Saturday, April 30, 2016

Towering...


Talking about one of Izzy's places.

This afternoon, she was lounging on the short level of her tower.  Too cute to not capture...








Friday, April 29, 2016

It's a nightmare!


No, not talking about the latest trip to the Post Office.

Really, an actual nightmare.  Joan doesn't talk in her sleep - last night she screamed!  "Jim, help me!"  I sat bolt upright... then, realized she was having a nightmare.

"It's OK, I'm right here..." I talked in a quiet, soothing voice.  She didn't quite wake up, but settled down.  Well, at least one of is getting some sleep.  ;-)

I was just getting back to sleep about 20 minutes later, when... my phone rang.  A phone call in the middle of the night is never good news.  My heart was pounding as I ran for the phone...

"Some SOB from New Jersey!"  And, when I answered it, they hung up.  Yes, I immediately blocked that phone number.  Joan followed me to get the phone.  Izzy came to see what was going on.

I wasn't awake enough before.

Took a while, but I did get back to sleep.  Until I woke up with a start!  Yeah, my turn for a nightmare!  Really.  It was horrifying.  I dreamed I was still working.  No, not the boat captain thing... back in my former career as a photographer.  Every detail was vivid: a mother came in with her two girls for outdoor portraits.  It was scheduled for right before sunset, so the light would be just right.  (No, in the dream, I didn't have an outdoor shooting area when I could control the light - that was real life, this was part of the nightare... but, I digress).  Of course, they were late.  Then, they weren't ready, so the mother had to do their hair.  And, the girls were crying.  Oh, the horror!

On the bright side, by the time they were ready and not crying, it was pitch black outside.  OK, maybe that wasn't so bright.  ;-)

Yeah, I woke up in a cold sweat.

I think I'm gonna need a nap.


Thursday, April 28, 2016

Keeping the world safe for democracy...


Well, keeping our house safe from critters.  Little Isabella is on patrol.  I must have let a fly in when I went out on the deck this morning... Izzy took it right out of the air.  A black bird landed on the railing on our deck... all Izzy had to do was puff up her chest and glare out the window.  The bird beat a hasty retreat.

As long as it isn't a scary human voice, we know we can relax, 'cause Izzy is on patrol.  And looking cute doing it...



Lunch at BurgerFi today.  Heading across the water...


I handed Joan my GoPro.  Let her know that it is really wide angle.  Here is a shot she took of the palm trees as we got to the island...


Our timing was good for lunch - the crowds showed up after we placed our order.  With bellies full, we made a swing by the beach...




Those little things in the sky aren't seagulls, they are kites, flown by the kite surfers.  We sat and watched for a while.  Pretty breezy today, comfortably warm, but the smoke seems less.

A nice day in the Tropical Tip.


Wednesday, April 27, 2016

You know that little voice...


... the one that says, "Age is just a number"?  Yeah, I'm replacing that bastard with a more accurate one - one that says, "It isn't the years, it's the mileage."

Joan asked me if I wanted to go to the store with her.  I replied, "I was thinking about taking the kayaks out."

She said, "I can help you get the Hobie out, if you want to do it before I go to the store."

"Absolutely!"

I really like my Hobie kayak, but it is a beast; best carried with two people instead of trying to lug it around by myself.  Yes, even though it isn't a long way to go from our underneath storage area to our dock.

I put on a long sleeve shirt, put some sun-screen on, grabbed a hat... and then got out my GoPro - just in case any photo opps come up.  It has been months since I've done anything with the GoPro - it is no secret that I don't care much for that clunky little thing.  I turned it on, and the battery was on 1/3.  I put in another battery... 1/3.  I put in another battery... full!

Just about good to go.  I pulled the drivers license out of my wallet.  You are supposed to carry identification with you when on the water.  Not so much to prove who you are, but if the worst happens, it will be easier to identify you.  Fun thought.  Joan said, "You should probably take your phone."  Yeah... I have a waterproof case for it.  She also grabbed a bottle of water for me.

I put the phone in the waterproof case; put that and my drivers license in a plastic bag; then put all that in a waterproof sleeve.  Can't be too careful.

