Home Sweet Florida

I’m back from my fast trip to Fort Benning and Port Huron, having arrived back here at home late on Sunday night.  I’ve also learned that, as I get older, I’m getting a lot more tired from these road trips…I was too tired to do anything yesterday, even after I got a 7 hour sleep in my own bed. I haven’t even finished unpacking yet.  Given, however, the current trend in gasoline prices, I am probably going to make fewer road trips in the future. 

The Fort Benning ceremony was very nice, and I’ve previously written about it.  My visit to Port Huron lasted about 15 minutes, but was very necessary as there were some files in storage there that I was in desparate need of.  I had ideal driving weather all the way up, but encountered some rain in Tennessee on the return leg.  I took the faithful old blue Town Car,  Dad’s last car, which is fast becoming a long road trip veteran, and it ran perfectly as usual, now with 136,000 miles (not clicks) on the odometer. 

So what’s new here at Florida headquarters?  Well, summer has arrived and is in full swing, so I can put my pants away for another season.  Reg IV is flying back to Atlanta this morning, from his weekend in Port Huron, and then reporting to Fort Gordon outside Augusta, where he’ll remain until the end of July.  If you haven’t heard, he’s been accepted to the Masters Degree program at the University of Georgia at Athens, which means come August it appears he’ll be moving to Georgia.  This is causing Reg III (that be me) to consider repaitriation to my beloved Georgia. (Strangely, Reg IV isn’t mad keen on that idea)  There’s still lots happening on the Asian tour; I’ve signed my contract and even been issued a medivac card and a time sheet, but the trip has been postponed so many times I’ll probably not announce my departure until I’m at the airport, waiting for the plane. 

Here at home, there’s lots to do.  When I returned home, boxes of new Polaroid treasures were awaiting me from eBay.  I’m going to embark this week on a spring cleaning of the house.  The outside of the house has been pressure washed and the trim painted, and the deck pressure washed and resealed.  New front porch lights are going up this week.  I’ve got car issues to deal with (big surprise); two of the Lincolns need servicing and one needs to be picked up from detailing, so a trip to Lincoln Land is in order.  I need to check on IV’s BMW as well, which is vacationing in Florida at the present time.  Courtesy of my friend Janet, who is presently in Kentucky for the Derby, I’ve got a 20 riding on the favorite, a horse named Big Brown, which previously won the Florida derby.  Janet informed me I was destined to bet on that one. 

And life goes on in the Sunshine State. 

A Day At Fort Benning

I’ve just returned from the graduation ceremony for Reg IV and the Fort Benning tour we took following the ceremony.  It is a picture perfect day here in Georgia, and here are a few perfect pictures to prove it.   (you can click on the photos to enlarge them)

In front of the building where the graduation was held:

The backdrop on stage at the ceremony:

And, since the lighting and distances didn’t permit photos during the ceremony, some additional shots around Fort Benning.  The first photo is where FOB was performed.  These tents are heated and air conditioned, and showers are provided…just as in the field.

My favorite sign (we should have positioned the Lincoln crossways behind it):

And of course, the graduate himself:

In due course, I’ll be posting more photos online to my Facebook account and my online photo album.

The Road North

Another busy week is shaping up here at Florida headquarters.  Tuesday morning, I’m setting out for Brunswick, to swap one car for another.  (I keep cars at my warehouse space in Brunswick, for those of you who have forgotten) From there, it’s across the state to Fort Benning Georgia, on Wednesday.  Reg IV is graduating from his first officer training class on Thursday morning, and Proud Dad (figuratively and literally) will be there.   

Friday morning, IV is flying back to Michigan for the weekend, with his mother, and then he’ll return next Tuesday to Augusta Georgia, and report to Fort Gordon for his second officer training school.  Friday morning I too am continuing on to Michigan, by automobile, as I need to conduct some “bidness” there and fetch some things back home to Florida.  I plan on it being a very brief visit to Michigan, and yes, I have carefully examined the weather forecast to determine there’s no chance of snow.  I plan to be sitting back here again in the Florida sunshine by one week from today, hopefully with some nice photos from the Fort Benning ceremony for posting.

Pants Day In Florida

Well, we’ve had a couple of unseasonably cool days here in Florida, and as a result, yesterday I had to wear pants. 

Just to clarify, normal attire here in Florida is shorts.  You can go most anywhere in shorts, a tropical shirt, and dock shoes, and I know that because I have.  But with afternoon temperatures yesterday in the low to mid 60s, shorts just weren’t enough.  So I had to put on pants, as in long pants. 

After years of wearing, without minding it, suits and ties, it is amazing these days how much of a nuisance just wearing pants has become.  Because pants start you down that slippery slope…once you’re in pants, you really need to wear socks too.  And socks have become a more complex endeavour for me these days, given that I, owing to a combination of age and let’s face it, too much pie,  can no longer reach my left foot on a regular basis.  Apparently I’m asymmetrical though, as I have no trouble reaching my right foot.  Given that I am a trendsetter (I have a rich fantasy life) I considered briefly attempting to set the trend of wearing a sock only on the right foot, but I suspect that rather than a trend being born, I’d just be branded another crazy old fat guy.  But I digress…

So I struggled into that left sock, got some dress shoes on (further down that slippery slope, and a story for another day) and decided a reward was in order.  So now that I’m decked out in pants and shoes, what comes to mind?  Upscale dining of course.  Yes, the wearing of pants opens new doors of opportunity, even in Florida.

