What Now? Oh-oh!

We are watching this new winter storm with great interest. Wouldn't you know it would come just as we plan to leave on Thursday. Oh well, that's why we are going to Florida, right?

It looks to be moving pretty fast so hopefully it will get by us and cleaned up before we leave. There are many weather warnings for Port Huron, Detroit and Toledo but nothing for Ontario... yet.
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Loadin' Up The Truck

As we approach our Florida departure date, our Buick is getting heavier and heavier...

1923 Buick or Olds Truck   (click picture to enlarge)  

CLICK HERE to listen to the theme song.

"So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly..."
Actually I feel more than a bit of an attachment to the '23 Buick truck that was the Beverly Hillbillies' mode of transportation to California back in the 60's. You see, 1923 was the last year that Buick made a truck until 79 years later when they started making the 2002 Buick Rendezvous crossover SUV that I will be driving to Florida now. (and mine too is getting closer to antique status at 12 years) The year of the hillbillies truck (1923) was also the year that both Wendy's Dad and my Dad were born. (they'd be 90 this year) You can read about the fabulous old truck if you CLICK HERE

Southern Stuff:

If it can't be fried in bacon grease, it ain't worth eating.

Remember: "Y'all" is singular. "All y'all" is plural. "All y'all's" is plural possessive.

Don't be worried that you don't understand anyone. They don't understand you either.

If you hear a Southerner exclaim, "Hey, y'all, watch this!" -- stay out of his way. These are likely the last words he will ever say.

If you see a turn signal blinking on a car with a southern license plate, you may rest assured that it was probably on when the car was bought.
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A Catchy Little Tune... Can't Wait!

My friend Hans from near Edmonton sent this along. He said: "Sit back...turn up the speakers....grab a beer or wine....this should be me....!"

Thanks Hans, I love it. I think I'll use it as my theme song in Fort Myers.

 
Speakers up please.
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It's OK Snowbirds. Please Forgive Us.

Florida not expected to enforce international driver’s permit rule

From the department of red tape you didn’t know existed: Canadians are now required by law to have an international driving permit in addition to their regular licences when driving in Florida.

I Don't Trust The B@$%@#&s

"I'm gonna nail this Canuck."

The next legislative session begins in March, and the soonest any change might happen would be July 1, said spokeswoman Kirsten Olsen-Doolan, adding, “We love our Canadians.”

"Until the law is clarified, Canadian drivers found without the permit would technically be considered “driving without a valid licence,” she said.

After you read the article you'll see what I wrote in the comments below the CAA news release today. It's wonderful that the bureaucratic dummies in Florida admit they pulled a boner, but it IS still a law. So the cops won't pull me over for driving without a license? Good!

BUT

Who knows what a gung-ho lawyer for my own insurance company would do with this in court? (driving without a valid license) Duh!

What about a Florida ambulance chaser. Don't you think he just might bring up the fact that my license is invalid in the State of Florida? Duh! (and I understand, in Georgia as well) I may still get one of these stupid things just to be safe, that is if there's any left.

Food for thought...
Tim


ARTICLE:

CAA offers International Driving Permit refunds for Florida travellers

680News staff Feb 15, 2013 09:59:25 AM

• Florida not expected to enforce international driver’s permit rule
• Original article in the Toronto Star

The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) said it’s offering a full refund to travellers who purchased an International Driving Permit (IDP) and passport photos Feb. 13-14.
It all stems from the Florida drivers’ licence issue, where there’s a new law in place stating all tourists have to have an IDP.
Florida police have been ordered not to enforce the law, but despite that, the CAA said it’s still a good idea to have the permit, because the law is still on the books.
But for those who don’t feel they need it, you can bring back the permit and your receipt for a full refund.

CAA comments:

• 

  Tim Carroll (London) says: I’d like to get it in writing from my insurance company that they will pay up if I have an accident in Florida or Georgia while driving without a legal license. It’s all very well and good that the Insurance Bureau of Canada says it would “frown” on any company refusing insurance because of the misguided law, but laws are laws and if the insurance company lawyers can save the company from paying my claim, who will be frowning then? Right, me!
  

  Feb 15, 2013 at 04:33:42 PM
• 

  bobo says: nice move CAA, what a classy operation !!
  

  Feb 15, 2013 at 12:42:28 PM
  
  

UPDATE NOTE: Upon checking it would appear that Georgia accepts out-of-country drivers' licenses as long as they are printed in English. They must have had a real clever lawyer on that one!
http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/dldata.aspx?con=1747371440&ty=dl

UPDATE NOTE: I reluctantly shelled out $50 today (Tues. Feb 19) to buy 2 IDPs for Wendy and I. I hope I won't need them but better safe than sorry. There was a fair line up this morning so I'm not the only one who doesn't trust them. At least I printed our two mug shots on a $2 printer I bought at a garage sale last fall so I didn't have to pay the $30 more for photos.
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Hitching A Ride On The Roof

Lots of exploring around our condo in Fort Myers Beach,

When we go to Florida we will be in a great spot for boating. The challenge for me, ever since we booked, has been how to get our little boat down there and back safely and easily.

The dinghy, when fully inflated is pretty bulky.

I figured the trailer was not an option since the condo we rented for the month does not allow trailers in the parking lot. That and the fact that our little cheap trailer is (in my mind) not to be trusted for a long-distance 3000 mile trip with it's tiny wheels.

