DECEMBER 30,2011

                        Next year is a Leap Year.  We gain a day.  People born February 29th gain four years.  It's Sadie Hawkins' Day.  On that day in Appalachia. a woman can propose to a man.  Usually there is a dance where at last a woman can ask a man to dance if not marry.  So 2012 will be a long year.
                         We started New Year's early withao buffet dinner at Pumpernickels.  I had sauerbraten and potatoe dumplings in a dark gravy.  Bill had everything except dumplings from the Thursday night German buffet including sauerkraut,knockwurst,polish sausage,wiener schnitzel both pork and chicken, goulasch, red cabbage,spaetzle and German fried potatoes plus potato pancakes,apple sauce and sour cream.  So the New year's has begun.  It will be low key at home with lasagna and salad plus tira misu to ring in the New Year.
                             We have an extra day in 2012 to lose all the weight we gained in 2011.  hopefully we will go to Bithlo to the stock car races.  Then all my 2011 goals will be fulfilled.  If not we'll do it in 2012 on one of the extra days.  That's legal in a Leap Year.  So the Floridaze rolls on into the New Year.  

The Swamp Sleigh Ride

Midway Airboat Rides-St. John's River-Rte. 50 Christmas,Florida

NEW MOON

                              It came upon a midnight clear
                              That wonderous story of old

                                 It's dark with no moonlight just after the winter solstice.  So it was and more so without electricity 2011 years ago.  Wise Men follow the star.

MIAMI BOUND

                                 ANTHONY BOURDAIN TOLD HIS FAVORITE EATING ESTABLISHMENTS IN MIAMI A COUPLE OF MONDAYS AGO ON PBS"S LAYOVER SHOW.  Tony always stays at the Raleigh Hotel and gets a tattoo at MICHAELS GENUINE across from MAC'S CLUB DEUCE, A BAR FOR REAL DRINKERS NOT AMATEURS.  Bourdain will eat an ethnic variation on the traditional hot dog wherever he can in Miami including Colombian hot dogs.  He gets his Cuban sandwich at LAS OLAS and his fish at GARCIAS SEAFOOD. Downtown Bourdain goes to the S&S DINER.  A trip to Miami would not be complete without a visit to PUB BELLY.
                    Finally Bourdain's true New Yorker came out when he had bagels,cream cheese and lox at his RALEIGH HOTEL.   Miami is where all New York Jews go to die and fry.   It is  the sun and fun capital of the world as Jackie Gleason said every week on 1950's tv.  The lox was Bourdain's homage to the old Miami before all the other immigrants from Asia,Africa,South America and the Caribbean moved in.  Miami is a melting pot now.  Put on that sun tan lotion.
                          

GOOD NEWS

                                    TITUSVILLE WILL SOON HAVE A NEW MALL TO REPLACE THE MIRACLE CITY MALL  WHERE CROWDS SAT IN ITS PARKING LOT WATCHING  THE FIRST ROCKETS TO THE MOON BLAST OFF FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER  IN THE 1960'S.  A BOCA RATON COMPANY WILL HAVE A NEW MALL BUILT BY OCTOBER 2012.  NOW THAT'S GOOD NEWS.  THE OLD ONE HAD BECOME AN EYESORE.  AFTER THE 2004 HURRICANES THE ROOF LEAKED SO MUCH,THERE WERE TUBES HANGING FROM THE CEILING INTO GARBAGE CANS IN JC PENNEY DRAINING THE WATER LEAKS.  FINALLY THE MIRACLE CITY MALL WILL BE TORN DOWN AND A NEW ONE RESURRECTED ON ITS ASHES.  SO EXPECT MIRACLES EVEN IF IT DID TAKE 7 YEARS OF TAX DEPRECIATION WRITE OFFS FOR WHOMEVER OWNED THE MALL. 
                                      HOPEFULLY NEXT WILL BE THE SEARS MALL WHICH IS FULLY OCCUPIED BUT REALLY RUNDOWN.  SOME PAINT AND LANDSCAPING WOULD HELP IT A LOT.  A FEW OF THE PALM TREES PLANTED EVERY 5 FEET ON THE NEW PINEDA EXPRESSWAY EXTENSION WOULD HELP THIS MALL AND TITUSVILLE.  I GUESS WALMART,HOME DEPOT AND LOWES CAN'T AFFORD TO LANDSCAPE THEIR PROPERTIES EITHER.  BREVARD COUNTY NEEDS TO REMEMBER TITUSVILLE IS IN THE COUNTY AND COULD USE SOME LANDSCAPING JUST LIKE THEY DO TO VIERA.

