NOTL

Review of Historic Wishing Well cottage at NOTL (apologies...many of the pics did not post!)

One of the reasons we come to Niagara on the lake every year is because of its theatrical connection.  We were surprised to see this cottage also had so many connections to the movies!!We stayed at this historic Inn because our usual place down the road was booked and we must say it was an adventure!  I’d like to pass on some of the highlights of our stay to help you make your decision before renting.  First, check in time is 5:00, which is kind of late for most people, but if you happen to arrive early, you might possibly get lucky enough to meet some of the staff.  We had a brief but pleasant conversation with the man cutting the lawn.  He was certainly kind, but just a warning, he is difficult to understand.  I think it’s because it must be difficult to talk with so few teeth.  I’m not sure but I think he mentioned that he plays the banjo
.

 Don’t get discouraged when you first approach the house.  You might initially think it’s not there, but if you look closely you will see it amongst the vines and weeds. If you listen carefully as you walk up the front path, you might be able to hear a far off whisper, "In the jungle you must wait, until the dice roll 5 or 8".

If you look carefully you can see our car...the house is to the right of the car.

 vines covered our car in the driveway

By the time we got to the front door I swear Lou’s bead had grown 3 inches and his clothes looked a little different!

Upon first entering the house you will notice the original wood floor from the late 1800’s.  Don’t be put off by the small holes you will see. They are not this kind of hole.

 And after all, the Borrowers have to have a place to come out at night. They don’t end up taking much.

 

 The owner really wanted to keep the house decorated in period pieces.  I’m pretty sure the candies left at the welcome table dated back to the 1970’s  making of the movie, Willy Wonka,  so be sure to leave them so other guests can view them as well.

Because of the theatrical nature of NOTL, I think the owner wanted to include some conversation pieces so I think I heard that the material for the leopard skin futon was made out of the coat Mrs. Robinson wore in the graduate.

The kitchen is a little funky.  I’m pretty sure that they hid the oven behind the kitchen table and floor tiles because it was the original one from the movie The Brave Little Toaster and they wanted to protect it from getting used…I mean damaged.

Oh and if you don’t mind the vines, you can spend some time outside in one of the many sitting areas. The vines didn’t bother us too much, except we haven’t seen Bob in a while.  We assume he’s just still out there exploring. 

note this is the entrance to the back door. You can see the railing to the staircase and just make out the steps.

And there is an unlimited amount of pesto in the backyard pesto pond.  At first look, it might just seem like algae, but we heard that a pesto pizza would be a great after theatre meal!

There is a rumor that the movie, The Swamp Monster was filmed there but I’m not sure if that’s ever been substantiated.

Well we hope our review has been helpful.  We certainly enjoyed our stay at NOTL…I think!!

Gulfport Review

Gulfport is a cute little town reminiscent of an old hippy beach town.  Much of it is ‘tired’ looking but that doesn’t seem to keep people away.  One of the plusses is the beach.  It’s on the bay side of the gulf.  The beach isn’t crowded and the water is warm. There are cute bench swings along the beach as well as shelters.  One day we had a group of woman ask if they could share our shelter and there was lots of good food and interesting conversation!  They were very thankful that Miss Joanne and Miss Joanne’s husband were willing to share their shelter!! You will recognize the “regulars” who are at the shame shelter or spot every day. J The peer is a fun walk.  Another plus is the restaurants.  I think we ate at every place and didn’t have a bad meal anywhere.  (Reviews  below!) The people-watching is great!  Loved the nightlife!  It was fun sitting at a street or beach side restaurant with a glass of wine listening to someone play guitar or sing and dance.  Lots of interesting people!  There are lots of cute shops and on Tuesday there is an outdoor market that was lots of fun! Make sure you are here for a Tuesday. There is a casino (not in the gambling sense, but a meeting place) where they have dancing lessons.  Fun to watch.   If you are looking for a big town or nicer hotels it’s not the place for you. If you just want a small town with good restaurants, small beach and good people, you will enjoy it.   It’s not far from St Pete’s or Tampa if you are looking for a big beach or town.