After extensive consultation with my buddies David and Bill by telephone, emailed pictures and an earlier meeting during Megan's bridal shower we agreed the best way to accomplish this mission was to strap it up on the roof.  When I showed Wendy my initial plan pictured with the fully inflated boat on the top of the car she declared:"If you put that thing on the roof we will surely spiral off the highway in a deadly and fiery crash!"  Of course as usual I heeded her every word.

Dinghy still on the trailer with the air sucked out.

I worked yesterday reducing our dinghy down to size. I sucked the air out with the foot pump working in reverse and, loaded it on the roof of the car. I could have called my son Tim to help lift, but I wanted to prove I could do this all by myself, since Wendy was emphatic that she wanted no part of this "operation" and I wanted to be sure I could pull it off if I had no help when I got to FL.

Click to enlarge

It looks pretty good don't you think? I have no problem carrying it on the roof of our car so we can enjoy it when we get to Florida. I can't wait. I don't have to tell you, that isn't white sand all over the ground. If we both die in a fiery crash, I guess I'll have to take full responsibility.

Unrelated to this story, when we moved to this house in the 80's we could decorate that tree in the background with lights using a stick to reach the top.
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Adiós Erin, Hasta luego.

Click the picture to enlarge.

 Our daughter Erin leaves this morning on her 7-day vacation at a Puerto Vallarta all-inclusive.  The Air Canada flight took off around 10:30 this morning so I checked on a flight tracker to see how the flight was progressing. Nowadays you can track any flight, minute by minute as it advances on its way.

I was amazed to see that there is around 9000 planes in the air at any given time. My Dad was a WWII pilot and if he was still alive, he would be astounded. Have a safe trip Erin. Let us know how your vacation goes.

Our Crowded Skies.

Where in the World Are They All Going? Worldwide Activity

Europe and North America have the rest of the world beat hands down for shear volume.
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Trying to Fix a Fading Memory. Fail (D+)

Our friends Marg and Bill winter in Florida at Port Charlotte. Marg (my buddy David's sister-in-law) sent this picture of Lady Di seated at a table with two men, one of which is Marg's uncle. I'm guessing the man on the far right is her uncle. We'll see when I meet up with them in Florida. She asked me if I could brighten the picture up.

A bit of an improvement in colour but the clarity suffered. I'll work on it some more but it may be all we can do right now. I've always said though, that you should never discard any pictures because nobody knows what amazing new technology could become available soon. Look how far we have already progressed in a few short years!
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A Thief Caught White Handed

This photo caught Dash hiding under my desk.

Dash is a very nice cat but lately we have been having trouble with his manners. He has been caught more than once on the kitchen counter. This is a serious offense.
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Truly Amazing... This Is Our Future In Medicine.

I strongly believe that the ONLY way that we can hope to receive adequate health care in the future is to adopt many of the cost saving concepts contained in this NBC video:

Thanks to Wendy's cousin Donna for passing this video along. . . 

Another Wedding Coming Up In April.

Wendy and I drove to Brampton, Ontario on the occasion of a bridal shower for the daughter of my old school pal Bill. It was a ladies' day but Wendy won't drive anywhere near Toronto, so I seized the opportunity to visit with another good friend I met in 7th grade, David. We were staying over night at David and Reenie's home with Reenie driving Wendy to the shower.

The guys; being that it was Superbowl Day, got a chance to solve some world problems and tell some tall tales (none of us watch football) while Bill's wife Judy and daughter Megan enjoyed the company of dozens of women at a banquet hall in north west Toronto.
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Recollections of Toronto.

I came across an old postcard from the nineteen twenties depicting the corner of Yonge and Queen streets, which was, and still is considered the main intersection of downtown Toronto. As I worked on transforming it into a magnificent piece of art I began to daydream about downtown Toronto. I remember my mother treating my sister and I to a mini tour. I believe it was around 1960 so I was 11 or 12 and my sister Pat was about 6 or 7.

I'll update this when I finish, but I wanted you to see it. Yonge and Queen over 80 years ago. (sounds like a long time, but I was first there with my Mom and sister over 50 years ago.) Notice no traffic lights yet. A traffic cop with a "STOP/GO" sign stands at the bottom right just over my signature. Click picture to enlarge.

I don't remember the reason for our trip to Toronto, (probably shopping) how we got there, (probably by train to Union Station) how long we were there, or where we stayed, but I do remember the highlights of the trip included riding on the fairly new Toronto subway, Eglinton was the end of the line and there was only 12 stops including Union Station. (now 69 stations) We took an elevator to the observation deck atop of the Bank of Commerce building and went to Eaton's and Simpson's at the corner of Yonge and Queen streets. At that time and until about 1962 the Bank of Commerce building was the tallest building in the British empire with 37 stories. Subways, elevators, escalators and huge buildings and stores. What an exciting day we had with Mom. A few years later our family moved from North Bay to the outskirts of Toronto, in Long Branch. There I finished public school, went to high school and later the Ontario College of Art. The family left Toronto in the late nineteen sixties, and moved back to my place of birth, London, where I still live now.

Original Post Card. Notice most of the colours on this "colourized" card are incorrect. (Woolworth sign shown grey, TTC streetcar shown green, cop's sign, Loew's Yonge Theater not coloured etc

Same intersection from Google map Street View. A "colder" place now, don't you think?

The dirigible R100 passes over the Commerce Building. Before my time. The tallest building in the Commonwealth until 1962.

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