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Don Boyd | profile | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> NEW COMMENTS starting July 1, 2011 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Memories of Old HIALEAH, Florida - Historical Photo Galleries and Commentaries - click on image to view and read | MIAMI SPRINGS and VIRGINIA GARDENS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | OPA-LOCKA and adjacent areas Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | 1883 to 1919 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to view | 1920 to 1929 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to view | 1930 to 1939 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to view | 1940 to 1949 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to view | 1950 to 1959 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to view | 1960 to 1969 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to view | 1970 to 1999 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to view | 2000 and later Miami Area Photos Gallery - click on image to view | Miami Area Tourist and Local ATTRACTIONS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | Miami and Florida AVIATION Historical Photos Gallery - Airports, Airlines, Aircraft - All Years - click on image to view | Miami Area CARS, Car Clubs, Car Rental Agencies, Car Dealers, Drag Racing, Auto Shows, Speedways - click on image to view | DOWNTOWN Miami, Bayfront Park and Port of Miami Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | Miami Area GAS STATIONS Historical Photos gallery - All Years - click on image to view | Miami Area GROCERY STORES and Food Markets Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | Miami Area HOTELS and MOTELS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | Miami Area INDIVIDUALS and GROUPS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | Miami Area and South Florida MISSILE BASES Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | Memories of MUSIC, Radio Stations, Musical Groups and Links to Oldies Videos Photo Gallery - click on image to view | Miami Area RESTAURANTS, Drive-Ins, Bars, Lounges, Liquor Stores, Clubs, Strip Joints, etc. Gallery - All Years - click to view | Miami Area SCHOOLS, Classes, Teams, Bands, and Clubs Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | South Florida SHOPPING CENTERS, STORES, and MALLS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | Miami Area TELEVISION and RADIO PERSONALITIES Historical Photo Gallery - click on image to view | Miami Area THEATRES and DRIVE-IN THEATRES Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view | 6/15/11 - RIP Mr. Haast! Bill HAAST and the MIAMI SERPENTARIUM Photo Gallery - click on image to view | Old National and Miami Area ADVERTISEMENTS - All Years - click on image to view | Gallery: Do YOU Remember? - all years - click on image to view | Burger Beast Museum Gallery - located at the entrance to the Magic City Casino in Miami | It is spelled Opa-locka, not Opa-Locka, not Opa Locka and not Opa locka - click on image to view gallery | Dade and Broward High School Reunions - Post them here in the comments - click on the image to see planned and past reunions | 2010 - current race/ethnic percentages for Miami-Dade and Broward County High Schools | Support Historic Hialeah Park | Memory Test - where were these photos taken? | Comments from folks who grew up in the 1970's and 80's - click on image to view | VeteranAid.org - valuable information on the little known VA Aid and Attendance Program - click on image to view | Oldest Comments Gallery - August 2006 through July 31, 2008 - closed to new comments - click on image to view | Older Comments Gallery - August 1 thru December 31, 2008 - closed to new comments - click on image to view | Older Comments Gallery - January 1, 2009 thru January 17, 2010 - closed to new comments - click on image to view | OLD Comments Gallery - January 18 thru June 30, 2010 - closed to new comments - click on image to view | OLD Comments Gallery - July 1 through December 31, 2010 - closed to new comments - click on image to view | OLD Comments Gallery - January 1 through June 30, 2011 - closed to new comments - click on image to view | NEW COMMENTS starting July 1, 2011 | Rogues Gallery - photos of our comments gallery contributors - click on image to view

NEW COMMENTS starting July 1, 2011

Please post your comments here starting July 1, 2011.
NEW Comments Commencing 7/1/11
NEW Comments Commencing 7/1/11

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Jeff 29-Aug-2019 02:39
KK - Nice to see you are trying to keep this going in Don's memory. He was a good friend, and I miss our occasional phone calls and lunches together...
Don Boyd27-Aug-2019 00:38
This is Don's oldest daughter. I'm doing my best to keep the spam comments off. Thanks for your patience! Thanks for all of your continued interest and memories shared.
KK
Guest 25-Jul-2019 15:30
Having not been on this for quite some time I am sorry to hear of Don's passing. It really will be a shame if this cannot be rescued.
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Leighton 21-Dec-2018 00:58
Can somebody get rid of these garbage posts?
Roger 05-Dec-2018 09:03
Are you actually asking what happened to 1950s appliance stores? Really. It's Lowe's and Home Depot now. Sears dying, and probably JC.
Jerry 29-Nov-2018 15:40
Anyone remember Art Green on WMIE in the early 1950s? His theme was Glenn Miller's version of Penthouse Serenade. Also, there were a lot of tire stores that actually sold appliances. Anyone know what happened to them?
Jeff 11-Nov-2018 01:54
Er... meant "likewise"...
Jeff 11-Nov-2018 01:54
Likeway the post following this one... "Liubov Nikonets"? Sure..................... I'll contact Dr. Lewis right now to see if he can cure a case of "web bots"... LOL!
Leighton 06-Nov-2017 05:24
Well, I haven't set foot in Miami for thirty years. But from my hundreds of posts, you can see that I'm obsessed. As are you, Jeff. My job allows me lots of free time, but it really should be somebody living in Miami. I'll likely be relocating from Texas, to East TN, to spend time with my 87 year-old father. Miami will always be a special place for me, no matter when I left. (I lived there 1967 - 1974, then back at UM, 1982 - 85.)
Jeff 03-Nov-2017 02:02
No one can ever run this site the way Don did, but perhaps at some future point in time someone will have the knowledge and know-how to monitor the comments, add new photos and keep the site fresh in Don's memory. We can only hope for this, but in the meantime still be appreciative of Don's love for preserving the memories of a South Florida long past...
Sam 22-Oct-2017 20:35
I wish I could help out, but I have to be honest enough to admit that I do not have the computer skills that I'm sure it would take to administer this site as effectively as Don has for many years. I hope someone will come forward with the required know how, I would certainly be ready and willing to assist that person in any way I can.
Jeff 21-Oct-2017 02:36
Not a bad idea, Leighton. Perhaps Karen (or whomever helps her out) will do as such once she gets things in order.

I Googled Douglas Rodgers Loan Firm and found it is located in the United Kingdom and has a web page of its own with no warning from McAfee Site Advisor.

Now, whether they are legit, semi-legit or total scam is not the issue. (However I did find some comments on Google about some scammers pretending they were the loan company in order to con unsuspecting people.)

As you stated, this forum was still spammed by them, and this is NOT what Don set up the forum for.
Leighton 18-Oct-2017 09:04
I suggest temporarily closing the comments sections, to avoid the spam, as you see below.
Jeff Levine 01-Oct-2017 01:10
The following post was from me; Jeff Levine. This site has had some trouble posting comments lately...
Guest 01-Oct-2017 01:09
Dear Visitors:

Our dear friend Don Boyd passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 27th after battling pancreatic cancer. Those of us who got to know Don will miss him deeply.

In speaking with his wife (Karen) this evening, she was unsure who would be administering this site in the future, but was open to suggestions.

If you have the time, inclination and desire to keep this site up-to-date as best as possible, please contact Karen through oldmiamimemories(at) gmail (dot) com - perhaps you can be the helping hand she will need.

The site is paid up for a number of years, but right now no one will be monitoring it or adding any photo archives.

Rest in peace, Don...
Guest 14-Feb-2017 15:45
Don,

Contact me again via private mail.

Charles
Don Boyd23-Jan-2017 05:59
Hey Charles, it's great to hear from you again. I will respond via private e-mail soon. Thanks for posting.

Don
.
Nike 07-Jan-2017 17:34
Don,

After a year at a university in Jaen, Spain for a year, living an a small fishing village on the Adriatic Sea in Kastel Kambelovac, Croatia for six months, and Normandy, France for three months, we are back home in sunny Palm Springs, California. Before leaving Normandy, I had a medical problem that has me in a wheelchair since May. After several hospitalizations in France and back in the States, it appears that will be permanent.

Now for the good news. I have completed the book, Nuclear Birds in the Everglades. A preview is available on my website www.Nike252.org.

I begin my senior year at California State University Monday. Next summer, Nancy and I are planning a trip to Atlanta in July to participate in the annual 10K Peachtree Road Race (yes, in a wheelchair. Then, if I am still alive, a trip to south Florida. If you and Karen are available, we can get together with Parks and Susan for Dinner at Versailles for some arroz con pollo.
Bob S. 24-Apr-2016 16:39
I lived in an apartment, which is still there in Sweetwater. The big green house I was referring to was definitely on SW 82nd just south of the Trail. Where there's houses now right next to the Palmetto Expressway, there used to be fields of that tall cane like grass. The area just south of the Trail on the east side of SW 82nd Ave was swampy woods. Used to love it there, we found lots of turtles in those woods. The houses facing SW 82nd north of 10th were already there.

When I moved out of that house, we lived on SW 96th Ave just south of Bird Road, so I did 6th Grade at Olympia Heights. Interestingly, I graduated Kindergarten and 6th grade at Olympia Heights, but did not attend there in between. I lived on SW 95th Ave just south of Bird Road in Kindergarten. I remember sitting through Hurricane Betsy in that house back in 65.
Leighton 24-Apr-2016 15:53
CORRECTION - "northeast corner" - Pet Heaven is on the NW.
Leighton 24-Apr-2016 15:27
Between 1971 - 72 (two years), Miami Christian School rented what is now St. Simon's Episcopal Church during the week, for classes, till the additional school building was completed in 72. It is located at SW 34th, below FIU and Tamiami Park. We first met at MCS for "pledges," then took the bus to the church.

Interestingly enough, my former third grade teacher is now principal of the school. She taught me at St. Simon's. It was a traumatic year, as on the way to the church in the bus one day, we passed her VW Bug in an accident at 107th and Tamiami Trail. She was absent for several months.
Leighton 24-Apr-2016 15:15
It seems that most of the much older Sweetwater homes were built in the 1920s, during the land boom. I attended Miami Christian School from 69 - 73, on 109th and West Flagler, behind Pet Heaven, which is still going strong, (as is the school). The house I am referring to, was on the "northwest" corner of 109th and West Flagler, set far back from the road. It was a large old home, and I think that it was wooden, and was moved. The spot now has a "lake," and apartments, homes, etc. I am betting that the apartments are not even the same ones that they built in the 70s.

Back then, we watched Fontainebleau (correct spelling) go up. LOTS of pine woods in the area, then. My family lived off NW 63rd Court and Flagler, and it seemed like a long ride out to school.

Apparently, there were a lot of old homes in Sweetwater - again, due to the land boom, prior the the 1928 hurricane and Depression - although sources vary in details. The story of the Royal Russian Dwarfs/Midgets is interesting - I've read a few good articles. It did not become a city till 1941, with a population of 25. However, the number of residents prior seems undetermined.
Guest 23-Apr-2016 20:18
Leighton,

By the way in 73-74 I lived on 109th and SW 6th in Sweetwater which would have been about 5 blocks from the house your talking about. But guess the memory is hazy after all these years. We used to fish for brim, sunfish and mud fish off the 109th Ave bridge, and from underneath.
Bob S. 23-Apr-2016 13:07
Leighton,

Not sure about the house your speaking of. My dad worked on the Fountainebleau after we moved to Sweetwater. They were still building FIU on the old Tamiami Airport site. Although the Campus was already open, and classes in session.

I have tried to find aerial photos of the SW 82nd Ave and Tamiami Trail area back in the 70-72 era and can't find anything. I went to Everglades Elementary for the 4th and 5th grade, I lived in that house for two years. That house was scary, but some how I still have fond memories of living there. We were surrounded by woods on two sides, and had a huge un-mowed grass lot in front of the house. My sister always swore that house was haunted.

The house itself was a very large spanish style, two story stucco, it had a carriage house with an upstairs drivers/butlers quarters, and downstairs in the carriage house was a servants bathroom, and a separate laundry room. The house had a very large kitchen and a separate pantry with built in hutches, a large dining room, a ballroom with a fireplace and walkout patio with french doors. I know this sounds great, it was about a 7,000 square foot house, but it was already slated to be demolished when we rented it. It was a 60 year old house, termite and spider infested. I shiver when I remember those dang big spiders.

Anyway thanks for responding. I was born in Miami and lived there off and on for my first 14 years (all but 4).
Leighton 21-Apr-2016 01:42
If you're asking about my statement, I am wondering if anyone remembers the large home that used to reside at 107th and West Flagler. In the 70s, I recall watching it being "moved," and replace by a "lake" and development.
Guest 20-Apr-2016 17:45
Huh . . . where did yhat come from?
Leighton 19-Apr-2016 23:29
Bob, ANYWAY, I went to school out in that direction, and the growth of the area had started in the early 70s. I remember the building of the Fontainebleau on Flagler, and the explosion of developments on Tamiami. There was a large two-story home near Flagler and NW 107th...I seem to remember them moving it?
Don Boyd19-Apr-2016 01:33
Nike Charles, it's great to hear from you again and to read of your adventures. That was a funny comment by your fellow student about your being present during Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Getting older is not that funny in real life though. The Concorde at CDG is popular with photographers and I've seen a lot of photos of it. We only had Air France Concordes come into MIA about three times over the years, all of them on charters. We're looking forward to another visit to Versailles with you and Nancy. : )

Thanks for your update Nikeman!

Don
.
Nike 18-Apr-2016 06:15
Don,

After six months in Croatia working on the book on the Nike missiles in south Florida during and after the Cuban Missile Crisis titled "Nuclear Birds in the Everglades." It is now 95% complete.

We have now moved to Normandy, France where I should complete the book in a month or so. We rented a farmhouse near Falaise (famous WWII battle) which was formerly an apple press used for French brandy. There are so many war memorials here I am a bit distracted from my writing. I should complete the book by early summer.

Nancy and I plan to return home (California) this October so I can complete my degree. If things go well, I will be 73 when I graduate. I have ties older than some of my professors. In a history class on The Civil War, we were discussing Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The professor asked, "What would it have been like to have actually been there and here such a speech in person 150 years ago." One of the students said, "Let's ask Mr. Carter, he was actually there."

When I fly in and out of Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, I can see a Concorde mounted on a pedestal and think of you and you fabulous airline photos.

When I get back to Miami this fall, we will get together again at the Cuban restaurant Versailles on Calle Ocho. Best to you and Karen.
Bob S. 21-Mar-2016 18:00
Correction, SW 82nd Ave just south of the Tamiami Trail. And Ben Burnie not Burney.
Bob S. 17-Mar-2016 14:46
Hi, I went to Tropical Elementary, Everglades Elementary, Sylvania Heights Elementary, Olympia Heights Elementary. I can't remember the name of my Junior High, although I was bussed from Sweetwater.

When I attended Everglades Elementary I lived in a large old Spanish style green house on NW 87th Ave, just south of the Tamiami Trail. The house was owned by Ben Burney and the Peyton Family (my dad went to school with some of the Peyton kids, and remembered when they lived in that house). I've looked at the overhead photo views and there seems to be a shopping center where that house was.

My wife and I took a trip to Key West a few years ago and we drove in on the Tamiami trail, I couldn't believe how far out the housing went. When we moved out of Florida in 74, Sweetwater was it until you got to 50 mile bend.
Leighton 10-Mar-2016 17:40
I tried RM, and five of six addresses were off. And no street views? Plus, the accoutrements are limited.
Guest 07-Mar-2016 18:22
I don't use them anymore, I use Rand McNally now. I get much better results.
Leighton 05-Mar-2016 23:11
Have had about one address off, in a decade. Granted, a few will be a block away from the actual address. Again, I make directional maps as part of my job, and Google Maps has worked wonderfully, as an aid.
Guest 02-Mar-2016 17:26
They are also way off with Charlotte County, Florida addresses. I requested a route from my house in Punta Gorda to an address in Port Charlotte and they sent me to a location miles PAST the place I wanted to visit.
Don Boyd29-Feb-2016 16:34
I use Google Maps to pinpoint or "geotag" locations where I have posted photos and they are a mess with Hialeah addresses, often selecting locations that are miles from the typed-in address. They are also way off with Dade County addresses in the unincorporated area that is surrounded on four sides by Hialeah, otherwise known as the "hole in the donut."

Don
.
Leighton 29-Feb-2016 06:26
I use Google Maps for a living, and have never had a problem. Perhaps it is an issue in South Florida.
Don Boyd28-Feb-2016 17:25
Google Maps is often wrong and way off with Hialeah street addresses. E. 4th Avenue does not intersect with Okeechobee Road because it is south of Hialeah Drive (NW 54th Street in the county) and that Hialeah section is labeled as SE to distinguish it from E. If you type in the fictitious address of "400 E. Okeechobee Road" a map will come up with a pinpoint that is east of the intersection but it shows the intersection off to the left (west) with East Drive in Miami Springs on the other side of the bridge.

Don
.
Leighton 27-Feb-2016 17:11
I was looking at Google Maps, and cannot figure out where an East 4th Avenue intersected Okeechobee. A few other streets with 4th in the name come close, but not East.
Guest 04-Dec-2015 14:13
Guest
Does anyone remember the name of the fruit stand that was on the corner of East 4th Avenue and Okeechobee Road during the 1960s?
Leighton 25-Oct-2015 17:21
The "Everglades" screening was in 2009, in Fort Lauderdale.
Leighton 25-Oct-2015 17:13
I'm about 30% into "Wind Across the Everglades," and I'm finding it difficult to finish. LOVE the scenery, but the supporting characters are a bit cartoonish. Plummer is great. I've read all about the history of the flick. One wonders what director Ray's intended version of the film would have been.

I know that Plummer attended a special screening in Southern Florida within the past decade - bet he had great stories. There have been a few within the past few years.
Don Boyd20-Sep-2015 16:11
Nike, it's good to hear from you and thanks for the update in e-mail addresses. Good on your European travels all over and being on the sea coast.

Karen and I are fine and still flying frequently to different cities in the US. Her 94-year old mother passed away in mid-July so we will no longer being flying to Tampa/St. Pete to visit her every month though. I haven't heard from Parks and Susan in quite a while and I hope they're fine. The US will still be here next summer so we're looking forward to your visit.

I'll send you an e-mail soon.

Don
.
Guest 20-Sep-2015 15:03
Don,

I didn't get the message due to a change in my email. Thanks and I have now accessed the article.

I was in Spain through Cal State University for a year which ended last month. Cal State has granted me a year leave of absence to complete my book on the Cold War in south Florida so, Nancy and I are traveling Europe while I write.

While in Spain, we visited Portugal, Morocco (rode a camel), and Gibraltar.

After a couple of weeks in France, we are now in Croatia. We have a cottage on the seacoast in Split, Croatia where I will write for the next couple of months before continuing our travels.

How are you and Karen? How about Parks and Susan? I miss seeing all of you. I am planning a trip to south Florida next summer when I return to the US if it is still there.

Nike
Charles(at)CarterUSA(dot)net
Don Boyd26-Jul-2015 18:09
Happy belated birthday Jeff, you're catching up to me.

Nike: I sent you a link to an article about the Krome missile site being demolished but in case you didn't get it the link is:
http://www.abandonedfl.com/nike-ifc-hm-95-is-set-to-be-demolished/

Don
.
Jeff 23-May-2015 02:12
I was just informed that Jack Knapp (the former owner of the Imperial Lanes/Pinerama/Interama Bowl bowling alley) died today at the age of 93.
Jeff 22-Apr-2015 23:05
Good news, of sorts.. One of the implants I was facing is now a "wait and see"... and with a net of $315 raised on GoFundMe as well as $200 in other checks (all donations from friends) I'm able to pretty much handle the dental issues OK now. I've shut down the GoFundMe page, so anyone still considering the possibility of donating no longer needs to.
Leighton 16-Apr-2015 15:24
I have about a $10,000 tab of my own, the delayed result of a nasty mugging, kidnapping from 2004. Cracked teeth finally giving way. Fun!! I'm taking out a bank loan - the one that I wanted to obtain for a car. Oh, well.
Jeff 08-Apr-2015 14:36
If anyone out there is from the old group [or even some new visitors to this site] and feels my past contributions of trivia were welcome, I'd like to ask a bit of help.

I'm normally quite self-sufficient, but right now I've become overwhelmed financially by up to $6000 in unexpected dental work which will begin very soon.

Despite the mixed emotions of doing so, I've started a GoFundMe page. The link is www.gofundme.com/pb3644

If you can spare but a dollar, anything will help defray these expenses and help me stay on an even keel. I'm a bit too young for Medicare, and my income is royalty based - so it varies month-to-month (although fixed expenses remain constant).

If this type of request offend you, please kindly just ignore it rather than post any negative or insaulting comments. Don made a contribution and said I could post the request here.

Thank you.
Don Boyd24-Mar-2015 17:50
Bill, no, I haven't heard of the El Toro Cafe but hopefully someone reading this will remember someday in the future. I will repost your comments on the "Restaurants Gone But Not Forgotten" page to increase the exposure to site visitors. That gallery is located at: http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/132573219

Don
.
Bill Bray 24-Mar-2015 15:09
Don, Have you ever heard of an "El Toro Café" in the Little River Area of Miami, not far from the NAS Miami at Opa-locka? This would have been in 1945 when my father-in-law was stationed at the airfield during WWII. Supposedly he rented a garage apartment just around the corner from the café and I would like to know the street address of the café to help determine the general area to search in census records. Thanks to anyone who could help! Bill
Leighton 21-Feb-2015 18:24
What kind a "patriot" are you? Please stay in Spain. Common sense is germinating here.

You love to tout yourself, as said earlier. More power to you.

Yes, I am an "American," as well. Your proclamations of our President being somehow "unAmerican" sound delusional. Get a grip. It's 2015. Times are changing.
Nike 21-Feb-2015 07:01
Leighton,

In your remark, "when you say you've run to Europe, because you disagree with the current president, I don't get it" you are right, you don't get it.

I didn't "run to Europe," I came to Spain with the University of California to study for a year at the Universidad de Jaen to study Spanish for a year. We decided to remain in Europe for another year or so to travel much of the world we had not yet visited.

My earlier remarks you you "didn't get" were "We plan on remaining in Europe until the current administration is replaced with one that upholds the values upon which America was built and many gave their lives to defend."

Regarding your Tea Party remarks, Although I subscribe to many of the principles of which the Tea Party was founded, I am not a member. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat. I am an American who loves his county and willing to fight those who threaten our country. That is more than I can say for the current president (Obama) who doesn't seem to be willing to do so. His remarks are un-American which (in my opinion) makes him un-American in behavior and character.

It is incomprehensible to me how anyone can support his actions. However, do respect your right to do so.
Leighton 19-Feb-2015 15:04
Nike,

Oh, brother. This is turning into a Tea Party talkback section. You actually epitomize what has gone wrong in the USA. It's turned into "they against us" in every aspect of society. It's destructive. Fellow Americans are not your military opponents. Again, patriot, when you say you've run to Europe, because you disagree with the current president, I don't get it.

So, you think people should not have universal healthcare? People deserve to get ill, and die, through no fault of their own?

Times are changing. I love this site, and I love history (a co-major in college), but I don't live in the past. Too many people come in here and "wax nostalgic" about "the good old days." Yeah, those times of racism, submission of women, hatred against gays, pollution, nuclear proliferation, etc. YAY! Let's get back to THAT! As much as we'd like to think that "old Miami" was "Leave It to Beaver," it was far from it.

And spare me from any claims that I am attacking the military. I am aware of its necessity, and what the soldiers do for us. I just don't like to see its presence "waved around" with knee-jerk jingoism.

Oh, by the way, half of the people at Fox News don't believe a @#*# thing they're saying. It's all about MONEY. In one of the many hats I wear, I came into contact with several of those talking heads. It was amazing, and disturbing, how, once the cameras were not on them, they totally transformed into different people, with opposing thoughts. All for the bucks. Scary. Confrontation means big money for the media - they thrive on it, and drive the hatred.

Do not make simplistic assumptions about who I am. Back in 1980, at Tulane, I had a group of friends - their "affiliations" were all over the map, politically and religiously. I miss that time. We respected each other. It was expected. Now, everything has become so polar.

Just remember, that probably half of the military is on a different political spectrum than you.
Nike 19-Feb-2015 05:41
Leighton,

About your comment, "Nothing says patriotism, like escape. Aside from hiding behind military service." Veterans don't hide behind their military uniforms or service, they wear them as a badge of honor.

Regarding picking and choosing presidents to quote, I'll could have picked your favorite. How is this, "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor" and "The cost of healthcare will go down under the American Affordable Act (Obamacare)."

How did that work out?
Leighton 18-Feb-2015 23:29
Nike, you are showing your true colors. If someone votes in a way that you object to, they are "stupid"? How clueless are you? I now SERIOUSLY question your "patriotism." You DO understand what our founding fathers fought for, correct?

I comprehend the concept of "taxes," thanks. And "working." And "lawful duty."

It is PRICELESS that you are quoting Kennedy. The pick-and-choose cafeteria.

So, how is Spain? And Europe, in general? Are you returning to the US, when it suits your needs?

Again, enlighten me. What various "Leightons" do you encounter? I have always been who I am.

Again, how "patriotic" of you, to proclaim a person "stupid," who votes for their chosen candidate.

By the way, you never fail to come in here, and trumpet your accomplishments. More power to you. Does that make you more "patriotic"?
Nike 18-Feb-2015 19:36
That's the Leighton I expected.

For clarification of the word "stupid," that would be someone who voted for Obama the first time. "Stuck on Stupid" is someone who voted for him the second time. Only you know whether you are simply "Stupid" or have graduated to "Stuck on Stupid.

There are many who have never served the United States in the military ut are very patriotic. Only you can say whether or not you are a patriot. If you think so, what have you done that makes you think you are? Working is being is simply being responsible for yourself and those who depend on you. Paying taxes isn't patriotic, it is a lawful duty.

President Kennedy said it best in his 1961 inaugural address, "Ask not what your country has done for you, ask what you can do for your country."



Leighton 17-Feb-2015 05:13
Which Leighton? Always the same. Are you calling me "stupid"? I don't have to have served in the military, to be a "patriot." What is your definition of a "patriot"? Someone who declares that leaving the country, is somehow "patriotic"? You made a blatant, bizarre political statement, and I found it despicable. I have no desire to leave the USA, if I don't agree with the current president. If I don't agree with what is happening, I VOTE. If it doesn't turn out the way I choose, then so be it. I vote during the next election. How dare you imply, that I have no right, because I haven't served in the military. I work. I vote. I live in this country. Don't use your service as some sort of holy shield.
Nike 15-Feb-2015 13:24
Leighton,

I always wonder which Leighton we will get on his next posting.

Regarding your most recent comment, you would have to understand what patriotism is before being a patriot. For me, it was serving my country in uniform defending the rights of other Americans to say stupid things while hiding behind "being offended."

However, some folks are simply "stuck on stupid."

I only have one question for you, "What have you done to preserve the freedoms and liberties of fellow Americans?"



Leighton 05-Feb-2015 03:18
Oh, my. Nothing says patriotism, like escape. Aside from hiding behind military service? I find your comments offensive. But gung-ho jingoism sells in our climate.

Go for your best shot - that seems to be the way.
Don Boyd02-Feb-2015 05:55
Hey Nike Charles, it's good to hear from you. I know that some of the rogues are on Facebook and that's where I am a lot of the time just trying to keep up with 800+ friends and acquaintances on there. The old Miami-Hialeah type groups are very interesting and I've been collecting a lot of their photos for future posting on here since they think nothing of using photos from my site on their groups. I'm glad you and Nancy are having a good time over there in Europe but still can't figure out why you would want to pursue a degree at this stage in your life. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose. I'm wondering where Roberta is and I hope everything is okay with her and her hubby. Stay in touch, Charles!

Don
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Nike 31-Jan-2015 12:40
Where have all the Miami Rogues gone? I haven't read or posted in quite some time and have missed all of the friendly musings.

Nancy and I have been in southern Spain since last summer and love it. We are in Vienna, Austria thus weekend but will return to Spain tomorrow where we will be until early summer. We plan on remaining in Europe until the current administration is replaced with one that upholds the values upon which America was built and many gave their lives to defend.

We love America and I served in the military to defend her.

In the words of a Austrian, I'll be back.
Leighton 01-Dec-2014 06:26
If any of you know a good source for local vacation home rentals, beyond vrbo dot com, please pass along. I'd love to drive my parents down, for one last visit, next spring. I am aware of everything that's wrong with the city, but regardless, I know they want to visit. Thanks!
Don Boyd01-Nov-2014 20:58
Don Gist: thank you for your comments from last March and I'm sorry it took this long to respond. I have added your comments to the bottom of the CARS gallery so that more viewers can see them, particularly those interested in cars and car racing history in the Miami area. The CARS gallery is athttp://www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories_cars . In addition, I have photos of Masters Field displayed athttp://www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories_aviation_miamimunimasters

Don
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Leighton 23-Aug-2014 23:43
Nothing like nothing.
Guest 23-Aug-2014 15:19
Good
Leighton 22-Aug-2014 07:21
Very quiet.
Leighton 04-Jul-2014 23:19
No dummy here.
So Am I 04-Jul-2014 19:39
Deserves . . . All the good things that can happen, bless the USA!
I'm Proud Too 04-Jul-2014 19:22
"Happy" dummy!
Leighton 04-Jul-2014 17:16
Deserves what, exactly?
Proud 04-Jul-2014 15:40
Happy Independance Day, Uncle Sam! You deserve it more than anyone I can think of.
Guest 30-Jun-2014 22:19
The Dixie Pig is a great!!! BBQ rest, in an old Dairy Queen, on the W side of Dixie {NOt US1] at Prospect, which is a short street halfway between Oakland Pk Blvd and Commercial Blvd. Tom in Hollywood
Leighton 19-Jun-2014 13:19
There's a Dixie Pig on North Dixie Highway, but I don't know if it is related in any way. It's only about 22 years old, specializing in Carolina barbecue. Oakland Park area - supposedly very good.
Steve Wood 16-Jun-2014 04:42
Does anyone remember the Dixie Pig located between 72nd and 80th streets SW just south of South Dixie Highway back in the 50's? I dont think the restaurant fronted directly on the highway. It was set back a little distance. As I recall the interior, there was a pig and perhaps some lettering up on one of the wall, either painted, or in neon, or both.
Leighton 25-Mar-2014 00:27
ANYWAY, if someone has an answer about that commercial, I'd love to hear it. None of my friends seem to remember it. There was a scene of a woman waterskiing - I recall it very distinctly.
Nike 19-Mar-2014 22:52
Time's fun when you're having flies (or something like that.

I hope all the Miami Rogues from the past and the more recent ones are doing well. Since my last posting, I have been notified of my official acceptance to attend the University of Jaen, Spain this fall for the entire academic year. An additional benefit is I have been awarded enough credit for documented life experiences to go from a freshman to a junior this year.

I will check in from time-to-time but will always be thinking of Miami and the Miami Rogues.

Never say "Never."
Leighton 19-Mar-2014 07:12
Late 60s/early 70s…there was a TV commercial campaign, directed at natives, to be friendly to tourists. Was it not, "Be a Friendly Floridian"? I may be mistaken, but I thought that it was using the tune, "Put on a Happy Face," from "Bye, Bye, Birdie." Maybe the tunes just sounded similar...
Jeff 13-Mar-2014 05:10
...and it seems I've been destined to unearth even more shopping center trivia...

Nov. 1, 1956 was the grand opening of the 163rd Street Shopping Center. George Friedlander, founder of Food Fair Stores built a number of shopping centers with his real estate division.

Rumored to have been slated for NE 125th Street in North Miami, but rejected by a city not ready for the increased traffic and business growth, a parcel of former farm land - and an "island" of county property not subject to North Miami Beach taxation was purchased by Friedlander, and everything came together into what was one of the most popular shopping venues until it's decline in the 1980's.

The opening tenant list consisted of:

Arcade Barber Shop
Arnold's Kiddyland
Bank of Dade County (Nov. 15)
Abe Barnett Luggage and Jewelry
A.S. Beck Shoes
Blessed Event Maternity Shop
Burdine's Department Store
Chandler's Shoes
Chase Federal Savings and Loan Association
Cole's Candy Store
DeLoy of Hollywood, Inc.
Dr. Arthur Eichner, Optometrist
Especially for You Gift Shop
Ferris Grove (Fruit Shipper)
Flair Fashions in Hair
Food Fair Supermarket
Ben Graber's Dress Shop
Grable's Bakery
Graymor Studios & Photo Center
Harmony Music Shop
The Home Mart
The Hub
Johnson's Travel Agency
Junior Town
M.& M. (Bickford's)
Mangel's Department Store
Merchants Green Trading Stamps
New Fairfield Dress Shop
Niagra Massage Equipment
Parson's Bridal Shop
Parician Florist
J.C. Penney Department Store
Pestuggia Shoe Repair & Dry Cleaning
Rabin's Delicatessen
Richard's (opening March 1st)
Samson's
Sarron
Schiff Shoe Store
Slack Bar, Inc.
Stardust Jewelers
Stauffer System Slenderizing Salon
Swim 'n' Sport Shops
Termplan Financing
Three Sisters, Inc.
Walgreen Drugs
Walls Beautiful
Woodrow Store for Men
F.W. Woolworth Co.
Young Fashions
Jeff 13-Mar-2014 03:38
Another day, more trivia...

It seems that South Dade beat out North Dade by a few months... On Feb. 20, 1960 the Miami News published scores of ads for the shortly-opening Cutler Ridge Shopping Center.

Remember when it was a BIG deal to open up a shopping plaza, and the merchants, the builders and those who supported them all took out ads touting the center's arrival?

Here's the lineup when the doors opened that week in February, 1960...

Food Fair
W.T. Grant
Neisner's
Princely Shops
Kiddie Brooks
Butler Shoes
Marco Shoes
Dita Sportswear
Kent Cleaners
Liggett Drug Co.
Western Auto Stores
Maternity Togs
Blue Box Gifts
Weinkles Liquors
Mario Barber Shop
Mario's Beauty Shop
Anne's Flowers
Rite-Way Shoe Repair
Cy Clyde Men's Stylist
Cutler RIdge Camera Shop
Cutler Ridge Bowling Lanes
Cities Service Gas Station
Ridge Bakery and Delicatessan
Jeff 12-Mar-2014 06:26
Well, I never proclaimed myself to be a proficient typist...but then again, YOU try typing such a long list after 2AM and being dog-tired...LOL! Either way, you get the picture...

So, did anyone out there actually attend the grand opening? Let Don know!
Jeff 12-Mar-2014 06:24
One correction... the Kewwn Kottom Shops listed should have been Kween Kotton Shops
Jeff 12-Mar-2014 06:18
It's hard to believe that the Northside Shopping Center on NW 27th Avenue and 79th Street had its grand opening 54 years ago this coming Sunday on March 16, 1960.

A far cry from its present state, the list of familiar and quality stores was enough to make any family hop into their sedan to shop or just window shop...

Abbott Hobbies
Albert's Barber Shop
Atlantic Photo Supply
Baker's Qualicraft Shoes
Beauty Fair
Beneficial Finance Co.
Billet Doux
Biscayne Federal Savings and Loan Association
Butler's Shoes
Crosby Jewelers
Family Shoe Service
5-7-9 Shops
Dr. Gardner (Optometrist)
Hattie Gorné Coiffeurs
Grable's Bakery
Grand Union
Hartley's
Harvest House Cafeteria
The Hub
Karmelkorn
S.S. Kresge
Kewwn Kotton Shops
Lerner Shops
Lila May Shops
Thom McAn Shoes
Modernage
Mt.Vernon Coffee Shoppe (opened April 20th)
National Bank of Commerce
National Shirt Shops
New French Benzol Cleaners
Northside Children's Center
Northside Maternity Shop
Northside Music Center
Northside Travel Agency
Parisian
Royal Palm Clothes
Rumpus Room
Sandrell's, Inc.
Saron Costume Jewelry
Schiff Shoes
Sears, Roebuck and Company (opened April 20th)
Singer Sewing Center
Sylvia's Lingeria and Corsetry
Three Sisters
Tooley-Myron Studios
Vogue of Mmiami
Walgreen Drugs
F.W. Woolworth Co.
The Allen Morris Company
Northside Center, Inc.
Don Gist 11-Mar-2014 00:35
Hi Don, I'm the original ( 82 now) Don Gist Corvette racing guy. Masters Field quite possibly has a place in your superb presentation. From 1958 to 1962 we won 111 of 127 drag races, many at Masters Field Raceway. We also won first in class in the Orange Bowl Inaugural ROAD racing event in 1960. It was a sold out event with spectators creating a real traffic jam. This may have been a first for ROAD RACING in Florida (?) Truly enjoyed your great site. Most Sincerely, Don Gist, pres/CEO The Shavonne Corp. don@shavonne.com Sub. Mar.10, 2014 PS Ernie Schorb was the KEY person to publicize Masters & So. Fla in all the racing mags of the time.
Leighton 03-Mar-2014 18:16
Jeff - love matchbooks. I wish that I had some for you. I know that you are involved in design, as I am, and it is amazing, the thought that went into matchbooks back in-the-day. They were the "calling card" of many businesses...
Leighton 03-Mar-2014 18:15
What was going on at 163rd Street????????
djg01-Mar-2014 19:13
This is simply wonderful. The memories just keep flooding in. Was born in Jackson memorial in 1949 and grew up in north miami.

Remember the classical concerts in the bay front bandshell
The maurading pigeons on the bay front pier
The Rockin' Pony Ring on Dixie Hwy
Fun Fare on, I think, 27th avenue
Wax lips, pixie sticks
The North Miami Theatre, then Royal Castle across the street after the movie
Marcella's really bad late night commercials
Staring at the Indian test pattern and swearing you saw colors
Dog 'n Suds
Hurricane Harbors soups - especially the cabbage
Trying to avoid the crabs on 163rd street
Pig 'n Chicken
Christmas on top of Burdines downtown
Sirens at noon every Saturday
Airplanes spraying bug spray

Hmmm, I think we may have been the last generation that truly experienced innocence.
Jeff 26-Feb-2014 00:58
While on the subject of "old stuff"... I'm thinking of starting a project based on old South Florida matchbooks.

If anybody out there has any vintage matchbooks they would like to send to me... ANY condition from restaurants, stores, night clubs, specialty themes...all are welcome...

Please drop me a line at jnl1952 AT juno DOT com. Thanks in advance...
Jeff 25-Feb-2014 23:27
Hi again, all!

A fun little story to share...

My neighbor works for a demolition company, and in tearing down a building in Broward that was built in two sections (one in the 70s, one earlier) they came across some old soda bottles and beverage cans which he gave to me..

Along with a couple of different era Royal Crown Cola Bottles, there was one from Nehi Upper 10, one from Mason's Root Beer, one from Mil-Kay, two from Sun Crest... A Pepsi bottle, a Coke bottle with "Fort Lauderdale" on the bottom and a Coke non-returnable bottle.

Amongst the 70s-era (mostly) steel soda cans (Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Fanta Orange, Hires Root Beer) was an aluminum Budweiser can and a Colt 45 Malt Liquor can from when National Brewery made the beverage. Keep in mind these were the "first generation" short pull tabs... long before the safety tabs were invented and applied.

Those good old construction guys - using bottles and cans as "fill" inside CBS blocks... What a great "time capsule"!
lmartin15-Jan-2014 22:32
For those interested in Florida airports with lots of info and pictures see the link:

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL.htm
Don Boyd12-Jan-2014 03:54
ROakerson: of course every kid who grew up in Hialeah remembers and loved the Essex including me. Is there any way you can scan your old historical items so that I can put them up on this site with credit to you and your dad? Please contact me at: OldMiamiMemories@gmail.com so we can discuss this.

I really hate to see OUR history disappear because things get thrown out or put in to a private collection that no one ever gets to see. Thanks.

Don
.
ROakerson 11-Jan-2014 22:03
Rosalie
Does anyone remember the Essex Theatre (NW. 54 St., Hialeah Drive, & E. 4th Ave) in Hialeah in the 1940's, 1950's? My dad was theatre manager, "Uncle Oakie." Stars appeared at the theatre, they had a "Birthday Club," and entertainment (hula hoop contests, baby contests, etc.) on stage. I am presently going through all of the theatre's memorabilia which he had saved while working at the Essex. You name it, I have it--Vintage 8 X 10 glossies of a lot of movies from the 30's, 40's, etc., newspaper clippings. Anyone know who I can get in touch with regarding memorabilia? Later, my dad went on to manage a lot of the drive-ins in Miami, Palm Springs Theatre, etc.
Don Boyd01-Jan-2014 21:25
Happy New Year to everyone and I hope y'all had a nice Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate.

Nike, great to hear from you and congrats on your first year completion at Cal State. Yes, you should have retired earlier because your retirement years will go by in a flash. I've been retired almost 14 years and it seems like 5 years at the most. The sands of time are going much faster and I have a ton of old photos yet to add to the site.

Dominick, welcome and thank you for posting your comments. Unfortunately people post all over the place and especially under specific photos that they have memories of or questions about.

Don
.
Dominick 01-Jan-2014 17:53
I constantly spent my half an hour to read this weblog's articles or reviews daily along with a cup of coffee.
Nike 12-Dec-2013 15:50
Happy holidays to all you Miami Rouges.

Life is great here in southern California -- no bugs or humidity but many cool-aid drinkers.

I just completed my freshman year at Cal State in San Bernardino (I'm hoping for a Roy Rogers or Sky King lunch box for Christmas).

Since I took Spanish and made relatively good grades, I have been asked to participate in the International Study Abroad Program in Spain beginning next fall. We'll see.

Retirement is great. I should have began sooner.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year to all.

Nike & Nancy
Don Boyd29-Nov-2013 23:36
Welcome back Miami River Rat! : ) I'm glad to hear you're still alive and kicking.

Don
Guest 29-Nov-2013 04:56
The "guest is me, "Miami River Rat". I'll have to look up the info to log back in, it's been a while.
Guest 29-Nov-2013 04:55
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Nice message, Roberta! It was 21 degrees on my front porch this morning, made me miss old times in Miami.
Jeff 27-Nov-2013 04:49
Twice I've tried to post with the message not showing up. Perhaps it was because I was sending a link within the text?

Anyway, Happy Holidays to all.

Leighton, if you can locate the Palm Beach Post's archive site for old Miami News editions, that's the best research spot for old Miami stuff!
Don Boyd26-Nov-2013 06:57
Thank you for posting, Roberta, it's great to hear from you again. Thank you for posting the details of your planned Thanksgiving feast and for making me hungry.

I'm glad to hear that you and your cowboy are still alive and kicking. Some of the posters from this page are on Facebook and I see their posts there from time to time. Thank you for your good wishes to everyone too! : )

I extend the same good wishes to everyone for their upcoming holidays and please don't be hesitant about posting on here.

Don
Roberta Perry Hughes 26-Nov-2013 06:28
Just stopping by on a cold Winter's night, to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
I will be cooking our dinner for the first time in about 3 years. Just decided that we
needed a bit of a celebration, even if just for the two of us.

Somehow, when we became old before our time, so-to-speak, & infirm to boot, & could no longer put out the big feed, for relatives and/or in-laws, we've found ourselves sort of forgotten -- year 'round, for the most part -- but especially on holidays.

However, we've taken stock, & have realized there are so many countless folk who have it far worse than we, & are counting our blessings, every minute of every day, & I told my cowboy, that I'm gonna cook us a good Thanksgiving dinner, & make him some deviled eggs like he likes them, & even a few stuffed celery sticks, in addition to a roasted hen, stuffed with oyster dressing, & with our favorite vegetables to complement the fare.

We hope your festivities are pleasant, joyful, & comforting, & that your home is filled with love, good food, & charitable thoughts, for those less fortunate, worldwide.

We are thankful for a roof over our heads, a source of available heat, food, water, etc., but mostly, that, when the dust clears, & we look about us, we are truly thankful that we have one another.

I've missed posting on here, & have missed everyone I used to 'chat' with, from time to time.

Hugs to everyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don Boyd21-Oct-2013 02:52
Jeff, thank you for the list of original tenants at Flamingo Shopping Center in east Hialeah. I'm posting them under the photo in the Hialeah gallery so that more people can see it.

Don
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Don Boyd21-Oct-2013 02:49
Guest, I forwarded your message to Charles via Facebook message so that he sees it in a more timely manner.

Don
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Guest 20-Oct-2013 04:09
Charles Knight, SERGE'S GLADES JAMBOREE
October 27th at Lucky Coles place on loop road.
I'll be there, will you?
Leighton 04-Oct-2013 21:48
I think that posting died here, because everything became too Facebook-y. Anyway, Jeff - do you have any photo links to that shopping center?
Guest 02-Oct-2013 01:53
As the late Jim Mandich once said, "the stench of cow manure hovers over the stadium with the performance of the Miami Dolphins today" What a lousy game last night. The first 3 sure were fun!!! Sunday I, as a native if Buffalo NY, saw part of the Bills game at the Big Easy on Hollywood Blvd just west of the park circle. Owned by a guy from Bflo. If you are from there, or have friends from Bflo, it was a lot of fun, nice people there, so go soon, Tom from Hollywood
Leighton 01-Oct-2013 16:14
I wonder what Diners, Inc. was like (see below), as well as the Flamingo Cafeteria.
Jeff 24-Sep-2013 23:55
Hello, All!

I'm stopping by for just a minute...

I was browsing online through old Miami News editions archived through the Palm Beach Post, and I found some tidbits for all of you Hialeah/Miami Springs folks:

The Flamingo Shopping Center (now a city of thrift stores), had a glorious opening on Friday, Nov. 23, 1956.

The 31 original stores were as follows:

Kwik-Chek
Tiny's Liquors
Flamingo Bakery
Beauteria (beauty services)
Better Dresses
Children's Clothes
Suburban Barber Shop
Glass House Ice Cream Co.
Dixie Shoe Repair
Household Finance Corp.
Dr. Alan Sobel
Ewing Realty, Inc.
J.C. Penney
Diners, Inc. (restaurant)
Roy's Health Shoes
Your Little Department Store
Howe Appliance
Walgreen Drugs
Flamingo Cafeteria
W.T. Grant
J.B.M. Stores (women's apparel)
Mary Jane Shoes
National Shirt Shops
G. R. Kinney Corp. (shoes)
Diana Stores (women's apparel)
F.W. Woolworth
Darby Cleaners
Kiddyland of Hialeah, Inc. (children's clothes and toys)
Glider's Paint and Hardware
Marie's Beauty Salon
Western Auto Supply Co.
Don Boyd03-Sep-2013 15:37
Roberta, did PBase send you the comment? I wasn't aware of any length limitation on comments because the spammers post page long comments about their witch doctor friends in the Guestbook almost daily which I delete right away.

Don
.
Roberta Perry Hughes 03-Sep-2013 11:09
-I had posted, but got a message to please limit the length of your comment.

So, this is my comment.

............................................................................................................................................
Parks29-Aug-2013 03:19
Seems we've been visited by the famous author of Flatland.
My Name Is Square Also 28-Aug-2013 15:07
I am square, I always have been square and I will always be square. That is just the way I am ........square.
Parks26-Aug-2013 00:17
CK, Tim Dorsey is doing it again.
SERGE'S GLADES JAMBOREE
October 27th at Lucky Cole's place.
Be there or be square!
Charles Knight 15-Aug-2013 04:46
Wow, haven't been here for awhile and damn...Prayers for Fran's family. The building was Georges, I worked there along with my mother and two sisters. Dad and Grandpa are buried less than twenty yards from the back door. Sorry I missed you Parks, maybe someday. I do miss the Glades and really need to get out there. Lucky is supposed to send some gator teeth for my upcoming wedding. Yep, doing it again. Met a terrific woman and she fills my heart and life with joy. Hope you are all doing well and the wedding is on Oct. 13th if anyone wants to come. You're all invited. charlesknight563@yahoo.com
Leighton 07-Aug-2013 22:00
Well, moving away from Facebook-ish posts......hope all are well. This room may have run its course, but I hope that people keep up.
Jeff 28-Jul-2013 06:39
Hello again, all...

Roberta and Nike, thank you for the kind well-wishes. Sorry to hear about Fran. Still running myself ragged - working sometimes up until 3-4 AM on my typefaces... up to 740 now, and already I have an additional three more completed for September release...

I'm so honored that Roberta found all of my 'trivia' enlightening at the time. Truthfully, I don't think I could add much more to this site... so much of what is being discussed is out of my realm of experience or knowledge.

Still, it's nice to pop in on occasions like this just to see what the rest of the posters are up to...

Don... drop me a line... it's been TOO long!
Miami River Rat26-Jul-2013 02:36
Here's a bunch of "Get well quick" wishes for Don and anybody else that needs them. Hang in there.

I'm pretty much over the recovery stage of my spinal surgery and all seems good. Now what I have to do is lose the 20 lbs I put on while I couldn't do any walking or other exercising. It's hard getting started back!
Don Boyd25-Jul-2013 04:38
Very interesting, Parks. Thanks for posting the link. I don't remember it happening but I'm sure I read the articles about the crash at the time.

Nike, did those fires come near your home in Palm Springs? How's the heat out there?

Roberta, how the heck are you doing now? I'm sorry that I've been negligent about responding but I'm having some medical issues and I'm now recuperating from a stent placement in my abdominal aorta aneurysm that grew to the size needed to have the operation which was last Friday. Lots of pain, swelling and black and blue areas in my groin area but it beats the hell out of an open operation to solve the problem.

Don
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Parks25-Jul-2013 03:53
Hi Guys! There is an air museum looking for a B-25 that crashed near the entrance to Everglades National Park in 1965. Does anybody remember anything about it?
Nike, weren't you down there about that time?
Here is a link to a Miami News story about the crash:http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/4512912/1352237311/name/Miami_News_Feb_20_1965_Newspaper_B-25_Crash.pdf

Parks
whitebelt06-Jul-2013 21:29
MRR, I don't think he did. They stayed on South Beach and visited the Springs mostly. He did run by where I grew up and he lived for a while on NW 32nd ave and said it is the best it ever looked. Fresh paint, neat yards. He visited with the mother of one of his best friends. He flew out to CA a while back to attend his friend's retirement from the Navy. He has lifetime friends from his time at Miami Springs High and JFK Junior in NMB. They do a bit of traveling visiting each other every few years. White, Black, Hispanic, and even Sri Lankan. All top quality kids. Well, they were kids 30 years ago.

That kind of makes things worthwhile.



Miami River Rat06-Jul-2013 20:17
Whitebelt, did he go around the part of town where you and I grew up? Jackson High and Miami High area? The last time I was down there it didn't look so friendly! Wrought iron fences around every yard, burglar bars on the windows and people glaring at you if you looked in their direction while driving through.

That's been three years, so maybe things have changed a bit. Or else you're right and the End of Times is fast approaching.
whitebelt03-Jul-2013 23:01
Heard something the other day that makes me think the world will be ending soon.

My son, who grew up in Miami, took the kids down there for a vacation a couple of weeks ago, and to see his old stomping grounds.

He couldn't believe how nice everyone was.

Play Twilight Zone theme.
Miami River Rat03-Jul-2013 02:24
The link to the archeological article was neat. My great-grandfather did the landscaping of the Royal Palm Hotel in Miami, way back when. He also landscaped another big hotel for the same people in the Bahamas, Nassau I believe.

I had a Tequesta Indian artifact, a ceremonial horn that was passed down through the generations. I gave it to Patsy West, Seminole historian for her to put either in the Miami Museum of Natural History or the Seminole Museum, I'm not sure which one she gave it to.

Hope everyone has a fun-filled and safe July 4th!
Roberta Perry Hughes 02-Jul-2013 13:02
**In case I don't get back on here in time, let me just wish you one & all a very safe & enjoyable *Independence Day celebration (*even the UK has a "4th of July," which is just before their 3rd of July).

**May the weather be kind & gentle, wherever you are, to be able to celebrate this occasion outdoors.

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Roberta Perry Hughes 02-Jul-2013 10:36
-Az Al....Have you and your State in our thoughts and prayers, & hoping that you & yours are okay.

-I fear that we may be crying for the rains that have made quagmires of our dirt lanes, country roads, & our yards, in recent months, when drought conditions strike many areas, leaving them in danger of uncontrolled fires.

-Has anyone heard from Miami Girl....? Guess many can be found over on FB, but I did not care for that place, the brief time I was on there.

-Hope everyone is well, & feeling good.

#############################################################################
Leighton 13-Jun-2013 18:10
Thanks, Parks - fascinating.
Parks13-Jun-2013 04:48
Hi guys! I had a Miami History Moment today. I got a tour of an archological dig in downtown Miami. Since before I was born there has been a parking lot near the mouth of the river. The parking lot is about to be replaced by a multi story building.
Archaeologist Bob Carr is taking the opportunity to dig there before construction starts. They have found remains of Flagler's Royal Palm Hotel and lots of Tequesta indian artifacts. I saw steps and foundation piers for the hotel as well as Tequesta bone and shell tools. There was also a childs tooth, dogs teeth, a sharks tooth and a baracuda tooth. There were dozens of post holes similar to the famous circle on the other side of the river.
Here is a link to a photo essay of the site done by the Herald:http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/30/3373505/archaeological-dig-on-miami-river.html
Miami River Rat01-Jun-2013 04:01
Nice to hear from you Roberta! That's bad news about Fran. The last communication I had from her she was in hopes of having a full recovery. She did have a rough last two years.

Y'all hang in there!
Leighton 31-May-2013 15:00
Hi, Roberta,

I'm still in East TN for a visit, but will be returning to Texas, soon.
Roberta Perry Hughes 25-May-2013 16:45
-Haven't been on here in quite some time. Being a full time caretaker for my
cowboy takes up much of my time, 24-7. He is hanging in there, & we both take
life one day at a time, which is all any of us can do.

-My heart is broken, to learn the news about our dear Fran's passing. She & I
used to email one another on a daily basis, prior to her illnesses. She was so
very loving & supportive, as a cyberfriend, giving me hope, & bolstering my
self-esteem, every chance she got. What a loss this is, for all who knew her,
& most especially, for her family. May she rest in peace, heaven blessed.

-Jeff....How wonderful to see a post from you, after so long a time....! Glad to
read that you are doing okay. The contributions that you have made on this
site are much appreciated. I miss your valued input, as the resident historian,
of what became of a business, building, or owners of same.

-Leighton....Good to read your posts, as always.

-Parks....Wish I could attend one of your Florida movie nights.

-Don....What can I say....? You're the best....!!

-Though my comments have dwindled, I think about you, one & all,
& miss you, very much.

-Take care of your precious selves. Be kind to one another. Be careful,
on the highways, & may the weather always be kind, wherever you are,
or wherever you go.

===============================================================
Leighton 25-May-2013 01:26
Thanks, everyone. Some research has made it clear. The shop moved there in the 60s, until it closed in 1992. Several sites get the address incorrect, but the most authentic article, indeed shows THAT building was George's. Interesting. They say it was big with UM students (somewhat far away), although by the early 80s when I was at UM, I never heard of it.
Parks24-May-2013 00:01
Ted, Of course it had to have extra sauce! I think our host Don has a menue from George's posted on this site somewhere.
Ted Crownover 23-May-2013 20:52
Parks,
I agree with you on both it was George's Super Sub Shop at 4580 SW 8th Street, Miami,Fl. My favorite was also the 9A with extra sauce please!
Regards,
Ted
Parks22-May-2013 05:10
Leighton, I believe you are remembering the wonderful George's Sub Shop.
My favorite was the 9A.
Nike 22-May-2013 04:06
Leighton - Now you are in my old neighborhood.

I can't remember what is was but it is now QuantumCare, a physicians billing service. I used Google Earth Historical Imagery which goes back to 1994 and shows a black and white image so I can't tell the color. In 2002, the images first appear in color with what appears to be an orange barrel tile roof. Sometime between 2007 and 2009, the roof is turned white.
Leighton 20-May-2013 02:42
Can anybody tell me what the old building on Google Maps Streetview - at SW 46th Ave & 8th Street, criss-cross from the old Jamaica Motel - originally was? The bldg with the white, sloping roof. I thought, at first, it might have been a doughnut place, but there were only two Velvet Creams, and the original was a large building just a bit farther up 8th. (By the way, they're bring Velvet Cream back - they now have a web site.) I distinctly remember this building as a child, and know that it was related to food...
Don Boyd19-May-2013 20:07
Jim, the name Sugar Shack as a go-go joint sounds familiar but my first recollection was of the song by Jimmy Gilmore. I just can't place where the Sugar Shack was.

Peggy, thank you for posting your comments about your growing up in old Miami. I'm sending you an e-mail for more information on Miami Shores Elementary. Thanks!

Don
.
Don Boyd19-May-2013 20:05
The comments below were left on a page where comments are not allowed and I'm relocating them here where they should be:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jim tantruck@verizon.net 19-May-2013 19:14

Do you remember a go go in the 1970's in Miami called the Sugar Shack?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peggy Helker Bradley bpbrads@aol.com 27-Apr-2013 01:21

Our family moved to Miami as WWII broke out. Dad was a commercial fisherman at Haulover at first. Some nights we would go to the old bridge when the shrimp were running &, with lanterns & nets, catch some good ones.

I went to Bryan Elem. in No. Miami, worked at the Americana during summers as replacement secretary for those on vacation, and ended up teaching at Miami Shores Elementary. When Dad got a charter boat at Pier 5, now Bayside, we would drive down Biscayne Blvd. and try not to hit a red light. There were only 4 or 5 traffic lights from 125th to 4th St.

Our entertainment was chasing landcrabs with our dog, raising rabbits, and roaming the neighborhood. On Halloween we would hit the motels on the Boulevard; the tourists always gave us coins. And we were safe! When the train, the Orange Blossom Special, came down the track, we would climb on the roof to try to get a look at it. Our water was purchased on 111 St. from Mr. Adams, the only one on the street with a well. So many memories of old Miami, when it was laid back, and even boring sometimes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don
.
Nike 18-May-2013 20:53
Ron - Sorry to hear of your loss and a friend I never actually personally. However, we talked several times through this website hosted by our friend Don.

Jeff - Glad to hear things are going good for you. Best wishes.
whitebelt18-May-2013 13:34
That news about Fran is something I didn't need to hear.

Her family and all of us suffered a great loss.
Don Boyd18-May-2013 02:44
Aw damn, I'm really sorry to hear that Fran passed away. : ( She and I exchanged quite a few e-mails about a character who used to post comments elsewhere on my site until he left the site a couple of years ago.

May God bless her soul, and like you said, she can finally rest in peace. Please let us know when her memorial service will be and if I'm not out of town I will make every effort to attend. Our condolences and sympathies to you and the rest of her family during this sad time in your lives.

Don
.
Pokey 18-May-2013 00:00
Frans family
I am very sorry to hear of her passing,,my prayers are with you
Arizona Al 17-May-2013 14:59
Frans Son: Condolences and prayers to your family. Alan Ogus, Ph.D.
Fran's Son 17-May-2013 07:42
Well gang, after speaking to the neurologist today, they determined that Mom had suffered brain death. So, luckily her brothers and sisters and close family were with us as we prayed for her spirit and took her body off of life support earlier this evening (Thursday 5/16/13). Mom, was my first best friend and one I loved the most. I can honestly say that after a long hard fought battle with so many hurdles, she can finally rest in peace. Walking, feasting, living, loving, laughing, and much more now in Our Lord's presence. I will love her always.

Mom wanted to be cremated and interred with her parents at Hollywood Memorial Gardens. I will post on here when we will be able to bring her remains down to Florida and have a service for her there, in case anyone wished to pay their last respects. Thank you all again for the wonderful community and joyful memories you shared with her. I know she was on this site daily and never stopped talking about how many memories you all shared together. Take care and be safe! -Ron
Jeff 16-May-2013 03:59
After all this time I've just stopped by momentarily to look over the site and say 'hi'. I hope all of my old friends and adversaries are doing well. I've got no trivia to add, no topics to discuss... no soapbox to stand on... just well-wishes for all.

I've been incredibly busy trying to grow my small typography (computer font) business and have amasses 710 releases so far and growing... that and helping out with the local Chamber of Commerce and other things takes up much of my time.

So, once again my best wishes to all and stay well and safe!
Don Boyd15-May-2013 14:30
Ron, thank you for taking the time to update us on Fran's situation. I am truly sorry to hear this bad news as I'm sure others in this group are too. Trust me, she is in our prayers for significant improvement. Please keep us updated when you have the time. Thank you again.

Don
.
Fran's son Ron 15-May-2013 13:17
Fran Update

Mom has been doing ok since I last posted on here. She was recovering slowly and was regaining her ability to swallow etc... unfortunately, this past Monday at the nursing home she was staying at in Houston, she went intocardiac and respiratory arrest. They were able to perform CPR and get her heart back, however she is currently in a coma at memorial hermann northwest in Houston. The neurologists have said we have to wait 72 hours and hopefully see some major neurological improvement to determine if our how extensive the possible brain damage is. I know this is not the best news right now, but please keep my mom in your prayers today and that she shows significant improvement by tomorrow morning. Thank you all so much for the support and carrying messages to my mom, they have meant so much to me and her this past year. Thanks again and take care! -Ron email: ronald.cannon78@gmail.com
Parks15-May-2013 03:42
Last Guest was Parks. I guess PBase forgot me.
Guest 15-May-2013 03:35
Hi CK, Yes I read Electric Baracuda. The way I met Lucky was that a freind and I decided to drive Loop Road. As we drove by Lucky's place we saw signs inviting people to stop and visit so we did. As we were drinking beer and a little shine with Lucky, he told us about his life out there. In the middle of his story I suddenly said "I know you! You're that guy in the Dorsey book! He admitted it was true.

We also looked for the remains of your Pappy's bar but couldn't find it. I understand only the concrete steps are left.

Klinkenberg is coming to Miami to peddle his book. I guess I'll go and tell him you're a friend. Maybe he'll give me a discount.
Charles Knight 14-May-2013 20:22
Yes, Lucky is a character for certain. Did you read Electric Barracuda? My part was small but that's fine. Jeff Klinkenberg has a new book out called Alligators in B-Flat and I got a whole chapter with photos. It's available in most major book sellers and Amazon.
Carl 10-May-2013 15:11
Claudine, I think I saw you at the wedding. To bad about the fall. All in all though it was a beautiful affair. I'm glad I was there.
Parks07-May-2013 21:31
Hi CK! I met your buddy Lucky Cole. Nice guy and a real character. I also went out to his place for the Tim Dorsey party. I kind of hoped I get to meet you there. Maybe next time.
Charles Knight 05-May-2013 15:00
Hello folks, haven't been here in some time.Stop by occasionally and look around. Hope all are well!
Claudine 02-May-2013 19:23
You're right, it was great! I love the Biltmore, thanks it was wonderful, I had a ball. Oh, and by the way congrats.
Guest 30-Apr-2013 14:50
I'm getting married today, at the Biltmore. Have you ever been there? If not come on by, the more the "marry her".
Nike 20-Apr-2013 15:12
Leighton - Sorry. It is .org rather than .com
Leighton 14-Apr-2013 19:36
Nike, it bounced back.
Guest 11-Apr-2013 19:01
Randy, I heard that Carl Cremser still lives somewhere in the area, I'll bet you could get an interview with him, that would be a real way ahead.
Nike 09-Apr-2013 02:00
Leighton - Email me (Charles at Nike252 dot com) an address to which I can send the latest version of Palm Springs Life.

Nancy and I hope you will be our guest here as we have a mid-century 2-bedroom condo at the Shadow Mountain course and it is just the two of us. A former owner here was George (Lonesome George) Goble.

Leighton 08-Apr-2013 18:46
Ah, Palm Springs has INCREDIBLE Mid-Century architecture! (About which, I am a fanatic.) I hope to visit in the future, as I have a few "coffee table" books specifically on the subject. Before we shut down our little graphic design studio last year, my business partner designed an incredible party invite for the owner of Telly Savalas's old place.

I love "Atomic Ranch" magazine - specialty Mid-Century ranch homes - and there's always something about Palm Springs in there.
Nike 07-Apr-2013 13:56
Don - Great to hear from you. I figured that was who it was but thanks for the information. Adele and Nancy seemed to hit it off and agreed to stay in touch. They seemed to be "two peas in a pod" except for their husbands.

Have you fully recovered from your health problems? I certainly hope so.

Since I retired and relocated to southern California last year, I am now doing what I never had the time or money to do, go to college. I left high school mid-year in the 10th grade to Join the Army in 1962 and tested for my GED there. So, now I'm attending California State University San Bernardino earning a California Teaching Certificate which I will graduate this June with 24 semester hours which will apply towards a degree.

This fall, after I qualify as a one-year California resident, I'll enter The College of the Desert as a 67-year (old fart) freshman earning an Associate of Science of Criminal Justice Administration in about a year and one-half going full time year round.

The, if I'm still alive or another rapture doesn't occur, I'll transfer back to Cal State where the have agreed to waive my junior year and enter as a senior and graduate in a year. I plan to teach after that.

So, I got life a little backwards. It doesn't matter. Nancy and I love southern California and the entire Palm Springs area. November through February temps were 46-66. It is hotter than hell in the summer but zilch on the humidity, They don't do mosquitos or fleas but do have a few pecker knats (no-seeums) on the golf course. Although I live on a golf course along with everyone else here (300 golf course here in the valley), I don't play golf, just love the beauty of it all.

We see a few big-name stars around that live here (Barry, Suzanne, and others) but they leave us alone and pretend to not know us. Now Nize.

On a more interesting note for you, in a couple of weeks (April 22, Nancy and I are driving to Tucson and getting on board a B-17 and fly in formation with a B-24 and a P-51 to Palm Springs as a guest of the Collings Foundation. I had arranged for their stay here for a 3-day deal and this was my payback. I'll send you photos.

This retirement is pretty good stuff.

My best to Karen and you.
Don Boyd07-Apr-2013 05:06
Nike, Bob is from the Graham family that developed Miami Lakes. His half brother Bill (now deceased) ran the company under the name of SENGRA (short for Senator Graham) and later the Graham Companies. Bob went into politics and was a state representative for years and then Governor of Florida for two terms as I recall. He then served as a U. S. Senator (D) from Florida for years before retiring. He and Adele still live in Miami Lakes but on the west side of the Palmetto Expressway. I have a 1982 photo of him athttp://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/56287246

Don
Nike 07-Apr-2013 00:41
Rat & Randy - Glad to hear someone is still there. Speaking of the past, Nancy and I were having lunch today here in Palm Desert, California and struck up a conversation with the lady next to us (as usual). During the meet-and-greet, we discovered she and her husband (Bob and Adele Graham) were from Miami. He went to Edison High and I think they owned a dairy in Miami Lakes and he possibly got into politics for a while.

Does anyone remember them?
Randy 06-Apr-2013 15:19
It's more concentrated in the Hialeah-Miami Springs area, not all of Miami-Dade County so much. I did find that Carl Cremser held office somewhere in Miami-Dade County in the early to mid fifties. I understand he started Bailyn Ruff and also married Paula at the Warmer.
Miami River Rat06-Apr-2013 03:04
I guess I got left behind too. I was pretty sure that was going to happen after the stuff that went on following the dance at Bayfront Park auditorium that Saturday night back in '59. Oh well, it was worth it!
Nike 05-Apr-2013 19:22
Anyone there? Did the rapture take place??

Just as I had been warned, I was "left behind." Anyway, I had a little bit of heaven in Miami in the fifties.
Nike 24-Mar-2013 01:50
Don - The Nike Missile page at pbase.com/donboyd/image/146724950 says, "Probably not in south Florida." Not so, lens breath. It is a photo of the launch area in D Battery in a tomato field near what is now Tamiami Executive Airport before the relocated to what is now the Krome Detention Center in summer 1965.

Note the red covers on the nose tip of Nike missiles which led the Ruskies to believe they are nuclear-tipped. However, we didn't get nuclear warheads on the Nike Hercules missiles in south Florida until January 1966.
Carmen 23-Mar-2013 18:12
Randy, are you still researching politics in Miami-Dade County? I hope so, there are some real characters there.
Parks18-Mar-2013 04:41
Hi Rat, That's a great story. I was impressed by how well Corey Osceola poled a canoe with just one arm. He had a pretty important role in the story.
Miami River Rat17-Mar-2013 03:37
Parks, I caught the snakes they used in that movie. I was too young to drive then and my grandpa had to drive me to Everglades City to deliver them. Brad Bradford, that did a reptile show at Musa Isle had a part as one of the bad guys, he's the one paddling up to the dock with a beard and rag tied around his head. That was right at the start of the show.

Corey Osceola also had a part, he was the one armed Indian. When that movie premiered in Miami, my grandpa drove us to the show in his pickup truck with grandma and my sister in front. Me, Corey Osceola and a Seminole lady friend of his rode in the back. We all had free passes on account of being somehow associated with the movie.

Corey's part was sort of important but I don't think they paid him very much because within a month he was back working in the field for us.

Biggest thrills for me were that Brad Bradford told me to charge them twice the going rate for the snakes, which I did and I got to stand beside Burl Ives for maybe 20 seconds.

Durn folks, that was a long time ago!
Fast Eddie 14-Mar-2013 18:11
. . . . just so you don't break "Wind....,"
Leighton 14-Mar-2013 15:55
Parks - have been trying to catch "Wind....," but keep missing it on TCM. I hope to catch it some day.
Guest 12-Mar-2013 17:29
Yeah, Highme Manush.
Parks12-Mar-2013 04:24
Anybody still checking in here?
We had a Florida Movie night. The short was selected scenes from "The Wild Women of Wongo" which was filmed in the Coral Castle, Fairchild Garden, Parrott Jungle and we think Matheson Hammock.

The feature was Wind Across the Everglades with Burl Ives playing the bad guy, Cotton Mouth. It also had Emmet Kelly, the clown, in a bit part. Gypsy Rose Lee played the Madam. Totch Brown of Everglades City had a bit part and sang a song.
It had some wonderful wildlife scenes and we recognized Smallwoods store in Chokoloski as one of the locations.
Leighton 22-Feb-2013 06:24
Yes, I had already looked up those two, and have seen pics at web sites. They are currently restoring the Miracle marquee to its original design and lighting.
Parks21-Feb-2013 15:43
Leighton, The Miracle in Coral Gables has been turned into a live theater with three stages. The interior has been restored to it's 1950's magnificence.
The Riveria has also been turned into live theater but I haven't been inside. The last time I saw a movie there it had been cut up into several small screen theaters.
Leighton 18-Feb-2013 05:40
While suffering through a cold last week, I had a great time surfing Google Maps - Street-view, for Miami. What amazes me, is that 80% of the places from my childhood are still there. The major change? Movie theaters. Coral, Dadeland Twin, Gables Twin(Triple), Riviera, Sunny Isles Twin are all gone, or drastically converted. Almost everything else is completely intact. Well, the Sweden House Smorgasbord building on Dixie Hwy is sitting empty, but there it was! The two old Sambo's our family frequented are there - one a Denny's on Miracle Mile, the other a medical office on 8th.
1petros7314-Feb-2013 02:39
Thank you Nike,
I will look into this website this weekend!
I'll let you know once I've seen it.
Nike 12-Feb-2013 11:25
1petrol73 - I just checked and the tours run through March.
Nike 12-Feb-2013 11:22
1petros73 - We now have two Nike Hercules missiles on display and the tours run through April.

Here is the link about the site and for reservations. nps.gov/ever/historyculture/hm69.htm
1petros7309-Feb-2013 22:39
Yeah. I bought one. I'm going to look into Don's recommendation. I also want to go see the ild missile site in the Everglades. I'll let you know when I do so.
Thanks!
Nike 09-Feb-2013 16:01
1petros73 - Thanks for the comments. It has been a wonderful life.

I attended Auburndale Elementary, Shenandoah Jr High, and Miami High before entering the Army in 1962.

I "Googled" Florida Horticulture Archives and Floyds Fruit Grove and can't locate the article I previously mentioned. However, I Googled Floyd's Fruit Grove and ebay and other sirtes are selling postcards with images of Floyd's Fruit Groves.



1petros7309-Feb-2013 13:37
Thank you Don! That's him.
Don Boyd09-Feb-2013 06:49
1petros73, I will respond to your e-mail later today if time permits. I believe the gent you are looking for is Seth Bramson because he has the largest private collection of old Miami and Florida memorabilia. He has also authored numerous books about the history of our area and he has been of assistance to me in the past. One of my best buddies has worked with him at Barry University. This site will give you more information about Seth:
http://www.sethbramsonbooks.com/SethBramsonBooks/The_Author.html

Don
.
1petros7307-Feb-2013 01:16
Nike, Charles D. Carter, very interesting & impressive life! WOW! I read what you posted on Oct 2, 2009 & that must have been an amazing experience. I want to read more. I want to look into the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center & take my wife & two boys there. I disappeared from this forum as my two sons took interest in Paintball & I do some minor off-roading + 55 hour work weeks & the normal things in life that take up your time. As for me, I was born in New Jersey in 1973. My mother, aunt, & grandma moved to New Jersey from Cuba in 1960 (8yrs old) & my dad moved to New Jersey from Greece in 1965 (20 yrs old). I moved to Leisure City, Fl. (between the Florida Turnpike & Homestead) in 1977. I used to ride my Incredible Hulk Big Wheel on the street & barely see traffic. The Air Force helicopters used to fly directly over sw 308 st I (where I lived) & I was 4 years old when I first saw one. I screamed & ran towards my grandmother in utter panic at this huge machine chasing me on my big wheel! My grandma still laughs when she tells the story. I went to Campbell Drive Elementary, Campbell Drive Middle, & graduated from Homestead Senior High School in '91.

BTW, I went on "Miami Dade Property Search" entered your old address, 3434 sw 7 st. Miami, & saw that your house was built in 1920! It's still there, near Auburndale Elementary. My 2 boys went there. I believe that school opened in 1950 but I can't confirm that.

You mentioned that the Florida Horticulture Archives has info on Floyds Fruit Grove but I can't find it. Do you happen to have a direct link to the site?

You had also asked what is there now. It's an apartment complex & houses.
I will try to post a google image to show you the original boundaries. If not, atleat I can tell you the area it was located in. I truly want to find info on this area, & pics. Thanks for ALL the info you have provided so far, also you whitebelt!
1petros7305-Feb-2013 23:22
Thats OK. I understand. I emailed him 3 days ago but no response yet. I'll wait.
Thanks again
whitebelt05-Feb-2013 22:48
Five minutes is a long time for me to remember anything anymore. I am confused by the PM you just sent me, and have no record of sending you one. I don't use it much at all on here. In fact, I just check it every several months if I act quickly enough when the thought crosses my mind.

Don would be the man to get you in contact with Jeff.
Nike 05-Feb-2013 22:45
1petros73 - If you select the "Older Comments January 2009 - 2010" above, you can go to October 11 2009 and see all the postings between you, Whitebelt and me regarding Floyd's Fruit Grove
1petros7305-Feb-2013 20:38
Hello whitebelt,

I PM'd you the pm that you sent me on nov 2009. It has your email address too so I didn't want to write that on the post out of respect for your privacy. Maybe I received it accidentally. I do 't remember myself so don't feel bad. Ha Ha.

BTW, This Jeff Levine fellow, do you happen to have a way to contact him. Does he have an email address maybe?

Thank you for replying
whitebelt05-Feb-2013 13:56
Petros, I have the vaguest of memories of the place from the family driving down to Matheson Hammock. I don't recall sending you a PM on that.

You are probably referring to Jeff Levine that posted on here regarding the collection.
1petros7305-Feb-2013 02:29
BTW, I believe that whitebelt had tried to PM when I originally posted this but I don't remember.
Thanks again.
1petros7305-Feb-2013 02:19
Hello folks,

I asked this question about 2 years ago but I don't remember receiving much feedback. Does any one remember, have pics of, or have ANY info on Floyds Fruit Grove? It was located on 521 sw 42 ave in Miami. Sw 42 ave is also know as Le Jeune Rd. I read through some posts & there is someone here who claims to have the largest collection of Miami memorabilia around. Anyone know who this is? I don't remember where I read it exactly. I found out that this fruit grove existed because I got on ebay & I saw a book titled "Black Americana, Floyds Fruit Grove" with a picture of a young black boy with a rifle. I bid $50 on the book but lost out to someone else. I live on sw 6 st & my house was built in '39 but the houses in the area that used to be the fruit grove were built in the 50's so I assume that the grove ceased to exist then. I would love to see photos of the Le Jeune, sw 8 st, & Flageler st area . Most of the pics available are from Down Town Miami, Coral gables, or Hialeah.

I appreciate your time,
Petros
Guest 30-Jan-2013 14:47
Chat room?
Leighton 28-Jan-2013 23:02
Roberta,

How did you like this week's "Downton Abbey"? I had avoided the spoilers, so it was quite intense.......
Nike 28-Jan-2013 20:57
Whitebelt - I re-contacted the website gain after your suggestion. They have forwarded my request directly to her.

Stay tuned, film at 11....
whitebelt26-Jan-2013 22:16
Well, then good luck, Nike.

There are sites that collated information about everyone. I've seen references to me with people I am related to and addresses from long before the internet. They give a list of people associated with a person. Kind of freaky. Of course they charge for providing the latest contact info, which may just be a dead end.

I started to sign up with UPS some time ago for some notification thing. They kept coming up with these screens about if I had lived at a particular address or not. Going back 30 years. I backed out of that.
Nike 26-Jan-2013 18:36
Whitebelt - Been there, done that, got a t-shirt
whitebelt26-Jan-2013 01:39
http://www.northmiami1963.com/main/default.aspx?r=1&pageid=86630&siteid=E212398277

Nike, you may try through that page. They may relay a message to her for you.
whitebelt26-Jan-2013 01:36
Nike, have you tried classmates.com? Or this place?

http://www.northmiami1963.com/main/default.aspx?details=E2089860914&siteid=E212398277&pageid=86622

She still lives in Miami according to that web page. You may be able to contact her through there, but you will have to create a profile. They have a reunion coming up.
Nike 25-Jan-2013 19:30
Parks - Of course, we share (almost) everything.

Linda Mandelstam was the Miss Miami sitting atop the Nike Hercules in one of the photos.

Did you establish contact with Joanne Hyppolite at the HistoryMiami Museum? They just published the Tequesta 2012 and my article on "Cold War Missiles in Miami" was one of the stories.
Parks24-Jan-2013 15:59
Nike, does your Bride know of this search?
Nike 22-Jan-2013 16:10
Does anyone remember Linda Mandelstam, graduate of North Miami Senior High School, Class of 1963 and Miss Miami 1963, National Airlines Stewardess in 1964 and contestant for Miss Florida 1964? I am am trying to locate her for an interview.
Roberta Perry Hughes 22-Jan-2013 13:06

-To all of the Usual Suspects....Rogues & Roguettes....

-For the sake of the founding father of this wonderful website, it is my hope that
you will return to active duty, on the Comments pages.

-I promise that I will not post any personal threads on here, in future.

-Hope the weather is tolerable in your corner of the globe, with no storms of any
sort to cause you grief or property losses.

-Take care.
Leighton 07-Jan-2013 04:44
Roberta,

Loved the start of "Downton Abbey" 's Season 3.
Roberta Perry Hughes 06-Jan-2013 16:24

-My Goodness. I didn't mean to shoo everyone away by my post, below.

-Hope y'all will forgive my ramblings....or at least, overlook them. I apologize, for having gotten off track, of what this Site was origially intended to be about:

-Old Miami Memories.

-I'm afraid I've run out of them, as I was a pre-schooler, when we moved to Miami, & merely 13 years old, when we left the neighborhood forever.

-All my best wishes, go out to all of you Rogues & Roguettes.

-Take care of your precious selves.

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Roberta Perry Hughes 29-Dec-2012 13:01

-Hello, everyone.

-On Friday, Dec. 21, Lewis left to go feed the horses. Something told me to wait until he got back to take my Neurontin & half of a Vicodin & going to bed until suppertime. He was back too soon, & I figured something was amiss.

