalk.

Over the years I have set up several web cams myself. I had a live cam at my desk for years before I eventually took it down.

Picklevision

In 2009 I set up the only remote cam I have done on the Island of St Croix. It is the Pickled Greek Cam and it is still running.

This cam runs on an old PC I had in my office and a inexpensive Logitech web cam. Along with the afore mentioned, I use a simple script to refresh the picture.

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A Manly Breakfast

Stick around here most any Saturday morning and this is what you get for breakfast. During the week it is lighter fare, but come Saturday....its bacon time.

Gigi had the same in bed with orange juice and coffee.

Getting Ready For Rain

The receiver and surround sound are safely tucked away from freeloading liberals and the rain.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Working Man

Yesterday I knocked off early to come home and handle some chores.

The first chore was changing a battery in my iPhone 4. Apple designed this magnificent machine to operate superbly on the original battery for about two years. My two years has passed and I am trying to hold out for the next release later this year.

So I bought a battery and the tools for $20 delivered and manage to do it myself. God the screws are tiny.

Then I set out to do some power washing of my Pawley’s Island Hammock. Then I installed some hammock hooks up in the screen room. When the hammock dries, I’ll have a nice shady, cool place to snooze.

Next I began the installation of surround sound in the screen room. This should be really cool come football season or a late night scary movie outside.

Simply Amazing

“Allegro Molto in C Major,” a piano composition “found in a notebook in an attic” and believed to have been written by a 10-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The four-minute work recently had its world premiere on Mozart’s old piano in his childhood home courtesy of Austrian musician Florian Birsak.

Another Project?

God love them….my sweet dogs. The deck is very nice, and we have a screen room with a paved patio.

But now I have a big time dog trail to the fun woods where they play and bark at the world.

I guess I’m going to have to make a gravel pathway to their nirvana.

Deck Update

Sunday, the TV, Direct TV, and holder were installed. I can now enjoy my sporting events out doors.

A few days ago I bought two Carribean inspired plastic chairs for the room. They are comfortable and my drink fits nicely on the arm of the chair. So does my remote.

Gigi has her chase lounge in the other corner.

Our side table between is a mini refrigerator.

I Had No Idea What I Was Getting Into

Yesterday I saved 6 people from drowning and towed 20 more exhausted swimmers to safety. No kidding….and there were 8 of us that stacked up similar statistics.

I am utterly exhausted. It was an emotional day for me.

I don’t know quite where to begin. The Event was The Spartan Race, and the Venue was The US National White Water Center in Charlotte, NC.

The race is on of those challenges of endurance where contestants run, crawl, scale walls, jump over fires and swim.

We were briefed at 8AM and were in the water by 9. I didn’t get out of the water for the day until 7PM.

My training for rescue thus far has been role playing. Very soon after 9AM I helped a panicked swimmer.

She was the lead female in the event and she was exhausted and determined to finish on her own power. She began turning circles like a drowning rat beside my rescue kayak. Then she panicked. The first save of the day.

There we so many tows, leg cramps that needed massaging in water, and soon I could spot a swimmer who was going to be in trouble before they knew it.

What killed me is there were people who couldn’t swim who would jump off the platform into 6 foot deep water with strong currents.

What I liked best was my duty in water with a flotation device and a life vest. I would prowl the waters looking for problems and was there with them first hand to rescue.

The worst cases was a woman who was panicked, and draped over my kayak suffering from a laryngospasm. Google that if you will

Every part of me hurts today. I must have burned thousands of calories.

Wet...Dry

I’m up at 4 AM to prepare for working the Spartan Race today. The temperature is 64 with a steady rain.

It looks like I need to dress for exposure. I know I’ll be wet, but I must also be dry between wets.

I have lots of towels, clothes, wet suit, etc.

Gosh I’m sleepy.

Oak Island Beach Walk

It was a really nice morning on the atlantic coast.

This is my cool new Rasta flip flops from Walmart for $12.

Blooms are early this year.

Cool tracks in the sand.

Nice view west. This is a beautiful planet.

Got this Email Today

I am really going to have to work.

WATER RESCUE – Expectation: The water depth will vary throughout the day, from a low of 4 feet, to as high as 6 1/2 feet. Current water temperature is 70 degrees. This obstacle is part of the white water training circuit, so there will be a fast moving current to be aware of. Past event experience has shown that non-swimmers and poor swimmers will try this challenge. Though these participants use a life jacket as well as a rope to assist, stay focused. As per your training, watch for early signs of anxiety and panic. Rescue should consist of the swimmer grabbing the front of the kayak board when possible, with a tow to safety. This obstacle is towards the end of the race. Expect numerous tows for fatigued swimmers. Also note there have been cases of panicked participants experiencing laryngospasm while in the water and thrashing. If you feel this is above your training level, please let us know at this time.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Dog Universal

It may not be a surprise to you, but I love dogs.

I miss my dogs when I travel. I am traveling today and will not see them until Thursday.

I always seek out a dog head to rub. Here are a few dogs from the island.

This lazy fellow was caught lounging outside The Golden Rail Cafe one morning down on the island.

This laxy girls job was to greet guests as the came into The Sunset Grill on the opposite end of the island.

This silly Border Collie was working the beach at Shoys.

Off to Southport today to bring the RV home for the season so we can hit Jekyll in June.

This is So Easy

My hens are not laying very well right now, and I suspect it is because of Obama’s health care plan.

Diesel is $4.19 a gallon and of course it is Obama’s fault….slam dunk.

They are really fancying up Charlotte, and I think it may be because Obama will accept his party’s nomination after an expensive and hard fought democratic primary.

