THIS and THAT
A little bit about lots of things!

The Weather


We've had a cold spell here in Florida. Last week morning temperatures were in the 30's and 40's, afternoon temperatures reached the mid 60's. According to the weather man, it hasn't been this cold in six years!

My Health

Cold by Aeioux, on Flickr CC BY-NC [ Note: Not Millie Pictured in photo ]

Attention doctors: Old people say they feel better when it's warm out. I can attest to that - this past week I have been aching all over. When I first came down to Florida it was warm and I felt great, can't wait for that good weather to return!

Books



The other day I dropped into the library at my clubhouse. They don't have current best sellers but there is plenty to choose from. I picked up "Sea Glass" by Anita Shreve. The story takes place in a New England seaside town in 1929 and she recounts how the characters are effected by the times.

I finished the book in two days!

Movies


Finally got to see "Slumdog Millionaire" - One reviewer referred to the movie as "seriocomedy." No way was it, in any way, a comedy! I found it very disturbing to see such extreme poverty. If you do go, be sure to stay for the credits, they were a pleasant surprise!

Doubt


Without a doubt all the cast members of Doubt deserve an award for their performances! In the opening scene Phillip Seymour Hoffman, as a priest, gives a sermon - I was hooked right away. Meryl Streep can do anything, in this film she's a nun. Boy is she tough. Fortunately I never had a teacher like her!

Freddie Roman

Tonight I'm going to my clubhouse to see a master comic, Freddie Roman. Freddie was a hit on Broadway in the play, "Catskills on Broadway." He's performed all over the world and tonight as the comics like to say, "tonight I've really made it big, I'm at Kings Point."

That always gets a laugh and I sure could use one tonight!!

posted by millie garfield @ 1:16 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 11 comments

 
I REMEMBER WHEN ......
It had to be the early 70's and "the natives were getting restless." I was a wife, mother, friend and an a Avon Lady. It was time to do something more.

My thought was, maybe I could get a part time job but the problem was we only had one car and when I needed the car I had to drive my husband to his job at General Electric and pick him up at the end of the day.


57 Chevy BelAir 2 Door Hardtop CC BY-SA

I was not a happy camper because I had to get him to work at 7:30AM and pick him up at 4:30PM. I only did it when I really needed the car.

We were not in a financial position to afford a new car, or even a used car. My husband and I talked about it and he realized I was dead serious about wanting a part time job. He gave it some thought and said, "if you get a job I will drive you to your place of employment and pick you up at the end of the day."

Great, all I had to do was find a job! At that time temporary employment agencies were popular, I registered and before I knew it there was an office job available in a nearby town!!

That first morning my husband drove me to my job and made arrangements to pick me up at the end of the day. Well, I got to talking to one of the girls and come to find out she lived in the same city as me and offered to drive me home!!!! I called my husband and said, "Honey, you don't have to pick me up, I have a ride home!!!" For the rest of that assignment I had transportation.

On another occasion the agency had a job for me at General Electric - great - no problem - that's where my husband worked so we rode into work together.


Aircraft jet engine : GE90-115 by FrancoisRoche, on Flickr CC BY-NC-SA

My job was in the Jet Engine Department, answering the phone and typing reports, all in all a pretty dull job with one exception. There were many reports that were about "Bird Ingestion." The company had birds on the grounds and did tests to see how they would affect the engines!!

Now I guess you can realize what prompted this post

The other day the US Airways flight 1549 was forced into an emergency landing probably due to "bird ingestion." Imagine that, after all these years they still can not solve the "bird" problem. It's a tough one!

posted by millie garfield @ 4:50 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 9 comments

 
ONLY IN FLORIDA - PART TWO
Going to a beauty shop up North and going to one in Florida is a totally different experience. The shops here are large, noisy and always have lots of ladies getting their hair and nails done. It's a weekly ritual for them.

It was time for my monthly cut and color so off I went to what they call down here, "the beauty salon."


Woodland Beauty Salon by Куртис Перри, on Flickr CC BY-NC-ND

While I was waiting to be taken I started a conversation with another lady-in-waiting. The more we talked the more interesting the conversation became. Come to find out this lady lives in the same development as a friend of mine. (I only know one person who lives there) I asked - "Do you know Annette?" She not only knows my friend but gets together with her on many occasions! Wow!

This bubbly 85 year old lady became a widow four years ago and was not looking for a relationship with a member of the opposite sex.

One day while she was in the gym a gentleman who lives in her development started a conversation with her and asked her out to dinner!

Well, she didn't give it a second thought and said "YES."


Restaurant table 15 by Cedric's pics, on Flickr CC BY-NC-SA

I enjoyed hearing her tell me about her reaction to the dinner invitation. She surprised herself by her immediate, "yes." She's been going with him for a year now, and sees him on her terms and if she doesn't like something about him, she lets him know. She says, "At my age I say whatever I feel like."

Before I knew it, It was time for me to get my hair done.

Now, this is not the end of my day.

Once I left the beauty salon I went to the nearby Carnival Flea Market. As I was strolling down an aisle I saw someone that looked familiar but you know what, there are a lot of people down here that look like someone I know!

This time it was someone who is a neighbor of mine up North, she's visiting her daughter who lives down here.

Like I say, "only in Florida!"

posted by millie garfield @ 4:41 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 7 comments

 
THERE ARE ALWAYS CHANGES
It never fails, every season when I come down to Florida there are always changes, some good, some not so good.

LIBRARY

The old West Atlantic library has been replaced with a spanking new LARGE building, The Delray Public Library. The old library was closer for me, it met my needs and had an adequate parking lot. Once a month I attended a book review given by a charming and knowledge person. Nora's favorite expression was, "in my opinion." I learned from that!

In order for me to get to the new library I have to travel a little further. Once you approach the building it's like you are going to an high-end development. The road has many curves, then finally you get to the HUGE parking lot!


Handicapped by roujo, on Flickr CC BY-NC-ND

This community has loads of seniors who have all kinds of physical limitations. Even when they park in a handicapped spot, it's still a long walk to the building. The planning committee must have been "young" not to realize that design is not good for "elders."

While visiting the library I inquired about "Nora's" scheduled book reviews. She is no longer doing them at that branch, she's doing them at a library in another city! My friends and I enjoy her so much, we will make the effort and try to catch her at her new location.

GAMES

The once a month card game is still intact.


Straight Flush by stevegarfield, on Flickr CC BY-NC-SA

We meet in the afternoon and then go out to eat, makes for an enjoyable day.

MAH JONGG

Last season we had six players. The game only requires four but it's always good to have more than you need, someone is sick, has company or is going on a trip.


Mah Jongg Rack by AngerBoy, on Flickr CC BY-NC-SA

So far this season there are only two of us available. Two "girls haven't come down yet, one "girl" is just getting out of rehab and another "girl" is not coming down any more.

Hopefully we'll start playing in a few weeks.

THE WAGON

The newer developments in this area have coffee shops and bars in their pool areas. My community is one of the oldest and does not have that available BUT this season they have a wagon that visits each pool area twice a day with coffee, cold drinks and snacks.


drinks by LinksmanJD, on Flickr CC BY-ND

The news is out, they now will be selling beer and wine also! I'll drink to that!!

posted by millie garfield @ 5:05 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 12 comments