No post last night because we had to hit the airport to pick up Joelle’s friend Kristen, who is here until Sunday night. Started off with the afternoon with a lunch at Frigates, where I had a delicious conch chowder and a beet salad with shrimp.
The ladies had grilled mahi mahi and fish and chips. We then headed to the lagoon to see the manatees:
There were a lot more of them than I expected, and while adorable, they don’t really do much. I supposed if I had to eat a 100 lbs of seagrass every day I’d be a little bloated, gassy, and lethargic. Hell, I am some days without eating that:
Breyana wanted some refrigerator magnets, so I got her a manatee magnet form the gift shop. After that, we headed to a fancy ice cream joint named Sloan’s and picked up a couple of pints (vanilla bean, pistachio, and strawberry). It has a very pink interior and Joelle snapped a photo of our daughter:
Kristen is much younger than us, so the running joke is that she is our daughter home for the weekend from college. There’s a running wager between me and Joelle whether someone is going to ask me if Kristen is my daughter or granddaughter. I’m less than amused with this wager and might throw my cane at her. After all that, we went home and I made some shrimp and chilled it for our salads later, since we thought we should eat light because a pint of ice cream is in our immediate future. The ladies lounged on the porch swing:
We have a pretty solid division of labors- Joelle picks the itinerary, I set the timetable and make sure we are on schedule, and neither of us is allowed to bitch. This keeps me from having to make decisions, and keeps Joelle from falling into what I call “Joelle Time,” which is not tethered to time as we know it and a vague amorphous concept where hours can be lost on the most mundane of activities.
I have been informed the agenda for tomorrow includes a lighthouse visit, visiting Panthers, and dinner at Gratos.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
huh, I eat a lot of beets, I never thought of pairing them with shrimp. Usually just vinegar and blue or goat cheese
Old School
Sounds like the trip has become much more relaxing. Good.
John Revolta
Floooorrrridaaaa…………… come to Floooooridaaa Cole……… we have manatees
We need more pissed off people who aren’t old right wing assholes…………
Omnes Omnibus
Manatees?
bbleh
Excellent.
I recommend a particularly, indeed extremely, lazy upcoming day. No plans, no goals, perhaps occasional whims, but mostly … nothing. An agenda of emptiness. (Very Zen.)
Tom Levenson
It’s a rough life, but someone has to live it…
frosty
Sounds like a great time!
Kay
I love how this vacation is SLOWLY building up speed. Take another week next time – you need ramp up time.
prostratedragon
That salad looks great! Reminds me that there’s some shrimp fried rice in the kitchen. Glad to see Cole having a nice time.
Skepticat
I loved when I still lived in The Bahamas and manatees would wander into our marina (where there is a little freshwater spring). We got caught up in our underwear racing all over to get lettuce and veggies for them and oohing and aaaaawing, while they ignored us.
We’ve just have five inches of snow here in the Lakes Region of Maine, and The Bahamas seem an awful long way away right now.
Comrade Colette
@Tom Levenson:
Cole living Best Cole Life is the best Cole.
In unrelated news from Northern
SubaquaeaCalifornia, there’s a weird color to the sky and I don’t know what it is. Blue? With a big yellow thing in it? What even is that?zhena gogolia
Looks like fun!
AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team
Awesome that you’re having this break dude!
Jackie
John, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so mellow! This trip (minus 1st day) is exactly what you needed! I’m so happy for you!
satby
This vacation needs an otter encounter. Otherwise it’s pretty perfect.
Trollhattan
Never encountered conch anywhere but conch chowder sounds amazing. You make Florida seem not suck, well done.
Finally stopped raining on Left Coast but cold!
CaseyL
I think this is the first vacation you’ve taken (that I know about, anyway} that is actually a vacation, as opposed to taking care of someone, supervising a bunch of someones, helping people move, or doing anything other than whatever you want, when you want.
So happy to see you’re enjoying yourself!
BruceFromOhio
Friends, fun, food. Nothing like it.
Odie Hugh Manatee
“and while adorable, they don’t really do much.”
I endorse your assessment of the manatee. We should all aspire to do the same!
Sister Golden Bear
@Comrade Colette:
Mommy, I’m scaaarrreeed!!!
jnfr
Sounds like you are having fun, John. I’m happy to hear it.
Sister Golden Bear
@Odie Hugh Manatee: Between naps and rarely going out, Blog Father is well on his way to achieving mantee-vana.
mrmoshpotato
@Skepticat:
You say that like it’s normal. 😁
mrmoshpotato
@Comrade Colette:
You’re tempting the Sun to rain all over you. Risky.
