Sunday Afternoon Grab Bag

Sunday Morning Grab Bag - Just the usual accumulation (I can't even call it a collection) of detritus and debris that's moved and taken up residence from the last time I did one of these. It's always amazing how stuff just gets in there (my PC) and waits for something to happen, either relevant to the shot, in the case of photos, or some other magic chemistry in the case of text. Anyway, here's the latest selection of stuff that's been accumulating.

Another day another bunch of words spit out from the typewriter (well, the PC actually. I do use typewriter sounds most of the time to come close. It's a nostalgia thing). Sometimes it just seems to go so easily.

Well, we'll find out soon enough. I've got to finish outlining the story, and do some more work on characcters. That's mostly a process of discovery, wherever it lead me is where I go, sort of thing.

If this rain keeps up I'm going to have to be re-trained in use of the pool. Not that I'm complaining or anything. I know things could be worse. Just look down to Monkey River here in Belize. Check out Wilma's website the South Englishtown Gazette (http://southenglishtown.blogspot.com/). I tried posting the URL yesterday on our blog, but for some unknown reason, it didn't take. I got up there today. They've had like seven feet of rain in their village. That makes our one foot or so seem kinda paltry by comparison. Of course, then you can look over at the Philippines. Wow! A million or more homeless, maybe ten thousand or more dead? And, I used to do disasters for a living. Glad it's not my watch. Where would you even begin?

So, back to our patch here. From about 2:30 AM till now at 10:20 AM, it's done nothing but rain. It's either drizzling or coming down in buckets. Of course my weather station has picked now to go off-line. Well, one thing's for sure, I'm not climbing up on the roof of the pool house in this stuff to check it out. There's only so much that could have gone wrong with it. What I'm willing to bet on is that the rechargeable batteries in it haven't been able to be recharged by the solar cell charger on the unit. No freakin' sun to do the deed.

I've looked at the receiving unit on my desk and it looks like it's pulling in the data, so maybe the batteries out there aren't the problem. Maybe my USB hub that the receiver plugs into is on the fritz. I have been having problems with it lately. It might be time to think about a replacement hub. It is about five or six years old. Down here, I think that makes it about nine or ten in electronics parts years. Humidity and heat tend to kill anything in short order that runs electrons through itself.

You know what? I just realized this is Sunday. I've got the laundry in the washing machine, breakfast is done, dishes done and put away... I'm at loose ends. It's time for another Sunday Morning Grab Bag. By the time I kick this out the door, it'll be a Sunday Afternoon Grab Bag. That's why I don't wear a watch, isn't it?

Having said that, I feel much better about this posting. It felt disjointed from the beginning, so that's perfect for a grab bag.

I wonder what I've got for photos to put up? I just took a couple of minutes to peruse some that I've accumulated on the new PC. A lot of old ones that weren't categorized or otherwise filed, got lost in the shuffle of moving to a new machine. That's what happens sometimes.

This one just below was taken on walkies with the girls, as we do most mornings when it's not raining and the road is dry enough to get through. I like the photo, but it just doesn't do justice to the real McCoy. It was real and it was spectacular, to steal a phrase from Seinfeld.

Sunrise on Corozal Bay

At the intersection we used to call Cannon Corners, now it's just the intersection by Prosser's, there's a family right beside the little creek there who raise geese. The geese have had several hatchings in the time they've been there. Here's the latest. Mama (or Mother Goose?) has brought the little ones down to the creek's edge and getting them to swim.

Taking the Kids For A Swim

Shooting the pelicans is always one of my favorites. Maybe because even in flight, they move so slow. Anyway, I thought this one was just right. Not bad for just a point and shoot kinda photographer.

 Fisherman's Landing

Here's something I think should be done more in the US. Remembrance Day, Veteran's Day, whatever you want to call it, wearing a poppy is a simple reminder of the sacrifice of many for what we hold dear. It's seldom seen in the States, or Belize, for that matter.

