Today my schedule includes Dentist and Allergist appointments. (I can vaguely remember a time when I could predict that I would be at home long enough not to have to schedule all my medical appointments in a single week!)
I have finished most of the stuff I need to for me... I have a couple things I still need to finish for Saga. This is really starting to get stressful. I am seeing this huge wall rushing at me. I want to get everything done. I need to get it done before I head out to the UK on Tuesday. I will be so damn glad to see Saga in Heathrow this time next week.
Tat one thought keeps me going! I don't see the list of things that I have left to do getting any shorter. I just see this deadline approaching like an on-coming bus. It reminds me of something a comedian (sorry, I can't remember who) who had the observation:
"Those people who go to the beach and hold-up a sea shell to their ear and say stupid things like 'I can hear the ocean.' what are they thinking? No shit! It's ten feet that way! What, do you walk into the street, pick-up a hubcap and hold it to your ear? 'Hey! I can hear a bus!' [Whomp!]"
Well, I had better get to it! I have only today and Monday to get things finished and there is so much more left to do!
I hope wherever you are today, you will have a great (stress-free) day!
Don Bergquist - 30 November 2006 - Lakewood, Colorado
30 November 2006
29 November 2006
Paperwork Hell
Today I have been in paperwork hell!
I have been working on catching-up on the email that I have fallen behind on while being on holiday, and working on getting Saga's paperwork all put together. I cannot believe how much there is to do before I can get Saga to the UK!
What massive hurdles to jump. I am so glad that I have help. Even so, this is a gargantuan task. To continue my mythology references of the other day, I'm beginning to think that cleaning the Augean Stables would have been less of a task than this.
Oh, and to top it all off, my week here has become one day shorter! I have been summonsed to serve Jury Duty on Friday.
Arrgh! Oh, and have I mentioned the snow? It started spitting snow yesterday at around noon. By sundown it was really coming down. At eight, when I went to take out the garbage, there was about five inches of snow on my deck.
This morning, I looked out and decided that I would never be able to get out. Good thing I got most of my errands run yesterday. I'll be glad when this melts off tomorrow.
Wherever you are, I hope that the stumbling blocks in your way are small enough to be easily navigated!
Don Bergquist - 29 November 2006 - Lakewood, Colorado
I have been working on catching-up on the email that I have fallen behind on while being on holiday, and working on getting Saga's paperwork all put together. I cannot believe how much there is to do before I can get Saga to the UK!
What massive hurdles to jump. I am so glad that I have help. Even so, this is a gargantuan task. To continue my mythology references of the other day, I'm beginning to think that cleaning the Augean Stables would have been less of a task than this.
Oh, and to top it all off, my week here has become one day shorter! I have been summonsed to serve Jury Duty on Friday.
Arrgh! Oh, and have I mentioned the snow? It started spitting snow yesterday at around noon. By sundown it was really coming down. At eight, when I went to take out the garbage, there was about five inches of snow on my deck.
This morning, I looked out and decided that I would never be able to get out. Good thing I got most of my errands run yesterday. I'll be glad when this melts off tomorrow.
Wherever you are, I hope that the stumbling blocks in your way are small enough to be easily navigated!
Don Bergquist - 29 November 2006 - Lakewood, Colorado
28 November 2006
Gotta Run!
I have two doctor appointments today: Ophthalmologist and General Practitioner
After that I have got a number of things on my to-do list. I can't even stop to think this morning!
I hope wherever you are today, you have a schedule a bit more relaxed than mine!
Don Bergquist - 28 November 2006 - Lakewood, Florida
After that I have got a number of things on my to-do list. I can't even stop to think this morning!
I hope wherever you are today, you have a schedule a bit more relaxed than mine!
Don Bergquist - 28 November 2006 - Lakewood, Florida
27 November 2006
Flying Home
Here I sit, in the departure lounge of the Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) waiting for my flight home to Denver. There is a free wireless network here in the lounge, or at least they claim there is. My PCs say that they can see it, but the signal is too weak for me to actually connect to it.
