Things that grow out of other things

Yes, a metaphor in some ways and in others, completely literal. It appears that there are lots of things around here growing out of other things. First let me say that its been quite some time since I've lived in a place that active and truly meaningful local politics. Now don't offended. I'm not insulting DC in anyway, but the City Council was so liberal and no matter what they did, all bills had to go to Congress for review. The most exciting politics in DC was still the federal government and its antics no matter how delinquent or drug using DC politicians got.

Now down here, that's another story. I guess like many states around the country, Florida is flat broke. They're breaking contracts with teachers and school districts left and right. They've got whole community in foreclosure and budget deficits you could drive trucks through. Though down here in South Florida the County commission is thinking of driving harness racing through those loopholes. Seriously.

You might have heard Dave Barry on NPR on the subject. It seems the illustrious County Commission want to put slot machines at the Miami airport. But wait, as if that's not a potentially contentious enough debate... there's this little Florida law that says you can't have slot machines without horse racing. I kid you not. This is real stuff going on right here in my new home. Just curious where those horses might be running. I mean the runways are the obvious spot but if you thought geese in NY were troublesome... can you just see the difficulties with the 5th race? Ah, if only my father were around. He'd think this was funny. In fact, he find a way to make a trifecta out of the winner of the race, the on time departure and the number of passengers on the plane. Maybe I should send this idea to the County Commission?

But I digress. Then there's the property tax rate. No one on the Commission wanted their name attached to a tax increase. So they just didn't set one. They adjourned without addressing. That left the County Property Appraiser to do the dirty work. Unlike his "bosses" he seemed up to the task as he set the rate higher than the Mayor had be proposing. Glad I don't own property here. Once I figure out who all the players are, you know I'll be right in the mix. For now, I'm still trying to get a handle on all the incorporated cities within the county. Some places have mayors, someplace are just county. Its a tad confusing but not insurmountable. Any minute now I'm going to care enough to get it right.

Back to things growing out of other things. The Palm trees are going crazy. All sorts of things are sprouting out of them. Take a look. This first one is my favorite. Big pointy red things sticking out of the top of the trees. Cool.

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Some just have "things" hanging from every which way.



Others have things that just appear ...







I'm not really sure you can see on these pictures. I'll have to do better at my photography. Sometimes I think I must look hilarious I just pull to the side of the road, hop out and take a photo of a tree top. Hope back in and on my way I go. I can just hear them..."damn tourist."

I know I seem to have a preoccupation with clouds since I've arrived here but well, they're just pretty freaking awesome. This was the sunset looking down U.S. 1 after some errands.



These, as you should recognize by now, are from my balcony.






The fruit of the week was Guava. Suzanne is trying to get me to eat new things. No problem. I think she's finally given up on mushrooms so we're on to fruit. Have you ever had fresh Guava? It's pretty and awfully aromatic. But eating one is a bit weird. There are seeds that are hard as concrete. So you bit in and wonder if you should spit or what? Its hard to try and cut around them, though I guess it can be done. Suzanne says you just chew around them and swallow them. Sounds fishy to me. Sounds like just the thing my mother would have said would end up with me growing a guava plant in my stomach. I'm not sold. But they sure are pretty. This is me masquerading and a food photographer.



And when I'm not tracking clouds or wrestling fruit seeds... sometimes there's just a shadow on my balcony that catches my eye. I thought I'd share.



Sometimes its the little things in a day that makes me happy.



And so my friends, there you have it. Another installment in the exciting adventures of my new home in Miami. There might even be a business here for me soon... but that's too cumbersome to even begin to tell. Two steps forward, a whole leap back. I'll let you know when there's news. Until then. Its me and the trees, the plants, the clouds and the fruit. No jokes, please. Its a sore subject.

As always, cards, letters, emails and calls are much appreciated. How's your exciting world?

new places, new faces

Today is the first day of the hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. So... being good NOW activists (although when that happened again, I'm not quite sure) we set out to have a little demo on U.S. 1 in honor of the hearings. This is was my first real demo in Miami and I was immediately struck but how truly lucky I've been to have lived my life as an activist in the nation's capitol. In the past when I've done these, and I've done quite a few, we got to protest right there at the Supreme Court itself. We were at the Court to honor the Roe v. Wade anniversary each year. I was at the Court when I protested the Bush v. Gore decision. Boy, talk about taking something for granted.





So there we were on a major traffic artery and just yelling our little hearts out. I'm not sure that half the people who passed us even know who Sotomayor is! How sad. We had the requisite sign that said HONK for Justice or something like that and it was like pulling teeth. Patricia reminded me that I was spoiled by a city full of taxi drivers who were not only completely up on current events, but generally very liberal in their politics. Everyone in DC honks for a demo. And really honks. None of this polite, one toot thing, that happened today.

