low oil pressure warning light switch

On motorcycles, mechanical parts always seem so downsized. Got stumped on this one - so pulled out the workshop manual. A 22mm rubber boot, appearing to protect a electrical connector, had blown off from it's source while riding and had fallen into the cuff of my jeans. Found it only after throwing the jeans into the washer.

I knew it came off of the bike from somewhere - but where?  Which soon became a two hour mission with reading glasses, a flashlight and a few photos to reference the manual. Now, I've never been mechanically inclined - so, it's always a big mystery and a long process.

Once the location was determined, from just under the fuel tank and behind the upper cylinder heads, I pondered the necessity of replacing the missing 'boot'.  For me, especially in my past, everything always became so damn complicated. So finally in the end (and for a new beginning), I just decided that the part really just didn't seem that important.

Siesta Beach

For some reason, over the past year, our Siesta Key public beach had been designated the - #1 beach in the US.

Saw these beach girls and couldn't resist. So for now, our infamous 'Siesta Beach' has their own glossy web-site - and for what ever reason, now promotes itself with it's own needless 'chamber-of-commerce' style marketing. Really don't think it's necessary. We already have the sun, the water and the needed inner-tubes.

father's day

A photo recently sent to me from my niece Keelie - the family archivist. One of my father's service medals that was awarded to him for his valor and for his bravery - a medal that I was totally unaware of.  And awarded to a reticent father, who quietly became estranged years after his military service.  Today a remembrance from his past, for his duty and for his country during that necessary and justifiable war - WWII.

A belated thanks.

a special sweet couple

Joel and Sally have been our dear friends for many years. Sally Lucke - a known area philanthropist and board member for many local arts institutions - And Joel Elkes - a retired professor emeritus at John Hopkins University in the area of Psychiatry - and Joel today, a practicing and renowned water colorist - are always together, inseparable and always, out and about.

What makes their story special and sweet is that they have known of each other, most of their long and separate lives. But now, after finally finding each other once again and now being married, they are forever side-by-side as if they were those new young teenagers.

visiting with Gramma Jo

Who is visiting with St. Joseph.

Sandy's birthday dinner

My wife informed me that "we" were invited to a mutual birthday dinner - to share with a mutual friend. It was Sandy's 64th celebration.

I couldn't remember a time, that Sandy and I, had been out to dinner together in over 6 months - so, I put my jacket on and Sandy did her nails. We met at some 'fancy-pants' place and sat down together with 5 other women. With my evening conversation focusing on the dog, Sandy's behavior was somewhat quiet, but overall seemingly happy and attentive.

After a good, but expensive meal we both walked outside, wherein Sandy informed me (just at that moment) that it was meant to be a "women's only (birthday) dinner".  Well then, boy did I waste a good 'dog' dinner conversation.

Our Florida mango

With the sun higher and the ever increasing humidity, June is the start of our mango season. Not trying to exclude our other sensual fruits (like those fine ruby red grapefruits and - those sought after delicious lychee nuts), but, the mango has to be at the top of all of our annual Florida pleasures.

When I lived downtown, many years ago - our neighborhood kids "those mango monkeys" used to climb our 40 foot trees and collect buckets full. The rustling and excitement with those kids up-top, filing those baskets, marked a seasonal change that will always be a part of our local community.