It has already been a busy day! I got up and dressed fairly early and got a bite of breakfast. Over my second cup of coffee, I started-up my PC and checked my email. I've already gotten some work done on getting the paperwork together so that I can send Saga to the UK.
That is beginning to look like it will be a bear of a task... Sisyphus, I think I can commiserate.
Well, we'll be boarding soon, I should really re-pack my PC so that I can get home.
I hope that wherever you are, your day is going well!
Don Bergquist - 27 November 2006 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
It has already been a busy day! I got up and dressed fairly early and got a bite of breakfast. Over my second cup of coffee, I started-up my PC and checked my email. I've already gotten some work done on getting the paperwork together so that I can send Saga to the UK.
That is beginning to look like it will be a bear of a task... Sisyphus, I think I can commiserate.
Well, we'll be boarding soon, I should really re-pack my PC so that I can get home.
I hope that wherever you are, your day is going well!
Don Bergquist - 27 November 2006 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
26 November 2006
Idiots, Alligator Alley and Tackiness
This afternoon Mary, Saga and I drove back to her house in Weston. The trip was fairly uneventful, the traffic was heavy and one idiot kept passing us, getting in the slower lane and dropping back. Eventually, he'd try and get back in front of us only to get back in the slow lane and drop back again. We had no idea what this was all about.
But the prize for the stupidest, bonehead move of the afternoon goes to the driver of the Winnebago ("caravan" to my UK readers) who, upon entering Alligator Alley (that stretch of I-75 between Hollywood and Naples) decided that they had to get immediately (without delay, cutting off all the faster traffic) into the passing lane, doing 45 miles-per-hour. He very nearly had our car in the back bedroom of the mobile home!
All idiots aside, it was a nice drive. We got a bit of a downpour driving across the alley. It wasn't much of a storm, but there was some good lightning. We arrived in Weston around eight. My nephew's neighbors have been busy for the past few days. I do not believe that I have seen so many tacky Christmas displays in the space of one block before. My god! These are half-million dollar homes!
Not since I first visited Graceland (Elvis's residence south of Memphis, TN) have I seen such graphic proof that money cannot buy taste!
Tomorrow I fly home to Lakewood. The Weather channel tells me that it is cold, but nice out. I hope the flight is good.
I hope wherever you are today, you've had a great day!
Don Bergquist - 26 November 2006 - Weston, Florida
But the prize for the stupidest, bonehead move of the afternoon goes to the driver of the Winnebago ("caravan" to my UK readers) who, upon entering Alligator Alley (that stretch of I-75 between Hollywood and Naples) decided that they had to get immediately (without delay, cutting off all the faster traffic) into the passing lane, doing 45 miles-per-hour. He very nearly had our car in the back bedroom of the mobile home!
All idiots aside, it was a nice drive. We got a bit of a downpour driving across the alley. It wasn't much of a storm, but there was some good lightning. We arrived in Weston around eight. My nephew's neighbors have been busy for the past few days. I do not believe that I have seen so many tacky Christmas displays in the space of one block before. My god! These are half-million dollar homes!
Not since I first visited Graceland (Elvis's residence south of Memphis, TN) have I seen such graphic proof that money cannot buy taste!
Tomorrow I fly home to Lakewood. The Weather channel tells me that it is cold, but nice out. I hope the flight is good.
I hope wherever you are today, you've had a great day!
Don Bergquist - 26 November 2006 - Weston, Florida
25 November 2006
Arts Festival
This morning Mary, Corey, Sarah and I all went to the Arts Festival in Ybor City.
I enjoy getting out and seeing the stuff that people do. Even if I am not interested in the medium it is interesting to see what people are offering. There are things at these events that often leave me wondering why anyone would think it was art.
Wads of paper at one stand... what's up with that? I mean, sure, they were pretty colors, but were they art?