We rented bikes from ABC bike shop and biked along the Pinellas trail. The trail, created along an abandoned railroad corridor is a fun ride.  We thought it would be more scenic though.  There are some parks along the way to stop at if you want. Loved the signs saying “DON’T molest the alligators!!”  Good turtle watching too.   We biked to St Petersburg and had lunch.  There are overpasses over the highways so you can get a bit of hill training in.

We ran most days.  There is a small park on either end of the town.  Wood ibis Park is north of town.  It was interesting seeing the different houses along the way.  There are some nice ones, and some not-so-nice ones-sometimes right next door to each other!!  Clam Bayou is east of town close to the marina.  It’s a nice place to run or walk.  There are little lookout points to observe the water, water life and birds.  We saw several osprey nests. Very cool.

One day Lou golfed in Tampa with his friend Bob and I had lunch and shopped and in Hyde Park with the girls.  It’s a fun place to spend an afternoon.

We also spent a day at St Pete’s beach.  It’s a great beach with cabanas to rent.  Parking is insane though.  We lucked out because we stopped at a little restaurant to eat lunch and the waitress let us keep our car there while we went to the beach. We had dinner at a very good restaurant called the Red Messa Cantina.  Then walked and found a cute outside bar where we sat and listened to music.

We were there 10 days so we tried quite a few restaurants.

Pia’s Trattoria-a bit more upscale than most places.  Cute atmosphere and good Italian food. A bit pricy

Little Tommies Tiki-casual. great view of the beach and great fish and chips and key lime pie

O’Maddy-we were told this was the “happenin’ place” J Good food and view of the beach. You might have to wait for a table.  It’s always crowded.

Fish- Aptly names!  Also a bit more upscale.  We went a few times!  I think this was our favorite. The daily fish special was very good with excellent sides.  But the shrimp was the best!  They were huge and you could get them by the half or whole pound. One time we made a meal just out of them.  We also enjoyed the tuna nachos. Owners come out and chat. Great outdoor seating and they have entertainment some nights.

Mangia Gourmet-good food. They also have a good breakfast.  Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free options.  Open mike night on Thursday evenings was fun.

Neptune Grill-Good greek food.  Nice view of the beach.

Manatees-We really enjoyed the upstairs deck.  Beautiful breezes and views.  Food was good.

We also went to a Yankees exhibition game.  The Yankees lost!  The traffic going was terrible!!

Jeff and Clare joined us for few days.  Lou and Jeff got in several days of golfing and Clare and I shopped and sat on the beach.

We stayed at The Historic Peninsula Inn. I would not recommend it! If you are interested in our review it is below.

The location is excellent; Close to the beach and plenty of great restaurants. Gulfport is a small town reminiscent of an old hippy beach town. Bed was comfy and sheets and towels were soft and welcoming. Staff was helpful when asked. The breakfast was very good although our stay was 10 days and we would have appreciated a little variety. The inn is a 100 year old building and therefore some "character" is to be expected, but we found the building "tired" looking and in need of some updating...Little things, like a coat of paint on the ceiling of the porch and floor boards goes along way and is easy to do. We frequently stay at Inns or bed and breakfasts and actually look forward to the charm and character of an older, historic building. This one left us a bit disappointed. Our room was on the ground floor and I would not recommend it. To get to our room you needed to walk through the office. We were very uncomfortable doing this. Once there was even a delivery that was left partially blocking our door. Also there was an exit door in our room, that could not be used as there was no way to open from the outside and there was a screw driver holding it closed. Very tacky. There was also an extremely bright exit sign over the door. (see photo) It did not give the room a comfortable feeling. Some of the blinds did not have cords so could not be opened. We wanted to be able to enjoy the Florida sunshine. Some half curtains and valances would go a long way to make the room more homey. I had to wind up the over 5 ft of cable cord so i wouldn’t keep tripping over it. For the price we paid we were disappointed. Our friends stayed on the 3rd floor and their room was much better. I did get to see other rooms while the maid was cleaning and they did appear nicer. Maid service was spotty. Some days good, but some days the blankets were just tossed over the pillows and garbage not emptied. I understand that the inn has a relatively new owner and that she has made some improvements. Hopefully that will continue

