A Nihilist (Prod. James Revels III) Artwork by: Stephen Houston

Some of the Simplest Things are the Most Beautiful

A Night Out in Altemonte Springs, Florida

Two cousin like best friends.

This is me and my cousin Sandra.  A quick photo before we put the car in gear and head to the club.  Yes!  You heard me.  We are headed to the club!  A night out for the adults!  Sandra needs some time away from her kids and I just need some adult fun.  An alcoholic beverage, of my choice, would not be a terrible thing, either.  The plan is to have some fun, have a little more fun, laugh, have even more fun, giggle, have a great time, people watch, FUN, listen to some funny people crack jokes, hear some great music, and see if we meet some interesting people.  I am always looking to talk to people.  I want to see how long it takes for someone to approach or if they will respond to being approached.  I love to talk to people and see what they are about, but tonight is not about that.  Tonight is about unwinding, working out the stress and kinks of life.  However, if an opportunity arises, I will not pass it up.

Heller (Madea reference).  Me into something new, taking self photos.  I think this is being called “selfies” now.  For 48 years old and a few extra pounds, I think I look pretty good.  Mauh, Daaaalink you is faboelus, simply faboelus!  Can you tell how vain I am?  I took the nerd glasses off.  No, I have no real style.  No matter what I put on I look like a boho gypsy.  I hate shopping.

My cousin Sandra. Girl you know I love you better than french toast!

Now this beauty, is my ever polished, so classy looking cousin Sandra.  Probably, the best of all the best friends I have ever had, because she is also family.  You know you have those few friendships that never get old or stale, that no matter how long you are away and do not talk, you just come right back like nothing is any different?  This is how our relationship is.  After 27 years of not talking or seeing each other and only getting sketchy information through the family grape-vine, it is like we are teenagers hanging out again.  We have grown older and wider (wider a synonym for wiser), married, divorced, had children, and became grandparents (not necessarily in that order), but we never lost our closeness.  I love this woman more than I love new crafting tools and balls of colorful yarn.  But I digress, please let us move on to the night life.

The night life is “the legendary Why Not Lounge” in the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, Orlando – North.  Tonight the lounge hosts “Bonkers Comedy Club” for the first portion of the night.  It cost us $10 USD at the door.  We walked in and found a table.  Thanks to Sandra’s keen mind, she strategically placed us at a table that gave us an optimal view of the club, stage and front door.  Location, location, location.  It is everything.  At this table we can watch the competition and the men come in the front door.  We thought we had an unobstructed view of the stage, but that proved to be wrong when the show started.  However, we were just far enough away from the dance floor to be approachable for a dance or conversation.  Sandra is just too smart about things like this.  That’s why she has the Realtor’s license.

After we strategically positioned ourselves Sandra and I began operations.  She watched the door and alerted me to possible targets and I continued surveillance in the room tracking each too good-looking woman and every well-built man.  We were on the prowl.  Grrrrr!

Get your dance on!

I wish we were on the prowl.  Actually, we were both just wanting to unwind, have some laughs, and listen to some music.  The comedy show turned out to be a hit.  The first comedian to perform was a large red-headed fellow.  Although, I cannot remember his name he was very funny.  Then came Tim the dairy farmer with an excellent performance.  Tim has a down home personality that sucks the audience in.  However, the head liner this night was Jodi White “MILF and Cookies”.  It was perfect.  A woman in mid-life spouting comedic references to life to two women in mid-life.  At least that is what it felt like to Sandra and I.  She could have been reading our minds.  One of the best joke she carries is “MILF and Cookies”.  If  you have a sense of humor, are single, and over forty then you will get it.  Sandra and I get hit on by younger men all the time, so when Jodi came out with “MILF and cookies” we fell out.  I thought I would pass out from laughing so hard.  So if you have a chance go online and type Jodi White into your search engine or YouTube and check her out.

After the show the staff began clearing the tables and chairs off the dance floor.  Most every weekend the Why Not Lounge has live music and dancing.  Tonight would not disappoint.  The band is a local group and played a varied of 70′s, 80′s, 90′s and current music.  I took this opportunity to make a run to the lady’s room and when I returned I found Jemil standing at my table with his drink sitting on it and texting.  Sandra and I had chosen two tables together, and she was sitting at her table.  When I approached to get into my seat I just pulled him an extra chair up and said thank you for joining us.  Jemil, as it turns out, is a bar manager for a very popular restaurant chain.  The gentleman that he is, he bought us drinks, kept Sandra deep in conversation, jumped on the dance floor with me, until we were out of breath, and walked us to our car at the end of the night.  He was the perfect date for both Sandra and I.