This is not a spur of the moment thing.  She helped me plunk the kayak in the water, then headed for the store.  I hopped into the kayak.  OK, it wasn't really a hop... more of a slither.  That little voice will confirm that.  I pushed off from the dock and headed up the canal...


Some odd color.  The GoPro isn't at fault - on the local news, they are calling the heavy haze in the sky due to "agricultural burning in Mexico."  Probably sugarcane.  You can see it and smell it.

At the end of that canal, I turned east (left).  The first thing you see is "the lake"...


Not really a lake, it is a dredged out area.  More like a wide spot off one of the canals.  Another left turn and heading north.  There is a low bridge over this canal...



Really small boats can fit under that low bridge; the kayak is a really small boat.  I pedaled the rest of the way in that canal and out into the Intracoastal Waterway.  I didn't have a destination in mind, just wanted to get out and about.  I was glad Joan put a bottle of water with my stuff - hardly any breeze, and it is warm; close to 80º.  I decided to head west, towards the 3 oil rigs that are in the turning basin.


As I pedaled towards the rigs...
out there in the distance, between me and the rig... a dolphin fin!


Damn GoPro - even when the dolphins are close, they look way far away!  Then, two popped up on my left side!


Damn - missed 'em!  Three swimming together! 


They turned right for me...


And the battery in the GoPro died!  I really don't like that GoPro.  But... dolphins!  There were at least a dozen of them, and they passed right by my kayak - within 10 feet!  They looked at me, I looked at them.  I hooted and clapped!  My first close dolphin encounter since we've been home.

My phone - it has a camera.  I took in the close show, while reaching back for the waterproof sleeve.  Then, fumbled with the clip holding it to a bungee behind me.  By the time I got the sleeve opened, the phone out of the plastic bag, then turned on with the camera pulled up... yeah, the dolphins were a couple hundred yards away.  No point in even trying to take a photo with the phone.

BUT, it was a delightful encounter.  Since I had the phone out, I called Joan, to tell her what I just saw... yeah, like a little kid... I couldn't wait... "I saw dolphins!  Up close!"

I got a semi-decent shot of the rigs with the phone camera...



Then, turned the kayak around - that island is home.  Whew - now I feel the heat.


When I got home, Joan was waiting for me on the deck.  With a camera...




"Thought I'd get a photo, since your GoPro crapped out..."

"Thank you!"

Plus, she helped me haul the kayak up on the dock.

My legs felt a little rubbery while I hosed off the equipment.  I thought I was in pretty good shape, since I have been biking almost every day since we got the e-bikes.  You definitely use different muscles pedaling this kayak compared to the bike.

Oh, I got it!  An E-kayak!  ;-)

Yeah, I could use one of those.


Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Scraping the bottom...


No, not the bottom of the barrel.

Around here, even with bottom paint, boat bottoms need regular cleaning.  For some, that may mean going to the boatyard with a travel lift and having them pressure wash the bottom.  Good way to lose more bottom paint.

Some will beach their boat and get at the bottom from in the water.  Over the years, we have pulled boats up on trailers to clean them, or anchored in chest-deep water to reach the bottom with a long handled stiff brush.

Early this evening, I took Izzy outside; we watched the neighbors doing this...


Yeah, the guy has put a rachet strap around himself and the mast.  The boat (a Com-Pac 16) is pretty small and lightweight... his weight is enough to heel the boat over so his wife can get at most of the bottom.  I would think that is putting quite a bit of stress on the mast-step, but that tough little boat looks to be up to it.


Beachy...


The last two days, we have managed to get some time at the beach.

Yesterday, it was lunch at The Palms, with a view of the beach and Gulf.  Today, we had lunch at Russo's (New York Pizzaria), a new restaurant on the island.  It is part of a chain based in Houston.  Our experience there was very good.  Oh, it won't dethrone our local favorite Italian place, that is as much out of loyalty as anything else.  It is nice to have options.  We used to have one place for good Italian food here, now we have several.


After lunch both days, we enjoyed some time at the beach at Isla Blanca Park.

Yesterday, the beach umbrellas were springing up...


A few kite surfers out playing...


It is fun to watch, not something I want to try; takes too long to heal these days.

Today, it was a bit windier on the beach; and warmer: 84º, which is a little warmer than usual for the beach this time of year.  And more kite surfers - this time, taking a break...



