Weather in Orlando, which is central Florida and far away from the ocean vs
Daytona which is only 1 1/2 mile from the ocean. What a difference!
On my way home from one of my final PT sessions Thursday, I, and many others passed a completely naked man walking north on US 1 at 10:30 in the morning! It was one of those times when the brain took a few minutes to process what the eyes saw. I will admit he did have a pretty good body, but please don’t tell Pete! Friday will be my last day of PT. I have reached their goals for my balance, but I have a way to go before I feel I have mastered it.
The temps lowered a bit so Pete helped me with the biannual, deep cleaning: shades, windows, ceilings, walls, as well as organizing/inventory of closets, and drawers. Things tend to be misplaced or used up, recycled or no longer needed.
Saturday, June 1st, we drove down to Cape Canaveral for Starliner Saturn rocket launch. Traffic heading to the Cape was heavy due to 5 or 6 cruise ships departures later in the day. After a brief wait after the scheduled launch time, we learned that the launch was scrubbed at T-4 minutes due to ground computer control issues. We, and many others who had hoped to see the launch, headed back “home.” I am sure that the 2-person crew is also very disappointed.
The Starliner, according to Boeing’s website: ". . . its first voyage with astronauts to and from the International Space Station. This critical step for the program is meant to demonstrate Starliner’s launch-to-landing capabilities. The test flight will prove the team’s readiness to achieve NASA certification and fly long-duration missions for the agency." They hope to join SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic as private companies that are in the forefront of the new space race.
Private boats gathered on the water while guests aboard the cruise liners
thought they might get lucky in seeing a launch today
We monitored the launch app over the next few days and were able to return to see the launch of the Starliner on Wednesday, June 5th. They are headed to the space station for a week.
A wonderful visitor also checked in for the launch!
NASA's photos of the launch pad
the control room and the arm swinging away from tower and the crew ready for lift off
Cameras are ready!
Much lower to the ground was the serpentine contrail, the signature of a launch.
It is always interesting to walk Tillie along Palmetto Street. I usually find a few thing that peak my interest. These are the ones I collected this week:
Golden Trumpets and Hill Glory Bowers, both buds and full flowers
Live Oaks and an interesting and twisted pine tree
Large Morning Glory, the entrance to the Art League, and Oleander flowers, single and clustered
Back in March, my sisters in NJ and I picked a time when I could come to give them a break with the care of our mom. At 97, she has numerous issues and needs help and support. Unfortunately, over Memorial weekend she fell and is currently in rehab. With no release date from rehab, and both sisters with plans to get away, I was still needed, especially if they sent her home while Deb and Deneen were away.
A green turtle visitor and some of the homes just north of Ponce De Leon Inlet
Our view of F-Dock . That is MY REDHEAD (a 65-foot, 1989 Florida Costal Cruiser)
currently docked at the marina. Her previous owners were Billy Joel and The Active Captain organizers, Jeff and Karen Siegel.
So Tuesday, 6/11, the alarm went off at 4:30 am so I could catch my 6 am flight here in Daytona. I have to say it is so nice to have a 15-minute drive to the airport, and another 10 minutes to clear 1 of the 2 security lines for my flight. My only problem was trying to balance my carry-on luggage, backpack and C-Pap case while holding my phone open to the boarding pass. I “butt” called my brother-in-law, Joe, at 5:15 am as I was boarding. So sorry, Joe! It was otherwise, an uneventful, 1-hour flight to Atlanta. Once we arrived in the terminal at Atlanta, I asked an attendant for directions to the main terminal as there was no signage or info I could see. After pointing me in the right direction, he asked for my flight number and gave me directions to B terminal via the train. As I arrived near the gate, I saw the 8:30 am flight scheduled for Newark in A Terminal. It is also where the eateries are, and I need breakfast. After grabbing food, I figured I would wait in the area for that earlier flight as passengers had already boarded and there was lots of seating. I tried to verify on my Delta app, the departure gate and my boarding pass. I couldn’t find it, so I went to the counter and asked the attendant if I use the same boarding pass from my 1st flight on my 2nd. He said "yes, but showing me on your app." I just needed to press this area. He then reinforced I need to go to B terminal. I said “no problem. I know exactly where I need to go, Thanks!” As I grabbed my things to head to B terminal, I was asked for my phone with the app for them to check something. She did something on the computer, then handed me a luggage tag for my carry-on suitcase, and told me to hurry down the gangway, the plane takes off in 5 minutes! So here I was, heading to an earlier flight, trying to message Pete and Jenn with the info. This time I “butt” dialed Deb!