MIRACLE CITY ROCKET-IF THEY CAN SEND MEN TO THE MOON, THEY CAN FIX THE TOWN NEXT TO THE LAUNCH PAD

                                   SO HANG ON TO YOUR CONFEDERATE DOLLARS,TITUSVILLE WILL RISE AGAIN.  ESPECIALLY IF SOME OF OUR COUNTY TAX MONEY WERE SPENT HERE.  ALSO STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY IS NEEDED.    WE HAVE ONE REPRESENTATIVE FIGHTING FOR US.  IT'S PRACTICALLY TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

9TH HOUSE OF ADVENTURE

                                      FULL MOON TONIGHT.   IT'S CLOUDY.  I  DOUBT WE'LL SEE IT.  BUT MY MOON IS IN MY NINTH HOUSE OF ADVENTURE.  I CAN PLAN TO TRAVEL BUT I SHOULDN'T GO FAR NOW. 
                                       WE SAW A TUNA CHRISTMAS AT THE  TITUSVILLE PLAYHOUSE.  IT WAS HILARIOUS.  TWO ACTORS PLAYED 10 OR MORE RESIDENTS OF TUNA,TEXAS AT CHRISTMAS TIME.  THE ACTING WAS SUPERB.  EACH CHARACTER WAS DEFINED BY THE QUIRKS AND COSTUMES THE ACTORS USED TO PLAY THE DIFFERENT PARTS.   THEY PLAYED OLD, YOUNG, MALE AND FEMALE.   THEY WOULD SAY DING A LING DING A LING FOR THE PHONE TO RING.  IT ALWAYS BROUGHT A LAUGH.  

                                       AT THE END THE TWO MALE ACTORS ONE DRESSED AS AN OLDER WOMAN WHOSE HUSBAND IS OUT GALIVANTING AND THE OTHER PORTRAYING THE DIVORCED TALK SHOW HOST ON THE LOCAL OKKK RADIO STATION DANCE TOGETHER TO  "HAVE YOURSELF A  MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS."  SHE'S A BAPTIST WHO DOESN'T DANCE OR DRINK.  BUT FOR THAT NIGHT, THEY BOTH DECIDE TO ACT LIKE METHODISTS AND LIVE IT UP A LITTLE.  TUNA,TEXAS IS A STUDY IN THE DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES IN THE USA.    CHRISTMAS IS NOT THE PICTURE PERFECT CELEBRATION OF OLD MOVIES BUT A COLLECTION OF MISFITS INCLUDING SONS ON PROBATION DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE AT THE LOCAL THEATER, GAY THEATER DIRECTORS,PROMISCUOUS DAUGHTERS, STRAYING EX-CON HUSBANDS, MIDGETS, FEMALE GUN SHOP OWNERS WHO LOOK AND SOUND LIKE A MAN AND FUSSY NEIGHBORS WHO WIN THE HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST EVERY YEAR.  A PHANTOM IS TRYING TO SABOTAGE THEIR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.  THE LOCAL UFO SIGHTER TAKES OFF IN A FLYING SAUCER.  ONE OF THE TWO MALE ACTORS LOOKED GREAT IN HEELS AND A MINI SKIRT.  PATRICK SULLIVAN PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR TITUSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AND GOT A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP TO LSU.  HE'S BEEN IN SEVERAL MUSICALS ON BROADWAY.  HE'S AN EXCELLENT ACTOR TOO.  STEPHEN HEARON THE OTHER ACTOR IS THE HEAD OF THE TITUSVILLE PLAYHOUSE IN ADDITION TO BEING A CREATIVE DIRECTOR FOR A LARGE CRUISE LINE IN PORT CANAVERAL.  HIS COMEDIC ACTING AND  COSTUMES INCLUDING BOUNCING BREASTS WERE BEYOND FUNNY. 
                          SO HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
                           MAKE THE SEASON BRIGHT
                                    GOD BLESS EVERYONE AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

WARM

PLAYALINDA BEACH-CANAVERAL NATIONAL SEASHORE

                        WARM WOULD BE FINE IF I COULD GO TO THE BEACH.  IT'S TOO FAR FOR ME TO VENTURE ALONE SINCE I'VE BEEN GETTING THE VAPORS WHEN I DRIVE.  I MOVED HERE SO I COULD GO DAILY TO THE 25 MILES OF  UNSPOILED BEACH IN THE CANAVERAL NATIONAL SEASHORE.  I DID THAT FOR A YEAR OR TWO UNTIL I DEVELOPED THE VAPORS ONCE ON THE WAY BACK.  I HAD TO STOP AT THE 7-ELEVEN FOR COLD SODA AND FOOD.  I ATE IT AT THE CEMETERY ON GARDEN STREET UNDER A TREE.  I RECOVERED AND MADE IT  HOME.  ANOTHER TIME I HAD TO CALL MY HUSBAND BECAUSE I WAS TOTALLY DIZZY AFTER A DRIVE IN THE HEAT.  HE BEGRUDGINGLY CAME AND GOT ME.  I'VE BEEN TO A ZILLION DOCTORS BUT STILL HAVE THESE SPELLS EVEN AFTER A HYPOGLYCEMIA DIAGNOSIS.  I'LL GO FOR MORE BLOOD TESTS SOON.
                          IT'S 17 MILES  ROUND TRIP TO THE BEACH.  YOU HAVE TO DRIVE 6 MILES THROUGH THE WILDLIFE PRESERVE BEFORE YOU GET TO THE SEASHORE.  YOU CROSS TWO ISLANDS BEFORE YOU REACH THE BARRIER ISLAND BEACH.   I HAVE TO PUT THE TOP DOWN ON MY MIATA BECAUSSE THE AC DOESN'T WORK.  EVEN WITH THE TOP DOWN I CAN BARELY DRIVE OVER THE NEW BRIDGE.  SOMETIMES I TAKE THE LONG WAY VIA US 1 BUT I CAN BARELY DO THAT WITHOUT BLACKING OUT. 

THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER LAUNCH PAD AS SEEN FROM CANAVERAL NATIONAL SEASHORE

                        SO THAT'S THE SAGA.
                              
                          

THE BABY WILL FALL

                                       A TINY SQUIRREL WAS LYING ON HIS BACK ON OUR PATIO TODAY.  I THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD.  I TOLD MY HUSBAND.  HE WOULDN'T COME AND LOOK.  HE WAS WATCHING A GOLF TOURNAMENT.  I COULD SEE THAT THE BABY SQUIRREL'S HEART WAS BEATING.  I COULD HEAR WHIMPERING OR MOANING.  SUDDENLY THE BABY SQUIRREL WHO WAS NO BIGGER THAN YOUR HAND,TURNED OVER ON HIS STOMACH.  SOON HE WAS LIFTING HIS HEAD AND STRETCHING HIS FRONT PAWS.  ONE HUNDRED FEET ABOVE HIM STRETCHED A GIGANTIC OAK TREE THAT IS HIGHER THAN OUR TWO STORY TOWNHOUSE ON THE GOLF COURSE'S SIXTH GREEN.  ON ONE OF THE LOWER BRANCHES, THE SQUIRREL'S MOTHER WHIMPERED AND MOANED.  QUICKLY SHE RAN DOWN THE TREE TRUNK PICKED THE BABY SQUIRREL UP IN HER TEETH BY THE BACK OF HIS NECK AND RAN BACK UP THE TREE WITH HIM.    I HEARD HER COOING AND MOANING OVER HIM.  HOPEFULLY THE BABY WILL LIVE AND GROW TO HOP AND SWING AND SCURRY AMONG THE BRANCHES OF THE GIANT OAK.  IT'S A BUMPER CROP OF ACORNS THIS YEAR,SO THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF FOOD THE SQUIRREL FAMILY LIVING IN THE HIGH RISE ABOVE THIS CENTRAL FLORIDA GOLF COURSE.
                               I TOLD MY GOLF WATCHING HUSBAND ALL ABOUT THE SQUIRREL'S RESCUE.  HE NEVER STOPPED WATCHING TIGER PUTT AT A GOLF COURSE IN A THOUSAND OAKS,CALIFORNIA.  WILD WORLD OF SPORTS IS HIS THING NOT WILD KINGDOM.  I'M GLAD THE BABY LIVED.  HIS HEART WAS BEATING SO HARD.  AT MY OTHER HOUSE I'M PAYING ANOTHER $250 TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONCERNED COMPANY REMOVE SQUIRRELS WHO HAVE INVADED THE ATTIC AND WALLS OF THE HOUSE THAT I'M RENTING OUT.  IT'S THE SECOND TIME THE HUMANE EXTERMINATOR HAS REMOVED SQUIRRELS FROM MY HOUSE AND SEALED UP THEIR ENTRANCE HOLE.  TWO SQUIRRELS HAVE LIVED OVER THERE FOR YEARS.  IT'S  ONLY THIS YEAR THAT THEY STARTED CHEWING INTO THE HOUSE.  TERMITES HAVE DECIDED TO START CHOMPING ON THE WOOD PANELS ON THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.  I RENTED THIS POOL HOME TO A SINGLE MAN.  NOW HIS SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW AND THREE CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5 ARE LIVING THERE.  IT MAKES ME NERVOUS BECAUSE OF THE POOL.  THEY HAVE A BARRICADE SEPARATING THE POOL FROM THE HOUSE BUT IT IS LOW.

TOWNHOUSE,6TH GREEN,AND LARGE OAK TREE

SIXTH GREEN BEHIND MY TOWNHOUSE

                              IT'S THE YEAR OF THE SQUIRREL FOR ME.  AS YOU CAN SEE MY HUSBAND JUST SITS IN HIS LAZY BOY AND WATCHES TV.  I HAVE TO DO IT ALL.  OH NUTS!  LUCKILY THE RENTAL AGENT AT $250 A SHOT IS BATTLING THE SQUIRREL INVASION AT MY RENTAL PROPERTY,