Jemil, bar manager for a restaurant chain and new friend.

Jemil trying to make his point to Sandra and as you can see, she ain’t having none of it.  He really was a very nice guy and we had a great time laughing and dancing the night away.  If you have a chance to be in the Orlando area do not forget to check out The legendary Why Not Lounge and Bonker’s Comedy Club.  Until then Happy Wanderings.

Gratitude

Lake Griffin, Leesburg, Florida

I have to apologize for not posting more.  I really want to.  As I explained in previous posts I am recovering from pulled muscles.  I still have minor pain in my sternum and left shoulder-blade and near the underarm.  I have a lot of itching on my shoulder-blade, as well. I have no idea what that is.  What I do know is that while I have been recovering I did make a couple posts, but really I ignored my passion here.  I did not bother to check in every day and look in on other bloggers much.  I began to worry that I would back track and lose my passion.  So when I opened up my site tonight and found that my viewers had grown from 400 to 700 was floored.  I was grateful.  I was overwhelmed.  To many people 700 viewers is nothing, but to me it affirms that I made the right choice and that I need to stick with what I set out to do.

Was I having second thoughts?  Yes, because I am not getting paid and I have to go out and replace what I have used.  I began to think that maybe this was not doable, not for me at my age and alone.  But no, I may not be able to do exactly as I want to, just yet, but I will keep trying.  I have the whole of Florida to explore for the next, however many months that I feel it will take.  I am grateful for that.  But I am most grateful and full of gratitude that you feel I am worth reading.  I am still working on my bucket list and I hope to have that up soon.

Thank you ever so much and happy wanderings.

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A Necropolis of Boats in Florida

A Necropolis is a graveyard.  This one was creepy and gorgeous all at the same time, and just for boats.  I could not count them all.  The grass was too high for me to walk the whole of the yard in flip-flops, so I could not count how many boats where here.  In Florida, you never know where a snake is hiding.  This close to the water it most likely would be a Water Moccasin that would bite you.  Besides, I do not know that I would have been able to find all of the boats.  As you can see from the photos the swamp is attempting to claim them.

This property is on the edge of a large lake in Leesburg, Florida.  It was as eerie as it was beautiful with all the Spanish moss hanging from the trees and the sun’s rays streaming through openings in the canopy.  There was something very primitive about the sight of the boats being swallowed up by the swamp vines, while listening to frogs and gators sing a warning from the water.  

 

It was just as you imagine it would be.  It was hot and muggy.  The humidity had the sweat running down the small of my back.  The bugs were irritatingly buzzing about my head.  Yet, I could not pull myself away from photographing these images.  I hoped nothing would get on my lense or in my mouth.  As beautiful as the Spanish moss is, hanging from the trees, I did not want it dropping onto my head without a scarf on.  There was so much of the beautiful lace hanging everywhere.  

I love the way the light and dark contrasts in the swamp.  It is like a battle for life and death.  As if life knows that all things must return to the earth, but struggles and claws for that one last fleeting moment of sunlight and warmth before sinking back into the swampy darkness.

I hope that you all are enjoying an adventure of your own.  My friends athttp://www.gallivance.net have inspired me to make a list of the things I have accomplished/not accomplished.  You could say a buck list of sorts.  I hope to have that for you soon.  Please visit my friends at their sight, you will truly be inspired as I have been.

Happy Wanderings. 

Why Traveling with a Partner is a Good Idea

Shots like this are the reason you need a travel partner.  I left Salem, Ohio on July 2, 2013 with no GPS and only the directions I printed off Yahoo Maps, avoiding all major highways and toll roads, and the atlas my sister gave me.  So, I went old school and really old school.  The drive through Ohio and Pennsylvania was beautiful, cool, and a little rainy.  I passed through some of the prettiest mountain towns.  I even stopped at a mountain lake to check my maps and take a rest.

I tried to stay away from most major cities.  I did have to pass on the out skirts of Pittsburgh.  It was an interesting looking skyline tucked up in the mountains.  Another reason you need a partner to drive is that you think you are snapping shots and you are not.  I have to laugh because I thought I had a lot more pictures than I found on the camera.  Note to self, always find a driving partner.  You can find traveling companions online through couchsurf.com and other traveling sites.  You need to do this ahead of time.  

As I was in no hurry, driving 35 to 45 miles an hour most of the way through Ohio and Pennsylvania, was actually nice and relaxing.  I still made good time and arrived in the Virginia Beach area by 7 p.m.  and this is where the trip started going wrong.  I was supposed to go on to Virginia Beach and stay two nights.  However, I got turned around in road construction and missed the exit several times.  I finally just found a small hotel and turned in for the night.

