Checking in...

There’s no outstanding news, which is probably a good thing: “No news is good news.”

The temperature is a bit below average (75F), being 60s during the day and 40s – 50s overnight. However, the sun makes it feel quite a bit warmer than the temp.

The first thing I do in the morning is check the temp in Orillia, so I know about the -1C and snow. I also know about the -15C and snow in Manitoba, so I’m not complaining about the cool temps here.

I must say I’m pampered, here. My table at Sluggers has a “reserved” sign on it so I always have a seat regardless of how busy it might be. My room is cleaned while I’m out for breakfast (9:00 – 11:00) so I’m not disturbed while I’m writing, and I can order anything off the menu (within reason).

Because of the cool weather I haven’t wandered away from the hotel. I do want to get across the street to see if they have made any progress on the archaeological dig they started last year–the foundation of a 17th century church. I was lucky enough to photograph a corner of it last fall. Fascinating stuff.

I’m writing steadily. I would like to finish this draft before Christmas so that I can start getting it ready for the publisher by late February. I’m getting stale with this story, so I want to get on with the next one: “The Brit, Kid Cupid, and Petunia.” It’s a light comedy, so it will be a change of pace.

I also want to visit some of the attractions here in St. Augustine–the fort, and alligator farm–and I have my regular driver and friend, Kerry Sullivan (a good, red-haired Irishman), at the ready. Will post pictures when I do.

To all of my friends in the northern hemisphere, stay warm.

Will write again, soon.

Gerry B.

Addendum: The archaeological dig from last year.

This plaque describes what is known about the previously undiscovered building. It is thought to have been undertaken by Simón de Anda y Salazar, Governor of Florida from 1674 – 1680. He seems to have been a rather controversial figure who was eventual relieved of his duties.

Here are a few pictures of the portion of the foundation that has been discovered so far. The light stone if coquina (petrified sea shells).

And if that wasn’t enough, I also discovered there is an entire centre dedicated to the Burnies at McGill University in Montreal, i.e.  http://burneycentre.mcgill.ca/bio_james.html.  So altogether is has been a full day.

Gerry's marvellous adventure...

Well, it’s that time of year when the ‘snowbirds’ fly south, and me along with them.

As usual, the trip was an adventure.  The shuttle from Orillia to Toronto was lovely and new, but obviously not designed for handicaps or seniors. To get on board there was a double sliding-door with nothing to hang onto. Now, why a passenger vehicle needed a double door I don’t know, but with a little ingenuity I managed to get on and off.

The hotel was relatively close to the airport and comfortable, but the restaurant left an lot to be desired. I ordered pot roast, which consisted of two pieces of meat in brown gravy, but the worst part was the service. It took a good fifteen minutes to clear the plates.

The flight out of Toronto was idyllic, and the airline personal couldn’t have been more helpful. However, when I reached Philadelphia it was another story. The gal shuttling me to what I thought was my next gate was an absolute mad woman! She sped through the hallways cackling inanely and scattering people in her path, until we got to our destination–a bus stop to the next terminal! Now, these are regular buses I’m talking about, without a handicap lift. In addition, they once again had double doors with nothing to hang onto.

To top off this experience, the attendants at the gate were surly verging on rude. I told one of them that I needed a yellow valet tag for my walker (so that it would be brought to me when I reached Jacksonville), only to be told rather officiously that they used blue tags in Philadelphia. (More information than I needed.)

Once I arrived in Jacksonville, however, and my friend Kerry met me at the airport, I knew I was at home.

At “Sluggers,” my favourite restaurant in St. Augustine, everyone was on had to welcome me back like a long lost son, and–apart from the cool weather–it’s  been that way ever since.

Here’s a pic of the St. Augustine “Festival of Lights” that began last night.

Words for teenagers and lazy adults ... "Get a job"

This may be the Rosetta Stone of child rearing.

Northland College principal John Tapene has offered the following words from a judge who regularly deals with youth. "Always we hear the cry from teenagers 'what can we do, where can we go?'

"My answer is this: Go home, mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, built a raft, get a job, visit the sick, study your lessons and after you've finished, read a book. YOUR TOWN DOES NOT OWE YOU A RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND YOUR PARENTS DO NOT OWE YOU FUN.

"The world does not owe you a living, you owe the world something. You owe your time, energy and talent so that no one will be at ward, in sickness and lonely again. In other words grow up, stop being a cry baby, get out of your dream world and develop a backbone not a wishbone. Start behaving like a responsible person. You are important and you are needed. It's too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday. Someday is no and that somebody is you!"

Thank you, Dalton McGuinty. My "Seniors' Property Tax Grant" gave me a good laugh!

The other day I received my Seniors' Property Tax Grant, the program that Dalton "Father Goose" McGuinty touted as being such a benevolence for seniors. Of course he didn't mention that the very first thing he did when he took office was the rescind Ernie Eves' property tax exemption for seniors. McGuinty has a talent for forgetting things like that. Anyway, here's how my benevolent tax grant worked out on a property tax bill of $2,000:

Basic grant: $500.00

Less: Reduction for income: $477.00

Net grant: $23.00 

Okay. It's something, and I suppose I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but compare this to what the McGuinty government provides for a child.

• A basic, no-questions-asked annual grant of $2,500 per child.
• A per-month child benefit payment
• Dental expenses
• subsidized child care
• etc., etc.

Oh, I guess I needn't mention he has two, school-age children of his own.

After much thought I've decided to donate my $23.00 to one of the opposition parties.

Scarborough shootings: Rob Ford’s response to gang crime gets cool reception from premier...

Toronto Star, July 18, 2012.


The headline was with regard to the unprecedented shooting of two people, fatally, and the wounding of 23 more. Since then there have been four more shootings in The City of Toronto.


Naturally, Mayor Rob Ford is angry and upset with this level of violence and wants to call an end to it, so he has called upon the premier, Dalton McGuinty, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper for assistance. We haven't heard from Stephen Harper, but McGuinty's response was fairly typical for him.


In the above mentioned new story he is quoted as saying, “It’s a time for us to be reflective and not reflexive,” McGuinty said during a stop in his Ottawa riding Thursday."


He is also quoted as saying, "Political leaders should not so much to come to the table with demands of each other, but rather questions for ourselves that we need to ask.”


In other words, the most that is likely to come out of these meetings is talk--McGuinty's general approach to things. Mind you, he's quick to move if there's the prospect of votes to be had. Case in point: The moving of a generating plant from Mississauga (at a cost to taxpayer of $190M) to save votes in that city.

Welcome to the home of my new blog

I found that my  posts on Wordpress didn't look right when published--not the way I had composed them, anyway--so from now on I'll be posting my personal stuff here.

If you're following the other blog, please switch to this one.

Hope to see you often.

Gerry B.