One day Clare and I were sitting on the porch after breakfast planning out our day and a man walked up and asked us about the Inn.  Two and a half hour later he was on his way!  We had a fascinating chat about running, triathlons, life, death, aging, health, wellness and everything in between.  Turns out Donald B. Ardell has been one of the leading figures in the wellness movement for four decades. He is the author of numerous books and articles on wellness, and is been a popular speaker on wellness-related topics.  He recited a very moving speech written by Robert Ingersoll called THE LOTUS CLUB SPEECH.  It is definitely worth a read/listen and can listen to Donald reading it here. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/312226186636961701/

Donald has also earned distinction as a senior athlete. He is considered one of the fastest runners in the world in his age class. He has also been a perennial All-American triathlete and duathlete, winning national titles in both sports. He has also won four World Triathlon Championships. We thought Lou and Jeff would enjoy meeting him and since he invited us to stop by and visit him we did!  He and his wife have a beautiful condo and welcomed us into their home. They joined us later for coffee and dessert at open mic night at Mangia Gourmets!  This just gives you another picture into the type of people you might meet in Gulfport!!

Does the Time Bother You? 1/2017

DOES THE TIME BOTHER YOU??!!

Pink Floyd

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Lou’s Uncle Dave, (affectionately called “Unc”) is celebrating a milestone birthday this week. I won’t give his age away, but let’s just say it’s worth recognition!!

We thought hard and long on the best gift to get him to mark this milestone! One thought was to get him a clock that didn’t have to be reset for daylight savings time.  We usually visit about twice a year and Unc waits for us to come so Lou can get the ladder from the next door neighbor, take the clock down from the wall, and adjust it to the correct time.  (He spends about half the year with his clock an hour off either way, waiting for us to come.) 

A little research on the internet uncovered something called AN ATOMIC clock.  Who knew??  When I hear the word ATOMIC, I conjure up visions of bombs and radiation.  At the very least, Einstein, electrons and splitting atoms! YIKES!  I’m already out of my comfort zone!!  Apparently these clocks have been around since the 1940’s.  (Dave were you around then??)  J

I read several articles on how an atomic clock works, but to be honest, I don’t get it.  I found this info in an article for kids.

An atomic clock is a very good clock that works with atoms, as opposed to most other clocks which are mechanical. The frequency comes from the crossing radiation of electrons. Atomic clocks are currently the most exact clocks of the world. They are also called primary clocks.^[1]

Most clocks know what time it is because they count how many times something moves back and forth. Atomic clocks count how many time an atom wiggles back and forth. Most atomic clocks use an atom of cesium.

http://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Atomic_clock

UM…written for kids huh?  I’m going to go with it’s “a good clock”.  And apparently these clocks are always accurate because they respond to a radio frequency that comes from Colorado. (At least in our hemisphere) These signals are used with GPS’s, satellites, computers and even our cell phones.  Again…who knew??

Amazon helped us find "a good" atomic clock.  We were excited for its arrival.  We had to watch a you-tube video to learn how to set it up!

Again…out of our comfort zone!! There were buttons to push while it faced a west window. One of several things could happen once you set it up. It would either go right to the correct time…or not.  Ours did not. The directions said that if it stopped at 4 o’clock, then it might need to be placed in a west facing window for 3-5 days to wait for it to pick up the signal from Colorado! Um…if the signal was out there, why wasn’t it picking it up? How was it traveling?? Why so slow? Is radiation being transmitted through my house?  We were staring to think we got ripped off.  So west facing window it was.  Several times a day I found myself staring at it willing it to change!  Nothing!  Such stress!  Change darn you!! When the 5^th day arrived we couldn’t wait to check the clock.  NOTHING.  Back to you-tube.  More buttons to push and closer to the window.  We were beginning to think this whole thing was a joke. What next?  Jump up and down while holding a rubber chicken? Then…magic! (Or science)  It changed! Amazing!! And it will never have to be changed for daylight savings time.  It should (fingers crossed) change based on this mysterious signal from Colorado. 

Someday I want to visit this mysterious clock in Colorado.  I wonder what it’s like? Is it big?  Pretty? Mechanical looking?  Will I get radiation poisoning?

