A Walk Along the Bridge.

Took a walk the other day to watch a circus performer walk the Wheel Of Death hanging over the edge of a high rise building.

Got to the waterfront...bay front park...and I missed it. Newsfolks all around the performers dressing van.
















I just walked pass toward a beautiful new bridge from Sarasota to Bird Key,,,,St. Armands...and LongBoat Key.

I was going to walk across the bridge but felt the urge to use a washroom and hesitated near the beginning of the long long bridge.

I saw a sign saying fishing and restrooms. I followed the path down alongside the bridge and soon noticed a short fishing pier. With a sign saying "Pier Closed".

I walked onto the pier and did find a great view and several fishermen who looked at me suspiciously.

A few photos and I continued on the path under the bridge. Suddenly, there was a beautiful little park with gazebo, benches, fishing bait shop and a wonderfull view.

OH, and a sight to make you cry....a restroom.

Feeeling much better I continued along the path. Past a mirrored building. And a few works of art.

I walked past hundreds of boats moored along the downtown waterfront.

Just an hour of my time and what great memory of the bayfront. and Just 3 hrs crash in bed.

The southern morning McDonalds crew

Got up this morning to a chilly chilly morning....car temp said 47 degrees

Went to McD's and scoped around for possibilities. Those who might
let me talk to them and maybe join them.

Thru the window I saw a group of old cold guys in the corner.

A 50 yr old reddish/blonde haired guy with those big black rimmed glasses.

2 men sitting by themselves but showing interest in any conversations.

One conversation of special interest, was the white woman with sort of gray hair and lips that keep moving
in a discussion with an empty chair.

I got my coffee and breakfast sandwich and moved near the men in the corner.

Sat at a high table with high chairs within casual friendship distance.

The were talking about Mass. politics.

The blonde guy, sitting at a table to my left,
started talking to me. He was from Minn and today was his first day
at a job in painting signs. He wanted to buy a house with a pool short/handed??
but everyone was giving him a problem.....OK....

I could tell he was a little different. He was lonely and had been out of a job for a long time.

He talked and talked but then somehow, I was able to get involved with the corner guys.

They were around my age, some younger some older. After a few minutes I said C'ya and left.
I didn't want to wear out my first contact welcome.

Maybe I'll try again tomorrow
but this morning we have a donut social in the recreation room
at 9:30am.

Ummmm, donuts.....

Made It

Jan 8, 2011
We had a mild adventure on our trip beginning.

Got to the airport on time. Too bad the plane didn't get there on time.
They said Our plane, would be late.
We were waiting for our plane when I noticed fire trucks, police cars and ambulances
lining a runway near us.

So, I went to the counter clerk and mentioned it to her. Oh no, there is no problem. Police cars are always driving past. No mam, maybe you should look outside.
Sure, when i have time.

As i told Karolyn what was happening, others heard me and suddenly we were all
watching the action.

Soon a PIA?? airplane drove by with all the emergency vehicles following it.
the plane had a star over a crescent moon on the tail.

Oh well, our plane was only 45 minutes late taking off. But somehow got to Atlanta with 40 minutes for us to run from our gate B2 to E2. These two gates are both at the end of their terminals.

We made it in time, plenty of time. Enough time to buy 2 Grilled Chicken Classic sandwichs. They rushed us on the plane and said as soon as all were on board we would take off.

30 minutes later they apologized for the delay as a couple instrument light bulbs were out. So out came the sandwiches and we gulped them down.

We arrived after 10 pm and it was too late to call for friends to pick us up so we took a cab... owned by Haitian Chery....he took us to our door and charged $30.....with a $5 tip...$35.

Now we're home and its spotless. And the toilets work. One for her and one for me.
The sad part of the trip, its cold here....66 degrees.....brrrr....
After getting up this morning to 11 degrees....I guess I can handle the cold here.

Sorry, I didn't make it to Panera this morning. But you probably suspected what I was doing.
Well, talk to you later..... have a happy sunday.

P.S.: sat next to the girls rowing team from Notre Dame who couldn't practice in South Bend but will somewhere around Sarasota.

I Can't Believe It....

Have you priced ink for the computer printers.

I had a Canon Pixma 210...came with a motherboard a few years ago.