There was one stall that was selling something that my friends and I made years ago. We thought they were best used for disk bags for Frisbee Golf. Today, someone is selling them as purses. The items? Simple! Take a pair of jeans cut the legs off making them into shorts, sew the leg openings closed, and use strips from the cut-off legs for a shoulder-strap. The "artists" selling these, have updated them with buttons, glitter glue and a zipper closure.
There were lots of jewelry stalls, and a couple food stalls.
We had a pleasant morning wandering the stalls and then returned home to play a few more hands of cribbage before my niece had to leave for Gainesville.
I hope wherever you are today, you've had a pleasant day with family.
Don Bergquist - 25 November 2006 - Apollo Beach, Florida
I enjoy getting out and seeing the stuff that people do. Even if I am not interested in the medium it is interesting to see what people are offering. There are things at these events that often leave me wondering why anyone would think it was art.
Wads of paper at one stand... what's up with that? I mean, sure, they were pretty colors, but were they art?
There was one stall that was selling something that my friends and I made years ago. We thought they were best used for disk bags for Frisbee Golf. Today, someone is selling them as purses. The items? Simple! Take a pair of jeans cut the legs off making them into shorts, sew the leg openings closed, and use strips from the cut-off legs for a shoulder-strap. The "artists" selling these, have updated them with buttons, glitter glue and a zipper closure.
There were lots of jewelry stalls, and a couple food stalls.
We had a pleasant morning wandering the stalls and then returned home to play a few more hands of cribbage before my niece had to leave for Gainesville.
I hope wherever you are today, you've had a pleasant day with family.
Don Bergquist - 25 November 2006 - Apollo Beach, Florida
24 November 2006
Black Friday Shopping
In that I am about to head back to the UK, I decided a while back that I wanted to have my own PC there so that I don't need to write my blog entries all on my PDA. There is nothing wrong with doing it on my PDA, but it is a bit slower than having a full-sized PC and it also means that I still have to add pictures to my posts after I have uploaded them.
It would also be nice to be able to play a computer game or scan the internet at home without having to schlep the work laptop home. So I (reluctantly) joined the masses celebrating that tradition of the American public: Black Friday Shopping.
It was not a spur of the moment decision, I had done some research online on pricing. But there was nothing too good there. I did get a pretty good deal on a new laptop at Best Buy, but it further confirmed that I hate shopping and even more, I hate shopping at Christmas time!
It was a mob scene. I was up at 04:45 to go to the store and my brother-in-law and I left around 06:00; glad that we hadn't left at 05:00 when the store actually opened, we made it to the store when the line to get in was only fifty-yards-long. It only took a few minutes to get in and inside it was a mob scene. I made a bee-line to the computer department, tried to get the attention of a staff-member, and upon finding-out that the one that was on-sale was sold-out, I picked another that was still a pretty good deal.
The entire transaction took less than thirty-minutes. I was lucky enough to get into a line with only one other person ahead of me. The only noteworthy event was the salesperson chasing me down as I was trying to navigate the weird traffic pattern that they had set-up to handle the clouds. On my way to the register, the salesman came over to me and called:
"Excuse me, sir. You can't walk around with that until you have paid for it." Understand, now... I have been gone from the computer department less than a couple minutes and was making constant and fairly rapid progress toward the check-out stands.
I looked at him incredulously, looked at the stanchion maze that they had set-up, looked at the registers (ten feet away but across the empty queues) and said "I'm not allowed to carry it to the till myself?"
He gave me a kind of sheepish look and said "Oh, yeah! I guess we've messed-up the traffic patter. Sorry." And then he moved off.
Even though the enter venture took me less than an hour, it was not something I want to repeat! I HATE shopping at Christmas time! That done; I was able to go home and start playing with it. My family will be heading-out some time today and hopefully, I'll get some time to play cribbage before they do!
I hope that wherever you are, the unpleasant things you had to do today were at least over quickly!
Don Bergquist - 24 November 2006 - Apollo Beach, Florida
It would also be nice to be able to play a computer game or scan the internet at home without having to schlep the work laptop home. So I (reluctantly) joined the masses celebrating that tradition of the American public: Black Friday Shopping.
