Just slip out the back, Jack...

If you said, "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Paul Simon, 1975," you get 50 bonus points (one for each of the ways).  Mark and I used to play this in 1975.  And now, we're playing it again.

This one has Mark on electric piano and organ, yours truly on guitar, bass, hand percussion, and vocals.  Recorded once again with the Spire Studio - started in south Texas, forwarded to Arizona for Mark to add his parts, then back to Texas.

Hope you enjoy...

https://soundcloud.com/captainjimb/50-ways-v11

Birds of a feather...

A few days ago, while walking up and down the street we live on, I saw a guy moving slowly with a walker.  He was being helped into a car - I didn't stop.  Today, while walking past that same house, I saw the same guy with a cane coming down the ramp from his front door... "I've seen you walking by here - I heard you had surgery a while back," he said.

"Yep," I said, "And I see by the racing stripe on your knee that you are sporting a new one.  Mine is the hip."

We visited for a while.  He had his knee done about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and he has been on a cane for two days.  "You are doing well," I told him.  He isn't walking any real distance, yet, but I told him where I live and said, "If you want someone to walk with you, let me know - we don't have to go far or fast, until you feel up to it."

We had the same surgeon, and he has been getting visits from the same two physical therapists that worked with me - I told him that he is in good hands.  I think it helps to have someone who has "been there" to talk with.  No, not people who want to tell you about their "uncle (neighbor, friend, friend of a friend) and how he was up walking/dancing/running two days after surgery."  I gave him encouragement and wished him fast healing before I moved on.

Independence Day - and you know what that means...

Yeah, celebrating our American heritage by getting shitfaced drunk and setting off fireworks - what could possibly go wrong with that scenario?

My FaceBook Memory from this morning...

Ah, the memories.  I got to watch the 4th of July Parade in Friday Harbor, then off to Roche Harbor for some whale watching.  Roche Harbor is a total shit show during the 4th of July: there are boats anchored in the harbor so tight, it seems like you could walk across them; and they all have dinghies... dinghies that are darting around the little bit of water between the boats like gnats.  There are all kinds of alcohol-fueled festivities on the docks (log rolling, blind dinghy races, puking for distance)... and whoever drives SeaHawk (the whale watch boat) has to maneuver in and out of that fiasco without running over stupid people.  I happened to pull that duty 3 years in a row.  There are a lot of things I miss about our time in the Pacific Northwest... having to drive that boat in and out of Roche Harbor on the 4th is not one of those things.

I would get back to our boat (we were living on our boat at that time) in time for a concert/dance in the marina parking lot (we could enjoy the music from the cockpit of our boat) and then fireworks over the harbor.  Once I was back to the boat, it was enjoyable.

Compare that to our time here in the Tropical Tip for the 4th: there are parades in some of the towns around here, but we will avoid the traffic.  There will be a golf cart parade here in our resort - it starts at 10:00 am, so the majority of the participants shouldn't be shitfaced, yet.

Out for my morning walk and bike ride, I got a preview of some of the golf carts... well, what passes for golf carts here, considering some of these things can be driven on the highway (yes, at highway speeds).  Only a few golf carts out and about at that time of the morning, some dog walkers, and a few other people getting exercise.  I did see a woman teaching what looked like a 10 year old how to drive a golf cart.  On the street.  No idea why people think this is acceptable (you are supposed to have a drivers license to drive a golf cart in our resort).

I think we will cocoon in the air conditioning and generally try to stay off the streets here.  Joan is going to make a rack of ribs.  I plan to eat ribs.

South Padre Island will have a big fireworks display tonight.  No intention of getting caught in that traffic jam.  Fireworks are not allowed in our resort, so we'll probably step out on our deck and watch people set off fireworks.  The resort may not "allow it," but it is part of the culture here - people like to set off fireworks for special events like: New Year's Eve, Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo, birthdays (anyone's), Arbor Day, April Fool's Day, Mother's Day, and any other day that ends in "y."  There are fireworks on SPI every Friday and Saturday during the summer (sponsored by a couple of the bars).

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The Parade:

More participation than the Lighted Golf Cart Parade at Christmas.  Joan surmised that is because there are so many families here this time of year, and the kids like this.  My guess: it takes a lot more work to hang and power lights.  Looked like about 3 times the number of entries.

Plenty of neighbors had chairs set out in their driveway to watch the parade go by.  We actually get a preview of it, as the parade passes by our deck on the canal before they come down our street...

Here they come down our street...

Quite a few of the participants have their dog(s) along...

Some of the carts have blaring music - but the dogs seemed to handle it.  Joan considered bringing Rufus out to watch the parade, but didn't have a red, white, and blue scarf for him.

On with the parade...

After the last cart went by, the neighbor's granddaughter chasing the parade...

I was concerned that all the noise and commotion would have Ruf on high alert.  When we came back in the house...

The house is decently insulated and not a lot of the noise penetrates.  Rufus is a pretty laid-back boy.

There's always room for...

... ice cream.

Out and about on the scoots today, with a stop at Dairy Queen (aka a Texas stop sign).  The bridge was out as we were heading off our island, so time for a few photos...

Joan took a break to sit by the water to see what was going through at the bridge opening...