-Long story as short as possible, he went to make a left turn off of River Road when the brakes failed, just as he turned onto Charles Smith Road, so, he overshot that road, & went off of it into a very deep ditch....over 4' deep....nose first, in our little
1994 Chevy S-10 pickup truck.

-Had he not had on his seat belt, he'd have probably broken his neck, & either been killed, or paralyzed from the neck down.

-The truck rocked back, to land on the back tires, thank goodness, & that was how he managed to get out of it. A passing motorist saw him coming out of the ditch & gave him a ride home.

-Miraculously, Lewis escaped unscathed....not a scratch or bruise on him. But the truck.....well, you can imagine.

-Our landlord hauled it out of the ditch with a tractor, & towed it home to our front yard. Our regular mechanic came over next day, to assess it, & declared it to be 'fixable,' with an estimate of a 'little over $400, total, for parts & labor,' which includes body work.

-Needs another radiator, of course, a hood, front grill, & bumpers, plus, the brakes. Hopefully, it will not be too much over the estimate.

-I dropped liability earlier this year, due to the collection of all the many dents & dings Lewis had already put on all sides of the truck, & now have just comprehensive coverage, as required by law. I cannot believe I paid the max on that bucket-of-bolts for TOO many years, & that the insurance co. did not advise me to drop the liability. It was my sister, who told me that I did not have to have the max on it.

-Anyway, we are sitting without a ride, once again, & have to get creative, to ask folks to bring our mail to us. I have managed to get someone to take Lewis to town, to the grocery store, post office, & bank, & will have to continue to do so, until we get the truck back in running order.

-Had to cancel 2 appointments in Louisville, due to no transportation, but, hey! You have to do what you have to do.

-The main thing is, Lewis did not get hurt, & his short term memory continues to improve, or at least, stabilize. He is aware of the date, day of the week, & year, which is a very good sign.

-On the other hand, it is I who am rapidly failing now, physically, & I struggle, to get about the house on my own 2 feet, striving to do what chores that need to be done, like cooking meals ahead of time, setting up Lewis's meds, doing dishes, etc.

-Forgive me, for not having wished everyone holiday greetings on here, or for not having stayed in touch, via emails. I do not have a full plate....I have a banquet.

-Leighton, like me, I know you cannot wait for Season 3 of Downton Abbey. This Sunday night, at 7:30 pm EST, will be a Christmas special of Call the Midwife, which is an excellent series.

-Don, you know I think of you, often, & pray for your quick recovery & healing, always. I miss our emails, ditto, to Miami Girl, LARGO, & Parks.

-Hoping only for the best, in 2013, for the world entire.

_________________________________________________________________________________
Leighton 26-Dec-2012 06:29
Al, I prefer NC over East TN, especially these days. I love Asheville, but likely won't make it over, before I return to South Texas next Friday. What happens after January, is anybody's guess. Regardless, Mom's Christmas decor is spectacular, and all was very festive. Now, a bit of rest, before figuring out what comes next...

Happy New Year!
Nike 26-Dec-2012 02:54
Miami Rogues - Merry Christmas to all from sunny Palm Springs, California. I have to agree with "teh Don's" remark. Time and gravity have a way of talking toll.
Don Boyd25-Dec-2012 17:35
And Merry Christmas to everyone who hangs out here from time to time. Thank you for your posts and your Christmas wishes. I'm still recuperating from my radiation treatments that ended in mid-November and my taste buds are slowly coming back so that I can eat more foods but they have a long way to go. It was good for a 40-pound weight loss but what a way to do it.

Roberta, thank you for your heartfelt posts and I wish you the best with Lewis who will always be a cowboy no matter how much his body fails him. He's done much more physically in his lifetime than anyone I know and sooner or later we all start to break down. Just look at Nike's photo when he was in the Army and look at him now, haha.

Best wishes to all!

Don
.
Parks25-Dec-2012 16:51
Merry Christmas everyone! Was it Az Al that made the mountains Smokey?
whitebelt25-Dec-2012 11:22
Merry Christmas to you and everyone, MRR.

Having a white one here in SE Colorado. A nice snow that will not be a problem.
Miami River Rat25-Dec-2012 05:01
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my Old Miami friends! Getting drowned here in Alabama. Hope y'all have a drier Christmas.
Arizona Al 24-Dec-2012 08:22
Leighton: I attended Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.for my Masters Degree 1972-1974. During that time I made many visits to Johnson City, Bristol and Kingsport in Eastern Tennessee. The Appalachians in winter are sinply awesome. I sure do miss that Smokey Mountain High! Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Leighton 23-Dec-2012 10:00
Ummmmmm, OK. Anyway, in East TN for the holidays. Hope that everyone has a great Christmas.
bassist 19-Dec-2012 16:54
I remember Ace Music very well, even before they moved to 136 Street in North Miami I went to them on NW 7th Avenue in Miami and even before that the first place I did business with them was on NW 79th Street in Miami. Gus was a great business man and gave me some out of this world deals. I saw Joe Morello, the long time drummer with Dave Brubek, give a clinic in the store on NW 7th Avenue one night. That's the kind of guy Gus was, anything for his customers.
whitebelt17-Dec-2012 10:00
Leighton,

We are born into an existence of swirling forms and colors and noise. We are dependent on our parents to initiate us into understanding what it is and making order out of it, along with others we encounter in later life. Things click together in different ways in different people as they develop and gather experience in life.

An emergent consciousness is attracted by the shiniest and noisiest things it encounters. Some get past that in their development, while most don't. Hence the hero worship and mass media hold on humankind. People tend to get stuck in tracks of thinking, guided and directed by those with agendas and a profit motive. Herd animals being farmed.

There ain't no difference between between living in academic ivory towers and on the farm when the outside world is brought to you via the Authoritative Voice. One nice thing about the internet now is the availablity of channels to get your input from.

As the twig is bent, the tree is inclined. However, in the storms of life you sometimes get bent in a new direction and develop a better perspective of what it is. More accurately, what it ain't.

Or something like that. :-)
whitebelt17-Dec-2012 09:35
Ace Music was a cool place with some cool people working there. I put a telephone system in there in the early mid-80's. Bought a couple of guitars and amps for my son from there. He still has one of the guitars, although the hardware needs some rehab.

There used to be a music store on Johnson street in Hollywood geared to country music. I think it was the Stype Bros or similar name that owned it. I spent some money in that place, too.

What I really miss about Miami was the ability to buy anything you wanted or needed locally. It had one of the more dynamic trade economies in the country. From O rings and oddball nuts and bolts to private jets, you can could find anythng there in stock somewhere in town.
Terry 16-Dec-2012 23:56
Bassist or Randy, who remembers Ace Music in North Miami, 136 St. and Dixie Hwy. Bought my first set of drums there 1966. My neighbor across the street from me took me to Ace. He knew the owner Gus, and got me a deal. My neighbor was the drummer in The Four Bits. They were the house act at the Miami Skyway for years.
Leighton 15-Dec-2012 22:35
OK, I'm still puzzled.
whitebelt15-Dec-2012 16:04
We all object to generalizations, particularly when we get lumped in with them. But it must be OK because insurance companies do it all the time and make lots of money doing so, which buys politicians that make subscribing to those generalizations mandatory, while at the same time decrying generalizing people in the effort to get votes. But that is another story. Don't get me started. :-)

I have spent a lot of time on the internet arguing with the neo atheists of today. The advancement of mankind seems to be their claim of legitmacy in calling everyone else stupid stupid and unenlightened. They default to a worship of scientism, but claim to be free thinkers. They are a confused bunch, professing we are a result of things just happening with no cause, no afterlife, and yet we are to be slaves to the thoughts of others that pose as "educated" and know what is best for us. Just another religion. The reality is living for each individual is a very personal experience. If we are just strictly physical flashes in the pan, then they waste a perfectly good life and chances for experience in being nothing but herd animals. Much of that is the result of mass media. People were much more free thinking before they set listening to their Master's Voice coming out of the speaker.

This is what that last statement is in reference to, though this explanation could use a considerable amount of enlargement which i will not go into as I have retired from arguing with the idiots and have got out of trying to be coherent in trying to explain the physics of existence.

Life is a personal expression within a much larger backdrop. You make do the best you can with what you got and try to enjoy it. Then deal with what comes next.
Leighton 15-Dec-2012 00:41
Well, I'm 50, and I don't think that my parents made any mistakes. I just object to generalizations, as with my last post. (Didn't get the gist of your last sentence.)

Headed to East TN for the holidays. I just read the local newspaper's web site, with a report about today's horrible happening. The responses didn't surprise me, but they dismayed me. That area of the country really horrifies me, sometimes.
Carmen 13-Dec-2012 15:37
Randy, did you see the Vanguards recording there in the late sixties? They were my favorite group at that time and I know they used to record at Stereo Sound of Miami.
whitebelt11-Dec-2012 13:33
Ah, Leighton, but most of those supposed adults that appear to have gone insane never grew up in the first place. Arrrested development from substance abuse at too early an age and/or living in a sheltered world. Media and peer pressure bots. Souls trapped in under developed minds. Or something like that.

No, not all youth are ignorant. I have seem way too many that were smarter than me. I am rather impressed with many of the educated in their forties, my son's generation. They had their parent's mistakes thrown in to learn from. Not that they won't make their own.

Life is not a school for the advancement of mankind. It is a poetic experience for individual spirits. Or something like that.
Leighton 11-Dec-2012 03:56
Hmmm, I wouldn't say that all youth are/were ignorant. And as it was pointed out, the screeching by many posters on a large number of presumably other adult news sites, would tend to make one believe that a good number of supposed adults have gone insane. That's not a political statement.
Randy 09-Dec-2012 17:32
to the bassist, I remember Stereo Sound of Miami. I lived in the general area for a while when I was around ten years old. I'd see guys going in and out carrying guitar cases and drum sets and amps etc. all the time. It was on the second floor of a building on NE 2 Ave between 16 St and 17 St. on the west side of the street as I remember. I once ask one of them if I could go in and he said yes, so I went upstairs, but I couldn't go into the studio, all I saw was the first room. I wish I could have seen and heard what was going on in the other rooms.
Miami River Rat09-Dec-2012 03:52
Roberta, so sorry to hear how things are going. My grandmother went with Alzheimer's. It was painful when the person that taught you how to tell time and count money didn't remember who you were. Best wishes, and hang in there!
bassist 08-Dec-2012 20:47
Living in South Florida in the early 60's I played and recorded with a band to make a few bucks. We recorded many tracks at a studio simply known as Stereo Sound of Miami. It was located near downtown Miami around NE Second Avenue and 15th Street approx.
Frank Linelli was the owner and engineer, and he did fantastic work. I know he made us sound better than we were. Does anyone here know or remember any of this? I would love to find Frank if he is still around, and maybe get a few copies of our old works. Thanks!
Roberta Perry Hughes 08-Dec-2012 14:33

Just checking in with y'all to let you know I continue to live & breathe, as is Lewis.

Have had my hands full, of late, as his short term memory is on a downhill slide.
Latest visit with Neurologist was sobering, & a source of great sadness, for us both.

We have added a second drug, used to treat Alzheimers, & there is some progress, I am glad to report. Hope & pray that it continues, or at least, levels off.
He can no longer drive to Swainsboro, which is over 28 miles one way, but can drive locally. Told the doctor that I am desperate to get behind the wheel again, & he agreed it is a wise idea.

Problem with that is, I've developed CTS in right wrist & hand, & fear that I cannot safely drive again.

However, my Internal Med. doctor said there is no reason why I cannot drive again, & he made appt. for a P.T. consult, to see if there is anything they can do, plus, get me a new splint, as the old one I have is ill-fitting.

He also said that he can give me an injection in the inner wrist area, in an attempt to avoid the CTS surgery, which I cannot have done, due to circumstances.

Meanwhile, I carry on the best I can, trying to stay a jump ahead of Lewis, & see to his needs, & get him ready to face the day.

He is still able to drive to Wadley, & to where the horses are pastured. I know that I have a long road ahead of me, & that it is going to progressively begin to go downhill, again, at some point in the future. I can only hope I have a bit more time, left, to confidently be the driver in the family.

I have wept oceans of tears, knowing that everything in his short term memory bank will be forgotten, one day. It is a heartbreak like no other, to watch the one you love so dearly begin to become someone else, & just fade away, before your very eyes.

How I wish it had been me, who was hit with this double whammy, of Parkinson's Disease & Dementia (Lewy Body Disease), instead of my cowboy, who has always loved the outdoors, going hither & yon, having horseback riding friends, riding in the holiday parades, & leading a gentle horse for the kids to ride, at Fall Festivals.

He has become so stooped & bent, & his ambulatory status is tricky, come evening, & in the early morning. Father Time has done a number, on his countenance, where once, he was so very handsome, a real looker, in his Western attire.

He once had a grip like a vice. He used to bend fence wire with his bare hands, & he could leap from horseback, to grab a cow by its horns, & lay her down, so he could give her a shot.

He was a fantastic roper, & a master of the lariat. He used cattle dogs, & the threat of the sound of his rawhide cow whip, to move a herd of cows down the road, back when he was a "herdsman" for a living. It was like watching a scene from a Western movie.

He was also a skilled horseman, with a perfect "seat," & control of the horse's every movement, when cutting cows out of a herd, riding at a full gallop, stopping on a dime, & cutting them off, whenever they tried to stray down a side lane, on the way to the corral.

He is a mere shadow of the man he once was, to be sure. But I can still see a flicker, of who he once was, in his eyes. The tragedy of it all, is that he is aware of what is happening to him, by degrees, & he recalls his salad days, when he was a working cowboy. It is so heart wrenching, to see him weep.

I am determined to give him the best Christmas ever, this year, while he is yet as lucid as he now is.

If I am not on here, often, or at all, please know that I love & miss you, everyone, & that you are not far from my thoughts & prayers.

May you all have a fantastic holiday celebration, & a terrific New Year, too. Hold one another close, & count your blessings, for they are many, even in the face of adversities.

Take care of your precious selves. You are good people.

All my best, Roberta

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Miami River Rat08-Dec-2012 04:12
Howdy, howdy. I've been out of touch. Had a bit of a back problem and I've been at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville getting chopped on or else home trying to get over the chopping since back in mid-October. It still kinda' hurts to sit at the computer, but I am starting to believe I'll live.

My horse riding days may be over, or maybe not. Will grill the doc about that when I go back in January.

Hope all of you have been doing well. Hang in there!
Randy 07-Dec-2012 16:51
My old man said "When you get to old to run women, you start runnin' them ole balls accross the cow pasture".
whitebelt07-Dec-2012 15:44
Shaw was surely a wiser old gentleman when he made that observation. A youngin' never could. :-)
Nike 07-Dec-2012 15:14
"Youth is wasted on the young."
.......George Bernard Shaw
whitebelt07-Dec-2012 14:13
I think at our age and this point in time most of us are sitting in bunkers and doing some reflecting, Leighton. This is a strange year on various levels.

I think there is a general burnout on forum participation. There has been too much empowerment of the idiots and nutcases on the ones I use to frequent. A bunch of screaming memes, little original thought.

I love the net. Just discovered Guns and Roses.

Funny how you can go back now and fill in some pieces you missed, although some events you don't remember happening as described.

Youth, energy, and ignorance. How did I ever survive it?
Leighton 07-Dec-2012 07:57
Quiet, these days.......
Nike 07-Dec-2012 01:42
ANyone out there?
Nike 01-Dec-2012 16:10
The Don - It must not be working. She had me charged with "Assault with a dead weapon."
Don Boyd01-Dec-2012 15:43
Probably not at your age. Consult with your wife.

Don
Nike 01-Dec-2012 01:18
Is this thing working?
Nike 23-Nov-2012 14:16
AZ AL = Sorry we missed you and Elvie this trip. We'll make plan for yur next rip here or ours to Phoenix.
Arizona Al 23-Nov-2012 13:26
Nike: Best made plans of mice and men laid to waste. Leaving Palm Springs this morning (Friday) and heading to Idyllwild for the next 2 days then on to Oceanside for a day prior to returning to Phoenix on Monday. Sorry no meet-n-greet this trip:(
Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Palm Desert, California.
Nike 23-Nov-2012 00:05
Happy Thanksgiving to all the Miami turkeys
Nike 18-Nov-2012 18:11
AZAL - Definitely so.

We moved into our new place this past Thursday. Call me or email Charles@Nike252.org so we can make plans.
Arizona Al 16-Nov-2012 19:00
Nike: Elvie and I will be in Palm Springs Wednesday through Saturday next week. Any chance of another meet-n-greet. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Nike 14-Nov-2012 00:23
Whitebelt -- We had several commercial airliners in and out out of Miami unknowingly fly into our airspace and have a Nike site radar "locked" on them but we were never that close to pulling the trigger during my time 1962 - 1965.

At times, our own Aitr Force and Navy fighters, intercepters, and bombers would fly towards us for testing purposes but send the "friend" code before we were anywhere near actually firing.

At times, the Russian IL-28 Beagle Bombers in Cuba and Cuban Air Force jets would fly towards us. We would scramble Phantom 104s from Homestead and Key West who would happily escort them out of our airspace.

The Phantom 104 could get to Havana in 4 minutes. They could out-drag a Chevy 409.
Nike 14-Nov-2012 00:17
Whitebelt -- Thanks for the link to the article. I have notified the editor of that webpage that the Nike Hercules replaced the Nike AJAX and there was never a Nike AJAX in south Florida.

I hope you got your frunace working befor the cold weather came to Colorado.

Its nice here in southern California.
Nike 13-Nov-2012 22:31
Leighton - I apologize to you and the others for my inappropriate remarks
Leighton 13-Nov-2012 04:53
Nike - I have no desire to get you started. And I'm not stupid.

Finally cool here in TX, as if anyone cares.

Almost 25 years since I've visited Miami - I'm not free to travel....wish I were.
whitebelt12-Nov-2012 19:56
Nike, ran across this article about A Battery.

http://www.nps.gov/ever/historyculture/nike-veteran-interview-excerpts.htm

Did you ever go that hot? That was definitely a close call. Can you fill us in on the Ajax and switch out stuff?
Carmen 12-Nov-2012 16:18
Mr. Boyd: Thank you, it was a fun place and really good food, as my friends told me "down home cooking". I remember riding the #6 bus from there to Jack Cherry's Cities Service garage on Palm Avenue and about 55th Street in Hialeah. I always took my car there.
Don Boyd12-Nov-2012 01:22
Carmen, I vaguely remember it. The #6 bus used to go down Palm and either I saw it while riding that bus from 1957 through high school going to downtown Miami or to South Beach. It was either that or when I had to attend traffic court by city hall to fight phony traffic tickets given to me by crazed Hialeah cops.

Don
Carmen 11-Nov-2012 17:04
Mr. Boyd: Do you remember the Coffee Pot Restaurant located on Palm Avenue in Hialeah, Florida? I think it was on about East Fourth Street, after having started two blocks south on East Second Street. I remember Dorsey Sommerlin, the owner, telling me once when I was in there that he probably made most of his money feeding the prisoners in the Hialeah jail located just two blocks away. Two of Dorsey's sisters and mother had started the restaurant many years earlier, when he finally took over he soon moved to the larger location.
Nike 08-Nov-2012 00:30
Leighton -- Good to hear from you.

Other than Parks having the crabs, we're doing well. Actually, Fran and Roberta have had medical issues.

After the election returns, it appears the majority of voters are "Stuck on Stupid."

Don't get me started.
Leighton 07-Nov-2012 10:08
Wow, I've been away for a few months, and you're talking about "crabs". How is everyone?
Roberta Perry Hughes 07-Nov-2012 07:18

Did early voting, via Absentee ballot, Lewis, too, & got it over & done.

I had him go to town, Monday, & pick up a few groceries, go to the drugstore, & the post office, so that he would not have to fight for a parking space on Election Day.

After he went & fed the horses, & came home, we battened down the hatches, & watched regular daytime TV in the comfort of our home, & we both enjoyed a long nap, until suppertime.

We were delighted that there were a few channels that did not carry the election returns, after the polls closed. Supper was taken in our living room, which we had all cozy & warm, as it was quite chilly.

We are so very grateful, to have a source of heat, & a roof over our heads, in light of the unimaginable suffering of those who are outdoors, in the bitter cold, breaking up their furniture, & burning it in a large oil drum, in an attempt to get warm.

I hope that folks who are bereft of the necessities of the barest comforts of living will soon be warm & sheltered, & fed. I cannot believe they have gone so long without being helped.

We need to reflect, & count our blessings, most especially now, as we have no idea, if we will be among those who are in dire straits, & abandoned at some point in the future.

There's no way to predict where, or when, natural disasters will occur, nor if they will be knocking on our own front door.

Take care of your precious selves. Be well. Stay warm. Be safe.

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mi 06-Nov-2012 23:37
Hope ya'll voted today!
Nike 28-Oct-2012 21:21
Whitebelt -- Thanks for the link.

Last weekend, we had 183 attendees including friends, families, and VIP guests at the 50-year reunion. There were 47 Nike veterans from 23 states who has served on one of the south Florida Nike sites 1962-1979.

We had two Nike Hercules missiles on display at the former Nike site in Everglades National Park. Tours will be more exciting this year with the addition of the missiles.
Roberta Perry Hughes 28-Oct-2012 11:14

Thoughts & prayers go out to all who are in the path, or within the outer bands of the Frankenstorm, 'Sandy.' If you have somewhere safe to go, do not wait about evacuating. Take your important papers, treasured photos, pets, etc. with you.

If your State offers it, do early voting, or get an Absentee Ballot if you will not be at your usual residence. If the predictions for power outages become a reality, it may be worse than the year of the 'hanging chads,' as far as every vote counted goes.

If there will be MANY, who miss Election Day, will they extend it, so that these folks can get their voting done....?

Or, will Tuesday, November 6, 2012 be THE deadline....?

Can anyone shed any light on this concern....?

I do so hope that you & yours will be safe from harm, until 'Sandy' blows out to sea, & that the aftermath & clean up will go easy on folks who were caught in it, & their property, pets, & communities will not suffer too badly, nor for too long.

Take care of your precious selves. Be well. Be safe. Be careful.

=======================================================================
whitebelt28-Oct-2012 02:50
I hope all you people on the East Coast got yourselves a generator. :-)

That is a nasty looking scenario. I can see much of New Jersey shoreline geting washed away.

Been coldish here the last three days. Even had a touch of snow yesterday morning.

Nike, saw this about another veteran of the Missle Crisis, but he was on a ship.

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/102712CubaMissle#.UIydNHaRDf0
Nike 26-Oct-2012 19:20
Parks -- All I remember is something you said about having the crabs.
Parks26-Oct-2012 15:03
At least the radiation hasn't affected Don's sense of humor. When you're feeling better I will buy lunch, a cheap lunch. Actually it was stone crab claws not blue crab legs. Nike is loosing it a little.
Don Boyd26-Oct-2012 05:17
Just rub it in, Charles! It doesn't matter because blue crab legs would have tasted like dog food to me thanks to my radiation treatments temporarily causing my taste buds to become inoperative. I have to force myself to eat and even doing that I have lost 3 pounds each week for the past three weeks, which is a big no-no with the docs. There are only a few drinks and foods that I can tolerate these days so I will turn down Parks' offer of a free lunch at Joe's Stone Crabs. Yeah, I'm having hallucinations too, obviously.

Don
.
Nike 25-Oct-2012 21:46
Parks and "The Don" -- It was great to see both of you again. Thanks for being part of the activities at the Nike missile base in the Everglades and HistoryMiami Museum on Sunday.

Sorry also that The Don missed those great blue crab legs at The Catch of the Day.

We're back in Atlanta on our way back to Palm Springs where we will winterize.
Hugh 25-Oct-2012 14:48
Carmen, I found that Randy Christmas preceeded your reletive Robert King High in office in the city of Miami.
whitebelt24-Oct-2012 13:32
That $2200 sounds a litle cheap, what with the transfer switch, MRR. You are setting up your own little power station there.

I love this little unit. It is 120v only, but enough to run the central gas, heat, lights, refrigerator. and other small stuff. It gets down to 20 below zero here. That back up for the furnace is my main concern. Frozen water pipes can cost a lot more than this generator, or the cost of hauing my frozen body out of here. My gas furnace spikes at 11 amps, and drops to 4 or 5 when running. This handles it just fine with power to spare. It will handle one or two of those far infrared electric heaters no sweat if needed.

Did I mention I HATE freezing my a*s off?

For $326 it is piece of mind. They make one the same size, but with a remote electric start and a wheel kit for less than $200 more. Nice for us older people. This is a good quality small and cheap unit.

Plus you can throw it in a vehicle if things get real rough.

I know some people back in New Mexico that went without natural gas for over a week in -20 and slightly warmer sub-zero weather. Luckily the power didn't go out in that time. Electric heaters and wood stoves kept them from dying. But plumbers made a fortune fixing burst pipes when it warmed up.

Speaking of everything nowadays made in China, and cheap. Now is a good time to invest in durable goods for us old timers on the final stretch. With the price of oil and the social problems they will have in China, the prices will rise. That in addition to the return of manufacturing that will occur in this country. Things are not going to get any cheaper. Investing now will give a pad to the transition that will occur.
Miami River Rat24-Oct-2012 03:33
Portable generators: I've had to have one here for decades now. For example, we were out of power for 27 days following hurricane Opal in '95.

I currently have a 6500 watt Coleman that works very well and runs almost everything we need, with exceptions. Central heat and air, electric stove, washer and/or drier are a bit out of its design.

Were I to get a replacement, I'd go with a Generac 12,500 watt model. That way I could simply throw a transfer switch and run everything in the house without worry. That one would cost around $2200.

If all that's needed is to run the TV, computer, some fans and keep the refrigerator and freezer working for a time, a generator similar in size to Whitebelt's is more practical and cost efficient. I'm in a different situation here.
Parks22-Oct-2012 23:45
Nike's missile is now in Everglades National Park. Uncle Don went out to see the missile dedicated but I couldn't get out there for the ceremony. I went to the history museum yesterday and heard Nike talk about the history of the Nike Missile batteries in South Florida.
He and Nancy looked fit and happy. They're driving all over the country and having fun.
whitebelt21-Oct-2012 01:37
Ms. Carmen has a sense of humor on the slightly wicked side. :-)
Roberta Perry Hughes 20-Oct-2012 19:30

-"Mr. Whitebelt"....? LOL I LOVE it....! Thanks, Carmen, for having given us a new moniker to call our Dave....!

-Speaking of....So pleased that you're glad that I'm 'still kicking,' whitebelt. I appreciate it.

-Not only am I 'still kicking,' just had a birthday, this past Friday. When asked my age, I shall reply that I'm, 'thirty-twice-'n-five'....!

-When it comes to my age, I am famous for my creativity. When I turned 40, told everyone that I was, 'twenty-twice.' LOL

-Got some very nice gifts & cards, from friends & family, both near & far. $$ is always the right size, right color, & is seldom returned, but LOVE the sort one has to open, too, containing a surprise or two, most especially if it arrives via UPS, or USPS, from miles away.

-Got my early vote sent, via Absentee Ballot, & requested one for my cowboy, too. Even though he can still drive, his Parkinson's would make him need assistance at the polls, & no one can aid the voter on election day, or during early voting, unless they are a relative or spouse.

-Have yet to get our flu shots, but will, soon. We can get them at the doctor's office, without an appointment. Just walk in, walk out. Badda-bing, badda-boom.

-Have an enjoyable weekend, everyone, with the best of weather, wherever you may be. Be well. Be safe. Have fun.

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Carmen 20-Oct-2012 16:26
Mr. Whitebelt, Thank you so very much for your kind comments. I have been taught from an early age to show respect at all times.
whitebelt20-Oct-2012 00:32
http://www.wayfair.com/Champion-Power-Equipment-3500-4000-Watt-Portable-Generator-46596-CXP1053.html?refid=EH&mmid=88631259&csnid=43E26670-2190-42F3-9306-D3650BC41640

That one, Parks. Just got it today and it seems to be very good quality. This one doesn't have the wheel kit. I believe they make one with a remote controlled electric start, too. Cranked right up. Good. documentation. It will supply more than a standard 20 amp outlet. I like it. Can't beat the price. Plus the free and quick shipping. That one came Fedex.

I like Wayfair. They respond. They gave me a full refund on that one I didn't want right away.

I ordered this on a Saturday, but it didn't ship until Tuesday, from Ohio. Got here today. There were only 10 in stock when I ordered it. For $326 you can't go wrong with this one. Made in China, but under Champion's direction. Not like the other generic ones under different brand names, from what I gather. This will keep your refrigerator and freezer and lights going. Not as loud as most others in that price range. Idles fairly quiet.
Parks19-Oct-2012 15:06
Whitebelt, what kind of generator did you get? Living in Miami makes me have a great interest in such matters.

Nike's missile should be on it's way to Everglades National Park. I saw it at the aviation school where the kids were restoring it. They did a great job. I'm not sure they were supposed to actually make a warhead for it. I wonder where they got the explosive?
whitebelt17-Oct-2012 16:31
Carmen seems like such a nice polite young lady.

But the term "Mr. Boyd" refeering to Don made me cringe. Took me back to my first introduction to getting older. I was walking into a building one day and a young 30ish woman standing outside reached over and opened the door for me.

?

I smiled and asked why she did that, and she said she just did things like that. I smiled again and thanked her and kept on going. This wasn't too long after my accident. I was 45 at the time, and with new choppers. I aged a bit quick.

But I got over it. Just call me Dave. :-)

Waiting for my portable back up generator to arrive. What an epic it has been getting one. First two were out of stock after placing the order, the third was misleading and insufficient power, but this one should do the trick, is cheaper, and good reviews. My shaky old bones have this fear of the power going out during the winter, rendering my furnace useless, and my body shivering, fish and pipes freezing, and other uncomfortable things, such as my favorite bed companion, a heating pad, unable to perform.

Ah, life goes on, just at a slower pace, and with more props.
Carmen 09-Oct-2012 15:43
Mr. Boyd. Thanks so very much, I found a whole lot about Robert King High using the avenues that you suggested. I also learned a lot about Abe Aronovitz while searching. Dade County, or Miami-Dade County, has an interesting political history.
whitebelt08-Oct-2012 15:26
Glad to see you are still kicking, Roberta.

Hope Fran rebounds quickly. Hospitals are dangerous places. There is no way they can sterilize the collection of infectious diseases that accumulate there, in addition to those that evolve. Cracks, crevices, ventilation systems, and less than meticulous attention to detail will alow nothing else but for those to develop. They need new designs for hospitals. Now it is best to get in, get out ASAP, and recuperate in the comparatively less risky environs of home and sunlight.

I'm sitting here waiting for winter to fall hard. My hummingbirds booked it out, had the first freeze a couple of days ago. Have been getting prepared, and getting in the less tinkering mode. A winter to think and reflect is coming up.

Old containers from our youth. I remember when it was fun to close up those old waxed milk cartons and throw them under cars passing by where they popped. Until a grump stopped, chased me down, and chewed me out royal. Had a few instances of that in my youth. Accelerated maturation you don't have nowadays.

Onward through the fog.
Nike 08-Oct-2012 12:49
Roberta -- I'm glad to hear you and Lewis are doing better. I wish you could be at the event in Miami but understand the difficulties you would face doing so.

RE: ...armed Nike warhead was found underground (?) in the Everglades, it was an empty rocket motor casing from the Saturn V program, not the military missile, Nike Hercules. AeroJet General had a contract to test fire solid fuel rocket motors. Unfortunately, NASA decided to use liquid fuel motors for the Saturn V. As a result, AeroJet abandoned the site and the rocket motor casing was left in place in a deep hole.

How did the Super Cola taste after all these years?
Roberta Perry Hughes 08-Oct-2012 08:21

Does anyone remember one of THE first companies to offer soft drinks in a can?

The can had a conical top, sort of like a can of motor oil. The brand name was
Super Cola, & their commercial on TV included a jingle, which included the line,

..."No deposit! No return!"

For years, I've wracked my brain, trying to remember the brand name of that cola, but it eluded me. I could visualize the can, but not the label.

Recently, my brother visited from Michigan, & of course, my sister came with him, to my house.

Audrey & I were looking through my collection of Old Miami ephemera, & I came across a booklet that I got in a box lot, but had never really looked at it, inside.

Lo! and behold! There it was! The can of Super Cola, in an advertisement on one of the pages! Mystery solved!

So....do y'all remember this cola....??

How I wish I could make a trip down to Our Town, & was able to go on that Nike tour, & meet up with some of you folks, & your spouses.

I'll be there in spirit. Have a great time, with only the best of weather!

Saw on Huffington Post where an armed Nike warhead was found underground (?) in the Everglades. Nike, do you know the details, re: how it would be disarmed & removed....?

Hugs all around. Miss the absentee Rogues & Roguettes. Hope all is well,
with all of them.

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Nike 08-Oct-2012 02:17
Don - I'm glad to hear you and Karen will be there. Be at the Everglades National Park Visitors Center Theatre at 10:00 a.m. Sunday Octover 21. Although there is no charge, if you plan to do any traveling to national parks, bring $10.00 and get your National Park Senior Lifetime Pass good at any National Park forever.

See you there.
Maurice Helou 07-Oct-2012 16:41
Hi All: Does anyone remember Stretch the Beachcomber. I knew him in the late fifties. He hung around the area from the Chateau Motel to The Biltmore Terrace.
Don Boyd07-Oct-2012 05:16

Roberta: good for you on getting out of the hospital again and returning home. You lucked out getting to see your regular doctor before he bailed out on vacation.

Nike: Karen and I would like to attend the Nike dedication in ENP on Sunday the 21st.

Ron: thank you very much for the update on Fran, I appreciate it and she is in our prayers. We are sorry that she has gone through so much since her hospitalization and we hope that the future sees her getting much better with time. We can visualize your joy at hearing her voice again and are happy for you, and her. Please extend our best wishes to her and tell her that we miss her occasional postings here.

Carmen: I know you asked Randy the question but I'll throw in my two cents about Robert King High. I remember him as being extremely popular with the voters in Miami because he was a great mayor for ten years and very personable. I believe he passed away at an early age while running for governor. If you Google his full name you should see at least several websites with more information about him.

Don
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Carmen 06-Oct-2012 16:14
Randy, I see you are mainly interested in Hialeah politics, but I am just wondering if you remember Robert King High. I am a distant relative of his and I hope you can tell me something about his public life. All I really know is he was mayor of Miami at some point, I think in the late 50's or early 60's. I'm told he even ran for gov.
Roberta Perry Hughes 06-Oct-2012 09:06

Hallelujah, dear Ron....! I am sure we all rejoice with you over this wonderful milestone in your mother's progression to wellness....! It is nothing short of a miracle, & such welcome news....!

All my best wishes & prayers go out to all of your family members, & top of the list is your mother, of course....!

This is just the best entry that I have read in the Comments section this week....!
No offense to any of the postings of memories & good times shared with others, by the 'usual suspects'....aka: the other Rogues & Roguettes on here, of course. :)

Speaking of the 'usual suspects'....Whitebelt, you've been mighty quiet, here lately.
Hope your hiatas from the Board is only temporary, & that you will be back on here, posting....you, too, Az Al, et. alia.

All my best, to all of you....Don-da-don-don, too, natch....!

Hugs, all around.

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Guest 05-Oct-2012 07:59
Fran Update:

So Wednesday, the nurses in the ICU and I teamed up and we strolled my Mom down the hall and her and I sat in the sun for over an hour visiting. It was amazing and her spirits improved 100 fold. and today, my Mom was able to talk to me for the first time in over a month with her own voice. Not a whisper and not reading her lips as she struggled with dealing with a tracheostomy, but with the help of a speaking valve in her trach attachment she was able to talk to me and we had a conversation (I know right?) and I heard her voice for the first time in over a month. I was so glad and happy today I cannot describe it in the detail that I want on here or the fact that I was so elated that I was hearing her voice in so long. I am so completely grateful. In truth I hope this doesn't come off as contrite or superficial but today was one of the few and great joys I have had lately, I almost cried by how overcome with how happy I was.

So, I say thank you all for the prayers, the well wishes, and good vibes so far! Know that they are being heard, felt, and are greatly appreciated! You all may never know how much it means to me but know that I am so grateful. I hope you all have an awesome Friday (even though this happened on Thursday) and may this joy enliven you and brighten your day and weekend!

Thanks,
Ron
Nike 05-Oct-2012 01:04
Parks - I enjoyed lunch Tuesday along with our visit to see the Nike Hercules being refurbished by the George T. Baker Aviation School at the airport (thanks to The Don for making the contacts for me). Sorry he couldn't be there to enjoy it with us but maybe next time.

The Nike will be transported from MIA to Everglades National Park to the former Nike site on Monday October 15th by the Air Force reserve unit at Homestead FAB which is a military transportation unit with a trailer made for transporting large missiles. I have to believe I am on the Homeland Security Watch List. I tell everyone I am in the Witness Protection Plan.

I hope you and Susan make it to the 50th Reunion Program on Saturday October 20 and the unveilling of the Nike and VIP tour at the Nike site on October 21st.

I'm inviolved in an event related to the Cubna Missile Crisis 50th anniversary on Sunday afternoon but Nancy and I will make plans wiht you and Susan during the following week.

Best to all
Randy 04-Oct-2012 15:16
I'm sorry to hear that, he was a good man and a good mayor, just what Hialeah needed at the time.
Guest 03-Oct-2012 14:29
I THINK DALE BENNET DIEDE AROUND 1996
Randy 03-Oct-2012 14:18
Dale Bennett is still around I think, someone said he moved upstate somewhere after he left office. I believe Charles Whiteacre was mayor sometime before Bennett was. What a great lawyer Chatlie was, always there when needed.
Roberta Perry Hughes 03-Oct-2012 09:02

Good morning. Just got out of the hospital again this past Thursday. Hadn't been home from the first trip a week when I was hit with inhalation-chemical asthma.

Got to see my regular doctor yesterday, & got some encouragement, that, with the inhaler I am on, plus an antibiotic, in time, this can clear up. He said it is more like bronchitis, than anything else.

I am beginning to feel a bit better, & can breathe better, to be sure. When you cannot breathe, nothing else matters. It is a physical pain, too, from all of the violent coughing I had been doing, trying to expel the congestion.

The doctor who had filled in for my regular doctor had discharged me on no inhaler, & no antibiotic, & I steadily went downhill. Luckily, I got to advance my follow-up appointment, so I could see my regular doctor before he goes on vacation.

Hope everyone is well, & feeling good. It means so much, just to feel good, especially the older we get.

Thanks so very much, for the emails & phone calls, during my absence.

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Miami Girl 02-Oct-2012 19:13
YES, Grossman's Hammock it was! Thanks Parks and MRR!! I remember not really wanting to swim there because of the possible gators - like they knew to stay in their own area, I sure wasn't trusting that. It was a special place but I understand why they had to plug the well. Interesting about the Alaska and California earthquakes affecting the water rate.
Miami River Rat02-Oct-2012 03:53
It was Grossman's Hammock, then Mineral Springs for a while. Whatever it was called, it was always a really nice place to go swim, fish and/or picnic. When I was down last year my sister, her son and his two kids and I went out there. It's still an ok place with some nature trails, but with the lake dried up and the water flow cut off, it's nothing like the same.

My grandpa told me that the "spring" there wasn't natural. He said that back in the early 1900's they drilled for oil there but hit the artesian well instead.

Parks, hope y'all enjoy your lunch. I'm still hoping the next time I get down that way there will be some time to visit around a bit.
Parks02-Oct-2012 01:30
miami Girl, I remember the park as Grossman Hammock Park. The name has changed to Chekika State Park and it is now a part of Everglades National Park. They plugged the spring.
Here is a link to a web page about it:http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageID=428525
Nike is in town. I'm going to try to have lunch with him and Don tomorrow.
Miami Girl 01-Oct-2012 17:11
Does anyone from the south end of the county remember that small park with the sulfur water spring that was west of US 1 -- maybe out Coconut Palm Dr.? I wonder if it's still open for swimming?
Guest 30-Sep-2012 17:23
Randy, Do you remember Dale Bennett? I think he was mayor of Hialeah some time after Henry Milander. My Mom took me to Bennett for eye glasses many years ago, his business was on W 49th Street near the bowling alley.
Miami Girl 21-Sep-2012 13:04
WOW, what an ordeal Fran's going through, but so glad to hear it's looking better now - hope and pray she continues on the uphill road - you too Roberta! Thanks Ron for letting us know, also thanks to Lewis for calling me about Roberta! I think I'm going to put a sign near my computer so family members will remember to update friends on this site as well as facebook.
Roberta Perry Hughes 21-Sep-2012 12:53

Ditto, Don, on feeling as though you have no problems, after having read of Fran's ordeal since July. I feel exactly the same way, to be sure....!

I am making progress, daily, however slowly, getting blood sugars regulated, & diet as tolerated, as long as it is bland.

Any illness is difficult, for Diabetics, & infections are a bwitch, to the system, & so hard to battle.

Ron, I thank you so very much, for your post, to update us on dear Fran. We used to email one another, & send pictures, etc., & when there were no replies from her, I was deeply concerned, & told Miami Girl that when this happened once before, Fran was in the hospital.

Rest assured, she will be in our prayers, for a complete recovery. I will email you, soon.

Hugs, all around, to all you Rogues & Roguettes. Be well. Take care of your precious selves. Never let a day go by, without letting the folks you love & care about know that you love them.

Thank you all, for having been there for me, with your emails of caring support, when I was ill. It means a lot.

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Don Boyd21-Sep-2012 06:21
Hi Ron,

Thank you very much for updating us with information on your mom because some of us were beginning to get worried about her not posting lately. Please don't worry about the volume of information that you provide to us because there certainly aren't any space limitations on this site.

Wow, what an awful ordeal she has been through since early July and is enduring now. I thought I had problems until I read of her circumstances and now I feel like I have no problems.

Please tell her that we are all pulling for her and that we miss her occasional posts on here and Facebook. And I'm sure that there will be some prayers coming from most of us on her behalf. We also hope that she continues to improve.

Thank you again for updating us and please continue to update us whenever you like.

Best regards,

Don
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Ron Cannon 21-Sep-2012 04:29
Hey this is Fran's son Ron. I'm sorry for not updating on here about my Mom. Actually, she is still in the hospital and has been there since 7/5/12. She was ready to head out about a month ago but while she was in there she became infected with MRSA (Methycillin Resistant Staph Aureus). She ended up having to get a peg tube for nutrition (a result of losing her ability to swallow) and a Tracheotomy because she had been intubated on a respirator too often and for more than a week at a time -also why she hasn't been able to swallow). Right now she's going through a lot of respiratory rehab and is making a lot of progress in baby steps. She is still mostly bed ridden however she can sit up. Hopefully once she's off the ventilator and finished with the respiratory rehab she can begin more physical rehab and speech therapy to regain her ability to swallow.

I know this is a lot of info and I'm just condensing it right now. If you're wondering why she has been in the hospital so long, it started out with a cut on her leg that developed into a bacterial infection. Her kidneys looked like they were failing so her nephrologist asked to temporarily place her on dialysis which required a main line to her veins and arteries. While in surgery for that she coded and they had to perform CPR for 30 min. After that she started to recover fine and actually came off dialysis (4 times total) but for some reason when they were pulling the excess fluid off with the Lasix, they dried her out too much and she went into respiratory distress. She recovered from that and at some point (my sisters and I believe due to some negligence on the staff's part) she became infected with MRSA which developed into pneumonia. At that point they placed her in the ICU and ran a course of antibiotics on her as well as performing the tracheotomy. The reason for the tracheotomy was their concern that she had been intubated so often that they didn't want the muscles in her throat to continue to atrophy and cause her further rehab time to regain her ability to swallow.

That's the story up to this point. Like I said, right now we're on an upturn and we hope to keep moving forward with recovery and rehab. I honestly don't know when she'll be able to get back on fb (they don't allow us to take a laptop into her room and we have to wear smocks and gloves bc of the MRSA risk) so it might be at some point in the next month? It really just hinges on the progress she makes with respiratory therapy -which so far is going really well.

If you have any other questions, let me know. I've been kind of hesitant about putting a lot of this on fb or here just because I didn't know that she would be in there this long.

Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers for my Mom!

-Ron Cannon

If you need to reach me, pass something on to my Mom or anything, my email is ronald.cannon78@gmail.com
or if you are friends with my Mom on facebook I'm listed as her son.
Miami River Rat21-Sep-2012 03:46
Ok, Fran has been really ill and is in the hospital. Her son Ron should post more info and details here soon, probably as a "guest".
Randy 20-Sep-2012 17:42
Don,
Well, I'll get us started (locally only) I'll never forget Henry "The Butcher" Milander, the mayor of Hialeah for what must have been fifty years. I remember going into his meat market with my mother many times when I was a youngster. It was located on Palm Avenue on about third street very close to city hall. You could catch him at almost any time of day walking one way or the other between the two.
Parks20-Sep-2012 00:13
Histarical Politicians - Who was the governor that the Herald hated so much that every time they ran a picture of him they managed to find a photo of him wearing a silly hat?
Nike 19-Sep-2012 19:41
Don -- Sorry but I went brain dead and opined on national politics about two hours ago.
Don Boyd19-Sep-2012 16:40
I hope not because I despise about 90% of the local, state and national politicians and I hate seeing political posts on Facebook. If the topic could be contained to only the historical aspect of former South Florida politicians it wouldn't be so bad but people are bound to stray into state and national politics and I will delete those when I see them.

Don
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Nike 19-Sep-2012 16:40
Randy -- Here's my comment on politics.

Fire the bum and replace him with someone with experience at running a government and businesses. No more community agitators.

Don't get me started
Randy 19-Sep-2012 14:27
Do we have anything on politics in South Florida? I think it would be great fun to see and read about some of the winners and losers we've had hold office or just run for affice here in our area.
Guest 18-Sep-2012 17:31
How about Pickled Herring Charlie's on the SE corner of Easr 9th Street and Eighth Avenue in Hialeah? Good eats, great fun.
Don Boyd17-Sep-2012 15:15
MRR, ditto on Miami Girl's comments, you should pursue it because I don't think it's an intrusion. I hope that Fran is okay, along with Roberta.

Don
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Miami Girl 17-Sep-2012 13:13
MRR here's my opinion: If someone feels comfortable to send one email or call then go for it, if no response then we can let it go. I don't think one inquiry would be considered intrusive.
Miami River Rat17-Sep-2012 03:07
Well I can't raise a squeak out of Fran. I fear she may have had some sort of relapse of last year's health issues.

I'm pretty sure that one or more of my cousins went to school with Fran's younger siblings at Miami Springs High School. I could possibly find something out that way, but I don't like to be intrusive. What do y'all think?
Miami Girl 15-Sep-2012 18:23
Parks, a home health lady comes in and I think it's mainly for her, but also can help him while she's in the hospital. He is getting around okay these days - just can't drive at night and has some memory problems. Not sure how often the help comes but I think Lewis can manage alone for awhile.
Parks15-Sep-2012 15:11
Miami Girl, thanks for the update on Roberta. Does Lewis have any help at home?
Miami Girl 15-Sep-2012 14:18
Well, first Roberta had computer problems now she's in the hospital. I just spoke to Lewis, she's improved since yesterday but he doesn't expect her home until the beginning of the week. I'm sure she'll post here when she's released, home again and able to get some rest ---- you sure don't get any while in the hospital! Get well soon Roberta.

This is one of the problems with this Social Media thing, when you stop posting and commenting, friends don't know what happened. Everybody is wondering and worried about Fran now. I'm still wondering what happened to Charlis, anybody know?
Miami Girl 05-Sep-2012 22:58
Another welcome back to Miss Roberta. It was a lot of fun talking to you a couple weeks ago, I love those old memories - you have a mind like a steel trap and as sharp as that proverbial tack! So sorry to hear of Lewis' and your health problems, my sister went through her husbands Parkinson's, it's a hard row to hoe. She was lucky in that he was a WWII Vet and the VA Hospital in Miami was a God-send. They furnished everything he needed, helped with home health care and also gave her time off to take a vacation for our family reunion in Gatlinburg by keeping him in the hospital for a couple weeks. By then he had no real sense of time and thought he was only there two days. I guess dementia is part of the disease. They've made so much progress with it, all thanks to public awareness and Michael J. Fox. I know some people have problems with the VA but they were awesome with him and are great with my husbands kidney failure. Thank God they've improved since the Viet Nam days when they were a hell hole.

Welcome back to our founder Don also - we missed you.
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Miami River Rat05-Sep-2012 14:48
Roberta, glad you are back. Sorry to hear about your man. We went through this with my grandmother. It's tough when the person that taught you how to tell time and count money can't remember who you are. Best wishes and hang in there!

Parks: There used to be a time when the dolphin ran in big schools around Fowey Rock Light. Odd, but my sister and I went fishing there and landed quite a catch of them. Truthfully, she caught about three to my one. But that was in 1965. Things may have changed.
Roberta Perry Hughes 05-Sep-2012 11:09

Thanks, Parks, for the welcome back. I appreciate it, more than you know.

Having the usual daily life of being a caretaker, for one with both Parkinson's Disease, as well as a form of dementia. It can be a daily brawl, filled with tears & heartache for me. I muddle through, & pray for strength to endure.

For lack of a 'category,' on his latest Neurological office visit's carbon copy, 'Alzheimer's Disease' was checked off, as a 'diagnosis.'

I put in a call to their office, as soon as I was home alone, & could talk freely.
You can imagine how upset I was. That's when they told me that it was,
'just a generalization, for any form of dementia, for insurance purposes.'

My poor darling....! He thought yesterday was the 4th of July, & that there was no mail, & that the bank was not open for business.

He must have confused Labor Day with it, so I gently oriented him, as to the day, date, & year, reassuring him that he could go to the Bank & deposit a check for me,
& get me some stamps at the Post Office.

I cried when he left, over this simple error in cognitive awareness. I cannot begin to describe to you the helpless pain I feel, deep within my heart & my very soul, to watch these changes occur, in my beloved cowboy.

As physically debilitated as I am, I do so wish that it were me, with these mental & neurological diagnoses. Lewis loves the outdoors, & his horses, so very much, & going hither & yon, in his truck, enjoying seeing people, & just getting outside.

Here I am, approximately 95% housebound, but mentally acute. And there he is, able to get out & about, once he is awake, groomed, & dressed, but is mentally slipping, bit-by-bit, day-by-day, & it just isn't fair.

Please send positive thoughts our way. How I wish we could both just take a trip down to Old Miami, & see my old haunts, my former neighborhood, & my grandfather's beloved Fowey Rocks Light.

In my dreams. In my dreams. I go there, back when life was seemingly carefree, & childhood seemed to be a wonder to experience, where the blast of ice cold air in Bird Drugs, or in Richard's Department Store, was something to anticipate, & the musical tones of the ice cream truck was cause to run in the house, & scramble for loose change, or beg Mother, to cough up a dime or two, for a treat.

A lifetime ago. How much the world has changed, & if it hadn't happened gradually, we would not be able to cope with it, to be sure.

I loved those days, in Miami, & this wonderful Site takes me back, at the click of my mouse, thanks to our dear friend & webmaster, Don Boyd.

Hugs all around. My love goes out, to each & every one of you Rogues &
Roguettes.

Be well. Embrace life. Love one another. Kiss & pet all the kitty cats out there for me. How I miss my beloved Ewok....!

Go to the beach for me, & walk on the strand, letting the surf bathe your feet.

Enjoy the sound of the gulls crying out overhead, their snow white wings allowing them to glide so effortlessly, so sans souci.

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Parks05-Sep-2012 04:40
Welcome back Roberta!
Took my sister for a boat ride on Saturday. We went out and looked at Fowey Light House. It is an amazing structure.
Roberta Perry Hughes 05-Sep-2012 03:01

-Hey....! I posted a comment on here, & it has been deleted....???

I came back on to check & see if anyone had responded to it.....& 'it' was not even there.....!

Anyway, got my computer back, late this afternoon, & been trying to catch up on some stuff. It can be a slow go, when you've been offline for >2 weeks, & are on dial-up, trying to wade through over 250 emails.

Hope everyone is well, & feeling good, as well as your folks, too, with only kind weather in the skies wherever you hang your hat.

Fran, we are all anxious to hear from you. Hope someone will post on here, soon, that you have contacted them.

Not feeling so well, tonight. Probably will go to bed early, & take a couple of extra meds to ease the ol' aches 'n pains.

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Roberta Perry Hughes 05-Sep-2012 00:50

-To all the 'usual suspects'......

-I'm Baaaa-aaa-ccckkk......!

-Great to see Posters on here who have been hibernating.....besides myself, of course.

-Fran.....Where are ya, girlfriend.....????

-Just got my computer back, late this afternoon, so, trying to play catch up on some stuff.....

-Be well, everyone. Hope the weather is kind, wherever you hang your hats.....& safety, for you & yours, always.

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Nike 02-Sep-2012 18:16
Don - Thanks for the comments. It has been a labor of love. I hope to see you there.
Don Boyd02-Sep-2012 05:03
Here is a recent article about our man Nike and his efforts to get a Nike missile for the former missile site inside Everglades National Park:

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Incoming: Nike missile heads for display in South Florida

Nike Hercules Missile be on display at a new historic site inside Everglades National Park, By Mike Clary, Sun Sentinel
8:42 p.m. EDT, August 21, 2012

A 41-foot Nike Hercules missile was headed for South Florida on Wednesday, destined to ignite Cold War memories of a time when the world tettered on the brink of nuclear armageddon.

On the back of a flatbed trailer, the deactivated missile — which may once have carried a nuclear warhead — is due to pass through the area on Interstate 95 before dawn Thursday ahead of its scheduled arrival at the George T. Baker Aviation School in Miami.

"We say "Missile incoming,' and not 'Incoming missile,'" said principal Sean Gallagan. "We don't want anyone to think we're being attacked."

At the magnet high school, students will blast off the rust, pound out dents and restore the paint and U.S. Armymarkings to the five-ton, surface-to-air weapon. Then it will be returned to the barn at the Nike Missile Base in Everglades National Park in time for the 50th anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis in October.

"This was a period in history when kids were doing duck-and-cover drills. We were preparing for World War III," said Ryan Meyer, the park ranger who oversees the Nike site. "This will stir some memories."

One whose memory has never waned is Charles D. Carter, who over the past 11 years has worked to locate a surplus missile to bring to the site where he was stationed as a 17-year-old Army private.

"I hope that everyone who sees this missile will reflect on what it was — a powerful force to deter the enemy," said Carter, 66, who quit his senior year at Miami High to enlist after hearing President Kennedy speak to the nation about the crisis on Oct. 22, 1962.

"We knew that we were the first line of defense," said Carter, stationed at two of the four South Florida missile bases from 1963 to 1965. "So the Russians knew they had to get past us."

Carter, who now lives in Palm Desert, Calif., became the Nike site's unofficial historian after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. "I just felt a desire to do something patriotic," said Carter, a former sheriff's deputy who works as a public safety consultant.

He visited the Nike site, found it in good condition, and with the cooperation of the National Park Service, began to hunt for a missile. Through the Army's Center of Military History, he found it in the Anniston, Ala., Army Depot.

Carter was also instrumental in getting the 40-acre Nike base listed on the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Register of Historic Places in 2004, as a site with important cultural significance. The base, which is within Everglades National Park, includes 22 buildings, including three missile barns, a missile assembly building, a guard dog kennel and a barracks.

The Army stopped using the base, home of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery, in 1979. It opened to the public in 2009, with tours available from December through April. Last year, it attracted 3,500 visitors.

The $10,000 cost of transporting and restoring the missile is being picked up by the South Florida National Parks Trust, said Meyer.

Refurbishing is expected to take about two months, and Gallagan said all 600 students at the school will have a chance to work on the project. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for students to work on an inert nuclear missile," he said. "How awesome is that?"

Once unloaded, the missile will be positioned beside two aircraft parked on school grounds, and may be visible to motorists passing by on LeJeune Road, east of Miami International Airport.

Sometime in October, the missile will be trucked to Homestead and displayed in a launch position when the park resumes tours of the Nike base in December.

In his foreword to Robert F. Kennedy's memoir, "Thirteen Days," historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. writes, "Two superpowers overarmed with nuclear weapons challenged each other in what could have spiraled so easily into the ultimate catastrophe."

The end of those 13 days, said Schlesinger, marked "a narrow escape from oblivion."

For Meyer, the addition of the missile will rachet up the impact for visitors.

"This can be a very emotional place," said Meyer. "There were 18- and 19-year-old men, sitting out in the middle of nowhere, at the only time in history that the military went to DEFCON 2, the last step before nuclear war. It was pretty scary."

mwclary@tribune.com or 954-356-4465

(Special tours of the Nike Missile Base within Everglades National Park will be announced once the missile is installed in November. Regular daily guided tours will resume in December and be available through April. The tours are free with $10 per car park entrance. For more information, see nps.gov/ever/historyculture/hm69.htm )

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Good job, Nike!

Don
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Miami River Rat01-Sep-2012 03:29
I can't get a response from Fran, either via email or facebook. She had some health problems last year, so if anybody learns anything, please post it.
Nike 29-Aug-2012 00:25
MikeT46 -- I was with the NIke Hercules program that was deployed to south Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis fifty years ago this October. I was there from early 1963 through December 1965.

I also went to Auburndale Elementary, Shenandoah Jr High and Miami High before leaving high school to join the Army in 1962.

I hope you will consider attending the 2-day program October 20-22. On Saturday morning, October 20th, a 2-hour program will be presented to memorialize the events of the 2nd Missile Battalion 52nd Air Defense Artilelry from October 1962 until 1979 when the Nike Hercules units relocated back to Ft. Bliss.

The next day on Sunday October 21st, a commorative ceremony and unveiling of a real Nike Hercues including a full tour of the former nuclear missile site will be conducted at Everglades National Park.

See www (dot) Nike252 (dot) org
Miket4628-Aug-2012 16:26
Nike, you have got my curiosity up. I assume you were associated with the Nike Missle program. I have a few friends in the program and I was part of a team at Sierra Research Corp that refurbished the Pots to extend the lifetime for the Herc after WECO could no longer build the Potentiometers. I was involved in the early 80's with the Herc but my friends go back to the early 60's. I f this rings a bell maybe we could exchange info. I am also from Miami SW 29 Ave. and 14th Street. I went ot Auburndale, Shenandoah and Miami Central. Let me know if any of this makes sens or am I just rambling.
Nike 24-Aug-2012 18:34
Parks - Thanks for the information. The Nike Hercules missile arrived in Miami and will be displayed at one of the former nuclear missile sites inside Everglades National Park in October. This coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis which is why we deloyed there. Here is the link to see the story on the web with ohtos and a video.
www.miamiherald (dot) com/2012/08/23/2965692/deactivated-nike-missile-arrives.html
Parks24-Aug-2012 03:48
Hi Rat, Haven't heard much from you lately either.
Nike's Nike arrived in Miami today. It's at the Geroge T. Baker Aviation School on LeJune Road. The students are going to make it look pretty and then it will be displayed in Everglades National Park.
Twenty years ago tonight Susan and I along with our friends Bob and Peggy were hunkered down in the this house waiting for Hurricane Andrew. We knew it was going to be bad, we didn't know how bad. Bob and Peggy came to stay with us as their home was very near the water. Bob designed his house to be one foot higher than records showed water had ever been at that location. His was the only house on that street that wasn't flooded. Tomorrow, the twentieth aniversary of the storm, my insurance company is sending an inspector to see if they can increase my premiums.
Miami River Rat24-Aug-2012 02:40
Fran has been laying lower than a snake's belly. I'll see if I can stir her up. Texas Aggie football is about to start so Fran should be stirring around.
Parks21-Aug-2012 22:47
Hi Guys, I just had a call from Roberta. She is still without computer and she is missing all of you.
Fran, she mentioned that she hadn't heard from you in a while and was worried that the mosquitos had given you the West Nile Virus. If you have her phone number give her a call.
Guest 19-Aug-2012 16:23
Don, 30th Street was just a wild guess, I was only about 10 years old at the time I was going there. You're probably right.
Don Boyd18-Aug-2012 00:21
Guest, I already have the Pig and Whistle on the list athttp://www.pbase.com/image/132573219 - do you not see it there? Only I have it on NW 7th Avenue and 45th Street. Was there another at NW 30th Street too (doubtful)? Please clarify.

Don
Guest 17-Aug-2012 13:32
The Pig & Whistle Drive-In Restaurant, Bar and Package Store on NW 7th Avenue around 30th Street in Miami
Parks17-Aug-2012 00:21
I found a message on my phone from Roberta saying the same thing that Miami Girl has reported. Roberta has a wonderful soft Southern accent!
Miami Girl 15-Aug-2012 18:58
I've been asked by Roberta to let all you Rogues know that she's off line due to a serious computer illness and doesn't expect it to be fixed until the end of the month at the earliest. So those of you who have her e-mail address, don't bother sending anything. She'll be back here when all is well again.
Don Boyd15-Aug-2012 18:02
Thank you guest, I have added Flip's to the list of restaurants gone but not forgotten at: http://www.pbase.com/image/132573219

Don
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Guest 15-Aug-2012 15:33
Flip's Drive-In on NW 79th Street in Miami
Don Boyd13-Aug-2012 18:53
I'm sorry for the delay in responding but I've been busy lately outside of my home. But a big thank you to Roberta for her comments and additional comments by "Nike", "Miami Girl" and "Miami Memories fan."

Photos of "Nike" and "Arizona Al" and their illicit escapades in Palm Springs are now up in the Rogue's Gallery at the bottom of the photos:
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories_rogues_gallery - I hope that everyone enjoys them.

Don
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Roberta Perry Hughes 12-Aug-2012 08:04

Memories of life at home, in early 1950's Miami:

--Helping Mother with supper prep, by peeling potatoes or carrots, before going outside to play

--Remembering how many neighborhood kids used our back yard for games, like croquet, bad minton, dodge ball, crack-the-whip, sling-the-statue, & cowboys & Indians

--Being called in, early, to wash up, & mash hot, salted & boiled diced potatoes, using Mama's big Mix Master & largest mixing bowl, adding a stick of butter, & a can of Carnation Evaporated Milk....& getting to lick the beaters

--Setting the table, with Boon-Ton melmac plates, stainless steel flatware, & napkins

--Daddy, walking in the door from work, just as supper was being readied to set on the dining room table, to feed six folks, which included my father's youngest brother

--In retrospect, I am in awe, at how the food was taken up in large bowls, & set on the table, with serving spoons nearby; the meat, sliced & on a large platter, at my father's right, with a meat fork for serving....& how it all was piping hot, as compared to today's microwave heated-up food that's cold before you get it to the table.

--I remember everyone seated in their chairs around the dining table, & all of us kids being fully aware of Daddy's 'table manners,' but eager to get our plates filled, & on with the joyful comraderie of eating with all family members present & accounted for.

--Grace was said, prior to serving the food, & we did it on an assembly-line basis, of serving the plate before you, with a side dish nearest you, then, passing it on to the left, until all of the foods were on everyone's plate, & you ended up with your own plate, when it 'came back home' to you....! Magical, to a child.

--How I wish I could bid time return, to make everyone's dining room table a carbon copy of the one I so fondly remember, from my childhood days in Miami.

--I miss those days, of actually using serving bowls....! And the coffee cups & saucers that matched the dinnerware, too. Having salt & pepper shakers on the table, for all meals, & the sugar bowl & creamer at breakfast.

--Remember frozen orange juice concentrate, reconstituted into a glass pitcher, with juice glasses to match....? That was a short-lived fad, to be sure.

--Remember having a butter dish....? Now, the tub of butter or margerine, aka, oleo, is set on the table, as is.

--Dinnerware & china sets still include the pieces hardly anyone uses today.

--Me....? I have vintage dinnerware on display in my china cabinet, survivors of a not-so-far away era....post-WWII. Oh, my. Has it been so long ago....?

--Lewis & I use '*cowboy china.' *Disposable items, to make my work load a little lighter.

--It is amazing, at how many things I can remember that are so passe, today.

--Gives me even more reasons, to count my blessings.

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Roberta Perry Hughes 11-Aug-2012 09:07

--Parks....

--Did the availability of milk & dairy products first go to the drive-thru Farm Stores....? Or, was that later....?

--I remember when my sister lived in Hollywood, FL, the drive-thru Farm Stores were very popular.

--Or, maybe those two sources for milk & dairy products came about around the same time.

--In any event, it was the death knell for door-to-door milk routes.

--Our family patronized MacArthur's milk route. Our delivery man was Sterling Bunker. He was soooooooo handsome....!

--They even delivered the best orange juice around, in a waxed carton. It had an image of an orange sliced in half, with some of the juice dripping from it. "Orange Blossom" orange juice, was the brand. Is it still around....?

--We were from the country, & door-to-door milk delivery was awesome to us....!
We were also in awe of fresh citrus fruits, & the many varieties of tropical fruits in Miami.

--Of course, in the country, we had owned our own cow, a Jersey named 'Crook Face.' She supplied a'plenty of milk for our family. We had an electric Pasteurizer, & an electric churn, & fresh butter was indescribable, on hot buttermilk biscuits, fresh cooked grits, & anything you could think of....!

--Mama would buy bananas from either the General Store in Morgan, or from the Rolling Store. I have fond memories of the rolling store. And later on, the Book Mobile, that brought library books to the countryside, from the library in Edison.

--Good memories, from an early childhood in rural Georgia, & good memories from a childhood through adolescence, in 'Our Town,' which my mother used to refer to as "My, oh my! Miami....!"

--Hugs to everyone. Be well. Celebrate just feeling good....! Never take your good health for granted, if you were blessed with it. Embrace your ability to walk about.

--And always, cherish your friends, family, & your pets that are in your care. Let them all know that they are loved. Tell them so....!

--Lots of love to y'all....

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Parks11-Aug-2012 01:07
I remember Formost delivering to the house every day. A friend of my father came up with a wonderful invention that quickly went the way of the buggy whip. It was an insulated aluminum box about 1 cubic foot with a door on it. You would mount it to the wall of your house and the milkman would leave the milk and a piece of ice in it. The milk wouldn't spoil if you didn't get it right away. He invented it shortly before everyone started buying milk at the grocery store.
Roberta Perry Hughes 10-Aug-2012 09:42

--I am remembering two dairies. One was in Miami, I think, & the other one was in Miami Springs.

--Whatever became of Foremost Dairies....? I remember their logo was an orange colored lower case letter 'f.' Their milk was sold in both bottles as well as waxed cartons.

--And Land O' Sun....? Their logo was either a country scene or a city scene, & on the horizon was a large rising sun.

--Does anyone recall these two dairies....?

--BIG shout-out to ya, Don....! Hope you 'n 'Wifey' are doing well. The cowboy is hanging-in-there, for the most part, & ornery as ever.

--Me....?? In the words of a favorite song by Sir Elton John, ...."I'm Still Standing!...."

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Nike 08-Aug-2012 21:54
Al -- Will do

The Don -- I am emailing you photos of AZ AL, Marilyn Monroe, and me in Palm Springs. I hope you will consider posting them t the Miami Rouges Gallery. If you don't, I know a guy from Jersey.....
Arizona Al 08-Aug-2012 17:05
Nike: See if you can hornswaggle "The Don" to publish our Palm Springs Meet-N-Greet in the Rogues Gallery. Arizona Al
Miami Memories fan 07-Aug-2012 22:50
thanks Don, your site is a gem
Guest 07-Aug-2012 15:11
These are the "good ole daze". Miami and Miami-Dade County are wonderful
Nike 05-Aug-2012 18:46
The Don - Many thanks to you for providing the opportunity to connect with individuals who share many of the same "Miami Memories" as me. I have been fortunate to personally meet you and Karen, Parks and Susan, and AZ AL and Elvie. I hope to meet others in time.

By the way, knowing of your interest in aircraft photography, you should visit the WWII Aircraft Museum here in Palm Springs. It has many completely restored bombers and fighters. See palm springs air museum (dot) org

My best to you and Karen.
Miami Girl 05-Aug-2012 16:06
Well said Roberta!

Kudos to Don for this wonderful place to visit. From Dictionary.com: ku·dos
[koo-dohz, -dohs, -dos, kyoo-] ( used with a singular verb )
honor; glory; acclaim: He received kudos from everyone on his performance.

Amen!
Roberta Perry Hughes 05-Aug-2012 11:08

--Have a wonderful & relaxing Sunday, everyone, wherever it is that you call 'home.'

--May you have some gentle, cooling rain, if needed, & sunshine, to chase the clouds away from any troubles you may be having, on this, or any day.

--Enjoy family, friends, & good food, & take a nap, to give your body a rest, if needed.

--Have some fun, or a new adventure. Go somewhere you have never been, within a 50-mile radius of home, whether to a tourist attraction, or to a new or old restaurant in a nearby town, or to a safe beach, just to hear the sound of the gulls, & the ocean.

--Embrace your good health, if you have been blessed with it, as well as still having the wonderful gift of possessing the five senses: sight; sound; touch; taste; & smell.

--Take the time to be thankful, for the ability to ambulate on your own, without fear of falling; to still have the joy of short-term memory, as well as long-term total recall.

--Be grateful, & responsible, for the privilege of being able to drive a vehicle, or to ride a bicycle, roller skate, play outdoor games at the beach, or in your own back yard, with friends & family, or to just go for a walk.

--Treasure your grandchildren, for they are the future. Pass on to them your wisdom, & share with them your Old Miami Memories.

--Introduce them to this amazing web site, that our dear friend, Don Boyd has so lovingly, & laboriously put together for us, for our memories, our viewing pleasure, & has given us a place to share our thoughts with one another, on a 24-hour basis.

--Take the time to honor Don, our web master & host, & let him know that you really appreciate him, for having given us this huge gift. No other city or town, in our country, can even come close, to what Don has done here, within these pages, & in the Galleries.

--Every time you post a comment on here, keep Don Boyd in your thoughts, silently thanking him, for all he has done for us. Never take him for granted. Acknowledge him, from time-to-time, & give him a 'shout out,' or at least, a big 'Hello.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--Don, dear cyberpal of mine, thank you, so very much, for all you have done, to allow me to travel back in time, to a place of youthful joys, & adolescent angst; to the sights & sounds of urban life, & the smell of the salt air; to an era that was once a wonderful playground for kids to grow up in, with close-knit communities, & neighbors that were helpful, & friendly, & where we could ride our Schwinns in safety, for long distances from home.

--To quote Joanie Mitchell...."Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got, 'til it's gone....? They paved Paradise, & they put up a parking lot...."

--I cannot even begin to imagine that there would ever be a time when I would not be able to click the icon in my Toolbar, & arrive back in time, & land here, to the OldMiamiMemories web site.

--Forgive me, if I ever seem to take you for granted, Don, or forget to take the time to stop, & let you know how very much I truly appreciate you....!

--You have taken the edge of loneliness out of my housebound, sedentary life, & given me wings, to travel, without leaving my task chair, to instantly be back in Our Town, once again, remembering childhood pals, & everyone's parents, & their extended families, & our schools & our teachers, too. Such fun....!

--Thank you, Don. Thank you, thank you, thank you....!

--Hugs to everyone. Have a wonderful Sunday.

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Parks31-Jul-2012 22:55
Whitebelt, It is really a big deal for Miami. I don't know how many times tunnels have been proposed for Miami but this is the first one to actually get built. Now they will turn the machine around and dig a tunnel back the other direction. The next big project is to dredge the harbor deeper so it can accept bigger ships. I wonder if anyone told the tunnel builders about the plans to dredge? I can see a big problem if they dredge too deep!
whitebelt31-Jul-2012 22:13
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Miami_Tunnel

Just saw a video on the news about this, where evidently they finished the boring. Didn't know they had even planned on one.
Nike 31-Jul-2012 17:16
I wanted to apologize for my dsilyxec kebyoard.
Nike 30-Jul-2012 14:36
WB - That's how we came to Palm Srpings, just for the Memorial Day Weekend. We've been here ever since. Beautiful, lush, green, hot but without the hunidity.

El Paseo here in in Palm Desert is the equivelent to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Homes for many of the rich and famous. We're holding the average down.
whitebelt30-Jul-2012 13:40
:-)

That was driving,not diving, Nike. But, you knew that.

Much of America will be brown on that drive. The mountains will add color and vistas. If your wife enjoys shopping arty fartle places, art, and historic sites, she will love that area. There is nothing worthwhile in ABQ, it is just a one each huge suburb. My son was out here in April to see America llike that. I drove him to that area and he was blown away by the vistas. We drove through a blizzard to get to it.

I-40 is the route to take back. It is pretty and green in AR and OK, then fades into the Southwest in Texas and NM. From the Taos area you can return to I-40, but spend a lot of driving through relative nothingness. Flagstaff is a nice place, but a lot of nothing to get to it. If you want to make it a trip, go from Taos to Durango, CO, which has its charms, and then cut over to Utah and over to Las Vegas, generally following US 160. See the Hoover Dam on the way.

Between Espanola and Alamosa, CO is a place called Ojo Caliente, a mineral hots springs resort with rooms, and you can even rent private little pools. Geronimo used to live there, too. Pagosa Springs is further west on the way to Durango with even hotter water, like 108, but isn't as cozy as Ojo Caliente. Both are pretty much full service spas.

The Plaza, in both Santa Fe and Taos, are the centers for the artsy stuff. Taos is more Californianized in that. Durango has a neat downtown to walk around. In Santa Fe is an old hotel called the La Fonda right next to the Plaza. Not cheap, but the atmosphere is superb. Worth at least a night stay. Christmas Eve there is magical. Get a room with a fireplace. Lots of very rich, famous, and powerful people have prowled those halls and that bar over the years. There is even a ghost in the lovely atrium dining room. It is a classy joint.

From Taos you can take a few hour drive around the Enchanted Circle, which takes you around the big mountain, into the Taos Valley, and back to Taos. You will go through Red River and Eagle Nest. More artsy fartsy, and a pretty drive. From Eagle Nest I would take a side trip east to Cimmaron. Won't take long, but takes you over the first range of eastern mountains where you can view the Plains. Stop at the St James Hotel for lunch. Watch out for wildlife on the road. That is about my most favorite place in the world. Linger for a while. There is an artsy place in the NE section of the town that has more original stuff than what you ususally find. If you are a shooting enthusiast, head east for about 30 miles to the NRA Whittington center. That is the silk stocking shooting range of the NRA.

Warning. You spend a little time in that general area and you will be magnetized and drawn back to it. It is comfortable and laid back.
Nike 30-Jul-2012 02:34
Whitebelt -- We have the time and will certainbly do so. I think we'll skip the cliff diving.

We'll be driving back in November for a year and will take a different route just to see a bit more of America the Beautiful.

No more nasty cold rain during the winter months like we jave had in Atlanta for the past 40 years except 2010 when we spent the 5 months in the Virgin Islands. The highs are in the mid-sixties and the lows in the mid-forties December and January in Palm Springs.
whitebelt29-Jul-2012 22:20
The mountains of New Mexico has the best summer weather in the country. Cool moutain air and no humidity.

Read the other day in Colorado, I think it was Vail, that it snowed.

Nike, spend a night or two in Taos on the way back. Or Santa Fe downtown. Hang a right at Albuquerque. If you go to Taos you will leave Santa Fe heading north and pass a few casinos on the way to Espanola. The Buffalo Thunder is good. Actually a good place to stay.

When you get to Espanola you will come to a road called Highway 76, the high road to Taos. The Sanctuario de Chimayo is a short distance out of Espanola. Famous place. After that you will get to Truchas, where the Milagros bean Field Wars was filmed. Some stunning views there. You can see Los Alamos from there. Then you you take some easy mountain roads to Taos, but nice scenery A good amount of artsy fartsy stuff along the route. Take Highway 68 back to Santa Fe and I-40. You will get a magnificient view of the Rio Grande Gorge, and follow a scenic river called the Embudo River that flows into the Rio Grnde further downstream, with some cliff driving included. Then through Espanola and Santa Fe. Two more casinos on that route.

Let me tell you about that sun and altitude combo. On one of those trips from Espanola up to here it was 32 degrees in Taos. School children were wearing shorts and light shirts walking down the road. It was 14 degrees in the Taos Valley and steam was rising from the road. Sunlight. The high 90's is very high temp up there, but the air stays cool. Just get in the shade. Spring and fall are magnificient.

It really is worth the trip. Squeeze in the Taos Valley if you have the time.
Nike 29-Jul-2012 19:33
Roberta - Nancy and I have traded the hot and humid summers of Georgia for the hot summer of the California desert. We are returning to Atlanta for the month of September before going to Miami for October. We'll return to Palm Desert in November for a year.

Someday, we might grow up and settle down.

We hope all is going well for you and Lewis. Stay cool and stay healthy.
Roberta Perry Hughes 26-Jul-2012 12:39

--Just a quick 'Hello' to everyone, to let you know I am still among the living. :)

--Hope everyone is well & feeling good, & staying as cool & comfortable as possible.

....."What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance....." ____Jane Austen, 1796

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whitebelt26-Jul-2012 12:10
No spook work, Nike. Just a simple tech trooper with tunnel vision and a bad memory..

I remember when those CIA watches were big status symbols amongst the Cubansl.
Nike 26-Jul-2012 01:56
Whitebelt -- I wasn't there as a ground soldier, too low on the food chain even with a secret clearance. I was there later working on a restoration project with another veteran who was tring to restore the former U of Miami Building 25 the CIA used to train Cubans as part of Operation Mongoose and the Bay of Pigs invasion.

Building 25 was a major secret United States covert operations and intelligence gathering station operated by the CIA from 1961 until 1968 with the codename JMWAVE.

JMWAVE grew to be the largest CIA station in the world outside of the organization's headquarters in Langley, Virginia, with 300 to 400 professional operatives (possibly including about 100 based in Cuba) as well as an estimated 15,000 anti-Castro Cuban exiles on its payroll. The CIA was one of Miami's largest employers during this period. Exiles were trained in commando tactics, espionage and seamanship and the station supported numerous exile raids on Cuba.[1][2][9]

The main front company for JMWAVE was "Zenith Technical Enterprises, Inc."

Google it for an interesting background. Didn't you do a bit of "spook" work for ARADCOM?
whitebelt25-Jul-2012 20:58
I think I had hit all of the Hawk, and Herc, sites there at one time or another. There was one way down south in the middle of nowhere. Maybe that was the one. Just seem to remember it was further south and east.

That Herc site commander had some issues from what I understand for dumping excess equipment, on the side of the road, preparatory to an IG inspection circa 71-72. Heard a lot about that when I visited at that time.

Nike, ever make it out to Richmond NAS? That was the control center I believe in the 70's. I was out there once. That place had lots of sensitve government stuff. Nice and hidden among those trees.
Nike 25-Jul-2012 19:59
Parks -- There was never a Nike Hercules or HAWK missile site on Card Sound Road. The nearest Nike site was a short distance south of where Card Sound Road intersects with SR905 in Key Largo. That was B Battery where I was stationed when I got out in 1965.It is overgrown but the buildings are still standing. The launch area has been demolished for a habitat for endangered rats by the US Fish and Wildlife along with crocodiles. That explains why they named it the Crocodile Lake Preserve.

The nearest HAWK missile site to Card Sound Road was at 18500 SW 424 Street. It is currently occupied by the G4S Corporation which has named the facility G4S Youth facility which I think is a misnomer and probably operated by the CIA.

G4S bougth Wackenhut securities in 2002 and merged with a couple of other security companies. Interesting website which has nothing to do with "youths" which is why I am suspicious.

www. g4s. us/en-US/
Parks25-Jul-2012 14:12
Nike, I once took an injured racoon to the 87th ave site when it was a wildlife center. The towers and earth berms were still there.
We drove down Card Sound road Saturday and I looked for the site there but didn't see it. The towers may be gone though there is no development going on there. Was that one a Hawk or Nike site?
Nike 25-Jul-2012 11:31
Parks -- Beautiful canoe. I can't believe you would get that work of art wet, dirty, or scratched.