It was not a spur of the moment decision, I had done some research online on pricing. But there was nothing too good there. I did get a pretty good deal on a new laptop at Best Buy, but it further confirmed that I hate shopping and even more, I hate shopping at Christmas time!
It was a mob scene. I was up at 04:45 to go to the store and my brother-in-law and I left around 06:00; glad that we hadn't left at 05:00 when the store actually opened, we made it to the store when the line to get in was only fifty-yards-long. It only took a few minutes to get in and inside it was a mob scene. I made a bee-line to the computer department, tried to get the attention of a staff-member, and upon finding-out that the one that was on-sale was sold-out, I picked another that was still a pretty good deal.
The entire transaction took less than thirty-minutes. I was lucky enough to get into a line with only one other person ahead of me. The only noteworthy event was the salesperson chasing me down as I was trying to navigate the weird traffic pattern that they had set-up to handle the clouds. On my way to the register, the salesman came over to me and called:
"Excuse me, sir. You can't walk around with that until you have paid for it." Understand, now... I have been gone from the computer department less than a couple minutes and was making constant and fairly rapid progress toward the check-out stands.
I looked at him incredulously, looked at the stanchion maze that they had set-up, looked at the registers (ten feet away but across the empty queues) and said "I'm not allowed to carry it to the till myself?"
He gave me a kind of sheepish look and said "Oh, yeah! I guess we've messed-up the traffic patter. Sorry." And then he moved off.
Even though the enter venture took me less than an hour, it was not something I want to repeat! I HATE shopping at Christmas time! That done; I was able to go home and start playing with it. My family will be heading-out some time today and hopefully, I'll get some time to play cribbage before they do!
I hope that wherever you are, the unpleasant things you had to do today were at least over quickly!
Don Bergquist - 24 November 2006 - Apollo Beach, Florida
23 November 2006
Thanksgiving with the Bergquists
The day was a riot! In every sense of the word!
My family, being my family, got up early (for some of us, this means before noon!) and converged on Mary's place.
While the turkeys were cooking, we had time for numerous rounds of cribbage, and to swim in the pool.
This is what I miss about Thanksgiving in Florida. Being able to go to the beach or the pool while the turkey is roasting! It is in the blood! That and being dragged by Dad to see Miami Hurricanes (or some other college team) play football whilst mom whipped-up the feast.
Mary really outdid herself with the menu for the day. Knowing the food orgy that was to follow, we snacked for lunch on Crab Rangoons, the last of the selection of cheeses that I had had brought back with me from the UK, and other light tidbits. (Pickeled Herring! An absolute must!)
While my siblings and I wrangled the range, my nieces worked on the table setting. The table had an anniversary theme since it is both my parents 25th, and Mary and Corey's anniversary as well this week. The sounds and the smells were vintage Bergquist Thanksgiving!
The clanking of pots and pans (and almost constant dish washing) in the kitchen was joined by punctuated choruses of "Who wants to play cards?" and "When do we eat?" and "Can I help?" and "Stir that, it'll burn!"
My siblings and I all cooked and preped the food while the young-uns helped get the table set. (And/or stayed out of underfoot...)
The table was laid out with my grandmother's china (that my sister has added-on to since she inherited it) and my brother-in-law's silver. The food, which was a collaborative effort was plentiful.
The organization of the dishes was a collaborative effort as well, Helen and Allyn went out to the patio and polished the silver while Mary, Elizabeth, and Sara washed and dried the china. It was truly a production line effort.
...and it was lovely!
We all pitched-in on the clean-up and then later-on, over coffee, we had a lovely white-cake to celebrate Dad and Flo's Silver Anniversary.
It was absolutely lovely! But, to put this in a way that my friends back in the UK would understand, I'm knackered! Completely and utterly knackered! I wish I had a pint and a place to put-up my feet. Failing that, I think I am going to finish my coffee and go into bed.
I hope wherever you are, you've had an excellent day with friends and family.