Nothing.  Really, no boat went through.  Joan's guess was they were working on the bridge, and needed to do something with it open.  Seems plausible - they replaced a cable on it last week.  On the bright side, a hazy overcast, so we weren't waiting in the blazing sun.

And a new addition at Dairy Queen: motorcycle parking, close to the door!

Looking good!

I got to hear that today.  Not from the Blonde.

After a late lunch out, we headed for home.  We were pleasantly surprised that the island wasn't lousy with holiday traffic and we were able to get a table with no wait.  When we got home, I came inside to get a hat and headed out for a walk.  Along the way, I saw one of the physical therapists who worked with me.  I called out his name as he was headed for his car; he turned around and held out his arms in what was an obvious "Let's see how you're walking" gesture.

"You are looking good!"

I said, "You're only saying that 'cause it's true."

I didn't want to keep him from his next appointment, but he said, "It is good to see you - tell me how you are doing."  We visited for a bit - he wanted to know what exercising I was doing.  He then said, "You are doing it just right - you are going to see a lot of improvement this month."  It was a nice visit and good to get the opportunity to thank him face-to-face for the work he did with me (I had written to the home health care company he works for to let them know how pleased I was with the care I received from this gentleman and his partner).

"Still with the cane?  Tell me about it."

"I can walk without it, but at some point it hurts, so I use the cane," I told him.

"That is good.  But when it hurts, that is your hip telling you it is time to rest."

"Yeah, but when you're a ways from home and it starts hurting, I use the cane... to get back home."  ;-)

It was a nice visit.  He was pleased with my progress.  He even said I could cut the exercises back to twice a day with the walking and biking I am doing.  We'll see.

Tag...

I haven't been able to play the "scooter tag" game for a while.  I was planning on a ride this morning and checked the scooter tag thread to see what it was: your scoot with a firetruck.

Our small town has a fire and EMT garage, but you never know if the doors will be open, or if there might be a vehicle (firetruck or ambulance) you can see.  Luck was with me this morning...

And, the opportunity for a "double play": a new scooter tag, using something in the same photo... the grab was the firetruck, the new tag is: your scoot with an ambulance.

Warm, humid, and windy today.  Traffic in town and in our resort is getting heavier as we close in on the holiday.  With the 4th being on a Thursday, I think there are going to be a lot of people with a 4-day holiday and others taking a vacation week.  We will try for lunch out today, but Joan has stocked us up on groceries... we can cocoon through the weekend, if necessary.  ;-)

First comes love, then comes marriage, then...

... comes Jimmy with a baby carriage.

No, we are not trying for another "bundle of joy."  I've always said, "Parents have kids until they have a perfect one, then they quit."  What's that?  Yes, I am the youngest sibling.  We had our one "perfect child" and quit.  Or, maybe we were scared to try again?  It's one of those things.

So, what's with "you and a baby carriage"?  Thanks for asking.  As you may know, I have been doing a lot of walking since I have been able to walk reasonably well again.  I'm getting close to 2 1/2 miles in my 3 daily walks.  Mostly with the cane, still.  But, I do some of each walk while just carrying the cane... until it hurts, and then back to the cane.  But, I digress.

Rufus would like to go outside with me.  He doesn't "walk" in the typical taking-a-pet-for-a-walk kinda way.  When we are up north and it is cooler, he may walk a couple blocks on the leash, with frequent stops to smell almost every blade of grass.  I think the asphalt roads here would be too hot for his feet this time of year.  Plus, he is a furry boy, and it is hot out there.

This morning while walking, I saw a guy in a golf cart taking his dog to an area outside the resort where the dog can be off the leash.  The dog seemed quite happy to be going for a ride.  In fact, there are a lot of people that cruise around in golf carts here, some with their dogs.  Some with a beer.  Some with kids hanging off every seat like a chicken bus in a third world country.  Some with a stereo blasting like they are driving through the hood.  Those same people would be amazed at what this place looks like in the winter months.  And, golf carts look like golf carts, instead of the cross between a golf cart, a dune buggy, and a monster truck that I see this time of year.  But, I am digressing again.

I'm not ready for a golf cart.  Oh, that time may come, but it isn't here now.  However, if I had a golf cart, I would take Rufus for a ride.  I think he would enjoy that.
What do you think of me pushing a baby buggy around, with Rufus in the buggy?  He could get some outdoor time, without burning his paws or working up a sweat.  No, I have no idea if cats sweat... none of ours have ever worked that hard.

I can't say for certain what Joan thinks of the buggy idea but there was some laughing and perhaps a bit of eye-rolling.  I think that means she is onboard with it.  I don't believe I have ever seen anyone in this area pushing a baby buggy, so there may not be any used ones available... I was thinking used, in case Rufus is embarrassed by the whole idea and jumps out.  I don't know why he'd be embarrassed - it isn't like I was thinking about putting him in a jumper and a bonnet.  Why would you even bring that up?

I suppose I could take him out on the scooter... maybe put him inside my jacket.  I have visions of ripped chest and belly flesh with that idea, though.  Plus,  besides the blood loss, I wouldn't get the same exercise as walking... while pushing a buggy... with a big ol' cat in it.

It's just a thought.  For now.