Christmas Lights

I didn't think that I would be able to put up lights this year because of all the work involved in moving and unpacking, but I took some time yesterday to do just that.  It did feel a bit strange to string those lights on the Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, and Oleander though.  The end result was wonderful.  I am glad I took the time to do this.

11123 Hyacinth Place

OK, we are in.  Now if we can only get rid of the boxes we will be alright!

Addresses of my life

So far I have lived at them all: a single digit address through a 5 digit address.  Here they are in digit size order.
6 Nimitz Street, Huntington, NY
7 Timber Lane, Pocono Pines, PA
78 Trafalgar Drive, Colonia, NJ
515 Locust Street, Roselle, NJ
400 West Grand Avenue, Rahway, NJ
307 W. Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ
985 Edgewood Road, Elizabeth, NJ
2892 Randall Avenue, Bronx, NY
2874 Roosevelt Avenue, Bronx, NY
3594 E. Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY
5536 Simonton Street, Bradenton, FL
11123 Hyacinth Place, Lakewood Ranch, FL
I think its time to settle down!

My Fair Lady

Beautiful theater: Asolo Repertory Theatre -- a beautiful and talented Liza! and a wonderful production.

"The majesty and grandeur of the English language, it's the greatest possession we have.  The noblest thoughts that ever flowed through the hearts of men are contained in its extraordinary, imaginative, and musical mixtures of sounds." -- Professor Henry Higgins

New beginnings -- again.

Closing today, 1:30 P.M. on 11123 Hyacinth!  Lakewood Ranch here we come!!!

Random Thought

Thank you for everything.

90 Day Guarantee

Yesterday marked three months of my morning walks.  Although since Oct 1 and the addition of Bill Bailey, we are up to at least three walks a day.  The long one in the mornings, a short one at midday and a medium one after dinner.

A beautiful end to a beautiful day

Bill Bailey Lyrics

Won't you come home, Bill Bailey, won't you come home


I've moaned the whole night long

I'll do the cookin', honey, I'll pay the rent

I know I done you wrong



You remember that rainy evenin'

I threw you out....with nothin' but a fine tooth comb

Ya, I know I'm to blame, now... ain't it a shame

Bill Bailey, won't you please come home



(instrumental break)



Won't you come home, Bill Bailey, won't you come on home

I've moaned that whole day long

I'll do all the cookin' honey, I'll even pay the rent

I know, that I have done you, oh so, wrong



You remember that rainy evenin'

I throwed you out, with nothin but a fine tooth comb

I know I'm to blame, now... ain't it a shame

So baby, won't you please come



I said now, won't you please come



Bill Bailey, won't you please.... come on home

Won't you come home, Bill Bailey?

And he did.  Bill Bailey came to live with us this afternoon.

Down Under

Twenty-five years ago we headed out on the longest journey of our lives.  We crossed the equator and the International Date Line.  Destination Australia for two weeks of wonder. 

The photo on the left is us, 25 years younger and me 100 pounds lighter.  Can I get there again?

The previous 25 years were a blast, and if they are any indication, the next 25 will be one hell of a ride.  Look out life here we come!

Twenty-Five Years Ago

Twenty-five years ago life seemed different.  I thought I had it figured out -- yeah right. 

Chris and I lived at 307 West Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ Apartment # 304.  It was a third story walk-up built in a different era.  The door opened onto a long hallway which led to a large foyer.  The small but servicable kitchen was over to the left and the large sunken living room was straight ahead.  A left turn before you went down into the living room brought you through a smaller hallway directly into the bathroom and the bed room was to the right of that.

The bathroom had a large tub and a separate stall shower, but was otherwise unremarkable.

When we left this apartment for a house in May of 1987 we were paying $385 a month rent.

Chris and Vincent Celebrate 25 Years Together

Today, September 26 is our Silver Wedding Anniversary.  A lot has happened in those 25 years.  When we started off in life together, I was working in NYC and expecting to work forever.  We are both retired now in Florida. 

A lot of beloved people have made their transition over the past 25 years.  We love you and thank you for being in our lives.
Chris' mom and dad -- Helen (Liddy) and Frank Beninato. Aunt Albina and Uncle Tom Beninato, Aunt Mary and Uncle Joe Beninato, Uncle George Gencarelli, Cousins Jimmy and Johnny Beninato.
My dad -- Vincenzo (Jimmy) Veneruso, my sister Lorraine Peloso.  Aunt Anna and Uncle Sal D'Angelo, Uncle John DeMicco, Aunt Elvira Masi, Aunt Ann Masi, Cousin Mary Ann De Micco, Cousin Doris DeMicco.

Of course many have made their way into our lives especially the love of our lives, the apple of our eye,our daughter Liddy Rose, and an untold number of friends.  After our wedding in 1986, along came a slew of nephews and nieces.  And one grandson, Nicholas!

We ended our day at the Lazy Lobster with a nice dinner.  We were accompanied by Liddy and Aunt Sis.

Marie Selby Gardens Sep 23, 2011

Marie Selby Gardens: a beautiful spot for a day trip in Sarasota.