So for now, we just stare at our atomic clock. I hope when the time comes I’ll be able to hand it over to Unc.  We’ve considered keeping it. After all, we’ve been through a lot together!

Does the Time Bother you, by George Carlin 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M5eG-aywZQ

South Carolina

 

5 things said to us in the last few days that make us suspect that people are thinking we’re old.

 

1.       I gave you the senior discount for your lunch.

(hmmm… at least one of needs quite a few years before that applies)

2.       Oh are you going out for a little walk?

(We were headed out for an 8 mile run… and that wasn’t our long run for the week)

3.       You can’t walk there from here. It’s almost a mile

(See #2)

4.       If you had a smart phone you could google it.

(Fact is we probably had smartphones before she did. I won’t bring up the fact that when we got ours, she was probably too young to own a phone yet)

5.       I’ll put you on the first floor so you don’t have to carry your things very far.

(All those hours in the gym lifting for nothing!)

 

 

Well we’ve earned every grey hair and wrinkle! So, we’ll accept the discount, and first floor room. We will bask in the glory of the run. We will enjoy the fact that we’ve been the only people using the hotel gym, and we will use the free earbuds to listen to music on our iPhones while doing it. Life is short so if we’ve been around a little longer to enjoy it, we consider ourselves blessed! Pass the Geritol baby!

we ran across this bridge every morning. It's 5 miles across and about 1mile run from the hotel. It's a fun but hilly and windy run!

chin ups and sit ups at the end of the run

 Note the bridge in the background.

Teacher "stuff" (quite an oldie but since I haven't added anything in a long time I figured it was better than nothing!!)

The Teacher That I Am

Joanne Katz 2009

It’s August. The sun is shining and I am sitting on my pool deck covered in suntan lotion with lemonade and a good book.  I’m reflecting on the teacher that I am vs. the teacher that I’d planned on becoming.  Today…I’m thinking that I haven’t turned out too badly.  Let’s see:

I’m always calm and even-tempered:25 9 year olds high on Halloween candy don’t make me crazy. I’m able to get through the day before Christmas vacation with the same restraint that I show on any other day.

I’m patient: I give each child the time he/she needs. I don’t feel that they have to fit the mold. I change the mold for each child.  I see standardized tests for what they are: Bench marks that will help us see where we need to go.

I’m fair and caring: I don’t ever have favorites.  I respect each child for who and what they are and there are no children that annoy or irritate me.  Each child knows that they are important and valued.

I’m fun and creative: I can always come up with activities that the kids enjoy while still managing to cover the curriculum.  After all, if the kids want to be here, they will learn more.

I’m prepared and organized: No matter how crazy my life gets or how many committees I am asked to be on, I always take the time to prepare well in advance for each day.  I keep myself organized because organization is a vital skill for life. If I don’t model it, how can I expect my students to learn it?  I owe that to my kids!  They shouldn’t have to pay for the craziness of my life!

I’m informed and up-to-date:  I take the time to attend every staff development opportunity I can.  I read current journals and texts that apply to my curriculum.  That way I can be sure to give the kids the best possible opportunities.

Like I said, I haven’t turned out too badly…because it’s August, and this is the teacher I see.  But of course that’s not the whole truth.  That’s why July and August were created-so teachers can reflect, regroup and plan for a brand new year; one where I haven’t made any mistakes…yet.  One where there is still potential.  Hopes, dreams, plans!! If it were June, I would be seeing a different teacher.  That June teacher is one who is focused on missed opportunities, one who is second guessing herself, time running out, could-a, should-a, would-a.  One who should calm down and slow down. One with a lot of regrets.