I am pretty sure I should be 6 feet tall, but the Obama administration will not allow me to be 6 feet tall. If I were 6 feet tall my BMI would be perfect. Instead, Obama wants to take my food to reduce my BMI and give it to taller people to raise their BMI.

I am a hopeless victim.

That Was Fun

Good times Saturday night. It was our first entertaining at our new deck and screen room.

We still have a lot of details and landscaping to do, but it is looking up big time. It is head and shoulders better that what I am used too.

I decided on a rotisserie chicken for supper and wanted grilled wings as an appetizer.

After I went by the dive shop I stopped by Ruth Chris Steak House which is in my office building. The reason why I stopped by Ruth Chris is... Ruth Chris has this huge hedge of rosemary and I figured it would be mighty tasty in my chicken. Heck, we are almost room mates so I figured I could take a healthy handful since we are rental brothers.

I set up my Bose box with a good play list, fired up the grills, turned on my “ocean breeze” squirrel fan, and began enjoying the evening with friends.

It was good.

Testing out the Domestic Leisure area

Almost complete. Still need a few tweaks, furniture, blinds, and TV.

Testing some wings just to see if I still have it.

The grills and smoker all ready to cook. Had two going today with wings, corn on the cob and spinning a chicken far right.

Carley is digging the smells and space.

From my chair enjoying a glass of wine.

Got a doggy door too!

A ceiling fan keeps me cool and sleepy.

Skype me for a private tour.

Spring Weather

The weather has been so nice and spring like. Gigi and I took a moment yesterday to enjoy the day.

Favorite gadgets

It doesn’t take a shiny new iPad to thrill me. This old plastic spatula has been with me as long as I have been married…. maybe longer. It is my favorite go to spatula.

And no, I am not getting a shiny new iPad today even though I have been warned to treat it like Medusa if I were to happen to be in an Apple store.

Traveling Day

It was just one of those days.

First I picked up Abby’s ashes and was planning to go to the CPA to pick up my corporate taxes. But the taxes weren’t done so I moved that to the afternoon.

They guy that does animal cremations is so reverent towards every animal we send him. The ashes come back in a nice wooden urn. He always has a nice note.

So Abby is home again.

I realized mid morning that my Jeep’s tag was about to expire….today. That means I needed an inspection and then go to the DMV.

But first I went to the laundry to drop off a 30 pound duffle of laundry.

Then I went back the office to sign a few things, and back out of town to pick up the now ready taxes.

Back in town I write a check and file my taxes and head to the mechanic to get a safety inspection.

I stopped at a handy bar next door and watch some of the NCAA tournament.

By now it is 5:30 and I will have to the new tag renewal tomorrow.

A Mood

The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression.

A Public Service Announcement

Run to your nearest Costco and buy a bottle of this garlic infused olive oil. It is so wonderful in taste, that you could almost do a shot of it.

It steps up the flavor of my wings 17% on the McAlister-Whitten scale. It is good for bread dipping. It makes the best stir fried brussel sprouts.

Good Night Everyone

A Laid Back Monday

It was a nice day today. The weather was mild and I planned to take this day off to catch up on some chores.

First were corporate taxes. I sat in the guest house and worked until noon getting everything ready for the March 15 deadline.

Then I went out to rent a walk behind brush cutter to clean up the lower 40. The English Ivey was out of hand and small cedar trees were popping up everywhere.

By the time I got home the contractor was there to dry in the screen porch.

I spent a few hours behind the brush cutter before I settled in to spinning a plump chicken and had a few beers.

I love exposed rafters....it feels so Carribean.

Life is good.

Pretty Cool

For an old fart.....

Got this in the mail today.

New Terms and Conditions

Yesterday my bride and I had the occasion to visit the headquarters of the former blogger and now retired blogger Micky-T, in their plush Tennessee estate.

We had the required blogger debriefing and home inspection per the new terms and conditions of this blog. The news terms require that all readers of my blog have an installed and functioning dishwasher.

You see that Ken clearly passed the inspection.

Audits will be random in nature so please get a dishwasher installed if you plan to continue reading this blog.

The Smokey Mountains

I drove through The Great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina today and they were just that….very Smokey looking. It was a gorgeous spring day.

Our Day

A trip through the mountains.

Passing through the I-40 gap.

We meet Carley.

Carley and Gigi bond.

Haley chills in the hotel.

Cedie joins her.

Location:Badger Ave,Oak Ridge,United States

Gigi's Birthday Weekend

Last night the weekend started with a nice 5 course dinner, all paired with wines from Stags Leap. Now we are off to see a lady about a dog.

Getting Paid to Dive?

I got a part time gig.

I was referred to an organization called Amphibious Medics about working an event in Charlotte that requires rescue divers to be present. The event is The Spartan Race at the US National Whitewater Center.

I applied for the job, and today I got an email confirming that I will be a rescue diver for the event.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think this hobby would lead to a paid position. It’s just for a weekend, but still I’m thrilled.

I’ll be on call and in the data base for any other needs AmphibiousMedics may have in my region.

There is a Half Iron Man Triathlon on St Croix every May. They need rescue divers there too. Think I could get paid to go to St Croix and dive? I bet I can.

Meet Carley

This weekend we are headed to East Tennessee to meet Carley. She'll likely join our pack and return to her new forever home on Sunday.

Get this....she is missing her tail. Two of my dogs are missing legs....Galaxy is missing half a tail. Tanner has all his visible parts except for his family jewels.

I think she will fit right in.

I'm Always Mentally on Vacation