As it turns out, I arrived in Newark at 9:58 and my original flight wouldn’t leave Atlanta for another 2 minutes! Jenn was delayed due to 2 separate accidents. I was perfectly fine sitting in the air conditioning of the arrivals terminal and just relaxing.
As it turns out, I arrived in Newark at 9:58 and my original flight wouldn’t leave Atlanta for another 2 minutes! Jenn was delayed due to 2 separate accidents. I was perfectly fine sitting in the air conditioning of the arrivals terminal and just relaxing.
After greeting Jenn with a big hug, we headed to the Teterboro airport area with a number of places nearby to grab lunch. Jenn’s GPS took us to the southern end of the airport, where we found this really cool Mediterranean deli called “Thyme.” After a delicious lunch we headed up to see Mom in Rehab. We spent a few pleasurable hours visiting, before Jenn dropped me at Debi’s and headed back home.
Jenn, Mom and me, what a trifecta!
My niece, Jess, was also crashing at the house a couple of nights a week. This is to substantially shorten her daily commute while a bridge is under repair in route 15. It was being inspected after the earthquake earlier this spring and was found to have shifted on its foundation. It needed to be closed instead of restricted due to the damage. With no other major roads in the area, it meant terrible traffic on the backroads that are also miles out of the way. A 45- minute commute was now 2+ hours!
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| Hadi's team is in the green |
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| Tillie must be near Pete as he works on the computer |
Debi headed to her BFF, Jeanne’s in Connecticut the Saturday before I arrived so she could have a solid 2 weeks away. Deneen had a last minute invite to join a girlfriend on a 5-day cruise to Greenland. The husband was unable to leave work at this time. Both ladies enjoyed their breaks and I had a real nice time with Mom. We talked and shared a lot of things. Mom’s memory isn’t a good as it used to be, but we reminisced a lot. I was also able to talk with the doctor, nurses, PT, social worker and dietitian. Mom is making slow, but steady progress. She should use most of her rehab coverage, but should be able to head back home. She can’t wait!
My weekday schedule was uncomplicated. Mornings were for PT exercises, reading or doing one of the online photo classes. Afternoons were spent with Mom.
This is a photo of Heather's Loki, before and after editing.
I am really pleased with the editing techniques I am learning.
The Bitchen Kitten Brewery
As it turned out, Carolyn and I returned on Wednesday for a great dinner, plenty of conversation. Carolyn was introduced to “Belle,” Greg’s Dodge Charger SRT. Carolyn loves muscle cars & Formula 1 racing. She and Greg had a lot to talk about. Since we had to move the day up by one due to Greg’s work schedule, Jenn was unable to join us.
Howie had business in Ormand Beach, a few miles north of Daytona. He and Pete tried to grab dinner at McK’s on Thursday evening, but there was a ball game and fans packed the bar prior to the game. They wound up having a great dinner at The Chart house. Friday morning, they met at the Daytona Beach Golf Club. For a public course, it is well taken care of and enjoyable to play, but both men lost a lot of golf balls. They played most of the course, but with it being so hot and almost no breeze, they decided to opt for the AC in the onsite restaurant. Brunch was great! Then it was time for Howie to head home, and Pete, definitely, to the shower!
My visit north was a busy time. I put almost 500 miles on Deb’s car while visiting my kids, but it was so good to catch up with them! I wish I could have made Carolyn’s 75th birthday party, that was themed “A Medieval Night To Remember.” It was a costumed party of lords, ladies, monks, archers, falconers, swordsmen, great food, delicious cake (I had a few slices from the leftovers), merriment and celebration. Logistically, I couldn’t make it work. Instead of one day, I got to spend a couple of days with her.