But that’s not the whole truth either. I know that now, because July and August give me back something that I only discover when I have this time; the kind of time where I can slow down and calm down. The kind of time where I can read all those notes and cards from students and parents.  The kind of notes from a student that say, “I never felt like I could do math before I had you.” Or the note that comes years later that says, “You were the first teacher who said it was OK to be me.” It’s the time when I run into a parent in the aisle of a store and they get teary as they tell me that the time their child spent with me was a turning point in their lives; how I was different because I cared and let them know.  That’s why July and August were created. So I could leave that June teacher behind and become that September teacher once again; the one who can take the time to stop and smell the smell of new crayons.  I can do that because it’s August and sun shine, suntan lotion, lemonade and a good book offer a filter and rose colored glasses.  And I have notes and store visits.  I can get excited about the future, and plan, and reflect back on the teacher that I am.  I am thinking that I did not turn out too bad.  (Or is it badly??)  J

Pretty soon it will be September and it will be time to get going.  The smell of new crayons is calling me!!

♪ ♫ Someday I’m gonna be famous….do I have talent? Well…no! ♪ ♫

♪ ♫ Someday I’m gonna be famous….do I have talent?  Well…no!  ♪ ♫(Brad Paisley)

                                                      by j

I remember the first time I made the discovery. I remember the exact moment. I don’t know how old I was, but I am guessing it was around 10.  We were at the Ice Capades. My family didn't do a lot of things that cost money but my dad loved the Ice Capades, or got discount tickets through work, so we went several times growing up.  I remember standing in the hallway holding my coat in front of some dividers. Other spectators were rushing by. We backed up so we weren't in their way. I could see in between the dividers and hear what was going on.  I moved closer to check it out.  Skaters were getting ready.  They were looking in mirrors, fixing costumes, checking make-up, hugging, and giggling with excitement and nervousness.  The costumes were frilly and flashy. They practiced poses and moves. They were poised and confident and giddy! I was captivated and so drawn in that it felt like I was part of the scene! These days I sometimes struggle to remember what I had for breakfast, but I remember with clarity that exact moment when I said, “I want to do that!”  Not, that I wanted to be a skater, but that I wanted to do…that!  I wanted to be one of the people who looked in the mirror, checked my costume and make-up, hugged my fellow performers and giggled out of excitement and nervousness! I wanted to feel the confidence that comes out of knowing that I was well prepared. I wanted to wear things I would never dream of wearing and say things I would never dream of saying in front of people I would never know or have to explain myself to.  The only problem was…well… talent!

I found a way in high school.  Talent was still as issue.  While I had some minor roles, I eventually discovered directing. That did it.  I got to be one of those people behind the divider!  We laughed, we hugged we were confident and nervous and excited and ready! I helped with flashy and frilly costumes and fix make-up. (And even wore some myself)Those times were so memorable!

Again, I found a way through teaching.  For the past ten years I've been the drama club director at my school. Along with a group of fourth and fifth graders, we laughed, we hugged, we were confident and nervous and excited and ready!  There were flashy and frilly outfits and lots of make-up. Again…memorable times! 

This year was my last year as director.  I take with me so many happy memories!  Somehow I know it’s not entirely over!  It’s just time to move on!! Time to find another way to express my non-talent!!  J I wonder what’s behind the next divider!

Tri-ing Times!!

So, all triathletes have gone through the trials and tribulations of learning all that goes with being a triathlete: Getting in /out of a wet suit without imitating the Tasmanian Devil, getting on/off bike without falling , clipping bike shoes on/off , remembering to remove goggles when transitioning to bike, and so on. So I shouldn't have been surprised that selecting and using nose plugs for swimming would be so complicated. First, there are several types to choose from, ranging in price from about $3-$6. One had a strap that went around your head to secure it. I used to wear one of those for my glasses (dork alert) as a young teen and still bear the scars of taunts and spit balls from every kid who ever sat behind me in Junior high. Obviously the only choice was to buy the most expensive one, because we all know the most expensive one is always the best. So in the pool I go! It only takes about 5 minutes to figure out how to wear it. Surprisingly, it doesn't go in your nose, but on the outside and

pinches your nostrils shut! Who knew?? Off I go. After 1.5 laps it’s gone! I find it floating 2 lanes away. Fortunately, I was the only one in the pool. So I reapply it differently. This works well for 2 whole laps and then…floats off.  After lots of experimentation, I manage to go 3-4 laps prior to losing the plug. I was getting pretty good at swimming with one hand on nose and one in water. Is there a Jewish nose version?? BTW, no sneezing yet, so in spite of all the stress…SUCCESS!!