You are correct , that is a former HAWK missile battery now the property of a Franciscan mission in the Redlands which owns five of the HAWK radar towers.

The HAWK site at SW 87 Avenue and sw 220 Street in Miami, now the the Bay Point School. Hereis that story from a newspaper report in 1996:

It seemed fitting, then, with the Cold War over, to sink five of the defunct missile towers in the Atlantic to become Dade County's newest artificial reef. At least it did to avid fisherman and lobster hunter Wayne Kennedy, the president of the Ethel & W. George Kennedy Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization devoted to helping disadvantaged kids. In 1995 Kennedy, one of several adopted heirs to a Miami construction fortune, purchased 45 acres of land at SW 87th Avenue and 220th Street. Since 1987 the parcel had functioned as a wildlife center, but Hurricane Andrew put it out of business; before that it had been one of the army's Hawk missile sites.

In the shadow of five missile towers, Kennedy set up Bay Point Schools, a private rehabilitation center housing 40 teenage delinquents -- car thieves, junior drug dealers, and other nonviolent juvenile offenders. The school received funding through the federal AmeriCorps service program, and its students helped rebuild storm-damaged homes in South Dade, operating as the Interfaith Coalition for the Andrew Recovery Effort. These days Kennedy reports the students learn construction and culinary skills and spend time studying for their GED diplomas.
Parks24-Jul-2012 00:14
Good choice Nike. I drove past the former base at 207 Ave and 216 Street yesterday to see if I could spot any signs of it. There are still two towers of some sort standing.
Did you say that was a Hawk base?

Snapper and I finished the canoe yesterday. If you'd like to see what it looks like go here and scroll down.
http://jmlynn.smugmug.com/Boats/Cedrus-Marie/13150192_UvHJA#!p=26&n=10
Nike 23-Jul-2012 17:21
Parks and "The Don" -- Sorry I didn't make it down to Miami for the weekend. The trial ended on Friday morning. I had a choice to come to Miami or return to Palm Springs to be with my Honey -- you lost.

See you in October.
Nike 17-Jul-2012 07:56
Parks,

Thanks and I will do so. I'll keep you posted if I can get to Miami over the weekend.
Parks17-Jul-2012 05:06
Nike, while you're in Punta Gorda, try to get over to the Navigator bar and grill on the Peace River. The airport in Punta Gorda has a nice place to get breakfast and watch airplanes. My buddy Darrell has a house in Punta Gorda so I've spent quite a bit of time there. Charlotte Harbor is a great place to boat and fish.
Parks17-Jul-2012 05:06
Nike, while you're in Punta Gorda, try to get over to the Navigator bar and grill on the Peace River. The airport in Punta Gorda has a nice place to get breakfast and watch airplanes. My buddy Darrell has a house in Punta Gorda so I've spent quite a bit of time there. Charlotte Harbor is a great place to boat and fish.
Nike 17-Jul-2012 00:41
Parks and "The Don" -- I'll be in in Punta Gorda tomorrow through Friday and possibly until next week. If I stay over the weekend, I'mm drive down to Miami. I'll let you know as time gets nearer.
Parks09-Jul-2012 21:18
Hi Rat, I think you should come to Miami and we'll go check it out.
Bunny Yeager wrote a book that I would love to have just for the cover. The title was "How I Photograph Myself". The cover photo was a picture of Bunny in shorts, heels and a tight top, standing in front of a big view camera. After a while you notice a string running from the camera shutter, around a knob on the tripod and then to Bunny's big toe. Yes I did study the photo very carefully.

Miami River Rat09-Jul-2012 20:34
Hey Parks: When I was in grade school they took us for a tour through the Miami Fireman's College but we didn't see anything similar to what was in those Bunny Yeager photos. I guess we went on the wrong day?
Parks07-Jul-2012 02:17
Books and Books in Coral Gables is promoting a lot of South Florida history books this week. They also anounced that a book of Bunny Yeagers photos would be published. (Don behave yourself). I met Bunny in 1970 when I worked in Browne's photo store on NW 79th Street and 22nd Ave. If you don't know who Bunny Yeager is, here is the anouncement from Books and Books.
Bunny Yeager's Darkroom: Pin-Up Photography's Golden Era , by cultural historian Petra Mason, presents Yeager's story in her own words and, of course, with her own photographs. Featuring an introduction by Dita von Teese, Yeager's Darkroom gathers more than 250 lens-fogging photographs embodying the naughty girl-next-door eroticism of pin-up culture. Yeager's pioneering self-portraits and excerpts from her charming 1960s how-to manuals are featured alongside dozens of wholesome beauties shot in the studio and on location.

Pre-order your copy today and stay tuned for event announcements at all three of our Books & Books stores in South Florida, featuring Yeager, Mason and Von Teese. Here's a fun look at some of her images from New York Times magazine.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/07/01/magazine/pinup-bunny-yeager.html?ref=magazine

Roberta Perry Hughes 05-Jul-2012 07:53

-Ooooops.....!! Make that 1938....(not 1638)....when Congress voted to make Independence Day a PAID holiday.

-Typos occur frequently, in the sleep deprived. You'll forgive me.

======================================================================
Roberta Perry Hughes 05-Jul-2012 07:47

A brief history of our Nation's holiday:

-During the American Revolution, the 'legal separation' of the 13 colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a 'resolution of independence' that had been proposed in June (1776) by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.

-After voting, Thomas Jefferson authored the declaration, & Congress debated & revised its wording, finally approving it, on July 4, 1776.

-Thomas Jefferson & John Adams, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence to become President, died within hours of one another, on July 4, 1826, on the 50th anniversary.

-Not a signer of the Declaration, but another Founding Father, James Monroe, also died on July 4, in 1831.

-Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, & so far, is the only President to have been born on Independence Day.

-1791: the first recorded use of the name "Independence Day"

-1870: Congress made Independence Day an UNPAID holiday for federal employees

-1638: Congress changed Independence Day to a PAID holiday for federal employees

I remember when I was working, in order to be paid for Independence Day, you had to work the day before as well as the day after the holiday, OR, you could opt to work that day, & take a different day off with pay, in its place....which is what many has to do, if they work in the medical profession.

whitebelt, you are not alone, in calling our Nation's exclusive holiday the "Fourth of July."

But as for me, I prefer the distinction of calling it "Independence Day," which truly defines its history & origin, setting it apart, making it not just another day on a calendar, which even the UK has on theirs.

I hope everyone had a most enjoyable celebration, with only the kindest of weather, the best of food, & the safest manner for viewing spectacular fireworks.

We viewed them on TV.

***************************************************************************************************************
whitebelt04-Jul-2012 12:35
It has been 100+ for over two weeks in SE Colorado. Even fireworks displays by the fire departments have been banned this year. Not a good time to set them off privately, either.

Hopefully the monsoon season starts this week. The temp is expected to drop below 100 later this week.

I kinda like it. I hate mowing weeds. Plus less bugs.

History is just what it was. If everything didn't happen EXACTLY as it did, none of us would be here to pass judgments on it.

Get on the net and look up King Philip's War and you will see THE defining event that led to this land becoming a nation. Research the history of the Hudson River valley, too. Upstate New York was a treacherous place, with lots of intrigue. This was why the Committees for Public Safety were formed.

Differences in the North and South came about because of the different types of settlements, and the people who settled.

Happy Fourth of July!!

Roberta Perry Hughes 04-Jul-2012 05:47

-May you one & all have a safe & enjoyable Independence Day.

-I said 'Independence Day' because even the UK has a 4th of July....! LOL

-I've been watching PBS-3, at several re-enacted historical events, pre-Revolution, & it is very interesting, including the speech given by Patrick Henry, a program about George Washington, & another on the French & Indian War.

-I have learned more about U.S. History, by watching PBS, than I ever did in high school....mainly because our history text books were whitewashed lies, & were very biased, & told only ONE side of the story, making 'heroes' out of unscrupulous men, over-the-years, & never telling us "the rest of the story."

-I think most States are told not to set off fireworks, due to the drought conditions, & threat of fires. Here in GA, fireworks are illegal, by the private sector, but every year, hoards of folks go to SC, where they are legal, to buy them.

-I do not recall ever seeing any arrests, on the news, of those who set them off, anyway, here in GA, but they DO report on some of the mishaps....& tragedies....that have resulted in the misuse of cherry bombs, bottle rockets, & even sparklers, that maim & hurt children & adults alike.

-Even so, every year, it's the same, & the laws of the land....or the State....doesn't stop them from this illegal practice.

-We will have indoor-cooked hamburgers, hotdogs, Bush's baked beans, Starz potato salad, chili, & potato chips today, & deal with there being NO MAIL, & being isolated.

-It will be a good day to watch DVDs, or PBS, for Lewis, while I will repair a couple of pairs of vintage 1930's & '40's doll shoes that I haven't been able to find the time for, or I will glue my sister's broken tiny bone china horse figurines for her.

-Be well. Be safe. Be good to one another. And STAY COOL, these hot Summer days.

===================================================================
Nike 02-Jul-2012 19:50
I just had a great meet-n-greet with AZ Al and his beautiful wife here in Palm Springs. We had our picture taken with Marilyn Monroe which I will send to "The Don" for posting on the Miami Rouges Gallery.
Don Boyd02-Jul-2012 14:50
Thanks Nike and Roberta. Yes, Roberta, she was very lucky and they allowed her neighborhood back in last night at 8pm and everything is fine. The electricity was only off for an hour so everything in her freezer and refrigerator is good instead of the rotting mess that we anticipated. The neighborhood a mile south of her with large beautiful expensive homes didn't fare so well though and I really feel sorry for them and the owners of the Flying W Ranch, a local and tourist attraction, who lost everything in the fire from hell.

Thank you for describing your current scenario because we haven't heard from you in a while and I'm sure some folks are interested in catching up. I hope that Lewis' test results come out okay.

Hang in there Roberta!

Don
Roberta Perry Hughes 01-Jul-2012 11:15

-Don, your daughter & family were among the lucky ones.

-Those fires are a nightmare to watch, & I told my sister, were I to live there, no one would have had to tell me to evacuate.

-I'd have rented a U-Haul van, & loaded it up as though I were moving away from the area. At least, I'd have a headstart, in furnishing new digs, should my home not survive the flames, & we'd have our clothing, & our precious photos.

-Meanwhile, Lewis & I are hanging in there. I struggle with arranging for transportation out-of-town, for the continued tests he has to have done, & for any appointments.

-We still don't know the outcome of all of this, i.e., whether or not the test results will be indicative of surgery (carotid arteries, in his neck, if they are clogged), or any possible brain surgery.

-I apologize for not having posted in so long, but there are days when I don't even know my own name, it is so very overwhelming for much of the time.

-However....pat me on the back....I think I do fair-to-middling, in all that I am faced with, in being Lewis' caretaker, plus, managing to cook ahead, at least 2 entrees, so that all we have to do is dish it up, heat, & eat.

-There just aren't enough hours in the day, but having a home health care aide to come in for 2 1/2 hours, 5 days a week, takes a lot off of me.

-It is dangerously hot here, but my aide's son mowed the grounds for us, early, yesterday morning, while it was cooler.

-We are dependent upon others to bring us our mail. But it could be a lot worse, & we are lucky, truth be known, that we can cope, so far.

-Love the talk of going to the beach, or being in ANY body of water, really! Or going outside, to 'play under the hose,' like we did as children, to cool down on a hot day.

-I've missed you, one & all. Great to read your comments....!

-Take care. Be well. Stay cool. Big Hugs to everyone....!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nike 01-Jul-2012 04:09
Don -- Sorry to hear about your daughter's misfortune. I remember the pictures of you and your grandson and you talking about your trips to Colorado.

I'm looking forward to meeting AZ AL Monday. We have missed each other on two previous occasions in Phoeniz by a day. I wonder how I will recognize him.
Don Boyd30-Jun-2012 15:56
Very good Nike, I'm glad that you bubbas will be getting together and I'll be glad to post the photo of y'all.

Our oldest daughter had to evacuate her home in northwest Colorado Springs late Tuesday afternoon as the fire crossed two ridges and came down the hill just west of her neighborhood. She was one of the last people out with our grandson, her cat and her dog and what belongings she could get into the car. Fortunately her neighborhood has a quarry on the hill west of them, instead of trees coming down to their area, and their neighborhood didn't vaporize like the richer neighborhoods just a mile or so to the south of her. However, she still can't return home and her freezer was full of meat which will be absolutely disgusting by the time they let her neighborhood back in. She and my grandson are flying here on Tuesday for a week whether she gets back into her home beforehand or not.

Don
Nike 30-Jun-2012 12:17
The Don - AZ AL came to Palm Springs to visit family for he 4th of July weekend. We are getting together for dinner Monday evening. We'll take a picture together to post on the Rouges Gallery. It will be AZ AL, me, and Norma Jean.
Miami Girl 29-Jun-2012 13:26
It truly did Parks, it was breathtaking and something I'll never forget. It's awe-inspiring even on a hot sunny day, but that night brought all wars home to me. I just wanted to sit down and cry.
Parks29-Jun-2012 03:39
Miami Girl, to see the Korean War Memorial on a cold foggy night must have made you feel like you were really part of it.
Miami Girl 28-Jun-2012 18:41
When we visited the Korean War Memorial it was a very cold December night in 1997 with fog all around that platoon. I don't know if the fog was part of the memorial or just happened to be natural that night, but it was extremely moving!!
Parks28-Jun-2012 03:16
A few years ago Susan and I were in DC and we took a guided tour. One of the stops was the Wall. We were so affected by it that we didn't notice that the group had moved on and we almost missed the bus. The Korean War Memorial is very stunning as well. There is a platoon of very cold soldiers working their way through the bitter Korean winter past a wall of ghostly faces of people who served. It made me shiver. Two stupid damn wars that our leaders wouldn't let our troups win.
Miami Girl 26-Jun-2012 21:40
Some may be interested in looking up the names of those hero's on the Vietnam Wall - you can check by State then City at this website: virtualwall.org/iStates.htm
Parks21-Jun-2012 03:08
Hi CK, Welcome back, we missed you. I took a drive on Loop Road a couple of months back and was thinking of you. Tried to find the Gator Hook remains with out any luck but I did meet a crazy photographer and his very nice wife.
Parks21-Jun-2012 03:08
Hi CK, Welcome back, we missed you. I took a drive on Loop Road a couple of months back and was thinking of you. Tried to find the Gator Hook remains with out any luck but I did meet a crazy photographer and his very nice wife.
Charles Knight 21-Jun-2012 01:44
Thats Charles Knight on facebook...
Charles Knight 21-Jun-2012 01:42
Hello all, I am alive and well. My old email and facebook accounts were hacked terribly and as a result I had to delete them. I can now be reached at charles.knight31@aol.com or as Cheles Knight on facebook. Hope you are all doing well, Charles.
Charles Knight 21-Jun-2012 00:49
Hello all, I am alive and well. My old email and facebook accounts were hacked terribly and as a result I had to delete them. I can now be reached at charles.knight31@aol.com or as Cheles Knight on facebook. Hope you are all doing well, Charles.
whitebelt20-Jun-2012 19:48
I loved Curtis Park.
Miami River Rat20-Jun-2012 15:53
Well-well, live and learn! I suppose at some time in my younger years I must have heard the Aviation Building referred to as the "Hen House" but I sure don't remember that now.

Don, there were a bunch of interesting comments about your picture. Good stuff! I never went in there, that place was a little out of my "rambling range" as a kid. I usually strayed up and down the river or else headed south toward Flagler Street. Curtis Park, north of the river off of 20th street was about as close as my routine travels took me to the Aviation Building.
Don Boyd20-Jun-2012 04:29
I have had a photo of the building on my site for over 5 years and plenty of people have commented on what it was over the years. http://www.pbase.com/image/78548931

Don
Parks20-Jun-2012 03:55
Rat and Whitebelt, I remember my Mother refering to it as a hen house. I did a quick google and look what I found:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_Building
I remember when it was Embry Riddle Flying School.
Miami River Rat20-Jun-2012 03:13
Whitebelt, if you're asking about the Aviation Bldg on 27th ave, a big white building, it had offices and aviation classes in it as long as I knew it. I think if there had been chickens in there at some point in it's history I would probably have heard about it.

Guest, we weren't too far apart. I lived on 28th ave and 17th street. I went to Citrus Grove & St. Michael's elementary, Kinloch Jr. high and then moved out to the sticks and went to Southwest for High School.
whitebelt20-Jun-2012 02:53
Guest, you were 10 years ahead of me. I went to Gladeview for 1-5, Melrose for sixth grade, Allapattah Jr, and then Jackson, class of 67. I lived across the street from the Whitebelt Dairy. Lot of bus riding.

Heard the Aviation Building used to be a chicken coop. Was that true?
Arizona Al 19-Jun-2012 17:50
Nike: I have been to the Salton Sea up close many times when going through the Brawley route on the way between Arizona and California . There is a lookout point going up the San Jacinto Mountains from Palm Desert to Idlewild wher you can get a breathtaking view of the Salton Sea in the distance. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix,Arizona
Arizona Al 19-Jun-2012 17:46
Nike: Yes not sure exactly what days will be in Palm Springs but will let you know when it is decided. Alan
Guest 19-Jun-2012 17:28
Anyone around from the 50's? Went to Melrose Elementary, Robert E Lee Jr Hi, and Miami Jackson - finishing in 1957. Lived on the corner of 23rd Ave and 33rd Street Michael Clendenen - mclendenen@gmail.com
Guest 19-Jun-2012 16:36
Anyone around from the 50's? Went to Melrose Elementary, Robert E Lee Jr Hi, and Miami Jackson - finishing in 1957. Lived on the corner of 23rd Ave and 33rd Street Michael Clendenen - mclendenen@gmail.com
Miami Girl 19-Jun-2012 00:36
With all this talk about the West I can hardly wait to get out there again, hopefully it'll be next year. Alan, I hadn't heard of any fires near Phoenix, so figured you were safe.
whitebelt19-Jun-2012 00:14
Not that I know of, Nike. I drove from Ft. Huachuca to Monterey several times through Indio and LA. Better than through Needles and Bakersfield.

One time on the way back, the last, in fact, my Datsun blew a head gasket before getting to the top of Chiriaco Summit. Limped over it and it resealed before i got to AZ. Was a miracle.
Nike 18-Jun-2012 21:16
Whitebelt -- have you been to the Salton Sea? I heard it was quite different with a huge Palm Tree forest.

AZ AL -- Are you still coming over for the fourth of July?
whitebelt18-Jun-2012 18:46
I loved the view of entering the valley and Indio from the east on I-10. That side is 150 feet below sea level. Driving in that way was like coming in on an airplane.
Nike 18-Jun-2012 17:35
Parks - The temperature plunged down to 111 yesterday so we visited the Shields Date Farm in Indio, CA just south of Palm Springs in the Cochello Valley. I had a "Date Shake." It was delicious but Robert is Here has nothing to worry about as his Key Lime Shake is "outstanding."

See www(dot)shieldsdategarden(dot)com
Arizona Al 18-Jun-2012 15:39
Miami Girl: Several bad Fires in N.E. Arizona. Thousand of acres destroyed:( Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix,Arizona
Parks18-Jun-2012 04:28
Hi Guys, Susan rode down to Homestead with me on Saturday. While I worked with Snapper on the canoe, she went to Robert is Here.She bought a variety of mango we've been wanting to try, some hog plums and some lychees. The lychees were a type we'd never had. They are called Ha-Kip. If you ever see them in a grocery store buy them. The flavor is wonderful and the seed is very small for a lychee. We then went to the Redland Fruit and Spice Park where they were having an event. We found a Ha-Kip lychee tree for sale there, but I think I'll try to graft Ha-Kip onto my existing lychee tree. It might save some time. I did score a three pound jar of Tupleo honey.
whitebelt16-Jun-2012 00:50
Thanks for caring, Miami Girl. They are a long ways off, way upstate and west. We had our fires last year. Got to within a mile or so of the edge of town. Not much left to burn.

That big one in New Mexico in the Gila National Forest is sad. Beautiful and still very remote area. Where Geronimo grew up.
Miami Girl 15-Jun-2012 23:51
Hey Whitebelt, are you anywhere near those fires? It''s pretty bad news out there!
...............................................................................................................................................
Nike 13-Jun-2012 22:10
Leighton - For clarification, I'm referrring to video that is already in VHS format to digital.
Nike 13-Jun-2012 11:17
AZ AL and MRR - Bingo!

Leighton - Porque no?? Wouldn't that be better than losing it? In addition, it can be enhanced with the digital editing software.
Leighton 13-Jun-2012 04:04
Film to VHS to digital? NO!!!!
Miami River Rat13-Jun-2012 03:08
LSMFT....There's an X-rated version as well, but I'll leave that one to the imagination.

Parks, certainly bring the others to the launch party! It's a shame to have such fine craft hanging in a shed, pining away to feel the everglades waters beneath their keels!
Arizona Al 12-Jun-2012 17:16
Nike: Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and Well in Phoenix Arizona
Nike 12-Jun-2012 15:53
RE: VHS to Digital - You can purchase software with an adapter from the output of the VHS (or any device with the Red-White-Yellow cables) to a USB connector to a computer for around $50.00. The cables and connectors are included.

LSMFT means......
Guest 12-Jun-2012 11:49
I transfered all my old 1950/1960,s (OLD) 8 mm film to vhs back in the 80's, then copied it from vhs to dvd, and it turned out real nice. I used an old Kodak movie projector that had a small 2 inch screen on it, and placed my vhs camcorder (old tech) close to it and copied the movie, then put it in the vcr/dvd player/recorder and transfer all film to dvd. I know my equip is old school,,,,so with todays tech and small cameras, it should work even better, Its worth a try, before the old film is gone.
Guest 12-Jun-2012 11:49
I transfered all my old 1950/1960,s (OLD) 8 mm film to vhs back in the 80's, then copied it from vhs to dvd, and it turned out real nice. I used an old Kodak movie projector that had a small 2 inch screen on it, and placed my vhs camcorder (old tech) close to it and copied the movie, then put it in the vcr/dvd player/recorder and transfer all film to dvd. I know my equip is old school,,,,so with todays tech and small cameras, it should work even better, Its worth a try, before the old film is gone.
Leighton 12-Jun-2012 05:09
Film to VHS never worked. I had all of my family stuff transferred ten years ago, but it looks horrible. And VHS deteriorates. I don't know the cost of film to DVD (I'm sure that they probably don't even transfer to VHS these days). Fortunately, our family has a Regular/Super 8 projector, and a 16 mm, but they eventually will die. Plus, you risk the projector "eating" the film, or burning it, and destroying it forever.

However, with so much family film out there, the market for transferring will not disappear.

Just keep all film in a temperature-controlled climate - a house closet should work. Cold temperatures are best - without moisture.

In regards to Kodachrome, about ten years I came across an undeveloped roll in a box at my parents' home. I had to send it to Colorado, the only place still developing it. I hoped for some wonderful "lost" footage, but there was nothing on it.
Parks12-Jun-2012 03:43
Hi Rat, The Glades Skiff is hanging in Snappers shed. It's never been in the water since the first time we all took turns poling it around in the saw grass. I suggested to Snapper that we bring it to the launch party for the canoe and bring the little Pirogue we built as well.
Leighton, That's good to know about the film stock. I guess at least some of it was Kodachrome and that can last a long time under the right conditions. The other problem though is that nobody is making 8mm projectors anymore. Pretty soon it will be impossible to project it. I had a bunch of my families 8mm transfered to VHS tapes and I can see the day when they will be hard to play. I guess I should have those transfered to DVD. Besides which Leighton, if we can talk Al into getting it copied into digital format, he can share the film with us!
Leighton 11-Jun-2012 06:56
Film stock holds up pretty well, unless stored in a hot attic.
Miami River Rat11-Jun-2012 04:28
The canoe is lookin' good. What ever happened to that everglades skiff y'all built? Poaching gator hides with it or is it just loafing in some garage waiting for action?
Parks11-Jun-2012 03:23
Al, 8mm film that old must be starting to deteriate. Encourage your brother to have it copied to newer media.

Susan and I saw a bunch of critters yesterday. We had gone to the pet store to get cat supplies and on the way home we went by the entrance to Cutler Bay to look for Peacocks. We didn't see any cocks but there was a hen with two babies. There is also a colony of cats living there so we fed the cats. Driving home we came upon a truck stopped in the middle of the road. The driver had gotten out and was herding a big soft shell turtle across the road. Later we went to Tropical Park to see if it would be a good place to have a canoe launching party. There was a big flock of Ibis there with one pure white pigeon hanging out with them. The canoe that Snapper and I are building is in the final stages. We put the first varnish on today. We were going to have a launch party for everyone who has helped us, looks like we'll have to invite others as Snapper and I were the only ones who worked on it! Actually Darrell came by one day so I guess he'll be invited. Here's a link to pictures from todays work. http://jmlynn.smugmug.com/Boats/Cedrus-Marie/13150192_UvHJA#!p=22&n=10
Arizona Al 10-Jun-2012 14:20
Nike: My brother has some 8mm films that my father took during a bombing mission over North Korea in 1950 or 1951. It captures the cockpit view with several MIG Fighters making intercept strafing runs at the bomber formation. I think my brother and I are the only ones who ever saw the footage. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix,Arizona
Nike 08-Jun-2012 18:14
I meant in the cockpit of a B-29.
Nike 08-Jun-2012 18:13
AZ AL - If you would like, we'll get a picture of you in the cockpit of a B-27 while you are here. The WWII Air Museum is about three miles from where we are staying. My friend that flew B-29s in WWII is a docent there (at age 91).
Parks08-Jun-2012 13:27
Hi Roberta, No the Poinciana doesn't have a fragrance. In our yard we have a Ylang- Ylang tree that smells wonderful! Susan says it's one of the ingrediants in Chanel #5.
Arizona Al 08-Jun-2012 10:15
Nike: Sounds like a plan of action. BTW my father Major Bert Ogus (deceased) flew B25s out of Kwajalin Marshall Islands in WW2, B-29s in Korea, and B47s during the cold war. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Roberta Perry Hughes 08-Jun-2012 09:09

--How well I remember the flamboyant, climbable Royal Poinciana trees of Southwest Miami.....!

--There was one diagonally across S.W. 55th Street from us, & it was a sight to behold, when in full bloom.

--Here in Georgia, there is a tree that has a very similar shape, height, and foliage to it, but the similarity ends there, as the blooms are a deep pink blossom that is reminiscent of a cheerleader's pompoms.

--It is a Mimosa tree, and many decades ago, it was the basis of a favorite fragrance for the ladies. It is mentioned in the novel, "Christie." They made a TV series based on the book, that starred Tyne Daly. The setting for the novel as well as the TV series was in the Appalachian Mountains.

--It was also mentioned in the film, "The Uninvited." Whenever one of the two ghosts in the film was present, the scent of Mimosa prevailed. The setting for the film was on the Cornish coast of England, and starred Ray Miland.

--The Mimosa tree has seed pods, that drop to the ground, and each seed will sprout a baby tree. Soon, you can be over run with them, and the trees themselves are difficult to get rid of, if one desires to do so, as they seem to have 9 lives.

--Their root system seeks water, so, Southerners learned, very quickly, to never plant one near the septic line, or the root system would wreak havoc on it, causing a ton of troubles, very expensive to rectify.

--I cannot recall if the Royal Poinciana has a fragrance, or not. Does it....??

--Thanks for the memories, Parks. How I miss the flora of Miami, and of course, the fruits. There is nothing like it, anywhere.


Nike 07-Jun-2012 16:11
AZ AL -- Excellent idea. We are having lunch in Idlewild this Tuesday with a 91 year-old B-27 WWII pilot I met here at the WWII Air Museum.

We are leasing a condo at the Desert Princess CC. My cell is 404-697-7782 and my email is Charles @ Nike252(dot)org. Let me know as time get near and we will make definate plans.
Arizona Al 07-Jun-2012 15:48
Nike: I have brother and sister-in-law in Palm Desert. Planning a July 4th week trip to Palm Desert, Idywild, Oceanside and L.A.. Maybe if logistics are in favor could do a meet-n-greet in Palm Springs..Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Nike 07-Jun-2012 15:00
The Royal Poincianas are also beautiful here in Palm Springs, along with every other tropical blooming species.

The California avacados and mangoes are small compared to the ones grown in south Florida. I look forward to our return in October.

Since April 1st on retirement day, we have been in 18 states. After a month in Washington, DC and two weeks in CHicago, we headed for southern California. We were visiting Palm Springs for the Memorial Day Weekend and signd a lease for two months.

It is a lush tropical paradise surrounded by mountains. It's a touch hot during the day but no humidity with cool, refreshing mornings and evenings. Now I understand how AZ AL can live in Phoenix and really like it.


Arizona Al 07-Jun-2012 05:03
Parks: I am growing habenaro, serrano and red chili peppers here in the Sonoran Desert. They are the indigeneous plants that can stand the summer without irrigation. Have allready picked and dried a couple of quarts. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Parks07-Jun-2012 04:35
Sorry guys. Guest was me. Parks
Guest 07-Jun-2012 04:29
Ok I'll get it started. The Royal Poincianas are in full bloom here in Miami. They are stunning. Susan and I had our first mango of the season. It was from a tree she planted about three years ago. This is it's first crop. It is called Rosy Gold and is the prettiest mango I've ever seen. Unfortunately it didn't taste very good. Maybe next year it will taste better. Anybody planting a summer garden up North?
Nike 07-Jun-2012 02:37
Anybody there????
Nike 01-Jun-2012 22:53
Parks & others - You are certainly welcome - Nike & Nancy in Palm Springs, California
Arizona Al 31-May-2012 16:04
Parks: You are most welcome. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix,Arizona
Parks29-May-2012 00:58
Big thanks to all of you who served.
Roberta Perry Hughes 28-May-2012 12:52

--Very entertaining story, 'Dave'.....! Thanks, for having shared it.

--I have only flown, twice. Was nervous & stressed out the entire time. It was during those days in the '80's when there were frequent plane crashes....DC-9s....whose engines fell off, in flight. Many of them had no survivors.

--The evening news had graphic footage of a horrific crash site, every time you turned around. Some crashed on take-off. I remember the one that crashed in the Andes Mountains, making search & rescue difficult.

--There was even a scene in the film, "Ghost," when Patrick Swayze had the TV on in the bedroom, & the news was on, showing yet another fatal plane crash, & he commented to Demi Moore about how short life could be.

--Once, they even showed family members, who were waiting in terminals for a flight to come in, so they could greet their loved ones, only to learn that the plane had crashed somewhere, & that no one survived it.

--The news can be intrusive, at times, with no regard for the feelings of others, in cases like that.

--It was enough to make one not want to ever board an airplane. I only took those flights in a case of 'have to.' Given a choice, I would never have opted to fly.

I have not flown since then, & have no plans to.

In spite of the weather (we NEED the rain, where I live) I hope everyone has a great day, today, even if you have to grill on your stove top....!

Be well. Be safe. Take care.

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Fran 28-May-2012 07:18
Wonderful weekend, time share, time to visit my youngest daughter and give thanks.

Whitebelt, I loved the story!

Roberta, Best wishes to you too.

To all who post here, have a safe holiday.
Miami Girl 26-May-2012 15:06
GREAT story Whitebelt!!
whitebelt26-May-2012 13:15
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/25/travel/nostalgia-travel/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Good article about the old days of flying.

My first flight was going to basic training at Ft. Jackson. The plane bounced several times up to Atlanta. Dropped a thousand feet or more one tme. I was not much of one for flying after that.

As for the amenities and security. I flew to Turkey on a Pan Am 747 in 1972. Was wearing close fitting wash and wear and set the metal detector off at JFK. The lighter in my pocket. No problem. On the leg from London to Frankfurt, my infant son threw up all over me. I went and changed into uniform in the terminal. Had to go through security again. A German soldier did a quick pat down. After he finished I lifted my hat and smiled. He didn't check that. He smiled back. Then onwards to Istanbul, and a different airline world.

The 747 is one remarkable plane. Surprisingly powerful and maneuverable. Approaching Istanbul went through Communist air space. That plane made some very tight banks and turns. Landed, and going through customs, there were six Turks waiting that grabbed my 6 bags and took off before I knew what happened. I caught up with them at the gate for my flight to Izmir. They all knew where I was going, and were waiting for their tips.

Sat there and waited. Eventually me and another American military family discovered our plane was boarding. It was a DC 9 that loaded from the rear bottom door. It looked like a city bus being boarded. The things people were carrying. I fully expected to see a goat being led up the ramp.

Even though there were reservations, the flight was overbooked. I managed to get a seat for my wife and son. She held him. We took off with me standing up like in a bus. The stacks of Pepsi in the back the stews had, with the bags of peanuts, fell over taking off, several bottles breaking. On that flight I resigned myself to death. I finally got a seat. Turned out to be one of the nicest flights I ever had. Especially liked looking up the aisle through the cockpit window. You could see the pilots and everything. Removed that Spam in a can feeling. Everyone was relaxed and friendly.

I had sent the family home a couple of months earlier, so when it came time to leave I traveled alone. Boarding security consisted of the passengers being led out into a courtyard where we all opened our luggage for a Turkish security man to look through while a young Turkish soldier looked on with a submachine gun at the ready. Turks don't play.

Got to Istanbul and waited for my flight. They called my name on the PA to report to the counter. I was informed the flight was booked solid, there was a couple that wanted to take that flight, and would I give up my seat and take a later flight on a 747. I thought the mention of a 747 was odd, as I assumed I was going back on one, anyhow. I declined, as there was a chance I could pick my car up after arriving in NY that day. Which was a big assumption I later learned. The traffic getting to the Pan Am arrivals was agonizingly slow. I watched my taxi for over 45 minutes inch its way around.

Anyhow, I am sitting in Istanbul airport, waiting for my Pan Am flight, in deep thought, wondering if that was a chance I had just blown to live longer. Anxious time. Then it was time to board. They loaded us up on a bus, and drove us some distance to our plane. A 707. A very crowded and fully packed 707.

Oh, sh*t. You DID blow it, Dave.

Takeoff was OK, and we flew to Rome with no problems. The plane was very crowded. I did enjoy my ailse seat because the stew kept bumping her hips into my face walking up and down it. I didn't go out of my way to dodge. We were in Rome for a half hour or so, where we could get off for a while, but I stayed on the plane. Then everyone reboarded and we started to take off for NY. The pilot lit it up and we started rolling. And rolling. And rolling. And rolling. And rolling. That takeoff lasted 3 or 4 times longer than any I had ever had. We finally lift off, and I hear this "PING!!!".

The end was near.

But it wasn't. Lovely 9 hours back to NY with nice people to talk to.

I hated flying, though.



Roberta Perry Hughes 26-May-2012 12:55

--Have an enjoyable....and safe....Memorial Day weekend.

--Attend a parade, if you are able to do so, and don't forget to salute the flag, and the men in uniform who are marching by.

--Visit a Veteran's Home. Take them some fruit to enjoy, or a nice card....or just give them your time, to visit, if they are alone.

--Watch the annual Memorial Day tribute on PBS, if you get a chance, to remind us all of what this very special day is all about, and to honor, and remember, those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, for our benefit.

--Honor our troops, and our Vets, as well. They are all our finest and best.

--Do be careful, on the highways.

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Leighton 24-May-2012 05:18
Roll Tide!!!!! was the word in our house, although I don't dive a damn about football. I even turned down 50 yard-line seats to the UM National Championship in 1984, while a student. I think that I went to one HS game in the 70s. Friday night was movie night, for me.....
Miami River Rat22-May-2012 13:25
Roberta, glad to see another Auburn fan on the board here! I like everything you say except the Georgia Tech jacket. I'd have to put that one in the cat's litter box, as I consider Tech to be one notch below even the Dull Dawgs.

I can't wait for football season to get here. Like you, i don't care much for pro football, the only time I watch is if a former Auburn player might be featured in the pro game.
whitebelt21-May-2012 11:19
Nike, I haven't seen much of northern Colorado or Utah. Utah is supposed to have some very scenery. New Mexico has the most striking and pretty stuff that I have seen out west, you just have to get off the interstate to really see it. There are a few old volcanos and huge lava fields that can take you back in time.

If you come back the southern route on I-10, take an extra couple of hours to get off at Lordsburg, then cut over to Silver City and take the mountain route to Elephant Butte on Hwy 152. During the day. Some pretty stuff on that road. Ruidoso in the White Sands area is also worth a visit. There is a place called the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Ruidoso owned by the Mescalero Apaches that is a very tranquil place to stay. It is up about 7000 ft in the mountains. Has a casino and golf course. Almost a spiritual place.

I-40 has some pretty stuff in AZ in the Flagstaff area. Mountainous area. Then some good southwestern vistas until Amarillo. But they look best headed the other way.

Santa Fe and Taos are worth a look, but out of the way. I love the drive from Taos to Raton on US 64 through the Taos Valley. You go up and into the valley from Taos which is over 7000 feet then 12 miles or so at 8000 + on flat land, then up and over the last mountain range down into the High Plains. That last stretch is my favorite. if you take that route stop in Cimmarron and eat at the St. James Hotel, maybe even spend the night. Excellent food in a historic hotel that has been restored very well. Cimmarron would be where I would have settled if I had the money. Not that expensive, was just out of my range. Lies at the bottom of the east side of the mountains, where the mountains meet the prairie.

I-40 through OK and AR is pretty this time of year. OK is a pleasant state to drive through.
Roberta Perry Hughes 21-May-2012 08:05

....MRR....Didn't know you went to AU.....! I've been a huge fan of the 'Tigers,' since 1986, when Pat Dye was Coaching. Also, I joined in with the low roar of, 'Warrrrr EAGLES!'

....Made a 'tidy sum' on side bets, whenever AU played UGA.

In truth, I always rooted for ANY team that played against UGA. Those folks don't even know dog breeds, and obviously, could not discern OUR American bull dog, from an English bull dog. How cool it would have been, had their mascot been the American bull dog.

It was a strange rivalry, whenever Auburn played Georgia, as Pat Dye was a grad from UGA, while Vince Dooley was an alum from Auburn. Their mothers sat on the opposite side of the teams that their sons were coaching, and rooted for their Alma Mater.

It would have been dangerous, to wear an Auburn jacket and jersey over my jeans, into a bar, to watch the Game. Had I been male, I'd have gotten my fanny kicked, but good, as the entire patrons in the bar wore Georgia jerseys and jackets.

In my closet, I had a GA Tech jersey and jacket, as well as a Florida jersey and jacket, to haul out and wear to the Club whenever they were playing against UGA.

Shoot. I'd have rooted for Miss Pickles Finishing School, over UGA. LOL

But Auburn was my favorite.....and still is, to this day.

I don't care too much for Pro football, but I do love to watch the college football games, come Fall, as well as the televised high school games.

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Nike 21-May-2012 03:03
Whitebelt -- After an overnight in Cheyenne, Wyoming, we passed through Colorado yesterday (overnight in Vail) and on today to Utah where we will stay tonight on our way to San Diego. Colorado was the most beautiful state. I can see why you like it so much and settled there.
Arizona Al 20-May-2012 07:20
The only time I actually participated in graduation activities was at Palmetto High commencement in June, 1964. I earned 4 college degrees (A.A. 1969, B.A. 1972, M.A. 1974 and Ph.D. 1977) and did not attend any of the associated graduation ceremonies. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Miami River Rat20-May-2012 03:46
The last day was usually a half-day session. Random memories:
"No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks..."
"First grade baby, second grade bum, third grade sweet potato, yum, yum, yum."

The look on a buddy's face when he looked at his report card and it said "James has failed the sixth grade". He said "Shucks. Let's go swimmin' before my folks see this crap."

Graduation party the night after 9th grade ended at Kinloch. Weirdness!
Already packed up the morning before the 10th grade ended, headin' for a week of camping at Fisheating Creek.

Standing and looking back at Southwest High with my yellow dropout slip in my hand. I was the only one that school turned out for that day, but it was the most exhilarating of them all. I thought I was through with school forever. Didn't dream that after four years of military service and a GED I'd be right back in college for four more years.

Graduation day at Auburn University...that one really WAS the last day for me!
Miami Girl 19-May-2012 14:16
Thanks for those great memories, I absolutely loved that last day of school and those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!
Fran 19-May-2012 06:43
Okay, something to think about...first day of summer vacation. My first thought was that of being able to sleep late, staying out after dark and playing freeze tag. Making ice pops for those long hot days...fond memories.
Miami Girl 17-May-2012 12:55
I'm here checking in every day, just haven't had anything to contribute but love reading all the post's. Been busy with my sisters visit (one still lives in Miami), we took a trip to Savannah and Charleston - love the history, those old houses and plantations up the Ashley River. Wish time travel was possible, but only for a quick visit as it's way too difficult and uncomfortable lifestyle for my spoiled life!!
Roberta Perry Hughes 17-May-2012 03:32

--Ladies.....? Where'd ya go.....??

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Arizona Al 16-May-2012 13:51
MRR: Spent many a Friday and Saturday Night at Snowden's drinking beer during my jr. and sr. high school years (1963-1964) at when underage..I don't recall ever being asked for I.D. The Friday Night all you could eat fish fry at Snowden's was a local favorite. Drink beer..eat a lot of fish and follow it up with a dive off the adjacent bridge headfirst into Snapper Creek..A Ridge Rat's dream date:)
Miami River Rat16-May-2012 03:50
Al, I may have confessed this before, but we moved from town out to Cutler Road and 148th street my Junior year in high school. I went to Southwest. Did some swimming where Snapper Creek crosses Old Cutler and spent many a happy night drinking and dancing with a fake ID in Snowden's.

Does anybody else remember when Snowden's had a live band in there on the weekends? Then there was the Paper Doll down at Homestead, they weren't particular about age in there either, as long as you had cash for a drink. :)
Country Boy Al 15-May-2012 14:11
MRR: Actually there was a series of canals in the Cutler Ridge-Whispering Pines-Bel Aire area that we used to snorkel and float on in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time the canals were full of bream, bluegill, bass, mudfish and of course the seminal alligator gar. Fishing with cane poles and a 20 gallon galvanized tub on the banks of the canals was a nice endeavor. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
whitebelt15-May-2012 13:26
Over the eons the coast of south Florida has been submerged and exposed many times by changing sea levels. This left ridges of coral and other stuff that were built up during being submerged, and that collected as the water receded. Dams of just a very few feet, but not even all around. Rain, Lake Okeechobee and the springs further north on higher ground filled the shallow basins, creating the Everglades. The old rivers were leaks in the reservoir created. There were also substantial underground rivers that were cut in the coral over the ages. Water pressure could cause those to rise to near the surface, like artesian springs, they just didn't surface. We had a 20 foot well on fairly high ground, but had good water 10 foot down up until at least the 70's. Wells were being drilled to 40 and 60 feet about then.

Florida is unusual in that the hydro flow works on inches instead of feet like most places.

"he Miami River is a river in the United States state of Florida that drains out of the Everglades and runs through the Downtown and the city of Miami. The 5.5-mile (8.9 km) long river flows from the terminus of the Miami Canal at Miami International Airport to Biscayne Bay. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_River_%28Florida%29

That would indicate to me the north fork was actually the main channel. I believe there is some sort of dam or sluice gate just south of 36th street. That is probably where the connection to the Okeechobee Canal was made was back when, and where it was dammed to keep the water level up in the Glades after some realizations were made. I seem to remember the 36 street bridge was a drawbridge. I think they had big ideas about navigating up the river much farther north.

Which brings up The Jungle Club. I believe the location became the Pink Pussycat or something later. Was across from the Chesapeake restaurant on N. River Drive very near that gate. Back in the 50's it was the Jungle Club, a place for private customers with naked women and good times, etc. It was raided a time or two, one of which my oldest sister, who was quite the wild one, was caught in.
Miami River Rat15-May-2012 04:27
The Tamiami Canal runs into a bunch of big rockpits, then exits the rockpits and enters the main channel of the river just after it passes under the swing bridge. This much I know from personal exploration. Whether those rockpits be called Maule Lake, Blue Lagoon or whatsomever I cannot say.

The South Fork, AKA Comfort Canal, enters the main channel at the location of my family's old alligator farm, about 22nd avenue, and goes southwest from there, crossing 27th avenue at NW 11th street. This is the route Harney used when he raided the indians and killed Chekika out at Grossman's Hammock. Harney then proceeded down Taylor Slough from Grossman's to Florida bay and thus his soldiers became the first white men to cross from the east coast to the west coast of South Florida. It's hard to imagine today being able to canoe from the mouth of the Miami River to Grossman's and on to Florida Bay, but that's how it was back then.

What we called the North Fork is very small, it entered the main channel at Musa Isle, about 25th avenue, and ended in a slough about 30th avenue and NW 17th street, just east of where Douglas Pky goes off of 17th street. The River Falls Park is located between what I call the Main Channel and what I call the North Fork. I think there were falls on both streams back before the dredging, said falls being only a few hundred yards from each other.

I'm pretty sure we're all saying the same things, just maybe from a slightly different perspective. What I'm calling the river's Main Channel could also be properly called the Okeechobee Canal.

Back in the days of the waterfalls Arizona Al would have had to walk Cutler Ridge up to Silver Bluff to buy groceries. Not so different from the '60's, eh, Al?

PS:When Country Boy Al gets tired of getting ribbed, I suspect we'll know it!
Parks15-May-2012 03:50
Hi Whitebelt, This is getting fun! Actually it looks like the branch off the river that I call the South Fork connects to Blue Lagoon Lake and so does the canal behind my store. We both agree that the Tamiami Canal that runs west along the trail connects to Blue Lagoon Lake. I think we both agree that the North Fork becomes the Okeechobee canal. More Research!
Arizona Al 14-May-2012 20:18
Country Boy? We Ridge Rats always considered that Country Boys and Girls came from Homestead, Redlands, and Naranja. We Ridge Rats had a shopping center and a bowling alley! We were sophisticated circa 1955-1964! Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Tbred 14-May-2012 17:03
Who remembers Andy and/or Henry co-owners of the Thoroughbred Stall in Hialeah during the early sixties. It was THE place to go before and after school, even for lunch (in those days you could go off campus). Andy was a cool guy, he's the one who taught me "Sweet Aunt-wanit" and "She Didn't Get Her (Click-Click Sound) Wet . . . Yet". I spent way to much time there when I should have been in school. Andy even had his juke box guy put a record our little band made at a local studio in his "Whirlitzer". I almost went broke dropping coins in there everytime there were a few people in the place just to show off.
whitebelt14-May-2012 16:18
Parks, the Tamiami Canal follows SW 8 street. That is a completely manmade channel. It veers northeast around the Palmetto and then feeds into the Blue Lagoon area, which then feeds into the south fork. From what I gather in that wiki article on the river I posted, the east side of the airport was pretty much the Glades with rapids on both forks feeding the main river. The river started about 4 miles upstream from the mouth, the Okeechobee canal being the bigger one. The landscape got dried out and rearranged a lot from the drainage, especially by the Okeechobee canal. The Glades water level was like 6 feet above sea level. Sort of like the airport and west was a big lake that spilled over the rapids forming the river, and the dredging of the forks drained it. The Everglades water level dropped since then. There is a ridge that runs along the 27th ave area from the south to the north, about the highest ground in Dade County. That is where the river punched through the ridge originally. That area around the old Whitebelt Dairy is called Hialeah Heights and Gladeview. I guess they had a good view of the Glades at one time.

The Everglades is like a big inverted spoon. There are some rock ridges that were formed and created natural dams, with some spots having channels created by spillover. Man punched some holes in the dam, draining Lake Okeechobee faster than it can flood the old basin like it did forty years before we came along.

Get on Google Earth and scope the area out. They have a little altitude indicator down at the bottom that gives a lay of the land.
Parks14-May-2012 15:19
Whitebelt, I think what you are calling the South Fork is actually the Tamiami Canal. That is the water over which the little swing bridge spans. My store is on the Tamiami Canal just a ways west of where it passes under the South River Drive swing bridge and joins the river. I think the original South Branch split from the main river just east of 22 nd Avenue. It's still navigable for a short way buy peters out into being just a small drainage canal or ditch. There is a park called The Miami River Rapids Park just west of the 27th avenue bridge. I think everything west of there was once Everglades.
whitebelt14-May-2012 15:16
Speaking of rock pits, Dade County was littered with them from the development. Lots of kids drowning in them I seem to remember. Remember the Rockpit Ranger thing in elementary school? Not that it kept me from almost drowning in Silver Blue Lake by NW 103 street and 17 ave years later. 30 foot deep water with a stupid young boy that couldn't swim venturing out on a piece of foam into it. Good thing I had a friend retrieve me handy. Huge rock pit.

There was even a smaller one on NW 54th street and 22 Ave next to the old bus barn. Think they finally filled that one in.
whitebelt14-May-2012 14:58
MRR, I think the confusion lies in what you call the river. Around 31st ave is where the branches meet. I reference the north fork, the one running from the Okeechobee Canal between the Springs and Hialeah, as the river, whereas someone south of the south fork may consider that fork being the river.

Blue Lagoon, feeding the south fork, used to be one of my favorite haunts before all of the development. Great fishing. The world's largest largemouth bass lurks in those waters. Used to park on 7th street and hike back through a little trail to my favorite spot. Blue Lagoon and Maule Lake were formed as rock pits. Seminole Rock provided most of the aggregate for concrete for much of Miami back in the 50's and 60's. My father worked for a concrete company back then right on the lagoon. He was one of the original employees back in the 40's. Used to say they had to chase off the Indians that lived there when they started. There was a hulk of an old PT boat in that lagoon still there in the 60's on the north side. Always wondered how they got it into there.

Was still a pretty wild area up until the 60's.
whitebelt14-May-2012 14:36
Venturing into the city would have been risky for a country boy like you, Al. :-)

I spent many years driving 30-60K a year in Miami, just going to work and from job location to job location. I have been in just about every nook and cranny of Dade County at one time or another. I've lived just north of Brownsville, Little River, on the bay around NE 20th street, across the canal from Biscayne Park, NMB, Sweetwater, Homestead, Pinecrest, Dadeland, and west Perrine. I spent several years driving from Pinecrest/Dadeland to the north end of Broward and Boca Raton just to report for work, and then just turn around to go to Key West or up to Ft. Pierce and places in between. Then back home. I hated going north. A concussion affected my sense of location in the last years. There are routes I have taken over a thousand times and I have trouble remembering what was along it, or how I actually got there.

I love my little town out in the middle of nowhere. If I have to go more than a few blocks, I go down to the light, which blinks overnight, turn left to the next little town 20 miles away, or right to a slightly larger one 40 miles away. Now, I do suffer some angst on occasion, as if I turn right I can turn left a half mile and take a back road to the small town I would turn left for. More scenic route, but a mile or so longer. I love following little trails and not having to negotiate city traffic grids. Dodging tumbleweeds instead of dummies on the road here contributes greatly to the quality of life.

Miami Springs was really just about the nicest enclave in Miami.
Miami River Rat14-May-2012 14:33
That's ok Al, country boys need love too....

Whitebelt, the swivel bridge is on south river drive and went over a smaller branch of the river. The "new bridge", built in 1965, that Parks is talking about must have extended 37th avenue. In olden times 37th stopped at the water.

As a kid I had a skiff and spent the better part of entire summers exploring up and down the Miami River and it's various branches, but sometimes knowing where I was in the water didn't translate to road knowledge.

Bicycle explorations did give me a firm knowledge that 37th avenue didn't cross over to the north side of the Miami River, 37th ended there at the water.
Arizona Al 14-May-2012 13:40
Wish I could contribute to the diatribe regarding a bridge at 37th ave. but I am a Ridge Rat who grew up in Cutler Ridge and can not recall ever venturing into the area in question. Sorry Guys! Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona.
whitebelt14-May-2012 13:37
I can't remember if it was there before, but I do see where South River Dr now intersects with 36 St and does a slight doggy leg, turning into S Royal Poinciana Dr at that triangle where 36 and Lejeune intersect.

http://maps.yahoo.com/#q=Miami%2C+FL&conf=1&start=1&lat=25.808777479767212&lon=-80.26490092277527&zoom=17&mvt=m&trf=0

Since I lived north of the river, maybe I am confused about how you guys figured how to get from here to there. Different reference points. You guys are keyed on the south fork and I am on the north fork. I guess you are referring to getting to S River Drive from south of the south fork? You have that little bridge around 31st Ave and the 37th Ave bridge?
whitebelt14-May-2012 13:04
I didn't know there was a bridge there, either. Any time I drove to Central Plaza I would go down 32 Ave to N River Dr and take it to 27th and then loop back to 37th Ave just below the river.

I just looked at Google Earth and I still don't see a bridge at 37th Ave and South River Drive. There is a railroad trestle around 38th Ave. There IS a bridge on 37th around 20 St going over the southern fork.

It looks like you still get to the Springs only via N. River Dr or 36 St or LeJeune.

I am curious about this swivel bridge. The only place I can see where one would be is around 31 Ave on the southern feed to the river, just before it merges.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_River_%28Florida%29

"Natural river
Map of Miami, Florida with the river in blue

In its original natural state, the river started at rapids formed by water from the Everglades flowing over a rocky ledge four miles (6.4 km) from its mouth. Frederick H. Gerdes of the U.S. Coast Survey reported in 1849 that "[f]rom the upper falls to near its entrance into Key Biscayne Bay… water in the Glades was 6 feet 2.5 inches (1.89 m) above low tide."[5] The rapids were removed when the Miami Canal was dredged in an attempt to drain the wetland.

The river divided into a North Fork and a South Fork about three miles (4.8 km) above its mouth. Each fork extended only one mile (1.6 km) to rapids marking the edge of the Everglades. The North Fork had the greater flow and the higher drop over its rapids. One-and-one-half miles (2.4 km) above the mouth of the river there was a tributary on the north side, called Wagner Creek, which was about two miles (3.2 km) long. The Miami River was also fed by several springs, including some in the bed of the river. Flow was variable and in times of drought sometimes stopped completely."

I thought the feed from Blue Lagoon was the original river path, but evidently it was just one of the feeds, the river actually starting around the merging of the two present forks.

Fran 14-May-2012 05:53
It's true guys, Rat does not have any ugly family members. Congrats to Lynn!
Parks14-May-2012 04:03
Hi Rat, I was the Guest. I got signed out some how. The 37th Ave bridge was built prior to 1965 as that was when my Dad moved our store to 37th Ave and 21 Street. I think it was a pretty new bridge then.
Miami River Rat14-May-2012 03:52
Traffic is sent over the 37th ave bridge? There's a bridge at 37th avenue now? Who knew?

Thanks for the info, Guest. You can probably tell I've been away for some time. When I was living in that neighborhood there was a bridge over the river at 27th ave, the swivel bridge on South River Drive crossed a branch and next was the bridge out there on LeJune or Red Road, I'm not sure which.
Miami River Rat14-May-2012 03:46
Fran, my cousin Lynn just finished second in some sort of military style kick-fighting, butt-kickin' contest upstate somewhere. I don't understand all the rules, but it was apparently a very impressive achievement, and she still looks as beautiful as ever too.

Good genes in the family!
Guest 14-May-2012 03:45
Hi Rat, The traffic on South River Drive is being sent over to the 37th avenue bridge.
Fran 13-May-2012 23:54
Don, silly me I had forgotten about you working with me at the club. You were the male on the poll to the left of me,. I remember something about you being a lookout? Do you still own that pair of shorty shorts?

Yes, you do know Rat's cousins. One thing is for sure, you are a great guy, good sense of humor and my brother's best friend.

Enjoy!
Miami River Rat13-May-2012 14:51
Funland was a good place to take a girl on a date. That Wild Mouse had some advantages, the way it would toss you around up there....

Parks, one of the bridge tenders that used to work the swivel bridge was a cool guy. If there was no traffic, he'd open and close the bridge for us while we sat on our bicycles and thus we got a ride . One time me and a buddy, about 12 years old, were looking down into the water from that bridge and a huge manatee surfaced and blew air right under our feet! Scared the bejesus out of us for a minute.

I don't know any early history of that bridge, it's been where it is now for as long as I can remember. I agree, if that once spanned the main channel of the Miami River, the river had to be a lot narrower at the time.

If the bridge is closed, what's happened to the traffic between The Springs and Miami? Is there a better route these days?
whitebelt13-May-2012 12:31
Funland was a block or so south of 79th Street on 27 Ave. The Wild Mouse and the Bullet were the scary rides. The Bullet was like a Ferris wheel, only it was two opposing capsules if I remember right. I think they fell off on a couple of occasions. In high school I had a job at the Kwik Chek further up on 95th street where i worked with a bunch of hoodlums from Central High. After work we would often go to Funland and raise hell. When we didn't go egging or yard hopping.

I hated Ferris wheels after getting on one at a carnival they had at Central Plaza on NW 7 street. It was fast. Made me sick after it hit the top and then started down. Didn't throw up, but sure got green.
Don L 13-May-2012 11:28
As I drink my morning coffee, I find it refreshing to see the banter going back and forth, each one trying to 'oneup" the next. As I was previously reading somewhere, I understand there developed a verbal war of sorts and a section had to be closed down??? I tend to get sarcastic at times, but it's certainly not meant as insulting but rather humor. As I read your stories, my memory bank seems to start churning and things pop up that were hidden. Hell, I might even "challenge" these 2 characters about the Miami River! (even though I can't remember even once swimming in it!) ;)
My father worked at Riverside Laundry and linen Supply for 30 years before buying a dry cleaners on 79th St and Biscayne Blvd. It was right behind Juniors (a restaurant) I went to work for him in 1971 as a junior in high school. Still in the industry today. UNlike Whitebelt, I grew up much more innocently and somehow was sheltered from real life. (My mom is a devout Baptist...guess THAT explains it lol) Again, I SOOO enjoy the conversations I read. Sorry for the random thoughts that come out, but wasn't there an amusement park close to Northside called Funland? There was a ferris wheel there that I blame to this day that has me scared of heights! So call me a WUSS! lol
Parks13-May-2012 04:10
Rat, You're the king of the river but I'm a river rat also. Tom Hempstead said I was. Tom's family has run tug boats on the river for about three generations.
Rat, They've got the little swing bridge on South River Drive closed. There was talk a few years ago about replacing it. I hope they are just repairing it. It's the oldest bridge in Miami. I understand that it was the orginal 27th avenue bridge. If so that must have been before they dredged the river.
Miami River Rat13-May-2012 03:36
The new guy got Whitebelt on a roll! Hi and welcome, Don L. I grew up just South of y'all, NW 17th street and 27th ave, thereabouts. Parks thinks he's spent more time on the Miami River than I have, but I count my time on the river back three generations before me, so I claim to have him beat. My great-grandpa cussed the State of Florida when they dredged out the river and destroyed the waterfalls, so that goes back a spell.

You probably know some of my cousins that went to Miami Springs, Fran knows them. My last trip down south I enjoyed a good dolphin sandwich at the West End Grille.

Have fun here!
whitebelt13-May-2012 02:36
The stuttering has to do with reloading the page, Don. Try closing after posting and then doing reloads to check.

That was our shopping area. Loved Flamingo Plaza and Western Auto.

My fingers have healed enough to type, and I am going on a roll.

You read so much about those great Miami memories. Mine were more of a sleazier sort.

The area I grew up in was a blockbusted area. Happened extremely fast. For the first couple of years we had a problem with prowlers. Part of the drill was me running out the back door with a 12 ga shotgun that was bought at Western Auto. A young teenage boy. Luckily they got away before I got outside. However, our problems with such ended. Word got around. That Miami siege mentality started early for me. Lasted as long as I lived there until 1995. I was a tough cookie. I had even carried handguns and knives to school on occasion when things looked bad. Fortunately I am not hotheaded.

I started working at Southern Bell in Little River when I was 18 and still living at home. Through a mutual friend I got a place to live closer to work, and moved out. It was an efficiency in the back of a daytime bordello just south of NW 79th street and 14 th Ave. You would not believe the amount of money a hard working girl could make in one day. I am talking large stacks of bills being counted out at the end of the day. Mucho money. Fortuitously, I had moved from there before the madam got busted again a few months later. Then the next year or so was just one big blur. Lots of sex and lots of long hours working for Bell. Twelve hours shifts, 13 days in a row with one day off between.

Then Uncle Sam expressed an interest in my services, so I enlisted to secure a more choice occupational specialty. Saved my as*.

You may have seen me working a part time security guard job at the Woolco next to Northside Shopping center around the Winter and Spring of 70/71. I was the intense looking young thin blond guy with the cross draw holster with the big 38 in it just inside the door. Just inside that door was the customer service desk that started out with 10 grand of cash in the morning. Easy pickings for a serious armed robbery gang. Lived in Sweetwater, stationed at Homestead. Son was born, needed extra money. Went to a security company in Coral Gables, got a job that day, and started carrying a gun that night. Thay had me working about 4 nights a week. Drove 33 miles to Homestead in the morning from Sweetwater, then all the way up to Northside after work in Homestead, and then home to Sweetwater from there. Was a killer. Had a few tense moments working that Woolco. Was a rough area. I was making $1.75 an hour. The financial strain, and strain of that second job, caused me to re-enlist early, losing my re-employment rights with Southern Bell. Actually, the re-enlistment was better financially than if I had finished and returned to Bell.

In later years I returned to Miami. I was exposed to mucho more sleaze, on the street level, and in the government and business arenas, than I knew existed. That is when I lost my innocence.

Other than that sky and the smell of the air, the only good memory I have of Miami is taking the kids to the beach at Matheson Hammock on the weekends and smoking dope with the wife, frequently having sex in the middle of the pool. I loved Matheson Hammock.

There is one more good memory. The sporting goods section of that Western Auto, and the tools section of Sears at Northside. I still have tools I bought there from the mid-60's. My absolute favorite is a flex headed 3/8 drive ratchet with a long handle. That ratchet has seen a LOT of use. But, like me, it is on its last legs.

Told you I was on a roll. :-)

Don L 13-May-2012 01:24
Well...looks like I've taken up stuttering...I swear I'm only pushing the add comment button once once but my comments are showing up twice twice.
Don L 13-May-2012 01:22
Thank you for the welcoming Whitebelt. This seems like a great bunch. On the subject of possibly dating Fran....she MAY have broken your heart but her Dad, affectionately we called him Mr.C, might've broken yer nose! lol He was the greatest...a hardnosed teddy bear that always kept his eye on Bill and I. What a guy!
(I enjoyed the J Geils vid, btw) My mother, who is now 84, graduated from Jackson...I'm thinking it was called Andrew Jackson back then. There was a Food Fair on E. 9th Street and Lejuene...then that arching shopping center across the street with the Rexal Drug store in it. Ahhhh...they were the days.
whitebelt13-May-2012 01:04
Ah, high school days.

I HATED lugging those stacks of books from home to school and back on two buses everyday. I didn't have a bookbag.

Which was a good thing on many occasions. I would be sitting there admiring the softness and curves of Josie, Lynn, Carol, Debra, and a few other girls, and then the bell would ring to change classes. Was very difficult getting my mind off such things. Carrying those loose books came in handy. Those were the days of tight pants.

No air conditioning. The humid air, the scent of perfumes and girls. Too many distractions at Jackson.
whitebelt13-May-2012 00:44
Welcome, Don L. You and I lived in almost the same hood. I grew up across from the Whitebelt Dairy, when it was a dairy, about a block or so south of MLK Park. I was there after the dairy closed, also.

I went to Jackson. Fran and I graduated the same year, so I am no spring chicken. I might be a bit older than her. My son graduated from Springs in 1988. He was one of the Homeless Hawks. They spent a year with Springs students going to Hialeah High because of abestos remediation at Springs. Funny thing, I had moved back to the area temporarily after living in NMB for a while. My son ranted and raved about wanting to go to NMB for high school. It was higher rated, yada yada yada. I said he was going to Springs. He loved it. Had some great teachers that really inspired him, and made close friends he still has today. He also got a National Merit Scholarship while there.

Back in my time I only had the choice of Jackson or Edison. My area came into the Springs district later. I have always wondered how my life would have been different if I had gone to Springs instead of Jackson. Probably would have fallen in love with Fran and had my heart broken.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqDjMZKf-wg

:-)
Don L 12-May-2012 21:39
Hi Parks...I'm far from new blood lol What a fantastic place it was to grow up. I was right off of LeJuene in SunTan Village. I remeber my Dad giving me a quarter and walking across LeJuene to the Shell station for a gallon of gas. I was neighbors with Martha and Johnny Romero, the Elbrechts, Bonnie, Russell and Kenny Saunders and right next door to Tom and Jerry McManus. What a great neighborhood! I didn't meet Fran's brother Bill until high school...went to MSSH(1972). We were best men at each other's weddings. To this day he's still the best man. oh yeah...Tom and Sonnie Phillips, Bob Breedlove, the McKays and Dale, Lamar and a sister Holcombe. If I keep at it, I'll keep remembering things. That's a loooooooong time ago. (I thought I'd razz fran a bit about being a dancer. Wonder what that did to her blood pressure!?!?) Too funny
Don L 12-May-2012 21:27
Fran??? FRAN CANNON???? Are you the sister of my best buddy's that was the dancer at the "Gentleman's Club" on Red Road???? Ya meet the darndest people on the internet!
Fran 11-May-2012 08:45
Dear Don,
Man, how have you been? Long time...welcome to this site. Bill and Rene have a new grand baby, girl. They are living in St. Matthews.

Best to you , Dianne and the guys.
Fran Cannon
Parks11-May-2012 01:30
Welcome Don LeDane, Tell us a story of your time in the Miami area. We need some new blood!
Don LeDane 11-May-2012 00:17
I was rambling on the internet and came across this site a few days ago. AMAZING memories you guys have...I'm impressed!!! I've been away from Hialeah for 30 plus years and have thoroughly enjoyed reading the many posts here. I'll try to contribute when I can but WOW..YOOS guys have it covered! 1061 East 8th Court, btw.
Nike 10-May-2012 20:05
Don - The reunion is October 20-21 which coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Register at my Nike site Nike252.org.

By the way, I have finally secured a Nike (minus the warhead) which I am on my way to San Francisco now to arrange transportation.

Thanks to you, once we get it to Miami, we will take it to the George T. Baker Aviation School at Miami International Airport for refurbishment.

They asked if they could sit it beside Le June road during peak traffic with smoke bombs in the boosters.

Charles
Don Boyd10-May-2012 14:12
Wow, a whole week without comments? I'm still here at least once a day to keep the spammers at bay and to read all the daily comments under the photos. Plus Facebook and several e-mail accounts and photo work and trips out of town. The days are going by way too fast. What is the date of your missileman reunion, Charles? I need to block it off so we can attend.

Don
Nike 10-May-2012 08:34
Are we still online?
Parks03-May-2012 14:27
Hi Rat, Maybe we could get National Geographic to do a TV show about us reintroducing the Blue Tailed Skink to South Florida? We could sing Born Free as we release them.
Miami River Rat03-May-2012 03:45
Parks, if you are short on blue-tailed skinks I've got a few hundred I'll loan you. All you gotta' do is come up here and catch 'em.

Roberta: Quoting Bette Davis: "Old age is not for sissies." Hang tough and do look for some help. We're a mile and a half from a paved road and two miles from neighbors. The day will come when some hard decisions will have to be made.

Maybe move from here down to Plantation Key next to Everglade City. Then the next big storm can blow us away into fantasy land, along with all those mobile homes on Key Largo. That would make Jimmy Buffett happy, I suppose.
Miami Girl 02-May-2012 20:34
Bailyn, thanks for your experience - it's about the same as mine with a chiropractor. Three times a week for about 3 months then when done the pain came back. But I do plan to find out.
bailyn 02-May-2012 18:31
Miami Girl, I had acupuncture on my right knee a few years ago after an auto accident I was involved in. The treatment was amazing, I had needles from head to toe even though it was my knee that was being treated. I found that the rest of the day and for about two days after the treatment my pain was almost gone (90%) then on the third day it was right back. My ins. covered most of it or I would not have been able to go twice a week as I needed. Finally, after about six months I had to discontinue the treatment and start a more traditional physical therepy. After all is said and done I'm glad I tried it and I would suggest you or anyone give it a try, all you have to lose is the pain, hopefully. Good luck.
Leighton 02-May-2012 04:05
Drugs can be great, but they can also be an enemy. So can some doctors. They get kickbacks from the drug companies. I CANNOT BELIEVE some of the prescriptions given out. They can ruin lives. If needles in the skin work, then I say, screw the drugs.
Miami Girl 02-May-2012 01:06
Thanks Leighton, I'm probably going to check it out. Haven't heard of any horror stories with it so if it helps and doesn't cost an arm and leg in co-pays I'd rather to that than take drugs for the rest of my life.
Leighton 01-May-2012 23:21
One of my best friends, a former film production person, is studying full time, to get her Masters (?) in acupuncture, and swears by it. I've heard that it works, and if your insurance accepts it, I say give it a try.
Miami Girl 01-May-2012 21:04
Does anyone here have a past experience or opinion of acupuncture? My insurance (Blue Cross) is even accepting it in certain cases so I assume it's become more acceptable as treatment so I'm considering going for an evaluation for my osteoarthritis. Just wondering is all.......
Parks29-Apr-2012 21:22
A very strange thing happened just now. I sat down at the computer, looked out the window and watched twelve peahens walk out of my back yard. They turned left at the road and kept going. No peacocks with them. It's interesting how the wildlife has changed down here in my life time. Unfortunately the interesting exotics have pushed out some of my favorite natives. I haven't seen a blue tailed skink in years but we've got plenty of cuban anoles, knight anoles and damn iguanas!
whitebelt29-Apr-2012 16:36
Thank you, Fran. I have already been outside, enjoying it. Just about done with the landscaping for the year.

I have found staying busy and laboring in pain is preferable to sitting and concentrating just on pain. More productive and enjoyable. I am looking forward to seeing bunches of flowers this year. From above, not below. This area has all of the charm of a dusty burlap bag background. Even Walmart bags flapping on a fence adds much appreciated color.

Miami Girl, I have already been using my drills and Sawzall, and climbing ladders. A bit more cautiously, admittedly. However, after a few things are finished, I realize I ain't as young as I used to be, meaning my reflexes and senses lend to incurring more injuries running at full speed. I will spend more time watching the flowers.

The day after the incident, I was back in the garage fabricating a windowscreen frame. I drilled a hole in a small piece of sheet metal, which of course then got caught and spun around cutting the tip of my left pointing finger. Not a new experience for me, but surprisingly that little cut was more annoying than my chewed up right hand. Life is strange.

All I want now is things organized and easy to keep clean.

It is amazing what the body can do when the mind wills it to do something.
Miami Girl 29-Apr-2012 15:29
Roberta, Parks is right - you need to find help and your church is the place to start. And you need to stop with the guilt! Think about what would have been his response if you said "no, you aren't washing your truck" - you know how men are, he would have done it anyway. Then, you could have gone out there to keep him company and it wouldn't have kept him from falling. If you had been there he wouldn't have laid there as long, that's all the difference you could have made - so throw 2/3 of that guilt away. You're doing an exceptional job of taking care of him with all your health problems. Please talk to your minister or Dr. for recommendations to find help. It's not a sign of weakness and it'll help both of you to continue your independence in your own home.

This incident tells me I'm glad we didn't buy a house in the country, which is something we both thought we wanted. We're in a subdivision with family across the street and neighbors on both sides but our lot backs onto a protected wooded wetlands so we have a private backyard that will stay that way baring a natural disaster such as a tornado or fire taking out the trees.

Stay safe and......... Whitebelt, stay away from power tools!!
Fran 29-Apr-2012 14:25
Whitebelt,

Glad to hear that you are on the mend. Soon you will be outside enjoying Nature's bounty.
whitebelt29-Apr-2012 12:28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbq3Q37wD6g

The sentiments of this song can be rather profound, reaching beyond this existence.

Never hurts to have a place to meet when the travels and travails of life lead us down separate paths. Picking a definititive location gives a goal for souls to gather about.

Will be nice when these fingers heal up enough to take a really good shower again.

Oh, well, it is waking up the other side of my brain. Looking on the bright side. :-)

Temporarily Dave "Lefty" Nelson.
Parks29-Apr-2012 02:48
Roberta, you need help. I watched my sister go through what you are with our parents. She tried to do it all by herself and it damn near killed her. Stop beating yourself up. No one person can do what you are doing. Don't be too proud to ask for help. Talk to your pastor, check the internet, there are programs out there to help caregivers like you. I wish I was there to give you a big hug.
Roberta Perry Hughes 29-Apr-2012 01:05

--Parks....Moral of the story: Never take outdated medications....nor eat expired foods and beverages, either.

--My Arthrotec is ordered twice a day, with food, so I take it with breakfast and supper.

--Going to get our doctor to order the same for Lewis, so he can pay me back the ones I've shared with him since Friday. He was wanting some Ibuprofen, but he needed a better analgesic than that. The Arthrotec worked wonders for him, and helped to stave off the pain he would have had, without it.

--He had been outside, washing his truck, and I told him that I had to lie down, to try and get the gross swelling out of my feet and legs.

--I got up to go to the bathroom, and then, went out to check on him. Didn't see the truck, at first, and thought he had hauled some junk to the dumpsters down-the-road, and then, I spied it, parked in the shade.

-I called his name, and he replied, in a muffled voice, 'I'm down here. Help me get up.'

--He was face down in the flower bed, with his forehead on a RR cross tie. I went over to him, saw his glasses in the grass, and picked them up, lest I step on them. I asked him how long he had been down there, and he said 'Too long,' and of course, I asked if he were okay, did he hurt anywhere, etc.

--Naturally, I was all-to-pieces, and knew I could not get him up. Told him I was going inside to call 911, and came back, and I sat in a chair, waiting for the ambulance to arrive. I had tried to cover him up (first aid for shock) but he said he was too hot for a cover.

--They got him up, and helped him to a chair I had on the patio, and declared that he was okay. He had on a short sleeve shirt, and his arms were black and blue, but the skin was not torn....thank goodness....!

--He had a smidge of blood, from briars that scratched his ear, and his neck. Other than that, no fractures, and he did not require going to the E.R. for x-rays.

--Never a dull moment, around here. We were lucky, and I blame myself for what happened, as I should have known better, than to leave him unsupervised, and I had forgotten, that he gets dizzy, if he bends over.

--Naturally, I am wracked with guilt, and have cried my eyes out, over this incident. I am getting forgetful, myself, and it scares me so. I am a piss-poor caretaker, to have let this happen. I feel like I am no good to anybody, anymore. I am supposed to keep him from harm, and look what happened....! I'm not worth two cents.

--I arranged for someone else to feed the 'mools' for him, today, and I rigged him up last night, to where he did not have to get up to the bathroom. I knew that I would not be able to pull and tug on him, so we went back to 'square one,' where I fix him up in his recliner, with a basin next to him on the shower chair, and a urinal to use, PRN.

--I went to sleep in the recliner next to him, though I meant to get up and go to bed, so I could elevate my legs. I could hardly get about, this morning, but just had to MAKE myself hobble about, so I could tend to him, when needed, and fix our breakfast.

--I bought two spaghetti dinners from the church, so, didn't have to cook dinner, and had enough left over for our supper.

--I've got to do better. God help me, I've GOT to do better.

--Be well. Be safe. Be careful. Be sure-footed, and always, mindful of the threat of falling.

==========================================================================
Parks28-Apr-2012 04:01
Roberta, Arthrotec worked well for me until I took some that was more than a year out of date. I had an alergic reaction to it. The only thing I can figure is that it breaks down into something different when it gets old.
fanforever 27-Apr-2012 21:56
I'm with you Parks, I have no plans to ever attend a game in the new stadium. It just would not be the same. I would feel like I was supporting the politicians and crooks (including the Marlins ownership) who put it there. Norman Braman tried to warn us, but they went ahead with it anyway.
Roberta Perry Hughes 27-Apr-2012 11:07

--Gee Whillakers....!

--Ain't it fun to be invisible.....??

--Such an uplifting feeling, too.....!

--Wishing one and all an enjoyable weekend.

--Be well. Be safe.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Parks27-Apr-2012 03:05
I only got to see one game in the old stadium but that was what going to a baseball game should be. I don't think I'll ever go to the new stadium. I just can't get over the beating us tax payers took at the hands of those crooks, the politicians and the Marlins owner.
Fran 26-Apr-2012 16:55
fanforever,
The Miami Stadium was a magical place. Attended my first Miami Marlin game there, good times not forgotten.
fanforever 26-Apr-2012 14:47
Red Morcroft, Cissy Spear, Sonny Hirsch, Marshall Fox. Russ Samuel, Al Rudio,
Izzy Bandrimmer, Chester, Thomas, Sandy these are all names that I remember from my days at Miami Stadium. What a magical place Miami Stadium was, the new Marlins Park will never have the charm and the character that it had. I still miss it, I have not been able to drive by NW 10th Avenue & 23rd Street since the demo.
Roberta Perry Hughes 25-Apr-2012 09:05

As a child, growing up in Miami, one of the sponsors for Popeye's Playhouse was The Bonfire Restaurant, and their representative would bring a birthday cake to the show, as there was almost always a birthday girl or boy in the gallery.

We went there once, and the barbecue was very good. I always loved smelling the aroma of the roasting meats, as they offered a variety: pork, chicken, or beef. I loved the pork the best, chicken next. Beef, I never ordered it.

All this talk of barbecue makes me want some. I wish there were a good barbecue place nearby. Shucks.

Got myself a HUGE 12" Revere Ware chicken fryer skillet with lid, via eBay. I am bound and determined that I am going to learn how to fry a chicken, Southern style, before I bid this world adieu....!!

That is, as soon as my right hip and leg heal enough to tolerate standing at the stove. This is the 8th week straight, with non-stop sciatic nerve pain. Had my doctor call me in an Rx. for Arthrotec, which I take twice a day, with food, and it is doing a pretty good job, so far, of easing the pain without knocking me out.

Re: the Southern fried chicken: I have cook books by Paula Deen, Loretta Lynn, Fannie Flagg, and Southern Living. Hopefully, there will be a recipe among them that I can follow, and have it turn out right.

My late aunt used to soak the cut up chicken pieces in salted water for a couple of hours, then she'd drain it on paper towels, dredge them in flour, and fry them to a beautiful golden brown. Delicious....!

I so want to be able to do that. My sister cannot fry chicken, either. I guess one has to have the knack for it. My aunt taught me how to bake good cakes, and pies, too.
I should have asked her to teach me how to fry chicken. (sigh)

It has turned off cool, here in the CSRA. Electric radiators are sufficient warmth.
Only ran the overhead heat once, to chase the chill.

Be well. Be safe. Love one another.

==========================================================================
Leighton 25-Apr-2012 06:43
Oops - Google doesn't bring the actual scene up - you have to watch it on Hulu.....
Leighton 25-Apr-2012 06:40
If you want to see a really amazing dance "number" - Google "Smash" and "Bollywood." That NBC series is a "modern" take on the 30s backstage musical. I love the whole Bollywood genre from India. AMAZING choreography. "Smash" paid fine homage. That was one expensive scene for TV - filmed, I believe, in the old 80s NYC Limelight Club - a former church. (A weird juxtaposition, I suppose.)
Leighton 25-Apr-2012 06:19
Nike - didn't speak with family, so didn't hear about snow. Upper 80s here, Thank God.
Leighton 25-Apr-2012 06:17
It's not really even barbeque, per se. It's mainly smoked meat, or fajitas, or SOMETHING.