Jackie
@mrmoshpotato: The normal Seattlite’s reaction to non grey and wet skies.
James E Powell
It does us all good to see & hear you happy, John Cole
[Put this in the wrong thread earlier]
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Sister Golden Bear:
If he keeps it up I’ll have to make him an honorary manatee. 😉
Redshift
Sounds very pleasant!
NotMax
Dugongs are a bit less phlegmatic
;)
feebog
Happy to see you are enjoying a (except for the first day) relaxing vacation. Well deserved.
opiejeanne
About 8 years ago we got together with an online friend who lives in Florida, at Homosassa Springs State Park. They had flamingos and alligators and whooping cranes and alligators and manatees and alligators.
And a hippopotamus.
The story I was told is that the park used to be a private safari-type park/roadside attraction, and when it went out of business the state bought it. They sent all of the non-native animals to zoos and preserves, but the people of Florida insisted that the hippo stay.
After that we went to see the mermaids at Weeki-Watchee.
eclare
Nice!
My mom was that way with refrigerator magnets. She encouraged me to go everywhere, but bring back a refrigerator magnet.
rikyrah
So glad to read that everyday on this vacation seems to be getting better for you, Cole🤗
Honus
You seem to be settling in nicely after a rocky start. I’m kind of in awe at how a cranky Burl Ives looking dude from Brooke ends up touring the Florida coast eating shrimp, beets and ice cream with two lovely women who could be his granddaughters.
Betty Cracker
@opiejeanne: That’s a true story about the hippo — I grew up near there (and live nearby now), and that same now elderly hippo remains at the park. His name is Lucifer, and he is notorious for twirling his tail like a propeller and projectile-pooping through it to cover the unwary in hippo poop.
JPL
@Betty Cracker: What a surprise, free hippo poop. I’m surprised that it’s not wrapped up in a nice box and sold in souvenir shops.
Betty Cracker
@JPL: It’s probably marvelous for gardening! I should probably go see old Lu again soon. Neither of us is getting any younger. :)
Anne Laurie
Our go-to local (Greek) deli does a beet salad with feta & walnuts, over baby greens. Can recommend!
Kristine
Glad you’re having a good time after the rough start.
One thing I miss about Florida is the seafood. Enjoy it!
randy khan)
I like the division of labor. And it seems that Kristen, filling the daughter role perfectly, just goes along with what the two of you decide.
Joelle
@Betty Cracker: comments winner right here
Gvg
Eva use of the curvature of the earth map thing, it is not obvious until you drive it how long Florida is. Thus, I live in north Florida, used to live in central Florida and I have rarely had the time to go down to south Florida and see things I would like to. I have never been to the Fruit and Spice park where all the exotic tropical fruits are grown and chocolate. There is a chocolate festival in Ft Lauderdale this weekend. I never have time to go as work is very busy this time of year. I’s like to tour the Redlands farms where a lot of tropical agriculture is grown for Cuban and Caribbean style food for the rest of the state. I have finally once hit the Caladium festival over near Sebring a few years back. Florida really does have a lot of great things, especially if you like gardening or nature. I can’t understand the nutty mean politicians getting the upper hand. We have had better ones in the past. Also worse though. People forget and get complacent. We have always had a problem of retirees and other transplants who either don’t have a long term view and just vote low taxes now or who get suckered by glitzy promises because they don’t know the record or details. Suckers in other words.
Anyway
I like the division of labor. Figuring out what to do and where to eat on vacations can take so long sometimes and nobody makes a decision….BTDT. Having someone (the right someone) take charge without others whining is perfection.
Glad Cole is having fun in Floriduh
kindness
John there is no shame in becoming a snowbird. My grandparents did it. My folks instead bought a sloop and snowbirded by sailing around the Caribbean while they were still able. And honestly, it’s not like Florida is more Republican/conservative than West Virginia.
Mike in NC
When will DeSatan declare manatees to be “woke” and hence gotten rid of?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Has DeSantis introduced a bill to make Lucifer the State Animal yet?
Also, not gonna lie, the way my 2023 has been going, I kinda get Lucifer.
The Lodger
@John Revolta: i thought Odie was out here in Oregon.
The Lodger
@The Lodger: well Odie showed up but left the Florida issue sadly unaddressed.
Joelle
@Anyway: Yes, event planning is my wheel house. Tonight we dine Italian at Grotto. I made a reservation there over the phone and I wonder if some long forgotten wall phone rang when I called there and everyone under 30 was like WTF was that?
Joelle
@Anyway: Floor rid duh indeed
Steeplejack
@The Lodger:
Odie Hugh Manatee does live in Oregon.