Category: Uncategorized

>My Neck of the Woods


>Port Charlotte? Punta Gorda? Where is that? It does not sound like there will be much to do there. This is usually how a conversation goes after the standard brief introductions with almost anyone that comes through this small town of ours. The explanation usually goes something like this: we are located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, right between Fort Myers (to the south) and Sarasota (to the north) and suddenly, recognition, an–Aha! Moment, as Oprah often says. I know where that is, my grandma has a house over there. Lol!

These days, when I listen to the weather reports, and hear about places up north being dumped on by many feet of snow, and enduring all kinds of minus -0 degree weather, I’ve been having my own “Aha Moments”! Don’t get me wrong, I will complain just like everyone else about the weather, at the right time, it all depends on weather conditions (hurricane season comes to mind).

But last night and the night before, I was very glad to be living in “my neck of the woods” (Thanks, Al). It was around six in the evening when I felt a smile begin to form within me, there it was again as I crossed the bridge–another SW Florida present, a beautiful mix of clouds and sun that is very hard to describe. A beautiful sunset, and I did not have my camera with me this time, plus I was driving. Ughhhh!

Sunsets are a spectacular sight in our area. I lived in Brooklyn, NY for many years before moving south and can honestly say I never paid as much attention to the skies there, as I do in Florida. Maybe that’s because most of the year, I was running in or out of subways or ducking people bump-ins in between high risers in Manhattan. Or maybe I was just too busy and frazzled, going about my business to stop and appreciate nature; even as I appreciated and explored everything else NYC had to offer; to this day, it is one of my favorite cities.

Funny thing is there are, more than enough things to do in Port Charlotte and its surrounding areas; it boasts some of the best beaches (Boca Grande, Manasota) you can find anywhere along the Gulf Coast of Florida. Sunsets are beautiful and plentiful, except of course when the skies open up and let out their fair share of rain, thunder and lightning. There are many festivals, music, arts, and lots of fishing and boating to keep the most discriminating soul busy for days on end. Totally worth the experience. So come on down!

That’s what I’m Talking About!

Marcia C

2

What can I do for you?


italian food
Image via Wikipedia

>What can I do for you?

Ok, that was definitely not the question I thought I’d have to answer to as we entered this popular Italian dining spot on a holiday weekend Monday afternoon; it was 1:45 pm and my friend and I had just made up our minds to eat here after we discovered our first choice had recently closed its doors on our side of town, and moved itself across the bridge to a new location. Good thing my friend called earlier to make last minute plans, otherwise we would both arrive at the former location to find an empty place.

Ok, so now we are left trying to decide where to go for lunch; after the expected back and forth discussion, we easily settled on the Carrousel Plaza Mall location, just because there are at least five restaurants in there from which we could select from. We decided the Italian restaurant would do. Easy enough, right?

As we walked in, the hostess/waitress greeted us with “What can I do for you?” Huh? My friend and I both looked at each other with the same dumbfounded look as we wondered: “What kind of question was that? Is this not a restaurant? What did she think we could possibly want? Aren’t  they supposed to be serving food here?

My response to her question? Huh, what about some food? To which she responded, “Come this way”,  We followed her to our seats. There were still a few people in there, in various stages of dining, so we settled in to have a nice dining experience. The meal was average, nothing to write home about, but the service or lack thereof was a different story. As it turned out, by the time we ordered our drinks there was only a ten minute window in which to order our food, the kitchen was closing at 2 pm, something our waitress failed to mention when she sat us down.
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There is nothing more unnerving that being rushed through your meal, but then I would have nothing to talk about regarding this lunch date; if the hostess/waitress would have told us at the outset that we only had a few minutes in which to order our meal we would have left. We could have decided to patronize any one of the other four or five restaurants on the plaza. As it happened, we ordered, we ate and then kept looking over our shoulders—feeling as paying intruders in this restaurant.

Needless to say, that’s the last time they’ll see my Visa card at this establishment; the next time I feel like eating Italian food I’ll cook it myself or pull out one of Mario‘s recipe books. But, I certainly would not visit the Plaza’s Italian dining place or recommend it to anyone else.

That’s what I’m talking about!

Marcia C

0

>A word about SW Florida winter getaways…


>Some of us in SWFL absolutely, positively are not feeling this blast of arctic cold air coming through our beautiful Gulf coast; after all, this is the “Sunshine State” not Boston or New York; and we all smugly assumed we had left that cold stuff behind us when we moved south from places like Ohio, Brooklyn, and NYC.

Imagine my surprise this morning, when on my way to work and almost ten days after my last post, The Rose, (yes, the same one) was still in full bloom and seemed to be basking in the glory of the 30 degree weather we are experiencing. It looked like it was actually enjoying the chill in the air! All this while I was bundled up and cursing under my breath because I needed a heavier covering than what I was wearing (a sweater and scarf) and had to rush back into the house to pick-up a coat. A coat? WTH, I am not supposed to need one down here!!!