Well, the ink ran out and I went to Best Buy to get some more.

The price: 28.00 for the color
22.00 for the black ink

Wow, i thought that was insane and remember seeing a commercial for a printer for $59 but didn't know where.

So i went across the street to Walmart.

A Hewlert Packer??? HP for $48.00
I could buy a printer a new printer for the price of ink alone. Sold!

Took it home and plugged it in. It worked great.. Noisy and it didn't make multiple files.

Meaning: When I put 4 photos on the scanner...it thinks and saves them as one

So i would have to crop the scanned version 4 times to get the photos separated.

I called HP and they said their scanners don't do that.

I then checked Walmart by internet and they had a Canon Pixma 250 for $32.00. I called Canon and they said Sure the 250 is new and has all the improvements and does the Multiple Files.

OK, back into the box and back to Walmart.

I returned it.

There was the Canon. And it was $35 including taxes, and had the ink.

Ink for the old printer/scanner: $50
A brand new printer/scanner: $32

Saving $18....priceless

So be prepared to see more of my old photos.

Da Nose

Someone asked me why i had a bandaid on my nose in my last photos.

I had a spot that looked like a target....a couple circles. Occasionally, it would bleed, but finding a dr for an appointment is nearly impossible for within a reasonable time.

I was recommended to dr Koseny and when I met him knew i liked him.

He told me the spot was Basil cancer and would need an appointment to take it off.

But first he looked at my many brown spots and said do you want me to take those off, and I said if the price is right...and he did.

A few weeks ago the dr took half of my nose off....
stitched it and 10 days later
took the stitches out, it didn't heal together , it opened up like another nostril.

so gave me diabetic ointment to put on to have it grow together $640 for a tube...on the house...from his stock.

its not working.
so he promised me it would work and if not would take me around the corner from his office to the plastic surgeon.

The dr was a good sport and got my camera out of my jacket and let me take pictures.

So here is a Photo of dr koseny who has a home in Palmer Ranch and his nurse yolo....yolanta...stitching me up. I won't show the bloody ones.


He just got back from Parmer ranch where he did a lot of fishing.

I thought I could shake him down...for the surgery that didn't work.

I demanded some big stuff......some of the fish...one piece of a fish.

But Oh no, he's one of those nice guy fishermen, that catch and release the fish.

So, all I got for the trip to the Dr was this bandaid,met a nice dr and some great photos.

Detective Friend Gerald Swinkle

Everyday I usually check the fop death notices.
The web page went down and for weeks/months I could not check for any friends that I might have known.

Today I found the FOP new death notices web page.

Checked for any I might have missed.

Every month or two I would get a friendly call from Jerry Swinkle.
Area 5 and Area 4 guy.

When I was a cadet he took a liking to me, and up until he retired. I drove him and other detectives to turn in their stars.

While in the car driving to hdqtrs, we all laughed and laughed.
Then while going up the elevator, silence. Not one peep. We walked in and they handed in their paperwork,,,but when it came to the star. Each one needed help to drop it on the table.

Jerry, was not comfortable letting go of his star.
It was silence in the car. And they all looked like they were leaving part of their souls.

Just a heck of a nice guy. While in fla, I called him and we talked in Oct.

I haven't hear from him since and felt bad I didn't call him.
I almost called him today....but got busy at the drs office.

Well, he passed Nov 14.....another friend and super nice guy gone.
He would just tell all the stories about everyone....who they were,where they came from and who they knew. And he liked everyone he met,,,never a bad word.

Ok, there were a couple supervisors,no one had a good word for. Jerry would just skip over them.

We would talk and talk for an hour. Some old stuff, some new, but always interesting.

A funny guy with a great laugh.

I knew him for 40 yrs.....

may he RIP

Boat Ride with the Boyles

Our friend Jim Boyle brought his cousin and boat to Englewood fla.

They called us and invited us to join them for a boat ride up to Venice via the intercoastal and canal around the venice airport.

Their friend Tom joined Jim, Johnny, Karolyn and me.

We took about a 2 hour trip to Venice and out to Sea where we parked for awhile for rest and refreshments.

We returned just past Venice and stopped at the Marker 4 restaurant.

Hope you enjoy the photos