Don Bergquist - 23 November 2006 - Apollo Beach, Florida
My family, being my family, got up early (for some of us, this means before noon!) and converged on Mary's place.
While the turkeys were cooking, we had time for numerous rounds of cribbage, and to swim in the pool.This is what I miss about Thanksgiving in Florida. Being able to go to the beach or the pool while the turkey is roasting! It is in the blood! That and being dragged by Dad to see Miami Hurricanes (or some other college team) play football whilst mom whipped-up the feast.
Mary really outdid herself with the menu for the day. Knowing the food orgy that was to follow, we snacked for lunch on Crab Rangoons, the last of the selection of cheeses that I had had brought back with me from the UK, and other light tidbits. (Pickeled Herring! An absolute must!)
While my siblings and I wrangled the range, my nieces worked on the table setting. The table had an anniversary theme since it is both my parents 25th, and Mary and Corey's anniversary as well this week. The sounds and the smells were vintage Bergquist Thanksgiving!
The clanking of pots and pans (and almost constant dish washing) in the kitchen was joined by punctuated choruses of "Who wants to play cards?" and "When do we eat?" and "Can I help?" and "Stir that, it'll burn!"My siblings and I all cooked and preped the food while the young-uns helped get the table set. (And/or stayed out of underfoot...)
The table was laid out with my grandmother's china (that my sister has added-on to since she inherited it) and my brother-in-law's silver. The food, which was a collaborative effort was plentiful.The organization of the dishes was a collaborative effort as well, Helen and Allyn went out to the patio and polished the silver while Mary, Elizabeth, and Sara washed and dried the china. It was truly a production line effort.
Mary's Menu
Soup Course
Lobster Bisque
Salad Course
Bacon and Pecan Vinaigrette Salad
Main Dish and Sides
Roast Turkey
Stuffing (savory bread with sausage and mushrooms)
Mashed Red Potatoes topped with Mushrooms and Rosemary
Steamed Broccoli
Cranberry/Spice sauce mold
Candied Yams
And of course Dessert
Banana Cream Pie
Key Lime Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Peppermint Icebox Cake
Soup Course
Lobster Bisque
Salad Course
Bacon and Pecan Vinaigrette Salad
Main Dish and Sides
Roast Turkey
Stuffing (savory bread with sausage and mushrooms)
Mashed Red Potatoes topped with Mushrooms and Rosemary
Steamed Broccoli
Cranberry/Spice sauce mold
Candied Yams
And of course Dessert
Banana Cream Pie
Key Lime Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Peppermint Icebox Cake
...and it was lovely!
We all pitched-in on the clean-up and then later-on, over coffee, we had a lovely white-cake to celebrate Dad and Flo's Silver Anniversary.
It was absolutely lovely! But, to put this in a way that my friends back in the UK would understand, I'm knackered! Completely and utterly knackered! I wish I had a pint and a place to put-up my feet. Failing that, I think I am going to finish my coffee and go into bed.
I hope wherever you are, you've had an excellent day with friends and family.
Don Bergquist - 23 November 2006 - Apollo Beach, Florida
22 November 2006
Alma Mater
I got the chance yesterday to visit the University of Central Florida for the first time in years. I had planned on visiting the campus bookstore on this trip anyway because I wanted to get a new UCF sweatshirt. I want something warm and casual to wear around the house... My old UCF sweatshirt, being purchased back in the '90s, the last time I was on campus, is getting a bit threadbare.
The fact that an old friend from college started emailing me a month ago didn’t enter into my desire to visit the campus. Really!
I spent yesterday afternoon having lunch and then touring the newer parts of the campus with her and seeing the sights. Wow! How much the campus has changed! When I started in the early '80s, the campus had perhaps a dozen buildings on it and housing for about 400 students on campus. I cannot guess how many students can be housed there now. But I am informed as of this fall's enrolment figures, it is the largest university in Florida.
Looking at it in Google Earth later on, I cannot believe how the campus has grown! I guess I can, I have to; I've seen it!
