Povey Prattle

We topped out at 87 f this afternoon.  Too hot for mid April, but fortunately not too humid. 5:15 a.m. first walk with Zion. 7:00 a.m. second walk with Zion. 8:00 a.m.  cleaned my bathroom (not before time!) 9:30 a.m.  third walk with Zion, accompanied by my good neighbour Barbara B. We went to Arlington Park and had coffee at Panera Bread ( Bahia Vista and Tamiami Trail ) afterwards. During the day buried my head in Isabel Allende's wonderful novel "The House of the Spirits" Goodness Gracious!  She is a great Author. 4:00 pm.  Another walk with Zion at Arlington Park.  It's a mostly tree-lined 1/2   mile walk, so there were good and cooling breezes. We saw   a Muscovy Duck with her chicks  (little yellow bobs to her left). Yellow duckling blogs a wee bit more visible. .. and  A couple of sun bathing Turtles.  (given half a chance they will gobble down the ducklings - "nature red in tooth and claw"). A good retire

The self declared "righteousness" of Trump and May about their missile attacks is nauseating set alongside their refusals to do no more (and probably less) than lifting a little finger to admit Syrian refugees to their countries.

https://youtu.be/dZcdSgc0BsQ

When I hung out my shingle in Fitchburg, MA back in 1976 I learned that there were three Massachusetts rooted businesses of which I was expected to be proud. (1) There was Howard Johnson's (Ho-Joe's) with it's national chain of restaurants (famous fried clams, and 28 flavours of ice cream). Ho-Joe's with the famous orange roof, instantly recognizable throughout the U.S.A.  There are no more Ho Joe's restaurants, but the Howard Johnson name lives on in a Wyndham owned Hotel Chain. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (2)  Dunkin Donuts  then a regional chain in New England There you could sit at the counter or at a table, get a mediocre cup of coffee (most coffee in the U.S.A. was mediocre back then), and a more than decent donut (  my favorite was a Cruller) ; and listen in to the conversations of grumpy old men or chirpy housewives. "Dunks" has now gone a bit upscale and is

On Sunday morning 8th April 2018 at 7:30 a.m. I met the estimable Barbara Ford-Coates at Sarasota's Bayfront Park for a walk and a canine meet and greet. I wanted to meet Barbara and her wonderful dog the Phabulous Phineas.  Barbara wanted to meet my lovely dog the Zuperb Zion. It was a great encounter. Phineas and Barbara I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my dear friend Joe R from Massachusetts.  Joe and I have known each other since 1980. We met by happenstance. He introduced me to his great parents Ray and Irene (both now deceased), and they embraced me into their family. Joe, his family, and his wife and children became my dear friends, and also friends of my English relatives - a wonderful Anglo-American connection.  We have shared so many joys, and not a few sorrows.  Joe had a business meeting in Florida so he came a day early to visit with me. It's been  a wonderful visit. I've been teary eyed with joy. Joe, his wife DeAnne a