Actually, I don't mind the beef barbeque that I've had in TN. One famous location is Ridgewood's, outside Elizabethton (Bluff City) in East TN. Either beef or pork.
Parks25-Apr-2012 02:25
I have to agree with Leighton as well. Texas barbeque is pretty sad. I think their main problem is that they think cow is the correct meat to barbeque. That's just wrong. Pig is the correct meat. Kind of on that subject, Susan and I saw a small herd of long horn cattle in Homestead on Sunday. They were in a pasture right next to Krome Avenue. Very impressive animals. Not what you would expect to see in Homestead.
Fran 24-Apr-2012 14:30
Miami Miami Girl,
Leighton, is correct. The BBQ is the pits.
Miami Girl 24-Apr-2012 13:25
The best barbeque in my life is "Mayfields" in middle TN (Clarksville - just North of Nashville). We visited Shorty's last year (it was better in the past) and have experienced that food line in Memphis, Kansas City and other cities not necessarily known for their barbeque - none tops Mayfields. Haven't been to TX yet so I'll take Leighton's word for it.
Nike 24-Apr-2012 10:41
Leighton - Your East TN / Western NC had snow yesterday and this morning in the higher elevations.
Leighton 24-Apr-2012 04:03
I hate Texas barbeque. East TN's version is different from the Memphis variety - and I spent my high school years in West TN. As a kid in the 60s/70s, I never experienced the Miami fare.

It's Fiesta here in SA, and locals avoid it like the plague. A sorta Mardi Gras, with lots of black-socked tourists. Ugh.
Nike 23-Apr-2012 10:16
Parks -- Shivers was there in 1962. It was a favorite for the soldiers and airmen -- good food, good price, pretty girls. What a country!!
Parks23-Apr-2012 04:40
Susan and I had a nice Florida day today. We went to the Fruit and Spice Park for their Blues, Brews and Barbeque event. We sat on the grass and enjoyed the music. The lines for barbeque were quite long so after the music, we drove over to Shivers Barbeque in Homestead. We sat next to a man from Memphis and talked barbeque with him. He had high praise for Shivers which is really something coming from a Memphis man. We spoke with the lady who currently owns it. I asked if there was any connection to Shorties. She said that it had been Shorty's but the Shivers bought him out. My friend Darrell says that Shorty was married to a Shiver and when they got divorced, she got the Homestead restaurant. Does anybody know what really happened?
Leighton 20-Apr-2012 07:31
Did enjoy Miami from 67-73, but it's long-gone.
Leighton 20-Apr-2012 07:20
Hmmm. OK.
Roberta Perry Hughes 20-Apr-2012 07:16

--Leighton.....Shoot you....? Shoot you....?! Shoot you.

--Aw, shoot, then.....Doh...! Okey-Dokey: (figuratively) Consider yourself 'shot.'

--May you R.I.P., until your soul 'passes,' on to....? wherever, and for whatever reason, and for however long.

--As for me, 'heaven' would be in Old Miami, on its once-clean, white sandy beaches, or amongst the foliage of my former neighborhood, drinking in all of the splendor, of the amazing colors of Hibiscus blossoms, orange blossoms, humorous-looking sausage trees, and 'paper' trees, and the various tropical fruit trees.

--This old pain-ravaged body, with too much fat on it, and in it, would transformed into the once-innocent child I was, playing childhood games, singing songs we learned in music class, and feeling loved, cared for, provided for, and nurtured.

--I've heard it said that 'heaven' is that place you go, once you leave this world behind, where you were the happiest.

--I smile, to envision myself, with butter blond hair, wearing a plaid school dress with a back sash tie, anklet socks, and buckle strap shoes, aboard my trusty red-and-white Schwinn, just riding my bike all over the causeways and avenues of the new and improved....heavenly....Old Miami.

--Woo! Hoo!, Leighton....! I close my eyes, and I'm there, with no more pain, and it's a comfort, to know that it is just a breath away....!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

--Woo! Hoo! LOL! Haaaa-chitch-chitch-chaaa! and Koochie-Koochie....!!
Leighton 20-Apr-2012 06:51
Add to the list, "foodie" and "baby bump" - very Romper Room. Also, the film industry standard, is to refer to a celebrity by their LAST name. Not "Brad", but "Pitt"...."Davis", not "Bette". I've worked in film for 25 years, and have watched actors squirm, when people shout out their first names. While some "actors" these days certainly aren't professionals, the ones who are, expect the courtesy. E! and TMZ are abominations.
Leighton 20-Apr-2012 06:30
AND, I have purchased my grave site, next to my parents, and will soon pay for my tombstone, which will say, in honor of my love for 1939's MGM classic film, "The Wizard of Oz," ............"People come and go, so quickly here."
Leighton 20-Apr-2012 06:27
I think that we've become too delicate in our approach to dying. "Passed away" is different from "passed". The latter has a different cultural subtext. Yes, I've seen a lot of 1890s graves with "RIP". I just have witnessed the Internet making it some kind of new "standard." I find it grating. Gratuitous. Silly, even. Shoot me.

As a Christian, I have no doubt about an afterlife. It's semantics, to me. I will die, not "pass". What happens afterwards, well, the various denominations of my faith have varying opinions as to the timeline.

It has not been until the last few years, that "RIP" has become the unfortunate norm. I equate it to "whoo, hoo", that most annoying exclamation of joy, support, whatever.

Again, semantics. I stand by my annoyance. I will continue to say, that somebody "died." A perfectly accurate, unoffensive word. Life isn't soft.

The AP, reporting tradition, has been to list a name, and period of life. "Dick Clark, 1929 - 2012". Now, it's "RIP, Dick Clark". It just feels forced,
Roberta Perry Hughes 19-Apr-2012 22:00

--Leighton.....At least, I spelled it out: 'Rest In Peace.'

--The initials, 'R.I.P.' are etched in many headstones, dating back a century, or longer. They are all over the ones on Boot Hill, and vitually, every cemetery across the country.

--Perhaps the persons who do the inscribing charge PER LETTER, and to save money, they would request just the initials....??

--It goes hand-in-hand with the trite, 'Gone But Not Forgotten.' Take a tour, of any cemetery....especially, the older section.

--"Passed away" is merely a softer, less harsh manner, in stating that someone has died, as appears in many funeral notices and obituaries. I personally see nothing remiss, with that phrasing, myself. It is a gentle, respectful notice, for former neighbors, class mates, and friends, who may not have been notified, via telephone, as the deceased....aka: 'the dearly departed'....relatives, and closest friends were.

--Too many folks are 'going postal,' these days, over insignificant matters, that end up, tragically....causing more than one person to....'pass away'.

--And, may they R.I.P.

=======================================================================

whitebelt19-Apr-2012 13:21
Leighton, my fingers wish you hadn't asked that.

"Passed" denotes a temporary condition. "Died" is a bit more final.

A religious thing.

Don't count on "dieing" when this vehicle you are riding in conks out. You may also consider the trips you take in it. You may not want to stray too far from home, so to speak.

:-)
Leighton 19-Apr-2012 06:22
I must ask, when did "RIP" become so common? I only saw it at the Haunted Mansion, when growing up. And if I see one more person say "passed" instead of "died," I will go postal. "Died" is a perfectly good word.
Roberta Perry Hughes 18-Apr-2012 22:33

It was Don Rickles who coined the moniker, "America's Oldest Teenager."

Rest in Peace, Mr. Clark. You will ever be remembered, by us Boomers.

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Miami Girl 18-Apr-2012 19:54
Just heard the news, a true legend in his time has passed away. He came into my living room every day after school - a true nice guy. RIP Dick, you'll never be forgotten.
Miami Girl 16-Apr-2012 15:25
Got my shingles vaccine last year and so glad it's one less pain I may have suffered in my old age, I've got enough of them as it is. Had a co-worker who got them in her eye - at 30 years old, so I think any adult who had chicken pox should get it.

Whitebelt, take those pain meds and relax - don't try to "suffer like a man" and stay away from electric tools. Seems like lately every time my husband does anything requiring a tool he hurts himself (a few years ago he drilled through his thumb nail), I wonder if it's age related?
Nike 16-Apr-2012 12:55
Roberta -- I got the shingles vaccine when it first came out a couple of years ago. Forunately, it was free at the VA where I get all my medical care.

They advised that the expextation is that only 2% of those who get the vaccine might have a re-occurrance. Guess who is a two-percenter.

I completely agree it is worth it. If you have ever had shingles, you will agree.

Roberta Perry Hughes 16-Apr-2012 10:03

--OMG, whitebelt....! You need to be fitted with a suit of armor and chainmail, to prevent such frightening injuries....! I am glad they were no worse than they were, and you, my friend, were very lucky, that you did not sever an artery, or vein....or lose entire digits, not just a joint. Please, be more careful, in the future.

--Wishing you well, and as pain-free as possible. Elevate your hand, which will help keep it from throbbing so badly. DO be aware of the signs of infection. Monitor your temperature, for any elevations, and look for redness, swelling, or purulence, in the affected and sutured wounds.

--Put a baggie on your hand, and tape it, for showering, to keep from getting your stitches wet. I hope someone can come over, to help you with the daily dressing changes. I am thankful, for your neighbors, who came to get you, and take you home, or to your car. I hope they took you home, and that someone drove your car back for you. Get well, soon, whitebelt.

--Fran, you're welcome, for whatever it was that I sent to you.

--Parks, are you being treated for a U.T.I....? Those infections can really floor you, with elevated temps, pain, and feeling very ill. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

--NOTICE: for everyone: There is an available vaccine for preventing Shingles, or lessening its effects, should you get it. It is covered by Medicare Part D. You may have a co-pay.

--It is recommended for all adults, age 60 and over, and that you get the injection at a network pharmacy, such as Wal-Greens.

--You will need to bring a written Rx, penned by your doctor, and of course, your Medicare card, showing that you have Part D.

--Unfortunately, this vaccine is not covered by Tri-Care, so if you are military or retired military, the out-of-pocket cost is $200. I really hate that, too, as my sister will have to pay for her vaccination.

--Anyone who has had Chicken Pox is susceptible, and pre-disposed to get Shingles, which both are caused by the herpes zoster virus. It is a very painful rash, that runs along the path of a nerve. My sister, (and comic, David Letterman), had it in the scalp, and from there, it traveled down the forehead, on to both eyelids, and on down the cheek.

--I will get our handwritten Rx's when I go to the doctor on the 19th, and we will go get our shots at Wal-Greens when Lewis has an appt. in Swainsboro, with his Neurologist. Just have to cross our fingers, that neither of us gets Shingles, in the interim. For sure.

--If you have questions, or are curious about Shingles, and its effects, do a Google search on it. I think you will soon be making arrangements to go get the shot.

--All my best, to you Rogues and Roguettes....and to our Head Rogue, Don, of course. Take care or your precious selves, and have a great Monday....!

========================================================================
Roberta Perry Hughes 16-Apr-2012 10:03

--OMG, whitebelt....! You need to be fitted with a suit of armor and chainmail, to prevent such frightening injuries....! I am glad they were no worse than they were, and you, my friend, were very lucky, that you did not sever an artery, or vein....or lose entire digits, not just a joint. Please, be more careful, in the future.

--Wishing you well, and as pain-free as possible. Elevate your hand, which will help keep it from throbbing so badly. DO be aware of the signs of infection. Monitor your temperature, for any elevations, and look for redness, swelling, or purulence, in the affected and sutured wounds.

--Put a baggie on your hand, and tape it, for showering, to keep from getting your stitches wet. I hope someone can come over, to help you with the daily dressing changes. I am thankful, for your neighbors, who came to get you, and take you home, or to your car. I hope they took you home, and that someone drove your car back for you. Get well, soon, whitebelt.

--Fran, you're welcome, for whatever it was that I sent to you.

--Parks, are you being treated for a U.T.I....? Those infections can really floor you, with elevated temps, pain, and feeling very ill. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

--NOTICE: for everyone: There is an available vaccine for preventing Shingles, or lessening its effects, should you get it. It is covered by Medicare Part D. You may have a co-pay.

--It is recommended for all adults, age 60 and over, and that you get the injection at a network pharmacy, such as Wal-Greens.

--You will need to bring a written Rx, penned by your doctor, and of course, your Medicare card, showing that you have Part D.

--Unfortunately, this vaccine is not covered by Tri-Care, so if you are military or retired military, the out-of-pocket cost is $200. I really hate that, too, as my sister will have to pay for her vaccination.

--Anyone who has had Chicken Pox is susceptible, and pre-disposed to get Shingles, which both are caused by the herpes zoster virus. It is a very painful rash, that runs along the path of a nerve. My sister, (and comic, David Letterman), had it in the scalp, and from there, it traveled down the forehead, on to both eyelids, and on down the cheek.

--I will get our handwritten Rx's when I go to the doctor on the 19th, and we will go get our shots at Wal-Greens when Lewis has an appt. in Swainsboro, with his Neurologist. Just have to cross our fingers, that neither of us gets Shingles, in the interim. For sure.

--If you have questions, or are curious about Shingles, and its effects, do a Google search on it. I think you will soon be making arrangements to go get the shot.

--All my best, to you Rogues and Roguettes....and to our Head Rogue, Don, of course. Take care or your precious selves, and have a great Monday....!

========================================================================
Fran 15-Apr-2012 21:31
Turned colder this afternoon, rains came and went. Roberta, thanks, I loved it! Parks, sorry to hear about your ugh, pee. Whitebelt, humor does help with the healing...wishing you a happy mend.
whitebelt15-Apr-2012 17:14
Ugh.

A couple of hours after my last post I mangled three fingers of my right hand on a table saw. They ain't what they used to be. Missing a lot of meat on three and finger joint on one. What day. Went 20 miles to the local hospital, then sent by ambulance 130 miles where a hand surgeon was supposed to be, but all they did was sew them back the best they could and discharged me. In 38 degrees and 40mph winds. Wearing just a thin sweatshirt and jeans. At about 11 pm. Luckily I had neighbors drive up to pick me up. Got home about 2 AM. Drove through a lot of sleet on the way back.

Was a strange day.

My pointing finger still works. How I an type this.

The real pain hasn't set in yet. Just got up within the last hour. Have to get prescriptions filled later.

I hate adventures in life like that.
Roberta Perry Hughes 15-Apr-2012 07:05

--'scusi, for that jumble at the bottom of my last comment. I make drawings from characters on the keyboard, but if I make a mistake, and correct it, the image gets out-of-line, in its 'memory,' and when I send it, it is jumbled, even though on my end, it is aligned correctly.

--I have several computer drawings that took a lot of time to create, via trial and error. If anyone wants to see them, and I have your email address, I will send them to you. Or, you can ask Don for my email address.

--I created them when I first got my computer, as I was quite limited, on the functionality of how to access certain venues, have my own toolbars and favorite places....all that came later, when friends would email me the how to's.

--Some folks said that I had 'little to do.' Others liked them, very much. I saved them on My AOL, in my email.

--How I wish I could walk the strand once again at Crandon Park, and hear the cry of the gulls, smell the salt air, view the vastness of the Atlantic, watching the big ships in the sea lane, sailing to who-knows-where.

--Shucks, folks. I just wish I could walk, in the style of homo erectus....instead of like a mallard with a club foot. (sigh)

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Roberta Perry Hughes 15-Apr-2012 06:48

--Wishing only the best of weather, for you and yours, wherever you may be, this Sunday morning.

--Be well. Be safe. Be careful.


_____
VVVV
(( ^ ^ ))
(( L ))
(( <> ))
\ /

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Parks15-Apr-2012 06:38
Miami Girl, The pain was worth the laugh.
Roberta Perry Hughes 15-Apr-2012 06:35

--"Avacado".....the spelling is AVOCADO.

--Howzat, for lightening up....??

--From the aches and pains of Boomers, with welcomed suggestions for relief, a bit of humor, i.e., "your pee looks like sh*t!"

--And NOW, for your reading pleasure.....A SPELLING LESSON.

--Enjoy.

....................................................................................................................................
Miami Girl 15-Apr-2012 00:01
Parks, did it hurt to laugh?
Parks14-Apr-2012 23:10
Avacado, tell us a Miami story, we need new blood.
Roberta, I'm so sorry to hear of your pain. I know it can just take everything out of you. Whitebelt were you ever a physical therapist? You sound just like mine.
I've got a gettin old story for you. Last week I thought I was passing a kidney stone. I went to a urologist I had seen last kidney stone. He took one look at my urine and said "Your pee looks like sh*t". Not what you want to hear but it was funny!
whitebelt14-Apr-2012 15:14
:-)

Avacado, it appears our geriatric discussions are not fulfilling your desired reading enjoyment, prompting you to make comments on our comments instead of contributing to the discussions. Typing can be such an effort. Perhaps if you try hard you can add something worthwhile.

Just a comment on a comment from a grumpy old man with a case of sore ass.
Avacado 14-Apr-2012 14:17
Lighten up.
whitebelt14-Apr-2012 11:12
Roberta, the only thing I really worry about getting injured and dying is the stress my cat would go through.

When you get a pain such as my fall or your sciatic nerve, your body tries to compensate. You try to take the stress off of it, which then puts stress on other parts of the structure, which then gets passed around for a while until things settle down. Which requires heat and rest and a bit of working around the pain. Those pains trigger a reaction that needs time to settle down. You get warm and comfy and try to melt back into your original configuration. As best as you can, anyhow. There ain't no magic "pop!" like we thought happened when we were younger.

The most pain free periods of my life was when I was the most sedentary. I was, and still am, a pretty strong guy for my size. That makes for some hellaceous muscle spasms triggered by pain events, as mentioned above. Your body gets knocked off balance, and your favoring adds to the experience.

Reset. You try to let your body melt, then arise with minor accomodations to favor the stress point, a retraining. The best you can, anyhow. It won't happen overnight.

Get a warm place to stretch out a bit, taking the pressure off the disc. MAINTAIN YOUR LORDOTIC CURVE WHILE DOING SO, AND ENDEAVOR TO MAINTAIN IT WHILE UP AND ABOUT. That can take a bit of training to do, but is one of the most important things to do.

Periodically let your body rest in the most comfortable position you can without your thinking about it and complicating the procedure. A position where breathing is totally autonomic. Let eons of repair processes built into the genes do its thing. Separate mind and body if you can. Won't necessarly "fix" things, but helps to take the strain off from reaction, like catching your breath or starting a new day.

Painkillers can aggravate the condition because they deaden the signals, which is not so good if you are active. They can be a big help to rest as above.

Hot tubs are nice, too.
Roberta Perry Hughes 14-Apr-2012 02:18

--Thanks for all the tips, whitebelt. They make a lot of sense.

--Do be careful, there by yourself....! You have to case the situation, and get the big picture, prior to any action that would cause you bodily harm....such as: climbing up on a ladder. Falls in the home are a leading cause of death.

--It would also be rough to be badly injured, and not be near a phone, to call for help. There you'd be, until someone came out there to check on you, and if you cannot get to food and water....most especially, water....the results would prove very grave, in a matter of just a few days' time.

--Always have your cell phone with you, should you need to call for help.

--Re: the extremes in temperature of late: it is as I had feared, as it has spawned tornadic weather conditions, that are moving east. I have friends that are in the projected path of these coming storm systems, and can only hope and pray that they are, once again, spared from harm.

--I am still waiting for this spell with sciatic nerve inflammation to wear off. It has been over 4 weeks, now. The treatment of choice used to be hospitalization, and putting the patient in traction, but they found it futile, so, did away with it some years ago.

--Nowadays, it's pain meds, PRN, for symptomatic relief, and just grinning and bearing it, until it just wears off.

--However, in the case of a bulging disc within the vertebrae, they can now plane it down, via laser surgery, to get it off of the sciatic nerve, thereby, the patient who was in excruciating pain, prior to the general anaesthesia, awakens pain-free.

--I have the M.D. requisition papers, ordering an x-ray of my right hip, but I have no plans to go for it, due to the fact that I cannot get on the x-ray table on a 'good' day, let alone, while in excruciating pain, and trying to step up off of that leg would put me at risk of a very bad fall. I am not willing to take that risk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
whitebelt13-Apr-2012 14:35
I'll get over it, Miami Girl. I'm good at taking a licking and keeping on ticking. Besides, I think my tail helped break the impact before it got down to the base. :-)

But, damn, it is no fun sitting right now.

Don, got a recent picture taken of me, showing my age and decrepitness, but not sure where to send it to.

Miami Girl 13-Apr-2012 13:49
Ouch Whitebelt, hate to tell you that tailbone will probably bother you for a looooong time. The Dr. had to bend mine to deliver my 10lb son and it hurt when sitting in a hard chair for YEARS. We got a heated mattress pad and I love it! So far even in Georgia we're still using it (low 40's this am).
whitebelt13-Apr-2012 12:34
Roberta, pain sucks. But it is better than nothing.

Cool, damp weather has always caused me the most discomfort, more so than cold, damp. Skin temp is about 76-77 degrees, anything less and your body starts losing heat, which humidity greatly accelerates. Cool is worse than cold because the body is confused. One reason living in the dry Southwest is so much more comfortable. This puts a strain on the system, the heat transfer within the body trying to maintain a constant temp, which actually does effect the electrical component, and the size of the cells. Cold shrinks things, ask any guy getting out of cold water.

I have two seasons in the year. Long john and non-long john. Amazing how that little insulation makes a difference.

Stay warm and toasty. If you limit exposure of skin to cooler temps you will hurt less. This includes short periods like going to the john in a cold house or running out for the morning paper. If you feel the cold, then you will set off processes that will cause you pain. Never let yourself get chilled.

Two other things that will enhance the quality of your life as you get older and the cushioning of the cells decreases. A heating pad under the covers. Not under you, but next to you. The other is a bed high enough that you just roll over and put your feet on the floor and stand up with no effort. Beds that are low are like getting out of bucket seats. Hell of a strain on the back that you don't notice at first because of the natural pain killers your body produces while you sleep. You feel it later. About bottom of the as* high is right. Get religious about those things. Reduces the risk of colds and other things, too.

Tips from Mr. pain management expert who fell off a ladder yesterday and bruised his tail bone rather severely hitting the edge of a washer on the way down. I'm writing this standing up. :-)

I gots lots of experience doing stupid things and trying to live with the results.
Roberta Perry Hughes 13-Apr-2012 06:47

--Charlie McCoy is a graduate of Southwest Senior High School, class of '59, the very first class to graduate.

--It's turned off cold, again. It makes me uneasy, when we go from Summer-like weather to having to run the heat. It usually is a precursor for violent storms.

--Been down in my right hip and leg (sciatic nerve inflammation) and this cold spell is really making the chronic electric-current-from-hell pain even worse. My electric blanket, plus Rx. pain meds, and extra pillows to elevate it, give relief, for as long as I am knocked out. I always awaken to the pain, and getting out of bed is a painful chore. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. :-(

--Hope everyone is doing well, and feeling good.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Miami River Rat13-Apr-2012 04:13
Milam Dairy Road: Many happy memories of that road. We used to do our "midnight drags" out there. Flat and straight for miles all the way to Medley. Around 12:30 AM cars would leave from Bar-B-Q Haven at Ludlum and Flagler and head out to Milam Dairy Road. They'd race as fast as two cars could take off and two more get lined up.

One night this '56 T-bird and '57 'Vette squared off and the smoke was rollin' from the burned rubber and.....Y'all shoulda' seen it!
Nike 12-Apr-2012 09:56
"The Don" and Parks - I hope you (and Karenand Susan) will consider attending the reunion (see Nike252.org)

What was the local TV show in the late fifties hosted by a cowboy named Tom Weed? He alway had animals, local interest, ect.
Tom 11-Apr-2012 16:59
Miami River Rat, Charlie McCoy went on to a very good career in the recording business in Nash. You can hear him as sideman on many big time recording artists work including Kris Kristofferson. Russ Samuel went on to a career in radio (guess he picked that up from Happy Harold) the most recent I heard he was with WQAM in Miami Beach.
Tom 11-Apr-2012 15:35
I'm told Happy Harold was even on in the early days of television in South Florida. The program was called "Sunset Ranch" with Uncle Martin and Molly Turner and Happy Harold's brother Slappy.
Don Boyd11-Apr-2012 15:07
Tom, I only remember Happy Harold from the radio too. I don't remember attending any of his guest appearances. He was popular enough that most people who lived down here back then should remember him.

To those folks who remember Dressel's Dairy on Milam Dairy Road west of the airport, last night I added 5 photos that Nancy Joan Booth sent to me. I have been seeking ground level photos from Dressel's since I started the historical portion of my site. The photos are in the "Attractions" gallery athttp://www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories_attractions in the 1964 time frame. I also added an photo of a Miami News article from 1962 that describes the sale of Dressel's Dairy to McArthur Dairy - it is in the 1960's gallery, specifically athttp://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/142616086 .

Parks: speaking of McArthur, the causeway was not named after the dairy or the founder. It was named after General Douglas MacArthur of World War II fame and usually has a second "a" in it like his name. : )

Arizona Al, Whitebelt and Nike, I've enjoyed reading of your military trials and tribulations.


Don
.
whitebelt11-Apr-2012 13:34
I just remember Happy Harold from the radio. I think he broadcasted from Earl's Supermarket for a while. Memory is foggy about the location, think it was NW 22 ave and 79 street.
Miami River Rat11-Apr-2012 02:33
Tom: I remember dances at the Bayfront Park Auditorium, hosted by Bob Green, he who later married Anita Bryant. Also PBA (Police Benevolent Association) sponsored dances Friday nights at Policeman's Park on NW 14th street.

Maybe the dances at the Armory were after I left for the Air Force. I left on December 30, 1959. Charlie McCoy was attending Southwest High when I was there and he played frequently at assemblies and pep rallies.
Tom 10-Apr-2012 15:06
Who remembers Happy Harold and the dances he held every Saturday night at the Dade County Armory? There was always live music, usually with Happy himseld on stand up bass. I saw Russ Samuel and the Vanguards there and Charlie McCoy with the Agendas and Molly and many more all live every week.
Arizona Al 10-Apr-2012 13:43
Nike: Thought the title "Doctor" would get me good reservations at restaurants and other establishments. Well, I was wrong (:. After discharge from Army in 1967 I attended Miami Dade Jr. College on G.I. Bill for 2 years (AA) then transferred to North Carolina State University in 1969 where I obtained BA (1972), MS (1974) and Ph.D. in Psychology (1977). Alan Ogfus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix,Arizona
Nike 09-Apr-2012 15:46
AZ AL - How did you go from that to becoming a doctor?
whitebelt09-Apr-2012 12:36
I grew up reading Jack Kofoed and his rants and horror stories about the Status of Forces agreement with Turkey.

When my time was up at Homestead I had orders for a NATO assignment in Oslo, Norway. Family tour and travel. Let's say I was very excited about going to Norway. Had the CAP 3 and everything. Just waiting.

Then word came down at the last minute the person I was replacing extended his tour. The guy at DA switched me over to Turkey. It, too was a NATO accompanied tour. Scared the shit out of me.

My travel orders, flight, household shipping, and everything was done with a copy of orders written by my company clerk based upon a phone call with DA. I could have written them myself.

I get to my assigment in Turkey and they didn't know I was coming. They tried to change it from there in Izmir to Adana. One of the few times I said no to the authorities in the Army. I stayed in Izmir.

About a year later my mother told me the Army contacted her to find out where I was. She told them. Heard nothing more about it. Was an interesting assignment. Could have been better in some ways, but looking back I value it more than I would have Norway. Uncle Sam knows what is best for you. :-)

Time came to leave and I went to Ft Huachuca for 2 years of long TDY trips. Ft Knox, Ft Gordon, Presidio of Monterrey, and two Army ammo plants. I loved Ft Knox.

Wish I had stayed in. But you do what seems necessary at the time.
Arizona AL 09-Apr-2012 07:40
I joined the Army (RA3468432) in 1964 and after basic training was sent to Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indiana to attend finance school with subsequent deployment to Germany. At that time I was in the Quartermaster Corps. After several "incidents" against military protocol and deameanor (Article 13s) my Company Commander had me reassigned to the Infantry Corps which sent me to Ft. Gordon for Advanced Infantry Training and subsequent deployment to the Peoples Republic of Vietnam in 1966. Moral of the story..Once Uncle Sam has your ass he can make it follow your body any where he decides to send it:)
whitebelt08-Apr-2012 23:10
Ah, Nike, the Army did have a way of dispelling expectations and illusions. They were so good at that.
Nike 08-Apr-2012 22:27
WB - Upon completion of basic, I was told my enlistment choice of Nike missiles had been approved and I had a choice to go to a 14-month air defense missile systems school or go directly to a Nike site and complete a 14-month OJT program. Being an "I want it now" person, I chose to go directly to the field thinking of a Nike site in the Netherlands, Italy, Greece or other foreign country. My orders read Jeffersonville, Georgia temporarily followed by a permanent assignment to the Homestead-Miami defense.

Trying to convince myself this could be a good thing with all my former friends in Miami bowing to me in a military uniform, I was optimistic about living in a hotel on Miami Beach where GIs lived and trained in WWII.

Upon arrival at Battalion Headquarters in Princeton I realized it was a former packing house. Upon processing in, I was assigned to C Battery off Miami Gardens Drive in Carol City which I knew to be 20 minutes from the beach.

Upon arrival to a strip mall and NW 183rd and Red Road where I was to meet a jeep and follow to the barracks, I still had high hopes. The jeep turned west off MGD onto a sandy makeshift road littered with trash and old refrigerators. About a mile later, we arrived at a tent city where I lived and worked. Fortunately, I was able to spend my off-duty nights at my former home on SW 7th off 34th Ave only to return to tent city surrounded by rolls of barbed wire the following morning.

I don't remember anyone bowing.....
Fran 08-Apr-2012 20:23
Easter Blessings to all...peace.
whitebelt08-Apr-2012 13:25
Nike, no AIT? I spent 14 months in AIT at Ft Monmouth polishing brass, shining shoes, and solidly immersed in military chickenshit. I was happier to leave there than basic.

I was TDY at Ft. Gordon in 1975. I remember seeing the boot recruits smiling and laughing during some of their training, like they were enjoying it. Quite the difference from my basic at Ft Jackson in 1969.

Worked with a 70 year old SFC at the Miami-Homestead Sig Team. SFC Leonardo Granda if I remember the name right. A man I learned a lot from. He first joined the Army way back in the 20's. There was no basic. He went straight into a cavalry unit. With horses. Like many before the qualitative management program they came up with in the 70's to reduce the ranks, he had been in and out with several years in between hitches. He managed to get back in before then to complete his 20 years.

Some interesting characters I encountered in my 7 years. Several foreign nationals that made a career, in the Air Force primarily. One was a 15 yearold 88mm crewman in the German army during WWII that tried holding off the Russians at the River Don. He had some stories to tell. The day he left to go back to the States with his wife and 7 kids I was working CQ for the section. He got to the airport 10 minutes late. Just in time to see the plane he missed blow up on takeoff 300 feet above the ground. One of the very rare accidents Turkish airlines had. Was a Fokker 28, I believe.

I miss the people I met in the military.
Nike 08-Apr-2012 12:54
WB and AZ AL- Understood

Leighton -- It is a reunion of Army veterans who were stationed in south Florida during and after the Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962) and thereafter until the missiles were removed in 1979. It is a 50-year commemorative reunion 1962-2012.

It's hard to believe it was 50 years ago. It's harder to believe I'm 50 years older. I'm still 17 in mind and heart.

Even though I grew up in Miami, I joined the Army to travel the world and received some occupational training and experience. College wasn't an option in my family so the GI Bill sounded like a good way to get a formal education.

After basic training I was sent to a Nike missile site in Carol City then to the Everglades and on to Key Largo before being discharded in December 1965. Wow, fun, travel, and adventure (FTA-it's an Army thing) all at the same time. The most I travelled from Miami was to Augusta for basic training.
Arizona Al 08-Apr-2012 09:11
I was MOS 11-B Combat Support Specialist E-4 103rd Combat Support Company USAR Vietnam 1966-1967 and like Whitebelt have no desire to return to Miami. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Leighton 08-Apr-2012 07:43
What's this reunion?
whitebelt07-Apr-2012 23:48
I was Signal Corp, Nike, not a warrior. :-)

Visiting Miami again is beyond my logistical capabilities, and not in the realm of places I wish to see again.
Nike 07-Apr-2012 19:12
Whitebelt -- Since you were one of the Nike and ARADCOM Warriors, how about joining us at the reunion in Miami in October? We'll have a get together with Parks and The Don.
Parks07-Apr-2012 14:50
Have you guys noticed that in CSI Miami if they have to drive any where they always have to cross the McArthur Causeway?
The Magic City production rented one of the big buildings from the Bertram Yacht factory about a block from my store. They turned it into a studio. I understand they built a set of the hotel lobby in there. That beautiful Thunderbird that gets driven into the water was sitting outside for a long time.
Leighton 07-Apr-2012 05:33
CSI:MIami shoots a few establishing shots in Miami each year, and that's it.
Roberta Perry Hughes 07-Apr-2012 04:51

--P.S.----He looks more like Spanish actor, Javier Bardem.

***************************************************************************************************************
Roberta Perry Hughes 07-Apr-2012 04:03

--I watched Jeffrey Dean Morgan on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, last night, and read the article about the new show in this week's TV Guide, and was wishing that I had the Dish, so that I could get Starz, and view this new program.

I will have to wait until Season 1 comes out on DVD, however. I have long admired Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He reminds me a lot of the late, great Oliver Reed....when Ollie was young, of course, and before alcoholism took its toll on him, costing him his life. Only, Ollie had electric blue eyes, and Jeffrey's are brown.

Catch him in "P.S., I Love You," starring Gerard Butler, and "The Accidental Husband," starring Colin Firth and Uma Thurmond.

"Burn Notice," which I get in syndicated re-runs, is also a TV program filmed in Miami....unlike "C.S.I. : Miami," which is blue-screened, and filmed in L.A., with the same old aerial shots of Miami, shown in the beginning, and off and on during the program....as, I'm sure, everyone already knows.

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Miami Girl 07-Apr-2012 03:22
Just finished watching the new show "Magic City" on the Starz channel. Anyone around Miami Beach in 1958/59 will enjoy this trip back in time. I recommend the show, it's pretty good.
Roberta Perry Hughes 07-Apr-2012 02:46

--Wishing an enjoyable Passover Seder for our Jewish friends.

--Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday celebrations for our Christian friends.

--Wishing a safe and enjoyable weekend for all.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
whitebelt06-Apr-2012 23:50
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Good-Friday

Just ran across this article after posting the below. We stopped by there early Wednesday morning while leaving to come back. It was almost totally deserted. A little non-descript neighborhood of raggedy old adobes in a place way off from major highways. This pilgrimage has been going on for a long time. Have run across people here that make the trek yearly. It is almost 300 miles away. It was all closed up that time of morning. Surprisingly.

Google El Santuario de Chimayó to learn more about it. There is a little hole in the floor where the pilgrims scoop the dirt from. It has been replaced many, many times. A lot of dirt has been carried away over the years. My son scooped up some dirt for a friend of his whose child has leukemia from a beautiful willow growing just below by an acecia. He figured the dirt with the most healthy plants would be just as good. It washes off the building. We are not religious, much less Catholic. He did it in the hope it would help a friend.
whitebelt06-Apr-2012 23:22
I was curious about Amb. Thompson Road here in Las Animas and found about him and his accomplishments. There are better bios than that wiki article on him. He was quite the diplomat.

You were there locked and loaded. Can you imagine how many lives his knowledge saved? He is buried in the famiiy plot here.

My son spent a couple of days here earlier this week as he drives around the middle of the country to get away from D.C. on vacation. We had a nice adventure driving over to Taos. His first view of being within the mountains. Had a snowstorm that blocked some highways, which made it an epic journey. Was interesting to see the snow and the already greening landscape.

Take in northern New Mexico on at least one of your trips.
Nike 06-Apr-2012 22:00
Whitebelt - That's a new one I hadn't heard but the article certainly lends it credibility. Las Animas, isn't that where you live?
whitebelt06-Apr-2012 17:44
"During the Cuban Missile Crisis the US received two messages from Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, one quite conciliatory and the other much more hawkish. Thompson, who had lived with Khrushchev and his wife for a time[4] and knew him well, advised Kennedy to react to the first message, saying the second had probably been written with generals looking over Khrushchev's shoulder. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llewellyn_Thompson

This was probably THE key person that kept that crisis from becoming a war.
Arizona Al 06-Apr-2012 16:39
Nike: Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately I will be in North Carolina the week of May 21st and unable to take the 350 mile short ride from Phoenix to San Diego on the Wide Glide. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Nike 06-Apr-2012 12:39
My keyboard misses a few keystrokesfrom time-to-time, pease xcuse
Nike 06-Apr-2012 11:26
MRR - Thanks for the wishes and so far, it's great. I actually sleeping later and don't get up until 5:30 am. After our month visit to DC, we're taking a cross-country drive to southern California (San Diego) and then up the Pacific Coast Highway to Sausalito, Napa, and theon on to Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. We've talked about it for years an decided we should do it before we wake up dead some day.

We plan on drivin the other diagonal across America from Vancouver to Key West so we end up there in September and on to Miami in early October fot he Nike Missile reunion the third weekend of October.

Speaking of paratroopers in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Gulfstrea Park was used like Tyndall AFB as it was filled with airborne paratroopers ready to invade Cuba if the order had been given.

Most people don't realize how close we were to a nuclear war in 1962. I was 17 and bulletproof not caring that I was stationed on a Nike missile site that was a bullseye on a Russian target. Ahh, youth.....
Miami River Rat05-Apr-2012 20:23
Guest: "That's a good thing.....the more the merrier."

Obviously, you weren't in Dade County when the population was below .5 million. I'd still be there today if not for all the imports from North, South, East and West. If 2.5 of those 2.6 million would get "blown away up into fantasy land" as Jimmy Buffett says, I'd be tempted to move back. Then they'd be too poor for mosquito control and we Old Miami types could have it to ourselves.
Miami River Rat05-Apr-2012 20:16
Parks, Sweetwater Strand has a really great orchid population in it just like 50 years ago. Whether that's still or again I couldn't say. My sister, cousin and I were out there about four years ago and...We wouldn't poach orchids out of The Park, would we? We did see lots of gators and didn't skin a single one. Seems like crackers like us should get an award for leaving all those gator hides out there.

Nike, hope you enjoy your retirement as much as I'm enjoying mine. We were on alert at Tyndall AFB for the Missile Crisis, also hosting a bunch of paratroopers from Fort Campbell, Ky. They were planning to jump into Cuba and we were their takeoff point, but it didn't come to that.
Nike 05-Apr-2012 16:49
AZ AL - I will definately be in Phoeniz in the next year or so. Nancy has always talked about Sedona and it is on our "Bucket List."
Nike 05-Apr-2012 16:48
AZ AL - I have a conference in San Diego on May 24th. Why not jump on that Harley and ride over?
Arizona Al 05-Apr-2012 10:08
Nike: On your drive to California if you find yourself in the vicinity of Phoenix, Arizona would love to do a meet-n-greet. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Don Boyd05-Apr-2012 03:08
Miami Girl, I remember it too. It was in the early 1960's when I was delivering the Miami News in the afternoon and they selected a family that had just moved here as the millionth resident. They were showered with all kinds of gifts and publicity. I think within a year they moved out to some other locale and it took a while for the media to find out about it. It was kind of embarrassing to the county.

Don
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Nike 04-Apr-2012 20:23
Retirement - To all - Thanks and will do.

The drive through the Shenandoah Valley and the cherry blossoms in DC are beautiful.
Miami Girl 04-Apr-2012 16:40
I remember when it reached 1 million, I guess that makes me officially OLD!!
Guest 04-Apr-2012 14:28
That's a good thing . . . the more the merrier!
Don Boyd04-Apr-2012 14:15
Oh great, Miami-Dade county is now more populated (2.56 million people) than Kings County, NY (Brooklyn).

Miami-Dade County, Fla., which ranked eighth in the 2010 federal census, has moved up to seventh place, passing Kings County, N.Y., which is better known as the borough of Brooklyn.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2012/04/04/orange-county-population-no-5-in-state.html

Don
.
Leighton 04-Apr-2012 03:39
Just watched "Hugo" on DVD - a wonderful Scorsese homage to filmmaking. It even contains a slight reference to San Antonio - Google "Star Film Ranch".

I also like the NBC series "Smash" - a nod to the 30s backstage musicals, albeit an update, complete with stereotypical characters and a corny storyline.....but with a 2012 sensibility.
Leighton 04-Apr-2012 03:22
Nike - let me know if you'll pass through San Antonio....
Miami Girl 03-Apr-2012 23:06
Nike, have tons of fun and happiness during the BEST part of your life! Retirement is bliss, as long as your health stays good.
Roberta Perry Hughes 03-Apr-2012 21:01

--Correction: Darius Rucker was the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish, not Hooter. It was Hooter that I saw in concert.

--Congratulations on your retirement, Nike, and your upcoming travels. Be safe, and may the weather treat you well, wherever you are. Enjoy!

===================================================================
Parks03-Apr-2012 03:05
Congrats Nike! I'll see you in October.
Nike 03-Apr-2012 01:36
Life great. I'm officially retired effective today.

We're on our way to DC for two months that will be followed by a drive to California for two months, then Key West for two months, then October in Miami for the 50th anniversary reunion of the Nike veterans who came donw to south Florida for the Cuban Missile Crisis. After that, where the wind blows. best of all, I doing it with my wife and best friend, Nancy.
Roberta Perry Hughes 02-Apr-2012 22:53

--I sure did enjoy reading your post, Parks. I could envision everything, as you described it, especially the barred owl, egrets and herons. I love a barred owl, with their smooth round head, and lovely patterned feathers. They have quite a wing span. Have seen them up here, in Georgia, along with the usual Hooter.

--I also love the blue herons. Such a nifty bird, them and the white egrets, and the African pond gannets, who were blown over here in a hurricane, from what I understand.

--Blue herons are also up here, as are the gannets, or 'cattle egrets,' as some folks call them.

--Sounds like you had quite an enjoyable time, with your friend Chris. I know that you will take Susan, 'next time,'

--The heat of Summer is definitely here. It was 90 degrees here, today, as Augusta is gearing up for the Masters, with several events going on, daily. Wish I could go see and hear country singer, Darius Rucker, who is from S.C.

--He used to be the lead singer for the band, 'Hooter.' Saw them in concert at the Civic Center in Albany, during my single years, when they opened for the band, 'Lover Boy."

--That was the first....and last....concert I ever attended. I was stone deaf, when it was over, and that side effect lasted for several hours, afterwards. During the concert, the distinctive aroma of pot could be detected, and the blue haze from it hovered over the entire indoor arena. Ugh.

--We've been chilling out, on nights when TV sucks, watching newly released DVDs. "War Horse' is on the way, an early birthday gift for my cowboy.

--Wishing you, one and all, pleasant weather, restful sleep, good food, and the fellowship of friends and family.

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Don Boyd02-Apr-2012 06:13
Lucky has been on this site from the early years but I can't remember where he posted right now. We have exchanged numerous messages on the PBase site message system, on Facebook and in e-mails over the years. He makes quite a good living out there with his model photography work. He invites his Facebook friends out there almost every weekend unless he has an all-day photo assignment reserved and then he tells us not to come out, like Saturday, March 31st. His PBase site is at:
http://www.pbase.com/luckycole/lucky_cole&page=all

Don
Parks02-Apr-2012 05:17
Hi Guys, I had a fun Florida experience yesterday. I went down to the Redland Fruit and Spice Park, cut a piece of their bamboo and went fishing in their lake. Lucky for me my friend Chris is the park manager and we’re planning a children’s fishing event for April 14th. The children will be able to select their own bamboo pole, see it cut down, help install line, float, sinker, and hook and then go fish with it.
When Chris and I were done playing in the lake we decided to drive to Loop Road out on Tamiami Trail. Thirty or forty years ago I had tried to drive the Loop but there were too many potholes for my little car so I never made it. I was also somewhat afraid to drive it, I had heard tales of the Gator Hook and other goings on out there. I’m sorry to report that it is perfectly safe to drive now. The eastern end is actually paved for several miles and the rest is very well maintained. Starting at the eastern end and going west you first pass several large homes built on high mounds. These are owned by Indians. One house had a large carport with six or eight new expensive cars and trucks under it. We tried to find the remains of the Gator Hook but were not successful. A little further west we came to a place that looked like an open air bar. It was called Lucky’s Place. It was a large lot inside a high fence. The gate was open and the signs said to come in and we did. There were several trailers and small buildings scattered around the compound with a smattering of chickens. As we approached the gate, a couple at the far end of the compound waved us in. We parked and walked up to the outside bar and were greeted by Lucky Cole and his wife. We asked for a couple of beers then sat and chatted with the Coles. We talked about Loop Road and how it had been. Then I mentioned Charles Knight and how I had met him on this website. Of course he knew Charles! As we chatted it suddenly hit me, I knew who this guy was! I asked him if he was the photographer in the Tim Dorsey book, Electric Barracuda. He was! We had a good time chatting about Charles, Loop Road and Miami Springs where he grew up. If you’ve read Dorsey’s book, you know what kind of photos Lucky takes. If not, google Lucky Cole.
They don’t sell beer but donations of $6 a beer are gratefully accepted.
After leaving Lucky’s Place we headed west. They’ve put culverts under the road every few hundred yards and at each culvert was at least one gator. There are some very nice camp grounds put in by the Park Service and some nice hiking trails. There was a place that Chris and I want to explore by canoe or pole boat called Sweetwater Strand. It was water flowing through a beautiful Cyprus forest. We spotted a big Barred Owl and the usual assortment of Curlew, Egrets and Herons. Susan was mad that I didn’t take her so a return trip is in my future.

Fran 01-Apr-2012 17:46
Nike,
God Bless you...I too considered, thought that it would not be good enough for him. Happy April 1st to all!
Miami Girl 01-Apr-2012 13:06
My three cats passed quietly and instantaneously with my arms around them - at the vets. This is the way Reba, the forth one will go.
Leighton 01-Apr-2012 07:30
When a pet can't hold food down, shakes, loses hair and lies on the floor staring blankly, I will gladly cut his/her life short. I willingly release their spirit. It is as painful as hell for me to do, but having witnessed the instantaneous death, I have no qualms.
Leighton 01-Apr-2012 07:14
I would never force a pet to suffer for years/months. I find this discussion quite odd. Exactly how can we determine what the pets are suffering, if they can't speak? And, they have never been taught to express pain. Pets in extreme pain, don't necessarily cry or whimper....ask your vet. But, then again, the discussion will likely start disparaging vets. Euthanizing IS humane - I won't keep them around for my own sake. Good grief.
Nike 01-Apr-2012 03:23
I considered it for my first wife
Parks29-Mar-2012 03:13
Thank you Whitebelt. My boy cat, Carter, breathed his last in my lap. Your words help me feel better about not euthanising him. I think he was glad to be in my lap.
Fran 28-Mar-2012 20:56
Whitebelt,
Thank you for sharing...well said.
whitebelt28-Mar-2012 14:48
Ever see a three legged or stump tailed cat or dog? That was a long painful process from the injury to the final adapting. Rotting stumps and the pain associated.

The brain has a way of shutting off excruciating pain. Shock is one of them. But the brain, the life experience itself, still functions, with altered inputs from various parts of the body. Animals make decisions just like humans, therefore they think. Absent their requesting an early termination of the life process, which they can't explicitly do, this is their iife experience, I will let them live it out to its natural end. They are preparing for their own transition.

Watching the suffering can be more painful than the suffering actually felt. The body will twitch and spasm and malfunction as the circuitry breaks down. That doesn't mean the creature is feeling as much pain as you think. Emotional distress maybe because its body isn't reacting the way it used to, but the frustration level aids in giving up the ghost.

I've been through a sudden and unexpected death experience. There is much to be said for the comfort level of a sudden demise, but only if you have a place picked out beforehand. The body dies, the spirit doesn't. The body was just a filter the spirit interacted through.


Arizona Al 28-Mar-2012 10:09
No one ever seems to ask the pet how he or she feels about the entire process but I would suspect that the pet would welcome relief from chronic and excruciating pain and suffering. I have always considered Dr. Kevorkian to be a physician of utmost integrity and ethical fiber regarding patient requested assisted euthanasia and look what happened to him. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Miami Girl 25-Mar-2012 22:50
Leighton I have to agree with you. In my past I knew someone who (in my opinion) waited too long to finally euthanize her pets. I felt she just wanted to prove to everyone what a great caregiver she was. I don't feel this way about Whitebelt - it's spiritual with him and I respect that. I feel I loved mine enough to let them go before the pain was too terrible. Personally I hope they develop a simple euthanasia pill for us baby boomers to take when we have no more quality of life. There comes a time we just have to say "finished, done, it's over, I love you and goodby".
Leighton 25-Mar-2012 20:37
At this point, I won't debate you. But I have euthanized five animals, and was glad to put them out of their pain and misery. It was NOT about me - it was about them. Why would I let them linger in extreme pain?
whitebelt25-Mar-2012 19:28
Thank you, Fran. It was rough, but I will not second guess the Creator or the spirit living in the body about when it is time to go. "Putting to sleep" makes it easier on those who believe they possess the creature, not the creature necessarily. I have strong views on that. I was very glad to be there with him at the very end. That last stroking his head and his reaction was something special.

Re the ferocious winds we get here, I figured something out today. There were popup sprinklers that were buried 5 inches here in some spots of the yard, all within the last several years. I am in the process of trying to level things out before using clover or something instead of grass for a groundcover. I noticed the biggest buildups were at the privacy fences that run east and west here. The north side runs the entire length, and the south side fence about two thirds. This acts as a wind tunnel for those heavy west winds we get, with the buildings in it, deflecting the wind and dust that blows in. There were parts of the south fence that didn't get the buildup, they were sheltered on the west and north by another privacy fence and a building. In short, the dust blew in from the west, hit the house which then deflected it to the north and south, hitting the fence, then piling up and building back outwards. I have a south section of the house where the unobstructed south wind deposited dust like that, too. BTW, this dust is almost as fine as talcum powder.

I got Momma Nature's number now. :-) I will now make adjustments to go with the flow, and not fight her. It is not good fighting Momma Nature.
Leighton 25-Mar-2012 15:26
Actually, b-day tomorrow. Not doing anything. Later in week, I hope to rent a cabin in the Hill Country, myself, make my own @#*% cake and enjoy a few martinis.

Still mourning my little street dog, who died New Year's Eve - watched "The Wizard of Oz" last night, and since she was the "clone" of Toto, it made me sad.

Looking forward to season premiere of "Mad Men" tonight...
Fran 25-Mar-2012 07:10
Whitebelt,
I'm sending special prayers your way. The loss of Bozo, is one huge blessing for you. You were able to be with his spirit as he made his final journey.

Watching the flowers bloom is Nature's gift of gentle peace. Enjoy, embrace and rest...
Parks24-Mar-2012 14:43
Welcome back Roberta! I was wondering where you had gone off too. Whitebelt, I'm so sorry for your loss. Our animals are such an important part of our lives, it seems unfair that we out live them.
The garden season is about over here in Miami. Susan is finishing up her garden and thinking about what to plant next fall. The mangos are blooming but not as heavy as last year.
whitebelt24-Mar-2012 13:21
Roberta, you are such a romantic and poetic soul. I envy the life your cowboy has had with you.

Was 75 with no clouds and little breeze here yesterday. It was hot. Winter has been so long I forgot what hot was. This area ranges from -20 to 114 degrees. Extremes.

But it is home.

Bozo, the big black, lovable Lab died last week. Was not a Hollywood movie death. Took several hours. He had not eaten for several days, but the night before he died he grabbed a meal before he went. Then everything started shutting down. He died in the late morning. Moments after I stroked him gently on his head and he gave a little shudder. I am glad my cat will outlive me.

Has been a very long year since last Spring. This coming year is liable to be even more so, not just for me, but for the world.

Last year I had 1 1/4 inches of concrete for a roof. I laughed at hail storms, no matter how big the hail. This year I have a new shingle roof with a thousand dollar deductible insurance. This roof is prettier, but the upcoming Spring wind, hail and tornado season disturbs me this year. But that is preferable to the issues maintaining that concrete roof presented. It is a steep roof. I than I am impatient to start planting my flowers. More impatient wanting them to bloom. The Plains are very drab looking for most of the year. Dun colored for as far as the eye can see, which is forever in this flat land. Walmart bags breaking the monotony are welcome. Have pretty much all the issues with the property resolved. The spa room is even done. Time to sit back and watch the flowers bloom.
Roberta Perry Hughes 24-Mar-2012 10:21

--Once again, the violent thunderstorms were north of us. But even so, we heard the thunder from it, and had some lightning, that only lit up the sky, amidst the black of night, followed by the thunder claps of that egotistical Thor, who delights in tossing lightning bolts at planet earth, like a spear.

--Sometimes, the distant thunder sounds like they are having one big bowling tournament in the firmament, and you can hear the bowling ball rumbling down its designated aisle, and at the end of it, strike! It knocks down the 10 pins that were standing as still as chess pieces.

--In-between the rumblings of thunder, we heard the sudden deluge of heavy rainfall, that lasted under 10 minutes, stopping abruptly, like flipping a switch.
If one had been caught outside without a bumbershoot, they'd have been soaked to the skin, to be sure.

--The weather map showed the colorful storm cels that, thankfully, were not a direct hit for our area. Colored bright yellow, then orange toward the center, and the center, an angry red, like the flushed face of a blowhard politician.

--Hope that everyone is safe, from the temperamental hissy-fits thrown by Mother Nature from time-to-time, and that your property and pets are protected as well.

--Still laboring to replace lost photos and such, and other stuff that disappeared into cyberspace when they upgraded me. I will be glad when it's done, and I can relax a bit.

--Lewis is doing well, and gets around a lot better than I do, though he does seem to have a hitch in his get-along, for the most part. But that's typical, with Parkinson's Disease, so, nothing new, really. I have taught him how to ambulate without getting his feet tangled up, leaving him wide open to a possible fall, or a hip fracture.

--We both are so lucky, that his medications help to diminish the symptoms of this disease, and that he gets around pretty good, in the day time. It's the nights, when he needs a helping hand, if only just to cover him up.

--whitebelt....?? LARGO....?? AZ-AL....?? Where's everybody, and what are you up to these days....? I had a valid excuse, for my hiatas from this board....BTW, thanks, to all who welcomed me back, or stated they missed me. It means a lot, and when I was offline, I sure did miss everyone on here. You have all touched my life, more than you realize.

--Well! Well! Warm fuzzy hugs to everyone, and a big HELLO, too....!
Talk atcha, later....

###########################################################################

--
Nike 24-Mar-2012 02:59
Stupid keybored
Nike 24-Mar-2012 02:59
Leighton - Happy bithday
Miami Girl 23-Mar-2012 21:06
Welcome back Roberta - good talking to you last week!
Fran 23-Mar-2012 13:51
Roberta,
Glad to have you back!
Roberta Perry Hughes 23-Mar-2012 06:01

--Been offline for nearly 4 weeks. Tried getting it straight, via AOL's phone techs, to no avail; finally put it in a computer repair shop. Just got it back yesterday afternoon. Had to wade thru >267 emails. No time to download; had to delete most, but saved some, answered a few.

--Happy belated half-century, Leighton. Hope you had a great day of pleasantries.

--So very sorry to learn of the death of Mr. Jack O'Brien. I emailed him once, and he answered back. Very nice person, to take the time to do that.

--MRR....Was just before reading your writings when my computer showed its royal aspirin. I will soon read them, and will be in touch with you, later on.

--Sorry, everyone, who sent me emails with attachments or FWDs, but I had to delete them all, as I am on dial-up, and it takes forever for mulitple photos and such to download.

--Weather here in the CSRA is like Summer. Azaleas are in bloom, and may be gone, by the time the Masters Golf Tournament commences....but, it that's the least catastrophe around here, then, we are truly blessed.

--The cowboy and I have really been lucky, in that the really violent weather skirts us, so far, and we only get the outer bands of it. Blusters and sputters overhead, then, gone as quickly as it came, although we do get some high winds, and occasional lightning.

********************************************************************************************************
Don Boyd23-Mar-2012 02:38
"Jumpin'" Jack O'Brien passed away on Monday the 19th in the Nashville area. His obituary article from the Miami Herald is at: http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/142238982

Don
Fran 22-Mar-2012 14:42
Leighton, sorry about the spelling...I think I have a Nike keyboard.:)
Fran 22-Mar-2012 14:41
Leigton.
Turning 50 is liberating, enjoy. I have in the past tried to find the whereabouts of the red punch. As to date no such luck. Happy Birthday!
Leighton 22-Mar-2012 06:00
Hit 50 on Monday. Whoo, hoo. I know that I'm the kid in here. Nothing special planned. Wish that I could spend it on the beach - Crandon. With a good dinner at La Carreta. And a cheesecake from the long-lost Andalusia Bakery. And if I could ever, ever find that red punch my mother bought somewhere in Kendall. Oh, and a piece of pumpkin pie at the Forum Cafeteria at Dadeland. Sigh. And a gallon of chocolate milk from the Farm Store......
Parks22-Mar-2012 03:36
Leighton, Tobacco Road is still thriving. Jimbo's is now history. When we were in high school, my friend Darrell loved smoked fish. He would go out spearfishing and get a load of smallish fish which he would trade to Jimbo for smoked fish. Jimbo didn't care what kind of fish it was, he'd even take Jack and Grunt. I don't remember what the exchange ratio was. Great old places don't last forever and rarely survive a change in ownership. I keep waiting for someone to build a new Snowden's but it's still an empty lot.
Leighton 20-Mar-2012 20:27
I had totally forgotten the fact that I made it to Jimbo's once, during my UM years. We were scouting locations for a student film on Virginia Key, and I had no idea that it was there. Another great old bar is Tobacco Road - 100 years old this year - the "oldest" they say.
Fran 16-Mar-2012 16:44
Miami Girl,
You're right about the Gator Hook article, great read.
Don Boyd16-Mar-2012 14:31
Speaking of wild bars, here's an article as to why Jimbo's on Virginia Key is closing at the end of the month. I never knew that he was given that spot on Virginia Key because the city forced him out from the bayfront property where the Miami Herald building was built.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2012/03/jimbos_family_feud_the_sordid.php

Don
Miami Girl 16-Mar-2012 14:10
Google "Gator hook lodge florida's wildest bar" It's a really good article from Tampabay.com.
Parks14-Mar-2012 14:33
There was a building just north of 112 that had a sort of tower on it. There was a clothing manufacturer in it and they had pictures of pretty girls in tropical clothing on each side of the tower. The picture would change every few months. I think the building had originally been a flour mill for Dixie Lilly flour. When Dixie Lilly owned the building there was a fake water wheel on the side of the tower.
Don Boyd14-Mar-2012 05:40
Venus, I'm sorry but those memory cells in my head must have died. There were a lot of clothing manufacturers in that area so it doesn't surprise me that one would put a mural on the side of their building as the Guest indicated.

Thank you, Guest, for speaking up and validating Venus' recollections. And no, Venus, I have not seen a photo of it but one never knows what eventually turns up from somewhere out there. : )

Don
Guest 14-Mar-2012 00:42
thinking better of it, it was a painted mural, not a billboard
Guest 13-Mar-2012 23:04
I remember that billboard with the lady wearing a bonnet also. It was just off of State Road 112, and she looked as if she were standing by a door looking out into the distance wearing a very seventies dress.
Venus Price 13-Mar-2012 03:16
Venus Price 13-Mar-2012 03:13
Hi Don, I was born and raised in Miami and moved from there to Central Florida a few years back. I was born in 1972 and I remember seeing a painted mural of a girl in a blue dress with a bonnet off of Lejuene Rd getting onto the highway to go towards Miami Beach (kind of parallel to N.W. 36 street). She was posing as if she was coming out of a door and there was a factory there and every now and then the ivy would grow where you couldn't see her and then it would get trimmed somehow. Needless to say that image has been stuck in my mind for years and when I ask my dad about it, he looks at me as if I'm crazy! I know it was there, it was there for years and I'm wondering if you remember it and IF by chance you have a photo of it. I would love to get your feedback on this please. Thank you so much!
Nike 12-Mar-2012 10:08
MRR - Done
Miami River Rat10-Mar-2012 15:27
Nike, shoot an email to me at mike.s.1762@gmail.com. We'll set up a time, swap cell phone numbers and so forth.

There's a Starbucks about 100 yards from I-85 at the Tigerland exit between Opelika and Auburn.
Nike 08-Mar-2012 17:20
MRR - I have a deposition in Mobile on March 21 and will be driving from Atlanta down I-85 on Tuesday March 20th. If you are available, I would like to meet with you. The coffee's on me.
Fran 07-Mar-2012 14:51
MRR, sounds like you and your family were lucky, very blessed. Rain, lots of rain here truly a blessing for those of us who live in this area. Oh, yes and the cattle too!
Miami River Rat07-Mar-2012 14:30
Near miss, the latest tornado passed two miles north of me. All day Saturday and all Saturday night we could sit on the front porch and hear the heavy equipment running, clearing roads and putting power and phone lines back in place.

One man killed three miles from here, but all is well at my house. Our electricity didn't even go off!
Leighton 06-Mar-2012 04:55
All Quiet on the Southeastern Front?
Roberta Perry Hughes 01-Mar-2012 13:18

I concur, Miami Girl, re: the late Davy Jones. May he rest in peace.

My heart goes out to all those folks whose lives were drastically changed in the
dead of night, and in the blink of an eye, when tornados raced destructively
across the U.S.

Such unthinkable loss....! Incomprehensible grief....! I cannot even begin to
imagine what this nightmare would be like, to awaken to.

I can only hope and pray that FEMA will be prompt, and other sources of help,
as well, to give them shelter, food, water, clothing, and comfort, bless them.

Hope the weather is kind, for you and yours, wherever you may be, and that
you are all safe, and warm.

We need to reflect, on what we have, and count our many blessings.

Hugs, all around.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Miami Girl 29-Feb-2012 20:50
RIP Davy Jones!
Roberta Perry Hughes 29-Feb-2012 10:35

Thanks for that, Fran. I was going to email you, and ask you to send my email
address to MRR, but I'm glad to see that you are doing it on your own.

"Great minds think alike....!"

I am so saddened by the recent school shootings in Ohio. Three lives cut short.
There is no rhyme or reason as to WHY.

My heart goes out to the families of these 'teens, and to the family of the
shooter, as well. Such a tragedy, all around, and for their community, too.

Is there any place that is safe, any more....?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Fran 29-Feb-2012 07:24
Mike, I'll send the address to you.
Miami River Rat29-Feb-2012 05:33
Roberta, if we can somehow exchange email addresses I'll send you something as an attachment in an email.

Carey survived getting cut open, but he was so slow recovering that it cost him a year of school. That wasn't much lost as he wouldn't have finished high school under any circumstances.
Don Boyd28-Feb-2012 23:29
Here's someone's big dream of what downtown Miami will look like in 2020:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dZDgTfR-d4&noredirect=1

Don
Arizona Al 28-Feb-2012 16:56
I belonged to the Tyrants when I attended Palmetto High 1962-1964. We rode motorcycles, wore D.A. Haircuts and engineer boots, carried switch blade knives, drank beer and alcohol and frequently mixed it up with the Bird Road Stompers and the Homestead Hellcats. We fancied ourselves as Hoods in comparison to the preppies and jocks that overpopulated and overrepresented Palmetto High School. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Leighton 28-Feb-2012 00:34
Yes, as a kid in Miami - 60s/70s - Anita Bryant was a big celebrity. Orange juice....books...parades...etc. I could NOT possibly disagree with her more, but her life is fascinating, and the influences on her decisions are becoming increasingly realized. HBO is making a movie about her..."Oh My God: The Anita Bryant Story" (or something)...and the gay screenplay writer actually met with her, and they had a long talk. He said that what he learned, will surprise many. She hasn't changed her views, per se, but what he discovered, is apparently quite interesting. He promises an unbiased script - just the facts. I am willing to bet, that Green had a lot to do, with her crusade.

I remember when Bryant nearly died when giving birth - it was a BIG deal. My Mom had her cookbooks, and I can still sing that damn orange juice song.

It's a fascinating story, I'm sure. I hope that the movie does treat her fairly, regardless of what I feel about her stance on gay rights. Her upbringing is, in itself, enough for one movie.
Guest 27-Feb-2012 21:48
name of gangs
Cory C. 27-Feb-2012 21:36
Didn't realize so much going on in the HS back then. I believe a movie with James Belusci in the "80" maybe that was suppose to be about MJH not sure. Just all Hollywood I guess. Guest is the names of gangs or people.
Guest 27-Feb-2012 18:55
Hoodlums for sure..anyone remember Saxons, Clesions, and Decalions?
Guest 27-Feb-2012 18:52
Hoodlums for sure..anyone remember Saxons, Clesions, and Decalions?
whitebelt27-Feb-2012 14:04
MRR, we came from the same Miami.

Hialeah and Miami Central high schools had some serious hoodlums at least up until the mid-60's. Miami Jackson had a few, too. The football games between Jackson and Hialeah were guaranteed warfare afterwards. I saw a guy on the Hialeah side of their stadium actually carrying a rifle in the stands at one game.

Juvenile malehood was primarily spent surviving in some Miami schools. I carried a gun a few times to school at Jackson.

Roberta, Bozo the big black Lab will determine when he wants to give up the ghost. He will suffer, I will try to make him as comfortable as possible. Euthanasia is something I don't believe in. Concerning pets, I see it as relieving the suffering of the owners more than the animal. I was in great pain once and left my body without realizing it. Then I realized I had just died and went through the emotions of it. Didn't even look back at my body. I was inches away from a different life in a different form in a place far away from where i was at. There was no "end" to me, just this container I had been existing in. This was a surprise event. I am still not sure what returned me here. Suffering makes it easier to separate from this manifestation. It gets too much and you will go on your own, and perhaps to a place of your own choosing. Bozo is a high class and experienced soul, not just a dog. You have to know him to really appreciate that. As it is, the vet says he can go at any time due to his physical condition. It will probably be in his sleep. I will let him flip the switch on his own.
Roberta Perry Hughes 27-Feb-2012 09:15

Wowsa, and thanks, Rogues and Roguettes, for answering the Roll Call....!

Gee Whillakers, MRR....! Was that act, and others like it, a gang rivalry, a la
the ones that were more visible in-the-news, in NYC, and other large metrop-
olis's, such as the ones from which the famed Nicky Cruz sprang....?

"Idle minds...." etc., for a 'cluster fork' of boys with nothing better to do than to
harm, maim, and even slay one another....? Such awesome intelligence....!

Where was the law, when that happened....? More importantly, how did your
friend make out....? Did he survive that assault....? I hope so....!

Whitebelt....Good to hear from you again, as always. Thanks, for touching base.
So sorry about your pal, the Lab. What is his name....? I pray that his passing
will be, mercifully, in his sleep. I know that you will not allow him to suffer.

I agree with Don, in that losing a pet really sucks. It can be like cutting the
heart right out of your body. That is how it was for me and Lewis, when we
lost our Ewok.

Howdy, Alan....! Howzit goin' in the Land of the Sun....?? Have you added any
recent antiques to your growing collection....??

Where can I find your stories, MRR....? Please, don't tell me they are on FB.
I left that 'social network' a while back. Too invasive and intrusive. Hated it.

Thanks for the update on Charles Knight, Fran. I am happy for him, too....!

Thanks for posting Bob Green's Top Ten list, Don. It brought back a lot of fond
memories, of songs I had forgotten....! Funny, I could sing them in my mind, as
I read each title, and it is amazing, that I can remember every word....!

I was much too young, then, to attend any of his sponsored sock hops, or dances.
My Miami memories are those of a pre-schooler, through the seventh grade, and
though I was in my first year, as a 'teen, when our family moved back to Georgia,
the memories I have of Miami are vivid, colorful, and cherished.

I can mentally 'smell' the familiar fragrance of smouldering hedge trimmings,
which generated their own heat, and OMG, how clear are the memories of the
fragrances and tastes, of Florida cherries, Haydon mangos, huge avocados,
key limes, guavas, and rose apples....!

Best of all, the gloriously colorful flowering shrubs, bushes, plants, and trees,
that painted the neighborhood in a vibrant palette of tropical colors, so very
wonderful on the eye....especially, a large golden yellow hibiscus....!


I remember seeing Bob Green, along with Anita B. and their children, in an
outdoor patio venue, in those Florida Orange Juice commercials. They
appeared to be like Ward and June Cleaver. Just goes to show how looks
can be deceiving.

She had such a wonderful voice, and I loved her songs. But after that fiasco that
brought down her career, and ended her marriage, and the more I read about
her, the more it seemed that she had a screw loose....or more than one, really.
I could not understand why she left her husband. It was like she blamed him,
for her own career-ending soap box stance: Open mouth, insert foot.

What would their reaction have been, I wonder, had one of their 4 children
'came out,' as a teenager....? It would most likely have ended in tragedy, for
the child, as it did for so many young people still living at home, in those days.
There was a rash of runaways, remember....?? Not to mention the suicides.

Even so, it's a shame, that when someone famous dies, who they were, back
when everyone adored them, is shoved aside, and the sullied, scandalous,
headline-screaming tabloid fodder comes to-the-fore, to dim the good in that
person, in the very last published article ever penned about them.

Have a great Monday, everyone. I will be glad when March Madness is over....
and here it hasn't even begun....!
__________________________________________________________________________


Fran 27-Feb-2012 06:22
Note to all...I have read several of MRR's stories. Just calls to mind all of those special days back when. I'm in the middle of one of his stories right now. This work is 60 pages long and worth every minute of time spent.

I do know the kids that Mike went to St. Michael with in grade school. My sister and brother went to school with his cousins. Small world...:)

Now as for Charles, I will say he is in love with a wonderful lady. He is really happy and enjoying his life. I am so happy for him and his family.

Lurking? Is that a new game, Jean? Have a safe and relaxed move!

Whitebelt,
Remember that the spirit lives on in your heart. Carry these memories with you as your travel a new highway. Peace my friend...

Roberta,
Yes, I'm reporting in...all is what it is.:)
Miami River Rat27-Feb-2012 04:55
Parks, please let anybody read the story that you think might like it.

Bob Green: He put on some super big teenage dances at the Bayfront Park Auditorium. I think they were held once a month. The Police Athletic League (PAL) was a sponsor along with the radio station. Green usually had some top-notch bands in there, they would stop by and do a few numbers between gigs at the clubs on Miami Beach. Most everybody looked forward to Bob Green's sock hops.

I saw a friend of mine get cut right up the stomach out front there one night before the dance even started. His girlfriend was in a white dress and blood was everywhere all over her and the dress. Before the ambulance got there he kept trying to stuff his insides back, well, inside. At the next month's dance Tommy C. rode by, yelled at me to duck and sprayed those Hialeah boys with birdshot from a 12 gauge shotgun, cause he'd decided they were the ones that cut Cary so bad. Both of these scenes were right on the front steps of the auditorium.

I digressed a bit, but that's how it was, back in the "Happy Days" 1950's in our quaint little old home town.
Leighton 27-Feb-2012 00:18
I'll refrain from commenting on Bob Green.
Arizona AL 26-Feb-2012 21:57
Present and Accounted For Captain!
Don Boyd26-Feb-2012 20:40
A far more detailed story about Bob Green's death and Anita Bryant and their family is at:

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2012/02/onetime-disc-jockey-bob-green-anita-bryants-husband-during-1977-gay-rights-battle-dies-at-80.html#storylink=misearch

Don
Don Boyd26-Feb-2012 20:27
Hey Roberta, I'm still here and busy as hell with e-mails, Facebook, photo work, drinking beer with buddies, etc. Thanks for piping up and waking everyone up. : )

Whitebelt: sorry to hear about your dog. May his last days be nice ones. It really sucks losing a pet.

For those of you who are old enough to remember, disc jockey Bob Green passed away on January 26th. He was married to singer Anita Bryant for quite a while. This is from a South Florida radio Yahoo group that I belong to:

From the Vintage_SoFla_Radio group on Yahoo Groups:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We also lost Bob Green, former husband of Anita Bryant, on January 26th, 2012. Bob was the first jock in Miami to take a major MOR station to a top 40 format at night. He was on WINZ when he met Bryant, and the rest is history."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of his old WINZ radio music surveys and small photos is on my site at:
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/76912940

RIP Bob Green, thanks for the memories!

Don
whitebelt26-Feb-2012 16:00
Still here, Roberta. Just have a lot going on.

Has been a relatively mild winter here. Have a couple more minor things to do when it warms up a bit and the house will be pretty much up to where it will stay. Have to get some honeysuckle vines and bushes for the fence, and install a roof vent on the spa building.

Glad I got the furnace replaced. A major part died on the old one that I moved to the spa building. Luckily I had alternative heat for it.

I am a caregiver for my cat and the old Lab we had in New Mexico. He went through some severe treatment for advanced heartworm that really did him in. Too much for the woman to take care of back there, so I brought him up here last week to live out his last days. He may bounce back, but it won't be for too long. Sweetest, most lovable, and best dog I ever had.

I anticipate very strong winds this Spring. Has been a lot of humidity in the air this winter, if not on the ground. Read where they anticipate the tornados will be hitting farther east and south again this year. I hope so. Have had some strong cold winds this winter. Nothing like below freezing air doing 60 mph.

Another strange year coming up. Seems to be a serious reshuffling going on in the world and everyone's lives. Hope everyone on here turns out for the better. Which it likely is in the long run.
Miami Girl 26-Feb-2012 14:49
Roberta.... I'm here, lurking in the background. Busy lately organizing and packing to move out of our rental into the last home we own --- we hope!
Roberta Perry Hughes 26-Feb-2012 07:57

Turning off cold again, here in the CSRA, after a warm spell, that spelled
violent weather systems, including tornados and downbursts, this past
Friday.

Large oaks were ripped up, and fell onto cars and homes, right on in to SC.
It was a fast-moving system.

Our area only got very high winds, a little rainfall, and we could hear distant
thunder, now and then. We were very lucky, to be sure.

Where in the Heck is everybody....?????

LARGO? Miami Girl? Fran? Alan? Whitebelt? MRR? Charles Knight?

Will all of the missing Rogues and Roguettes please, stand up and be
counted....??

ROLL CALL.....!!

I mean, it has almost become like a ghost town on here, with absent
citizens....!!

Come out! Come out! Wherever you are....!

Missing those who are not posting, lately, even though I am enjoying
reading the comments of others, who ARE posting.

Hope that everyone is well, and feeling good. Hope that the weather has
been kind, in your corner of the Country.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parks25-Feb-2012 16:53
Rat, Can I give your short story to Darrell and Bill? They're good Florida boys and I think they will enjoy it.
Parks25-Feb-2012 16:51
Welcome Hal, tell us about your Miami connection.

Hi Guys, I just got back from fishing the St. Johns River near Sanford. Darrell, Bill and I stayed in a cabin in Blue Springs State Park. We were after American Shad but I think we missed the run. We only caught two. We did catch about six large Sunshine Bass which I had never heard of. Bill told us they were a hybrid of Stripped Bass and White Bass. Darrell and Bill were very happy to catch them as they are very good eating. I don't eat fish but I enjoyed the catching them. We saw birds! Eagles, Osprey, Pileated Wood Peckers, Herons, Egrets, Cranes, Wrens, Finches, Turkey and Black Vultures, Kara Kara, Ibis, Limpkin, Red Tailed Hawks, Red Shoulder Hawks, Red Ass Hawks (Hybrid of Red Shoulder and Red Tailed Hawks) Harrior, Lots of other birds that I can't remember now. We had great Swamp Cabbage cooked with bacon and sausage at the Jolly Gator. We saw huge Aligators that splashed into the river as we approached. It was pretty warm so there weren't many manatee in the spring. We went way up the Econ River back in time to an earlier Florida covered with Sabel Palms and oak trees. A small gator shared a log with two turtles. Cows with calfs stared as we motored past. I'm sure the Crackers would be by later to round them up.
Hal 24-Feb-2012 21:08
Leighton, have you ever tried seagrape jelly? It is very good. it tastes sorta like regular purple grape jelly, but it's a bit milder . It's hard to find . I bought a small jar of it a long time ago at the fruit and spice park gift shop, in the redlands. Never saw it anywhere else ever again.
Trainbuff 21-Feb-2012 16:27
That's it! Victoria Station! Thanks so very much to one and all. I just could not come up with the name. I went there many times with my family, it was a real favorite of ours. We were all (and are) "Trainbuffs" of many years standing. Thanks!
Nike 21-Feb-2012 06:31
Trainbuff -- gcrm.org/exhibits.aspx#LinkRides
Don Boyd21-Feb-2012 06:07
The one on NW 36th Street was in Virginia Gardens, south of Miami Springs. It opened in the early to mid 70's.

Don
Leighton 21-Feb-2012 05:26
Victoria Station was a chain - I remember the one in Dadeland Mall - obviously not train cars, as many were...
Parks21-Feb-2012 01:34
Trainbuff, There was a restaurant on 36 street called Victoria Station. It was made of railroad cars connected together.
Trainbuff 20-Feb-2012 15:59
The Red Caboose? Somewhere in Miami-Dade County, maybe in Miami Springs on NW 36th Street. Right? Please advise.
Don Boyd18-Feb-2012 19:17
And this weekend Jackie Gleason's former Miami home from the 60's and early 70's is being auctioned off. The home was out in the boonies at the Country Club of Miami in northwest Dade County at the time and he moved to Inverrary Country Club in Broward in the mid 70's as I recall.
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/housekeys/blog/2012/02/and_away_it_goes_jackie_gleaso.html
Leighton 17-Feb-2012 17:24
After posting, I discovered the "date palm" family, and am certain it was one of those. My mother confirmed that she remembers it as a palm, as well. Google can "fan the fire" of childhood obsessions, I suppose.
Arizona Al 17-Feb-2012 15:00
Leighton: I have seen Sea Grape trees growing in South Florida, on the North Carolina coast, Oceanside, California, Grenada in the Caribbean and Maui, Hawaii. They seem to have perfected genetic migration:) Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix,Arizona
Leighton 15-Feb-2012 15:53
OK, I'm thinking it was a Sea Grape tree, or its cousin, the Pigeon Plum tree.
Leighton 15-Feb-2012 14:55
Unfortunately, I only remember the berries, which were very small, and turned a dark brown. I don't recall them being in huge bunches. I believe that they were reddish inside, and they made a mess on the ground - definitely had a sweet smell.
NIke 15-Feb-2012 12:44
Leighton -- Can you describe the berry and the leaf?
Leighton 15-Feb-2012 05:32
I'm a Google fanatic, so I've been trying to figure out what that tree-with-berries was. The Sea Grape looks promising, but I'm just not sure.

I totally forgot the holiday...well, almost. Yesterday, the grocery store was more packed than Thanksgiving week. The locals really get into it, for some bizarre reason. Growing up in Miami, it seemed more of a kids' holiday. Oh, and my parents made sure that I gave ALL of my classmates a valentine...you remember, decorating the shoe box, and eagerly awaiting the cards, like Charlie Brown. Back then, some children only received one or two cards - a lousy tradition.
Guest 14-Feb-2012 22:15
Terry.B, Hello Cory C. Annebelle has my E-mail address, so does Don Boyd. I heard a real brief description about Larry from Annebelle. That is sad, yes we were good friends. Duncan's here at my place for a visit, lots of car racing in Daytona this month. Feel free to contact me.
Nike 14-Feb-2012 22:11
AZ AL - You can count on it.

Happy Valentine's Day to all the ladies.
Arizona Al 14-Feb-2012 21:04
Nike: On your hegira to view the U.S.A. please consider a brief "layover" in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Elvie (wife) and I would love to show you some Out West Hospitality. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and very well in Phoenix,Arizona
Arizona Al 14-Feb-2012 21:04
Nike: On your hegira to view the U.S.A. please consider a brief "layover" in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Elvie (wife) and I would love to show you some Out West Hospitality. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and very well in Phoenix,Arizona
Leighton 14-Feb-2012 11:46
Gold Coast Railroad Museum? Wow - I Googled it quite easily. And I think that I see the "caboose"!!!!!!
Leighton 14-Feb-2012 11:39
Perhaps it was a mulberry tree, but the photographs do not look familiar - the tree that I remember looked more "palmish". We've had a mild winter here in South Texas - it will be 77 today. Our nights haven't hit freezing, which is unusual.