Today, I am starting to help Mary with the cooking chores. Tomorrow is the big Thanksgiving feast with all the Bergquists at the same table for the first time in years. There is a lot of cooking to do! It is at times like this when I am reminded of the line Gene Wilder (as Willie Wonka) speaks in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: "So much time, so little to do. No! Wait a minute. Strike that; reverse it."
I hope wherever you are today, your day is filled with pleasant anticipation of things to come and memories of what has been!
Don Bergquist - 22 November 2006 - Apollo Beach, Florida
The fact that an old friend from college started emailing me a month ago didn’t enter into my desire to visit the campus. Really!
I spent yesterday afternoon having lunch and then touring the newer parts of the campus with her and seeing the sights. Wow! How much the campus has changed! When I started in the early '80s, the campus had perhaps a dozen buildings on it and housing for about 400 students on campus. I cannot guess how many students can be housed there now. But I am informed as of this fall's enrolment figures, it is the largest university in Florida.
Looking at it in Google Earth later on, I cannot believe how the campus has grown! I guess I can, I have to; I've seen it!
Today, I am starting to help Mary with the cooking chores. Tomorrow is the big Thanksgiving feast with all the Bergquists at the same table for the first time in years. There is a lot of cooking to do! It is at times like this when I am reminded of the line Gene Wilder (as Willie Wonka) speaks in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: "So much time, so little to do. No! Wait a minute. Strike that; reverse it."
I hope wherever you are today, your day is filled with pleasant anticipation of things to come and memories of what has been!
Don Bergquist - 22 November 2006 - Apollo Beach, Florida
21 November 2006
Anniversary Musings
It is 05:00 in St Petersburg, 10:00 in London. I am awake though, nobody else in the house is. I have heard stirrings from Fritz but, though we chatted briefly earlier, he has drifted off again. I decided that since I am still operating on Greenwich Mean Time, it was time for me to get-up and write a blog entry.
Today is the twenty-first of November. By my calculation, two years ago (right about now, as a matter of fact) I was landing at Gatwick International Airport in the UK for the first time. My first blog entry was dated 21 November 2004. So much has changed over the past two years.
I’ve been spending more and longer times in the UK of late and it looks as if it is possible that I may be asked to move there on a more permanent basis. I am of two minds on that one. I have a made some really good friends in the UK and have really a really good time being in the UK.
But I also have some really good friends (not to mention my family, to whom I am very close) back here in the states. Well, as my friend and one time mentor Ruth (Dr. Roose!) used to say: “I’ll just have to jump off that bridge when I come to it.”
I haven’t been (and may never be) offered the option of moving to the UK, but it is interesting to consider how it may play-out were it to happen.
There have been so many interesting things to report over the past two years here in the annals of my weblog and I hope that everyone is enjoying reading it as much as I am enjoying writing them. It has been two good years. I hope that there will be many more. And if they are not in the UK, they will be somewhere. If you’re enjoying my blog, please post a comment or send me an email at the appropriate link below.
Well, the house is stirring. I need to spend some time with my friends while I can. Have a great day!
I hope that wherever you are today you have a great day and have some milestone to celebrate.
Don Bergquist - 21 November 2006 - St. Petersburg, Florida USA
Today is the twenty-first of November. By my calculation, two years ago (right about now, as a matter of fact) I was landing at Gatwick International Airport in the UK for the first time. My first blog entry was dated 21 November 2004. So much has changed over the past two years.
I’ve been spending more and longer times in the UK of late and it looks as if it is possible that I may be asked to move there on a more permanent basis. I am of two minds on that one. I have a made some really good friends in the UK and have really a really good time being in the UK.
But I also have some really good friends (not to mention my family, to whom I am very close) back here in the states. Well, as my friend and one time mentor Ruth (Dr. Roose!) used to say: “I’ll just have to jump off that bridge when I come to it.”
I haven’t been (and may never be) offered the option of moving to the UK, but it is interesting to consider how it may play-out were it to happen.
