ABOVE THE WATERLINE, BARELY

Some of the stuff Irma left behind, just amazes me. This boat survived Irma without sinking. I don't know how, but she stayed afloat.

Her owner didn't want the problem, so he gave it to his brother. 

She is a plywood boat. I do not know her history, but I will find out.

I didn't look real close, but it looks like it has no fiberglass on the hull.

I will post updates as I see progress.

MOVIES

I love movies. It can take you to another world, another time, live someone else's life, make you happy, make you think, all at the touch of a button. Tonight, I watched "Up In The Air". The one line that stopped me in my tracks, "Think about the happy moments in your life. Were you alone?" We all know the answer to that one.

Lately, I have been battling loneliness. In a perfect world, I would be someone's "other half". But this is not a perfect world. I am okay with not having a plus one, but it is not my preferred existence. 

In order to change my relationship status, I have to put myself out there, and I don't want to do that. Two out of the last three relationships, I was dumped. I want to believe the first dumping was because he was confused, depressed, and generally couldn't get his head straight. But I could be wrong. The last time I was "let go", was because I was too old. That hurt, we were the same age. Until that day, I didn't really feel old, but now when I look in the mirror, I see an old woman. Of course, the extra pounds, grey hair and wrinkles contribute to that. I'm coming up on the dreaded 60. 

Ever since I moved back to Florida, I have not even entertained the thought of dating. I felt safe being single. I wasn't sure why I felt that way, until last week when I had an epiphany. When you are single and dating, and meet someone for the first time... you judge them. You size them up. I don't want to be judged. I don't want to be rejected. I don't want to feel I'm not good enough. 

So, here I am, like every other night. Sitting in my little cave I call an apartment. Alone.
I'll find me an old western movie. I love horses. Let's see, how about Randolph Scott. Oh,  or Sam Elliot... he's nice to look at! And that voice! 

Shhh... the movie is starting... 

Today I pulled the kayak out and went paddling. This is the first time I've been on the water since hurricane Irma. The channel I usually go down, has a few obstacles... tree tops. I went out to see what I could find in the mangroves. Turns out, not a lot. I was a little surprised. 

The big white fender was way too far up in the dense mangrove, so I didn't even try for that. I was able to retrieve the 40 feet of blue rope.

A little farther down, I come upon a boat. It was a very sad looking boat, that I'm sure has a captivating story to tell of her Irma experience. It has been tagged with caution tape, so I'm sure the numbers have been taken and put on THE LIST.

It will take a long time to recover from Irma. She trimmed all the trees, but new leaves are showing up everyday. One positive thing Irma did, was give the plants a good watering. Yesterday, on my bike ride to the beach, I came across these beautiful bogavia.

OUR POOL

Amazing what those chemicals can do!

Twenty-nine days post IRMAGEDDON, our pool is finally a pretty blue again... after turning swamp green, brown and then black. Our pool guys have been here everyday for the past week. They earned their money with our pool.

You don't realize how much you use something, until you can't. Our tans have faded. But today, Amy and I had a nice soak and caught some rays.

The iguanas have spent more time on the ground these days, since their trees in the back have had the tops cut off. I have chased them away from the pool more than once. Unfortunately, they like to take a dip in the pool too.