As a kid, it was always a kick to enjoy Leighton's Honey (Haines City, FL). I just checked out their web site.

My family would spend the month of July at our family's cabin in East Tennessee - it was always fascinating how different the smells were. On our drive back to Miami, I loved to open the car window, and smell the orange blossoms and pine trees. And, yes, that distinct "after-the-rain" smell.

In the early 80s, every Saturday morning at 7, I'd take my UM reading material to Crandon Park, and enjoy the beach, until the crowd got there around 1PM. I gravitated to the area near the cabanas and long-gone amusement park. Does anyone know what happened to the caboose that once sat near the miniature train station?
Parks14-Feb-2012 04:12
Cory brought up orange blossoms. I love the smell of orange blossoms. I remember back when I was more crazy and flew ultralight airplanes, flying over orange groves at low altitude and just loving the smell. Orange blossom honey! It's the best. The only other honey I really love is tupelo, also a Florida honey.
Nike I wouldn't mind a bit if you moved back to Florida. Boca Raton and Delray Beach are both beautiful.
Nike 13-Feb-2012 19:27
Fran - We do miss the tropical winters in Miami.

Nancy, who is also from Florida, and I have agreed we have just spent our last winter in Atlanta. In six weeks, were beginning a 2-year driving trip to see the country from the ground and determine where we will settle in retirement in a couple of years in Palm Beach or north Broward County. Yes, the cat loves to travel.

We're starting with the first month (April) in Washington, DC for the cherry blossoms. From there, were taking whatever highway is closest to the Atlantic ocean between DC and south Florida. We plan to arrive in Key West around Labor Day staying a week or two here and there along the way.

I have a Army reunion in Miami the week of October 20-21 which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis which is why Nike Hercules missiles were there. After October in Miami, we plan to spend the winter between Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale. Maybe Boca or Delray Beach.

Next April, we're thinking northern California between Sausalido and Napa.

Yes, I still work.
Cory C. 13-Feb-2012 15:53
Hi Don - I left Southern Bell in "68" got married and moved to NC. I missed Fl., so much then. I didn't realize how much the Hialeah/Miami meant to me. I tried to work at the telephone companies in other states but didn't like it. Moved around alot and really liked living in Ga.
Terry and my brother Larry was close friends. I don't know if he had heard that my brother died in "94" I don't know if he kept in contact with him or not.
I still keep in touch with Duncan sister Annabelle. I ask about Duncan hope he is doing ok. I was able to make contact with Annabelle thru your site. Great job!!!
A lot of talk about smells, I remember my dad smoking pipes and loved it. Also he always wore old spice and I still love that scent. The first time I came to Florida and all you could see for miles was the orange groves and the scent of orange blossoms. Still loved that scent. The smell of rain on a hot Fl day, the beach. Sun tan lotion, brings back great memories.
Fran 13-Feb-2012 09:39
Roberta,
Thanks gal...well said. Loved the post and yes, I do miss the Florida "Winters". I reckon so...the weather here is not making it easy for those who live out of state. Florida my home!
robertah47@aol.com 13-Feb-2012 07:13

Miami Girl, I laugh at the contents of Vermont Country Store's catalogs,
sometimes, as a lot of those items can be found in a Rite Aid Drug Store,
or in an IGA grocery store. Boxed theater candies, bags of Southern creme
drops, circus peanuts, coconut bonbons, peanut butter logs, sugar babies,
BB Bats, etc., as well as Aqua Velva, Mennen Skin Bracer, Brylcream, Vitalis,
Right Guard aerosol deodorant, Pears soap, Lavoris mouthwash, Cashmere
Bouquet soap, etc.

Your generation is not the only one who mourns the loss of Whitney Houston, Leighton. When I was single, & commuting to work, it seemed she was always
on the radio, delighting me with her wildly popular songs, as easy to sing along
to as her cousin's were, before her....& who didn't love the music of Dionne
Warwick....??

Just a day before Whitney Houston died, I lost a favorite cowboy, when actor
Peter Breck passed away. He had suffered from dementia, for several years,
& I wept over his death. We grew up watching him on "Black Saddle," long
before "The Big Valley" hit the small screen.

Mulberry trees....?? They're here in Georgia, too, & are ready for eating, come
Spring, just when the robins have hit town, & Boy! Do they love to gobble up the
mulberries....then, they poop on everybody's car, that isn't in a garage, & they
really do a number, on the paint.

It wasn't as windy, today, but still as cold as a witch's 'teat' in a brass bra....or
as cold as a well digger's heinie in Alaska.

MRR, you hit the nail on the head, when you said it makes us wish we were
back in our old home town, once again, enjoying the tropical 'Winters."

Hugs to everyone....!

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Miami Girl 12-Feb-2012 17:10
Roberta, I also highly recommend vermontcountrystore.com for ANYTHING someone may be looking for from their youth (unless it's an old girl/boy friend - ha). We went to the actual store -- a wonderful place to spend hours!
Parks12-Feb-2012 15:13
Peoria? Never heard of it.
Leighton, I bet it was a Mulberry tree. That's the only tree I can think of that produces an edible berry down here. A high school friend had a big one in his back yard.
Leighton 12-Feb-2012 11:55
Scents? My Dad's church (preacher) - Shenandoah Presbyterian - had a funky tree with berries. We'd eat them...what could those trees have been? I can remember the smell. (MY smell memories also involve gardenias - old church ladies smelling like gardenias, and giving me honey/sesame candy......) Also, the scent of the orange blossom perfume, at the rest stops along the Florida Turnpike. Oh, and divinity from Stuckey's.
Leigton 12-Feb-2012 11:46
My generation lost one of its icons - Whitney Houston. The media wallowed in her misery with drugs, and now there is feigned shock at her death. I remember the day that Elvis Presley died - I lived in a small town near Memphis. It was a BIG deal - one of his cousins was in my school.

What really pisses me off? The web sites that were willing to document Houston's every, single miserable bout with drugs...ridicule it...and now, attempt to be some sort of unbiased purveyor of sympathy. Media is never kind.
Miami River Rat12-Feb-2012 05:25
A feller could die outside here in East Alabama tonight. Temperature below 30 heading toward 22 and a howling wind. Worst night of what's been a very mild and nice winter so far. I got the wood heater rockin' and rollin', loaded with good dry oak.

Y'all still in South Florida, this is one of those nights when we expatriates wish we'd stayed home!
Roberta Perry Hughes 12-Feb-2012 04:44

Oh, crappie, crappie, crappie....!! (that's a fish, fish, fish....!!)

A cow kicked a fence post onto an electric fence, down-the-road from me,
shorting it out, & causing an audible clicking noise on my phone line.
I am on dial-up, so this situation blocked my modem, preventing me from
logging on to the Internet. Grrrr-rrr-rr....!!

I have been offline since Feb. 5th, which seemed like an eternity.
Just got back on this afternoon, & had to wade thru >140 emails, deleting most,
to get to the ones that were a priority. (sigh)

Where can you find those long-ago fragrances, & other nostalgic items....?
Go to www.vermontcountrystore.com. Jade East is there, among others,
as well as Blue Waltz cologne, discontinued Avon fragrances, Orange
Blossom Cologne, & items such items as Clark's Teaberry gum, Cloves gum, Blackjack gum, & so many items you thought you would never find again.

Irwin....it will suit me, too, if you stay in Peoria, & though many of us have
moved away, our hearts & memories remain in Miami, & the Greater Miami
area, & thanks to this wonderful site, we can go back there, any time we
want to.

Hey, gee, Irwin, I wonder....? Is there a web site of OldPeoriaMemories, where
someone as talented & caring as our Don Boyd, has chronicled vintage photos
of places long gone from YOUR town, & put them in a Gallery, for the enjoyment
of those who fondly recall their childhood days, or their 'teen years....?

Just curious.

Meanwhile, it is very windy, here in the CSRA, & the temperatures are dropping,
as I sit here. It will not be as windy, tomorrow, they said, but still cold.
However, a warming trend will return, next week. Hooray....!!

Hope the weather is kind, wherever you are, Rogues & Roguettes, & that you
& yours are well, & feeling good.

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Irwin Hayes 11-Feb-2012 19:34
Parks, In my case, there is no miami connection . I'm from peoria . never been to miami. I just stumbled onto this blog, after a friend told me about it. and from what I hear about miami, I have no desire to come down there. Peoria suits me just fine.
Parks11-Feb-2012 16:21
Sorry teacher, my spill checker isn't working. I don't dare to try to spell the name of that Opa town. You already gave me hell over that! Don't forget that Henry, Flag and Tom were all damnyankees anyway.
Don Boyd11-Feb-2012 16:00
Cory: I'm sorry for the delay in responding but time flies by faster than my ability to keep up with comments, e-mails and Facebook, let alone time to work on photos and doing other non-PC things. It's good to hear from another HHS '65 grad. I trade e-mail jokes, photos, etc. with Terry B daily and he remembers you. Duncan lives in a small town in Maryland and apparently is not PC addicted or capable. Thanks for posting here! Did you ultimately retire from Southern Bell/BellSouth/AT&T after all those years with them?

And to join Parks' conversation regarding smells triggering memories, my favorite cologne in high school was Canoe and I bought a bottle a few years ago and every time I wore it I had fond memories of the mid-60's. It's time to buy a new bottle if they still sell it and perhaps trigger some memories long forgotten. My wife doesn't particularly care for it because of my crude nickname for it ("Sure F___!") but I'll buy it anyhow.

One of my favorite smells from the old Miami from decades ago was the smell from the coffee roasting plant near the Orange Bowl. I was out on the airfield at MIA photographing aircraft a few weeks ago and the breeze was from the west and we must have been exactly downwind from a similar plant in Doral west of the airport because we had several minutes of strong coffee smell just like decades ago near the Orange Bowl. We savored those fragrances for at least ten minutes before we moved on to another location on the field and it was like heaven to our noses.

Parks, going back to your post on February 1st, did they spell Ft. Myers with that extra "e" back in the late 1800's/early 1900's? I thought only Yankees spelled it that way and was kind of shocked to see you do it.

Don
Parks11-Feb-2012 15:43
Irwin, How the heck do you remember all of those? Tell us about your Miami connection.
Irwin Hayes 10-Feb-2012 11:43
What about these Mens Colognes of the 60's Hawaiian Surf, Zizanie, St. Croix Lime, Tabac, Canon, Royal Lyme, Kings Men, Currier & Ives, Jaguar, OO7, Dante, Mennen Hawk, Faberge Woodhue, Kanaka, Speidel Bravura, Yardley Black Label, Royal Balman, English Leather Lime, Alfred Dunhill .
Miami Girl 10-Feb-2012 01:58
LOL Nike, coming from a more innocent time I will admit that I had to Google Hoppes #9 - no even with those JD's in AZ Al's bunch, I doubt there were any guns in the theater - at least not in the early 60's, but maybe later with other than legal cigarette smoke permeating the air.
Yep, also remember British Sterling and Canoe as well as Holsom Bakery, Shorty's BBQ and the Greyhound bus exhaust downtown.
whitebelt09-Feb-2012 21:32
Diesel exhaust? City buses leaving a stop, with heat and blowing sand. Not one of my more sentimental memories.

3 in 1 oil. Sewing machines. Preferred the Revelation(Western Auto) gun cleaning solvent. Smelled sexier than Hoppe's.

Kerosene. Filling kerosene heaters durng the winter. I was not the most adept at it. Lots of splashes on the back concrete porch.

Aerosol bug spray. Smelled lots and lots of that growing up.

Jasmine to this day turns me on. Tabu perfume, too.

I wore Brut, English Leather, and Canoe. Unfortunately, the women I hung with preferred the smell of money.
Fran 09-Feb-2012 17:58
Oh, the smell of 3 in 1 Oil, dad cleaning his guns.:) English Leather and British Sterling brings to mind wonderful days of old.:) Favorite smell of all time BBQ chicken, loved my dad's BBQ sauce.

Miami Girl, time traveling is not a bad idea. Yup, MMR I do remember the smell of the ocean and the buckets of bait. Up and down, up and down...yes, my stomach remembers it well. First deep sea trip age 10. Oh, yes never again! It wasn't until several years later that I decided to go deep sea fishing again. He was sooo cute and loved to fish too.:)
Nike 09-Feb-2012 15:16
Miami Girl - Did it smell like Hoppes #9?
Miami River Rat09-Feb-2012 15:04
Even after all my times of being around diesel fuel, the smell of diesel exhaust still gives me flashbacks to going out on the party boats from Pier 5 at Bayfront Park with my great-grandpa. I started going out on the all-day fishing boats with him at age five and that was my first scent of diesel fuel.
Miami Girl 09-Feb-2012 14:07
Absolutely Parks, I read that our olfactory sense triggers memory more than any other. I travel back in time to my teen years with the smell of English Leather (two boyfriends used it). Also there were specific smells in the new Cutler Ridge movie theater and the CR Richard's Dept store - they were unlike any other I've come across since. If time travel was possible you could blindfolded me and I'd know exactly where I was in those two locations.
Parks09-Feb-2012 06:07
Do smells trigger memories? I recently smelled a bar of pine tar soap. It smelled just like the marine store I played in as a child. I bet most of you guys will have fond memories triggered by the smell of Hoppes #9. For me it brings back memories of the first rifle my Dad let me buy. 3 in 1 oil reminds me of the BB gun my Dad gave me for Christmas many years before. Permatex #3 (gasket sealer) reminds me of rebuilding my race boat engine. Dektol (photo paper developer) reminds me of the hours of intense work in the dark room getting the print just right. Ladies, forget the Channel #5, Hoppes #9 smells much better!
Leighton 05-Feb-2012 20:25
Also found on Wikipedia, are these quotes from film critic Roger Ebert:

"Certainly The Birth of a Nation (1915) presents a challenge for modern audiences. Unaccustomed to silent films and uninterested in film history, they find it quaint and not to their taste. Those evolved enough to understand what they are looking at find the early and wartime scenes brilliant, but cringe during the postwar and Reconstruction scenes, which are racist in the ham-handed way of an old minstrel show or a vile comic pamphlet."

"The Birth of a Nation is not a bad film because it argues for evil. Like Riefenstahl’s "Triumph of the Will," it is a great film that argues for evil. To understand how it does so is to learn a great deal about film, and even something about evil."

It is considered the first full-length motion picture, and was indeed the first blockbuster, although it was banned in many cities, and did cause a few riots.

I watched it in film school (UM) almost 30 years ago.
Parks05-Feb-2012 03:18
I told Griff that it was a spectacular film but I didn't care for his intolerance of those poor colored folks. Griff thought it over, then changed the subject. "Parks" he said, "Have you met Lillian?" He called her over and introduced us. Later I told Griff she was a little young for me. We both laughed and had another scotch.
Miami River Rat05-Feb-2012 02:42
Nike, thanks for posting the details for those that haven't seen the movie. Many parts of it are rather exciting, particularly some of the horse-riding scenes.

Some of my greatest memories of seeing that film are that the buttered popcorn at the Olympia Theater was yummy and the fountain cherry cokes were a treat never before encountered.
Leighton 04-Feb-2012 18:45
Yes, having been through film school, I am familiar with the details. Thanks for posting them - I was too lazy to do so.
Nike 04-Feb-2012 18:35
MRR - having been a holy roller, we didn't get to see the movies. However, with the discussion about Birth of a Nation, I went to the source of the universe (Google and Wikipedia) and looked it up. Very interesting facts which I will post.

I thnk any of these facts can be validated by Parks and "The Don" who were at the premire showing in 1915.

The Birth of a Nation (originally called The Clansman) is a 1915 silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and based on the novel and play The Clansman, both by Thomas Dixon, Jr. Griffith also co-wrote the screenplay (with Frank E. Woods), and co-produced the film (with Harry Aitken). It was released on February 8, 1915. The film was originally presented in two parts, separated by an intermission.

The film chronicles the relationship of two families in Civil War and Reconstruction-era America: the pro-Union northern Stonemans and the pro-Confederacy Southern Camerons over the course of several years. The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth is dramatized.

The film was a big commercial success, but was highly controversial owing to its portrayal of African American men (played by white actors in blackface) as unintelligent and sexually aggressive towards white women, and the portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan (whose original founding is dramatized) as a heroic force.[3][4] There were widespread protests[5] against The Birth of a Nation, and it was banned in several cities. The outcry of racism was so great that D.W. Griffith was inspired to produce Intolerance the following year.[6]

The film is also credited as one of the events which inspired the formation of the "second era" Ku Klux Klan at Stone Mountain, Georgia (near Atlanta) in the same year. The Birth of a Nation was used as a recruiting tool for the KKK.[7]
Miami River Rat04-Feb-2012 13:36
Leighton, Birth of a Nation was essential viewing because it was the first movie my grandma ever saw. To her, it was a miracle to see such a thing when she was a young girl and she wanted to share it with the rest of us.
Leighton 04-Feb-2012 01:12
Curious why "Birth of a Nation" was essential viewing - from an historic film standpoint, I understand, but...yikes.

I lived down from "The Trail" in the 80s - saw a rerelease of "The Exorcist" - laughed my ass off. Sorry, Presbyterian here.

My Dad's a preacher, and he instilled in me, my love of films, and my eventual career in the field. I need to ask him if he liked "Red Tails" - he went to see it this week. George Lucas can no longer direct himself out of a paper bag, but I'm sure that the flying effects were awesome.

The 1927 classic "Wings" - the first ever "Best Picture" - was filmed entirely here in San Antonio. They just released a restored version.
Miami River Rat04-Feb-2012 00:47
Parks, I've got you saved. The first movie I remember seeing was "Birth of a Nation". No I'm not really that old, the movie toured back through Miami and my grandma made sure we went and saw it.

The Trail theater was a real blast when I was in Jr. High. Lots of guys and girls went there on Saturday mornings. Don't remember what movies they were showing but I certainly remember some of the girls! My first experience with getting lipstick and powder all over my shirt was at The Trail.

I few years earlier I saw "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" there with a Cub Scout group. Still the most scared I've ever been at a movie.
Fran 03-Feb-2012 17:13
Nike, I too grew up in the pentecostal church. I converted and became Catholic in 1972. I haven't regretted the change and embrace my faith.

I had to make sure that none of my bible study group was attending the dances. Just found that I was ready for a change and they church/parents agreed.
Nike 03-Feb-2012 16:27
First film was The Blob (a young Steve MsQueen) in 1958 at the Trail Theatre at SW 8th and 37th (Douglas Road). This was followed up with a couple of gut bombs and a root beer next door at the Royal Castle.

The reason I didn't see my first movie until I was 12 years old was our church was penticostal (Coconut Grove Church of God) and it was against our religion to go to movies (or smoke, drink, wear makeup, jewelry, or dance).

We weren't allowed to have a relationship with Catholic or Jewish girls. At the age of 12 I disvovered what I thought were some pretty hot Jewish and Catholic girls at Shenandoah (Cindy Rhiengold and Barbara Learner). I decided to go to the school dances, dance with anyone who dared, and take in my first movie.

I have lived in since ever since.
Fran 03-Feb-2012 14:38
First movie,"Don't Eat the Daisies" staring Rock Hudson and Doris Day.
Miami Girl 03-Feb-2012 13:31
The first movie I remember seeing was when I was 7 yrs old, right before we left Panama Canal Zone on a ship - the movie was The Titanic! I wonder what were my parents thinking? I could have been traumatized for life! Had a wonderful, fun trip home on-board that ship, especially arriving into NY harbor and seeing the Statue of Liberty. Later in high school at Palmetto I found out a friend from the Zone who I had hung out with on the ship was dating my best friend -- small world!
Roberta Perry Hughes 03-Feb-2012 04:20

My first film....?

"To Hell and Back," starring Audie Murphy, at Tropicaire Drive-in, up on Bird Road.

Any major motion picture that graphically depicts a War can be as frightening for a young child to view as any so-called 'horror' movie.

Our weather is yo-yo-ing, temperature-wise. Such a bizarre, and erratic Winter,
to be sure.

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Parks02-Feb-2012 14:54
Hi Leighton, I'm indulging Don and Nike's teasing me about being old. The Henry in my story is Mr. Ford and Tom is Mr. Edison. The film we watched was The Great Train Robbery (1903). Both Henry and Tom had homes in Ft. Myers. Flag (Henry Flagler) and I went to visit them. Apparantly I'm much older than I look. The first talky I remember seeing was Invasion of the Body Snachers in the 1950's. It scared the piss out of me.
Leighton 02-Feb-2012 05:30
Parks, this sounds like a silent movie era story - I'm confused. My first flick was "Mary Poppins".
Nike 02-Feb-2012 00:35
...and he isn't kidding
Parks01-Feb-2012 13:44
I remember the first movie I ever saw. Flag and I had gone over to Ft. Meyers to visit Henry. Henry introduced us to his neighbor Tom. I remember being amazed when Tom showed us moving pictures on his living room wall. The movie was about a train robbery. When the bad guys were all caught, I asked Flag if he was going to put guards on that little train set of his. We all laughed and had another scotch.
I must be getting old. I haven't been in a movie theater in more than a year.
Leighton 31-Jan-2012 13:10
Acting bets? Jean Dujardin - Actor, Plummer - Sup Actor, Viola Davis - Actress, Octavia Spencer - Supp Actress, "The Artist" - Best Pic, Director - Scorsese.

H-wood is pretty predictable.
Cory C 30-Jan-2012 16:23
Hi everyone, hope you had a great week-end. Roberta last night I was flipping channels and came across the movie" About Schmidt" interesting movie. I really like Nicholson, my favorite of his movies is "Something Got to Give." All of the actors you mentioned I like. The War Horse is on my list and The Iron Lady too.

Hi Don - I lived on W 78th Street. I believe you knew some of the guys I knew. Duncan Wilson and Terry. Didn't know Terry that well, he was friends with my brother.

Hi Whitebelt - I worked as a route and rate operator and information operator. Oh boy what a job that was! Fun! Fun! People were so rude and mean to us girls. I left in 68th and left Fl., moved to NC. I was going to transfer to the new plant on 12th ave which just opened in 68. I decided to get married and had to leave Fl. I missed Fl. so much. I never liked NC that much at that time. Husband was transfered to SC. I worked at the telephone co in Charleston, SC. I have lived in several different states since 68. One of favorite place was Kennesaw, Ga. Great place until the city and of course Atlanta grew. The Atlanta area has several HHS friends living there now.
Have a good day!
Roberta Perry Hughes 30-Jan-2012 08:45

John Wayne did an amazing job....portraying John Wayne.

His vocal inflexions, attitude, delivery of his lines, mannerisms, facial
expressions, were the same, from one film to the next, with no vivid
characterizations, to set his starring roles apart from one another.

Only a change of costume and name, made his starring roles "different,"
in any manner of speaking, one from the other.

Jack Nicholson has that same ability, to do a great job, portraying himself.

Like many others, I love both of these American legends, and have their
films on DVD.

Favorite John Wayne film: "The Quiet Man."

Favorite Jack Nicholson film: "About Schmidt."

I will be rooting for veteran actor, Christoper Plummer, to win the
Oscar for Best Actor, this year, and for Meryl Streep to win the Oscar
for "The Iron Lady," and I am rooting for "War Horse" to win for the
Best Picture.

Who are your favorites....??

............................................................................................................................
Nike 28-Jan-2012 21:08
Late night breakfast at Wolfie's before the drive back across the causway to reality.
Miami Girl 28-Jan-2012 20:38
Cory, thanks for reminding me of those drives down Collins Ave at night -- in a convertible was best!
Don Boyd28-Jan-2012 19:40
Cory, did you live on the lake on W. 60th close to 8th Avenue? If so, I lived several blocks from you at 9th Lane and 57th.

Don
whitebelt28-Jan-2012 15:35
Cory C, I worked at the Plaza exchange in Little River as a Frameman in 1968 for several months, before and after the strike. Worked the 4:30PM to 1AM shift.

Were you there then? Plant or operator?
Cory C 28-Jan-2012 15:21
Hi Nike I have a history of living in Hialeah from 1960 to 1968. Class of "65" HHS. Worked at the telephone company after HS in Little River. My dad worked for National Airlines from 1959 until 1982. Really never was interested of how great Miami or Hialeah used to be. Now memories of going to school or going to the beach or riding down Collins Ave looking at the lights comes back. Love reading all comments here. Great site!
Nike 27-Jan-2012 23:22
Cory -- What's your Miami History?
Cory C 27-Jan-2012 21:57
You know I never appreciated John Wayne until later on. My favorite movie is Donovan's Reef with Lee Marvin. I can watch John Wayne movies over and over. What a great actor!
Nike 27-Jan-2012 02:52
Good point, Pilgram
Parks27-Jan-2012 01:47
I'm disapointed that I'm not going to have the Herald as a neighbor.
On the subject of John Wayne, why the heck did he make the same movie twice? Rio Bravo and El Dorado, it's the same movie!
Nike 27-Jan-2012 00:30
Cory -- There was another Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor on Miracle Mile in The Gables. It was the place to go late on the weekends, especially after watching Rio Bravo at The Miracle Theatre (John Wayne and Ricky Nelson).
Don Boyd26-Jan-2012 21:25
The Miami Herald decided it was too expensive to move into Parks' neighborhood at the Merrill-Stevens boatyard so they're moving to the old U. S. Southern Command building in Doral.
http://randompixels.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-official-miami-herald-announces-its.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RandomPixelsAndLooseTalk+%28Random+Pixels+and+Loose+Talk%29

Don
Cory C. 26-Jan-2012 17:44
Thanks Nike, I checked the site out and it looks like the name is Jahn's. Also I remember a Lum's close by. I believe we used to go to a empty motel nearby and enjoy the beach without all the crowds.
Leighton 26-Jan-2012 14:28
truTV (formerly CourtTV) aired an episode of Dominick Dunne's "Power, Privilege and Justice," in February 2007, called "The Candy Scandal." truTV no longer streams the episode online, but I'm Googling to see if it's been posted elsewhere.
Roberta Perry Hughes 26-Jan-2012 12:56

Just poppin' in to wish everyone a Good Thursday morning.

Too bad that our former two 'resident Beachites' no longer post on this site.

I'll bet at least one of them....who used to be our 'resident historian'....could easily
relate everything about the mystery ice cream shop that Cory C was inquiring
about, giving dates and exact locations, as well as the history of the place.

Can't speak for anyone else, but I miss these former Rogues....well, one was a
Roguette. Hasn't been the same, without them.

Wishing sunny skies to everyone.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nike 26-Jan-2012 11:52
Guest - "The Don" has a webpage on this site which has many, many of the old diners, drive-ins, and malt shops - http:// www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories_restaurants
Miami River Rat26-Jan-2012 06:21
My mom was the court reporter for the Candy Mosler trial. She said defense attorney Percy Foreman selected the jury for the least educated and lowest IQ people he could place. Then he told them extensive lies and they believed him. Candy and her "nephew" certainly got away with murder. Anybody that attended the trial from start to finish knew that.

I knew somebody that hung out with Murph the Surf. The less said about that the better, I'm thinkin'.
Miami Girl 26-Jan-2012 03:25
Sorry Guest, I don't know about an ice cream shop in NMB, hopefully somebody else will.
Parks26-Jan-2012 01:18
Candy Mossler, that's a name I remember from the past. I had to look it up to be reminded of the details. Sure sounds like she got away with murder. How about Murph the Surf?
Guest 25-Jan-2012 22:30
Great site!...I used to work at the Thrifty Swifty restaurant on 65th ave and 8th st...across from the Silver Dollar restaurant
harry simon 25-Jan-2012 21:07
Anyone remember the Candy Mosler trial ? It was big news when I was in Miami .
Guest 25-Jan-2012 20:43
Thank you Miami Girl. I will check your suggestion out. Do you remember anything about the ice cream shop in NMB? I thought I had read about it on here sometime back, but don't remember how far back. My brother and friends would go to NMB to hang around and then go to the ice cream shop.
Guest 25-Jan-2012 20:43
Thank you Miami Girl. I will check your suggestion out. Do you remember anything about the ice cream shop in NMB? I thought I had read about it on here sometime back, but don't remember how far back. My brother and friends would go to NMB to hang around and then go to the ice cream shop.
Miami Girl 24-Jan-2012 22:50
Cory, last January we stayed at the old Thunderbird Hotel ( in Sunny Isles), if you're into time travel back to the 60's it's really not too bad and one of the few remaining from the "old days". It's owned by Days Inn and comparable to the brand but is much cheaper than the Trump Hotel down the street or other highrises all around it.
Cory C 24-Jan-2012 16:20
Hi, Would like some info for a nice hotel to stay at in NMB. I live in Naples and haven't been home to Hialeah in a long time. I use to go to NMB all the time. Does anyone remember a ice cream shop on 163rd? I don't know if it is still there but would like to know the name of it. Thanks.
Nike 24-Jan-2012 14:58
There is actual footage of the train Parks and "The Don" rode down to Key West at www. flaglerkeys100.com/fec-railroad-overseas-extension.

I didn't know until I styarted researching "Flag" that it was 100 years ago this past Sunday (January 22, 1912) that his train steamed through the Florida Keys Jan. 22, 1912, carrying residents and tourists from Miami through the once-isolated island chain to Key West for the first time ever.

Interesting reading at www. washingtonpost.com /lifestyle/travel/henry-flaglers-over-sea-railroad-turns-100-with-celebrations-planned-through-florida-keys/2012/01/19/gIQA5aQcBQ_story. html
Miami River Rat24-Jan-2012 14:48
My grandpa was 13 when the RR to Key West was completed. He told me of everybody in Miami being amazed at the "miracle" of being able to travel to Key West without getting in a boat.

Fran, Smallwood's store was open as a museum when I went there in December. You could no longer buy things there, it isn't a store any more just a museum. I have a fish fillet knife that I bought there in 1965, one day before my oldest son was born.

That kid came a week early and I almost was out in the 10,000 Islands fishing when he came into the world. Sure would have been in some hot water if that had happened! We even talked about extending the fishing trip because we were catching a lot of snook but my cousin had to get back to work so I was saved by the bell. Or saved by Cousin's job, as it turned out.
Parks24-Jan-2012 04:59
I remember the day well. I said to him "Flag, (his friends called him Flag) It's about time you finished this little train set of yours." He laughed and we drank a scotch.
Nike 23-Jan-2012 16:58
Don -- Interesting story about Flagler and his Casa Marina Hotel (1922). When the Army came in for the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, we rented the Casa Marina for Battalion Headquarters. The landlord was the Jimmy Hoffa who was still union president back then.

There is a picture of Parks having lunch with Flagler in the dining room. Another of "The Don" taking picture of women on the beach.


Fran 23-Jan-2012 14:22
THANKS, Don for the info. My uncle and I traveled there to buy my cousin's jacket for his Eagle Scout award ceremony.
Don Boyd23-Jan-2012 06:34
And one more link on the Smallwood store re-opening:
http://floridarambler.com/historic-florida-getaways/smallwood-store-chokoloskee/

Don
Don Boyd23-Jan-2012 06:27
Parks, how old were you when Flagler's train made it down to Key West and back for the first time? You must have been amazed by it! : )

Fran: my wife and I were at the store a couple of years ago (still haven't worked on the photos) but I read where there is now no access to it because a new owner/developer of adjacent property owns the former road to the store and he blocked it off. I just read an article from last September where the owner/developer has been ordered to re-open the road but it's termed a "temporary fix." See
http://www.abc-7.com/story/15474241/access-to-smallwood-store-restored

http://www.florida-everglades.com/chokol/smallw.htm

Don
Fran 23-Jan-2012 02:39
MMR, Does Mrs.Small still have her trading/store in Everglades City? My uncle and I would travel to Everglades City to buy large fish heads for some kind of fish stew. His conk fritters were the best ever. This time of year is when I miss Florida the most. They were the best of times...
Parks23-Jan-2012 02:13
Today is the 100th aniversary of the arrival of the first train into Key West.
Miami Girl 22-Jan-2012 23:24
sorry, didn't mean to do that twice.
Miami Girl 22-Jan-2012 20:00
I'll take a hurricane over a tornado any day!!
Miami Girl 22-Jan-2012 15:29
I'll take a hurricane over a tornado any day!!
Miami Girl 22-Jan-2012 15:28
Leighton, I agree with you on you "tornado magnet" theory. Years ago we lived in one in Kansas, in the Spring --- no fun!
Leighton 22-Jan-2012 07:16
It will be a wonderful 78 degrees tomorrow in SA. It sure beats the horrible "teens" that we endured last year.

I am convinced that scientists (?) will eventually discover that trailer parks are natural tornado magnets...the metal, or something.

As a kid, I was infatuated with trailers. I wanted to live in one - but back then, they were all pastel, settled in beautifully landscaped "movie sets" of awesomeness. Just look at the Ball/Arnez "The Long, Long Trailer", or a set from Presley's "It Happened at the World's Fair". I have a vintage postcard of a North Miami trailer park - I would SO live there.
Parks22-Jan-2012 06:05
Hi Guys! There is a fellow in Australia (I think?) that has one of the rescue boats built by Miami Shipbuilding in WWII. Take a look:http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f109/new-here-introduicing-me-and-my-boat-73792.html#post867075
Miami River Rat21-Jan-2012 16:37
Quoting from one of Jimmy Buffett's songs:

"Mobile homes are covering the keys I hate those bastards so much
I wish a summer squall would blow them all
Away up into fantasy land
They're ugly and square they don't belong there
They looked a lot better as beer cans"

I'll agree with him on that one. Now the last bastion of old South Florida that was left, Everglade City and Chokoloskee, has also been overrun with development. I didn't think I'd ever see that in my time on earth. What a shame.
Parks 21-Jan-2012 05:37
I've heard of The Ale House but don't remember it. The hang out spot I remember from the sixties was The Flick near the UofM. I recently heard that the Flick hired Jimmy Buffet and while he was working there he took a day trip to the Keys. The rest is history.
Guest 18-Jan-2012 23:22
Anyone remember The Ale House across from U of M on US1 ?
Don Boyd18-Jan-2012 22:38
There's an interesting video from Super 8 film shot at Haulover Beach and Pier in the summer of 1970 athttp://vimeo.com/24038624 .

Don
Miami Girl 15-Jan-2012 21:22
Leighton I think most, if not all of us Rogues totally understand your loss. Unfortunately there are so many that just don't get it. The first pet we had to put down had been with us for over 10 years - to Germany and back but I thought at the time I couldn't stand to watch her die, so just turned her over to the vet. I've suffered massive guilt feelings over that move for the past 23 years and swore I'd always be there till the end for any pet, and have for the three cats we've lost since. They give so much devotion (and I like to think, love) to us human's, it's a shame that not everyone can realize that. I personally can't stand to watch these TV spots about animal abuse, but they need to be out there for all those uninformed masses to see and hopefully get a heart.
Leighton 15-Jan-2012 01:54
Yeah, a few of my friends think that I'm crazy for being so upset, but that dog was the smartest animal that I have ever seen. These were also the first indoor pets that I have ever allowed. Each day, when I walk the remaining dog, a new neighbor asks, "Where's Chola?" And I have to go through it again. I was in such a rush to grab a taxi the early morning that I left for my trip, that I didn't even acknowledge her. I called New Year's Eve morning, and when she heard my name, my roommate said that she ran to the window, looking for me. Argh. I have escorted three friend's/family pets to the vet to be put to sleep, because my friends/family couldn't deal with it, but they didn't want their pets to be alone at the end. This was even more difficult - no closure.

SA has a TERRIBLE problem with unwanted animals - the city euthanizes over 20,000 a year. They are attempting a "no kill" policy, but the citizens around here just don't get the concept of spaying/neutering. Very sad.

That being said, we haven't been able to get the remaining feral female cat to the vet, and I suspect kittens are in the future....
Roberta Perry Hughes 14-Jan-2012 10:26

Leighton, you know that I most sincerely empathize with you, in the loss of your
extended family member.

It seems that our pets are only with us long enough to break our hearts.

....Unless you own an African Gray Parrot.

Losing my beloved Le Chat moi, Ewok, left a hole in my heart, and this
house is so very empty, without him.

We are unable to care for house pets, any more, and The Cowboy is slowing
down, re: 'The 3 Stooges,' which is what I call our 3 equines. I am grateful that
he gets help with them, when needed.

"Growing old ain't for sissies." ___Art Linkletter.

Colder nights....and days....have come to the CSRA, and we are thankful, for
having a heat source, when so many have to cope with a cold that goes to
the depths of their souls, living without shelter.

We are so blessed.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Roberta Perry Hughes 14-Jan-2012 10:25

Leighton, you know that I most sincerely empathize with you, in the loss of your
extended family member.

It seems that our pets are only with us long enough to break our hearts.

....Unless you own an African Gray Parrot.

Losing my beloved Le Chat moi, Ewok, left a hole in my heart, and this
house is so very empty, without him.

We are unable to care for house pets, any more, and The Cowboy is slowing
down, re: 'The 3 Stooges,' which is what I call our 3 equines. I am grateful that
he gets help with them, when needed.

"Growing old ain't for sissies." ___Art Linkletter.

Colder nights....and days....have come to the CSRA, and we are thankful, for
having a heat source, when so many have to cope with a cold that goes to
the depths of their souls, living without shelter.

We are so blessed.

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Parks 14-Jan-2012 04:04
Guest was me,
Parks
Guest 14-Jan-2012 04:02
Leighton, I'm so sorry to hear of your lose. I believe the bond between a person and a pet can be as strong as the bond between a parent and child.
Leighton 14-Jan-2012 02:03
Always treat your pets, like they'll be gone tomorrow. I lost two of my four "street rescues" in the past month. One cat (of two) was run over in front of my house,. Then, New Year's Eve, my wonderful terrier mutt, Chola, literally died of fright from the fireworks. I was in Tennessee, but my roommate said she started shaking around 8 PM when the fireworks started, and died of a likely epileptic fit around 1 A. The local paper even had an article describing how many children and pets, were disturbed by this year's excess. We had a severe drought this past summer, and apparently, everyone had stored up a @#*load of fireworks that they weren't able to set off July 4th. It sounded like a war zone, from what I hear.

I hadn't had pets in 30 years, and to loose two in a month, is somewhat intense - especially when health wasn't necessarily the issue.

Fortunately, I still have Chola's son, Yo-Yo. Every pet that any member of my family has ever had, has lived past 13 years. Chola was only about 6.
Roberta Perry Hughes 11-Jan-2012 14:08

Fran, I too, have made it yet another year, and my 2 health crises mimicked your own. See what you started....?? LOL

Seriously, I am doing quite well, with my merged diets, and have lost 10 more lbs, since I have been home from this second hospital admission.

I return to Clinic, tomorrow afternoon. My doctor should be quite pleased with me.

Both you and I had life-threatening illnesses. We are survivors....!

ROGUETTES.....!! WHERE ARE YOU.....?? I WANT TO HEAR NEWS FROM YOU....!

LARGO....?? MIAMI GIRL....?

Here's wishing the weather is kind, wherever you are, these days, and that love is surrounding you with its warmth.

****************************************************************************************************************
Fran 11-Jan-2012 05:04
Well I made it! Another year and still kicking...blessings to all.
Nike 08-Jan-2012 13:16
Parks - You're the lucky guy that Susan picked.
Parks08-Jan-2012 05:59
The story of Don Carter's passing brought back memories of an interesting time in my life. While I was in high school I got a part time job at the Coliseum Bowling Lanes. One of the regulars there was a girl about my age who took bowling very seriously. She had dark hair and wasn't particularly attractive. She was nice enough but only interested in bowling. A few years later Paula Sperber was a blond bombshell on the professional bowling tour. She later married Don Carter.
whitebelt07-Jan-2012 17:32
Ran across an interesting article about Mt. Trashmore. Most of you that left a long tim eago may not be aware of it.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1996-01-25/news/our-garbage-ourselves/

Years before they started building it I read a science fiction book where cities in America became mountains. One of them was Miami Mountain, which was the home location for the story.
whitebelt07-Jan-2012 02:09
You got it, Bubba. :-)
Parks07-Jan-2012 01:44
Thanks Whitebelt! I'll pass that on to the young lady who maintains our website. She's just learning but she understands that stuff better than me.
When you say leave my URL, do you mean like this? www.hopkins-carter.com
Where is that little smiling thing when you need one?
whitebelt06-Jan-2012 23:40
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url?continue=http://www.google.com/addurl/&pli=1

Parks, go there and make sure your website gets on Google's list. Might take a while for it to crawl it and enter it into their database. Up to two months.

If you get asked for tag words make sure you have them on your page somewhere. They may kick you off their list if their crawler doesn't find them. Visit lots of websites and leave your URL on them if possible. Get your suppliers to post your link. Get it posted on fishing forums. When Google crawls sites it records those, and adds to your visibility.
Don Boyd06-Jan-2012 22:30
Welcome back Roberta!

Parks, yeah imagine if I didn't like you, haha. I'll see what I can do to promote your biz and at least get Google to realize that you exist. Uh, if we have lunch on Westward Drive in Miami Springs and go see the historical museum, it would be totally out of my way in the opposite direction to go to the 94th Aero Squadron. I'll be in touch regarding when - next week is out due to the annual influx of aviation photographers for a local event.

Here's a news item regarding the death of a famous Miamian:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bowling legend Don Carter dies
By Sports Network

Bowling legend Don Carter died Thursday night at his home in Miami. He was 85 years old.

According to the Professional Bowlers Association, Carter had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia complicated by emphysema.

Carter was among bowling's top stars in the 1950s and was instrumental in launching the PBA in 1959. He served as the organization's first president and was elected into the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 1970, alongside close friend Dick Weber. The two were also part of the inaugural PBA Hall of Fame class in 1975.

"It is impossible to put into words what Don Carter meant to the PBA and sport of bowling," said PBA commissioner Tom Clark in a statement. "There is no way to fill the void left by his passing. Our deepest sympathies to his wife Paula and his family. He was a pioneer, a champion and will never be forgotten."

Carter was voted Bowler of the Year six times between 1953 and 1962, and won five major championships. He retired in 1972 because of knee problems.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don
.
Jean (aka Miami Girl) 06-Jan-2012 21:30
Welcome back Roberta! As I said in my email, I'm so glad you're feeling better. I sound just like my Grandmother when I say "if you don't have your health--- you have nothing".
Roberta Perry Hughes 06-Jan-2012 15:37

Good morning, Roguettes....!

And, also, Good morning to the Rogues, who dwell in the Man Cave.

Have to get ready for my follow-up appointment, today, following my discharge from the hospital. (I was sent home on New Year's Eve).

I lost nearly 24 or 25 lbs, while in the hospital, and have lost nearly 6 lbs since I've been home. Hooray....!

My doctor will be pleased, at my labs, and also, for my weight loss, and for the first time in a long time, I am actually looking forward to my appointment.

Hope you have a great day, with tolerable weather.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
whitebelt05-Jan-2012 16:24
I just remembered an old Miami institution and landmark that I haven't seen much mention made of. The old Lindsey Hopkins building. Think it was on 14th street and NE 1st Ave or N. Miami Ave.

Don't see it on Google Earth. Guess it is long gone?
Arizona Al 05-Jan-2012 13:58
Ok guys..If I ever make it to Miami on the way to Key West I will contact the Miami Dwelling Rouges and make a lunch date and I will pick up the tab.:) Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Fran 05-Jan-2012 13:13
Blessings to all, Happy New Year!
Roberta Perry Hughes 05-Jan-2012 09:24

May 2012 be a better year, for the world entire.

****************************************************************************************************************
Parks05-Jan-2012 05:56
Thanks Rat, That Don sure can be mean to poor little me! Can you imagine how mean he would be if he didn't like me? Sorry to report that Snowdens is gone. It was sold to someone who was going to build a nicer bar there and got as far as tearing down the building before he ran out of money. Now it's an empty lot.
Don, when we go out to lunch, lets swing by 94th Aero Squadron, I want to look at that P-38.
Miami River Rat05-Jan-2012 05:17
Speaking of grilles and such, does anybody know if Snowden's is still there off Old Cutler at Richmond Drive?

Back around 1960 to '63 they had a band in there on Friday and Saturday nights. If you were, say, 16 and your girlfriend was 15 you could go in there, buy drinks, beer and dance with no problems. I loved that place!
Miami River Rat05-Jan-2012 05:12
Well, it IS "Woody's West End Grille", but still not all that far from Parks's company, maybe ten minutes.

(Hey, I had to say something, after the whuppin' Don just put on Parks I feel sorry for the old boy.)
Parks05-Jan-2012 01:48
Hey Don, Aren't we supposed to eat a hamburger in Miami Springs? I'll buy and I won't even make old man jokes! Your website comes up on Google much better than mine, want a job?
Don Boyd04-Jan-2012 19:20
Happy New Year to all. I hope that all of you had nice holidays.

There's an interesting article about the Soffer family, developers/owners of Aventura Mall, Turnberry Isle and a lot of what is now Aventura, and current part-owners of the fabulous Fontainebleau Hotel, at:
http://www.biscaynetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1051:family-a-fortune&catid=46:features

Parks, unlike you, I would gladly buy Arizona Al lunch if he dared to meander his way back to Miami. : ) At least I would never tell people that your store is a "couple of blocks" from Woody's which is in western Miami Springs, probably 30 blocks west and 20+ blocks north of you, haha. I caught your comment about the wrong movie title on some of the Coral Castle photos - not being a bad Miami movie fanatic I believed the guy who sent them to me and I'll correct them in the near future. I couldn't remember the name of your store so I typed "marine supply store miami river" into Google and the whole first page of search results is for one of your competitors and you're not on the second page either. You need to get with the program, sonny, instead of screwing around on here fooling people.

Don
.
Nike 04-Jan-2012 16:06
AZ AL - I have had a positive (not perfect) experience everytime I return to Miami.

I have learned to stay off the main streets and cut through the old neighborhoods to get around from our former neighborhoods to neighborhoods where we went to school and rode our bike.

I make it a point to get up and out very early on a Saturday and Sunday morning before any traffic to get around to Dinner Key, Old Cutler Road, and Miami Beach. I park at the old Sears and walk Miracle Mile rather than driving it.

You can revisit your memories. Suck in some 02, clear out the dead brain cells, and enjoy! Remember, it's only visit.
Parks04-Jan-2012 15:48
Az Al, You could at least pause long enough to say hello to Don and me. We might even talk the old man into buying lunch.
Arizona AL 04-Jan-2012 09:00
Rouges: Did not get farther South than Sarasota. No intention of ever returning to Miami except as a drive-through way point on way the Key West:). Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
whitebelt04-Jan-2012 00:37
Al would get a shock. Exponential growth after he left.

It is forecast to be in the 60's this Thursday here in Las Animas. Still have about 6 or 7 inches left of the foot of snow a couple of weeks ago. I am looking forward to Thursday. Have to find my suntan oil.

Read where flowers are blooming very early in the National Arboreum in DC.

Not looking forward to tornado season this year.
Jean (aka Miami Girl) 03-Jan-2012 23:31
Alan, MRR may have a point - stay away from Miami and keep those old memories alive and well as they are.
Miami River Rat03-Jan-2012 17:05
Al..Your first time back since 1969? Did you go on down to Miami? There's been a slight change or two along Cutler Ridge.

On second thought, if you haven't been back since '69 maybe just hold on to the memories and let it go at that.
Arizona Al 03-Jan-2012 06:41
Parks: Spent time in the Orlando area and Sarasota. The weather was exceptional. Did the usual "tourist things" with 3 year old grand daughter.. Universal Studios, Epcot Center in Orlando and Mykkia River Park in Sarasota. Spent a day with 4 high school buddies telling lies to each other:):). My first time back to Florida since 1969. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Miami River Rat03-Jan-2012 05:11
Sigh...Once again, the Guest just below is me.
Guest 03-Jan-2012 05:09
Happy New Year!

Mullet used to run up the South Fork so strong that pulling a seine from one side to the other would net more than two men could pull up on the bank. Usually the cane pole and bread-ball fisherfolk there would gladly lend a hand for a few extra fish.

A cane-pole mullet fisherman drowned there when I was 11 or 12, right by the 27th ave. bridge at NW 11th street. My buddy James and I dove in there, groped around on the bottom a bit and pulled him out and a cop gave us a dollar reward. The next day a story in the Miami Herald told about a "brave young police officer" diving in and getting the body out. James and I didn't care, we got paid a dollar for swimming in a canal that we swam in two or three times a week anyway.

Do you know how many cokes and baseball cards with bubble gum a dollar would buy in 1954? LOTS!
Parks02-Jan-2012 16:03
I remember when it was common to see schools of thousands of mullets. You could throw a gig or snag hook in the middle and catch one every time. Now that they have outlawed seine netting them, mullet are making a good come back.
Az Al, how was your holiday trip to Florida?
whitebelt02-Jan-2012 14:20
Many, many years ago I read an article in the Herald about that calling mullet Florida Lisa being just that, a marketing ploy. That was when it went on market.

Mullet is for catching real fish, not eating. :-)

Still trying to figure out how mullet got involved with hair styles.

Blue Lagoon by the airport was a popular place for mullet fishing with bread balls and cane poles. The world record bass lurks in that lake somewhere.

Used to snag mullet off the 79th St Causeway just before the Channel 7 station with a stiff rod and weighted snatch hooks. Just missed a few cars when I missed, and that hook came flying back. Fishing right off the road was an interesting experience. Got nailed by a stone crab I caught there once. Must have slung that sucker a mile getting him off. Ouch!!
Arizona Al 02-Jan-2012 09:23
Parks..I agree that calling Mullet as Lisa is a ploy. Same as calling Vermilon Snapper a Red Snapper. I come from a "magical era" in Miami (1946-1969} when such stuff and nonsense was nonexistant! Alan OGus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona.
Parks01-Jan-2012 05:54
Az Al, I think calling mullet "Lisa" is another marketing ploy.
Patagonian toothfish is sold as Chilean sea bass. Not only is the name ugly but so is the fish! I have a couple of friends who worked for the National Fisheries Service. Their job was counting how many fish were caught. They told me that far more Red Snapper is sold in restarants than is actually caught. It seems that fish wholesalers can magicly change almost any white fleshed fish into red snapper.
Parks01-Jan-2012 05:43
Happy New Year! Now go to bed.
Miami Girl 01-Jan-2012 02:15
Just sitting here flippin' the remote between the Twilight Zone Marathon and Jaws. Happy and healthy New Year fellow Rogues. Meanwhile, "I think we're gonna need a bigger boat"...........
Parks31-Dec-2011 20:50
Speaking of smoked fish, does anyone remember Jimbo's on Virginia Key? It's an old shack the Jimbo sells beer and smoked fish out of. Back in high school my friend Darrell would spear a bunch of fish and take it to Jimbo to trade for smoked fish. I think the trade was two fresh fish for one smoked. Jimbo wasn't particular about what kind of fish you brought him. Jimbo is well into his eighties now but the place is still there. When he dies you can be sure the city will try to destroy the place. They have already tried to push him out. There was a small uproar and the city backed off. Now they are just waiting for him to die.
Nike 31-Dec-2011 14:59
...and better spellers
Nike 31-Dec-2011 14:56
I want to be the first to wish a healthy, happy and prosperpus 2012 to all the Miami Rogues.

We're headed to the north Georgia mountains (Dillard, GA) for a 3-day retreat and start my resolutions without the distractions of city life. No phones, no TV, Starbucks -- on second thought.....
Arizona Al 31-Dec-2011 06:26
Smoked Mullet (aka Smoked Lisa) is a South Florida delicacy that is virtually nonexistant in any other location from my experience. We used to catch the mullet in seine nets and carry them to the Hanlin Drive Fish Market in Goulds, Fla. where the staff would clean and smoke them in a smokehouse at the rear of the property. Sure was some fine eating. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Nike 31-Dec-2011 05:28
Smoked
Miami River Rat31-Dec-2011 04:46
The "Guest" of a few minutes ago was me. Been swappin' computers around...
Guest 31-Dec-2011 04:43
Dolphin is best grilled. Some like it blackened, but that usually involves too much seasoning, which overrides the dolphin's naturally great flavor.

Curlew now, aka "Chokoloskee chicken", can be served any number of ways. It's only good and better.

The rubber-shelled sea turtle eggs weren't much good just fried like regular eggs but my grandma made some sort of custard pie with them that was lip-smackin' good. Great grandma had a wonderful touch with making stew out of the sea turtles. There used to be a lot of them that came up on the beach on Key Biscayne to lay eggs. I helped "flip" a lot of turtles at night over there, back before anybody knew it was a BAD thing to do.

We had a lot of rosary peas around where I grew up. They are very pretty and fun to play with. I don't think a month of my childhood passed without me being cautioned against eating them.

Alligator pear: The big avocados that can't be bought in stores in most of the United States. They are just, simply, better.
Parks31-Dec-2011 03:57
How do you guys like your Coryphaena Hippurus cooked?
Nike 30-Dec-2011 22:08
Well stated.
Leighton 30-Dec-2011 19:22
By all means, let's perpetuate confusion, because we can. Obviously, it is misleading to a good number of people, who aren't "Yankees" or from Hawaii. I have never heard of a dolphinfish, but we never ate much fish in our SOUTHERN home. If you Google it, you will see that the term is indeed a source of confusion for many. It's not about political correctness, but commonality, I suppose. It's not "we versus them", per se. If you look at the history of all languages, in general, they evolve with time. I use a lot of common French, Italian, German, etc. terms, and I am none of the above.
Nike 29-Dec-2011 16:08
Interesting stuff about Mahimahi (the correct spelling). So much I couldn't resist reading up on it. I never realized the differences between the Dolphin Fish (Mahimahi) and the Dolphin (Flipper).
Arizona Al 29-Dec-2011 15:30
Growing up in Miami and fishing regularly I sure caught a lot of dolphin under floating areas of seagrass and seaweed in the Gulfstream.. It seems that the vegitation serves as a sun blocking agent which the dolphin appeared to be fond of. I categorically interject that the fish were dolphin and not mahi-mahi. ALan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Parks29-Dec-2011 06:28
Yep, Florida Holly / Brazilian pepper. I found out recently that the dried berries are sold as "Pink Pepper". I always thought the darned things were poison.
I remember calling the little red berry with the black dot "Rosary Peas". They are poisonous. I wonder what is the real name for them. I looked it up! "Abrus precatorius" Here is a link to a U of F website with info about them:http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/23
I took a photo of a pretty little girl selling necklaces made of them in Guatamala.

Nike 29-Dec-2011 01:09
Parks - How about what we called Florida Christmas Holly is now "Brazilian Pepper."

There was another little "hard" red berry with a small black dot on one end we were told was poison. We called it a "red eyed pea."
Parks28-Dec-2011 16:23
My friend Bill calls the Mahi Mahi / Dolphin a Coryphaena Hippurus but he's a really annoying scientist. We like to point out to him that he's not a real doctor, just a PHD. It used to really annoy him but now he usually beats us to the punch line.
The same critter or plant can be called many different names in different regions. I kind of like regional names as it gives character to the area. Growing up in Miami the fish was always Dolphin, the mammal was a Porpoise. There was never any confusion between the locals. I think it was only about thirty years ago the name Mahi Mahi showed up on local menus. I think Rat is right when he said that the name Mahi Mahi was used here for the convenience of the Damnyankees (always pronounced as one word). I deal with fishermen every day and they never fish for Mahi Mahi but they sure do catch a lot of Dolphin. Another regional name we're in danger of losing is Curlew (Ibis). Only the old timers know what I mean when I say "there was a flock of Curlew in my yard today". How about Alligator Pear? Can anyone think of others?
whitebelt28-Dec-2011 16:04
Nike, yes, I have.

Still have that over a foot from last week piled up for miles round. Hasn't got warm enough to melt.
Nike 28-Dec-2011 14:55
Whitebelt -- Seen any snow lately?
Miami River Rat28-Dec-2011 14:55
Oh Parks, but I have eaten a sea cow sandwich. (well, maybe not in a sandwich) Hanging around the indian village at Musa Isle when I was about 12 years old, there came a great commotion by the riverbank. A sea cow had surfaced in the river! A harpoon was brought out in short order and put to use. Soon the sea cow was being butchered and I was given a slab of sea cow steak wrapped in a banana leaf to take home . Pretty much like eating pork chops the way grandma cooked it.

Maybe one day we should start a discussion of how many endangered species critters each of us old Miami types have eaten?

Parks, I've taken a skiff through that little canal and into Palmer Lake many times in the deep, distant past. That's why I was shocked when I didn't see the lake. If I get there again, I'll do a better job of looking.

Leighton, I'm not a Hawaiian and I don't speak Hawaiian.
whitebelt28-Dec-2011 14:46
Parks, you have to cut Grampa Don some slack. Those were photos I had collected off the net and sent without verifying what movie they came from. They came from a website about Coral Castle. I'm not real orderly in my collecting.
Leighton 28-Dec-2011 05:19
*However*
Leighton 28-Dec-2011 05:16
I believe that this goes beyond a public relations issue. The fish is called "mahi-mahi" in the Hawaiian language, so I don't think using the term is "lowering" oneself. I have never heard people say that they eat dolphins. Howe, why does this not surprise me?
Parks28-Dec-2011 03:22
Miami Movies - Snapper has gotten a copy of Wild Women of Wongo which was filmed at Coral Castle. I wanted to know more about it so I googled it. The search found some images purporting to be from the movie. One of the images looked familiar to me so I clicked on it. The link took me to Don's website! The shocking thing is that the image is labled wrong on Grampa Don's site. The image is from Nude on the Moon not Wild Women of Wongo. In fact 5 of the 9 images Gramps has labled as being from WWOW are actually from Nude on the Moon. Let's get that fixed Don. I know my bad Miami movies.
Parks28-Dec-2011 03:14
Now if Rat says he had a manatee sandwich........ They don't call them seacows for nothing.
Rat, The whole triangle between Lejune Road, the Miami River and the Tamiami canal is now being called the Palmer Lake district. There is a short canal connecting the lake to the river. That's what the bridge by Jones Boat Yard goes over. You used to be able to get fair sized boats into the lake but a few years ago the owners of Jones Boat Yard blocked the canal. I'm not sure how they had the legal right to do that but they did. I've been trying to figure out how to get a small boat in there. Nobody has fished it in years.
Miami River Rat27-Dec-2011 15:34
Dolphin is what we natives have called this fish since forever and it's really good. Some public relations geek applied "mahi-mahi" a few years ago so yankees wouldn't think they were eating flipper. Miami seafood restaurants know what you are asking for when you order dolphin. I eat a lot of dolphin when the opportunity presents itself and I've never had to lower myself to ordering mahi-mahi.

Parks, I went past your place then. For some reason I had you on the north side of the River. And yes, Palmer lake is what I was talking about. Missed your store and the lake....some sightseeing trip! I didn't think the beer at Woody's was that potent. Maybe something in the dolphin?
Leighton 27-Dec-2011 11:45
I had to look up this "dolphin" menu item, as I'm not familiar with the fish versus the mammal. "Mahi-Mahi" is the preferred name, or dolphinfish. I don't eat much fish, so I'm thrilled that Flipper wasn't involved.
Parks27-Dec-2011 04:14
Hi Rat, My store is on the South River Drive side. To find it you go North across the little swinging bridge on South River Drive and then turn left on 33 ave. I'm not sure about a rock pit. Are you talking about the rock pit at NW 25th Street and South River Drive? They call it Palmer Lake. It's right near Jones Boat Yard. Traveling north on South River Drive, just as you pass Jones Boat Yard, you'll cross a small bridge. If you look to the left at the top of the bridge you'll see Palmer Lake. Other than on top of the bridge you really can't get a good look at it.
Miami River Rat27-Dec-2011 03:10
Parks, I went from 27th ave back to The Springs on North River Drive looking for your store. I must have missed it staring at all the big ships docked that far upriver. There were freighters docking there when I was a kid, but much smaller back then. Anyway, it was Sunday so I don't think you'd have been in.

Long time since I'd covered much of the ground I covered that day. Wish I'd had access to my old 12' wooden boat with the 7.5 hp Johnson outboard, I'd have explored a little more. Did they fill up a big rockpit off of S. River Drive, or did the trees and junkyards obscure it from view? Weird, I couldn't see it and my cousin that was my passenger missed seeing it too.

Next time I get down there I hope I'm not so rushed. I'll call you a day or two ahead of time and see if we can meet up.
Parks26-Dec-2011 15:54
Rat you were only a couple of blocks from my store! Next time set aside a couple of minutes to stop in and say hello. Better still we'll make Grampa Don buy us lunch.
Miami River Rat26-Dec-2011 05:54
Been without a 'puter for several days, then lost the link to get in here. Anyway, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Also, a speedy recovery to those of us that are ill or recovering.
I made a fast dash to South Florida a week ago. Enjoyed a dolphin sandwich with my cousin at Woody's Grill in Miami Springs and a grouper sandwich with my sister at the Rod and Gun Club in Everglades City. Both were delightful, as was the mango and coconut smoothie at Robert is Here.

Went back to the old neighborhood where I grew up around 27th avenue and 17th street in Miami. Every freakin' house for three blocks had a fence around the yard and I don't mean a little fence. I'm talkin' serious wrought-iron fences with spikes on top. That was sad to see. I'm glad I don't live there now.

Back here in Alabama, we had a great day of weather yesterday and had about 25 visitors at the house. My job, as always, was entertaining the teenagers outside. We did horse riding and some boating and four-wheeling. Taught a couple of girls to shoot a rifle. The grownups always get me outside with the other kids so they can talk serious stuff. I like it better that way too. I mean, who cares if Aunt Polly has an ingrown toenail?

Y'all hang in there!
Arizona Al 25-Dec-2011 14:53
Merry Christmas and Holiday Greetings to the usual Rogues Gallery suspects. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Winter Springs, Florida (visiting son/daughter/granddaughter over the Holidays)
Don Boyd25-Dec-2011 03:48
Merry Christmas to all of the rogues on here. I hope y'all have a wonderful day.

Fran, I wish you a speedy recovery in addition to your Merry Christmas. I'm sorry to read of your medical problems.

Roberta, thank you for being you on here. : )

Don
Parks25-Dec-2011 03:22
Merry Christmas to all of you Rogues.
Parks and Susan
Fran 25-Dec-2011 02:31
Wishing all a very Blessed Merry Christmas. Be safe, love deeply and enjoy every moment.
whitebelt24-Dec-2011 23:44
Merry Christmas, sweet and gentle people.


Nike 24-Dec-2011 19:02
Merry Christmas to all the Miami Rogues and their families.

Charles and Nancy Carter
Roberta Perry Hughes 24-Dec-2011 13:17

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas weekend, and a blessed, ongoing Hanukkah celebration, as well.

May those who are destitute, find shelter, food, and the warmth of caring people, and may those who have precious little, have a good meal, and toys, to bring a bit of joy and smiles, to the faces of their children, into wherever it is that they call 'home.'

May responsible adults, remind their children, every day, that they are truly blessed, and to be mindful of those children in our own Nation, or even in our own communities, who missed out, on getting one of those new 'toys for tots,' or a good holiday meal, and teach your children and young folks to not be wasteful.

I am sure everyone has seen the sinful waste of too much food, at a church dinner, or at a holiday meal, in someone's home. Too many plates with fried chicken, untouched, is scraped into a bin, right along with the partially-eaten dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green bean casserole, TO BE THROWN AWAY, along with plates of untouched slices of cake, or some OTHER food, taken on a plate by someone, with the intent to consume, but is not even disturbed.

Someone should be retrieving the untouched foods, for a family in the community, who is lucky to have cooked dried beans again, for a meal. Or, for someone present, who is resourceful, to take home and make chicken salad, or some other recipe, from untouched foods, to be eaten, later, or to be frozen, for later use.

Untouched dinner rolls can be recycled into bread pudding, or placed in ziploc freezer bags, and frozen for a meal at a later time.

I don't know about anyone else, but I wasn't raised to be a wastrel, when it came to meals. Our parents survived the Great Depression, and they allowed us to load up our plates, but....we had to eat every bite, of what we selected.

It taught us to be very particular, as to the size of the portions we put on our plates, to be sure, for it was the ONLY way you could ask for a second helping....or to escape 'discipline,' for such wastefulness was not tolerated.

My jaw dropped, to see so much good food, at one of those church dinners, become garbage, with one quick swipe of a plate.

People are literally starving, right here in America. Entire families....mother, father, sister, brother, little toddler....are going to bed, hungry. It has been on the news, more than once, to create National awareness.

So, consider every bite that you take, as a blessing, and teach the youngsters these same principals, and to be mindful, that they could easily, at some point in their lives, join the hungry, in this Nation.

May you enjoy the bounty, of your lovingly prepared holiday repasts.

But do not waste one crumb of it.

Blessings, to one and all. Peace on earth. Good will toward men.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Parks21-Dec-2011 05:42
Whitebelt, Get into your hot tub and don't come out until spring.
whitebelt20-Dec-2011 15:24
Got a foot of snow out there. At least. Haven't stepped out into it yet. Maybe later.

Even blew under the overhang of the spa building.

Wish I had a snow shovel.

Will be too cold to melt for a while.
whitebelt19-Dec-2011 00:02
English Leather was my choice for most of my life. Then it got real hard finding the general purpose lotion. The aftershave was everywhere, but the cologne and lotion got real difficult to get a steady supply of.

Have a big winter storm expected tonight and tomorrow. Some places on the Plains are expected to get 12-18 inches. I'm on the edge of that area. Went to get the important stuff this morning. Cigarettes and wine. Will hunker down in the hot tub.

Yeah, we are getting older, but we probably suffered more aches and pains when younger. We pushed harder. I have no desire to die in a hospital bed, or spend what is left of my life worrying about what I should have done or should . I want to die falling flat on my face. One used up body. The bodies die, we don't.

Fran, get well, darling.
Jean (aka Miami Girl) 18-Dec-2011 14:32
English Leather: When I come across it in the store I have to take a whiff, just for those memories Thanks for the reminder Fran! Shocked to hear of your kidney failure, my husband has just been put on the transplant list, but is still not bad enough to need dialysis. Nobody in the family is an eligible living donor so we wait 2 to 5 years. Nike good to hear you're working on that bucket list, we also have one but will have to make last minute decisions for travel and put off overseas trips because he could go bad in a heartbeat. Meanwhile we've found our dream house and if the appraisal comes in good will be closing in Feb. That's the big thing for 2012 for us.
Nike 18-Dec-2011 11:49
Fran - As I hear more and more of friends who are having medical problems, I have come to the realization that We are in the September of our lives. It may be October but I still feel like April, especially when I'm around Nancy.

Having said that, we have been talking about making a "bucket list" of al the places we want to visit in America while we have our health and can enjoy the travel. Even though we travel with our business, it isn't the same through airports as it is through traveling the back roads. We'll take Highway 27 and 41 rather than I-95 or the Florida Sunshine Parkway.

I wore English Leather, wore shirts with fruit loops, listened to Charlie Murdock on WQAM (especially at 11:00 pm for "Goodnight My Love").

I hope you feel better and enjoy the holidays.

I feel a New Year's resolution coming on.

Nike
Arizona Al 18-Dec-2011 09:30
Welcome Back, Fran!:)
Fran 18-Dec-2011 05:55
Whitebelt, thank you, for your kind words. You are special to me too. C. H. F. and kidney failure will take it's toll. I know I almost didn't make it. Learned not ignore the signs of failure and to act quickly as possible.

I have enjoyed the posts. A wonderful group of people sharing memories of the past. Remembering "Evening in Paris perfume" and six boxes of body powder, enough for years. Guys smelling like Old Spice, English Leather, Canoe and British Sterling during Mid-night Mass. Loved those Miami Christmases.:)
whitebelt17-Dec-2011 15:48
I'm still here, I think.

Was hesitant about posting because we didn't know what the real story about Fran was. A rough spot in the road at our ages covers a lot of territory. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Fran is one of my favorite people in the virtual world. I, as I believe the rest of us, would will her to have a speedy recovery and the most fulfilling years of her life to come yet.
Miami Girl 17-Dec-2011 14:16
Fran and Roberta, even though I'm not commenting often I do read all the posts and hope you're both doing better every day. Roberta sure hope you were able to get that tree up, we need to do at least a little decorating for Christmas to keep that child in us all - even though it'll never be as fun as it was when we were kids.
Last post from Whitebelt was about getting from his warm home out to the hot tub without freezing. That trip back to the house will be a lot easier, it's unbelievable how warm you get while in one of those tubs, and I understand how those Scandinavian's can go righ from the hot tub to a freezing lake.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL YOU FELLOW ROGUES.
Roberta Perry Hughes 17-Dec-2011 12:32

FYI....Fran was in the hospital, during her long absence from the Comments section. She is doing a lot better, now, but is still weak as a kitten, I'm sure. I hear from her, via email, but not as frequently as before her serious illness.

Fran, dear, I just wanted to set the record straight, as to why you have not been
posting comments on here, and that when you do, they are brief.

Things happen to us, that prevents us from being able to post, as actively as before.
Whenever someone has not posted in a while, comment on that fact, and ask about them. Another Rogue, or Roguette, may be able to enlighten everyone

Speaking of.....has anyone heard from Whitebelt.....???

Be well. Stay warm. Try to avoid crowds, if you can. People seem to get crazier, during the holidays.

..............................................................................................................................................
Parks17-Dec-2011 04:49
Busy week. Poor Fran, she must have been thinking "Was it something I said?".
Leighton 17-Dec-2011 00:14
Yeah - five days, and no talk.....amazing. It is the holidays.
Nike 16-Dec-2011 22:33
Testing, 1,2,3.....
Fran 12-Dec-2011 05:13
Thanks, Don, Roberta, Miami Girl, Miami River Rat and all for the warm get well wishes.
Roberta Perry Hughes 11-Dec-2011 12:00

Fran, even your brief sentence was a joy to read, to know that you
are doing well....or at least, better. How I have missed you....!

I am a bit down-in-the-dumps. I wish someone would come over, and
set up my Christmas tree for me. I have not been able to decorate in a
few years, now. I miss it, and being able to make the holiday meal, with
all the fixin's, too. (sigh)

The Old Gray Mare, she ain't what she used to be.

My son and his wife will be here, this morning. They are going to MI, and
Canada, for the hoidays, so I guess we are doing our gift exchanges, today.

Have no idea when, or if, my sister will be visiting us, for our gift exchanging,
and dinner, which will be as simple as I can muster, though I did tell her that,
if she came, I would make a big Dutch oven full of chicken and dumplings, from
the recipe in The Whistle Stop Cafe cook book, by Fanny Flagg. Need to buy some frozen pies, I guess.

Hope the weather is kind, wherever you are. Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.

................................................................................................................................................
Leighton 10-Dec-2011 17:50
Nike - my childhood home in the 60s/70s was in what I thought was called the Fairlawn subdivision, but apparently named Winona Park (???????) - Flagler, west of Bird Road.

In the middle of that 40s/50s subdivision (our home was 1958), was a three-plot nursery - very odd to be plopped in the middle of those houses. We always rode our banana bikes longingly by the business, wanting to crawl all around the trees, plants and flowers. Unfortunately, I never explored. We DID however, trespass in a neighbor's yard on 63rd, I believe. He had HUGE Cypress trees, a massive fountain, etc. Google maps now shows me that it has been replaced by about four homes...
Don Boyd10-Dec-2011 16:49
Nike, last but not least, thanks for a great dinner on Tuesday night, and for the great tour of the former Nike site in ENP on Wednesday. They sure have some nice folks working for them out there. I'm glad we had cooler temps and humidity than summer so I didn't sweat my a$$ off out there. I'm glad that I met Leon the retired Coastie and Jose Basulto from Brothers to the Rescue. I'll work on the photos one of these days hopefully.

Parks, it was good to see you and Susan again and I'll be in touch about having lunch in the Springs in the next week or two. The website I was telling you about is athttp://www.flightradar24.com/ - move the map to wherever you want and zoom in as much as you want. Just remember, it only has aircraft equipped with ADS-B transponders - most major US and international airlines will show up plus a few biz jets and private planes. If you click on an aircraft it will give you more information on the operator and the aircraft in the upper left hand corner and it is real-time. If you zoom in on Dade county you will see the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife/Water Management 3B area west of Krome - that's the gent who was married to Mary Ann Goodlett-Taylor from the Miami Springs Historical Museum (http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories_miamisprings ) that I was telling you about and who we'll visit when we go to lunch across the street.

Arizona Al, have a great trip to Central Florida. Maybe you'll luck out with temps in the 50's while we're having temps in the balmy 70's down here at the same time?

Fran, I'm glad that all is well - hang in there!

Don
.
Fran 10-Dec-2011 12:54
Glad to read all the posts...all is well.
Nike 10-Dec-2011 11:01
Dyslexics, untie!
Nike 10-Dec-2011 10:57
Leighton / Parks -- I really had a Cuban food fix while in Miami. On Tuesday evening, dinner at Versailles a block from where I grew up (I never really grew up). On Wednesday evening on my way back to Atlanta, I met a frend for dinner in Pembroke Pines for dinner at La Carreta near the Perry Airport on University Ave.

FYI, in the fifties and early sixties, half of the block where the Versailles is located was a florist. The name of the floral shop was "The Old Mill." Just outside was a large water wheel which gave it the appearance of a grinding mill. The yard was full of pottery and some parking. The elderly couple who seemed old to me were always pleasant and always welcomed the neighborhood kids and never seemed annoyed with us when we meandered through the pottery.

The other hal of the block nearest SW 35th Avenue was overgrown with palmetto scrub palms and tall cocoanut trees which always provided the friends and family visiting from Chattanooga with plenty to take back home. It was also a great spot to stand and wath the annual unveiling of the new Dodges and Plymouths each September at Tutan Motors. Taht was when they actually delivered the cars across the country and kept them covered until the date of unveiling to the public. It was always the most spectacular event at Anthony Abraham Chevrolet at SW 8th and LeJune.

Ah, for the good old days. Thanks, Don, for this website.
Parks10-Dec-2011 04:59
Leighton, La Carreta serves the best soup in the world! It's their Caldo Galligo (Galician White Bean Soup). I know where I'm going to lunch tomorrow.
Oh wait! El Mago de Las Fritas has fried pork fat on Saturday! Now what will I do?
http://elmagodelasfritas.com/
Leighton 10-Dec-2011 04:03
I lived on Douglas Road around 1984 - just a few blocks from Versailles. College student - my first apartment - it was GREAT. Never could afford Versailles then, though. I just managed the original La Carreta across the street... Just looked at their web site - the prices are very reasonable.

One of the best Cuban sandwiches that I've ever had, was at a deli in NYC - 9th Ave and 54th St. Just Googled street-mapped it.....the 9th Ave Royal Deli.
Nike 09-Dec-2011 11:06
Parks -- Thanks for the generous comments. It was certainly a pleasure for me to share the evening and a bit of my past with ya'll.

I loaded up on vegetables at RIH for which Nancy weas greatful. I told he the Key Kime Shake began to melt and I was afraid it wouldn't survive the 12-hour trip back to Atlanta so, I drank it for her. What a guy!
Parks08-Dec-2011 15:03
Nike, Don, Karen, Susan and I had dinner at Versailles restaurant on 8th street Tuesday night. I guess that was our Rogues reunion for the year. Good food and good conversation made for a very pleasant evening. The fact that Nike picked up the check made it even better! Thanks Nike! Yesterday we went down to Everglades National Park to learn about the Nike Missile base that is in the park. Nike has been helping the park learn about what happened there. It was a very emotional event. The tour guide was very good a expressing how important and dangerous duty at this site was. Nike had to leave early so he didn't hear the rangers thank him for all the help he had given them. There were several veterans of the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba present. Jose Basulto, the founder of Brothers to the Rescue, was there also. I have tremendous respect for these men and it was an honor to meet them. After the tour Don, Susan and I had milkshakes at Robert is Here. All in all it was a very nice day.
Nike 08-Dec-2011 05:32
Parks and "The Don" -- Thank you (and Susan and Karen) for a great evening at the Cuban resturant in Little Havana. I hope you enjoyed the trip to the Nike site in The Glades and the KLS at RIH.

I made it as far as Gainesville before the Sleep Monster and Mr. Sandman teamed up on me.
Roberta Perry Hughes 07-Dec-2011 23:49

Oooooooops....! Make that December 7, 2005.

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Roberta Perry Hughes 07-Dec-2011 23:46
I recall one year, the mention that it was Pearl Harbor Day was buried on page
10-A.

Headlines that year....? The opening of a Mazda plant, in Detroit,
December 7, 1005.

Now....finally!....local newscasters feature a WWII Vet, in a segment of
each evening news's broadcast.

Tonight's, it was the few who survived Pearl Harbor, featured on both local
and national news.

Bless them, one and all.

............................................................................................................................................
Guest 07-Dec-2011 20:17
December 7 what a day to remember, hard to believe its been 70 years
Leighton 07-Dec-2011 03:30
Each year, Library of Congress's National Film Registry adds 25 films or TV programs to their list. These items can NEVER be altered, EVER, in the future, when broadcast. "It's a Wonderful Life" is on this list. It's an awesome thing.
Leighton 07-Dec-2011 03:06
Don't mess with "Charlie Brown Christmas" - EVER. Fortunately, "The Wizard of Oz" has been listed with the Library of Congress, on the National Film Preservation Board. Legally, it can NEVER be altered, when exhibited. Classics should NEVER be altered.
Miami Girl 07-Dec-2011 00:18
Whitebelt, you're scaring me. We're overdue for a natural catastrophe (I just watched the top ten list for them the other night) and there's not a damn thing anybody can do to stop it. So I say, C'est la vie...........and enjoy every day (especially in that hot tub).
whitebelt06-Dec-2011 17:38
I haven't watched TV for years, but a few months ago I had the strongest urge to watch The Wizard of Oz. I don't have a TV, so I scrounged around and downloaded a video of it off the net. Caught up on the years I missed it. Was kind of nice.

There are some old TV shows from the 50's and early 60's I would love to watch again. The old Nickolodeon show of Amos and Andy and the Little Rascals skits they had on TV in Miami would be fun to watch again. Ernie Kovacs and Red Skelton, too.

Neat watching and getting a different perspective of them due to our age.
Parks06-Dec-2011 15:38
I kind of go along with Leighton on this one. I find it comforting that they still show them even if I'm not in the audiance. These shows are meant for children and there are new kids of the right age every year who have never seen it. I guess if people didn't watch them every year, they wouldn't show them. I'm annoyed when they replace one of my regular shows but I get over it. Damn it! Now I've got Burl Ives singing Holly Jolly in my head!
Roberta Perry Hughes 06-Dec-2011 08:01
Leighton.....

We love ABC at our house. At least, on Monday nights at 10 PM, when
"Castle" is on.

Classic, or not, most of those animated Christmas specials are available on
DVD, and I resent them usurping the time slot for regularly scheduled programs.

If it were something NEW, and truly promising to be entertaining, I could see it,
and though I adored the late Burl Ives, I have learned to loathe "Have a holly jolly
Christmas," and any part of the cartoon that he is affiliated with, re: Rudolph.

They seriously need to come up with some NEW Christmas programs. The repeti-
tion is borrr-ing, especially if there are no young children in the house to demand
that they want to view what they have a DVD of, in their room.

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Leighton 06-Dec-2011 01:49
Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ABC. For the first time, EVER, they just chopped several minutes from "Ä Charlie Brown Christmas". Don't mess with a classic, ABC. (No, it wasn't the Bible quote - they wouldn't be THAT stupid.) Regardless, I hate you ABC (but I don't watch any of your crappy shows, anyway). Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. And that goes to you, too, Disney - guilty by ownership.
whitebelt06-Dec-2011 01:48
It will be around -9 tonight here. Has been colder, but those - numbers chill me to the bone thinking about them. Have snow and ice on the ground.

It is difficult for me to wrap my mind about anyone anywhere going outside a nice warm house, and going anywhere when the world is frozen.

Winter has arrived in SE CO.