 

I woke up the next morning in pain.  My thoughts?  "Oh what now!"  I was mad I did not follow through on my original plans to stay at the hostel in Virginia Beach and now I was hurting and feeling not so good.  You see I caught another cold just before I left and all the coughing was taking its toll.  Buck up and roll on is all I can do.  Besides this is what I love.  The drive was still lovely.  Once over the North Carolina border I turned east and headed to highway 17.  Highway 17 runs south along the coast of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  It passes through small towns and cities like Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Savannah, and Jacksonville.

Aaaww!  Care packages from my niece.  I love that girl better than french toast.  The anti itch cream came in handing later.  I rolled on and tried to find the free and low-cost camp sites that I had printed off the internet.  I thought for sure I could find one by 3 p.m., set up camp, and go sight seeing before tucking in.  I did not find one.  Took make matters worse my chest and back were hurting and the car was no longer comfortable.  I stopped and back tracked a few times, only to get madder and madder.  I am laughing now, because then I was cussing someone who was supposed to be with me.  I would have given up, only that is not in me.  I stopped across the bridge in Charleston to watch the fireworks, then kept driving.  You see in all the states except Florida you can only stay for a few hours in the rest stops.  I drove straight through to Florida.  Once I crossed the state line I found the first rest stop and crashed for an hour.

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I wish that I could have given everyone a better trip through those states.  But at this point I was in great pain and needed to find the end of this road.  I pulled over again about 6 a.m. and slept for two hours, which helped a great deal.  I finally made it into Winter Springs at 10 a. m., to my cousin's house.  This is where I have been trying to recuperate for the last week.  I hated to do it, but I had to see a doctor.  I pulled the muscles in my back and chest from coughing.  I also found some questionable bug bites in those areas that I have to follow-up on.  You see, had I been accompanied by a travel partner I could have taken better pictures, documented the trip better, I would have not given up so easily on finding the campsites I wanted, and I would have rested better.  Will this stop me?  Heck no!! In some cases I like the solitude.  It gives you time to think and get comfortable in your self.  What do I prefer?  I prefer a partner in crime.  I know me and when I am really comfortable I am more adventurous.

Thank you for ready me.  I will be posting more on this trip in the next days as I heal, yet again.

Happy Wanderings.

Moving On

I am headed back to Berlin Lake for two days, maybe one.  Probably one.  Then it is on the road again!  Yes!!  On the “F-bomb” road again!!  I know this is right or I would not be so excited about it.  The plan is to take the scenic route south and turn left in Virginia.  I have a need to explore.  I do not know how long it will take me to travel south and I do not care.

I did not get my money back from the unnamed cell company, yet.  A very small word with great possibilities, that word “yet”.  I found out they owe me more money than I thought.  That was some good news.  Then a little birdie told me to grab an opportunity and that put a few bucks in my pocket.  Enough to point me south on a scenic route and allow me to take my time.  Ain’t life grand!

My family is worried.  They think I am crazy.  All I can say is that I am happiest when I am on the go.  I will miss them, but I have to go.  You know how I feel.  There is a path.  No one can see it, not even you, but you know it is there.  I want the road less traveled, the road most traveled, sometimes traveled, and occasionally traveled.  I am so “F-bomb” excited I would dance around the apartment, but it might upset my nieces.  I am going to miss them terribly.  Crazy girls!  I think all of my nieces and nephews inherited my Dad’s sense of humor.  We are subject to break out in nuttiness at anytime.

I have had a great time here.  Who would not want to hang with a bunch of people who make you piss yourself laughing.  With my family the rule of thumb is to always wear your depends when out in public.  Even the most mundane thing can become a source of hilarity.  Lord love a duck, don’t anyone have gas or be in a bad mood, you become the object of their attention.  As my sister would say, “It’s FFF(Forced Family Fun), so put your big girl panties on and deal with it.”

But truthfully I want to jump up and down, dance on the furniture, and sing “On the Road Again”!  So a couple of days at Berlin Lake and this time I will be hiking, no matter the weather.  I plan on stopping through the mountains in Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia to hike.  Then turn left and hit the beaches and small towns the rest of the way.  Finding free campsites is a must.  Having a few things to accomplish along the way adds some purpose to the adventure.  A friend of mine suggested GEO Cashing, but that sounds like to much side tracking to find things.  I should have enough to keep me busy with finding WiFi to do my school work.  I wish they would give me credit for these adventures.

Soooo, stay tuned and I hope to add something to this blog nearly everyday.

Happy Wanderings.