A little further up the beach, this young lady making a rookie mistake...


Feeding the seagulls.  It seems like a good idea.  Until you run out of food to give them... then, it looks like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.  Oh, and guess what hovering birds do?  Yeah, right on the people by the umbrella.  Beach Tip #7: don't feed the seagulls.  ;-)


Monday, April 25, 2016

Sharing...


I am not big on "sharing" on Facebook.  Looking through my FB newsfeed, this came up...


No, I am not in the market for another guitar.

That is not a wood guitar.  Some of you know I am a fan of the RainSong Shorty carbon fiber guitar I have for traveling.  Carbon fiber isn't affected by climate influences (heat, cold, humidity, dry) like a nice wood guitar.  That guitar above is made from carbon fiber with a cocobolo wood veneer on the top.  Gorgeous!

Look close, and you can see the carbon fiber weave on the back and sides.  Yeah, with color infused.  The manufacturer (Emerald, from Ireland) is doing some very interesting things with carbon fiber.  For full disclosure, I have never seen an Emerald in person; they only sell factory direct, so there isn't a dealer in the US where you can go see one of these.

I bet Ireland is pretty this time of year.  ;-)


Sunday, April 24, 2016

Happy Face...


Little Izzy has some great expressions - you can tell when she's happy, content, confused, or pissed.

Feeding time is "happy time" for her.  She has a schedule, and if we aren't home, there is a feeder with a timer.  If I am running a few minutes late, she politely (and sweetly) reminds me.

Here is her sweet little face today, right after lunch...


That is a basket with some of her toys.  She has one favorite that she bats around, the others come out on rare occasions.

"What about that happy face?" you ask.  Yes, I see the happy face at each of her meals...


That's the cat food can.  Do you see the smiley face?

;-)


Saturday, April 23, 2016

NIMBY...


No, it is not a new flavor of ice cream - it is an anagram for Not In My Back Yard.

I am not an activist.  We moved to the Tropical Tip of Texas for the lifestyle, the climate, the recreation, and the culture.  There are three entities wanting to build Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) processing and exporting ports.  Along the Brownsville Ship Channel.  Within a couple miles of our home.

What could possibly go wrong with that?

Today, there was an informational meeting in our Rec Center, with information from the Sierra Club, Friends of the Laguna Madre, and a couple others.  Granted, this information is being presented by those against the LNG plants.  I would stand with those folks.


I registered with FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) to file a motion to intervene.  Really, I am not an activist.  But, there is so much that can go bad with this.

Safety: our home is less than 2 miles from the nearest proposed plant.  Certainly, within the "blast zone" if there is an explosion.  1,000 residences on our island, one bridge to get on/off the island.  That bridge depends on electricity to open/close.  What do you suppose will happen to the electric grid if there is a problem with these plants?  LNG has no smell - if there is a gas escape, it will travel at ground level, creating a possible explosion that will expand horizontally.

Health: being "incinerated" is not good for your health.  Not to mention all the by-products that will be produced at these plants: nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene, greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide.

Habitat Loss: the proposed area is a wildlife corridor that links a wildlife refuge on the south to another wildlife refuge to the north.  This is a corridor for the endangered ocelots.  Wetlands will be built up.  Fishing will be impacted.

Economic Impact: loss of beach tourism (the biggest employer in this area), loss of nature tourism; over 3,000 jobs in the local shrimping/fishing industry - these will be impacted by the huge LNG ships that will come and go, requiring the ship channel to be closed to other traffic.  The potential for local jobs is +/- 200, and most likely the positions will be skilled, thus brought in.  Proposed construction is "plug & play" which means large portions will be built overseas, then transported here on barges.  Any construction jobs will be temporary.

The LNG companies are looking for tax breaks for locating here - meaning the local taxpayers will be subsidizing these plants.  The plants/ports are for exporting natural gas - so it can be sold at higher prices in other countries; this will have a negative impact on gas prices here.

Looking at all the fracking operations north of us that are at a stand-still due to lower oil prices, this is not a stable industry.  Many years ago, we lived in Wyoming, and saw the "boom and bust" times with the oil industry there... creating serious issues with local economies.