My house is nice and toasty with its new furnace. The spa building is nice, warm, and cozy with the old furnace and 103 degree water. Just wish I had the nerve to walk the 50 feet outside to get to the door of it. Wish I had a nice warm woman to walk me out there.

This is going to be an unusual, to say the least, winter, and not because of the weather. Been having strong feelings of something really profound happening, like on the global or larger scale, these coming months. Maybe not spectacular, but a serious shift in something in our lives. Any other old timers with such a feeling in their bones?
Arizona Al 06-Dec-2011 01:07
Nike: Flying:)
Nike 06-Dec-2011 00:21
AZAL - Are you driving or flying?
Arizona Al 05-Dec-2011 14:31
Hello Rogues: Will be in the Orlando (Winter Springs) area 12/21-12/27/11 for Holidays with Step Son's family. Anyone going to be in the general area and want to endeavor to meet-n-greet? Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Miami River Rat05-Dec-2011 05:04
I expect to be in Chokoluskee Friday. Parks, if y'all put that canoe in the water now and start paddling north I'll buy lunch at the Rod and Gun club, if it's still open.
Parks05-Dec-2011 04:11
Hi Guys, Snapper and I worked on the canoe Saturday. We put fiberglass cloth and two additional coats of epoxy resin on it. We had to wait three hours between coats so we explored Homestead and Florida City. We stopped at Robert is Here for milkshakes. I had Strawberry, Cherry, Pineapple. it was great! The canoe looks beautiful.
Don Boyd04-Dec-2011 15:45
My pleasure, Miami Girl.

Don
.
Miami Girl 04-Dec-2011 14:25
Thank you Don for deleting the nasty guest comment.
Nike 03-Dec-2011 23:25
Guest - Nice try. Accept it, you are a miserable failure. Crawl back into your own hole and leave those of us who are happy with ourselves in spite of our differences with others.

Parks - Yes, Ryan is the NPS Nike Site Project Manager. You will meet him Wednesday.
Parks03-Dec-2011 03:22
Hi Guys, Channel 10 had a show tonight about historic places in South Florida. One of the places they showed was the Nike missile site in Everglades National Park. The ranger that showed the place was Ryan Meyer. Nike, is that the guy you know?
Roberta Perry Hughes 30-Nov-2011 06:48

Howdy, folks....!

Just poppin' in to say I think the world of every one of y'all, and when one of
us is missin', it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Fran, hope to see you back postin' on here, as soon as you are up-to-snuff....!

Whitebelt, Az Al, Charles Knight, et. al., where y'all been hidin'....?

M. R. Rat....I enjoyed reading your Thanksgiving Day memory....! Thanks!

Don....There just are no words for you. You are just AWESOME....!
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Parks30-Nov-2011 05:41
Hi Rat, That's really neat. I'll tell your story at the showing. Unfortunately we've had to put off Florida Movie Night for a couple of weeks, too many scheduleing conflicts.
Miami River Rat30-Nov-2011 05:12
Parks, about a year ago I acquired "Wind Across the Everglades" from eBay. It was a copy of a European copy, but didn't have any subtitles so it looked original.

I'm probably the only poster here that rode to it's premier in Miami in the back of a pickup truck along with Brad Bradford and Corey Osceola, both of whom had parts in it. My claim to fame was I caught the snakes used in the movie.
My grandpa had himself, my grandma and my sister in the front of the truck and me, Brad and Corey with his Seminole woman in the back. It seemed like a big deal because we all had passes to get in free, due to having worked around or in the movie.

Looking at it all these decades later, it's actually a pretty good show.
Nike 27-Nov-2011 20:04
Parks -- I won't be there until Tuesday afternoon December 6th to prepare for the event the next afternoon when I will see you, Susan and "The Don."

I can already taste the Key Lime Shake @ RiH.
Roberta Perry Hughes 27-Nov-2011 14:29

Hello, to everyone, and hope you all are well, and feeling good.

Fran, I miss your posts on here, and your emails in my inbox. Hoping you will soon be back, good as new, and no worse for the wear.

The film that Oscar-winner Colin Firth was doing in NC, entitled "Arthur Newman, Golf Pro," a dark comedy, has wrapped, and he is back on the circuit, for special screenings in New York, promoting "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," starring Gary Oldman, as Smiley. I have seen the trailers for this film, and read the reviews, and I can hardly wait for it to be released on DVD, so that I can see it. It premiers in L.A., on December 6th.

Need to close and make some breakfast. Wish you could drop by and at least, have a cuppa coffee with me, or English Breakfast Tea.

Take care.
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Parks27-Nov-2011 03:18
Nike, Movie night is Thursday 12/1. Any chance you're in town?
Leighton, That's interesting about changing directors with the movie almost finished. I'll have to look that up and print it out for movie night.
Leighton 26-Nov-2011 19:29
I have always wanted to see "Wind Across the Everglades" - I think TCM has shown it a few times (last, was Oct 18). Interesting note from IMDb.com: Director Nicholas Ray was fired before the end of shooting by writer/producer Budd Schulberg. Schulberg finished directing the movie and supervised the editing, discarding a lot of Ray's original footage.
Don Boyd26-Nov-2011 19:13
I'm sorry I've been absent on here for a while. I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and stayed out of the stores on Black Friday. I'm buried with photo work, e-mails, Facebook, and now yard work since the temperatures and humidity have dropped to beautiful Miami winter weather. I'm so far behind in adding photos it isn't funny and I have a ton of my own old prints yet to scan.

Largo: thanks for your words regarding the loss of our young cat. I hope your problems have eased with time. Our kitty was in fine shape according to the autopsy but he must have had a bad reaction to the leukemia booster shot earlier that day at the vet's. He was my constant companion for over a year and I still miss him. But my daughter took in a very young stray calico kitten about ten days before we lost the other kitten and she keeps me busy along with the three strays that come into our enclosed open air courtyard over the roof to enjoy some fine dining two or three times a day. One is the mother of our deceased young cat and also the mother of our new calico kitten but she's feral and won't come near anyone except me but she still won't allow me to pet her.

Nike: I'll see you and Parks on the 7th in the 'Glades - I'm looking forward to it, especially the trip to Robert Is Here for some goodies.

Don
.
Nike 26-Nov-2011 14:42
Parks - Which night will the movie be shown?
Parks26-Nov-2011 11:48
Snapper will be hosting the Florida Movie Night group next week. The feature will be Wind Across the Everglades with Burl Ives. It wasn't easy to find. The copy he has is in the European format (PAL?) and has Spanish subtitles.
Leighton 24-Nov-2011 18:34
I don't remember "Cease Fire", to be honest. Low budget - eventually released in 1985. 97 minutes. Plot described on IMDB.com: Tim Murphy is a Vietnam Vet. When he loses his job he starts to relive all the pain and horror of his time in Vietnam. The stresses and strains nearly destroy his marriage and his family. Only after joining a veterans' therapy group does Tim find relief from his nightmares.
Parks24-Nov-2011 17:31
Leighton, That sounds like it was really fun. I wish I had been there. That was one strange film. Is Cease Fire worth watching? I'm thinking for our next Miami Film night.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Leighton 24-Nov-2011 15:19
No, Parks, I missed it. Had to Google. Interestingly enough, director John Sayles showed the film to our UM film class in 1983, for a classroom series (Directors Present Favorite Films by Others, or something). He brought along the director, L Q Jones. Sayles was also promoting his own film, "Baby It's You", filmed in Miami that year. Don Johnson, soon to filming "Miami Vice", was filming a low-budget feature in Miami in late 83/early 84, "Cease Fire", directed by recent UM film graduate David Nutter. Johnson was not at the screening, however.
Miami River Rat24-Nov-2011 02:39
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Tonight I'm remembering paddling a canoe upriver from downtown to a friend's house just west of 27th avenue. It was Thanksgiving night and I'd eaten so much turkey and junk that I almost couldn't paddle.

I was age 13 or 14 and the lights from all the riverside docks, boats and homes reflecting on the river's surface were almost hypnotizing. Just past the south fork a big sea cow surfaced right by me and blew air. That woke me up good!

"I think all that is a long time gone"~~~Dixie Chicks
Parks24-Nov-2011 02:15
As usual I missed something in this conversation. I sure wish I hadn't misplaced all those brain cells. Any way on the subject of good taste here's a movie quote for Leighton to identify: "Well, I'd certainly say she had marvelous judgment, Albert, if not particularly good taste." No Google allowed and I won't make any snide comments if you don't get it. It's a really obscure film. I admit I had to look it up to get the quote exact. There is a Miami connection.
Nike 23-Nov-2011 22:15
LARGO -- It's the taste of Kool-aid. Happy Thanksgiving to you and all the Miami Rogues.
Miami Girl 23-Nov-2011 19:14
No comment Largo : ) you're in good company - my sister is the best and I love her dearly!! Politics aside I still wish you and all the other Rouges on here a wonderful, happy Thanksgiving.
LARGO 23-Nov-2011 17:35
GEE...I MUST HAVE BAD TASTE.. ;~) .........ASIDE FROM THAT...AND NO MATTER WHAT YOUR TASTE IS...I WISH YOU ALL WELL AND A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING.............LARGO
Parks23-Nov-2011 03:59
Hi Roberta, Next time I see Ralph Perry I'll ask him if he is related to you. He used to live right across the street from my friend Darrell and I saw him often but he has moved up the coast aways and his daughter lives in the house now. His wife's name is Ann and his daughter is Coral. He has a son who's name I can't recall right now. All are nice folks. Ralph was a commercial fisherman until he retired.
Miami Girl 22-Nov-2011 13:54
Roberta, keep those joke emails coming - laughter helps block the pain receptors! The political ones are good too since we have the same outlook on that subject (unlike my sister who's at the opposite end of the spectrum and loves the current Pres. - there's just no accounting for taste).
Roberta Perry Hughes 22-Nov-2011 09:40

Parks,

I have several first cousins, the sons of my late uncle, Andrew Leslie Perry, who lived in Sacremento, CA, long ago, following his retirement from the service.
His five sons are: Ross, Ralph, Douglas, Malcom, and Vernon.

I heard that Ross was in a bad motorcycle accident, years ago, and was left quadraplegic, and that he eventually passed away.

Uncle Andy returned to GA, following his divorce from my Aunt Zilda. Three of their five sons came with him: Ross, Douglas, and Malcom. They were in school for a year, but that Summer, the 3 boys returned to live with their mother, in CA.

Uncle Andy eventually remarried, and moved to The Rock, GA, into a double wide, just behind his baby sister, my late Aunt Neita, who had moved there from Opa-Locka.

I never heard a word from my 5 cousins, since their return to CA, ca. 1967....?

I am wondering if your friend, Ralph Perry, is one of my cousins....? That isn't a common name, so you've got my curiosity up.

Miami Girl,

I, too, have heard from Fran. She will probably email me more, when she is better. Right now, she needs her rest, I'm sure, bless her....!

I do not know the particulars, but until this latest---brief---email from her, I had not heard anything, in about 3 weeks.

I hope everyone is well, and feeling good. I, too, have been quite ill....again....but am doing a lot better. I have found that my own, personal maladies, have to just wear off.

Have a terrific holiday week, y'all, and be sure to drive safely, offer to help with the dishes, Thursday, and don't forget to Kiss the Cook....!

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Parks22-Nov-2011 02:53
Hi Roberta, I noticed a lot of Perry head stones. Next time I get a chance, I'll stop and see if I can find some of the names you mentioned. I have a friend named Ralph Perry so I was aware of the name and noticed the head stones.
Miami Girl 21-Nov-2011 23:04
Just got an email from Fran, she's had a rough spot in life, but sounds like she's on the way back. Best wishes KIDDO.
Roberta Perry Hughes 21-Nov-2011 08:35

That would be me, Parks.

One Civil War Vet is my great-grandfather, George Washington Perry, who was the father of my paternal grandfather, Hamilton Sharpe Perry, the one-time Keep of the Fowey Rocks Light. Great-grandfather's wife is buried next to him.

Grandpa Hamp's brother, "Judge," is buried nearby, as well a sister-in-law, and the son of their brother, Charles. Charles himself, and another brother, Dewey, as well as their baby sister, Hilda, are all buried in another cemetery, in Miami.

Just inside the entrance, to the right, all by themselves, is the joint tombstone of Grandpa Hamp's fraternal twins, Cecil Bruce, and Cecilia Belle, who were my aunt and uncle. Grandpa Hamp had intended for his family to be buried there, as well, but wife, Carrie Belle Conley Perry, wanted to be buried in Georgia (my father is buried next to her, and her sister is on the other side of her).

Grandpa Hamp stayed in Georgia, and remarried, and is buried in Baker County, in an unmarked grave, alongside his second wife, Florence Cater Perry.

My grandfather's brother, Judge, played a role in helping to settle the area. I will tell you about it another time. My father's family all originated from Georgia, but they were among the pioneers, in Cocoplum Cemetery, now known as Pinewood Cemetery.

I remember our family going there for the day, to clean up the family plot, and have a picnic lunch, during a break. My late Aunt Edna Royal, nee Perry, took my sister Audrey and myself on a walking tour through the family plot, identifying our relatives as we went, telling us how we were related to each of them.

Their tombstones are featured in the Galleries, but the title of the one they are in has changed. It used to be by itself, as Pinewood Cemetery, but I figure it has been combined under one of the Hisorical headings.

Don will know which one.

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Parks21-Nov-2011 01:44
Hi Guys, I stopped at the Pinewood Cemetery today. That’s the very old one in Coral Gables just South of Sunset Drive. It had been abandoned for many years but it is now being maintained. Most of the original headstones have been stolen but the group that is maintaining it now has replaced as many as they could. The new stones often have a little information about the person buried there. One stone said that the woman had drowned; another said that a man had been a fisherman and told the name of his boat. The first stone I saw had three names on it. Two of them died on Sept. 18, 1926, the other had died on Sept. 19, 1926. It also explained what caused their deaths. I bet you can figure it out. The son of one of these folks had died in January of the same year in a car accident. It was a very bad year for that family. I saw the grave of one civil war veteran and two Spanish American war vets. The last time I had been there was in 1969. I had taken photos then and one photo was of a hand made headstone. It was made from concrete and written by finger in the wet concrete was “Mrs. B.S. Medders Our Mother Gone but not Forgotten”. It also gave dates. I couldn’t find it today. I guess it was stolen. As I recall someone in our group that has family there. Who is that?
Leighton 20-Nov-2011 03:34
ANYWAY. Panhandlers aside, there are millions of folks suffering through this recession. My only observation would be, that while the media is quick to cover the devastation to the lives of so many, there is an unfortunate tendency of many of the unaffected, to look away from the problem..."Thank God, it's not I." I was hit particularly hard, myself, and it really hurt when people blurted out, "Well, EVERYONE is suffering." (No, I didn't whine about my situation, but I was often forced to explain why my life had changed.) No, not everyone is suffering. Having to cancel a vacation, is not quite the same as not being able to pay your rent, or buy groceries, or losing your health insurance. One friend actually said, ""I had to fire three people last week, take on their work, and cancel my trip to the beach." Poor baby.

Intelligent, hard-working people are constantly being told that they're "overqualified"...what puzzles me, is why businesses are not TAKING ADVANTAGE of the situation, and hiring these folks for a fraction of what they're worth. It's to the company's benefit. These people aren't going to grab the job, then run. This recession is holding on.

In regards to animals, I have NO idea what "Guest" is talking about. I have taken on four strays, myself, even if I can't afford them. They can't get a job at McDonalds...
Leighton 20-Nov-2011 03:13
May I say, I HATE all of the links at the top of these pages. I just typed a long post, and my cursor hit a link, and it was lost. Grrrrrrr
whitebelt18-Nov-2011 15:42
Guest, people have this severe reaction to other people who take advantage of their communal instincts. The nobler ideals of mankind taking care of his brother. Those who carry and share signs panhandling do just that.

I have been homeless and totally destitute. I have never ever panhandled or told a sob story to get money. Most real homeless are the same way. You don't really see them. You pick up change in parking lots, collect cans, and do a myriad of other things that seem to get you by. It is a pride thing. Things appear out of the blue to keep you going.

I have lived among those professional panhandlers. I have seen them close up and personal. In almost every case that money went primarily for drugs and alcohol. I have seen the sign used by those on the road, and as a means to get from here to there, but on a city street corner they are invariably the professionals.

If you want to help those people you don't feed their addictions and burned out souls. Cut a little slack on others who have had rough times and don't appreciate those so quick to take advantage of our better qualities.

Seek out those who truly need help, they are out there, believe me, not those who get in your face and say they are victims.
Miami Girl 18-Nov-2011 13:28
Guest (if you're still lurking around out there), I've certainly been called worse. If I'm a stupid twit in your world I take that as a compliment - thank you!
Roberta Perry Hughes 18-Nov-2011 08:26

Guest, FYI.....

Karma mean absolutely NOTHING to me, as I am NOT of the religious order who believes in it.

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Roberta Perry Hughes 18-Nov-2011 08:17

Put a sock in it, Guest, then, shut your cake hole.

Your are a big COWARD, in not identifying yourself.

Are ALL MEN, in your State, as much of a wuss as YOU obviously are....?

As Miami Girl stated, I was in reference to the obvious scammers that Parks witnessed.

Contrary to popular belief, feral animals cannot take care of themselves. Thrown away dogs, if they remain alone, will die from starvation, or dehydration, as they are not hunters, and they do not have the sense to get out of the rain, by seeking shelter of some sort.

Should they meet up with other feral dogs, they will form a pack, which is in their DNA to do so, and they have been known to decimate an entire herd of goats, over time, and become like a pack of coyotes.

Mature cats can, and do, have the ability to hunt for something to eat, and they seem to know where they can find water, and shelter. Little kittens, however, and little puppies as well, are vulnerable, due to their dependency for their care and feeding. They will starve to death, or get shot, if someone doesn't rescue them.

...."Bless the beasts and the children, for in this world, they have no voice, they have no choice...."
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Nike 18-Nov-2011 05:58
Guest -- I'd like to help you out. Which way did you come in?
Guest 17-Nov-2011 23:09
How do YOU KNOW that ALL the people on the streets are con artists?????? YOU DON'T. But, the FERAL ANIMALS can take care of THEMSELVES. Why don't you help a PERSON who REALLY needs HELP, you STUPID TWIT
Miami Girl 17-Nov-2011 21:44
Guest, nobody was talking about people who are hurting - it was a discussion about scam artists who make a living by pretending to be something they aren't, and taking advantage of people. In my opinion any animal is better than that loser!
Guest 17-Nov-2011 17:33
It's a SHAME that SOME people on here want to put a PERSON in jail that MIGHT be HURTING but will HELP a FERAL ANIMAL at the drop of a HAT. SOME people on here (hint hint from GEORGIA) have their PRIORITIES messed up REAL BAD. Just remember ...... KARMA
Nike 17-Nov-2011 14:33
Parks -- Nancy and I are in Napa Valley (St Helena) on our way to the Nike site on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. I am arranging for the transfer of two Nike Hercules for display at the Nike site at Everglades National Park.

The VIP "invitation only" tour for you, "The Don," and a few others is Wednesday December 7th from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. The critque meeting will be conducted at Robert is Here. Meet at the Ernest Coe Visitors Center at 12:45 where we will begin the tour.
Roberta Perry Hughes 17-Nov-2011 08:53

Miami Girl, I am so glad for Reba, that she developed that abscess, to instill immediate Vet care, and that she is doing well. I cannot begin to imagine the pain she endured, suffering in silence, bless her purring heart....!

Parks, thanks for the laughter....! I rolled, when I read about the dude with the gas can....and his repeat quest, and to someone who would recognize him....! Geesh....!
Talk about stupid criminals....!

Then, there was the account of the wheelchair-oxygen tank swappers, in the middle of the road, panhandling.

To me, these con-artists are in the same class with prostitutes, and need to be dealt with by the city police dept. in the same manner----the paddy wagon; take 'em downtown and book 'em; fingerprint 'em; fine 'em; and jail 'em. Also, if they are 100% scammers, who are ambulatory, and do not have any form of COPD that would require oxygen, then, confiscate their wheelchair, and the o2 tank, and donate them to a nursing home, or whatever.

We had a lot of (welcome) rain, and some boom-ditty-boom-booms, requiring me to shut down and unplug both computer and the phone line modem, due to lightning, and the tornado watch until 9pm, last night.

Our area was very lucky, to not sustain any fatal injuries from that storm system. We won't be able to view the footage and the photos until today, as the storm hit in the darkness. We always fetch our flashlights, and have them, literally, at hand, whenever a storm is out there.

Three or four died, as a result of that storm, in the State of Georgia.

Always a relief, to hear the quiet, when the storm has moved out of the area. Had it been daylight, I am sure there would have been rainbows, here and there, and many singing birds, and happy rain frogs, croaking their gratitude.

My thought always go out to the homeless cats and dogs, with no shelter, no warmth, nothing to eat, just soaked fur, making them shiver so hard, their sides ache.
Were I to be able-bodied, I most definitely would become a CCL, in a heartbeat.

I wish that citizens would get the tag numbers off the vehicles, of the cruel folks who unload 5 or 6 still nursing puppies, followed by their mother, at a dumpster site, and turn them in to the law. There should be a law, that would include jail time, community service, and a big fine, to boot, to the people who do this.

Out here, people have been known to turn their Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs loose, thinking someone would want them. We had a mean-tempered boar, to come up here, and he had tusks, and a bad attitude. When he ran the horses, I told Lewis, who was napping, and he never said a word, just got up, picked up his rifle, and made his way to where ol' B.A. Swinefeld was.

The menacing boar, turned about, away from our eldest horse, ducked his head, and charged at Lewis....BAM! went the crack of the rifle, and Lewis had dropped him, with one shot, right betwixt his beady, piggy eyes. The psycho pigger fell right at Lewis' boots.

His son drove up, just then, from Americus, GA, which was great timing, for a visit with us, and Lewis hitched the horse trailer to our truck, and enlisted his eldest son to help him load the Hog. He was a big 'un, too....! Took them both to load him in the back of the horse trailer. Lewis then drove over to Ben's house, who was tickled pink, to get him a fresh hog to roast.

Feral dogs and cats are one thing, but feral farm animals are a whole 'nuther ballgame. We even had a braying jackass, with an attitude, come down our lane, upsetting the horses. He lived down the road, so I called his owner, and she came out here, and herded that jack back home, going across the large field, next to our house, then crossing River Road, to get the jackass back in his pen....and using just a long switch, to just threaten him with, and a lot of mouthing off at him. It was a sight you had to see to believe....!
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Parks17-Nov-2011 04:36
It must be getting cold up north. The road side con artists have arrived in Miami for the winter. Religion seems to be a favorite tool to make you feel guilty enough to give them money. There is an interesting scam going on near the airport. There is a person who sits in the middle of the road in a wheel chair with an oxygen tank begging for money. The interesting thing is that sometimes it's a man in the chair and sometimes a woman. One time a guy came up to me in a gas station holding a gas can and asked for gas money. He had a good story. It didn't work out very well for him though. I had a gas nozzle in my hand. I stuck it in his can and gave him some gas. You should have seen the look on his face! Believe it or not the same guy with the same gas can approached me several days later in a resturant parking lot several miles away. I almost died laughing at him.
Miami Girl 16-Nov-2011 19:54
Nike, LOL - she can hope!!
Nike 16-Nov-2011 16:01
Miami Girl -- Nancy read you blog and promply advised me she has me scheduled to have two molars removed so I might be bright eyed and bushy tailed once again!
Parks16-Nov-2011 15:35
When I grow up, I want to be a crazy old cat lady. What is it about cats that inspires such a need to take care of them? Here in Miami it's The Cat Network that is trying to reduce the population of ferral cats. They are very good folks. They have built a mobil clinic that travels around the county offering low cost spay and neutering. It's called The Meow Mobile. Last week I was taking care of not only my own cats but three that belonged to friends. I was scooping seven boxes a day. That's a lot of cat poop!
Miami Girl 16-Nov-2011 14:01
Largo, keep up that work with the unwanted cats and dogs! When we lived near Ft Campbell, KY they had a big problem with feral cats when the 101st was deployed to Kuwait during Desert Storm. The families thought it would be a long deployment so a lot of the younger ones went back home and ended up just turning their pets loose. We went to the group and adopted two kitties who moved to NY with us and lived to a happy old age. If I worked in any organization that exposed me to homeless dogs and cats I'd turn into the crazy lady you sometimes hear about with 50 or more cats! So, I've decided to just donate money, food and any other needed items when I can.
While on vacation in St Augustine last week our 18 year old kitty Reba developed a swelling on her cheek, we planned to take her to the vet in two days when we got back, but then the next morning (last Friday) it turned into an open sore so she went immediately to Antigua Veterinary Practice. Dr Searcy performed surgery to drain the abscess and discovered it was two molars that had to be pulled. We cannot believe how much better she looked the next day. We thought the haggard look and runny eyes was only old age since the local vet checked her eyes and couldn't find anything wrong, but now she's bright eyed and bushy tailed once again! There's no telling how long her teeth were hurting and we think the runny eyes were tears! Talk about a major guilt trip!!
LARGO 16-Nov-2011 08:25
DON...I REALIZE THIS IS LATE...BUT I SCROLLED BACK TO OCTOBER AND READ OF THE LOSS OF YOUR KITTEN...SO VERY, VERY SORRY...THEY ARE A UNIQUE CREATION, AS THEY PICK THEIR PEOPLE. I WORK WITH A GROUP HERE THAT COLLECTS FERAL OR UNWANTED CATS, KITTENS AND DOGS AS WELL.....(THAT'S WHY I HAVE 4 OF THE LIL DARLINGS)...AND SEVERAL LOCAL VETS SPAY, NEUTER, AND DO FIRST IMMUNIZATIONS FREE FOR THE CAUSE....FERAL CATS AND KITTENS ARE A SAD FACT HERE.
LARGO 16-Nov-2011 07:59
WOW...I CAN'T GET MY LETTERS STRAIGHT...'MRR'...FOR MIAMI RIVER RAT...NOT 'MMR'...IT'S LATE...HELL IT'S TOMORROW!....LARGO
LARGO 16-Nov-2011 07:55
THANKS ROBERTA, PARKS, MMR AND JEAN(MIAMI GIRL)...MY BROTHER-IN-LAW IN JONESBOROUGH, TN. HAD A VERY BAD WRECK...AND THEY WERE HERE IN ST. AUGGIE NOT LONG AGO AND WE ALL HAD SUCH A GOOD VISIT...BROKEN RIBS, PUNCTURED LUNG...JUST A MESS...THANKS FOR ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT..AND SUPPORT...HOPEFULLY HE'S HEADING FOR SHALLOW WATER......PARKS YOU REMIND ME OF MARK HARMON'S CHARACTER... JETHRO GIBBS ON 'NCIS'...WORKING ON THE BEAUTIFUL BOATS!...YEP! MY ART KEEPS ME SANE-ish LOL...WORKING ON A PORTRAIT FOR A LADY DOC IN SEATTLE AREA...KEEPS MY MIND FOCUSED...DRIVE CAREFULLY FRIENDS..AND BE WELL....DON'T GO TO BED ANGRY....TELL YOUR LOVED ONES YOU LOVE THEM!!................LARGO
Miami River Rat14-Nov-2011 17:50
Parks, I really, like looking at the pictures as the canoe progresses. When I was six or seven, my mom's cousin built a 16' wooden fishing boat in our garage/shop. He was a perfectionist, so I learned a lot just hanging around.

Largo, sorry you're hitting a rough spot in the road. Best wishes from me, I'll be pulling for you.
Parks12-Nov-2011 05:03
HI LARGO! WE MISSED YOU. WELCOME BACK. HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING ANY ART?
Speaking of art. I was watching Antiques Road Show when a guy brought a rather badly drawn painting to be appraised. Let's call it a Primative. It reminded me of my friend Gonzo who is an artist. The painting had been done by a woman in Chicago it the 70's. Gonzo lived in Chicago in the 70's so I first thought it was one of hers. It wasn't, but I called Gonzo and asked her if she knew the artist. Sure enough Gonzo was friends with her. The artist was a little crazy and if she didn't like you, she wouldn't sell you a painting. Since she liked Gonzo, people would sometimes ask Gonzo to buy a painting for them. They sold for less than fifty bucks back then. I couldn't figure out why I associated this style of painting with Gonzo so strongly. Then Gonzo pointed out that she had one hanging on the wall next to her washer and dryer. I suggested to Gonzo that she move the painting to some where safer as the one on television had been appraised at $2000.
Snapper and I worked on the canoe today. We sanded it with 80 grit paper then wet it down. The wetting raises any fuzz on the wood and when it dried we sanded with 120 grit paper. It is wonderfully smooth and fair. While it was wet we got an idea of how it will look finished. It will be stunning. If you're interseted take a look:http://jmlynn.smugmug.com/Boats/Cedrus-Marie/13150192_UvHJA#P-13-10
Note the side stripe. It's a white basswood plank sandwiched between mahogany planks.
Roberta Perry Hughes 08-Nov-2011 09:52

LARGO....!! YOU HAVE BEEN SO MISSED ON HERE....!

I JUST SENT YOU AN EMAIL. SORRY TO MAKE THIS BRIEF, BUT GOTTA ANSWER SOME MORE EMAILS, AND THEN, GO STRETCH OUT ON MY WAITING BED.

HELLO, EVERYONE....! IT'S A GOOD TIME TO COOK OUT, SINCE IT WAS TOO HOT TO DO SO, THIS PAST SUMMER....! BETTER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS NICE WEATHER, WHILE WE CAN. I AM WANTING ME SOME BARBECUED BABY BACK RIBS, AND BRATS, ON THE GRILL. (drool)

TAKE CARE. BE WELL.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
LARGO 08-Nov-2011 01:01
I JUST READ SOME OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN MISSING.........I REALLY HAVE MISSED YOU ALL...I COULD USE A FRIEND OR SO NOW...IF YOU CARE: SHEILAALARGO@YAHOO.COM........SMILING........LARGO
LARGO 08-Nov-2011 00:56
HELLO FRIENDS...SORRY I HAVE NOT BEEN HERE FOR AWHILE...LOTSA FAMILY POO!..........I SINCERELY PRAY THAT ALL OF YOU ARE DOING WELL.........LARGO
Parks07-Nov-2011 16:06
Whitebelt, Thanks for the ideas. It was the big Space Bag brand that we had trouble with. Maybe I just got some bad ones. They have a zip lock type closure and I think that might be where we get the leaks. I'll try the tape idea. Pulling the staples went pretty fast. We hadn't driven them very deep and were able to just grab them with needle nose pliers. It did get pretty tedious. The sanding was actually fun. You could feel the wood taking the shape you wanted and see immediate results.
whitebelt07-Nov-2011 14:08
Parks, I would try another brand of bag, and/or double up or coat those you have with something. You have a bad seal, or that type of plastic "breathes" too much. It may be too thin for the pressure differential. If you can do plastic containers with your vacuum set up, you might try something like large plastic coffee cans if the preservers will shrink that much. Tape it good, but leave a tab to open easy. That foil tape used for duct work may work nicely, just fold over the end so you have a handy tab to pull. You may want a hole in the lid covered like that, too, in order to break the vacuum seal in a hurry. Might also be helpful to make sure the bags or can floats. Would be embarrassing if you capsize and your preservers sink, or you can't get the container open, especially while treading water in a storm.

That is a lot of staples to remove. Talk about tedious work.

Al, the woman I lived with is a bed linen and clothes hoarder. King sized bed linens, comforters, and the such. Those vacuum bags are a life saver, but we did discover tight shelves in tight closets jam packed with shrunk comforters and the such can be a real epic getting unjammed if the wrong bags spring a leak.
Arizona Al 07-Nov-2011 10:41
Whitebelt: When I relocated from the East Coast to Arizona in 1995 I had a plethora of cold weather gear that was not applicable/appropriate for the Phoenix area. After storing the in one full closet I discovered the vacuum sealer storage system on a television informercial which I purchased in 2000. To this date my closet full of winter garments has been vaccum sealed and stored in one quarter of the original space. I agree with you "vacuum is neat stuff". Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Parks07-Nov-2011 05:35
Whitebelt, I've used those big vacuum storage bags for storing life jackets on my boat but I have trouble getting them to hold the vacuum for more than a month or so. Do you have any hints for keeping them sealed?
I went down to Homestead today to work on the canoe with Snapper today. We pulled almost 800 staples out of her and gave her a good sanding. She's really pretty.
http://jmlynn.smugmug.com/Boats/Cedrus-Marie/13150192_UvHJA#P-12-10
Robert is Here is open for the season and was very busy.
whitebelt06-Nov-2011 13:57
Parks, I could have picked up that one in the consignment shop for ten bucks, but it sells for new at WalMart for about fifty. Will go with a new one. That one had no bags.

Vacuum is neat stuff. Have missed my old Robinair pump for air conditioning many times. A vacuum chamber is the best way to dehydrate watches that got wet. Or anything wet.

Have you used those vacuum bags for shrinking clothes and pillows? Stick a good vacuum cleaner nozzle into them and it turns pillows, sweaters, and foam into bricks. One of those heavy duty wet dry vacs can be quite a tool. Can save a lot of space, plus protect from bugs and elements. You can do the same with strong plastic bags, maybe doubled up, if you tie them off right. Those commercial bags ain't cheap. Careful about where you store, though. Pack too many in a tight space and a bag or two springs a leak and it can be a chore getting them out. Can come in handy packing suitcases, especially in winter.

Ran into a interesting phenomenon after moving out West and into higher altitudes. Car and bike tires lose pressure much quicker and randomly than back in the low altitudes and humidity. You have to check pressure often out here. Valve cores shrinking and the permeability of the rubber, and even plastics, manifest themselves much more rapidly in this thinner and drier air. Seems to have an effect on some gauges, too. Can be a big variation between gas station air pumps. When you can find one working and with the nozzle still attached. For some reason people steal those nozzles out here. I carry my own tire pump, electric, of course.

Read where they had another earthquake near OKC, a 5.6. Went on for a while. That is big enough to get your attention and do some damage. I was in a 5.3, in an 8 story building, that lasted for about 2 minutes once upon a time. Such experience can really draw your attention to just how insignificant one is is the larger scheme of things.

Had an interesting weather day here yesterday. Gusts up to 60 mph from the S and SW, yet not cold. Kind of a neat day, actually, invigorating, even though I almost got catapulted off the back porch steps opening the storm door to go inside. One of those Whoohoo! moments.
Parks06-Nov-2011 01:24
Whitebelt, Nice score on the multi-meter. I got Susan a vacuum bagger. She really likes it. About a year ago I had to close one of my stores. I traded some of the shelving to a restaurant for forty pounds of ribs. We vacuum bagged them and a year later they are still good.
Susan is planting her garden for the winter. She's got several varieties of heirloom tomato and various sweet peppers going. Some of them are from seeds saved from last years crop. Last year the garden just produced enough that it was all eaten fresh. This year I would love to get enough to preserve. Up until now the only thing we've managed to produce enough of to preserve is bananas which Susan dries.
Has anyone made sour kraut?
whitebelt05-Nov-2011 15:13
Roberta, I am not spending any more money on diversions for those perverted fish. The male guppy has settled down somewhat. He appears to be playing the field a bit more, though he still pursues that platy frequently, just not as intensely. He has even looked at the female guppy on occasion, but I suspect it may be a ruse to borrow her lipstick. She has shown some interest in a male platy herself. Guppies are weird. I am no longer going to get pulled into their little dramas. I will just feed them.

Read about an earthquake near OKC this morning. Another one on the southern side of the continent. Something is shifting.

Time for another testimonial for products that work. I use plastic and aluminum wrap very rarely, but when I do I tend to have problems getting the end and tearing them, which is usually accompanied by scraping myself with the cutter. The woman bought these dispensers from QVC or HSN two or three years ago that I wish I had stolen when i left there. They were plastic dispensers that worked flawlessly. The wrap came out easily, and it cut cleanly every time, and no scraped fingers. Colored coded for plastic and aluminum. Loved them.

Another kitchen gadget I wish I had was that vacuum sealer she got. The good one that could crush a can and can even do containers. I forget the brand name. Have to give her a call and find out. There is one for sale in a local consignment shop cheap. Getting the plastic stock is the pain in the butt. I go through a lot of ziplock bags.

Scored a goodie in that shop the other day. Got an old high end digital multimeter for 3 dollars, it sold for like 300 when new, and a clamp on ammeter for two dollars, something I needed to replace my old one that died. This one is even better. I'm a happy man when I find cheap tools.
Roberta Perry Hughes 05-Nov-2011 07:15

Whitebelt.....Perhaps if you rented the dvd's Mermaid, and A Fish Called Wanda, and played it for the guppy and platy, as a diversion, they would settle down....

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
whitebelt02-Nov-2011 15:53
Nah, Nike, I wouldn't really know it if I saw it. Would probably leave me cold and dispassionate, kind of like a dead mackerel. I like hot blooded passion.
Nike 02-Nov-2011 14:58
Whitebelt -- You haven't been watching fish porn on the Internet have you?
whitebelt02-Nov-2011 13:45
Wish I had another vice to take up the slack when I quit. An excess of women would be nice. Come to think of it, I will have more money to spend on them. :-)

Snowing here this morning. Just about the time I would be leaving for Denver, and it will get much worse the closer I got to it.

Interesting thing about my weird fishes. Over the last couple of days I have managed to catch the platy reacting in a negative way to the harassment by the guppy about 3 times. This harassment is almost constant. The guppy wanders off for a little while and then comes back and continues. The platy just kind of puts up with it, evading when it can, though it is larger than the guppy. But I have observed on those reactive instances the platy turning on the guppy and chasing it off, even across the tank. The platy will turn and glare at the guppy, then rush and attack it. This goes on for a few minutes. The guppy backs off, the platy gets an attitude, and chases it off, pass the point of just snapping at it. Then they go back to the same old routine.

A very emotional type of confrontation. Sort of like the schoolyard bully getting turned on. Kind of human like. This from very tiny fish brains. Something more than basic instinct. Makes you wonder.

This guppy is a very colorful character. Red, orange, blue, black, with an unusual long top fin that flaps like a scarf in the wind. I can picture him driving a sports car with the top down and dressed the part. Luckily for him that he has mellowed a tad since the initial problem arose. I really didn't want my cat to develop a penchant for playing with fish. Have a hard enough time keeping her out of other mischief.
Nike 02-Nov-2011 11:41
Whitebelt -- Congratulations on your decision to quit. It will be easier for yor now that all the Miami Rogues will be wanting a success report.

Before I quit smoking many years ago, I tried the patch but found myself chewing it longer each day. The taste was awful so, I just didn't buy any more. I stayed away from everyone about two weeks. By then, I had changed my cravings to deserts. You'll probably gain a little weight unless you get a lot of exercise or possible one of those who can eat anything. I hate them.

Parks and "The Don" -- I'm looking forward to coming down the first week of December. Aftar the visit to the Nike site, it's Robert is Here for a Key Lime shake.

I also quit alcohol 20-something years ago. Good ridance to both. I have probably saved $100,000 over the years, not to mention the smell and mess of cigarettes and the upset somach and headaches of alcohol.

Miami Girl 02-Nov-2011 03:30
Whitebelt, glad to hear you canceled your appt and trip to Denver. Not the best time for an 8 hr round trip. Best of luck in quitting the cancer sticks - you can do it if you really want to and it sounds like you're committed. Just save the money in a jar that you'd spend on them, it'll be an incentive. Don't keep a pack around "just in case" because you'll probably fail. It's easier when you don't have another smoker around. It's been 21 years since I quit and I still want one on occasion, but it passes in a minute. You can do it!!!
whitebelt01-Nov-2011 21:15
I don't really know about what the guppy could do, Roberta. Fish sex is something I am iggorant about. He has "sniffed" aggressively already. Other times he hovers behind the platy. A strange guppy is all I can say about him.

Canceled my appt in Denver for tomorrow. Snow forecast for there tonight and tomorrow and along I-25, and rain and snow here. That is an eight hour round trip.

I HAVE to quit smoking. Time for a new mental paradigm in my life, minus cigarettes. Will retire to my cave and go nuts for a while, maybe until Spring. Two and three packs a day for 45 years. I hate the smell and nastiness of it. Plus the expense. The only thing I have been enslaved to in my life. Tried the Wellbutrin, patches, etc before. If I can go a week with no distractions I will make it.

Tr

Roberta Perry Hughes 31-Oct-2011 11:40

Whitebelt....What will the male guppy do, IF he catches the male platy....? Just sniff him, or what....??

Re: quitting smoking. I wish you lots of luck.

I quit, literally, overnight, without any cravings for a cigarette....my family and friends were in awe, as I was a 3-pack a day smoker.

I quit, right after I recovered from breast cancer, September 2000. That'll do it. Just get diagnosed with cancer....in any location....and the desire to quit smoking is with you, night and day, until you undertake it, and succeed at it. For life.

How did I do it....? On Wellbutrin. NOT the generic. The Real Deal. It just zapped the craving for nicotine away from me in-a-flash, and I never felt any of the withdrawals from it....the nicotine....leaving my system, which made it more than tolerable.

I stayed on the Wellbutrin, as ordered, for about 3 or 4 months, making sure that the nicotine was out of my system. Then, I stopped taking them, as I had no need for them, any more, and I didn't want to trade one addiction for another, so-to-speak.

It really took the habit away from me, for good, for I cannot tolerate cigarette smoke, any more, and I can smell it, on smokers, as it is in their hair, on their clothing....just everywhere about them. I used to smell like that, too, I am sure. The smoker is totally unaware of it, of course.

Inside a smoker's home, nicotine has clung to the walls, books, bric-a-brac, carpets, draperies, curtains, blinds, upholstery....just on everything, including the ceiling.
One really needs to have Stanley Steamer come out, for the floors, clean the walls and woodwork, then, add a fresh coat of paint. Toss the drapes and curtains, blinds too, and buy new ones, chipping away at it, a bit at a time, 'til all of the contaminated surfaces are either cleaned, or replaced, ideally.

But that is not always feasible, nor practical....even if it is sorely needed.

In any event, lots of luck to you, and prayers for your success. While you are at the doctor's office, ask him/her about Wellbutrin, and if you should try it.

Hey....! It truly worked for me....!! And I am 11 years smoke-free, and cancer-free....!

************************************************************************************************************
whitebelt30-Oct-2011 11:54
It is truly a strange tank, Roberta.

There is a constant parade of the handsome male platy chasing a pregnant female platy with the colorful male guppy chasing the male platy, the guppy dashing in to check out just behind the platy's anal fin. Quite a threesome.

I am missing a couple of female guppies. One used to hang out at the top of the tank under the light, but I never saw her get any action. They may have run away, because I can't find their bodies. The lone female left is now getting hit on by the minnow guppy, who seems to be be growing up fast.

Guppies seem to be a little odd.

The neons just swim around doing their thing, and the goldfish stays busy looking for something to eat. They are all well fed.

The cold has arrived for the duration. Pretty much finished remodeling the hot tub room, just have to fill it it again. The dust and insect issues seem to be under control now. Pretty well sealed now, so much so I will be putting a vent on the roof to allow the humidity to escape. Think I will rest up a bit before that. Stays about 40% closed up without the furnace blower running. Drops to normal with the blower on. Single digit to the low 20's is the norm for this area.

Has been a strenuous year. Have beat the hell out of my hands the last month or so trying to get things done before winter. I take spells doing that.

Have to drive to the Denver VA Wednesday for a surgery consult about a hernia. Eight hour and $80 gas round trip just for a consult. VA services are spread real thin out West. My poor cat will freak with me being gone all day.

Trying to quit smoking again. I will do it this year. Will have the time to relax and concentrate on it.
Roberta Perry Hughes 27-Oct-2011 08:29

Whitebelt.....

Must be something in the water.....?

===================================================================
whitebelt26-Oct-2011 21:17
30ish gray rainy/sleety day in Greater Metropolitan Las Animas, CO, today. Kind of a nice reflective one.

Set up an aquarium a short while back. Started with a fancy goldfish and some neons, then added several guppies and platys. All the guppies were male, one of which is still a little minnow. But all of them died except for one adult male and that minnow. Male guppies just fight when a female is present.

The minnow would tag along with the male, and the male just ignored him. Then the adult male, who is quite handsome, developed a keen interest in an adult male platy who was quite the handsome devil himself, and does enjoy chasing the female platys. The guppy pestered the hell out of the platy, not attacking, but apparently looking for some sexual gratification or something. He got so bad and obnoxious I took him out and put in bowl, considering turning him into a cat toy. After a day or so I had a change of heart and put him back, thinking maybe the time out wold help his attitude. Didn't work. So after another day I got him again. Much harder to net that time. Went for 3 days and out him in again. Same thing. I will have order in my aquarium, so out he came again. If he lived in the bowl he would live. He was put in permanent solitary. He held on in there for over a week, long enough so he was there when the woman visited from New Mexico. She had great sympathy for the little fellow, having raised guppies in the past. She said he needed some females.

So, for a two dollar guppy I drove 25 miles to pick up 3 female guppies for him to enjoy and settle his nerves.

Has been almost a week and he still prefers that male platy, though not nearly as aggressive about it. The platy does chase him off on occasion, and the platy school has even ganged up on him. He expresses some interest in the females, but is hardly the horndog about it. He is hot for that platy. I have the feeling the minnow will be the first guppy baby daddy.

He has settled down enough so he isn't too obnoxious. Perhaps it is because I changed the decor of the tank a bit. Plants and color tastefully arranged.

Strange world. Of all the fish in it, I get one that has an identity crisis, sexual and species wise, which caused me to go to the extra trouble of improving the decor.

Two of those female guppies are rather attractive. Nice lines and pretty tails.
Miami Girl 25-Oct-2011 19:10
Whitebelt, THAT'S IT ---- the sky and atmosphere, also what I miss most. I always think of it as pure clean air compared to anywhere north of Tallahassee. Of course I know there are area's out West that are just as clean, but I've never lived west of KC. Whenever I see a TV show without knowing the location I can pretty well tell if it's Florida - there's just something in the air you can see, or sense, or something!
whitebelt25-Oct-2011 17:41
I think there was a bagel bakery in the Allapattah area of Miami where the bagels for the school bagel sales were procured. I LOVED those bagels. Big fat soft pretzel shaped with salty seasoning on them. Have not seen them duplicated since then. Could eat a ton of them.

Forgot about them. THOSE, and the sky and atmosphere are the only things I miss about Miami.

There was a house on Ludlam near or on SW 120th that put on a very impressive Christmas display in the 80's. Never went to the one at Tropical Park, but was very pretty passing by on the Palmetto.
Miami Girl 25-Oct-2011 12:38
Holsum Bakery..........YUM, that wonderful aroma continues to carry me back.
Roberta Perry Hughes 25-Oct-2011 10:18

Leighton....Our father always loaded us up in the Oldsmobile, so we could go to where the amazing Christmas lights and displays were, in the Gables, at Holsum Bakery, Cooper Oldsmobile, Singer, and of course, Anthony Abraham Chevrolet.

The residents of these tycoons were also spectacular, and it was as if they each were in competition with the others. I mean, every blade of grass, had a Christmas light on it, or so it seemed.

I recall a miniature church, on someone's lawn, and recorded chorale music was heard from inside it. It was well-lit, inside, and the parishioners and choir all looked so life-like. It was the biggest "doll house" I had ever seen in my life! It stood about
4 feet tall, not including its steeple and belfry. Such perfect details....!!

One lawn had an animated Santa, who waved at everyone, in-between his "Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!" and the ho-ho-ho's were delightful, to every child who was there to see it.

My favorite display was the fully-packed sleigh, driven by Santa, and pulled by his 8 reindeer, arced above someone's rooftop, like it had just been there, and was on its way to another rooftop....! Such an innocent fantasy, for children to behold.

My mother's favorite was a lawn display of a partial Nativity, as it only consisted of the Babe in the manger, with 3 gorgeous, and very Heavenly angels behind it, and to the side, and their white gleaming robes and feathered wings were enhanced by a flood light, which lit their halos, and the halo above the Babe, as well. It was the loveliest Nativity ever, and did not really need the other characters and animals, to make it a most breathtaking exhibit.

re: Anthony Abraham. May he rest in peace, reunited with his wife, and the dear friends who went before him. What a loving, generous, and deeply caring man he was. I did not know all of that, about him. All I remember is his Chevrolet dealership....(and how our Oldsmobile far outshone any of his new cars.) ;-)
..................................................................................................................................
Leighton 25-Oct-2011 04:25
Who was the guy who had the Christmas light display in the 60s/70s in the Gables????

I never remember being cold in Miami (60s/70s). We also bought bacon/pork chops at Publix. Never witnessed the carcass cooking, and all of our neighbors were Cuban.
Miami Girl 24-Oct-2011 21:48
In Cutler Ridge we had the small gas heater in the dining room and a wall unit in the hallway. Those jalousie windows sure weren't worth anything in keeping the wind out, my Dad put plastic on the windows that kept slapping against the screen and driving me crazy. Mom put a hot water bottle in the bed to warm it up, it was agony getting out of that cozy warm bed in the morning. My Mother was raised in Syracuse, NY and said she was never as cold as that first winter of '54/'55.
whitebelt24-Oct-2011 12:37
Cold weather in Miami.

BRRRRRR!!!!!!

All the clothes in the world couldn't stop that damp cold from reaching into your bones. Cold damp air reaching down to reach the sweat leaving your body from wearing so many clothes, sucking the life out of you, and causing pain. I was a skinny kid.

Has been mostly warm here. Just a couple of just below freezing nights so far. Have had the furnace set to 77 in the house, though, and 55 in the spa building. Been running a drill for the real thing. Have the spigots wrapped up and everything winterized. Waiting. Wednesday is supposed to drop down to the low 40's for day, and high 20's for night for a couple of days. I'm ready.

Already pulled up the dead flowers and preparing the beds for Spring. I like to hit the ground running. One nice thing about this really dry year has been even the weeds suffered.

Don, sorry to hear about your kitten. So young for that to happen. Reading about such, and winter coming, put me in a morose mode, which due to my age and life experiences I have turned into reflections on life and into a richer personal experience. I don't live in the past, but I have learned some things from it. Love this old song by the Country Gentlemen even though my loss of souvenirs is something I don't take as personal as most people do. It is what it was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlZPm_M5gD0

We are all older and Autumn is here already, if not Winter. We are flowers that bloomed in the Summer, suffering the elements and surviving on what we could draw energy from, and in some cases what some benevolent gardener may have helped sustain us with. The wind blew, the sun scorched, sometimes the water was too much or too little, but we survived, even the grasshoppers.

Our existence does not end when these leaves we carry fall to the ground. Just the memories of the growing season.
Nike 24-Oct-2011 10:05
Roberta- Thanks for the memories -- We had a kerosene heater which had a unique smell. The worst winter I remember in south Florida was the winters of 63 and 64 when I lived in a tent in the everglades on the Nike site before they built the barracks in June 65. It was 28 degrees one night. Them ain't no degrees at all.

Parks -- Nancy will be with me as always. Life's experiences wouldn't be near as enjoyable without her, except visiting old military sites. She usually takes a pass on those. However, we can do the tour together of Homestead AFB or wherever you and "The Don" have time to visit.

RE: Anthony Abraham - I only lived a few blocks away and remember the September showing of the new Chevy's that arrived under cover on the delivery trucks ans remained under cover until the showing, spotlights and all. Also, their Christmas decorations were always outstanding.
Don Boyd24-Oct-2011 07:03
And one more death to report from this weekend: Wayne Fariss, former newsman at WCKT-TV Channel 7, passed away.

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21005704209182/wayne-fariss-former-channel-7-journalist-dies-at-82/#.TqSZmTSS3mc.facebook

Don
Don Boyd24-Oct-2011 06:04
Roberta, thank you for your comments regarding our cat. Fortunately I have a bunch of photos of him on the site to remember him by including more to be added with our new kitten.

Parks, darn, I forgot about buying you lunch. Okay, it's your turn! I'm looking forward to it.

All: Mr. Anthony Abraham, a very well-known Miami auto dealer and generous benefactor to many, passed away over the weekend. Here is the Miami Herald article concerning his death:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted on Sunday, 10.23.11

Anthony Abraham: Auto dealership tycoon, philanthropist, dead at 100
BY CHRISTINE DOLEN

Philanthropist and auto dealer Anthony Abraham, a Lebanese-American businessman who devoted much of his life to helping those in need, died Friday at Baptist Hospital of natural causes.

On Feb. 25, he had become a centenarian, celebrating his 100th birthday with 375 family and friends at a lavish Arab-themed party at the Biltmore Country Club.
The dapper Abraham, always impeccably turned out in a suit and tie, was born in 1911 in Youngstown, Ohio. He was the fourth of seven children of Lebanese parents and became the only one of his siblings to attend college, graduating from the University of Detroit. He dropped out of law school during the Depression to work for the Chicago Evening American, then launched his own Help Wanted News and became wealthy when he sold it.

Abraham and his wife Genevieve moved to South Florida in 1951, relocating because George, the eldest of the couple’s five adopted children, was asthmatic. Soon bored with his early retirement, Abraham launched a Chevrolet dealership in the outskirts of Little Havana at the corner of Southwest Eighth Street and Le Jeune Road. He prospered again, turning the sprawling two-block business with its signature row of flapping American flags into the largest Chevrolet dealership in South Florida.

Throughout his long life, the savvy businessman with the omnipresent cigar was also devoted to numerous causes involving faith and philanthropy. As a child, he had vowed, “If, by the grace of God I ever could, I would feed the poor and help the sick.” He more than made good on that promise.

Abraham was the last living founding member of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., an institution founded by his actor friend Danny Thomas.
In 1976, Abraham and his wife founded the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, which has given millions to such organizations as Camillus House, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, America’s Second Harvest, Miami Children’s Hospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Alonzo Mourning Charities, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, Miami Rescue Mission and Boystown Catholic Charities. The foundation has also supported schools and hospitals in Lebanon and Haiti.

A founding member of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Coral Gables, Abraham was a long-time parishoner at the Church of the Epiphany in South Miami, where his funeral mass will be held on Wednesday morning. He also served as Lebanon’s honorary consul in Miami for more than three decades. The Anthony R. Abraham Family Gallery at the new Coral Gables Museum features an exhibit about his life and good works.

Abraham’s devotion to helping others led, indirectly, to the greatest tragedy of his life. In 1984, he arranged for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to treat the gravely ill daughter of friends Sam and Bea Joseph. Genevieve, Abraham’s wife of 37 years, drove from the couple’s Coral Gables home to share the news with their friends, only to be murdered along with the Josephs in a home invasion robbery.

Luis Rodriguez and Manuel Rodriguez were later convicted of the crime.

South Florida philanthropist Norma Jean Abraham said of her father, “We were very blessed to have him in our lives for so long. He lived to be 100. And I am very blessed that he chose me and my brother Tommy from an orphanage in Beirut, Lebanon, to become a part of his family. What I am today is because of him and my mother.”

Abraham is survived by his five children George, Thomas and Norma Jean Abraham of Coral Gables; Judith Abraham-Baker of Boca Raton, and Marion Abraham-Jones of Portland, Ore. his sister, Helen Shaker of Chicago; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Visitation is at Our Lady of Lebanon, 2055 Coral Way, Coral Gables, Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m, with a service at 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Epiphany, 8235 Red Rd., South Miami.

Miami Herald staff writer and columnist Ana Veciana-Suarez contributed to this report.

Read more:http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/23/2467961/anthony-abraham-auto-dealership.html#ixzz1bfsm0gH2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don
Miami River Rat24-Oct-2011 04:25
Concerning home heat in Miami, all we had was a gas stove. On cold days my grandma would turn the oven on and hang sheets over the entrance to the kitchen and in the back hall, just past the bathroom.
If you needed warm, you'd best be in the kitchen, hall or bathroom. Sometimes she'd heat a brick in that oven, wrap it in a sock and put it in my bed at the foot to keep my feet warm at night.
I remember arranging clothes the night before so in the morning I could grab everything fast and dash to the kitchen to get dressed. Miami just ain't fixed for cold weather!
Roberta Perry Hughes 24-Oct-2011 03:57

Dear Don,

I was saddened to learn of the loss of your little pal, Eddie. I most surely can empathize, and none but the lonely heart, left void, from the loss of a feline friend, can relate. Cat lovers are much different, from dog lovers.

I still weep over the loss of my beloved Ewok, who has been gone for several years, now. I miss having a cat in the house, and when he left us, it was the very first time in my life, that I was without a cat, and it was doubly painful for us, as we knew that we could never own another, due to our inability to give the care required, physically. Never ever, take on a pet that you will not give 100% of its care and nurturing. It would not be fair to the animal.

Parks, that pigger sure sounded delish....! Mouthwatering, in fact. Nothing as tasty, as a well-prepared porker, so succulent, juicy, and indescribable, in flavor. Such a delight, and lucky you, and your pals, to have had access to such a treat.....! I'm so jealous....!

Don, please post some photos of the upcoming Pan Am reunion for us to see. Photos are always the next best thing to being there.

Nike, Parks, Don, and spouses....Your Dec. 7th tour, with lunch to follow at Robert Is Here, sounds fantastic. I know that a great time will be had by all.....and again.....please share some photos for the rest of us, and many thanks, in advance.

It continues to be chilly, here in the CSRA....(the Central Savannah River Area)....but, so far, have not had to run the overhead heat. We are doing well, using a couple of those electric radiators, and closing off our bedroom and guest bedroom.

I recall my mother nailing large blankets, or quilts, to the wide open entry in our hall, to contain the heat from a small gas space heater in the dining room. That small heater would heat our living room, as well, and our gas range's oven, when in use, provided even more heat, in that area.

At night, the little heater's flames were turned down to little blue buttons, and just prior to bedtime, the large hall heater would be turned on to heat our 3 bedrooms, then, it would be turned down on low, and with that quilt still blocking the large open entry to the hall, along with our electric blankets, we were plenty warm.

When it was bitter-cold, the tiny gas bathroom heater would be on low, day and night, with the door closed. Everyone knew to knock first, before entering, or even holler out, if the bathroom were free.

Of course, the above related scenarios were after our family moved back to GA, and we lived in the country, once again. Winters can be brutal, in the South, with ice storms, power outages, and busted pipes, forcing the hauling of water, and many folks lost an entire Summer's worth of gardening, because they opted to lay by, via their freezers, rather than via Ball/Mason/Kerr canning jars, which, if done correctly, guaranteed fresh-tasting fruits and vegetables all Winter long.

Many do not believe it, when I tell them that our new early 1950's home, in S. W. Miami, had a gas space heater, or furnace, in the narrow hallway, and that there was more than a time or two, when it was put to use, as it got downright chilly, as early as October, and would be very uncomfortable, without the warmth from that barely-noticeable hall heater.

Did your family home have a gas heater, back-in-the-day....? Not every neighborhood had them, from what I have been told.

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Talk to y'all, later.....
__________________________________________________________________________
Parks24-Oct-2011 03:34
Don, I wasn't kidding about buying lunch. As I recall you bought last time and I can't make anymore jokes about you being cheap until I get even! I'm thinking lunch at El Toro Taco and desert at Robert is Here.
Nike do you have any time to play other than the 7th? I would love to do the tour of South Dade. We should at least see what remains of the base on 216 street.
Is your bride going to be with you?
Don Boyd23-Oct-2011 15:21
Parks, thanks for your comments. I miss him every day, he was a good buddy to me. What a damn shame he went so early. I was kidding about buying lunch, of course.

Nike, that sounds great to me. The NPS site is nice, especially the roster of gents who served. My friend's husband John Grother is on the list. I won't make any plans around that time. Hopefully we'll have a nice non-humid day out there. Thanks!

Don
Nike 23-Oct-2011 11:01
Parks and "The Don" -- Sounds like a good plan. Here is a link for a preview: nps.gov/ever/historyculture/hm69.htm
Parks23-Oct-2011 06:11
The roast pig was very well received. It was marinated in Cuban Mojo sause and other spices. The carcass was flattened between two grills that were put in a metal box with a small charcoal fire in the bottom. The box was covered and the pig was roasted at low heat for more than twelve hours. The flavor was wonderful. It was served with Moros (Rice cooked with black beans), Yuka with onions and garlic, and ripe plantains. I don't know how many people we had but it was a good turn out and everyone had fun. Tomorrow we're going to serve swordfish steaks.
Parks23-Oct-2011 05:50
Don, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I think only another cat person could understand the attachment you make to these creatures. When you're ready, black cats are wonderful. Everyone I've know has had a loving personality. The shelters are full of them because people have such stupid superstitions about them. I consider myself lucky every time I see one.
I would love to buy lunch on our trip to Nike heaven on Dec. 7th.
Don Boyd23-Oct-2011 03:40
Thanks Nike and Miami Girl. I still want an all black short hair male kitten so I can try again but in the interim taking care of the calico female keeps me busy. I will go to the county's animal control or the Humane Society to get one of theirs because they're downright cheap and already neutered and with shots.

Nike, I'd like to go on that visit out to the Nike site in the Glades and take photos. It shouldn't be hot and humid by then which is the only time I would do such a trip. Parks can buy us lunch at Robert Is Here.

Don
.
Leighton 23-Oct-2011 01:37
Ugh
Nike 22-Oct-2011 23:11
Don--Sorry to hear about Eddie. Sounds like you and Karen need to make trip to the rescue shelter. I find it dangerous to even go to PetSmart for litter or cat food. nancy can't stay out of the kitty farm. I'm always afraid sge'll bring a friend home for Demi.

Parks -- Susan is welcome to come also. I'm certain she is interested if former nuclear missile sites.
Miami Girl 22-Oct-2011 20:39
For anybody still in the Miami area, I just heard about a Boomer event at Tropical Park on Oct 29th. Can find info on Facebook name "Birdstock 2011" Created by the Bird Road Baby Boomers.
Miami Girl 22-Oct-2011 20:31
Don, so sorry for the loss of Little Kitty! It's hard to loose those faithful little friends - those "other people" just don't understand.
Don Boyd22-Oct-2011 16:35
Poor ol' Porky Pig! He would have made a nice house pet in Nike's condo in Atlanta and he would have loved the road trips staying in nice hotels like Nike's kitty does.

We lost our young cat "Little Kitty" (AKA Eddie) last week. He had been to the vet earlier in the day for his annual Leukemia booster shot and they think he had an allergic reaction to it. He was sleeping later that afternoon, uttered two howls and was dead by the time I got to him a few seconds later. He was my constant companion when I was home and only 19 months old. The vet did a partial autopsy and his organs were fine and the lab reported that his heart was within normal limits. The vet said it was the first time in 25 years of experience that he has seen something like this because the cat was in great shape physically. : (( It makes you wonder about the wisdom of taking your pet to the vet for preventive type shots.

Fortunately our daughter adopted a young stray calico kitten that came into our courtyard a week or two before Little Kitty died and she keeps me busy with feedings, a lot of playing and sleeping next to me when I'm downstairs. It won't be long before she masters the stairs and ends up in our bedroom at night. Such is life!

Whitebelt: thanks for the aviation links, I'll check them out. I'm going to the 20th anniversary Pan Am reunion dinner and party at the old Coast Guard hangar at Dinner Key this evening. They're decorating the hangar interior with old Pan Am stuff and it should be really nice. Also, your needle story made me cringe, so ditto on the "ouch!" posted by Miami Girl.

Don
.
Fran 22-Oct-2011 15:25
Parks,
Just reading your and Roberta's posts made me long for the cheeks and the ears of that pig. My dad smoked pigs every year for the family and friends. Now that's a Miami memory! Belly up to the pit, boys!
Roberta Perry Hughes 22-Oct-2011 10:14

Wow. $180 for a pigger. But then, that's only about $1.38 per pound.
However, that poundage includes parts that are not edible....by Gringos,
anyway....unless you include the possibility of casings for homemade
sausage, home oven-rendered cracklins/lard, homemade souse meat,
pickled pig feet, and the like, or use for fish bait/chumming, or for pet
food....??

Please, Parks....relate to us how this pigger will be prepared for consumption,
and tell us about how the various parts will be used....other than to end
up as offal, on a trawler.

I want recipes, and a report on the turn-out, re: flavor, tenderness, etc., and
if you prepared the ribs separately, or did a whole pigger on-a-spit.

I recall seeing a Gypsy Rom, roasting a pig in his yard. He had dug a hole,
for a fire pit, and rigged-up a spit over it, onto which the pigger was impaled,
through its body. It had a hand crank, and boy! Did that oinker ever sizzle,
and it emanated the most mouth-watering aroma, that filled the air, making
one's tummy begin to rumble.

I was visiting my sister, when she lived in Quantico, VA, and we were in her
car, waiting for her eldest boy to get out of Day Care/Kindergarten. The bldg.
was just across from the home of the Gypsies, and the Rom looked like the
cover of a Romance novel.

We were checking him out, and he noticed. He sliced a piece of the pork with
the blade of his gleaming knife, walked over to the car, and inquired, "You
like rrrr-rrrr-roast porrr-rrk.....? "

The mother of 3 boys, Audrey happened to have a supply of napkins at hand,
and accepted the proffered succulent meat. The handsome Gypsy flashed a
150-watt smile at us, just beaming with pride. We thanked him, and oh, yesssss!
We devoured that lovely, juicy slice o' pigger, wishing he would give us a
plateful, to take home to make a nice hot roast pork sandwich, with mustard.

Ooooooo....!! Wish I could be a guest, to be on hand to have me some of your
freshly cooked pigger, Parks.....! Yummy! And lucky you.....!!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Leighton 22-Oct-2011 04:26
Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Parks22-Oct-2011 04:12
Hi Nike! Pearl Harbor day at the Nike site, sounds like fun. December is a great time to be down here.
I had an interesting Miami experience today. We're having an event at my store tomorrow and one of our regular customers volunteered to cook a pig for us in a Caja China
(http://www.lacajachina.com/ ). It was my job to get the pig. I was sent to Mary's Farm way out on US 27. It was a big operation with a couple of dozen employees. It turns out that it is a USDA inspected slaughter house. I was worried that there might be a language issue but everyone I spoke to switched to English as soon as they found out I was a gringo. The first guy I spoke to looked to be an old Cuban man, he was that but he was the USDA inspector as well. I asked him how I went about buying a pig and he told me just how to do it. Following his directions, I turned a corner and was faced by pens full of different size pigs. Several people were ahead of me and they carefully picked out the pigs they wanted. The pigs were then weighed and driven away. When it was my turn I asked the guy to pick one out for me that weighed about 140 pounds. After some time in the pen, he selected one and led it by its ear to the scale, 131 pounds. I gave him a thumbs up and the pig was led away. I was given a paper with the pigs tattoo number (35) and its weight. I took the paper to the office where I paid about $180.00. I walked back to where a crowd of people were waiting for their pigs. I sat in my car, read the Herald and every so often a guy would come out and call a number. When someone answered he'd go back inside and come back out with a carcass slung over his shoulder and a plastic bag of innards. These would get dumped into the trunk of a car, some pretty fancy, and off they would go. I had an ice chest and the fellow dumped it in there then helped me lift it into my truck. As I drove out there were men across the street selling big bags of Carbon (charcoal), gallon jugs of Mojo sauce, and sour oranges. I can't say it was pleasant but it was a lot better than I feared. I was really worried that it would smell, but it didn't. It just smelled like a farm yard. They also sold sheep and goats.
Charles Knight 21-Oct-2011 13:08
Hello Roberta, I am still alive. Working a lot (thank God). Hope all of you are well!
Miami Girl 21-Oct-2011 12:29
Roberta, Charles Knight is alive and well on fb, don't know why he isn't here anymore.
Nike 21-Oct-2011 12:28
Parks -- I'm coming down the week of December 5th to conduct a training class for the Park Services staff on the Nike site. We'll get together then. Of course we'll do a VIP tour for you. It will be on Wednesday December 7th.

Key Lime shakes at Robert is Here for lunch.
Nike 21-Oct-2011 11:37
Parks -- I'm coming down the week of December 5th to conduct a training class for the Park Services staff on the Nike site. We'll get together then. Of course we'll do a VIP tour for you. It will be on Wednesday December 7th.

Key Lime shakes at Robert is Here for lunch.
Roberta Perry Hughes 21-Oct-2011 06:33

Adieu, "Moron Godawful," formerly of Libya. Not the most flattering image,
I must say, but not out of sympathy.

So. What happens, now....? Who is Head Camel Rider, now, and will he
be any better than the deceased one was....?

Just curious.....

Glad to see y'all back, 'n postin' again, Parks, 'Rat, 'n Az Al, and that all is
well with you guys.

I got a responsive email from LARGO, & several from Charlis, but has anyone
heard from Charles Knight....?

There are several, who check in, just to read the news on here, and catch up,
but don't hang around long enough to post a comment.

There is no "who's on line?" tattle-tale box, for us to know if anyone is lurking
about, or who is online at the same time we are, no matter what the hour may
be, so that we could, maybe, jump in, and say "hello" to them, maybe, coax a
little conversation out of them.

The air is gettin' nippy here, too. In fact, supposed to be in the 30's this morning.
I long for Spring, already. Winter is such a drag.

Talk to you folks, later. Parks.....beeeee careful, with them insects, when you
get them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parks21-Oct-2011 05:08
Hi Roberta, I'm alive and reasonably well! No movie nights lately, the founder of Florida Movie Night has been in Pennsylvania for the summer so things have been on hold.
I’ve been having neck problems but a cute physical therapist and percocet have made it bearable.
I’ve been “supervising” Snapper as he does the skilled work on the canoe. Next we pull the staples and start sanding. Here’s the link to the pictures if anyone is interested.
http://jmlynn.smugmug.com/Boats/Cedrus-Marie/13150192_UvHJA#P-1-10
Robert is Here is closed until sometime in November. Crops are starting to come out of the ground in Homestead. Susan is planting tomatoes. I took a bee keeping class and have ordered a hive for the back yard. I’m hoping it will increase fruit production on our various trees. Getting honey would bee a bonus. Today we had our first cool weather. I’m really looking forward to winter in Miami! Come On Down.
Miami River Rat21-Oct-2011 03:59
Miami Girl nailed it on the guy that bit the dust.

As for earthquakes, I don't intend to let them keep me from Beale Street the next time I pass through Memphis.
Nike 21-Oct-2011 03:58
I have a feeling the 28 virgins didn't show up.
Miami Girl 20-Oct-2011 21:26
Another one bites the dust and lets hope he's enjoying his own little corner of hell.
Miami Girl 20-Oct-2011 21:23
Don't visit Memphis any time soon. I have to agree the New Madrid will be slipping soon. When we lived in Clarksville, TN (40 miles north of Nashville) we purchased earthquake insurance and everyone laughed until some scientist came out in the early 90's predicting a big one and the ins. companies weren't selling it anymore! Lucky it didn't happen, but the cost was minimal so we weren't complaining.
whitebelt20-Oct-2011 20:08
Leighton, something is moving. There was a 3.8 just north of Santa Fe a couple of days ago. Very, very rare. There were a couple more, one a five, just a couple of months ago around the NM/CO border. Earthquakes are rare, believe or not, in NM.
Leighton 20-Oct-2011 16:27
Hmmmmm, we had a minor 4.6/4.8 earthquake this morning in SA - I was asleep. Very rare. Felt a few in LA, in the 80s. Actually, another in West TN in the 70s. I think it's going to be the New Madrid Fault, from St. Louis down to Memphis, that lets go, first. In 1811/1812, it released several 8.0's, four of the strongest in US history. Few releases since - and those major cities have no earthquake codes, to my knowledge.
Nike 20-Oct-2011 01:26
Alive and well in DC
Arizona Al 19-Oct-2011 11:28
Roberta: I am alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona. Alan Ogus, Ph.D.
Roberta Perry Hughes 19-Oct-2011 10:07

LARGO.....!!!

WHERE ARE YOU....? HOW ARE YOU, THESE DAYS....? I MISS YOUR POSTS....!!

CHARLIS.....THE SAME GOES FOR YOU....!!

RAT.....HOW BE YA....?? MISS YOU, TOO....!!

PARKS....MISS YOUR POSTS ABOUT "FLORIDA MOVIE NIGHT." WHEN WAS THE LAST ONE, AND WHAT FILM DID YOU-ALL SEE....?? WHAT WERE YOUR REFRESHMENTS AND DECOR....? DETAILS, PLEASE....!!

ARIZONA AL....WHATCHA BEEN UP TO....??

HOW'S EVERYBODY'S KITTY CATS DOING....?? UPDATES, PLEASE....!!

CHARLES KNIGHT....WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING....??

WHEN THE 'USUAL SUSPECTS' BRING THEIR MUSINGS TO A SCREECHING HALT, I GET WORRIED ABOUT THEM.

I DO SO HOPE THAT EVERYONE'S WELL, AND FEELING GOOD, AND THAT THE ONLY REASON THEY HAVE NOT POSTED, RECENTLY, IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SUPER-BUSY, ENJOYING OTHER PURSUITS, AND THAT WHEN TIME PERMITS, WILL SIT DOWN AT THEIR KEYBOARDS, AND RELATE IT ALL TO US. SOON.

JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW, I AM KEENLY AWARE OF YOUR ABSENCE, AND THAT I TRULY MISS YOU, AND LONG TO HEAR A WORD OR TWO, EVEN IF IT'S JUST TO SAY "hello."

HUGGIES TO ALL, AND A KISS, TO ALL OF YOUR FOUR-LEGGED MOUSE HOUNDS.

Today, Paul McCartney's song is playing in my head, without ceasing....

...Will you still need me....? Will you still feed me....? When I'm Sixty-Four....!?

Shucks, folks. I'm gonna lie my ass off, and tell everyone that I'm 46, by God. Turn it backwards. LOL

OR....How about "Twenty-thrice-'n-four"....? Tee Hee.

All my best, to all of you....

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whitebelt18-Oct-2011 10:46
Don, a couple of links about aviation, one of the past and one of the future.

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Around-the-world--in-style

A Pan Am stew of the glory years.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.a7531fdac8c142d68b402738294123a2.2a1&show_article=1

That Richard Branson has style. Opening up space travel to private enterprise will really accelerate advancement in it.
whitebelt17-Oct-2011 14:45
Roberta, your post was actually very enlightening and good advice. You did make me aware of some things. I was just making a joke.

Doctors are a last resort for me.
Fran 17-Oct-2011 14:32
Cute Roberta,
I do hope that your humor does not go unnoticed. Kinda caring, kinda concerned, kinda stiff in nature...

Whitebelt,
Mums are in, flowers are blooming, herbs gathering the sun, life goes on...:)

This is the time of year I miss Florida the most. Oh, well...
Roberta Perry Hughes 17-Oct-2011 11:33
Whitebelt.....

My "lecture" was meant to be humourous-but-factual.

However, I see it was not needed. You are a tough one, and you got very lucky, that you were able to ward off infection.

I guess it was due to the memories I have of having seen something as small as a hangnail, cause a man to lose the first digit of his thumb, as a "worst case scenario," to another, who merely had to have a drain sewn-in, with iodoform gauze packing, after the drain was removed, for a few days' duration, plus oral antibiotic treatment, and when the packing was removed, the wound had to be allowed to heal from the inside out....which it did, leaving a dimpled area, where a nail had created the wound.

I am glad to know that you know what to do, whenever "things get stiff."

Take care. Be careful.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
whitebelt16-Oct-2011 17:52
A good thing I didn't post that to elicit sympathy from women. One, Ooh, that must have hurt, one expression of pointed humor, and one lecture.

:-)

Roberta, I am very alert for those signs of infection. So far i have been able to fix them with Epsom salts and hydrogen peroxide over the years. This would have caused a visit to the doctor if they showed up. Too deep to reach. Good thing I am nastier than most things that attack me.

I can bend my finger almost all the way now. It is healing OK. I've always been good about that. Was real stiff, and painful for a day or so there.

One thing I have found in my home schooled country doctoring is when things get stiff, it is best to just keep using it. Keep it clean and work the hell out of it. You make it work. The body does its evolutionary things and there is usually discharges of the fluids built up, relieving the tension.



Roberta Perry Hughes 16-Oct-2011 08:46
Whitebelt....

Anytime something like that occurs, and it does not bleed, try and see if you can make it bleed, by squeezing it, milking it, allowing the germs that got inside there to have a route of exit.

Puncture wounds are tricky. The germs that were on both your skin, as well as on the needle, were literally injected, sub-dermally, and were sealed inside, upon the withdrawal of the needle. That's why you saw little or no bleeding.

When your white corpuscles come-a-running to play Pac Man with the foreign invaders, it's the friction, resulting from their rushing-to-the-scene where needed, that brings about a fever, and when they literally die for you, the mass carnage of their dead bodies is witnessed in the form of pus.

If you see a red streak, emanating from the wounds, or you feel heat, in the vicinity of the wounds, or swelling, and much tenderness, or painfulness to the touch, get thee to an M.D., ASAP. You could have blood poisoning, and sepsis is a life-threatening situation.

If infection does set up, the doctor may want to drain the wounds, disinfect them, and dress it, and give you instructions on how to care for it, before your follow-up visit with him or her, in however many days he or she determines. Doc might also want to put you on antibiotics.

Don't play around with wounds of this nature, most especially when inflicted under contaminated conditions. It may seem like a trivial "jab" to you, now, but it could
well develop into something very ugly to have to deal with in the days to come.

Be careful, next time. Safety first, always....! Get the big picture, before you tackle a
project, thinking ahead, about all of the, "Well, I wonder what would happen if I did this, or that?" scenarios.

Case out the situation, and project any actions, ahead of time, to determine if it would cause an injury.

But....when all else fails....always remember, to.....

"Act like a man, but think like a woman." And ask yourself, *WWAWD....?
(*What Would A Woman Do?). ;-)

BTW....A woman would have thrown that clogged aerosol can away, thinking of the possibility that, if you go to messing around with it, it could explode. You never can tell, and why take the risk of that happening....?

Be safe. Be warm. Take care.

===================================================================
Fran 16-Oct-2011 02:06
Whitebelt,
Well said...life, just passing through.:)
Miami Girl 16-Oct-2011 01:46
OUCH!!!!!!!!!! That's all I can say about that.....
whitebelt15-Oct-2011 11:00
One would think that with age and experience one would develop better sense and the ability to avoid negative results from one's actions, utilizing reason and brains in order to achieve an objective with the minimum risk of injury.

I have so many scars on my hands that my fingerprints are in a special section of the FBI files. I have mucho experience in learning things the hard way.

However.

I have this pin vise with a sharpened saddle stitching needle inserted I use on occasion to clean out holes, cracks and crevices on small devices. That is a long needle. Yes, I have punctured myself with it before. I was aware of it potentials from misuse.

The day before yesterday I was standing in the garage attempting to clear the nozzle of a spray gap sealing can. One of those things that spray out that foam. Holding the nozzle in my left hand and digging at it with my right hand and the needle. I knew better. Even more so when it slipped once and I almost stabbed myself.

But that didn't stop me.

So....

I dug a little too hard freehand again and observed and felt the needle puncture and pass through my pointing finger diagonally from next to the knuckle by the fingertip to the next lower knuckle. My eyes had not opened so wide for a very long time. I immediately pulled it back out, and I just hate that little ripping sensation one gets from such. This was accompanied by much self-recrimination and and a few choice self descriptive words about my intelligence. Then I discovered it had not only penetrated and passed through that finger, but also the next one, and into the third. However, it ran out of length to pass through the last.

I felt real dumb.

I cleaned the wounds and put small bandaids on them. There was not a lot of bleeding. I continued with my endeavor, but wound up throwing the can away because it was clogged just inside the aerosol portion out of reach, and I really didn't feel up to tackling such.

Worked all day with no real detriment to my manual dexterity. But did it ever get sore that evening. And even more so yesterday. Of course I had a lot of knots to tie yesterday. It was screaming last night. But better this morning.

Funny how something stupid you do can take a while to cause you pain.

I guess I am still young and stupid.


