Well, I'm in Bradenton now, staying at the mobile home on Sarasota Bay owned by Dave's parents. But I don't have any pictures of Bradenton yet because yesterday we were sorting out practical matters like trying to figure out the mysterious internet connection at their retirement home. They have institutional WiFi, but they also have their own WiFi for their unit, plus a router that we can't sign into at all. That third router -- why it's there and who's paying for it -- is the real mystery.
Anyway, all these pictures were taken yesterday morning before we left Lutz. I got in the habit of taking a long-ish morning walk near my stepmother's house, which got me some exercise after the daily self-harm I committed by eating a Boston kreme donut at Dunkin'.
The good news is, I should have better internet access here in Bradenton, so I'm hoping I'll be able to catch up somewhat in blogland! I know I'm way behind!
Dave and I drove down yesterday over the Sunshine Skyway, the very high bridge over the mouth of Tampa Bay. The day was sunny and we got spectacular views. I was prepared for hellish traffic, since it was a weekday, but of course no one was going to work on the Friday after Christmas so it was smooth sailing the whole way.
We met Dave's sister at the Cortez Cafe, our favorite diner in Bradenton, where I had the multicultural combo of a Greek omelette and grits. Then we went to see his parents at the retirement center, and stayed with them all afternoon. I only popped out for a Starbucks and to run a rather bizarre errand -- Dave's mom wants to give his dad a jar full of pennies for Christmas, because he's apparently a coin enthusiast and she thought he'd enjoy sorting them all. Getting hold of enough mixed pennies to fill a quart jar turns out to be a bit of a challenge. The first bank we went to gave us four rolls, but they're all fresh pennies from the mint -- so of no use for sorting. The second was a jackpot -- I got 20 rolls of pennies rolled by customers, which was above the teller's usual maximum but she said she was loaded down with them so was happy to sell them on. Problem is, that only fills half the jar.
That may have to suffice. We can get more later, if Dave's dad takes to this gift at all.
Last night we went to the Anna Maria Oyster Bar for dinner -- a cobia sandwich for me, along with two weak martinis. Which is just as well because I was driving.
Doesn't this look like one of those "ugliest dog contest" photos? This is Pinky, my stepmother's lone surviving chihuahua, who is mostly blind these days and also has no teeth. Remember how insane she and her erstwhile companion, Manny, were ten years ago? Manny is no longer with us but Pinky, of indeterminate age, is hanging in there. Fortunately her fierceness has diminished along with her vision.
That is indeed a very ugly dog. I was about to eat my lunch and then I saw that picture. Suddenly, my appetite evaporated. As for "TURTLE KILLERS GO TO HELL", it's good to see evidence that some Americans have not been fooled by the MAGA sophistry.
ReplyDeleteI hesitate to assume that there's a relationship between killing turtles and MAGA!
DeleteGood to know you had a smooth drive to Bradendon and got installed there well.
ReplyDeleteSad that there are obviously enough turtle killers out there to warrant that sign, but to be honest, I don‘t believe anyone who intends to harm another being will be deterred by a few words painted on a sign.
The sign is in a woodsy area and I imagine some turtles have met their fate on that road. I'm not sure the drivers are doing it deliberately, but apparently the sign-maker thinks they are.
DeleteI'm not sure a coin enthusiast would enjoy sorting pennies (unless they're rare) - although my mom collected wheat pennies & it was always fun when we ended up with one in our change. I haven't seen any of those in years!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I remember getting wheat pennies in change, but I agree -- I haven't seen any in ages.
DeleteHere the penny shortage often means I receive a nickel in change and an apology. I talked with my son who lives in St. Pete and works in Tampa as he drove across the Gandy bridge yesterday...he has an adventure today of swimming with his daughter at the aquarium - in a wet suit and helmet! Hope someone takes his photo.
ReplyDeleteOh, that sounds cool. I didn't know that was an option when I visited recently. (I'm sure there's a lot of pre-planning!)
DeletePinky looks determined to outlive us all!!
ReplyDeleteShe's durable, that's for sure.
DeleteHow very atmospheric is the first image
ReplyDeleteIt's very foggy here on winter mornings. I'm seeing the same thing in Bradenton.
DeleteTurtle Murderers do indeed go to hell. This is a well known fact. That's actually a pretty professional looking sign.
ReplyDeleteAside from Pinky, your photos are lovely. That poor dog.
The Skyway Bridge scares the hell out of me.
Although Pinky isn't the most conventinally beautiful dog, I don't think she's suffering. She seems perfectly happy.
DeleteDave's parents own a mobile home there but live in a retirement village? And does Dave's sister live in Florida or is she visiting too? I'm just full of questions. Really like the picture of the trees. And at first glance I thought Pinky was a bad taxidermy that aged even worse. Scary!
ReplyDeleteI tried to better explain the living situation in the subsequent post. Dave's sister is just visiting from Michigan, but she's staying a while, I think. (Basically for the winter.)
DeleteMaybe a smaller jar for the pennies? Then they will seem like a lot! ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah, we considered that. I think we thought 20 rolls of pennies would go farther than it did!
DeleteThis has been an interesting trip what with health and WiFi issues! I wonder when that Tampa Bay bridge was built I don't remember it from when I was there in the early 70s. Or maybe I'm just unobservant.