Previously I posted a story about my eating tour of St. Petersburg, eating down Central Ave. towards downtown.  The problem is, as you get closer to downtown, you encounter business people…you know the type…people in pants, people with jobs.  And frankly, I was a little out of place in my shorts and tropical shirt attire.  So sporting my pants, it seemed the ideal opportunity to try another new restaurant, one a bit more upscale in clientele and decor.  As a result, I dined at Savannah’s.

My instincts were good on this, when I entered I was surrounded everywhere by people in pants.  I fit right in.  Even better, Savannah’s is Southern food.  And Southern food encompasses all things good.  Having previously studied the menu online,  Link to Savannah’s Menu    I had my mouth all set for Shrimp and Grits. But it was not to be, as my waitress regaled me with the specials, one of which was country fried chicken, with peppered gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and fresh baked warm cornbread.  In other words, the chicken version of that other Southern favorite, country fried steak.  As connoisseurs of Southern food know, anything that begins with “country fried” is, well, a really good thing.  One of my favorite red wines,J Lohr , was poured by the glass, and life was good.  The only real glitch in the program…in my Georgia, I wouldn’t need pants to go eat food like this. 

Savannah’s also has mint juleps; I saw one go by my table that looked very good.  But mint julep is a warm day drink…I’ll go back on a warm day and have one on the porch outside in the sunshine.  I’ll need some light weight pants.

 

Home Again in Florida

I’ve just returned from my Georgia trip; a grand weekend at Fort Benning with Reg IV, followed by two nights in Brunswick, which meant two nights at Spankys.   I stopped at the post office on the way back to the house and there were so many Polaroid packages, courtesy of eBay, that it was just like Christmas.

Now I need a nap.

And here’s a photo of Reg IV at work…

Georgia On My Mind

I’m off tomorrow (Friday) to spend the weekend at Fort Benning with Reg IV.  From there, next Monday, I’m heading over to Brunswick to root through some of my stuff, and have my fingerprints done for the renewal of my security clearance.  It looks like 80 degree weather there, same as here in Florida. 

My Polaroid Dreams, Part I

I am convinced there is a collector gene.  Of course, all who know me know about my collecting cars.  But not many know that cars aren’t the only things I collect.  It’s time to own up to it…I’m a Polanut, and have been since I was a child.  And I have lots more Polaroid cameras than I do cars. 

As I wrote previously, Polaroid has announced that they are getting out of the film business, triggering me to get out and gather things Polaroid.  My Polahunt went well the other day; my fridge is now filling up with Polaroid film.  Good to put the fridge to some use, since red wine doesn’t require refrigeration there’s seldom much of anything in there.  I even managed to score a couple more cameras too. 

Like the collection of vintage automobiles, this obsession makes little practical sense.  It is, though, a lot cheaper than collecting automobiles, as many of the older Polaroid models are available in venues like eBay for a song….with a couple of exceptions, you can own virtually every model of Polaroid camera ever made for a grand total of about $28, plus shipping.   The most I’ve ever spent on my Polaroid hobby has been in the last few days, as I gather the last remaining supplies of film. 

And of course, owning every Polaroid ever made is the direction I seem to be heading….all the once expensive Polaroids I  lusted after as a teen are now stuffed in boxes in my closets.  Cameras which sold 30+ years ago for close to $200 can now be owned for $5-$10.  And own them I do.  And unlike many collectors, who just display the things, I want to use them.  I hunt down the odd size batteries, available now only from third world countries, put film in them, and see a picture magically appear before my eyes. 

And yes, they’re crappy pictures.  Let’s face it, Polaroids have never been as good as 35mm and now digital.  My old cars use more gas and are less reliable than a new one too.  What’s your point?  Anyone can drive a new Toyota.  Anyone can snap a perfect digital photo.  Old things require involvement.  You have to work at it.   But your work is rewarded with the memories old things bring back. 

In the next installment of My Polaroid Dreams, I’ll share some of my cameras and photos.

Last Tango In Florida

Well, another winter season has come to an end for the Brown clan, leaving me alone in Florida to hold down the fort until next winter.  The final visits were from Mike and Karey Adams, their daughter Theresa, with hubby Steve and son Alex. 

We made it again to my two favorite beach restaurants, the Conch Republic to celebrate Karey’s birthday and for me, to enjoy Bananas Foster after my Lent imposed abstinence from dessert; and the Salt Rock Cafe, just because we could.

             

And one final photo, of some of the boys out on the town.

The Polahunt

In a day or so, I’ll have another story up, with photos, of the Last Tango in Florida, the week here before the last of the Browns departed for the frozen North.  In the meantime, there are fresh photos posted in my Facebook album, the link to which I e-mailed the other day.

But I’m on a mission today…to clean out the remaining supplies of Polaroid film, particularly Spectra film which is almost gone, from the Walgreens and CVS stores around town.  I bagged 4 rolls of Spectra this morning before breakfast.  (For those who don’t know,  Polaroid is leaving the film business forever, and prices on online venues of things Polaroid are skyrocketing)

I’ll write more about my “Polaroid dreams” at a later date.  For now, I’m out spinning the steering wheel on that Town Car as fast as my fat little fingers will move.  The Polahunt is on.