Nike 09-Oct-2011 17:25
Leighton -- It is better than some but showing it's age a bit. It was clean, had a good rate, allowed cats, and a Starbucks within a mile. What a country.
Leighton 09-Oct-2011 15:16
Hello, Roberta,

FINALLY, a nice rain here - steady for a few hours. Much needed. The birds are having a party - haven't heard this much chirping in almost a year.

As you say, good health (or a variation of it) makes the rest of the funhouse, much more tolerable.
Leighton 09-Oct-2011 15:06
Nike - curious about the condition of the former Sheraton, now Holiday Inn. I worked there for a year, 1987 - 88, prior to moving to Texas. The place was brand new. I had just left grad film studies at USC-LA, and wasn't sure what to do with my life. I'm glad that I took the year "off" - I spent my free days at our family's cabin, an hour away. A few years later, the cabin was sold - a major loss to me, personally. It was one of my favorite places on the planet. I still go up there, and peek in the window, feeling very odd, and sad. The person who bought it, still owns it, and he has let is deteriorate. As a kid in Miami, we'd always drive up and stay for a month, every summer. (My grandmother lived in Elizabethton, 10 miles from JC.) The cabin was probably about three miles from the Appalachian Trail.

I wish that the Tri-Cities knew what to do with their downtown areas - each has plenty to work with, but no local "drive" to improve the situation.

Did you go to Peerless, across the street from the hotel, again?
Nike 07-Oct-2011 13:24
Miami Girl -- Thanks for that and we'll use them on our return trip. I should have checked in advance.

Hmm, I wonder if the White House is pet friendly? Actually, I have a smark-aleck answer here but I'll keep it nice.

Thanks Roberta. I got that hug and sent one back to you and Mr. Lewis.
Roberta Perry Hughes 07-Oct-2011 06:44

Hello to all ye Rogues 'n Roguettes....!

Just loggin' in to let y'all know, we are still kickin'.

Hope all is well, with you & yours, with only the best of weather, & health.

It is a treasure worth more than gold, just to feel well, any more.

Hugs, all around.....

##########################################################################
Miami Girl 06-Oct-2011 14:34
Nike, we just returned from Kingsport (the in-laws all live there) and stayed at the Jameson Inn with our cat, it's right down the road from MeadowView - if you ever go back. Also there's the LaQuinta out by the Tri Cities Airport. We always use petswelcome.com to find pet friendly hotels.
Leighton 06-Oct-2011 02:14
That Holiday Inn is the former Sheraton Plaza. I worked there as a desk clerk in the 80s. MeadowView - had a horrible Thanksgiving dinner there once, but it's the best hotel in the Tri-Cities. They added a new wing last year.
Nike 06-Oct-2011 01:39
Leighton -- That's the place. Although the conference was there where I spoke, they aren't "cat friendly" so we stayed at the Holidy Inn in Johnson City and I made the drive. The room had been provided at no charge as part of the speaker fee. Unfortunately, I had to pay for the room at the Holiday Inn.

What we do for our cats.
Leighton 06-Oct-2011 01:21
Don't know that place. I do know the MeadowView Marriott Resort in Kingsport.
Nike 03-Oct-2011 21:54
Leighton -- Thanks for asking. Bristol was enjoyable. The conference was at the Meadowbrook Conference Center. A beautiful dirve last Wednesday through the Shanandoah Valley was what I needed to transition from summer to fall.
Leighton 03-Oct-2011 02:31
Nike - how was Bristol?
Leighton 03-Oct-2011 02:29
At least we were down to the upper 80s...one more day, this Friday, of 90 - then I think we're done with that! (Was 100+ through this past week.)
Nike 02-Oct-2011 22:32
High temp today in DC - 52 degrees
Leighton 01-Oct-2011 05:13
I cannot imagine giving a child a BB gun. No, none of my childhood friends ever had a BB gun. I'm sure kids would have a blast playing with real swords, as well, but...

We had cap guns. But we were more interested in Clackers, yo-yos, banana bikes, water rockets, climbing trees, Hot Wheels, etc.
Fran 01-Oct-2011 02:00
Whitebelt,
Good to hear progress! I'll think of you, when we have our first snow. The joy of seeing snow flakes!
whitebelt01-Oct-2011 00:42
I was in my 30's before I got my first BB gun or bike.

My roof was finished a short while ago. They had to remove one and a quarter inches of concrete that covered the old one. It was hail proof, maybe even 747 proof. New decking over the original. Very tough roof. Hope the wind doesn't blow the house away now.

New roof, new furnace. Another day or two and I will call the spa building done for a while. Then some minor yard work. Then I will clean house from stem to stern and top to bottom and go into hibernation. No more tracking that damned outside dust in like I've had to. I'm whupped.

Let it snow. I want a two inch snow every few days until March.

My cat is quite relieved there is no more rude disruptions to her routine.
Miami River Rat30-Sep-2011 13:57
The "Guest" below was me. Got logged out somehow.
Guest 30-Sep-2011 13:55
I thought everybody had a BB gun at some point in their life before, say, their 12th birthday. I've made certain that my children and all the grandchildren got a BB gun, and several of the girls became very proficient at sinking coke cans in the pond by shooting holes in them.

No, there is no NEED for a BB gun, but there sure is a lot of great fun to be had with one.
Parks30-Sep-2011 05:23
Hi Leighton, Did you know there was a shooting range on the University of Miami Campus? I think it's gone now but I took shooting lessons there in the Sixties.
Leighton 30-Sep-2011 03:16
I never knew anyone who had a BB gun. Didn't exactly need one in suburban Miami, or my later TN years, for that matter. The only time that I fired a gun, was in a "hunter's safety course" in high school - odd requirement.
Arizona Al 29-Sep-2011 14:18
Parks and MRR: I still have my Daisy Red Ryder and Daisy Pump Model 25 BB Guns from my youth. They both still fire relatively well. I graduated to a Daisy 880 (Arkansas Can Opener) in the 1980s. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Miami River Rat29-Sep-2011 08:03
It's surprising how good you can get with a BB gun with enough practice. The Seminoles at Musa Isle used to throw their garbage on a big trash heap right on the bank of the North Fork. An Indian boy named Calvin and I shot so many rats back there that we could just about call where our BBs would hit the rat, head, front body or back. Back, they'd usually hobble down a hole unless the other guy was ready to finish him off.

I can't believe the Herald is moving out there! One time in the late '50's a Miami City Councilman called that whole area "Possum Hollow". Rock roads, junk yards, abandoned cars and broken house trailers was the scene from 27th avenue along both sides of the river all the way to Hialeah.

First Hopkins-Carter, now the Herald will grace Possum Hollow. Parks, ol' buddy, you are going to have a serious traffic problem with all those new folks working there, unless they do some major road building.
Parks29-Sep-2011 03:23
On the subject of BB guns, I remember one Christmas finding two Daisy Model 25 pump action BB guns under the tree. One was for my Dad and one was for me. My Dad put the hurricane shutters up on the dinning room windows to protect the glass from BB's. We would put Necco candy wafers on the window ledge to shoot at. When you hit them they would shatter, much fun. It was kind of a Norman Rockwell moment with my Dad. As I grew into a teenager, the Norman Rockwell moments disappeared.
Parks29-Sep-2011 03:12
Rat, I've got a BB gun in my office. Let's go shooting. The Herald moving near my store is actually history repeating it self. When the Herald was on Miami Avenue, Hopkins-Carter was right across the street. A few weeks ago I sent an email to the publisher of the Herald suggesting the Bertram site. I got a nice note back that saying they would consider it. I suspect they were already negociating with the owners.
Miami River Rat28-Sep-2011 08:45
So that's where the Herald is moving to? I kicked a lot of cans, shot up probably ten-thousand BB's and got chased off many a docked boat right around that very spot, back when all the world was new and the Herald building was still downtown as newspaper offices should be.

I'm starting to believe that the downfall of modern civilization started when the Dodgers left Brooklyn, followed soon by the Herald moving to the bayside.

One of these days Jackie, PeeWee, Campy and The Duke will once again wear Dodger Blue in Ebbets Field, you'll be able to get both the Miami News and Miami Herald newspapers, and Parks can come storming out of his store and chase me and my BB gun totin' friends a little farther up the river bank.

Or if that don't happen, we can still dream that it might......
Don Boyd28-Sep-2011 05:43
Parks may someday have a new neighbor at his store?
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/27/2428500/herald-may-move-to-bertram-site.html

Don
Leighton 27-Sep-2011 05:01
As a film person, I appreciate the link....especially the plug for "locations" - my field. I wish that the studio had been as active in the 80s, when I was studying film at UM....
Parks27-Sep-2011 02:31
Ivan Tors Studio promotional film.
http://floridamemory.com/items/show/232437
Fran 26-Sep-2011 15:10
Parks,
Knaus Berry Farm will open in November too. They had a successful year last year shipping their products. I am ordering as much as I can the first week of November. I'm glad to know that I won't have to make the 15 hundred mile trip. Thanks for the info about Robert Is Here and the Knaus Berry Farm location.
Parks26-Sep-2011 01:49
Hi Sherry, Welcome to the nut house. Tell us some of your other Miami Memories.
Florida Report: It's getting time to start planting gardens down here. I drove around Homestead today after watching Snapper work on the canoe. Pole Beans are planted and out of the ground. The plastic is down for planting tomatos. Robert is Here is closed until November for remodeling and painting.
Sherry Dawkins 23-Sep-2011 15:56
I was looking for the Greatest Teacher I ever had Mr. Robert Lee Krenz, and stumbled upon this site. I grew up in Hialeah in the 80's. I had Mr. Krenz one year in Summer School at Palm Springs Junior High and I was impressed. Then we moved and I was transferred to Miami Lakes Junior High (his home school at the time) and requested him as an English teacher and the guidance counselor said "You WANT Mr. Krenz as a teacher?" She also said that most people try to get OUT of his class. Mr. Krenz, if you ever read this I wanted to let you know that you had a huge influence on my life in so many ways, you were the BEST teacher one could ever ask for and your strictness was just what we as Junior High students needed in our lives. I am not sure if you remember me, but last time I tried to contact you, you were teaching at Jose Marti Middle School and I was in college at that time to earn my degree as an English Teacher! I wanted to let you know then how much of an influence you had on my life and thank you for always being there for me back then when MY life was havoc! I hope that someday you will stumble upon this message like I did when I found another message written about you here from another former student of yours who was also positively influenced by you. THANK YOU MR. KRENZ!!! Please feel free to contact me via the e-mail address given if you wish.
Roberta Perry Hughes 23-Sep-2011 10:26

Oh, Nike....your words brought tears to my eyes, re: your regard of me, as I was very touched by them, for I am not worthy of such praise. I thank you, however. I really appreciate it, more than you know.

We finally got some much-needed rain, for two nights in a row. Got 2" the first night, & 1.5" the next. The grass sang the "Hallelujah Chorus," accompanied by the croaking of the rain frogs. Hadn't heard them in a long time.

Got enough rain to turn over the tickle box, in our riding lawn mower.

The a.c. in our L/R went ka-put. Made a loud, noise, like when something metallic is in your clothes dryer. Lewis said it is a bearing come loose, in the fan part. Happy day, huh?

This close to Fall....TODAY, as a matter of fact, is the first day of Autumn....I am not going to bust my heiney to buy a new one.....unless there is a Big Sale....?? ;-)

Come to think of it, they just might put them on sale, along with fans, too....? That would be mighty tempting.

Where I live, the rain that we get, in Winter, is the rain we wanted, all Summer long, & Winter rains don't know when to quit: beyond saturated yards; crested ponds; muddy lanes, & Georgia red clay roads, slick & as slippery as owl dung, with mud that is mid-calf deep, to make driving treacherous, especially for the school buses, & the rural mail carriers, the poor fellers 'n ladies.

Flash flood warnings are flashed across the TV, like a teletype, along with storm warnings. Last year, there was a tornado, in January.

Only the evergreens retain their color. Everything else is in hybernation, & the big oaks & other trees are barren of leaves, with their spookily thin, spindly arms, with claw-like fingers, reaching out, like something in a horror movie.

The skies are bleak, & overcast, & all of the colors, of Summer & Spring, are replaced by a landscape done over, by The Artist, in his woeful palette of black & white, with many shades of gray.

Once-gentle breezes are now bone-chilling gales, that whip right through you, & even freeze your face, making it numb, & your head feels like there is a block of ice in your sinus cavities.

Old Man Winter stays far too long, to suit me. It is my least favorite season, & it would be so very sad, to leave this world in Winter's chill.

How I long for Spring, already.

By the way.....

FLU SHOT TIME, EVERYBODY....!! ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND JUST DO IT.....!!
Fran 22-Sep-2011 05:56
Whitebelt,
Rain came Sunday night and early Monday morning. Great steady rain, helped to cool off the air. The trees are still suffering...some may never recover. I too think of Winter as a time to chill and ponder the mysteries of life.
Yup, women can gum up the works...what a wonderful way to spend time.:)

Seasons are changing...birds migrating and missing my home, Florida.:)
whitebelt21-Sep-2011 22:08
Fran, I have spent enough energy working outside bringing law and order to it and the outbuildings, and tracking the associated dust and dirt inside with it. It interferes with my housekeeping. What there is of it due to being worn out by the end of the day. Luckily, it is all coming together where I can do my piddling or whatever and not get so damned dirty.

Winter is nice insofar as no lawn maintenance. I hope for frequent snows this year as it is clean and dust free. I really had no idea just how dusty this area can get. Worse than New Mexico. A fine flour like dust.

Have the yard set up the way it is going to stay, flower beds, etc. Just have to add some real dirt to them for next year. Had a gorgeous crop of four o'clocks, zinnias, and marigolds that finally took hold in midsummer. It was very dry. Might plant some small ornamental tree yet. Something like a Jerusalem Thorn tree.

It is a winter to catch breath and think, and maybe plot a new course. Have some serious cogitating and mysteries of the universe to solve. Unless some woman comes along and interferes with that.

Another two weeks and I will be all set for winter. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. I will set back and watch it. In my hot tub.

The cat got kind of used to being put into her carrier to go out to that building while they were doing the furnace. Tried it once carrying her in my arms. That don't work.

Ever get any rain where you are at?
Fran 21-Sep-2011 14:54
Leighton,
Peace be with you...

Whitebelt,
Sounds like you are ready for a long cold winter. Lucky you!
Nike 21-Sep-2011 09:04
Roberta -- When I see your picture, I see beauty. When I read your words, I see beauty. You are a beautiful person.

Lewis is a lucky guy.
Roberta Perry Hughes 21-Sep-2011 07:10

Thank you very much, "A Friendly Reader."

Mighty kind of you, to say that about me.

Reality check: I bid you to refer to the Rogue's & Roguette's Gallery,
and you will see just how UN-beautiful I am. LOL

Thank you, anyway, from the bottom of my heart. I have not been referred to
as being "beautiful" in my life, so, that was a first....! ;-)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Leighton 21-Sep-2011 04:23
My Dad was/is a wonderful minister, but I was neither prosthelytized nor indoctrinated. I haven't attended church regularly in almost 30 years, but I have developed a strong belief, whatever stones life throws. "The proof of the pudding..." Faith isn't easy, to be sure. But when discovered, is without equal.
whitebelt21-Sep-2011 01:56
Roberta, I have vague recollection of seeing those plates you described. I remember the white sand in our side yard after my father cleared out the rocks and palmettos. We had red, pink, and salmon hibiscus bushes, but over 6 foot high. We also had a gardenia plant that was the most beautiful and prolific I have ever seen. My father being Canadian, we had tea every night. Every night we dumped the used tea bags at the base of it. It loved them. After he died it kind of withered away. Had this big what we called elephant ear plant that put out these big pink blooms. Also had a little rose bush section over the septic tank drain field. Had some beautiful multicolored roses growing there. Auralia trees in the back, and those stupid messy plants with long red fuzzy cattail like bloom or whatever they were. And a rubber tree in the back yard. That was my tree. Also had those wicked flat eared cactus with really long and painful spines that would encroach from the uncleared lot next door. That was our jungle. Those cactii nailed me quite often. Plus two guava trees. Loved guavas. There was a day blooming jasmine that took hold on the corner of the house and survived for a very long time. Then the night blooming in the neighborhood. God, I love the smell of jasmine.

I learned to love Corelle plates washing dishes as a kid. I think it was Kwik Chek that had those weekly sales, one at a time or something like that. Got a set of encyclopedias that way, too. Top Value stamps were cool. Don and I probably shopped at the same Kwik Chek in Flamingo Plaza.

Just west of NW 32 ave and 62 street was an A&P. Was also the distribution center for them, and one of the last to close. It was either the late 60's or early 70's that I saw the Budweiser Clydesdale horses and beer wagon there. Came tromp tromping down 32 ave from the north. BIG horses. That was an interesting intersection at one time. A Dr. Dupuis owned a lot of land there, of which the Whitebelt Dairy was part of, and orange groves. I think the groves are still there on the NE corner. Used to be a French Benzol dry cleaners on the SE side. The dairy closed up in the early 60's. Used to take our black German Shepard for long romps afterwards and before they turned it all industrial.

They had the neatest pet shop across 54 st from it. The guy even had an electric eel. High up on a shelf.

NW 54 street was a neat place way back when, from Okeechobee all the way to Biscayne Blvd. Lots of neat stores.

Got my furnace in today. I have a warm and fuzzy feeling now. :-)
A Friendly Reader 20-Sep-2011 17:26
You are very beautiful Roberta, I got the message with love in my heart.
Roberta Perry Hughes 20-Sep-2011 08:49
Approximately sixty years ago, our family moved into a new house,
at 9985 SW 55th Street, in Miami, Florida. I was four years old, at the time.

Our yard was pure white sand. The only lawn on our block was next door,
at the Smith's, because they laid down sod, for an instant lawn.

My father set out little, wispy tufts of grass with roots, in neat rows, in the sand,
in the front, back, and side yards. He watered it, faithfully, every day.

Every weekend, he planted trees and shrubs. We had tropical fruit trees in
every part of our yard, plus, he planted flowering trees.

Among the flowering trees were three hibiscus; one lipstick red; one tangerine
orange; and one was a gorgeous golden yellow.

Last year, I lucked-up on a broken-up service of Florida China, in a pattern they
erroneously called Poinciana, when in reality, the lovely blossoms on every
piece, complete with green leaves and stems, and an unopened bud, were my
very favorite flower in the world: the golden yellow hibiscus.

This dinnerware was very popular, in the mid-forties to the mid-fifties, and people
used them, of course....and they got broken, over-the-years, to the point that you have to track them down, a piece or two at a time.

Since then, I acquired the lovely original cream pitcher, by Florida China, and it
set me on a quest, to find my favorite pattern, made by other companies.

So far, in addition to the pieces I have in the Florida China, I now have the
golden yellow hibiscus by three other companies, including fine bone china,
made in England.

One piece is a large, handled cake plate, which is in the center of my china
cabinet, where it is easily viewed.

Every time I look at these pieces of china and dinnerware, no longer made,
with such gorgeous details of my favorite flower, it takes me back, to a
happier time and place.

You must know, by now, I was just a child, when we lived in Miami, so my
memories are apt to bore you folks, who went to high school, got into some
mischief, at times, and grew up too fast. I remember some couples, who quit
school to get married, or they quit to join the service, all of them in their early
teens.

Me....? I played with dolls; read comic books; saved my pennies from cashing
in pop bottles, to be able to stop the ice cream truck for a treat; rode my Schwinn
Spitfire bicycle from Bird Road to Sunset Drive, and all side roads in-between;
saved bubble gum wrappers, candy bar wrappers, & Blue Horse coupons, to
redeem for a gift.

I also did yard work, on weekends, picking up the hedge trimmings that bordered
our front yard, putting them in a big construction wheel barrow; I knew every
bush, shrub, and tree, in our yard, like the back of my hand.

And I loved them all, most especially, the hibiscus trees.....and of course, our
wonderful Hayden Mango.

I remember Sunday School and church, at Bird Road Baptist. I was Baptized
there, at age 12, by the late Rev. Samuel J. McBurney.

I loved going to church, and getting to know other kids that did not go to my
school, and the singing, and Vacation Bible School in the Summer.

I once won a little Golden Book, on The Ten Commandments; to win, you had to recite all ten commandments. The little book has Moses on the cover, which is a painting of Charlton Heston, from a scene in the movie. (I still have it).

I do believe in God. If I didn't, I wouldn't have issues with Him, and argue with
Him, as much as I do. He is very patient with me, and allows me to vent my
feelings....silently, of course.

Wish y'all could see my Yellow Hibiscus dishes....! They are an Old Miami Memory, on sight.....!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Don Boyd20-Sep-2011 05:16
And Whitebelt's graduation photo from Miami Jackson is now up in the Rogues Gallery, specifically at: http://www.pbase.com/image/138229599

Don
Nike 19-Sep-2011 16:52
She sent me the same one a few years ago. I finally divorced her.

We digress....
whitebelt19-Sep-2011 11:38
SB, I just knew you were going to pull a fast one me.
Supreme Being 19-Sep-2011 10:58
Dr. Arizona, go to your room.

Seatbelt, I know where you are and will send her to your waiting arms. Don't forget to uncover the plug to inflate her.

SB
Arizona Al 19-Sep-2011 02:52
Nike/Whitebelt/Supreme Being: As a classical trained scientist with a Ph.D.,I still contend that there is a higher order of intelligence governing the universe. Be this a diety, a gnostic, a theist, Supreme Being or a quantum equation is beyond by scope and abilities to ascertain. ALan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive annd well in Phoenix, Arizona
whitebelt19-Sep-2011 01:51
The heart is fine.

Just have to go slower because of my age, reaching the end takes much longer than the old days.

Plus I haven't got much else to do.


Supreme Being 19-Sep-2011 01:23
Buckle your seatbelt, Whitebelt. I have just the one. By the way, how is your heart?
whitebelt19-Sep-2011 00:48
Gee, thanks, boss.

Cheap and easily aroused OK?
Supreme Being 18-Sep-2011 23:16
Let me now your requirements. I'll look around.
whitebelt18-Sep-2011 22:49
We are much in accordance, Nike.

Life is a singular experience, you just have to share it with others. You don't have to believe what they say about religion, politics, science, or the best restaurant to eat in. Besides, there are a lot of people that aren't honest in their dealings. Death is also a singular experience.

I was an atheist for many, many years, and i can't say I suffered much for it from others. I didn't attack the beliefs of others, so they left me alone. Throw rocks at them and the scene changes.

I don't take life so personal. I am a technician, I just observe it and try to figure where the machine is weakest. As far as personal judgments, I don't judge anyone for what they do, but why they do it. I've known murderers I would trust more than some preachers.

I never really thought much about religion until last December when I started posting in a lunatic asylum of a Topix forum. Made me think about some things deeper than I did before, and has actually coalesced some amorphous ideas I had floating around for years. For a long time I was more a Taoist than anything else, but loosely. But after reading the irrational attacks on Christianity on that forum I started investigating the background of it more, but not taking things literally. I am a very metaphorically oriented person, and look for patterns and flows and interlinkage. I married the physical and spiritual in my own mind a long time ago. However, this experience on that forum has given me a different perspective on the Christ story than is commonly held.

I'm still alive and have had some very weird and unexpected events in my life because of something kicking my butt down some hard roads. After a serious accident complete with death experience, and waking up choking the night after getting home about 2 AM, spending considerable time and effort getting my lungs cleared and breathing again, complete with broken ribs and other injuries, I was exhausted. Any other time I would have stayed awake for a while, but I looked down at the couch and had the unmistakable sudden knowledge I was not in control of my living or dying. I laid right back down and went to sleep. Plus I had some very unusual dreams a few weeks before the accident happened, along with some very strange occurrences a couple of hours before the accident.

I don't let too much upset me.

Would be nice if the Supreme Power sent some more women this way, though. Almost have the spa room completely functional. Was thinking of putting a swing in it. :-)

I sent Don a copy of my high school yearbook picture I just found on the net he might put up.
Nike 18-Sep-2011 21:37
Whitebelt -- Excellent point about those who had fir and brimstone during their early years such a I did. That isn't the reason for my lack of belief in a supreme being. My reason is simple logic. I believe what I can see. If you can show me anyhting in real time, I will believe it. There are other things I have faith in such as "the chair will hold my big ass when I sit in it."

We aren't too far apart. I don't subscribe to any religion or philosophy and cetainly don't need a label which some feel the need to assign to those who don't subscribe to their beliefs. People are just people - that is, the sum total of their past experience making good and bad decisions with each having its own consequences.

For some, they truly believe in a supreme being, god, or other basis for their life. For others, they say they believe to cover their bases "just in case it's true about heven and hell," and others are downright scared not to.
whitebelt18-Sep-2011 20:37
Nike, there are lots of people turned off by the fire and brimstone routine.

I spend a lot of time on an international forum beating up on self-styled atheists. They all argue that forced believing as a reason not to believe. I have a belief in a Supreme Power, but you can't call it the Abrahamic God. Yet any hint of a belief in any supernatural sets them off on tirades against anyone with a belief in a diety. Overreaction to their religious upbringing, one could think.

So they turn to worshipping what other humans tell them is true.

I think most people just kind of adjust their perception of a god to suit themselves. There are plenty of different sects of all religions if one wishes to go to church. I haven't been in one in almost 50 years.

My belief in a Supreme Power is based not on some theories of scientists preached by some wannabe high priests of so called "human secularism", but the experiences I have had, and the physics I know.

I look at existence from some of the electrical perspective I have been experienced in, and spent much time figuring how to make something out of nothing. I don't worship mankind like others do. I see us as components of something larger. I have my own ideas on how things work.

Don't get me started. :-)
Nike 18-Sep-2011 17:47
Whitebelt -- With all due respect, the Double-slit experiment was the equivelant of how religion was pushed down my throat as a young person. That is, in sort of a cartoon version of how man was created, three men walking in a fiery furnace, a man being swalloed by a whale and spit out beachside, a man in a lions den without harm, a parting of the sea on command. The wine and water was in reverse as I made water after I drank wine or beer.

Unfortunately, none of these historical events could be demonstrated, you just had to beleive it. Of course your failure to believe it resulted in a fiery death in a lake of molten lava for eternity. I even had a problem with that after seeing the results of volcanoes and creamation of human beings after a few minutes in an oven at high temperatures. Show me the Double-slit experiment in real time rather than a cartoon and I'll believe what I actually see.

The Superpositioning video reminded me of the Baptist preacher who believed what he was preaching but had to demonstrrate his talking points with graphical illustrations created artificially with a computer. The Baptist preacher could only cause you to imagine what he was saying. Show me in real time the same thing he did with a video created with a computer and I'll believe it.

In the interesting and well-produced, make believe scriped movie, there is plenty of persuasion for someone open to the belief that thoughts can actually change physical properties. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and others have preached "The Power of Positive Thinking" for decades. Their is merit to acting on the positive for positive results in every aspect of life. If there is physical proof (not a scripted movie), I will believe it.

I respect everyone's right to believe whatever they want and expect nothing more in return. I don't judge the character or morals of others by their beliefs and hope my morals and character are not judged by what I believe or disbelieve.

How do I know I love Nancy? I feel it but I can't prove it. I still believe it. That's good enough for me.




whitebelt18-Sep-2011 11:17
It is over everyone's head, Miami Girl. It's mathematical hocus pocus and rationalization.

Don't get me started. :-)
Miami Girl 18-Sep-2011 03:20
Interesting Whitebelt - the little bit I understood anyway. Quantum Physics is way over my head :)
whitebelt17-Sep-2011 23:02
Very interesting article published today.

http://www.viewzone.com/newdeath.html

I have a bit of the mystic and the hard nosed scientist in me, and a different perspective on existence than most you will run across.

Watch the videos, especially the third one. Note the 6 pointed and hex patterns. You can get that shining light on reflective curved surfaces, too. It has to do with how energy is dispersed and received. A bit on the esoteric side for here.

Bottom line from that article is you have a certain ability to create your own world. Literally.
whitebelt16-Sep-2011 11:42
Don, that is an interesting outfit. This sure appears to be quite the departure from everything else they own and do.

"In 2007, Genting Plantations ventured into biotechnology to develop synthetic genomic processes and naturally occurring processes for alternative energy resources through an equally owned joined venture with "Synthetic Genomics"."

Resorts, casinos, and bio-engineering. Odd.
Don Boyd16-Sep-2011 05:17
Whitebelt, I don't think they'll have any problems raising capital, if they have the need to. Here is some information on the group:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genting_Group

There are some unsavory comments about the group on that link towards the bottom of the page. I'm surprised the Herald didn't address those aspects but it is their building that is being sold to the group.

Don
whitebelt16-Sep-2011 01:52
MRR, I wonder where the money will come from to build it, just how they will rise all of that capital. I wouldn't invest in it. Miami is famous for the financial hustle.

Got my sewer roto rooted. A tree root. I have no trees or stumps on this lot. Have the feeling the clog may even have been in the alley. However, it was only $100 and the line is now clear. Good for a while yet. That was cheap for the distance involved, over 100 feet. Worth the price for the peace of mind, especially when you flush the toilet. I hate plumbing emergencies.

The guy told me they use powdered copper sulphate, I think, to kill the trees that penetrate sewer lines. I paid $130 back in NM for a lot shorter distance and that price was almost a hundred dollars cheaper than the competition.

I checked the cleanout trap not long ago and it looked fine. But every time I walked past it I had this nagging feeling it was going to act up. I have done that over the years on a few different items. I need to quit doing that.

Wet and very cool day, today. Tomorrow is suppoed to be warmer. I do so very, very much hope they get the new furnace installed and running tomorrow. They do have some serious ductwork to do under the house. It is split and divided into 6 separate sections divided by concrete walls with small openings. They are putting in metal duct , but I may cut some slack on one or two and let them use flex. It is more epic than they know in some places, why I didn't pull the old flex duct out last year and wash them out. $3250 is very cheap for what they are doing. $1000 less than an in town guy quoted for less, and I was not the least impressed with that crew. It is an older established company in the area. My ace in the hole if games get played is the USDA and I both have to sign off if they want to get paid. :-)

I really can't wait for this summer to be over. A first for me. Have made tremendous progress, but I am worn out. Even got back to my old working weight and belt size.

Going to be a weird Fall/Winter following this past weird Spring and Summer.

Roberta, I hope everything is settling down and you are comfortable.

Fran, I haven't got any Spa Gals yet, why I have been busting my patootie trying to get that spa room fully operational. :-)

Miami River Rat15-Sep-2011 16:05
Well I read the article Don linked to. It sounds like a grandiose project, all hinging on getting a gambling license. I ask Why Not? It not like putting gambling in Miami will despoil a virgin or something. The natural environment there has already been ruined, so go for it!

The spokesman is quite pompous with his "make Miami a real city" line but I guess that sort of talk goes with the territory.
Fran 15-Sep-2011 14:27
Whitebelt,

Glad to read about your projects. You might want to get your Spa Gals to help? Just think, more money saved...no more smokes. Good luck, happier days ahead. :)
Nike 15-Sep-2011 13:01
Whitebelt - I'm glad to hear I'm not the only person that has a cat as an administrative assistant. Unfortunately, anything on my desk she can push off, including a stack of papers, Nancy's picture, a Nike missile replica, ect, she does so. Besides that, she loves to chase the curser on the screen and lay on my keyboard which I can use as an excuse for occasional mis-smelling words.

Best of luck on your projects.

whitebelt15-Sep-2011 12:12
Don, I kinda don't think that is going to fly too well in this present economic situation. Sounds like another made in Miami grandiose scheme. Las Vegas is hurting, and they have already have things built.

Gotta whine a little bit. I pulled my back a couple of days ago cementing the spa room floor. Still went out and did some more and some painting yesterday. An hour after I was done the sewer line backed up and flooded some of the floor. Have to wait for some guys to show up this morning to roto rooter it out. I am not up to running a snake down it. Plus I don't want to have to deal with another blockage for a long while. That is a hundred foot run. Ugh, I plumbing issues.

The furnace contractor showed up Tuesday morning and disconnected my old furnace. They will be back tomorrow to install the new one. It will be cool today and tonight. Snow is even expected around the Aspen area, which is a ways away and much higher elevation. But it all adds to my anxiety level.

The roof is to be replaced by the end of the month. Refer to my anxiety about the cold approaching quickly. Plus I have to come up with some cash because he had to raise the price a tad and the loan/grant had no slop from the original bid of 5 months ago. Oil prices.

My cat freaked out when the furnace contractors were working, so I have to chunk her in the cat carrier and park her out in the spa room while they do there they thing. That will not be fun.

I have to wait till this is all done to get this house back in order because I have been working outside so much, which of course has tracked some dirt into the house. Plus the cat rearranging lots of important papers I had stacked and having to sort through them. Plus a few dozen other things.

Did I mention my back hurting, or how all of this racing to get things done before winter is stressing me just a bit, particularly with the bad back? Of course, the financial stress does not help. But that will all work out. Add to that I WILL be quitting smoking because of health and financial issues.

I just want my house in order, warmth on demand, a happy cat, and nothing that I HAVE to do except for keeping the house straightened out. I want to catch my breath.

It will all work out, it is just getting there. Ugh.

:-)

Don Boyd15-Sep-2011 05:44
And here is news of probably the largest individual project ever for Miami. Adios to the Miami Herald building.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/14/2407173/genting-unveils-plan-for-miami.html

Don
Nike 14-Sep-2011 07:20
Leighton -- Thanks for the suggestion on the Troutdale location. My conference is at the Marriott in Bristol but I'm sure the Troutdale will be a better choice for a nice dinner. If I never eat another meal in a hotel, that will be fine with me.

From Bristol, we drive I-81 to I-66 and turn East to DC. I have only been on Skyline Drive once many years ago but imagine the fall would be a great time for the drive. If we didn't have dinner planes Wednesday night, we would take the drive going north. aybe the leaves will still be there for our drive south a month later during the last week of October.

Leighton 14-Sep-2011 05:14
My Dad went to King College in Bristol (Presbyterian), before attending Columbia Theological Seminary in GA. I'm trying to think of some other interesting places in Bristol....about 20 miles north, on I-81 in VA, is Abingdon....the State Theater of VA, Barter, is there, as well as the Historic Martha Washington Inn.
Leighton 14-Sep-2011 04:49
Troutdale has a monopoly in the area - they control most of the regional country clubs, etc. Just make sure that you go to the main restaurant (the "house"), and not the "downtown" offshoot....if you can call it a "downtown." The city has a lot of development opportunities, but they go unexplored. Bristol is a dying town - they have put all of their eggs in the Raceway basket. What is your route to DC? I always love the Parkway, and Skyline Drive.
Nike 13-Sep-2011 10:54
Leighton - I Just Googled the Troudale -- What a great place. Since we are driving up on Monday , we will have dinner there that night. It looks like a lot of history with the War of Northern Aggression.
Nike 13-Sep-2011 10:49
Leighton -- I will only be there for the Tuesday meeting and a dinner that night at the same hotel in Bristol (TN). The next morning, I am driving through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley on the Washington, DC where we will be for a month.

DC is also a great place in the fall.
Leighton 13-Sep-2011 05:50
OK, my PC has screwed up three times - I've lost several posts.......I will be in Texas, Nike, at that time. Is it a day trip, or are you staying in East TN a few days? Have you tried the Troutdale Restaurant in Bristol? I know that you've been to The Peerless in Johnson City.
Nike 11-Sep-2011 09:51
Leighton -- I will be in Bristol, Tennessee on Tuesday, September 27 to speak to the Tennessee State 911 Director's Association on Preventing 9-1-1 Lawsuits. Any chance you will be in town?
Leighton 11-Sep-2011 03:01
OK, I wasn't through with that post - "discern" was used twice.....grrrrr.
Leighton 11-Sep-2011 02:59
Unfortunately, the only color that I'm seeing in trees, is brown. Back up to 100. It MIGHT rain in a week. Nike, when were you going to be in Bristol, again? OK, I was a kid in the 60s, and we washed our hair every day.

Roberta, I'm curious what you sent to people. Of course, I'm blunt enough to tell friends to NEVER send me political stuff, supposedly funny jokes, etc. It doesn't endear one to people, but then again, I think that we've destroyed our ability to communicate by making "smiley faces" mandatory in e-mails. It's gotten to the point, where, if you DON'T put one of those things in your correspondence, folks seem incapable of discerning humor via content.

Some day, I'll discern a way to show you all, the design work that my business partner and I put out...he's pretty amazing, actually. (Coporate identities, gala invitations for large organizations, marketing collateral
Miami Girl 10-Sep-2011 12:00
Roberta, everybody gets duped by these things. I've been told numerous times (by family mainly) that something I sent was one of those dastardly "urban legends" so I try to "Snope" them now before hit forward.
This issue just jogged a memory of the first one of those "urban legends" I heard was back in the 60's: A girl is sitting in class when the kid behind her see's blood on her neck, they later found a nest of roaches in her beehive hairdo ( I think this was made up by a parent trying to get a daughter to wash her hair)! It's unbelievable that in those days, hair wash day was only once a week on Saturday - all teen girls had those huge rollers all day. And how the heck did we sleep in them during the week?
Roberta Perry Hughes 10-Sep-2011 09:44

My dear Rogues & Roguettes,

I regret having forwarded emails to others, that were sent to me, that were
of a political nature, re: a specific political figure.

I was made to understand, by more than one person, that said emails were
without basis, & were not true.

I promise that I will not forward any emails of a political....or a religious....bent,
in the future.

If anyone was offended, by said emails, it was not by my intention to do so, & I
do hope they will not end our cyberspace-friendship.

My deepest apologies, to all. Hopefully, you'll forgive me.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Miami Girl 07-Sep-2011 14:05
Loving this cooler weather -- all the windows are open (the first time since we moved to Georgia), the only thing missing in this rental house is a screen porch -- I WILL have one when we buy a place next year!
Nike 07-Sep-2011 09:20
Miami Girl -- Thanks for the inquiry. It was about twenty miles north and west in Woodstock. We live in Buckhead near Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square.

High today 69 and low tonight 58 with rain moving out.

I have a contract in Washington, DC for the entire month of October. What a great place to be in the fall. I saw some color in a few maple trees yesterday here in Atlanta.
Leighton 07-Sep-2011 04:27
Man, am I sick of this recession - will it never end????? It's worse than the drought.

Speaking of which....trying to save the magnolia tree outside.

Fires outside Austin were bad. But cool tonight....for a while......
Arizona Al 07-Sep-2011 02:04
I remember the Cutler Ridge Clearing Burning of 1957! Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Fran 06-Sep-2011 22:19
Miami Girl,

Yup, during the Everglades burning we were living in Copper City. The ashes would float all over the area. I would like to tell you and all who post here at this site. We as in Texas is in big trouble with these fires all over the state. Horrific is more like it! Some cities have only two more weeks of fresh drinking water. Hundreds of homes are gone, smokey conditions continue. Federal Government aide may not come due to lack of government help.
Please keep Texas in your prayers, a rain dance would be of help too.
Miami Girl 06-Sep-2011 19:45
Fran, glad the fires haven't reached you - but two doors down is way too close! I do also remember that smell of burning, except in my case it wasn't the everglades, they were clearing for future lot development of Cutler Ridge.
Miami Girl 06-Sep-2011 11:58
Nike, hope that Atlanta tornado wasn't in you're neighborhood!
Fran 06-Sep-2011 08:04
Several brush fires this holiday, in fact one just two doors down. Thousand of acres have burned, some out of control, property and homes destroyed, lives have been lost. The winds have picked up reminding me of the Everglades fires of the 70's. You never seem to forget the smell of burning brush,..

Parks,
The 'cado was like eating butter. wonderful memory of my youth. I plan to plant the seed this spring. I know that it will take many years to provide fruit but just think my grand kids some day will enjoy the fruit of your and Susan's labor. Again thank you!
whitebelt05-Sep-2011 02:13
Woke up this morning to cool enough to cover my feet. It was almost 100 yesterday. The high today was in the low 70's. The low tonight is supposed to be 49.

Weird year.
whitebelt02-Sep-2011 12:20
It's been hotter here recently because of an elevation in humidity from the monsoons. Has put a little damper on my outside work. Have an old 5000 BTU air conditioner that has made it tolerable in the house. I am pleasantly surprised how tight this house is and how little is needed to keep it cooler or warm.

Got my USDA grant/loan. Should have a new roof and furnace by the end of the month. The present ones are serviceable, but could require more maintenance than I wish or am able to supply. I am getting older. The present roof is a stucco like cement the previous owner put on in to counteract the hail storms. It is a very unusual high pitched roof. Ugly, but works, but is also getting old. Hasn't leaked yet, but will. The old furnace is a 40,000 BTU that has done a beautiful job and fairly cheaply down to 20 below. The house never got cold. The new one will be 65,000 BTU and even more efficient, and with metal ducts instead of the flexible now there. Much less dust collection and easier to clean. These are floor ducts.

If you are 62 or over, check to see if you are in USDA designated rural areas. You would be eligible for a grant up to $7500. No matter the age, if you are in one of those areas you could be eligible for a loan for home improvement. Twenty year payback at 1%, that is a one percent, interest. $3100 is just under $15 a month. Would be a good opportunity to get your home environment up to snuff and reduce the worry quotient.

The hot tub building is nearing the end of what I will be doing to it. Will move the old furnace out to it, which will provide the heat and ventilation system I want for it. Looking forward to winter relaxation in it. Just need to add a few mature women with still strong sex drives and life would be really good. :-)

Have to figure out a cheap covered and enclosed walkway from the back door to the spa building for the winter. About 30 foot.

God has been kind to me in my later years.
Arizona Al 02-Sep-2011 12:10
Leighton: I was agreeing with you in that the extreme heat you are currently experiencing is a common every day occurance here in the Phoenix area. We have had bobcats drinking out of the swimming pool and coyotes and javelinas in the yard looking for food and water this summer as a result of the extreme heat and drought conditions. The javelinas ate my pepper plants and several prickley pear cactus:(. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well and praying for October in Phoenix, Arizona
Leighton 02-Sep-2011 07:08
I have no idea what that means. Regardless, a friend lost a tree today, and I think that my bitter orange is gone, as well. The expected rain today, never materialized. Ants have invaded the house, looking for water. A PLUS - no mosquitoes this year!
Arizona Al 02-Sep-2011 02:16
Leighton: One man's record is simply another man's daily routine:) Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well and experiencing the 33rd day of temperatures 110 degrees or higher in Phoenix, Arizona
Roberta Perry Hughes 01-Sep-2011 08:51

Nike.....

My sister brought me an extra window a.c. unit, a few months ago, so we managed
to tolerate the triple digits temperatures, when they were back-to-back, & are more than cool, when it dropped down to the 90's.

Thanks, for having asked about us.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Leighton 01-Sep-2011 03:55
OK, you're in AZ... we know it's hot there. But some of us have broken records is our not-so-normally-hot climates. Arizona is supposed to be 113. South Texas has been fried - we're FARMING country just south of here (!). A live oak just split in half, in my neighbor's yard - have never seen that....
Arizona Al 01-Sep-2011 03:43
Heat?? 113 degrees today in the Vallry of the Sun! Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive, well and liberally applying SPF50 Sunblock in Phoenix, Arizona
Nike 31-Aug-2011 13:57
Roberta -- How are you and Lewis doing in all the heat?
Roberta Perry Hughes 31-Aug-2011 08:36

Just a quick "hello," to everyone. It has been a busy night for me. Had lots to do.

Hallelujah! Got it all done, too....!

Take care, y'all....

'Bye, now.....

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Leighton 31-Aug-2011 04:26
!!!
Fran 29-Aug-2011 22:28
Parks,
Mangoes and 'cado arrived this afternoon...the avocado will be ready in a couple of days. However, took one bite of the small mango. The mangoes were spoiled, not to worry I saved the seeds. I have never seen seeds like these...Will try in the spring to start them.
Again thanks to you and Susan,
Fran
Miami River Rat29-Aug-2011 18:49
Neat video, Parks! The first time I was on Marco was about 1954, grandpa had me over there with him looking for some rare type of air plant that he thought might be in the scrub oaks there. That place was WILDERNESS! Years later I drove over to Marco on my way back from Miami and couldn't believe all the high-rise hotels and condos. Bummer.

Miami Girl: "Blow, blow Seminole wind.."
Miami Girl 29-Aug-2011 17:45
Parks, thanks for that wonderful trip back in time to Marco Island! Maybe someday it'll revert back to it's pristine beauty -- after that future Cat 5 comes to visit!
whitebelt29-Aug-2011 05:31
Fran, you could use dipnets or landing nets, but no other net that I could remember. No droplines or anything that would gather in bulk or over a large area. like that.

We used 16 foot dipnets and lanterns at night to get shrimp. Pilchard rings were steel wire chains with a weight on the bottom. You dropped a spoon of oatmeal on the side of the catwalk the water was coming from, and move the rings into the pilchards eating it on the other side. They got caught in the rings. They were legal.

No snook in my hot tub.
whitebelt29-Aug-2011 05:24
I miss those clouds in that video.

I think you had to be 50 ft from a bridge or seawall, Parks.
Fran 29-Aug-2011 05:23
Rat,
I missed the story about the dead guy. Your colorful youthful stories are some read.:)

Parks,
I for one would not like Snook in the spa, makes the water icky.:)

Whitebelt,
Wasn't allowed to use the nets off the bridge...had to use a rod. Dad told us that the nets were not a fair way to catch the fish. We were just young kids thought that we would go to jail (Youth Hall) if we used them.
Parks29-Aug-2011 04:40
Take a look at this vidio from the sixties of Marco Island. Watch for the guy who catches a Jew Fish from the beach near the end of the film. Curse you Mackle Brothers!http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/video/video.cfm?VID=63
Parks29-Aug-2011 04:38
Hi Whitebelt! I don't know about cast nets being illegal from bridges. I'll check on that tomorrow. I haven't been bridge fishing in years. Even as a teen I didn't bridge fish much. Come to think of it, I didn't fish much at all. As a teen I was really into diving and spearfishing. Maybe they still use Pilchar Rings and I just don't know about it. Why don't you stock your hot tub with some Snook? Maybe not, the Ladies probably wouldn't like it.
whitebelt29-Aug-2011 04:01
Parks, weren't cast nets illegal to use from a bridge or seawall?
Parks29-Aug-2011 03:57
Rat and Whitebelt, you guys sure do bring back some good memories. They left the old second bridge in place when the new one was built next to it. You can still fish off the old one. Pilchard Rings! I haven't seen those in years. Everyone uses a cast net now. I don't know why, the rings worked well and didn't need a great deal of skill to use.
whitebelt29-Aug-2011 03:28
MMR, that spot definitely has some weird energy about it. We never went back, either.
Miami River Rat29-Aug-2011 02:36
Whitebelt, that ocean side corner of Key Biscayne at Bear Cut didn't start getting weird later.
Me and a buddy rode our bicycles over there to go fishing one Saturday, we would have been about 13. We'd never been to that spot before, I think we just decided it would be a good place to catch fish, fishing from the beach.

Finding a dead guy floating in the surf was the second, or possibly the third, weirdest thing that happened to us that day. I don't know about Bobby, but I've never gone back there since!
whitebelt29-Aug-2011 00:48
I fished that bridge quite a bit, MRR, but they had the catwalks up by then, I guess.

Walked up there one night and a guy had a snook tied vertical to the rail. It's snout was above the rail and its tail was bent over on the floor. Was a BIG snook.

I hated it when they redid the second bridge and raised the catwalks so high. Lost its charm. Used to run a ladder from the old catwalk to the pilings underneath dipnetting shrimp.

Mackerel and bluefish runs were a real trip on the old catwalk. Dumped oatmeal and caught pilchards for bait in the rings.

The ocean side corner of the Key Biscayne side of Bear Cut turned into a kind of walk on the wild side area later. The wife and I smoked some doobies and wandered around there one day and found that out. Didn't know we had put on a show for them. :-)
Miami River Rat28-Aug-2011 19:42
Musing on a Sunday afternoon~~Old Miami style.

Did anybody here ever go to the beach at Third Bridge (Bear cut) on the road to Crandon Park? Back in the day there used to be a beach party there just about every Sunday afternoon. Diving off the bridge was the big draw. You had to count posts....I think it was the fifth post before the water was deep enough. Saw a guy go off at the third post once and he hit bottom, came up all scraped and bleeding from his nose and ears and had to be taken to the hospital.

Got my first introduction to malt liquor there one Sunday. I was 16, the girl was 15. We were sort of used to beer and knew to take it easy with the hard stuff but malt liquor was a new one for us. We'd drink a can. (small cans, remember? What could that hurt?) go dive off the bridge, swim in, drink another can, and before you know it was pushing four o'clock, she had to be home at five for some church thing and we were both crocked!

In those days, if you could see the hood ornament clearly you were good to drive, so we went over to that Dairy Queen at the other side of Key Biscayne and got coffee and hamburgers with fries. That sobered her enough to call home and she said we'd be late because somebody got hurt and we had to take 'em to the hospital. Don't remember whose idea that was but it was a good one. Bought us more time than a flat tire excuse and also was a good reason to not linger on the telephone.

We went back to Third Bridge, did some more swimming, diving and messin' around and were straight enough to get her home around six-thirty. After that, we were careful with malt liquor!

Last time I went over to Key Biscayne I saw that beach was posted with chain-link fence around it, a fishing catwalk had been built which would prevent diving off the bridge, and all the "cool" was gone from the place. Sometimes progress, well, you know what progress does.

Hang in there!
Leighton 28-Aug-2011 03:19
Will be curious to hear of anyone's Irene experiences. Here in SA, the heat continues....and UP a few notches. I was walking at 9:15 P - 100 degrees. NOT normal. The whole situation with NYC is bizarre - they shut down the Broadway shows tonight (and tomorrow). I hear that Irene has picked up a bit.
Leighton 28-Aug-2011 03:09
Nike, it's great to see shows on DVD, to avoid the BUTCHERING of the syndicated versions - sitcoms usually lose up to FIVE minutes of content. Several years ago, I was watching one of my favorite episodes of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" on TV Land (UGH) - the one involving the recipe "Veal Prince Orloff" - and the idiots cut almost the ENTIRE dinner scene.....THE. POINT. OF. THE. EPISODE. Argh. The Hallmark Channel is particularly guilty of the slice-and-dice. I get the need for commercials, but really.
Leighton 28-Aug-2011 02:56
Never was into "Friends," but definitely like "Will & Grace" and "Frasier" - both extremely well-written. "M*A*S*H" was THE show to watch in college - early 80s. In terms of drama, I recently watched quite a bit of "The Waltons," and had forgotten just how well-acted/written it is. People enjoy ridiculing me for liking it, but I don't care. It was odd to see Richard Thomas in a rather cartoonish role in the current "police procedural" (sorta) "Rissoli and Isles" - I never watch the show, but stuck around after 'The Closer," a current favorite of mine.

A favorite past-time of mine, is finding "lost" "pilot" episodes of series that never made it - mainly from the 60s/70s - from the likes of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford...and, well, just name any star of the era. Fascinating. Most are NOT good (a reason that they never made it beyond the pilot).
Nike 26-Aug-2011 13:23
Leighton,

Nancy and I enjoyed several television series through the years such as Golden Girls, Friends, Will and Grace, All in the Family, and others. Recently, a friend gave us his copy of the entire series of Will and Grace which came with a book that explained a lot of "behind the scenes" and information you wouldn't know otherwise. Also, a companion CD with many bloopers, ect.

Not only was it enjoyable to go back throght the weekly shows, but with continuity. We would watch three of four shows nightly which connected some of the dots.

RE: Golden Girls -- Unfortunately, all are gone but Betty White who continues to entertain us. As a matter of fact, think of how many entertainers we formed our opinions of life through their actions and now they are gone.

As Whitebelt said, "Welcome to getting older."
whitebelt26-Aug-2011 12:31
Leighton, you are just in between episodes. A good time for rest and reflection.

Welcome to getting older. :-)

USDA called me yesterday and said my loan was approved. So looking forward to that new furnace. On of those peace of mind thingies. May get a backup generator in case power goes out to keep it running.

Last year in northern New Mexico they lost pressure in the gas lines and sacrificed communities north and south of Santa Fe to keep it in gas. Sub zero weather for days in those places. Was brutal. Who would ever think you would lose natural gas for days.

After a brutal summer like this, winter looks good, but only if you can stay warm. Ain't life weird? One extreme to the other and a lot of waiting in between?
Leighton 26-Aug-2011 03:51
We had a few five-minute showers. Better than nothing, I suppose. I was having lunch at a hot-dog place, and somebody said, "What is this weird liquid, falling from the sky?"

Watching my "Golden Girls" DVD marathon.

I. Have. No. Life.
Fran 25-Aug-2011 13:42
Not bragging but continues to rain this morning. Yeah!!! Leighton, keeping SA in our prayers...the rain was not expected and dearly appreciated.
Roberta Perry Hughes 25-Aug-2011 10:36

Happy belated Birthday, Miami Girl....! Hope you had a fantastic celebration, surrounded by family & friends, & with love, all around you....!

Whitebelt....Spa Lady, where I was a member, once, while single, required showering after exercise, & after being in the sauna, BEFORE getting into the jacuzzi, or the shallow swimming pool.

Aftershocks felt in VA, yesterday, & also, in CO. Now, here comes ol' "Imogene,"
to see if she can add insult to injury.

AOL news reported that Peru, also had an intense earthquake, yesterday morning.

Mother Nature is really kicking up a fuss, to be sure....!

No one needs to be reminded, just Who her "Boss" is....!

Hillary....put the brakes on $$,$$$,$$$.00 in aide to Somalia.
We are going to need it, right here.

Please, give non-perishable foods to your local food bank. There are children
who are going hungry, everyday, right here in America. It is unsupportable,
for this to be a truth....!

Donations of canned goods, packaged dry foods, & boxed items, really help.

May the weather be safe, for you & your families, your pets & property, wherever
you may be.

Take care. Hugs to everyone.

=================================================================
Leighton 25-Aug-2011 05:06
We were just informed, that we'll soon hit the record for the hottest/most parched year in history, in SA. NO RAIN here - and they predict a dry winter. Yay. Meanwhile, the East Coast prepares itself.

I've been through a few minor quakes.....one in the mid 70s, in West TN (the location MOST LIKELY to see a future major event, and with NO building codes),and the 80s, while in LA.

Beyond hot tubs....I won't even set foot in a hotel pool - YUCK. We had a pool at our home when I was in high school, and I blasted that thing with chlorine every day. It was pristine. Not sure what it did to my skin, but it was quite blemish-less during that time...
Fran 25-Aug-2011 03:30
Miami Girl,
Birthday Girl, celebrate, blessings to you!

Attention, Attention, Rogues!
Thunderstorm and rain tonight...one hour of pure liquid gold.
whitebelt24-Aug-2011 18:33
Happy Birthday, Miami Girl.

Hurricane Andrew hit on your birthday. You both are knockouts. :-)
Miami Girl 24-Aug-2011 18:07
Thanks Nike, it's really a popular day for birthdays - I guess its because of all those chilly November nights! I need to point out to all, I was born in '46, not the same year as Max Cleland. lol
Nike 24-Aug-2011 16:01
Miami Girl -- Happy birthday to you and Max Cleland born on August 24, 1942, Steve Guttenberg born on August 24, 1958, Cal Ripken Jr. born on August 24, 1960, and Marlee Matlin born on August 24, 1965.
Miami Girl 24-Aug-2011 12:56
Thanks AZ Al, I plan to have a GREAT day!
Arizona Al 24-Aug-2011 12:47
Happy Birthday Miami Girl!
Parks24-Aug-2011 04:38
Whitebelt, Someone said that the DC quake was just the Founding Fathers rolling over in their graves.
whitebelt23-Aug-2011 20:59
Roberta, does that mean those women need to get showers first? Or me, for that matter.

Ooh, cooties. :-)

They had an earthquake in DC which I guess everyone knows about by now. My son lives and works there. He was on a seventh floor and said it started like a jackhammer and got much worse. They all booked it out of the building. When he was 3, I ran down four floors carrying him during one. The cracks I saw in the stairway and elevator shaft were just little tiny looking hairline cracks later. Then they were 2-4 inches. Saw them all bouncing down the stairwell.

What is worse than being in a shaking building? Being in the street surrounded by them and no where to go. A most humbling experience.

We had one about 100 miles SW of me on the CO-NM border this morning. Largest in 40 years, a 5.3. They aren't that common out here, really.
Roberta Perry Hughes 23-Aug-2011 09:58

Leighton.....

Ew....!! Conjuring up thoughts of sharing a communal hot tub with someone who has a fungal infection 'neath their great toe nail....!

"There is a humongous fungus amongus."

Then, there's yeast....not the kind that makes dough rise, either.

Candida albicans. Staph aureus. Herpes zoster (shingles). Psoriasis. Eczema.

Senile keratosis. Warts (viral). Moles, both benign & malignant. Pustules.

I could rattle off a gazillion "topical maladies," that easily exfoliate in hot,
swirling water.

This method, the whirlpool bath, is used intentionally, in nursing home facilities,
for their in-home residents, & is also used in many hospitals, in the Treatments or therapy room.

But.....! To each his/her own. Whatever floats your boat....or your epidermis, as
the case may be.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leighton 23-Aug-2011 08:00
I have no idea what home "spas" are, but you'd have to pay me a lot, to sit in a hot tub. Nothing like communal exfoliating. Ugh.
whitebelt22-Aug-2011 20:00
Eight person?

105 is hot. Getting to the dangerous side. My CalSpa says the warranty is void over 104. I find 103 is about perfect in the winter for me.

I've set in hot springs at 108 and those things can kill you if you exert yourself. I've been in 106 for less than a half hour and almost fainted after getting out. I think the heat opens up the blood vessels?

80-85 with a warm woman, or two, is ideal. :-)
Arizona Al 22-Aug-2011 07:40
Whitebelt: We have an 8 person Sundance Spa in the backyard. I drain it each May and refill it in October. There is no joy sitting in 105 degree water when the ambient temperature is 110 degrees:). From October through April the Spa is a pleasure. Me and Elvie ususally spend 20-30 minutes each morning enjoying a therapeutic water massage. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Leighton 21-Aug-2011 08:08
South TX is NOT a desert climate. In my neighborhood, we have had THREE rains in 2011 - no kidding. Horrible. Even the live oaks are a faded green. My "yard" is dirt. North Texas has been hotter, but they've had considerable rain. Austin, an hour north, still, sporadically, sees rain, so from county to county, the results vary. For weeks, 102 and no rain. UGH. Last summer, we rarely hit above 100. This comes after an unusually severe winter - several 15 degree days, killing a lot of tropical plants. For Texas farmers, the worst drought on record, I believe...
Fran 20-Aug-2011 23:56
Al,
Yeah, no matter what dry or wet hot is hot. No expectations for rain, family in AZ report of becoming house bound. Not coming out until the first freeze!

Whitebelt,

Sounds like the spa will provide many hours of fun and relaxation. Scattered showers, now that's a thought, a dream of sorts. Good luck with the grant!
whitebelt20-Aug-2011 20:33
That is getting on the warm side, Fran.

Has cooled just a tad here since the monsoons started. Getting T-storms and rain on occasion now.

Have the feeling this summer will be coming to an abrupt end. My bones tell me an sudden and early winter is a coming. I think the hummingbirds are even packing their suticases. They kind of disappeared and now reappearing. They booked out in late August in NM a few years back. That was the year we got 4 inches of snow on Sept 22. I wish USDA would hurry with my loan/grant and I can get a new furnace put in. They set on that since late March.

Put a gas line out to the spa building. Got hot water and plumbing all working. Was a chore. Got the interior walls covered again and everything pretty well sealed. Killed all bug life. Painting the hot tub enclosure and made a deck for entering it. Have a heater for the winter. Hot tubs are so much more fun in the winter. Almost ready to crank up full time. Just got to add a woman, or two or three.

Secured a sample of CO medical marijuana. Potent sh*t. However, it lost its real magic a long time ago.

Said this before. This is the first winter I am actually kind of looking forward to.
Arizona Al 20-Aug-2011 19:03
Fran: 105..that is cool and comfortable in the Valley of the Sun. Was 112 on Wednesday and today it will get to 108. We desert rats have no compassion for our Eastern Bretheren when it comes to Summer heat. And don't start on "well it is a dry heat"..Set your oven to 112 degrees and climb in..oh yes it is a dry heat:):) Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well and enjoying the 108 degrees in Phoenix, Arizona.
Fran 20-Aug-2011 15:54
Yesterday 105 degrees, today 106 degrees for the high. Our lakes are drying up and no rain in sight. This weather pattern makes for a long summer. Lost all but one of my plants, growing cactus now. Looking forward to winter, freezing temps and hot cocoa.
Fran 19-Aug-2011 04:09
Nike,
Nancy is correct!
Leighton 19-Aug-2011 03:27
"Their" - oh, my. I am getting payback on correcting others on the "they're", "there" and "their" mistakes. And I'm so damn careful about proofing my posts. Grrrrrrrr
Leighton 19-Aug-2011 03:23
I initially read that as "GUANO". Oops. Thanks for the ego boost, folks, but the camera and I are not pals. Even friends say, "Stay away from the photos, man." Some people are just more fortunate, that way. Anyway, I am notoriously a private person - avoiding high school reunions, and Facebook, etc. It is incomprehensible to me, that some people plaster all of there "business" on the Internet. Privacy is a lost art. It's like Christmas "newsletters" gone berserk.....
Nike 19-Aug-2011 00:32
Fran -- I respect anyone's reasons for not participating in any aspect of fun and games. I shouldn't have made public issue and apologize to you, Leighton.

Having said that, Nancy remembers your picture and say's you are muy guapo.
Fran 18-Aug-2011 20:51

Nike,
I concur with Miami Girl...Leighton, is a handsome gentleman. He does have his reasons as why he doesn't want his picture posted. However, you and others could encourage him to share. :)
Miami Girl 18-Aug-2011 18:53
Yep, Leighton I remember your picture - Colbert for sure.
Nike 18-Aug-2011 08:34
Leighton -- After I read your post, I had to see so I went to the Miami Rouges Gallery only to find you MIA. Where is your photos? How about somthing from the past and present?
Leighton 18-Aug-2011 07:40
Nike - I guess we're told, at some point in our lives, that we look like a celebrity. For me, in high school/college - it was John Ritter, circa "Three's Company." Two years ago, while in North Carolina, I was briefly mistaken for Stephen Colbert (?????????). Odd.
Leighton 18-Aug-2011 07:37
Oh, and I got to see the opening "road show" version of "Chitty", in 1968, at the beautiful Sunny Isles Twin......it's now a furniture store. Back then, it had the wonderful "rocking chairs" in the Aquamarine (aqua) and Driftwood (orange) theaters. The lobby had incredible tile work. The theater opened in 66, and shuttered in '84.
Leighton 18-Aug-2011 07:21
In San Antonio, for the past 18 months.

The original, "hero" "Chitty" car sold in May, at auction, for $805,000. Frankly, I expected a few million, at the least. (There were several, non-driving versions created for various shots.) The crystal ball that the Wicked Witch used to observe Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," went for more than initial estimates, at the same auction, selling for $126,500, more than double the presale estimate of $40,000-$60,000. "Chitty" was expected to get $2 million.

Many don't realize that the "Chitty" musical is, indeed, based on a children's book penned by Ian Fleming (of James Bond fame). The film bears little resemblance to the short book. The film was produced by Albert Broccoli - he also produced the Bond films, until his daughter took over.

And I SAW the same auctioned "Chitty" car in MIAMI, of all places, at the Orange Bowl game, and parade, in 1968, right after the film was released.
Nike 18-Aug-2011 02:01
Parks -- The paperwork has been completed and approved for the one at Anniston Army Depot. Transportation arrangements shouId begin and take a couple of months. I just completed my trip report for the two in San Francisco. The paperworks takes about 90 days and another two months for transportation. So, we hope to have them on dispaly by early spring next year.

The real objective is to have them on display for the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis October 2012 which is only 14 months away. That is when we arrived with our Nike and HAWK missiles. I'll keep you posted on our progress.

By the way, I now have the barometric probe that fits on the end of the Nike nose cone. That was the real way to identify the difference between a conventional and nuclear missile. I hope they removed the fuse.....

Miami Girl -- Right you are!
Miami Girl 17-Aug-2011 21:28
YIKES Nike, a hybrid between Archie Bunker and JR Ewing - that's one crossbreed mongrel!!!
Parks17-Aug-2011 15:30
Nike, Great news on the missiles. When and how do we get them?
Nike 17-Aug-2011 13:29
Leighton -- Right here in Atlanta enjoying the cool summer mornings. Nancy and I just returned from our early morning walk to Starbucks for a cup of the "necter of the gods.".

I just got back from a week in San Francisco where the high was 71 for the whole week and in the fifties every night. While there, I was able to acquire two Nike Hercules missiles at Golden Gate National Park for transfer to display at the Nike site in Everglades National Park.

Are you in Austin or TriCities? I'm speaking at a conference in Bristol, TN late September. If you are there, let me know.

Miami Girl -- RE: Archie Bunker, my sons told me I was a hybrid between Archie Bunker and JR Ewing. I'm flattered, I think.
Roberta Perry Hughes 17-Aug-2011 08:35

Leighton....

Oh, dear me....! Everyone's crazy, but thee & me....!

....and even thee, a little....!

But, thanks. I just read my comment in response to yours, & was aghast.
I was so afraid I had offended you, & everyone else, who love that TV series.

Wow. I had no clue that Rose Marie was even still with us. She was in Vaudeville,
as a very young child, She wore a bow in her hair, of course, & she was quite a
marvel, as she had the singing voice of an adult. She was a very beautiful child,
too.

Now, Dick Van Dyke is another story....!

I fell in love with him as Caracticus Potts, in Ian Fleming's film,
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."
When he sang "Hushabye Mountain," to his children, I was smitten.

I love that movie, so much. Sally Ann Howes was fantastic, too, & both
of the children, as well.

I have a lovely photo of DVD, seated, smiling happily, & holding his large,
fluffy, gorgeous white Persian cat....& there he is, with matching white hair....!

I also love the gorgeous white-haired Donald Sutherland.

But....I digress. It's 4:35 AM, & I've been up all night, as usual.
There's no telling what I'll say....!

But one thing's for sure & for certain: I miss Old Miami, very much, & the
seemingly carefree living we all enjoyed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leighton 17-Aug-2011 04:18
Where are YOU, Nike?
Leighton 17-Aug-2011 04:16
I firmly believe that everyone should say EXACTLY what's on their mind. I just won't hesitate to comment.......keeps it all "healthy". Rose Marie was 88 a few days ago....

Roberta, ALWAYS say what you want. You're the one who keeps US all sane.
Miami Girl 16-Aug-2011 12:47
Roberta, your comment was only your opinion and I'm all for putting it out there and don't think Leighton took offense. I certainly agree with him, l loved the Girls as well as The Dick Van Dyke Show and MTM -- also enjoyed that obnoxious Archie Bunker. As Leighton said, the cast made those shows as well as the other classics.
Roberta Perry Hughes 16-Aug-2011 08:09

Leighton....

I am glad that you....& a gazillion others....love Golden Girls.

I should not have commented on your post, & I regret having done so.

You'll forgive me, please. I should not post, when I am feeling unwell, &
I should always proofread my comments, before I click Add Comment.

Hope everyone is well, & feeling good, & staying comfortable.

My best wishes to you all. Carpe diem....!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Leighton 16-Aug-2011 03:51
Honestly, cannot relate what you said, to the TV show. It's a sitcom. Bullying? Don't get it. Anyway, a very well-written comedy series, with one of the better ensembles in TV history. Nothing beats a good cast - like "The Dick Van Dyke Show" or "Mary Tyler Moore"...different decades, variety of styles.
Roberta Perry Hughes 15-Aug-2011 07:25

I never did get what was so great, re: Golden Girls. The large lovely house belonged to Blanche, & she already had Betty's character as a housemate, when here came Maude, & her mother. Evidently, they were down on their luck (?) & had nowhere to go, so kindhearted Blanche took them in.

I hated the way Maude & her mother acted, like THEY owned the home, & Blanche was the intruder. They were beyond overbearing to Blanche, openly insulting, & downright mean-sprited toward her....& also, toward Betty's character.

To me, I did not find that funny. Bullying is not a laughing matter. It's bad enough that there are really people in this world, including those of minor age, who are like Maude & her mother. But to showcase such behavior in a TV series....? What for....?

Had I been Blanche, those two bee-yatch-es would have found their shitz packed-up & at-the-door, along with the strong arm of-the-law present, to ensure their eviction from my property, & their "going away gift" would have been in the form of a legal & binding peace bond, where they could not come within a mile of where I was, at any given time.

But....! I am in the minority, I am sure, re: Golden Girls.

Whatever floats your boat, right....?

***********************************************************************************************************
Leighton 14-Aug-2011 06:53
Can't sleep, watching a self-created marathon of "Golden Girls" (DVDs). Back in '85, walked through the set, when attending USC. The first two seasons, were at Sunset-Gower Studios (former Columbia) - home to "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeanie." The later seasons were at the old Desilu....yes, it shared the same stage as "I Love Lucy."

The house exterior, the first season, was a home in Brentwood, CA. They built a false facade at Disney World, for the remaining seasons (it was bulldozed in 2003).
Leighton 14-Aug-2011 06:25
Well, my last name is Chapman, and I'm on hotmail, so feel free to contact me, whenever. My full name @.

Yet another story about Facebook, today. If you access it from your smart phone, it "remembers" all of your contact phone numbers, and keeps the info.

GOOD GRIEF. Something about "1984" rings a bell.
Roberta Perry Hughes 11-Aug-2011 09:35

Thanks Ted, & Leighton, for the information, on How To delete FaceBook.
I appreciate it, more than you know.

My only regret is having joined it in the first place. It was like opening Pandora's
Box....or a can of worms.

Suddenly, acquaintances you have not heard from in years, & really, didn't want
to, are lurking on your Wall, or sending you a message, wanting you to "Friend" them. I guess it made me a bit paranoid. I do not like to feel threatened.

I have emails from some of you, & we have stayed in touch that way. It is much less stressful for me, than FB.

Of course, this is my very favorite site, right here....!

Thanks, for listening. And thanks again for the help. I am feeling relieved, now,
knowing I will soon be off of FB.

Be well. Stay cool. Have fun, every chance you get....!

Hugs to all.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leighton 11-Aug-2011 05:48
And, yes, Facebook has intentionally created a "Catch 22"....you are encouraged to sign in, to delete your account. But every time that you sign in, you reinstate it. Seriously. The site is all about making money for its creators. It seems all warm and cozy, but we're talking about a billion dollar industry. There was a time, when our mothers said, "Don't go showing your business to the neighbors." Yet, here we are.

I met a person on business last week, but lost their phone number. I Googled their name, and my city. The first hit, came up with a satellite pic of THEIR HOUSE (granted, I had to click on the map). That's just a little too much for me. But then, I'm a person who will not answer the phone, if I don't recognize the number. (I ALSO don't call back an unknown number, when no message is left. WHY do people do that??????)
Leighton 11-Aug-2011 05:10
What Ted said. Just make sure that you don't sign on to Facebook again for a month. I waited six weeks after deleting my account, and it apparently was deleted. But we all know that they KEEP all of your info in their database. Facebook was "down" today, and apparently many went into a "rage" on Twitter - from the frying pan into the fire. And, again, for those of you who don't know, Facebook has the capability of tracking ALL Internet activity by members. I thought it was impossible, until a friend showed me the link...and, sure enough, there was a listing of every site that I had ever visited while a member. VERY creepy. Just imagine where that information is going, and the value to the inevitable hacker. That site has been targeted by the hacking wizards of "Anonymous" (Google it), so it's only a matter of time till Facebook is compromised.

I guess "The Flick" wasn't around in the early 80s? I don't remember it from my years at UM...
Parks11-Aug-2011 03:30
Leighton, Miami Girl is correct about the location of The Flick. It was on Ponce De Leon just half a block south of the UM baseball field. There have been several restaurants in that location since. Does anybody remember K.C. Cagney's? They were the first place I saw loafs of shoe string fried onions. They called them Onion Bunions. They were wonderful. The Titanic Brew Pub is there now. You can imagine that a micro brewery would do well next to the UM. Titanic has live music on Friday and Saturday night. I think it's all local groups. I guess I should go just in case there is a new Peter, Paul, and Mary group about to hit the scene.
Ted Crownover10-Aug-2011 22:25
Roberta, This was cut & pasted from the Facebook Help section. Sorry to see you go, but I understand.
Ted
Ted Crownover10-Aug-2011 22:21
How do I deactivate my account?
To deactivate your account: Open the Account dropdown menu at the top right corner of Facebook and...
How do I permanently delete my account?
If you deactivate your account from your Account Settings page, your profile and all information associated with it disappears from the Facebook service immediately. People on Facebook will not be able to search for you or view any of your information.

In case you want to come back to Facebook at some point, we save your profile information (friends, photos, interests, etc.) so that your account will look just the way it did when you left. A lot of people deactivate their accounts for temporary reasons and expect their profiles to be there when they return to the service.

If you do not think you will use Facebook again and would like your account deleted, keep in mind that you will not be able to reactivate your account or retrieve any of the content or information you have added. If you would like your account permanently deleted with no option for recovery, log in to your account and then submit your request here.
Miami Girl 10-Aug-2011 12:25
Leighton, from what I remember The Flick was in front of the Univ. on a small road that paralleled Rt 1. Anybody feel free to correct if my memory is all mucked up again :)
Roberta Perry Hughes 10-Aug-2011 06:12

Leighton....

Please get my email address from Don, then, email me the steps I have to take
to unload FaceBook.

I have not gone on there in over 3 weeks, but when I did, in an attempt to get free
of it, I could not access my Wall, or anything, & the screen wanted me to sign back
in, with my password....which I did not do.

Any help you can give me, regarding this matter, will be greatly appreciated, and
I thank you, in advance.

Quitting FaceBook is like Smoking: the best way to do so, is to NEVER START.

On a happier note: we have been getting some decent rain, for the past 3 or 4
nights, with about 2.5" per night, in the rain gauge.

So very grateful for every drop....but we can hear the grass growing taller, & it
has been too dangerously hot for Lewis to attempt to mow, that it is looking like
a rye field, in height, now. He is going to have to mow, soon, then, mow over the
cuttings.

I get old movies, on Friday nights, & I finally got to watch "Gorky Park," last week, I think it was. Starring William Hurt, Lee Marvin, & Brian Dennehey. I started
to change the channel, but the more I watched, the more I was drawn-in to the
story. It was very good.

We enjoy watching the reruns of "Burn Notice." I watch, so I can see scenes of
Miami, of course. Besides which, it is a good show.

Stay cool, everyone. Be well. Be wary of strawberries, unless Robert grew them,
due to the deadly e-coli outbreak, recently. Please, be careful.
Leighton 10-Aug-2011 04:13
Where was "The Flick"??????
Leighton 10-Aug-2011 04:11
You have to FIGHT, to let Facebook release you. Believe me. So many hoops to jump through, to cancel, then you can't go anywhere near it for several weeks, or they will automatically reinstate you. Facebook is interesting...it's made me dislike folks I've known my entire life. Good concept, mightily abused. For some, a wonderful means of communication, for others, a cheap psychiatrist. Fascinating, and aggravating. This site works so much betters....kinda "hones" it all down...
Miami Girl 09-Aug-2011 13:51
Wish I had seen them - we went to The Flick once in '64 or '65, just because coffee houses and beatniks were cool and we had to check it out.
Parks09-Aug-2011 03:43
Hi Rat! Was the coffee house "The Flick" by the U of M? A lot of good people played there. I only went there a couple of times. Wish I had gone more.
Miami River Rat09-Aug-2011 02:02
Peter, Paul and Mary are on my PBS station. I first saw them in a coffee house in the Gables, 'round about '62 or '63. They were playing for drinks, no money. Anybody else remember them playing there, before they were famous?

Oh yeah. I'll be away from a computer for about a week so I'll have to respond later, just wanted to post the question while it was fresh on my mind.
Miami Girl 08-Aug-2011 23:29
Roberta, I know many who've tired of fb, but please don't leave this site - I too love reading your comments.
Largo, PLANT ONE FOR ME PLEASE I don't have anything near a green thumb, but had to plant some perennials in pots so I can take them from this rental to a home we buy next summer. They've started attracting butterflies so I guess that's good. We've also got some cute little hummingbirds visiting our feeders, I never realized they chirp!
Fran 08-Aug-2011 21:47
Roberta,
You sound down, look up! We're here for you and love reading your comments.

LARGO,
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PICS...WE FIND JOY IN SIMPLE THINGS, GOOD FOOD AND GREAT WINE.:)
LARGO 08-Aug-2011 20:50
ROBERTA...I DO NOT THINK FACEBOOK SHUTS YOU DOWN FOR INACTIVITY...YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY FB. I WILL MISS YOU THERE...ITS THE ONLY WAY TO SHARE PHOTOS WITH SOME OF YOU. FRAN......I WOULD RATHER PUT MYSELF INTO MY GARDEN RATHER THAN ON A SHRINKS COUCH.....CHEAPER....AND I REALLY GET A WORKOUT!.....MY HOUSE IS JUST A LITTLE TYPICAL FLORIDA CBS (CONCRETE BLOCK STUCCO) FLORIDA HOME......THE PLANTS & FLOWERS MAKE IT BRIGHTER.....I SHALL PLANT SOME FOR YOU ALL AND CONTINUE TO SHARE.....LOL........LARGO
Roberta Perry Hughes 08-Aug-2011 12:05

I meant to name the country of Somalia, not Samoa.

I am not well, & am half-asleep.

You'll forgive me.

P.S. I have not been on FB in a while, & I think my membership is done,
due to inactivity. I have no intentions of renewing it. I did not care for its format.

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Roberta Perry Hughes 08-Aug-2011 04:54

I am feeling guilty, as here WE are, getting rain, like 2.5" at a time, whenever
it does grace us with rain, that is. More often than some areas, but still, not
nearly enough.

Our well still ran dry, in spite of it, as did other wells, in our area.
Chalk it up to: wells too shallow; not enough rainfall; crop irrigation,
via center pivots. I saw on the news where one well ran dry, & they
drilled for a new one....but, no water to be hit. The family will have
to move.

In the fields of corn where irrigation was more often than not, the outer borders
of corn are dead-as-a-hammer. One carelessly flicked lit cigarette would cause
a conflagration that would spread quickly, with the potential to destroy the entire
crop.

It remains dry as-a-bone, with crisp, brown yards, that crunch under one's feet.
Lots of choking dust clouds, down the dirt roads, from vehicles, farm machinery,
& the rural school buses, taking the country living children home.

Feast or famine. Some areas in these United States have been plagued with
too much rain, resulting in devastatingly destructive flooding, ruining entire
towns, destroying property, & taking lives. The heat has also taken lives.

The various churches pray for rain to fall.....or for it to cease. Both are very
bad situations, as we are all keenly aware.

No matter where we are, we have to manage to cope with our situations. It
was rough, to live without running water, for nigh on a week, but, I cannot
even begin to imagine, having to deal with muddy floors, & soggy furniture
& bedding. It can all be so very overwhelming, whichever situation we have.

Even so, we have it a lot better, than the folks in Samoa. God have mercy on
them.

We look about us, & we see so many, too numerous to count, who are worse
off than we are.

We have much, for which to be truly thankful.

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Fran 07-Aug-2011 20:36
LARGO,
I KNOW FOR A FACT ALL OF THE CHURCHES IN THE AREA AND THROUGHOUT TEXAS ARE ASKING THEIR CONGREGATIONS TO PRAY FOR RAIN. I LOST MY PLANTS IN JUNE...BUMMER. SOME CLOUDS TODAY, NO RAIN IN SIGHT, HOT, HOT HOT.