There have been so many interesting things to report over the past two years here in the annals of my weblog and I hope that everyone is enjoying reading it as much as I am enjoying writing them. It has been two good years. I hope that there will be many more. And if they are not in the UK, they will be somewhere. If you’re enjoying my blog, please post a comment or send me an email at the appropriate link below.
Well, the house is stirring. I need to spend some time with my friends while I can. Have a great day!
I hope that wherever you are today you have a great day and have some milestone to celebrate.
Don Bergquist - 21 November 2006 - St. Petersburg, Florida USA
20 November 2006
South Florida
The flight was good! We got into Detroit a bit late and then my flight to Ft. Lauderdale was also late, but all in all, the day was a good one.
She had a quick meeting this morning and then we headed across the Alligator Alley to Apollo Beach. They have signs pointing-out that there are scenic views of the Everglades from Alligator Alley. It was a good drive and Mary and I had a couple hours together to chat and make plans for the upcoming holiday.
Perhaps I am jaded, but I think the views of the Everglades and the Big Cypress Swamp were far better back when the alley was a two-lane ribbon of blacktop with no breakdown lanes and only the two pull-outs for the entire 120 mile stretch. Sure, it was a dangerous and often closed road, but the Everglades look far healthier back then.
(Though I may have applied the filter of nostalgia a bit heavy and am remembering it a s being nicer than it was.)
Tonight I had dinner with my best friend and am spending the night here so that tomorrow I can head over to the University of Central Florida (my alma mater) for a quick visit. The evening was nice. We had Chinese, and then a few Gin and Tonics. We had a great chat and caught-up. The kids have gone off to bed and I’m the only one up so I suppose I will log off and get some sleep myself now.
I hope wherever you are today; you’ve had an excellent day with family and friends.
Don Bergquist - 20 November 2006 - St. Petersburg, Florida USA
She had a quick meeting this morning and then we headed across the Alligator Alley to Apollo Beach. They have signs pointing-out that there are scenic views of the Everglades from Alligator Alley. It was a good drive and Mary and I had a couple hours together to chat and make plans for the upcoming holiday.
Perhaps I am jaded, but I think the views of the Everglades and the Big Cypress Swamp were far better back when the alley was a two-lane ribbon of blacktop with no breakdown lanes and only the two pull-outs for the entire 120 mile stretch. Sure, it was a dangerous and often closed road, but the Everglades look far healthier back then.
(Though I may have applied the filter of nostalgia a bit heavy and am remembering it a s being nicer than it was.)
Tonight I had dinner with my best friend and am spending the night here so that tomorrow I can head over to the University of Central Florida (my alma mater) for a quick visit. The evening was nice. We had Chinese, and then a few Gin and Tonics. We had a great chat and caught-up. The kids have gone off to bed and I’m the only one up so I suppose I will log off and get some sleep myself now.
I hope wherever you are today; you’ve had an excellent day with family and friends.
Don Bergquist - 20 November 2006 - St. Petersburg, Florida USA
19 November 2006
Traveling
It has been a great morning. I am looking forward to having a good day. The pub re-opened last night and it is wonderful! The beer is as good as I remembered it and the company is good. The big surprise move is that the pub is now non-smoking. I think I can deal with that… We’ll have to see how it goes.
I got home from the pub around midnight this morning and parked my bike under the stairs. My bags had been packed and in the kitchen since before I headed out to the pub last night and so this morning I had nothing to do but have a bite of breakfast and wait for the car.
On the way to the airport the driver and I had a good discussion on the political issues that are in the news in the UK. The drive went by pretty quickly and clearance through security was no problem at all. I had plenty of time to read whilst awaiting the boarding of my flight.
There were a few people who, apparently thought that they deserved to be upgraded to first class for their troubles today so they spent an inordinate amount of time arguing with the flight staff about why there were not seated in first class. The flight was delayed as four different people (all at least claiming to be employees of the airline) argued their cases for why they should get to sit up front. Whatever!
