I recently returned from Canada, About 50 miles or so north of Michigan. My beloved Aunt Fran passed last winter and the burial service was postponed until the thaw of the ground. I was able to make the trip , for which I am very grateful. I reestablished family ties with my cousin and we talked about everything by a warm fireplace in his house where I was their guest. Temperature there were still ranging from the High 30's to the mid- 60's - a huge change from the 90 degree humidity in Boca now. Below is a composite of 3 photographs, My Aunt when she was young and a couple of years ago with her granddaughter Michele. I set these 2 in a landscape of Goulais River that is visible from the cemetery.
Pictured below, left to right, cousin greg, his wife diane, their daughter michele and yours truly Nephew Johnny.
Bittersweet is the watchword, I hope to see them all again under happier circumstances
It seems my Vox is becoming a Quarterly.
The coming of Saint Patrick's Day reminds me of the tale of an an Irish Guide and a group of Americans touring the castle where the famous Blarney Stone is said the be. The guide tells his group there is no greater luck than to kiss the Blarney Stone. Instantly a Man goes over and Plants a huge Kiss right on the top of the Stone and then looks at the guide and asks " Have you Kissed the Blarney Stone"? The guide says "No- But I've SAT ON IT!
This is my 2nd week back to work and my route has been adjusted to include an additional couple of hours delivery on the street . Due to lack of mail volume lost to the poor economy and the Internet, the Post Office is downsizing the number of employees. I was getting done early on my route and then shuffled around to help other carriers for my 8 hours. Now , it will be overtime to finished the day without getting help, on all but the very lightest of days. The Post Office made adjustments Nationwide in a record amount of time and with streamlined agreed upon rules between Labor and Management. When I started 19 years ago a route was considered balanced with 4 hours of sorting inside and 4 hours of street delivery. Now with automation the equation is more like 1.5 in the Office and 6.5 on the street. Let me say , it will be extremely demanding come Summertime and the Rainy Season.
Its not just the angle or perspective- they really are as big as a large building. I took this from the Navigation
Deck of the Eurodam, about equal to the Bridge on the Ruby Princess across the harbor. Both ships are docked
nose to nose.
I'm starting to see my photographs of the Cruise with an added edge of novelty as the time slips away. At first it just seemed like ,yeah, its a nice shot but it doesn't mean anything. Now it is more of the "WOW" I was feeling when I was pushing the shutter button
After a couple of years on Vox , I guess sometimes it feels a little lonely and yet I enjoy the privacy . I sometimes wish that fellow bloggers didn't just suddenly disappear from view without explanation. My generation is a bridge to the Virtual World of the Internet. The freedom and breath of expression is dynamic. We can reach out everywhere , but, sometimes it feels like being enclosed by the car on the interstate. Watching the world and everyone else from a separate world. .
Pictured here is "El Moro" and a portion of the walled city. This image is 2 shots photo merged together. Also I enhanced the sky to take off some glare and hopefully add some dramatic effect.
We had lunch at a wonderful place called the Puerto Rican Cafe in the heart of the old part of the city. Our guide on the Rain Forrest Tour recommended it and also the Mufungos on the Menu- A combo of green or ripe fried plantains with different meats and seafood filling. I had skirt steak cut up and scooped in a ripe plantain shell. Also this picturesque little cafe had beautiful Heliconia Flowers on the Counter and a Singing Waiter that I think could be on Star Search one day. Should've taken some picture there, but, I was busy eating. I must now search out authentic Mufungos in South Florida- I'm hooked!
Photo Blog- more words later!
Diane and I took a Eastern Caribbean Cruise
We visited Old San Juan and took a tour of the Puerto Rican Tropical Rain Forrest on Tuesday last week.
Jake is so colorful that I had to add another shot of her.
Also, I am including a shot of a mango tree.
The Mango Trees have finished blooming and this is actually a little Mango that will grow and ripen in May or June. The world in microcosm, nature has a way of intriguing me
when I take a close look.
Here is a shot of my parrot. I was wandering around looking for something interesting to capture with my camera. Once again Miss Photogenic stood out upon review of the slide show, I am also going to include a small shot of some sprouting Coconut Palms. I found them laying on the ground across the street and planted them about 3 months ago.
My wife Diane and I have "adopted" a Polor Bear to help support the world wildlife organization. The ice cap is melting and it is hard times for the bears. We just wanted to do something to help ease the situation for them.