I WANTED TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOUR YARD/GARDEN REMINDS ME OF MY CHILDHOOD HOME. YOU HAVE PUT A LOT OF LOVE INTO YOUR GARDEN AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL! FLORIDA MY HOME...
LARGO 07-Aug-2011 16:09
FRAN.....SORRY ABOUT ALL THAT DRY WEATHER...I KNOW HOW YOU WERE LOOKING SO FORWARD TO YOUR TOMATO AND BERRIE CROP..........I WOULD LOVE TO LIVE ON ONE OF THE LITTLE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS...IT KEEPS ACTING LIKE RAIN HERE...ONLY SPRINKLES...BUT NADA..JUST HOT AND HUMID A LA FLORIDA...HOWEVER I FEAR THE RAIN DANCE SPIRITS MIGHT GOSSIP TO THE BIG STORM SPIRITS...AND ALL WE NEED IS A GOOD HEALTHY DOWNPOUR...NO DRAMA PLEASE.......SO FOR NOW I AM HOLDING BACK ON THE RAIN DANCE....LOL..................................BE WELL ALL, LARGO
Parks07-Aug-2011 02:28
Leighton, I received an order today for a very small pump to be shipped to Texas. It was going to an aviation company. The man was in a big hurry for it because he was fighting fires. I sent him an email telling him that I had gotten the pump to UPS today and I asked him what he did with such a small pump. Here is what he said: "We fly with the air tankers that drop retardant The pump is used to pump water over ice in a cooler with two fans blowing over a heat exchanger to keep us cool."
Hope you get rain soon.
Leighton 05-Aug-2011 04:22
Ah, to travel. Not in my universe, right now. ONLY 106 today, much hotter elsewhere. Texas is having the worst drought in recorded history, I hear. Only two significant rains in 2011, in SA. YUCK. And the car air has been kaput since April. Joy. Watching an obscure Steve McQueen flick, "Baby the Rain Must Fall" from 1965 - filmed a few hours from SA. BIG fan of McQueen. The posturing of current actors cannot compare....
Nike 04-Aug-2011 15:13
Roberta & Lewis - Happy anniversary wishes from me and Nancy. We hope ya'll are as happy as we are and it sounds like you are.

We are here in Sacramento on business. I developed some software that another company here in California expressed an interest in so, we're here to see "how interested" they really are.

We are heading to Napa this evening for a couple of nights and a visit to a fully restored Nike site on Saturday in Golden Gate National Park on the north site of the Golden Gate Bridge Saturday. We'll stay in Sausalito until Tuesday when we fly back to Hotlanta. Hope our wittle arms don't get too tired.
Fran 04-Aug-2011 05:17
Roberta,
You and Lewis made it, 20 years!!! Waiting for the gentle rain...none in sight. Hoping for a TS later this month.

LARGO,
MY TOMATOES DID NOT MAKE IT AND MY BERRY BUSH IS ALMOST GONE FOREVER. STAYING INSIDE WAITING FOR SOME TYPE OF RELIEF.
Roberta Perry Hughes 04-Aug-2011 01:57

Thanks, Miami Girl & Largo, for the Anniversary wishes. Twenty years, tomorrow!

Hope everyone will soon get some healing gentle rain, in the drought areas.

Hugs to everyone.

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LARGO 03-Aug-2011 21:41
THANKS WHITEBELT...WONDER HOW IT WOULD DO ON CHINCH BUGS?....BUT FOR SURE WILL GET SOME AND READ UP ON IT ON THE INTERNET...I HAVE REALLY WAGED A WAR ON THOSE AND SOD WEBWORMS...I USED TO HAVE A LITTLE HORSE RANCH IN UPPER EAST TENNESEE...WITH MILK GOATS, CHICKENS, DUCKS, DOGS, AND CATS..AND OH UHHH HORSES......AND WE PUT 7 DUST ON ALL OF THEM...THAT WAS BEFORE FRONTLINE AND ALL THE NEW STUFF......*HA HA YOURSELF NIKE...I WAS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND CARMEL IN MAY...HAVE KISSIN COUSINS AND FRIENDS OUT THAT WAY...AND I AM SURE YOU COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH ME AND MY GANG...LOL...WE ARE A FAMILY OF 'PARTY ME HARTIES' FER SURE!!!...CHILLY..NICE...BUT I LOVE FLORIDA MORE...THEN TO SEATTLE TO VISIT NEICES AND OLDEST SISTER....MOUNT RANIER STUCK ITS HEAD OUT ONE DAY!!!...THE REST WAS DAMP AND DISMALL.....THIS HEAT WON'T LAST MUCH LONGER....GOT MY EYE ON "MZ EMILY' FOR NOW..........PEACE OUT!..........................LARGO
Miami Girl 03-Aug-2011 12:46
Roberta and Lewis, Happy Anniversary tomorrow!
Miami Girl 03-Aug-2011 12:45
Nike, ditto Roberta's message! Anyway hope you both have a wonderful time - I've always wanted to go despite the fact it's "Nancy Pelosi country".
Roberta Perry Hughes 03-Aug-2011 10:48

Nike.....

P-ffffftttttt-ttttt-ttttt-ttttt....! (raspberries), & Snar-rrr-k.....! P-Tooo-ey.....!! (hark 'n spit) to YOU.....! (I consider Nancy to be innocent, in this case of flaunting). ;-)

Seriously.....! I shan't begrudge you a lovely time. So, what takes you out to San Fran....?

My late aunt & uncle once lived there, in an upstairs apartment. She really loved 'Frisco, & she used to regale me with stories of the sites there, & the Fisherman's Wharf.

Have a wonderful & safe trip, there & back, & think of me, when you are chowing down on some tasty fried fish, & other seafood delights.

Lucky, lucky you....!

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Nike 02-Aug-2011 13:58
LARGO & Roberta - Come go with me and Nancy tomorrow to San Francisco where it is in the 70's during the day and 50s at night. Na-na-na-na-na...
Roberta Perry Hughes 02-Aug-2011 07:19

Thanks, Largo, for cheering for my new well....!!

Thanks, Whitebelt, for the tip, re: Spectracide.

Gotta have me some of that. ;-)

Going to be in the hundreds, this week. Hoping for a kind-hearted tropical
depression, to bathe the Eastern seaboard in some ground-soaking rain.

No flooding, please. Just gentle rain. Cooling, lovely, life-giving rain.

I can just hear the frogs in the pond, in my mind, with their monotonous
croaking, in a cacophony of unadulterated joy.....! It will be good to hear
them, once again.

I had so hoped that the one that came across Texas, was going to be their
saving grace. Hopefully, there will be another to come along....a nice one.

Wasn't the one that went across TX named DON....?

The weather man said that, "Don just petered out." LOL

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whitebelt01-Aug-2011 23:40
Largo, You spread Spectracide dry and then water it down a bit. I just throw it out there in the spring and let the rains do the moistening. Lasts longer. It does kill ticks and fleas real well. It used to run about $7 a bag a Lowe's. One bag can go a long ways. I would get 2 for a normal sized yard. Putting a 18-24 inch barrier of it around and right next to the house is what you want to do. Throw a little in hidden places, crawlspaces, etc. Then do the yard. The buggies pick it up on their legs and it gets them sooner or later, especially if the air is damp. Used it the first time in New Mexico. Had bugs walking into the house like they owned it, including black crickets, and the dog was infested with ticks we couldn't get rid of. They were everywhere around there. That stuff ended that in a hurry.

You poison the turf and dirt around the house that the little buggers have to walk through. More area covered the higher the mortality rate for them.

Doesn't harm pets, even had a vet tell me that. Matter of fact, I would imagine the dusting they get on their fur would help keep pests off them. We had many yard cats and a dog and no ill effects in 6 years.

Great stuff. You can use a lawn spreader or throw it out like chicken scratch. I've done it bare handed, but I would suggest a rubber glove.
LARGO 01-Aug-2011 21:00
WHITEBELT...ON THE SPECTRACIDE...DO YOU USE IT LIQUID OR IN POWDER FORM...WILL IT HURT MY KITTIES? :/ .....YEA ROBERTA!!!!...GOOD NEWS RE THE WELL!!...I THINK I AM READY FOR A BIT COOLER WEATHER...COOL NOT COLD...LIKE 75*ish ...'HAD TO MOW' MY LITTLE YARD SATURDAY...SO HOT...AND I WAITED TILL ALMOST DARK..TO DAMP IN THE MORNING...I WAS A SIGHT..WITH A ZIPLOCK FULL OF ICE UNDER MY STRAW HAT...TONS OF DEEP WOODS OFF ALL OVER AND A WET TOWEL AROUND MY NECK.......ICE COLD TEA NEARBY.......TOO SEXY...NOT!!! LMAO!!!....MIAMI GIRL...THE SWEAT STINGS YOUR EYES BECAUSE IT'S SALTY...SO BE SURE TO GET REPLENISHED IN YOUR POTASSIUM...BANANA ANYONE???.....BE WELL YA'LL.........................LARGO
Nike 01-Aug-2011 11:22
Stupid keyboard...
Nike 01-Aug-2011 11:21
Miami Girl -- That was Air Flforida Flight 90. It killed 78 people January 82.
whitebelt01-Aug-2011 00:20
Miami Girl, look up hantavirus before you decide to adopt any mice. I never heard of it until I moved to NM. It is entrenched in some areas.

Simple fact is vermin survives on the food we leave laying about, including bread and potato chip crumbs.

Roberta, glad you got your water back.

I finally got my gas line back to my spa building and hot water. Was an epic. Not sure I will survive to enjoy it. Took the easy and cheaper route and ran the gas line above ground. Painted it yellow. It will blend in when all is done. Installed that old tankless heater I had that crapped out shortly after moving in. Had to take it apart 3 times to clean some parts and fix a leak. Still has a very small leak buried somewhere, but it will do for what I want if for. Spent five full days in 100 degree weather on this project. Getting too old for that stuff.

Hopefully I will be getting that USDA grant/loan to get my roof and furnace replaced. Then I will be looking forward to winter. This summer has been a dud. Missing something. Hasn't been a sincere summer. Feels like it could flip to winter overnight even though it has been so hot. The hummingbirds have decreased their frequency of showing up. At least there were no tornadoes this year.

Strange. if I get that furnace replaced I am really looking forward to staying in my cave this winter. No bugs, no weeds to mow. Have most of the heavy stuff getting this place in order done. Will have a spa room with heat. I can't recall ever looking forward to winter before.

I went with Progressive auto insurance a couple or three months ago. They were almost the cheapest locally. They sent me a thing to plug into my Jeep that recorded driving habits. Not long afterwards they dropped my premium 30% effective immediately. Was on a 6 month contract, but they reduced the premiums after about two months or less. If you don't do any hard braking or drive between midnight and 4 AM you will probably get the discount. I know the end of time is coming because I have never seen an insurance company do anything like that. Always goes up, never down. I am impressed.
Miami Girl 31-Jul-2011 20:14
Roberta glad you got your water back! A well is something my husband grew up with and swears we'll never have a house that's not on city water. I'm certainly going to take all these "bug outs" remedies in mind now that we're back in the south - I'd rather have mice than those damn palmetto bugs. Whitebelt your story freaked me out, no eating anywhere but at the table from now on!
Just found out that Garry Wheaton another member of Palmetto's class of '65 has passed away. AZ Al did you know him? For you airplane buffs, his brother was the pilot of that US Air (?) flight to Tampa that crashed in the Potomac River in the early 80's. I'm still perplexed that the one civilian guy jumped in the freezing water to rescue that lady before she went under while all the police and firemen stood there.
Parks31-Jul-2011 14:00
Roberta, That's good news on the well. It's impossible to live without a convenient source of water. I was thinking of you last night as I was connecting my new well, oops, make that core sample hole, to a pump. It was so hot all day I waited until it was dark to go out and hook up the pipes. I'm off now to work on the canoe. Snapper's warehouse has AC!
whitebelt31-Jul-2011 11:33
I've heard roaches will crawl on your face while sleeping and drink the saliva that collects in the corners of your mouth.

I lived one place where I could hear the Palmetto bugs eating. They ate the soft nose pads on my glasses to get the salt.

Haven't had much problem with vermin like that for the last 20 years because of some rules I established for myself I follow religiously.

I do not store paper bags. German cockroaches come into the house with them and breed like crazy. They eat the glue and love the dark.

No eating in bed or snacking while watching TV. Those crumbs collect and provide food over a wide area of the house. Lets the little buggers expand their territory. I eat only where it is easy to clean up immediately afterwards. It is something that takes a lot of discipline in this modern world, but it works.

Bug bombs are the greatest thing ever invented to get them under control. Nuke them and then keep the environment food free as possible for them. These new water based insecticides used by the pros are really good, too. Line the baseboards and cracks and crevices. Actually, just keeping them clean with common household cleaners does a great job once you nuke them. Any chemical residue that they pick up and tends to dry them out discourages them. Rubbing alcohol is great stuff. Keeping humidity down helps a lot, too.

Haven't had problem with roaches since I started that. Probably haven't seen more than 50 of them in the last 20 years, even in New Orleans.

Spiders are the biggest thing out there on the Plains. I have never seen such a variety and in such numbers as out there. Bug bombs help a bunch. I put them in the crawlspace under the house once a year. Tarantulas migrate out in the grasslands during the fall I have come to find out. I hate big ugly spiders. Didn't pick up any last year because of the bombing, which I was so glad of since I spent a lot of time crawling around under the house.

The greatest stuff in the world, though, if you live in a house is Spectracide. Lay that stuff down in the yard and especially heavy 2 feet around the house and you will make a serious dent in the bug population in your house. Get your neighbors to do the same.
Roberta Perry Hughes 31-Jul-2011 10:57

Thanks for the tip, Leighton, re: lemon scent Raid. I absolutely hate the way
the regular scent smells.

The heat has driven the cucarachas into my house, too. They look like
Dromedary Dates, with legs.

We also have black crickets, who usually come in the house when it is cold.

Haven't seen any 'spotted whores' (my name for Lady Bugs) I guess, due to
the drought. I hope their spots fall off, the little bee-ya-ches...! They are mean
little schitz.....if you swat at them, they will dive bomb you. "Lady" my hind end....!

I'm just thankful that the fire ants haven't decided to join the House Party, too.
They will be all over you, & you don't feel them. Then, one of them says, "O.K.,
on three, let's bite her....!", & man, you shed your clothes & frantically, get them
off of you as best you can.

Cucarachas....? I've seen them so big, even the cat was intimidated by them.
I planned to get one with a shoe, once, & he pulled a knife on me. BAD Massey
Fergusons.....! (MFs) I think they were in a gang, or something.

I'm with you, Leighton: I do not care for bugs. I could never have been an
Entomologist, to be sure.

Hallelujah! They drilled the new well, on Friday, & came out, yesterday with
the water truck & the new pump, &.....we have running water, again....!

Everything is fine, except the water pressure in the kitchen sink is low, for some
reason. Will get it taken care of, soon.

That old adage/song, "You Never Miss the Water, 'Til the Well Runs Dry," is
the gospel truth. We had been hauling water in barrels, buckets, pails, & jugs,
for nigh on a week, & managing to cope, with having no running water.

Just something as simple as that, is a blessing....& one that we seem to take
for granted. Electricity, too. Everyone has been through a power outage, I'm
sure, that forces you to find a source of water, & haul it to your home.

Let me tell you, when your well runs dry-as-a-bone, it can surely humble you.

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Leighton 31-Jul-2011 04:57
Oh, my. SHAME. That would be "rode."
Leighton 31-Jul-2011 04:48
By the way, Raid's lemon scent is great - you can spray the whole damn can, and your house smells like Pledge. You'll feel like the Lemon Pledge Lady, from the 60s, running through the living room in blue chiffon, "bringing new luster to the wood." (I digress.) GREAT, now I won't be able to sleep, with the "Lemon Tree" song in my head.....
Leighton 31-Jul-2011 04:33
Well, as I've said many times, in the late 60s/early 70s, we road our "banana bikes" behind the DDT truck, enjoying the cool mist. So far, I haven't seen any abnormalities. My older sister's child is very healthy (she was a part of the biking entourage). The bed bug invasion appears to have quieted down, but it has obviously resurfaced, due to the absence of DDT, which had eradicated it, in the past. I am VERY environmentally oriented, but I am curious as to how dangerous DDT actually is... Frankly, I'd give up a few years, to insure NO BUGS. Like Miami, SA is roach heaven (well, I guess some were Palmetto bugs in Miami) - it is HELL to keep them out.

My first apartment (how GREAT that was!) was on Douglas Road, in 1984. South of 8th Street, ACROSS from the Gables. Very clean, but one night I woke up with about FIVE roaches in my bed. I'm sure that they heard me screaming (no pride, here), three blocks away. My Dad always touted Harris tablets...
whitebelt30-Jul-2011 15:51
Malathion and I do not get along. All I have to do is smell it.

I'm not really a cold blooded guy.
Parks30-Jul-2011 15:41
From what I've read DDT is actually pretty harmless to humans. That is why it was used so heavily. When a ton of DDT would do the job, two tons couldn't hurt. It was way over used because it was so safe for humans, it was cheap and it was effective. It prevented a lot of malaria. Unfortunately, as Ratchel Carson pointed out in her book "Silent Spring", it was very bad for birds. It's very effective in much lower doses than what was used in the forties and fifties. If it had been used correctly back then, I think we'd still be using it today.
Miami River Rat30-Jul-2011 12:56
The flyover spray was malathion, not toxic to warm blooded animals. I think maybe the Tropicaire drive-in used DDT. That's a different story! Like Roberta, I remember dodging the Tropicaire's sprayer when going to and from the concession stand and it sure did smell like DDT.
whitebelt30-Jul-2011 12:48
http://mosquito.ifas.ufl.edu/Larviciding.htm

I couldn't read the whole thing. I think the spray was mostly petroleum based with maybe some DDT added. Back at that time there were so many chemicals we were exposed to I think it would be hard to say what kills us and what didn't.

Governments love to experiment on the public. But that seemed to work in the long run in Miami. Along with the addition of many square miles of concrete.

There has been lot of controversy about chemtrails. Lots of those things you see are not the old contrails we grew up watching. I have seen some hellaceous exhausts from military craft. Either they are spraying something or there is some new additive to jet fuel. They are finding some weird stuff as a result of it. Makes you wonder about what is going one. The secrecy and the widespread happening of these things. That is very expensive operation to do in secret. There are some that think it may be related to combat global warming, some that think it may be a new technology for stealth operations by the military. I am wondering if it is something related to HAARP. That HAARP has some truly scary aspects to its potentials on the global scale. It literally has the potential to punch holes in the atmosphere letting in cosmic radiation and manipulating weather on a regional scale.

Of course, it could be they are spraying to combat an invasion of ET's that have infiltrated the general public, targeting their physical processes. :-)
Roberta Perry Hughes 30-Jul-2011 02:29

Are there any documented cases of the mosquito spray having actually killed people, especially, at the drive-ins, or wherever, for that matter....?

I remember how we dreaded going to the concessions stand, at Tropicaire Drive-in, because the mosquito sprayer was always coming up one of the aisles we would be crossing, either on the way there, or on the way back to the car, & we hated getting caught in its vapors.

I can still recall how it smelled. Yuck.

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Don Boyd29-Jul-2011 14:38

Here's more on the Air Force C-130H spraying operation that I posted on Facebook a few days ago:
http://www.homestead.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123264743

I remember the first time we ever saw a mosquito spray plane in the late 50's. I was swimming with my best buddy and his brothers in their elevated outdoor pool and a Twin-Beech came over so low we thought he was crashing, especially with the gunk coming out of it. We got out of the pool and were about to run over a block to see if it crashed into Palm Springs Junior High only to see him come back on another pass. It was the neatest thing to watch because we were all airplane nuts. Years later one of the guys that held the large balloon at each end of the spraying pass let me hold the rope under the balloon and march off 200 feet or so every time the spray plane went overhead so that the pilot could line up for the next pass. It's amazing that most of us are still alive because we had the insecticide all over us after a few passes.

Don
,
Nike 29-Jul-2011 12:07
I remember the mosquito control fly-overs in the fifties. We first learned to find out which days they flew over when she had laundry drying outside on the clothesline. When she collected it, it had spots of chemicals all over it and had to be re-washed. After that, she didn't hang clothes to dry on mosquito fly-over days.

Parks29-Jul-2011 03:52
Hi Guys, It's been a good year for mosquitos so the county brought in the Air Force to do battle with them. It seems some C-130's equiped for spraying are based in Homestead. This is a link to photos that Snapper took of them working near his house:http://jmlynn.smugmug.com/Airplanes/C-130-Mosquito-Patrol/
Miami Girl 28-Jul-2011 18:41
Roberta, be sure to post Robert's answer when you get it. I'll also be buying some Choquettes if I can. Taste and smell hit my memory bank like a bolt of lightening and send me on a trip back in time.
Roberta Perry Hughes 28-Jul-2011 04:11

Parks,

I just clicked on to the Robert Is Here in the grocery stores & markets galleries, then, clicked on the link to go to his website. Then, I clicked on the 'contact us' link, & asked him about Choquette avocados, as well as Hayden mangoes.

Hopefully, I will be able to order me some when they become available. I saved his Home Page to My Favorites, so I can go there ad lib.....& can also forward the link on to others.

Roberta, in the CSRA, dreaming of HUGE avocados.

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Parks28-Jul-2011 03:36
Roberta, I have seen Choquette avodacos at Robert is Here. They won't be ready for a month or more. I'll check with him next time I go down.
Roberta Perry Hughes 28-Jul-2011 03:32

Thanks, Parks.....!

All these years later, I finally know how to spell this variety of avocado.....!

I did a search on them, & saw where I was right, about them having been a grafted variety, & that the fruits were HUGE, as compared to other varieties.

Oh, how I wish they would grow up here, or that I had a green house, to produce them.....! As lucious as they are, & the fact that they grow off season, can you imagine the profits one could make, if they could produce them....??

I hate it that your tree is on-the-fritz, & I know you & Susan both regret it. They are indeed, the BEST tasting, ever....!

Does Robert is Here have them for sale....?? I will have to check out his website, & see, I guess.

I remember that we used to call those small, black-skinned, knotty ones, "alligator pears," because they looked like a 'gator. Didn't care for their taste, either. After having eaten a Choquette, NO variety would please the palate. Truly, a tough act to follow. (sigh)

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Parks27-Jul-2011 15:22
Hi Roberta, That's the same Avodado we have. I looked it up. It's spelled "Choquette". I think it's pronounced like "show ket". Susan just told me that it has two fruit on it this year. One is up pretty high and the squirrels will probably get it. The other is low enough that I can bag it so we might get one.
Susan planted a Lula a few months ago but it's too small to bear fruit yet.
Roberta Perry Hughes 27-Jul-2011 07:38

Type in 'avocado varieties,' then click 'search.' There you will find charts, posters,
growing information, photos, diseases that hit avocados, the history & origin of
avocados, etc., etc., etc. Even recipes.....!! ; ) I was astounded....!

I read where there are over 500 varieties of avocados....! Saw a huge poster of
them, but did not see the one that we had in our yard, which sounded like they
called it a 'showcat', & like Parks, I have no idea how it is spelled.

Ours was a rather short, bushy-like tree, & I heard that it was grafted. The fruits
it produced were huge, making the limbs heavy-laden with them. They were
absolutely the BEST avocados I ever tasted.

Mama would halve them, remove the seed, cut the rind off, then, dice into cubes.
She placed the cubes in the salad bowl, over which she put a small amount of
minced onion, followed by the juice of fresh key limes from our back yard, &
gave the mixture a gentle toss. Yield: Conch Salad

It was served with platters of fresh fried red snapper, hush puppies, sand dollar
corn fritters, potato salad, & cole slaw, for those who preferred it, & lots of freshly
brewed sweetened iced tea. We were a family of five, six, counting my uncle,
who lived with us for a time, & we went through that wonderful seafood dinner,
like termites on a wood pile.....!!

Lordy, Lordy! How I can smell the wonderful aroma, of that table full of food, in
my memory....! Mouthwatering memory, of Old Miami, when there was no National Debt Crisis, & life was just beautiful. (sigh)

I am sure that everyone is wanting some avocados, now.....& some fried red
snapper, too.

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Leighton 27-Jul-2011 03:51
Strangely enough, we never ate the mangoes or avocados from our Miami yard. I was horribly allergic to the mango skin and bark. My parents gave all of that stuff away! I didn't taste an avocado till my college roommate at UM (who was from here in SA) introduced me to them in '82. Of course, now I enjoy both. We DID utilize the key limes from our yard, back then. My current SA yard has bitter oranges, and pomegranate trees/bushes...haven't tried the latter directly. This hot weather and drought is killing everything - we've had TWO significant rains in 2011! Crazy. SA is fairly GREEN country, actually (well, usually). John Wayne's "The Alamo" was filmed a few hours from here, in a decidedly different terrain, and has confused people about our "look", ever since.
Parks27-Jul-2011 03:46
Hi Rat, That's Snappers lady friend. She is stunning. I don't know what she sees in him. I'd offer to send avocados but we just can't seem to grow them. We have a huge old tree that produces a lot of small bad avocados that the bushy tailed rats seem to like. Our other tree is a Chocket (spelling?). It's fruit is wonderful! But it didn't blossom this year. It usually only produces a few anyway.
Miami River Rat27-Jul-2011 03:01
Great progress on the canoe, Parks. Does the pretty girl in the picture have dibbs on the first ride?
Miami River Rat27-Jul-2011 02:58
I think there was one time when there weren't many more than ten Swallow Tail kites left alive! We saw a pair out near Immokalee once and it was a big deal.

Largo, I could use a real avocado right now myself. All they need is a little salt, or not, if you're out polkin' around and find a good tree.
LARGO 27-Jul-2011 00:45
I WENT TO KINLOCH PARK ELEM. UP INTO 5TH GR. AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER THE GREAT CARNIVALS OR FALL FESTIVALS THEY HAD. THEN I WENT TO PINECREST ELEM. WHEN MY PARENTS MOVED US ALL TO S MIAMI...AND THEY HAD PRETTY GOOD CARNIVALS TOO......LARGO...WISHIN' FOR ON OF THOSE BIG AVOCADOS..A SHAKER OF SALT AND A SPOON.....UMMMMM...
Parks25-Jul-2011 05:23
Loved that song too. "Every lock that ain't locked when no ones around..."
If you want a shock, look up the original words to Big Rock Candy Mountain. It was no kids song. I went down to Homestead today to work on the canoe with Snapper. If anyone is interested, here are the latest photos showing it with the whisky plank installed and the installation of the outer stem on the pointy end.http://jmlynn.smugmug.com/Boats/Cedrus-Marie/13150192_UvHJA#P-11-10
For a lawyer, Snapper is a damn fine wood worker. Now if I could just teach him how to sharpen a chisel.
After working on the canoe we drove down south to the Aerojet Road to see how close we could get to the old rocket facility. While we were out there we saw at least ten Swallow Tail Kites, my favorite bird. I don't think I've ever seen more than four in an area at one time.
Leighton 25-Jul-2011 04:47
Good grief. Just reread the lyrics to "King of the Road"......"Don't pay no union dues,
I smoke old stogies I have found, short, but not too big around".....hmmmmm,,,guess that flew over a two-year-old's head. Just remember being to excited, every time it came on the car radio...."I ain't got no cigarettes"...
Leighton 24-Jul-2011 03:42
Didn't have those early bedtimes, when I was a kid. We usually stayed up to watch Carson's monologue in elementary school, don't ask me why - didn't understand half of it, I bet. One of my earliest memories, was watching Roger Miller sing "King of the Road" on The Tonight Show - good grief, that was a hit in 64...I was 2. It was my first "favorite song" (we were still living in Virginia then, where I was born).
Leighton 24-Jul-2011 03:35
Always loved H-ween, as a kid. Never heard it referred to as "Devil's Night." My parents always took us out, or we went alone as elementary school kids in early 70s Miami. I know many of the churches have started this trunk-or-treat stuff - giving out candy from their car trunks in church parking lots. Nothing beats going house to house, and it's safe, with common-sense precautions. I LOVED it. Granted my costumes back then were not PC - one year, I was a street bum, another, a fat man (huge pillow).

I came across my favorite H-ween LP from childhood....Disney's "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of The Haunted House" - big with my generation. Our neighborhood kids were not into vandalism or pranks - never saw it around West Miami area, off Flagler, in the 60s/70s. Tame neighborhood, I guess.

Until a few years ago, I spent each Halloween night at a friend's home, in one of the nicer neighborhoods. They SHIPPED those kids in, from all over. Gave out a ton of candy, while enjoying my famous orange margaritas.

My pet peeve, is how they've turned the holiday into a month-long celebration, of sorts, with ridiculous decorations. It's a one-night thing, in my book.
Nike 23-Jul-2011 15:00
Miami Girl and all -- Thanks to The Don, I contacted Dr JoAnne Hyppolite, Chief Curator at HistoryMiami. She is a pleasure to work with and is partnering with us for the 50th Anniversary of the Cuba Missile Crisis Commemorative Ceremony next year. I would encourage anyone to conatct her.
Miami Girl 23-Jul-2011 12:40
Thanks Don, I need all the help I can get in correcting errors. Will be looking for your info on the HistoryMiami project!
Don Boyd23-Jul-2011 02:59

Roberta, thank you for posting all of those memories in great detail. They brought back a lot of memories and I think you, and others, should get involved in a project that HistoryMiami is about to start or has started. I'll provide more information in the near future.

Miami Girl, if you want to correct what you wrote you can copy and paste your original comments into a new comment and fix up whatever you want to fix up and then post it again. I check the comments daily to delete occasional weird posts from insane wackos and duplicate postings caused by refreshing the page and I'll just delete your original post with the mistake(s) in it.

Don
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Jackie 22-Jul-2011 21:07
Coral Gables had a Halloween parade back in the late 40's or early 50's. My mom made pirate costumes for my brother and me. We marched in the parade. I don't remember if there were prizes, but there were refreshments at the end. I think that was the only year we went to the parade. Each year we went trick or treating in my grandparents' neighborhood on SW 13th St. It was more populated than our area on the Trail. There were lots of kids on that block, and we roamed together up and down all the streets between Le Jeune and the cemetery, stopping at all the houses that had porch lights on. No parents, no curfew, and no fear for safety. We went home when we got tired, which was probably no later than 8:30, but still way past our normal bedtime.
whitebelt22-Jul-2011 15:44
I loved triggertreating and getting candy.

But, alas, one night we went out a long ways and collected a bunch of candy. My sisters had their grocery bags full. Mine was half full. My bag(sniff..) had a hole in it. Wah!!!
Arizona Al 22-Jul-2011 15:14
I recall both Redlands Elementary and Cutler Ridge Elementary had Halloween Carnivals (1954- 1958) similar to the one that Roberta described. I went to one at Redlands when I was in the 4th grade (1956) but then became too old and mature in the 5th grade for such juvenile endeavors and commenced to take advantage of "Devils Night" pranks, mischief and mayhem in the Cutler Ridge area through the rest of elementary, jr.high and high school. Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive, well and still a prankster in Phoenix, Arizo0na
Parks22-Jul-2011 14:29
Miami Girl, Don't worry about the spilling errors, we all make them. You should
hear me as I type these posts, "Hey Susan, how do you spell..."
Don't y'all love the wonderful detail Roberta puts into her stories? It really
brings the memories back.
Miami Girl 22-Jul-2011 13:29
RATS I sure wish there was a way to edit any grammatical or spelling errors made after the comment gets posted!
Miami Girl 22-Jul-2011 13:26
Don, what a great picture! In January while we were at Robert is Here I texted my daughter-in-law telling her to check his website, it took her about 3 minutes to text back to "please bring some fruit and veggies" when we stopped back by here to pick up our cat. None of us couldn't believe the size of the avocados after being used to the scrawny ones in the grocery stores. We also bought some sugar cane and a coconut so the grandkids could experience something different. Thanks for clearing up my statement of when the sun moves North - I had no idea it was December, it certainly doesn't feel that way in Jan and Feb while in NY!

Largo, I too wish we all lived closer together but Don's got a point, some might want to strangle some others. You're lucky in that anyone driving to South FL can swing by for a visit.

Leighton, your mention of Psycho reminded me that someday I'd like a DVD of each of Hitchcock's movies (I think he made 53 so it would be a bit expensive), the master of suspense in my book.

Roberta I agree, the pastels of Easter are better. No special memories of Halloween except a compassion lesson learned when we came to a house once where no one answered or wasn't home and we soaped their windows - I later came to realize we didn't know the situation - they could have been working, sick or out of town for all we knew. Needless to say I never did that again. Another small step in growing up and eating that humble pie.
Roberta Perry Hughes 22-Jul-2011 09:51

Oooooh, Don....!

What a great photo of you, Nike, & Parks, & their lovely wives, out to dinner....!

I know y'all had a terrific time together...! What fun...!

Thanks so much, for sharing....!

LARGO, YA GOT ANY PICS TO SHARE WITH US, WHEN MIAMI GIRL CAME TO
VISIT.....??

I just love our Rogue's Gallery, Don....! Such a joy, to be able to put a face to
the names....!

Stay cool, y'all.....& well hydrated.....! Twenty-two folks have died from the heat.
Be careful, please.....!

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Roberta Perry Hughes 22-Jul-2011 09:37

Olympia Baptist Church, just off of Bird Road, held a Hallowe'en Carnival,
with the Fortune Teller, inside a Moroccan-like tent, with her crystal ball; the #3 galvanized wash tub, filled with water, in which bright red apples were bobbing
up & down; many miniature basket were filled with candy corn, & those candy
pumpkins, that were shaped like Florida cherries; clear bowls held black &
orange jelly beans....nary a pastel one was to be seen; orange "safety" suckers,
that had those handles, made of a paper cord loop, were in a large salad bowl;
There were those drink machines, like at the Drive-in, that had orange soda in
them; black bats, spiders, & silhouettes of witches on a broom, were suspended
from the ceiling, & black & orange crepe paper was everywhere you looked: on
the tables, that held Hallowe'en napkins, paper plates, & plastic flatware, & in paper chains.

Oh! I forgot the table that was laden with decorated cupcakes, in orange, black, & yellow, with a punch bowl on one end, of green punch.

It was a party, to be sure, & everyone had to come dressed in a costume, for
they had a costume party. There were a lot of store bought costumes: pirates,
skeletons, monsters, etc., with those pliable rubber masks....remember those...?

I simply wore a black & white gingham checked dress, that was too short for
school, & Mama gave me red circle rouged cheeks, & a carefully applied
cupid's bow mouth, artfully done with lipstick. She detailed my eyes, put
a large red bow in my blond bobbed hair, & I looked like a woman-child from
the 1930's.

They asked me who I was supposed to be, & I just blurted out, "Clara Bow!"
I won the prize for best original costume....! It was a plastic jack-o-lantern,
with a handle, filled with candies & little trinkets. WOW. I felt like I had won
an award....!

Churches hold Hallowe'en Carnivals, or parties, in an attempt to keep kids
off the streets at night. Many children came to prefer the Church or school
carnivals, to going out in the dark, to strange houses, walking many blocks,
& soon, wishing they were home in bed. It was a tiring practice, the walking
for many blocks, begging for candy....or flat-out demanding it.

At least the "devil's night out" holiday had toned down, quite a bit, with hardly
any pranks done to the neighbor's property. My mama told me what boys used
to do, if they didn't get a treat. It was vandalism, plain & simple.

In general, I didn't really care for that holiday, nor its treats, & color scheme.
I prefered the lovely pastel colors of Easter, a lot better, & the candies were
sublime.....!

Trick, or Treat, y'all. I need to get a white too-tight sweat suit, clown white
my face & hands, put on a white skull cap, & go to a party as the wife of
the Michelin Tire Man. LOL

What are your Miami memories of Hallowe'en....??

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Leighton 22-Jul-2011 05:10
Let me clarify....my Dad took us by the old CCC haunted house at Tropical Race Track.
Leighton 22-Jul-2011 05:08
Digression wasn't actually my point, per se. I am certainly guilty of that, on occasion...

On that topic...being that I am in graphic design, these days, I am fascinated (as a preacher's kid) to see the new name/logo for Campus Crusade for Christ. ("Cru"??!!) I only bring it up, as that organization had a massive "haunted house" at Tropical Race Track, in the late 60s/early 70s. Of course, it is not to be confused with the rather frightening Fundamentalist versions of the 1990s (no relation to CCC). My Dad would take us by, though only for a glimpse. Too much for the kids.

The concept of churches producing "haunted houses" always seemed a bit odd, to me. It happened in my churches, as a child. You know, blindfolding the kids, and sticking their hands in a bowl of grapes, and yelling "eyeballs"!!!!!!

That being said, I'm a fan of a good, scary movie. The original "The Haunting" is a favorite, as is "Psycho"....and "The Blair Witch Project." The latter is an acquired taste - more of a "film student" thing (which I was)...
Don Boyd22-Jul-2011 04:51

Largo, nah, we'd drive you crazy in real life, haha. You'd be moving out within a year if you could get your money back out of your home.

Robert, from Robert is Here, and his wife were on Channel 6's (NBC) local show this morning with a ton of avocados and Robert's wife (forgot her name - Sheila?) was making guacamole that they sell at Robert is Here on weekends along with Roxy, one of the three talking heads from the show. They were comparing recipes and gave both bowls to Robert tasted them and who smartly declared a tie between the two. Anyhow, Robert was saying that this is an outstanding year for avocados due to the amount and the timing of our recent deluges. I'll be making a trip down there to get some unless I can find some roadside vendors selling them.

Miami Girl, if you're waiting for the sun to go north you've got to wait until December because it's moving south relative to us until then. : )

I forgot to mention it last week but now there's a photo of Nike and Park and their lovely wives and me in the Rogue's Gallery after a nice dinner at the Van Dyke Cafe on Lincoln Road. It was a Lums many years ago.

Don
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LARGO 22-Jul-2011 01:53
TO MY SPECIAL ROGUES.....I KNOW IT SOUNDS SELFISH OF ME......BUT I SO WISH I LIVED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH YOU ALL!!!!...YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE...SO SWEET TO HAVE FRIENDS I HAVE NEVER MET FACE TO FACE ...EXCEPT 'MZ MIAMI GAL'....I FEEL LIKE I KNOW YOU ALL...GREW UP WITH YOU ALL...AHHHHHH...WATCHIN 'BURN NOTICE....THINKIN OF ...MANGOS...SAUSAGE TREES... AVACADOS...EVERGLADES TOMATOES...AND VERY SWEET PEOPLE...I HAVE NEVER MET BUT FEEL I KNOW MORE THAN THOSE STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF MOI!!!....BLESS YA ALL...AND BE WELL AND FOR PETES SAKE...HANG ONNNNNNNNN!!!............................LARGO
fran 21-Jul-2011 16:52
Roberta, Miami Girl,

Lovely read, brought to mind when during one of our hot days back then, We tried to fry an egg on the side walk, the hood of a car (not a good thing) and buddy burner. Making tents in the backyard, packing a picnic basket and eating lunch sitting in those tents.

Ice cream floats at the Woolworth downtown and meeting family at the Richards Department store to buy material. Good times...
Miami Girl 21-Jul-2011 14:49
Roberta I truly love to read your posts and remember those things I thought were gone, but only waiting in my memory bank. Since we lived so far from downtown we only used the bus when going to shop during the 1950's and early 60's Christmas season - so those diesel fumes take me back to those wonderful days and the rides on top of Burdines. My favorite cars of old are the '59 Impala and of course that '57 Chevrolet that belonged to a friend of Don's that six of us "triple dated" in with plenty of room for four in the backseat even during a drive-in movie - no complaints that we were squeezed in a little bit!! We're thinking of starting an annual weekly beach house rental to give the grandkids that memory for their golden years. I too need that "beach fix" whenever possible - but probably gonna do it in late Sep or Oct - after the scalding sun moves a little north and the prices go down a bit.
Roberta Perry Hughes 21-Jul-2011 13:10
Golly, Molly....!

Where'd everybody go....???

I sent out a bunch of amazing emails, & some funny ones, too, to those of
you that I have email addresses. Hope you enjoyed them.

I am missing Old Miami, the way I knew it to be, & it is never too far from
my mind, on a daily basis.

I can return to the familiar landmarks, any time I choose to, by visiting Don's
amazing photo galleries. They take me back, to a happier time & place.

Yes, Leighton, we do digress on here, from time-to-time, but I guess it's due
to the fact that most of us have become familiar, & feel that we can talk about
anything, & feel comfortable in doing so.

We still get back-on-track, & share old Miami memories with others....I recently
shared an old memory, re: the blast of cold air, when entering Bird Drugs, on a
hot, muggy Summer day, & the instant relief that it gave....but it was TOO cold,
& upon quitting the drugstore, we had an instant appreciation of the warmth, of
the hot Florida sunshine, to thaw us out again.

Hearing the engine idle-ing, of an 18-wheeler, & smelling the diesel exhaust
from it, I can close my eyes, & those sounds & scents can transport me to
a bus stop, in Miami, when the bus would pull up & stop, engine idle-ing, &
wait for passengers to board.

Ka-ching! Ka-ching! went the sound of coins in the slot, & if needed, you asked
the driver for a transfer, which was given at no additional charge.

When you neared the stop, to go in another direction, ding! ding! went the
sound of the cord overhead, when you pulled it, that alerted the driver to
pull in to that next stop, for if there were no passengers waiting there, he
would drive on past it.

Oh, how I hated to miss my stop, & have to wait for another one, then, walk
back, to where I had to be, for my next bus. It made it a bit stressful, to be
on-the-alert, when you had to change buses.

Otherwise, you could just sit back & enjoy the ride, watching the scenery,
the people on the sidewalks, the stores, even the traffic.

I used to be a keen car-watcher. I loved the cars of the day, in the '50's,
& they were a joy to see. My favorite, of course, was the Oldsmobile,
which was our family car.

I never thought I'd live to see the day, when Oldsmobile ceased production.
Just the thought of it breaks my heart.

I do not like change. If I had my way, we'd still be using standard Royal
typewriters, Singer sewing machines, & enjoying such pursuits as going
to see a movie, in a theater, or a drive-in.

We'd patronize the USPS, as we always had done, by writing more letters,
sending cards of thanks, for a kindness, or a gift, paying our bills, & sending
a package. Personal, handwritten mail is a rarety, these days, & a gift, in
itself. An empty mailbox is hurtful, to me, as I used to get letters on a regular
basis. Those who used to write to me, are gone, now.

Pray for our Nation, during this time of crisis. It is an embarrassment, a real
black eye, for us to be in this shape, & on-the-brink of collapse. This matter
should have been dealt with a long time ago, not right here at the deadline.
It reminds me of how some people don't file their taxes until April 15th.

I wish I could go to the beach. I do so miss it, with all my heart. The ships,
far out, in the sea lane; the sound & sight of the dazzling white gulls; the
fluffy white sand, & the hard-packed wet strand, where the waves lap the
shore; colorful beach umbrellas; zorries on feet, in all sizes; inflated colorful
beach balls; laughing children; sea shells & sand dollars; the sound of the
waves themselves, & the roar of the ocean itself, etc.

I only get to go to the beach in my memories. My physicality won't allow
me to even attempt to walk in sand, or wade in the surf, unfortunately.
If you live near a beach, or visit one, in Summer, cherish every minute
of it.

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Fran 20-Jul-2011 17:00
Leighton,
Loved the story too! Thanks for sharing...
Miami Girl 19-Jul-2011 14:16
Leighton, loved your story about the cottage and yes it proves you are a "sentimental fool" even if it doesn't pertain to Miami Memories. That's what makes this such a great group of friends, we can go "off subject" on occasion because we do have a life outside of our collective historical memories but someone always brings us back. I have a watercolor of our home in NY that a very dear friend painted before she passed away which is why I plan to keep it. But a grandchild may decide to send it back to new owners in the future - in fact I'll recommend doing that when they feel the time is right.
Leighton 19-Jul-2011 05:13
Antiques are fascinating. Stores full of items, that meant something, to somebody, in the past. Last year, I came across a cool watercolor of a 1940s cottage, and bought it. On the back was the name of a town in South Carolina. I photographed the painting, and did some detective work. The house is still there! I mailed the painting to the address, the the current inhabitants have it on their wall. How wonderful that some items "find their way home." I must be some kind of sentimental fool...
Leighton 19-Jul-2011 04:52
The Internet is the modern-day equivalent of the old classroom experiment. The teacher whispers a sentence to the first student, and by the time the whispered phrase reaches the last desk, it has taken a life of its own.

Anyway, I think somebody, somewhere, sometime.....said something about Miami.

It was about history, or something.

Anyway, enjoying my Ravel piano CD, right now. My old Miami piano teacher used to play LPs of the recordings in her living room, while we waited for our lesson. (Of course, we turned it off, and watched "Gilligan"......Sherwood Schwartz died last week, you know).
Roberta Perry Hughes 18-Jul-2011 13:01

I read the latest news, re: the debt crisis, on AOL News.

It seems that both S.S. & Unemployment may not get paid, on the 3rd,
due to the deadline for this thing being on the 2nd.

I have been sending funny emails to folks, off & on for much of the night,
while reading in-between awaiting for them to download.

A couple of them have been sent to a few of my friends on this Site, the
ones that I have email addresses for. Perhaps they will forward them on
to the ones I couldn't access....?

The one titled "Wake Up" is my favorite. It never ceases to make me laugh,
no matter how many times I view it. Believe me: it's a keeper.

It reminds me so much of my dear Ewok, who would try every trick in the
book to awaken us, on our sleep-in weekend mornings. Luckily, we had no
baseball bat in the house.....

I sincerely hope they will give ya'll a bit of a giggle, & make Monday morning
fun for you.

Lewis is making my breakfast this morning.....Hooray.....! What a treat....! I feel
like doing a Happy Dance, or the Hoochie-Koochie, for sure.....!

(Now, THERE'S an image to erase from your imaginations....!)

Jiggles & undulations to you all....! Must be jelly, 'cause jam don't shake
like that....

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whitebelt18-Jul-2011 12:44
I feel kinda dumb.

I thought I got paid on the 15th, but I am on the third Wednesday of the month. The check is in the mail. :-)

I hate that. Plays hell balancing with electronic debits.

Still mad at Obama for threatening the checks, though.
whitebelt18-Jul-2011 12:19
I will be calling SS this morning. Still didn't show up. I hate when things like that happen.

Got the link, Nike. Now where is my check?

Putting something like that together must be a bugger bear. I think classmates.com had a section for military that might provide some names and contacts. I was assigned to the 31st Arty, but attached to the Miami-Homestead Signal Team of the Signal Corps. I was a stepchild.

Roberta, I admire your self discipline on the cigarettes. I've done the Wellbutrin and the patches and they didn't work for me. The patches taste terrible. Hard to smoke, too.

Heard the VA out here will prescribe medical marijuana. Has been a long time. Did get a taste of that medical grade a few weeks ago. Very impressive stuff.

Oh!! My back!!! The pain!!! Doctor, Doctor!! Help me!! :-)

Have a story to tell about getting Viagra from the VA once. Had to try it out. Boy, are they sneaky about trying find an excuse not to give it away, but I was sneakier.
Nike 18-Jul-2011 10:24
Whitebelt -- I just received my SS check in the mail this past Wednesday. In addition, there was an additional $1300. The attached note said they had lost touch with some old dude in Colorado and his check had been returned, They figured he didn't need it so, they sent it to someone else they figured did need it since they bitched so much about the idiots who worked (that's an misnomer) there.

Did you get my new Nike website email? I want to make sure all the Nike and HAWK vets are on the appropriate battery roster. Also, to point out any additions or corrections.
Don Boyd17-Jul-2011 19:33

Whitebelt, you best be calling SS to find out where your direct deposit went. I got paid on Wednesday.

Roberta, your more current photo is now up in the Rogue's Gallery. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of the Rogues.

Okay Parks, I stopped thinking of Roberta and Miami Girl hugging each other. : )

Yesterday I added several photos that Carlos Heredia sent me of his parents and him at the old Crandon Park Zoo in 1968. They are in the Individuals & Small Groups gallery in the 1968 time frame:
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories_individuals


Don
.
Arizona AL 17-Jul-2011 14:56
I only smoked one cigarette in my life. At 12 years old 3 of us delinquents skipped school at Cutler Ridge Elementary and hitchiked to the Cutler Ridge Shopping Center and sumarily stole a pack of Pall Mall cigarettes from the 7-11. On the return home I endeavored to smoke one and after inhaling 3 times became violently ill. I recall to this day laying on the ground off Caribbean Boulevard and saying to myself that I would just wait till I turned 21 to become a man. True story!
Roberta Perry Hughes 17-Jul-2011 05:59

Cigarettes.....

I quit, overnight, with the help of Wellbutrin, September 2000, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Everyone was amazed, at how it was like just flipping a switch for me, to quit.

It was permanent, too. Do not even crave one, & cannot tolerate second hand smoke.

I regret that I exposed others to second hand smoke....including my cat, Ewok.

Just for the heck of it, I sat down, & figured up the cost of the years of smoking, monetarily. I smoked off & on, from age 14. Went full time, at age 18, upon getting my first job. At the time I quit, I was a 3-pack a day smoker.

I could have bought a house, & a car, with the money I burned-up, for nearly 40 years. I feel I should attach one of those "Kick Me" signs, to my derriere, permanently.

Shoulda. Coulda. Woulda. Johnny Hadda Plenty.....'til he started smoking.

I wish I had never smoked. Wish in one hand, spit in the other. See which one fills up the fastest.

In closing, my dear friends, tell your kids & grands, that....

Re: smoking. The BEST way to quit, is....DON'T START.

Tell them to envision a rolled up $20, that their peers are igniting.

Don will soon add a recent photo of my mug, so you can put a face to the name, in the Rogue's Gallery. It was only recently developed. Hope it does not scare anyone....LOL

Big Hugs to everyone.

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whitebelt16-Jul-2011 13:24
"Too poor, to get drunk, or high....! LOL "

I can identify with that, Roberta. :-)

Plus cigarettes are getting even more expensive.

Check still isn't deposited.

I spend my time tinkering, rearranging, and remodeling. Can't sit down long anymore unless in front of the computer. Mind is slowing down but find I have to keep it busier. The physical activity is a must to keep me looser. But I prefer this stage of life to any of before.
Roberta Perry Hughes 16-Jul-2011 11:00

Lewis' state retirement check is supposed to hit the bank on Friday, 7-29, as
the 31st falls on a Sunday.

Both of our SS checks hit the bank on the 3rd of the month, unless the 3rd
falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, at which times, it hits the Friday before.

Like the rest of the seniors of our Nation, we will be holding our breath, on a
wait-and-see basis.

Meanwhile, I am watching old movies, or reading, as a form of escape.

Too poor, to get drunk, or high....! LOL
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whitebelt15-Jul-2011 14:01
Lovely. My SS check should have been deposited electronically this morning, but isn't.

When I filed for the homebuyers credit last year I got the feeling they were delaying it, which they did for quite while, because they had to wait for the money to pay it with. Payment delay by design. Cash flow problems.

But I bet favored donor corporations and special interests will not encounter such delays. This country has been looted and plundered by the MBA's and networking that started on Wall Street in the Reagan era. Parasites that latched onto publicly held companies, which then spread everywhere to protect their blood supply.
Nike 15-Jul-2011 10:40
Driving in Atlanta is a piece of cake--just point the hood ornament in the direction you want to go, close your eyes and drive like everyone else. They still have hood ornaments don't they?
whitebelt14-Jul-2011 22:06
Miami Girl, I told you it got hot in Augusta. Wait until it really gets warm and humid. With NO breeze.

I got caught in Memphis and Atlanta traffic downpours like that on the same trip. Was the same system evidently. Outran it after Memphis, but got tied up in Birmingham heading south and decided to cut over to Atlanta and catch I-75 there and it caught us again and followed us all the way down to Valdosta where we stopped. Pulling over in that stuff IS more dangerous than locking yourself into traffic. Which is doing 80 in Atlanta even in the rain. Those people drive fast there. I am no wimp when it comes to combat driving, but I have had always had to psyche myself up before driving through Atlanta on the beltway.
Miami Girl 14-Jul-2011 21:19
We've had storms going all around us almost every evening, but nothing bad in G'town. Maybe your talking about the one last week. Before moving into the house we were driving back to our hotel in Augusta, 30 seconds after Don said "we're running into some rain" it was akin to running right into Niagara Falls! Growing up in S. Fla I'm used to those vicious afternoon thunderstorms, but never experienced anything like this one, we literally couldn't see the front of our car - scared us to death but unlike others we didn't want to pull onto the shoulder of I-20 and get rear ended that way so just put the warning lights on like everybody else did (I guess they're used to it) and kept going, luckily we were close to our exit.
Today I had my second experience of sweating so much (while planting flowers) it was dripping into my eyes, the first time was yesterday while moving boxes around in the garage. I never knew sweat stings the eyes - you can guess I wasn't a fan of manual labor while growing up in Miami. Maybe I'll sweat off a few pounds down here. I figured it's not too late in the season here to plant flowers in large pots outside, and I got them at 50% off - good time to buy!
Roberta I also remember going to the drug store (mine was in Cutler Ridge) and experiencing that amazing chilled air, what a wonderful memory that kids these days will think "how dim is that" - they have no idea!
whitebelt14-Jul-2011 13:01
Very poetic, Roberta. It was easy to get chilled in those places back then. Miami became a place where you alternated between freezers and ovens as a way of life. A city of extremes in a lot of ways.

I love the dry heat out here. I love single digit humidity. Got up to 28 percent the other day. Felt like New Orleans.

Funny how the older i get the more time I spend getting ready for winter. My summers are spent preparing for 6 months of cold. Getting the cave ready for the long haul. I kind of like winter as there is no bugs and landscaping, but it is a long time to stay huddled up.

Nice thing about this dry heat is you get in the open shade, get a little moisture and breeze around you and things get comfortable. It gets over 100 here, but you keep the house closed up during the day. You open the windows and very hot air comes in, along with the dust. The house absorbs the sun's rays, which can be quite intense. I don't have this place optimized yet, but if I do that the temp in the house is usually in the 80's even when over 100 outside. Open the windows after dark.

Yesterday I took a piece of black plastic sheeting out into the yard to uncrumple it. Just spreading it out. Took less than a minute. In that time the sun's rays got it hot enough to almost burn your skin.

This has been such a strange year for weather out here. My flowers just started blooming in the last couple of weeks.

Trying to make my hot tub building a little more winter friendly. Need to run a gas line out there and install a heater and tankless water heater I have. Keeping the place warm with the hot tub's electric heater is very expensive I found this past winter. Keeping a tub at 103 when the room is 20 is not efficient. Would raise the temp to 40, which was actually rather pleasant as long as you didn't dawdle too long putting your clothes back on. You really appreciated that hot water, and steam rising. You just couldn't lounge around out there.

I don't miss my teeth. They were a pain and expensive to maintain.


Roberta Perry Hughes 14-Jul-2011 11:43

Hello, to everyone.

Hope all is well with you & yours, with only kind weather.

They had a blow to come up, over Augusta....Jean, what was it like, there
in Grovetown....??

Hotter in Georgia, than in Miami.....! We have that high humidity index, that
can make overexposure to the heat a fatal incident.

The air is thick, & suffocating. Opening your front door, is like opening the
door to a 400 degree oven. You can't walk but a couple of yards, or even
less, without feeling laden, & exhausted.

I feel so sorry, for any animals who are in a treeless yard. No shade, & with
scalding hot water, in their bowls, if it has not evaporated to nothing, which
it can do, very rapidly.

It was so hot here, one day, you could still tell that it was hot outside, in spite
of having 3 fans & 3 air-conditioners running. Now, that's HOT.

Oh....! An early Miami memory just hit me....! I remember, as a child, riding my
Schwinn Spitfire up to Bird Road, to that strip mall, that had Bird Drugs on the
very end, & walking in, to the immediate chilled air, that felt like heaven, on a
hot & humid Summer day. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.....!

Luck would be with me, & I would have some coins in my change purse, on its beaded chain....the vinyl one, that you had to squeeze in your palm, for the slot to open in its center....& I would happily climb atop one of the red vinyl-covered
swivel stools, at their soda fountain-snack bar, & order myself a cherry Coke.

I can still feel that chilled air, gently hitting me in the face, when I opened their
glass front door. Breathing it in was such a joy, & I would be wishing I could
just spread a pallet down on the floor, & take myself a cool, refreshing nap.

The air was so cold, that, sitting on the stool at the soda fountain, drinking a
cold drink on crushed ice, I found myself shivering, & finished up my treat,
to head outside to my waiting red and white Schwinn.....no one stole it.....&
actually, would appreciate the warmth of the Florida sun, thawing out the
skin in my face, & chasing the goose bumps from my naked arms & legs.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh......!

Memories of the good times, long ago & far away, to sustain me, now, & take
my mind off of today's distressing headlines.

Thanks, Don, my friend, for having this wonderful site to visit, & go back in time,
to those seemingly innocent days of my childhood.

I would just KILL, for some Super Bubble bubble gum, the ones you got 2 for a
penny....! Shucks. If I had it here, all I could do would be to sniff it, or just hold
the sweet pink sugary quid in my mouth, for if I even attempted, to chaw it, it
would stick to my dentures. dammit.

Be true to your teeth, or they will be false to you.
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Arizona Al 13-Jul-2011 14:52
Hello Rouges: Been off line for a bit so now taking opportunity for updates. We got the extreme eastern tail in North East Mesa from the Great Phoenix Dust Storm 2011. Lotta blowing dust but winds not over 20mph as compared with the 60plus mph winds at the center. Took a while to get the dirt out of the pool:). Finished off the Mango Rice Curry dish last night. Kudos to Parks for the great Miami gustatory memory! I support a one term Obama regime:) Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Nike 13-Jul-2011 11:07
Roberta - First, that's great news for you and Lewis

Regarding Social Security, your remarks made me realize I had never read the history of Social Security. My opinions and comments were based on what I heard other say about it in conversation or on television. So, thanks to your comments this morning, I Googled "History of Social Security." W-O-W, what an education that was.

You are right about Johnson who was pandering to the blacks for votes (racial comments not intended, just facts), and that dumbass Carter for the same reason but with the hispanics from Cuba and Mexico. Don't misunderstand my factual remarks on the use of somone's ethnic or origin.

I really thought no one could be a worse president than Johnson until Carter came into office. By the way, he is not part of my side of the Carter family. Then I really didn't think any one could be worse than Carter. But wait, there is. A socialist thinking idiot voted in by kool-aid drinking sheep hanging around the back door looking for a handout rather than working. Or, in the case of the blocks of union voters, how-much-less-can-we-do-for-how-much-more-we-can-be-paid. They still don't get it why companies built factories in other companies and out-sourced customer no-service.

If you think he's doing a good job, you aren't paying attention. I'm amazed how many OBAMA For Change bumper stickers and T-shirts I still see.

Don't get me started....
Roberta Perry Hughes 13-Jul-2011 08:37

Re: Cutting out social security checks....& State retirement benefits....?
& VA checks, too....??

That would mean a legion of homeless seniors, whose only source of income
is one or more of the above, & who are renters. It would also mean no health
care.

Will they evict the residents of VA homes & Nursing Homes....?

I am trying hard not to think about this possible scenario. Dammit, FDR
had laid down rules, re: Social Security, that it was not to be touched,
for government spending.

I think it was Johnson, who first broke that rule, & they have been spending
that money, ever since.

Carter is the one who decreed for Social Security benefits to be paid out to
immigrants, who never paid a dime into it.

The government continued to mess with it, similar to what Enron did, to its
employees 401K monies: spending what it not theirs. Which is the same as
stealing.

God have mercy on us, if we default on that debt. I shudder to think of what
will happen, then. We would be grossly weakened, as a Nation, to be sure.

I am just sick over this whole situation.

Now....for some GOOD news: Lewis got a very good report, from the Neurologist, yesterday, & does not return to the clinic until December 13....that is, IF we still
are on SS, with Medicare coverage.
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whitebelt13-Jul-2011 04:52
The VA works on a regional basis that was supposed to be eliminated a few years back. They were essentially independent fiefdoms. Different rules and things in different areas. No central database. This was exploited by some vets. There should have been a central database by now. There isn't, I found out.

I have a very mixed feelings for the VA, but mostly positive. The staff were great, but the admin could be corrupt in some places, idiotic in others.

The dumbest thing I saw was having doctors tied up using computers recording data by themselves. Slow system and myriad forms. They spent literally more time on that than seeing patients. What a waste of professional and scarce skills. Much faster the old way making notes. They can have a data entry person input that much faster.
Miami River Rat13-Jul-2011 02:59
My first grandchild was born in the Ft, Gordon hospital in Augusta. The world is getting even smaller.
Nike 13-Jul-2011 02:55
Miami Girl -- I use the VA here in Atlanta and it is top-notch, spic and span clean, good customer service. It is staffed by Emory Hospital as a teaching hospital with all the latest. Twice, they have sent me to Emory Hospital for tests and once told me to pick an outside physician for a dermtological issue since they were backed up.

I have nothing but good to say after eight years in their system. All they asl it last name and last four and bigs-badda-boom, I'm there on their puter.

If ya'll get to the Atlanta VA, let me know in advance. I'l tell them to be especially nice.
Miami Girl 12-Jul-2011 23:54
Whitebelt, well it took 45 minutes for the guy to find him in the system (he had to go through the Atlanta VA), the computer here in Augusta says Syracuse and Albany, NY VA hospitals are closed - really stupid since the Syracuse one is a huge teaching hospital! But anyway, when they found him, he's got an appointment for Thursday morning - what a surprise! Apparently this problem happens whenever you go to another state - they can't just key in a SSN and pull up the records - even though the VA is one Federal organization for pete sake! For now he'll stick with the VA - he has bad memories of base hospitals, but he's open for change if it becomes necessary.

ONE TERM Obama - let's all hope!!
whitebelt12-Jul-2011 21:56
Speaking of Obama, he just blew it big time. Definitely a one termer now.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/12/debt.talks/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Must be trillions in payments to corporations in such and he chooses to try and scare with SS and veterans pensions. People's only source of income. Stupid, stupid man.
whitebelt12-Jul-2011 17:10
Miami Girl, the VA was good in 2001-2002. That was it.

Went down and registered with the outpatient clinic 20 miles away a couple of weeks ago. Nearest hospital or walkin is in Denver, over 200 miles away. My first scheduled appointment to see a doctor is Sept 6. This is not a heavily populated area. Was just as bad in New Orleans with a huge hospital and center there.

You hubby best stick with the Ft. Gordon hospital. The VA has gotten ridiculous about doctors and scheduling.
Nike 12-Jul-2011 16:02
But did you know Terri Gibb was born in Miami? See Wikipedia
Parks12-Jul-2011 14:34
Don, Stop thinking about Roberta and Miami Girl hugging each other!
Miami Girl 12-Jul-2011 12:24
Roberta, the house she grew up in is right next to the entrance of the subdivision our son lives in (about 4 minutes from us), it's a huge place currently being renovated, so must have come from a wealthy family. She still lives around here somewhere.

Seems it's "Dr Day" - we're on the way to the VA to get my husband signed up there - hope they're as good as the one in Syracuse. They have improved about 500% since the Vietnam days. He could go to the Ft Gordon hospital, but really is happy with the VA Medical Center -- so far. Then on to the DMV.

Hugs back at ya girl!
Roberta Perry Hughes 12-Jul-2011 06:14

Geesh, Jean....! You're right down-the-road from us....! Small world....!

The singer, Terri Gibb, who sang, "Somebody's Knockin'," is from Grovetown.

Hope everyone is staying cool, wherever you call home, these days. It has been
too hot here, with a HHI making it feel like we are AzAl's neighbors....!

Luckily, we have been getting some much-needed rainfall, with some more to
come, so the weatherman says. (please, God).

Lewis has an appt. in the morning with his Neurologist. My daughter-in-law is
going to take us, as our little truck is in the shop, & won't be ready for another
day or two. Bad, to be sittin' in the middle of nowhere, without a ride. Gonna
throw my arms around that truck, & hug it, when it gets back home.

Speaking of.....

Hugs to everyone, with all our best wishes.
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Miami Girl 12-Jul-2011 00:44
Nike, we're in Grovetown, just outside of Augusta. Are ya'll headed our way?
Nike 11-Jul-2011 23:34
Miami Girl -- Where in Georgia are you located?
Miami Girl 11-Jul-2011 18:20
Nike, you're so right on about Obama - but he's only temporary (thank God). Where there's money to be made Richard Branson and others will be there.

We've finally finished with our move to GA and are connected again! Just have more boxes to unpack :( So far we don't miss NY at all and glad to be back in the south.

AZ Al, did you get caught up in that sand storm? That was unbelievable - I've seen those same pictures taken in Iraq - never thought it would happen here!

FYI for anyone who cares, along with my Yahoo e-mail, my new one here is: jeanlawson3402@comcast.net
Nike 10-Jul-2011 20:57
I don't think Obama is concerned about privatizing anything unless it makes muslums feel good or provides freebees for those too lazy to work.
whitebelt10-Jul-2011 18:40
The idea is to privatize space travel. They are looking for that to supply the space station. The Russians will do that until.

The emphasis seems to be more on space planes than rockets for the future. There are companies already in the business. Will be a lot cheaper and safer than those rockets.

New Mexico is building a space port in conjunction with Virgin. Other places are also in the competition for being the gateway to space. NASA is a bloated dog. Things will develop much faster with competition.
Parks09-Jul-2011 22:19
Nike, You're preaching to the choir. I think we've witnessed the last manned US space flight in our life time. I like that you mentioned hang gliders as coming out of the space program. I met Francis Rogallo, the inventor of the Rogallo Wing which is the basis for most of the hang gliders in the world today. When he retired from NASA he moved to Kitty Hawk NC so he could fly hang gliders on the dunes and watch people enjoy his invention. A friend of mine owns the big hang glider store at Jockey's Ridge. One day Rogallo was at the store and my friend introduced us. I had to ask for his autograph.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Rogallo
Fran 09-Jul-2011 21:35
Nike,
AMEN!!!
Don Boyd09-Jul-2011 20:12
Make that Brevard County for the unemployed, not Broward.

Don
Nike 09-Jul-2011 19:31
Parks - I didn't make it down but had a ringside seat with plenty of instant replay.

When his royal highness O'Bama cancelled the Constellation Project, the space program to replace the Shuttle Project which just ended yesterday, he didn't take into consideration the benefits we have derived. For example, there would be no communications satellites if we hadn't put them there with our rockets. There are many other benefits to list a few include:

Ground Processing Scheduling System, Semiconductor Cubing, Structural Analysis
Windows Visual News Reader, Air Quality Monitor, Virtual Reality, Advanced Keyboards, Customer Service Software, Database Management System, Laser Surveying, Aircraft Controls, Lightweight Compact Disc, Expert System Software
Microcomputers, Design Graphics, Enriched Baby Food, Water Purification System, Scratch-Resistant Lenses, Pool Purification, Ribbed Swimsuit , Golf Ball Aerodynamics, Portable Coolers/Warmers, Sports Training, Athletic Shoes, Dustbuster, Shock-Absorbing Helmets, Home Security Systems
Smoke Detectors, Flat Panel Televisions, High-Density Batteries, Trash Compactors, Food Packaging, Freeze-Dried Technology, Cool Sportswear, Sports Bras (I'm grateful for mine), Hair Style Appliances, Fogless Ski Goggles, Self-Adjusting Sunglasses, Composite Golf Clubs, Hi-Tech Hang Gliders, Art Preservation, Quartz Crystal Timing, Microspheres, and Solar Energy.

Think of 20,000 space workers added to the unemployement lines in Broward County. Maybe we should have his "entitled" stand in line with them.

Don't get me started....
Parks09-Jul-2011 13:18
Nike, Did you get down for the launch?
Nike 09-Jul-2011 02:19
This wireless keyboard sucs. I can smell just find.
Nike 08-Jul-2011 01:34
Don -- You dog.

I think I located them in Titusville. I called to speak with the Executive Direcor about that life membership. I was advised he will be back from his Caribbean and African trip in a few months.

I'll just hold my breath.
Don Boyd08-Jul-2011 01:28
Parks, thank you again for the great mangoes. Thanks for the historical MPD site too, I learned a lot and will use some of it on my site.

Nike, the site that I posted was for the City of Miami Police site which I presume you checked out. I can't remember the name of the place you're describing but you're way off on the location so you must be losing it, hahaha. The police car was mounted on the former FBI Building on Biscayne just north of the Airport Expressway (I-195) or about NE 38th Street. The Herald building is down by 13th/14th Street. I think they've moved too but I don't know where. Karen says she doesn't think they're even in Dade County anymore. I remember they had a big auction on police patches from all over the world and they made a fortune from anxious collectors, enough so the entire board of directors could take a five-week cruise to South Africa via almost every port in the Caribbean, the east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa. Just kidding.....

Don
.
Arizona Al 07-Jul-2011 23:11
Sitting in the 112 Degree Sonoran Desert eating a juicy mango supplied by Parks. Heaven in Arizona:) Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Alive and well in Phoenix, Arizona
Nike 07-Jul-2011 20:28
Don -- Thanks and I did get it right before we talked later today. She agreed that the HistoryMiami will be a willing partner. In addition, the Miami Dade College Wolfson Media Center has come on board.

My interest in the police history website ia that I donated my police patch collection which numbered in excess of 1000 from all over the world. In exchange, they made me a life member. At the time, they were located near the Herald building on Biscayne Blvd near the Marriott and had a real squad car on the side of their building. I think they have moved. I'm sure my notice was lost in the mail.

Thanks again.
Don Boyd07-Jul-2011 14:11
Nike, I believe the police history URL was mentioned in my posting immediately below Parks' posting.

The name of the organization is HistoryMiami and I remember talking with Dawn; she and Karen knew each other many years ago. It's Dr. Hyppolite and since I've sent her some e-mails about misspelled stuff on their Facebook account and publicity notices it would be wise to spell her name right. Yesterday they had "curtecy" instead of "courtesy" in a posting and I questioned it and they removed the post and replaced it.

Great on the Nike missile for Baker Aviation to refurbish! That principal is a great guy.

Don
Nike 07-Jul-2011 13:51
The Don - I just spoke with Dawn Hugh who is a friend of Karen and she said she met you this past Wednesday evening. She works at the MiamiHistory Museum. She is putting me in touch with Dr. Hypolitte about partnering with us on a 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. This is a result of your blog about the 100th Anniversary of Aviation ion Miami. Once again, thanks for the contact.

Regarding your contac at Geroge T. Baker School of Aviation, they are waiting for the Nike Hercules to arrive and will refurbish it for dispaly at the Nike missile site in Everglades National Park.

You are "The Man!"
Nike 07-Jul-2011 10:39
Parks - What is the URL address for the police history website?
Parks07-Jul-2011 04:10
Hi Don, glad you enjoyed the mangos. The second crop is coming along nicely.
I guess I'll have to go down to the Historical Museum, that sounds like a good exhibit.
Take a look at this story about Chapman Field:http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00101446/00061/58j
I went to the police history web site and there was Leslie Quigg right at the top.
I met him in the mid sixties. When he retired from the police they kept him working for the city. When I met him he was the City of Miami Dockmaster. He ran around Dinner Key in a golf cart. I think they gave him the job so he wouldn't tell where the skeletons were in city hall!
Don Boyd06-Jul-2011 15:29
HistoryMiami, formerly known as the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, opened a great "Aviation in Miami - the First 100 Years" exhibit last week and I was invited to the preview reception last Wednesday night. Here is a film clip from the local PBS station with guest curator Antolin Carbonell, who I worked with at MIA for many years, and Joanne Hyppolite, Ph.D., the museum's chief curator.
http://ka.uvuvideo.org/_Aviation-in-Miami-The-First-100-Years-at-the-Museum-of-HistoryMiami/video/1602899/86294.html

And here is a link to old photos of the Miami Police Department:
http://miamipoliceofyesterday.net/Page2.html

Parks, the mangoes were great and my 90-year old mother-in-law is loving them almost daily. I am mangoed out for the season - I ate too many if that's possible. She froze a bunch of slices to savor in the future. Thanks again!

Don
Miami River Rat04-Jul-2011 13:47
Beautiful canoe! That sort of craftsmanship is beyond me. Anything smaller that a 2 by 4 and requiring less than a 22 ounce hammer is out of my league.

These past two months I have built a bridge (using ten inch channel iron and rough cut oak 2x6) and a floating dock. Treated pine 2x6 and some 5/4 decking on the dock.

That, I can do. Build a canoe? No way! Hope that whiskey plank goes well. I suggest Maker's Mark for the celebration, it's good for any occasion.
Parks04-Jul-2011 03:52
Hi Guys, I went down to Homestead today to work on the canoe with Snapper. Darrell went along to see what we were up to. We're almost finished planking it. Tomorrow I'll go down and we'll install the whiskey plank. The whisky plank is the last plank to be installed. It's called the whisky plank because fitting it can drive you to drink. It's also customary to have a drink once it's installed. Snapper is a very fine craftsman. My contribution to this project is mostly handing him tools and helping to hold things in place. I'm also the tool sharpener. Here is a link to see what we did today if you're interested:
http://jmlynn.smugmug.com/Boats/Cedrus-Marie/13150192_UvHJA#1366575044_BWjK4Cq
After we finished working on the canoe we decided to try to get to the Aerojet site but they added a new gate and we couldn't get close enough. It's on Water Management property and they are a pain in the donkey. We had our bicycles and fishing rods with us so Snapper led us to his not so secret bass hole. We all caught fish, Darrell and Snapper both caught Peacock and Large Mouth Bass. All I caught was a Gar. The growing season is over and the fields are being plowed under until the fall planting season arrives. Robert Is Here looked pretty busy for this time of year. Snapper reported that he had gone to Robert Is Here last week and Robert wasn't there. False advertising?
Miami River Rat03-Jul-2011 03:28
I must have been 11 or 12 when my grandpa took me to see the punchbowl. We were trout fishing in the shallows near there and poled our skiff in to the shore. He, being born in Miami in 1896, had known of it all his life.

I think a lot of things that seemed normal to the settlers would amaze us today, but so much is lost forever.

I have an old map that shows the Miami River starting about 29th Avenue, west of there was everglades. With so much fresh water so close, it wouldn't surprise me if there were dozens of "punch bowls" around before the drainage started.
Parks02-Jul-2011 03:58
The photos of the Devils Punchbowl match with my fifty plus year old memories of finding it. I wonder if the arrow I found carved in the rocks near it is still there. I may have to try to get there to see it. The water in front of it is very shallow so a regular boat would have a hard time getting near. I could launch a canoe from the causeway and get there. I might have to try it. I was surprised by the fresh water flow as well. Before all the canals got dug there must have been a bunch of fresh water springs all over the place. There is a photo in the book "The Commodores Story" that shows a platform in the middle of Biscayne Bay. There was a pipe driven into the bay bottom and fresh water flowed from the pipe right in the middle of all that salt water.
Miami River Rat02-Jul-2011 03:16
Thanks for the links. I'm shocked that fresh water still flows out of there. I would have thought the millions of people in S. Florida had pulled the water table down by now.
Nike 01-Jul-2011 19:28
Rat -- Don't miss the opportunity, they're chin-drippin good.

Ted - Your view of the interocastal is great. Nancy and I put off moving to Delray until next spring. I'm working with a company in California to buy out our software products and that will take a few months. I need to complete all that before buying a retirement home in Florida. We look forward to having you as pretty-near neighbors in Pompano Beach.

What was your neighborhood in Miami? Schools?
Ted Crownover01-Jul-2011 16:45
Parks, You are a great guy to share your mangoes with some of the people that do not live down here. I read the comments, but don't post a lot. I have always had mango trees, but now live in a condo. I was lucky to find some local Hadens yesterday 2 for $1.00, they were great.

MRR, No comment on eating "Chokoluskee Chicken", or poaching alligators either.
Don Boyd01-Jul-2011 13:49

Here are two links to the Devil's Punch Bowl that I saw recently. The first link is to photos and the second is to a video.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61933210@N07/sets/72157626893888773/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYF5qtxRxzk&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Don
.
whitebelt01-Jul-2011 12:51
I remember reading a long time ago that the coast down there was dotted with artesian wells. The old sailing ships would replenish their drinking water there.

Biscayne Bay must have been an interesting place way back when for explorers. You didn't know what lurked on the shore behind the trees.

Destroying the rapids at the mouth of the Miami River to allow boast traffic has to be one of the greatest sins ever committed there. All that freshwater dumped right out to sea. No chance for it to seep in, lowering water tables, besides polluting it.

A greater sin is the same happens with the Mississippi River. The wetland replenishment was destroyed keeping the river open for sea going navigation from New Orleans to the Gulf. You have around 200 miles of river below New Orleans that dumps straight into a deep part of the Gulf. The river is forced down that route. It wants to jump course above Baton Rouge over to the west, but economic interests want it to flow through Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Before they opened up the mouth of that river goods were portaged across Lake Ponchartrain around New Orleans to the Gulf.

Man blows up the dams God created to keep the gardens green and then moans about the effects.
Miami River Rat01-Jul-2011 12:34
Parks, will do. Don: Please post that link here as well. I, too, would like to see those pictures. I was at the Punch Bowl spot and saw it, but that was when the Miami baseball team was called the Sun Sox and the everglades started about 77th avenue. In short, that was a long time ago.
Fran 01-Jul-2011 07:57
Parks,
I have...
Parks01-Jul-2011 03:39
Thanks Don! I'd love to see the photos.
Parks01-Jul-2011 03:36
Hi Rat, you eat the mascot of the University of Miami! Sounds good. I know a guy who knows a guy who is a retired park ranger who loves wood stork. I need your email address. You can reach me through my company website www.hopkins-carter.com . There is an email address and a toll free phone number.
Largo, Roberta, Nike, tell him to contact me.
Don Boyd01-Jul-2011 03:27
Parks, I went to the oldest Comments Gallery and while loading it stopped on this great message from you:
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Parks Masterson 20-Oct-2007 04:37
Juan Pollo, I saw the Devil's Punch Bowl as boy in the fifties. My friend Billy Gardener lived on 25th road near there and we spent a lot of time exploring the coast line. The Punch Bowl was located behind one of the houses north of Vizcaya and south of the Rickenbaker Causeway, My mother had seen it many times when she was young and she confirmed that we had found the right spot. No water was flowing from it by the time I found it. As I recall it was a roundish hole in the rock about 18 o 24" in diameter. The bottom had filled in with sand and debris so that it might have been four or five feet deep. Some distance away we found an arrow carved into the rock pointing to the Punch Bowl. The arrow had remnants of red paint in it. I don't know if it is still there or not. Probably not. Several of those houises have had docks built along the shore line and I'm sure it would have filled completely by now. It's been almost fifty years since I saw it.
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I belong to a group of amateur historians and one of them posted recent photos last week of where the Punchbowl is. It's behind the home of Adrienne Arsht for whom the new Performing Arts Center is named after thanks to her hefty donations and work in getting the center built. It has not been filled in, probably because the county is protecting it. When I find the link to the photos I will send it to you.

Don
Miami River Rat01-Jul-2011 03:22
Last post I saw was about favorite Florida birds. Then I got gone for a few days and whoosh! Just my luck, I missed out on the wild women discussion.

My favorite Florida bird is the Osprey. If you ever want to see poetry in nature, just watch an Osprey snatch a fish out of the shallow waters of Florida Bay. My favorite Florida bird tojust look at is the Rosette Spoonbill. Nothing else quite compares in the beauty department.
If we're talking about eating 'em, my favorite Florida bird is the Curlew. They don't call the Curlew "Chokoluskee Chicken" for no good reason, they are tasty!
Don Boyd01-Jul-2011 03:11
Okay folks, this is the newest comments gallery so I could archive the previous six months' comments before it all disappeared in a crash due to too much text in it. Carry on with the chatter about wild mangoes, wild women, wild guys, etc.

Don
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