Security: this would put us in a "target rich" terrorism area.  I already mentioned closing the ship channel as the LNG ships come and go.  These plants are lit up at night (for security), making light pollution for miles around.

Recreation: we originally bought/built here because of the water access.  Our waters here are pretty special - take a look at the "brown water" around Galveston Island, and you can appreciate even more what we have here.  The storage tanks at these plants will be 19 stories tall - any spill would be devastating.

The "up-side" seems to be only for those who want to build these export plants. 

The local city councils (Port Isabel, South Padre Island, Laguna Vista) are all opposed to the LNG plants.  The Point Isabel School District is opposed.  Of course, people who own property around here are opposed.  The big issue is: most people are not aware of the impacts this will have on the area... or, they don't think "it will affect me."  It has the potential to affect those who come to this area for recreation... to enjoy the beaches... to fish... to spend the winters away from the frozen northland... to come to the cooler area along the coast compared to inland.

The Sierra Club and Friends of the Laguna Madre are here to inform.  And persuade.  It wasn't a huge crowd at the meeting...


It is a quiet time of the year here.  This is a "grass roots" movement, though, and I expect the numbers to build as people gain understanding of what this may become.


Friday, April 22, 2016

The view...


No, not the TV show with everyone talking over each other... some views while riding around our island today.

I took a few photos of our friends' house in progress, then set out to get some exercise.  77º while I was riding - it felt nice when riding into the wind; riding with the wind, you could feel the humidity.  It is blowing around 15 mph this afternoon - pretty typical here.

Looking south, it looks like there is a ship going through the greenery...


The ship is heading west, in the Brownsville Ship Channel - a 15 mile man-made channel leading to the Port of Brownsville.

Looking east towards South Padre Island...



With the wind blowing out of the east, it makes for some chop in the Laguna Madre... the color isn't as pretty as it has been the last couple days.

Good to be out and about.


Thursday, April 21, 2016

Ride off the calories...


We decided to take the e-bikes for lunch out.  Heading off our island, we got caught by two boats going through the swingbridge.  My belly was growling before that 15 minute wait for the bridge... I had some Italian food that was running through my mind.

Local folks will know this view out the window of Marcello's Italian Restaurant...


Nice, but I like this view even more...


Lunch was great.  Pretty quiet in town... and in the restaurant.  By the time our food came, we were the only customers in the place.  Service was great, through.  ;-)  For full disclosure, we didn't get to the restaurant until after 2:30, so the lunch crowd had come and gone.

We talked about riding around town some after lunch, but the sky to the north was starting to look ominous... we decided to head for home.  With a stop to pick up mail...


That white bag hanging from my handlebars wasn't mail - leftovers from lunch.  A velcro strap on the handbar keeps the bag forward so my knees don't hit it.  I was careful, though - there was a cup of marinara in the bag, too.  Yes, we made it home with no messes.

Coming into the house, there was a weather alert being broadcast for potential local severe thunderstorms - good thing we didn't dawdle. 


Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Beach, baby...


South Padre Island is renown for the beach: 35 miles of fine-grain sand on the Gulf of Mexico.

It's been a while since we've done a morning beach walk - time to change that.  Leaving our island, we had a small delay while we waited for a doubled-up barge to go through the bridge...


A view from the 2 1/2 mile long Queen Isabela Causeway, leading to the island...


Our favorite place to start a beach walk is from Isla Blanca Park, at the south tip of the island...


For families who want to picnic in the park, there is a huge pavillion, covered with sun screen material...


The tide is high this morning, but there is plenty of beach...


A squadron of pelicans moving from north to south...


Back to the beach...



The remains of a sand castle from yesterday...


Looking out into the Gulf...


Looking south, the pelicans are coming back...




Sandpipers finding breakfast where the water laps up on the shore...


We decided to make a morning of it and stopped at The Palms (hotel and restaurant) for a breakfast with some ambiance...



The food was good, the sound of the surf was nice; the beach is right on the other side of the greenery (helps prevent beach erosion).

Heading back home, some views of the Laguna Madre (the bay), looking north...




Coming to Port Isabel, on the east side of the causeway...


And, we still have the rest of the day.  :-)