ReplyDeleteIt was here in the '70s but a different design. The old Skyway, which had metal girders, collapsed in the early 1980s when a ship hit it, and many people died. It was then rebuilt in its modern form, with special barriers to protect it from another ship strike.
DeleteI hope FL has jail time and big fines for anyone hunting turtles.
ReplyDeletePoor Pinky. If those are cataracts, the Vet can treat them (Amazon has eyedrops too).
3 routers for one apartment seems odd and worth investigating.
Good job finding pennies as I hear they are being eliminated.
Your sunshine looks great. We got another 4 inches of snow.
I don't think hunting the turtles is the issue -- my guess is people deliberately kill them when they're crossing the road. Or so the sign-maker believes.
DeleteFirst, good-looking and bad-looking are human judgments. In nature, every creature is created for a purpose. What looks “ugly” to us may be perfectly designed for survival, protection, or balance in the ecosystem. So “ugly” is not a fact—it’s an opinion.
ReplyDeleteFrom a human perspective, mocking an animal (or a person) because of how they look is generally seen as unkind. Even if animals don’t understand words the way humans do, mocking behavior reflects our character, not theirs. Many societies and cultures value kindness, empathy, and respect toward living beings.
Exactly right, and stated more eloquently than I could have done.
DeleteWell, it's certainly true that "ugly," just like "beautiful," is in the eye of the beholder. Pinky has a good life with people who love her. I don't think I'm doing her any harm by blogging her!
DeletePennies have not yet been eliminated but I believe they have stopped minting them, so they are harder to find. Some places have signs asking for exact change, and some have already started rounding to nickels. Those tellers were being very kind to you!
ReplyDeleteThe teller said a lot of people are turning in their pennies because they're afraid they won't be accepted anymore, even though they will continue to be legal tender.
DeleteThe dog is ugly to me but then I think all chihuahuas are unattractive. I much prefer medium to large dogs, having grown up with them. I'm glad you've arrived safely; I've been over that bridge too. Stunning, although traffic was worse when I was there. Have a great visit!
ReplyDeleteChihuahuas are also nervous and rather mean-spirited little dogs. Overall I am not a fan.
Deleteturtle killers can take congress and the orange man with them.
ReplyDeleteHa!
DeleteI'm okay with turtles (maybe not snappers), but wouldn't wish their killers to hell. Now puppy or kitten abandoners..... that's a different story.
ReplyDeleteWe have a whole basket of pennies we use for playing Holiday Bingo each Christmas.
Cruelty to any animal is pretty unforgivable in my book.
DeleteAhhh...poor Pinky. The ravages of age are creeping up on us all. Good luck on the penny hunt.
ReplyDeleteI would say that Pinky is long in the tooth, but she has no teeth!
DeleteEverything worth less than 10c has been removed from coinage here in NZ. What we called pennies would pre-date 1967! Certainly worth collecting and sorting. That first pphoto is a fabulous seasonal record.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we should probably do away with nickels, too. In the UK, we still have single pennies and 2-pence coins, which seems insane to me.
DeletePinky is most definitely a contender. But hopefully a more mellow one. Hats off to whomever created the turtle killer sign.
ReplyDeletePinky and Manny used to be quite cantankerous in their youth! Pinky is more mellow now.
DeleteThat’s what I always say about turtle killers.
ReplyDeletePinky is a shoo-in for that contest! Dear god! I expect her to say "Ack!" or "Thppt!"
Ha! She definitely is a "Bill the Cat" look-alike contender!
DeleteBad traffic on the bridge would have given you more viewing time.
ReplyDeleteWhat are what you call pennies?
It's funny how animals don't really see physical attractiveness. Perhaps it is more actions and odours.
Pennies are one-cent coins, made of copper-colored alloy, with Abraham Lincoln on them. Is that what you're asking? I think animals see attractiveness in ways we don't perceive. Some mates are definitely seen as more desirable than others.
DeleteJudy's parents and her sister retired to Nokomis and Venice, just about 35 miles south of Bradenton. All gone now. But we visited a couple of times and I always loved the area. And yes, that is one of the uglier dogs I've ever seen. Never could understand people who love chihuahuas.
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Venice and worked in that area for a couple of years. It was a beautiful little town back then (30 years ago), but it's more built-up now.
DeleteWhat does one do with the pennies after they have been sorted? Back in the jar and shaken up for re-sorting? I really love that perfect misty reflection shot of trees by water.
ReplyDeleteDid you eat a Boston Kreme every time you visited Dunkin'? Do they have real dairy whipped cream or that awful fake stuff with the texture of Ponds Cold Cream that women used to put on their faces?
Well, that's our question, too. We got some folders so he could mount them by year, but eventually he'll need more pennies, and where they'll come from I'm not sure.
DeleteYes, I ate a Boston Kreme every morning. They're filled with custard, or something that pretends to be custard. I'm not proud of myself.
Poor Pinky would scare the mess out of me. I love a Boston creme donut. Haven't had one in years.
ReplyDeleteAs donuts go, BKs are one of the more palatable types! Pinky looks scary but she's very harmless. In her youth she and Manny were much more intimidating.
Delete