I Wish This Was More Respected in the States

And here's something that shouldn't be seen here or anywhere. Last I thought I knew, the law required effluvia emanating from a septic tank to be sent to a drain field. This restaurant has apparently taken the short route by just sending it to the adjacent storm drainage ditch, which incidentally empties into Corozal Bay right beside the swimming area of the restaurant's day resort. Yummy!

Septic Drain

And, last but not least, I saw this posted on Reddit.com. I didn't even know there was such a thing.

A Fitting Name

OK. That's it for this edition of the Grab Bag.

Cheers

Mud Wrestling

Today's the 17th of September. So far this month, we've had fourteen days of rain and two without. Today will be added to the official count, so make that fifteen days of rain.

Last month, August, we had eighteen days of rain and sixteen without. The rain started about the 13th of August. That sort of means we've been having near constant rain for, oh, about thirty-three freaking days in a row! Give me a break, will ya?!

Along with that, Dianna and I have been keeping a rough guesstimate of the number of vehicles that have become 'stuck in the muck' - we just got another one as I'm writing this. Conservatively, we think we're over sixty vehicles mired in the goo. Including a Belize Water Service (BWS) truck yesterday afternoon.

I got an email yesterday morning from Dean, a friend of ours from Orchid Bay, over on the Sarteneja peninsula. Here's a brief exerpt:

"...Did you hear our crash on Saturday evening in front of your place?  I hit the water at 15 mph and hit the 2 foot hole. Bounced 3 to 4 times, tore off my light plug on my rear bumper, hurt my back, bounced my passengers around. The road all the way to the ferry was bad..."

A short time later, this bit from Chuck, who also lives in Orchid Bay. Dean had picked Chuck and his wife Jamie from Chetumal, Mexico, on their return from a cruise over in Europe:

"...We passed by your place last night on our way back from the airport at Belize City via [a friend's] truck - and nearly right in front of your place we hit the Mud Hole from Hell and all four of us hit our heads on the truck ceiling, which explains why they call it a "Head Liner" (On account of it leaves lines on your head). The fact that we made it all the way back home must rank as some sort of a miracle.  But nonetheless we did make it home, well after dark.

The road the rest of the way to the ferry is so bad that you couldn't even hold a mud-wrestling match in it without some handicapping for all entrants. Man, I mean to say, that is some serious mud.  You guys must have had quite a bit of rain in the last couple of weeks..."

Yesterday, I had to get some supplies from in town, but I knew there was no way that I was going to attempt to cross the great muddy of Ferry Road. I called Doug and Twyla, who live just north of us, but away from the muddy patch to see, if they were heading into town for some reason, if I could hitch a ride with them to get my shopping done. They were nice enough to allow me to go with them.

I greased up with bug juice, put my back pack on (I needed some way to haul the groceries on our return) and began the walk up to their house. I avoided the road and the muddy track of vehicles through the vacant lots north of our place, and still I was hiking through about six inches of mud and about three to four inches of water on top of that for most of the trek through the lots.

Once past the muddy patch of the road, I got back on the road up to Doug and Twyla's. Once there, I hosed off my legs and sandals loosing about a good pound of mud in the process.

After we completed our shopping and had returned to their house, I spent several minutes on their porch loading up my pack and a couple extra plastic bags, carrying things that it didn't matter if they got wet or not.

Same thing after I got back. A few minutes with the hose and I was good to go again. At least it didn't rain while I was hiking either direction.

While we were shopping, Doug needed to stop at our mechanic Rick's place about some repairs he needed. I took the opportunity as well, and talked to Rick about my needed brake job for the Isuzu. I mentioned to Rick that I thought I'd be able to bring it up to his shop the following day (that'd be today), if it didn't rain. Hah! Guess it's still going to be a few days before I can get up to Rick's to have him look at the brakes.

So far this morning, we've already had three stuckees in the muck and it's only approaching 7:30 AM. The day is young... and, it's still raining.