Anyway, I guess I am just ranting. I have no right to complain, there are 49 other states with snow somewhere on their grounds and we are still the “tropical weather” destination for our northern neighbors. I, for one, am not going anywhere near any body of water (except my own bathroom to take a shower) to take any kind of dips.
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It is cold out there, people! You are not supposed to be wearing a bathing suit, pretending you do not feel the chill! I understand, you worked hard all year to come down to Florida to get your piece of the sunshine promise, but trust me you can still have a good time without catching pneumonia. And believe me; you are more likely to catch that, than the perfect suntan!

I speak from experience and with empathy; thankfully I never got pneumonia but I was once a “newbie” to the golden shores of the sunshine state, and believed that I too had earned the right to jump in a cold pool just because I could not do so whenever I wanted to when I lived in NY. But reality set in along with common sense, and now I actually wait for the other 9 months of the year when it is actually warm enough (or sometimes too warm) and when the beaches are in the best condition for me to enjoy; along with the drum circles, and other fun activities that make for a perfect day at the beach on a Saturday afternoon. Trust me; this is when you need to be in the water, when the temperature is a beautiful 80 degrees or more!

That’s what I am talking about!

Marcia C

2

>Good morning sunshine!

This morning was not one of those usual and typical sunny mornings in my “neck of the SW Florida woods”, as Al Roker would say.

It started out as predicted by the weathermen, cloudy and gray, although with a nice and warm 70 degrees and a misty shower gracing the skies. Floridians know what I’m talking about.

I left home with the usual thoughts in mind: did I unplug the curling iron, turn off all other appliances? Did I remember to take my meds and thinking ahead to what I had to do at work today? You know, one of those days, lol!

As I got outside, it hit me; the $1.00 rose bush tree I bought on a whim and that the hubby had planted a couple of years ago was again bearing fruit or in this case a beautiful yellow rose. It spoke to me, it made me take a step back to appreciate its beauty; this is not the first time that this particular tree has produced a flower, on the contrary it has proven to be a prolific rose birthing little bush.

But the contrast this morning between the weather and this unexpected gift made me appreciate the little things in life more and more. This beautiful rose commanded my attention in a way that said: Look at me! I am beautiful and I am a gift from the heavens above and earth below; I am standing tall just for you so go ahead, take my picture (thanks to my Blackberry) and share me with the world! I did as was told, lol!

Take time, as I always do, to pay attention to your surroundings; sometimes the least expected things can change the tone and mood of the day ahead. This morning, this beautiful yellow rose right outside my door and at almost shoulder height, spoke to me and made me think of all the things we take for granted. From now on the camera goes with me everywhere. Watch out world!

That’s what I’m talking about!

Marcia C

0

>It’s that wonderful time of the year!


>It is that wonderful time of the year, Christmas time, and I guess I have some disposable income? No, not really, but I have been spending a crazy amount of time during the last few weeks conducting research online and dreaming about getting a new electronic toy. Mind you, the hubby and kids gifted me with a beautiful and shiny HP G60 Notebook (full size) last Christmas which I absolutely love and use daily for my computing needs when I get home from work. You know the deal, Facebook, emails, reading and writing blogs when I am in the mood, listening to Internet music thanks to the Media Player, etc.

My new obsession? Netbook or Tablet? Get an IPad or wait for the Blackberry Playbook or go for that shiny red HP Mini 210 Netbook (in red, of course). HP Mini 210-1095NR 10.1-Inch Netbook (Red). Here’s the deal, it looks like the Mini HP is going to win the war of the tech toys this year.

My dilemma, even though I love my current HP and plan to continue using it (at home); I travel for work or pleasure on a regular enough basis to warrant a mini PC for ease of travel; especially with the new Pat and Feel security practices going on at airports, and the nickel and dime strategies of the airlines, one needs ensure to travel as light and as comfortably as possible, so I figured, smaller is definitely better.

I want a light enough but still practical and easier to carry PC that will allow me to be as productive as can be, while I am on the road. Wi-Fi ready is a big plus too, because I hate it when I have to pay $10 plus a day, while staying at the fancy and expensive hotels where our conferences are usually held. You’d think they’ll provide free Internet access in your room at those prices!

I am hoping to limit the number of items I carry with me when I travel; with the mini, I would be able to leave my Kindle at home, Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology since I can download the Kindle for PC app, and still be able to read my E-books. Like I said lighter is better! Now all I have to do is convince the family that I really, really do need a new, smaller shiny red HP Mini netbook for Christmas this year!!!

I will let you know how this strategy panned out. LOL! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season in case you don’t hear from me before the end of the year.

That’s what I’m talking about!

Marcia C

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