It was interesting to watch the commuters. You've all heard me complain that its almost a required Miami thing.... get in the car, get on the phone. And we don't do "hands free" here, that's for sissies. But this morning we were tickled by women putting on make-up, a man shaving, someone eating a BOWL of breakfast, complete with spoon, someone reading the paper and more. Most people refused to make eye contact at all. Those who were supportive, I'd say it was easily half men or almost half. Interesting. We definitely had a few shaking their heads no, or a finger or two, but not so many. Most of the pedestrians who passed us were supportive, but Miami is just NOT a pedestrian kind of place. One plus, I gotta say... PARKING. Right there by the demo site. That's always been a downside to the Supreme Court. If only they'd let us park right there.



It was fun this morning. Its been a while since I jumped up and down senselessly on the side of the road. It made me realize that demonstrating in DC is important... but visibility out there in the hinterlands of the country is critical. Where are all those young people? I'm ready to share the mantle of responsibility! I was definitely nostalgic for DC today. Okay, downright homesick for a bit, but I"m glad we were out there. It matters.


Did I mention that its hotter than hell here? It has finally stopped it monsoon like weather. It still rains but not that every single day deluge that was going on in June. But it is warm. Even at 7:30 am when we started out this morning it was warm. No way to do a demo in Miami anytime but morning. We'd die!!!



July 4th weekend I went with Nancy and family up to Hernando. We had a great time. Hung out and eat ourselves silly. Friend Suzanne made a spectacular meal of pork loin and pork infused mushrooms. I've never been a big fan of mushrooms but when you soak them with an entire bottle of port, even I can find room in my heart. It was mouthwateringly wonderful. That's a recipe to be repeated! when she's not cooking, here's Suzanne playing with Cady's new puppy Zeus.

We missed the fireworks. Sort of a long story but we just never connected. We did, however, find a field full of bats. It was very cool. But here we are glowing in the dark as we watched the bats.



The kids made a bonfire so they could make S'mores but it was too hot and way to mosquito-y for me. Hand me a graham cracker and some chocolate. No need to be eaten alive just to have a treat.



Here are some shots of our Fourth of July Feast!

We also played about a million games of Speed Scrabble. Its addictive. Just one more....

Finally, Sunday, we went tubing down the Rainbow River. That was awesome. It was a spectacular day. The Rainbow is a spring fed river, so its temperature is 72 degrees all year round. It was so cool and refreshing. The river was crowded so there was much less wildlife that other times we'd been there but nonetheless it was great. We saw a family of hawks complete with babies, a number of Angina's... A fascinating bird that is missing a certain oil in its skin. When its done diving in the water it goes to a rock or a tree branch and spreads its wings full out to dry. Its quite a sight.

I had the perfect float. Stuck into my tube I didn't feel like I had many options. Getting out might have been nice but the idea of getting back in again was slightly daunting. No matter. Nancy had decided to kayak down the river so I just attached myself to her. She was very kind about carrying my sorry but right down river with her. At one point we had all attached ourselves to her just to be funny. It was amusing.

These are back at the house. These are Sand Hill Cranes that came right up to the house, two days in a row. Very cool.

Things might be moving forward on the clinic, finally. I hate to jinx anything but we found a really beautiful office space. Now comes the negotiations. Keep your fingers crossed and send good vibes my way. I really am eager to get going. Recently I've felt a little like I lost my way a bit. We've been in the planning stage and I've been working along for so long that it almost feels like it will never happen. That's just not acceptable. I changed everything for this adventure. I need to get back on that proverbial horse and kick it into gear!

Speaking of giving up things... I saw the worst piece of theatre the other night. Oh, I guess if I'm really honest, yep it was bad. That doesn't mean it wasn't amusing at times, but it just wasn't good theatre. And, the woman behind me talked through most of it. Half the time she was telling her husband who I assume was hard of hearing. The other half, however, she was just commenting out loud. Joy. It reminds me of my mom threatening to buy a buffer of tickets around her just so she was sure to sit in silence. Now I get ya Mom!!! To clear my head of that theatre night, we went to a teeny tiny theatre right by the apartment that was offering $10 tix in July. What did it matter what they were showing, right?

It turned out to be 5 women doing monologues of women in Greek tragedy. They were retelling their stories or the story of their demise. Retelling it from their point of view rather than the stories, written by men, handed down through the ages. Hecuba, Clytemnestra, Daphne, Helen of Troy. It could have gone either way but it was pretty good. Yea! They're doing another, different production next weekend, also $10. I might try again. Maybe the answer is small theatres doing avant garde work. Whatever it takes.

This picture below show manzano bananas. These come from a tree in Janet and Nancy's yard. They are a little meatier than regular bananas. Smaller and thicker, but nice and sweet!



So there you have it. That's my news. What are you all up to? Postcards, letters, phone calls and visitors are always welcome.