Anyway, we are now underway and have been so for nearly three hours. We’re somewhere off the coast of Greenland (or perhaps it is Iceland) and I’ve finished the book I brought with me so now it is either get my “Emergency Back-up Book” out of my carry-on or start watching movies. But I tell you, the choices do no look too appealing!
I hope that wherever you are today, you have choices that appeal to you.
Don Bergquist - 19 November 2006 - Somewhere near Iceland (or Greenland), Northwest Airlines Flight 31 Bound for Detroit
I got home from the pub around midnight this morning and parked my bike under the stairs. My bags had been packed and in the kitchen since before I headed out to the pub last night and so this morning I had nothing to do but have a bite of breakfast and wait for the car.
On the way to the airport the driver and I had a good discussion on the political issues that are in the news in the UK. The drive went by pretty quickly and clearance through security was no problem at all. I had plenty of time to read whilst awaiting the boarding of my flight.
There were a few people who, apparently thought that they deserved to be upgraded to first class for their troubles today so they spent an inordinate amount of time arguing with the flight staff about why there were not seated in first class. The flight was delayed as four different people (all at least claiming to be employees of the airline) argued their cases for why they should get to sit up front. Whatever!
Anyway, we are now underway and have been so for nearly three hours. We’re somewhere off the coast of Greenland (or perhaps it is Iceland) and I’ve finished the book I brought with me so now it is either get my “Emergency Back-up Book” out of my carry-on or start watching movies. But I tell you, the choices do no look too appealing!
I hope that wherever you are today, you have choices that appeal to you.
Don Bergquist - 19 November 2006 - Somewhere near Iceland (or Greenland), Northwest Airlines Flight 31 Bound for Detroit
18 November 2006
Last Day This Trip
Being the last day in the UK this trip I've got a number of things to do on my list.
Luckily, the weather here today is lovely! After three days of rain (from the drizzles that make riding miserable that fell all day Wednesday to the outright downpour that prevented me from even wanting to leave the house yesterday) the weather is absolutely lovely! The temperatures today are supposed to hit seventy. The sun is out and the winds have died down to the light breeze.
I've spent the morning packing my cases and doing a few things around the house while waiting for the delivery van from Sainsbury's to deliver the cleaning products for the house. I have to mow the back garden and take a bike ride today. I am hoping that the pub will actually open today so that I can have one last Tanglefoot this trip. Oh, and spend some time with my mates.
I was by the pub last night on my way to the pub we have been frequenting during the King's Arms refurb. The owners were moving furniture in a pouring rain to get the pub ready to open today. I think I may try and be there at opening hour (noon) to see if I can be the first to get in the "new and improved" King's Arms.
Tomorrow morning I leave for the airport early and will be traveling all day. By this time Monday I'll be in South Florida.
I hope that wherever you are today you have a moment to enjoy the pleasures you cherish.
Don Bergquist - 18 November 2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
Luckily, the weather here today is lovely! After three days of rain (from the drizzles that make riding miserable that fell all day Wednesday to the outright downpour that prevented me from even wanting to leave the house yesterday) the weather is absolutely lovely! The temperatures today are supposed to hit seventy. The sun is out and the winds have died down to the light breeze.
I've spent the morning packing my cases and doing a few things around the house while waiting for the delivery van from Sainsbury's to deliver the cleaning products for the house. I have to mow the back garden and take a bike ride today. I am hoping that the pub will actually open today so that I can have one last Tanglefoot this trip. Oh, and spend some time with my mates.
I was by the pub last night on my way to the pub we have been frequenting during the King's Arms refurb. The owners were moving furniture in a pouring rain to get the pub ready to open today. I think I may try and be there at opening hour (noon) to see if I can be the first to get in the "new and improved" King's Arms.
Tomorrow morning I leave for the airport early and will be traveling all day. By this time Monday I'll be in South Florida.
I hope that wherever you are today you have a moment to enjoy the pleasures you cherish.
Don Bergquist - 18 November 2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
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