To get to Carolyn's, we crossed the Delaware on the skinniest, 2-way bridge
before traveling the canopied roads on the PA side.
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| Mama Wolf Spider |
Carolyn picked me up at Deb's on Tuesday. Somehow, the electronic gods had a very weird sense of humor. Her GPS was programmed to travel on roads, not highways. As a result, the trip to NJ took 3 hours instead of 2. On our return trip, the GPS on my phone went a bit wonky and took us on a longer and crazier route, only 2.5 hours! We did make it back to her place in time for dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, Luberto’s. Over the next few days, I helped with the reallocation of the party supplies, return of equipment, dropping of extras for donations, etc. Friends were enjoying the pool when we tried to drop off coolers that weren’t theirs. We visited a bit before seeing a Wolf Spider with her babies on her carapace. The previous day, were invited to stay for lunch at at another friend’s home! I was really special to meet more of her fantastic friends. Most importantly, we had a chance to relax, reminisce, and enjoy our 40+ years of friendship.
The deer watching for our arrival home, Carolyn, the Queen of the Universe
and her newly gifted, laser/lightning carved walking stick
Flowers from her beautiful gardens
We both really relished our visit, but too soon, it had to end. On Saturday, she drove me to Newark Airport. To say this airport was a bit busier than Daytona is an understatement. There must have been 20 security stations with a good 10 people on each line, and that does not include another 10-15 express security lines. Thankfully, it was only about 20 minutes to clear security and another 20 minutes to walk to the gate. It was another uneventful flight. It left at noon and arrived in Atlanta at 2. I watched most of the movie, King Arthur. My next flight departed at 5:30. I planned to finish my movie on this leg, but King Arthur wasn’t one of the offerings. Oh, well. I am sure I will be able to catch it on TV sometime in the future. This leg is only an hour flight. No time to get bored.
It was so nice to be back in Daytona. I was off the plane and at the curb in 5 minutes. Pete and Tillie arrived shortly thereafter. Both were happy to have me back and I really missed them too!
Weather forecasters have been monitoring the tropics. A tropical depression in the southern Caribbean remarkably transformed into a Category 5 Hurricane within 48 hours. It will be leaving death & destruction in its wake as it churns its way though the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. I was able to pull this information from the web as I was finishing up this blog post.
Per Wikipedia: Hurricane Beryl (/ˈbɛr.əl/) was a deadly and destructive hurricane that impacted parts of the Caribbean, the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Gulf Coast of the United States in late June and early July 2024. It was the earliest-forming Category 5 hurricane on record during any season in the Atlantic and just the second in the month of July, the other being 2005's mid-July Hurricane Emily. Beryl was also the strongest hurricane to develop within the Main Development Region (MDR) of the Atlantic before the month of July. The second named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane [nb 1] of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl was an atypical hurricane that, in addition to causing widespread destruction along its path across the Caribbean and United States, broke many meteorological records for the months of June and July, including its location, intensity and longevity.
NASA's GEOS East infrared satellite images from 7/2/24 and 7/4/24
Meteorological History:
Formed: June 28, 2024
Post-tropical: July 9, 2024
Dissipated: July 11, 2024
Category 5 hurricane: 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds: 165 mph (270 km/h)
Lowest pressure: 934 mbar (hPa); 27.58 inHg
Overall effects:
Fatalities: 38 total
Missing: 4
Damage: >$6 billion (2024 USD)
Areas affected: Barbados Exposed Islands (especially Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Yucatán Peninsula, United States (mainly Texas and Louisiana, the Ohio Valley and Lower Peninsula of Michigan) Canada (mainly Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia)
Currently, we have fared pretty well with storms doing much damage in other parts of the state. While I was a way, there were areas south of here that received 23+ inches of rain within 48 hours! Orlando has come under a number of severe storm warnings within the past week as had Jacksonville. Had we returned to the Chesapeake, we would had had some pretty severe weather as well. A photographer I follow from Kent Island, MD, David Sites, posted this magnificent photo as one of the storms approached Thomas Point Light.
~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P