Two Month Anniversary

July 18 was day one.  On that morning, I could barely make it around the block and I ached all over when I returned.  Today, two months later I am still in pain but we are still at it.  Our diurnal morning walks take us around the perimeter of the development, they zig zag through the Townhouses and last at least a half an hour and cover approximately 1.1 miles.

I am feeling good and although it still hurts, the pain seems to be more bearable than two months ago.  I look forward to each morning with dread and anticipation.  I feel good when its over and I do not want to miss a day because I am afraid that I will not get back to this routine.

On a brighter note ....

Chris and I enjoyed a beautiful day as Mike and Tako's guests on Mariena and Amir's boat.

It was a simply beautiful day in paradise.

Sep 11, 2011 Ten Years Later

How long does healing take?  A decade and the wounds are still prominent. 

Liddy and Dad August 26, 2011

Liddy's 17th Birthday Picture

Dali Museum

Today we (Chris, Liddy, Brad and I) drove up to St. Petersburg to visit the new Dali Museum.  I saw things in the paintings that I had not seen the first time I visited: I guess I have to keep going back!

I Survived Liddy's First Driving Lesson!

I let Liddy drive around the block this morning so she could get used to being behind the wheel.  A professional teacher is the best in this situation but it will take a week or two before we can get Liddy into a professional driving school class.  I hope I can make it through.

Learner's Permit

Liddy got her Florida Learner's Permit yesterday.  The third time was, apparantly, the charm.  She took the written test twice before and failed  For some reason she was just not motivated to learn to drive. 

I remember when I was at the age for my permit, nothing could hold me back.  I had no car, nor did I have any prospects of owning a car; I just knew that I wanted that permit and nothing was going to keep me from driving.  Now I don't like driving and prefer to be driven!

Myakka River State Park

Deathly Hallows Part II

The last Harry Potter film in theaters. 

Very well done movie.

Change is . . .

Look out Florida, here I come!!!

My new Florida license plate.

Not sure what to do with the front now.

Rolling Green Golf Course Sarasota, FL

It did not seem so green when I was there this morning, and having said that, I still suck at this game!

Mote Aquarium on July 4, 2011

A birthday visit to the Mote Aquarium where I encountered the Jaws of Death.  The jaws of an acutal Megalodon.  Really cool! 
Then the beauty of Lotus blossons.

I love this place.



65 Trips Around the Sun

As of today I have made 65 complete trips around the sun!  I have traveled approximately 38 billion miles on spaceship Earth.  The Earth does about 583 million miles a year in its annual journey around the sun; multiply that by 65 and I have traveled almost 38,000,000,000 miles since I arrived here. 

Today, July 4, 2011 is Aphelion, the one day a year in which the Earth is the farthest from the sun.  I don't know what its significance is to my life, but I experienced 65 of them so far.

The Next Chapter

Today I am embarking on the next chapter in my life.  I am officially retired!  Now what?

Another Era Passes

We closed on our Elizabeth house today.  Twenty-five years is a long time to live in one place. There were times when I thought we would be there forever and other times when I thought we shouldn't be there at all.  We had some great times in Elizabeth, wonderful friends and neighbors.  When we moved in twenty-five years ago I never would have predicted then that we would someday move out of NJ and make our home in Florida but here we are!

Dentist

We started with a new dentist today.  Dr. Craig Georgiades on Clark Rd.

Half a sock day

Today I capitulated to pressure from my family and wore ankle socks for the first time.  I feel like I am wearing only half of the sock, but everyone else seems to be happy with my 'new' look.

Sea World June 21, 2011

Thanks Anthony and Kristen!  We had a wonderful day at Sea World.  Just wait until Mike Tyson sees my tat!!  Mike Tyson actually has his tattoo copyrighted, no one can use that tattoo with out paying Iron Mike a royalty.  Maybe I should have copyrighted mine?

Orb Energy Form?

Pygmy Date Palm April 2011

It is April and finally the Christmas Palm that was ravaged by the freeze in December 2009 has been replaced with a Pygmy Date Palm now in April 2011.

Hopefully the new tree will be more cold tolerant. It certainly is beautiful!

Social Security

I did it! I signed up for Social Security today.

Happy Easter 2011

Easter is here again. This year I decided to see if I could make a traditional "Pastiera" -- well, I can! It came out wonderful and I have been enjoying it.

Happy 100th Birthday Pop

Pop would have been 100 years old yesterday, April 18. Yesterday I received my copy of the latest Harry Potty DVD -- Deathly Hallows Part I. Has anyone noticed that the scene where Dudley hugs Harry in the beginning of the movie is missing from the DVD?

The Job Hunter

My Liddy joined the ranks of job seekers today. She applied for a job for the first time.

Meadowlands

Making Grandpa happy by wearing her Meadowlands hoodie!

Moving Day

Waiting for the moving van to arrive at Edgewood Road.

Grandpa & Nicky in Paradise

Mandy Patinkin Concert

My honey and I went to the Van Wezel Center for his concert. Mandy came out singing and sang and told stories and just entertained his heart out for almost two hours.

Braden River Dawn

Dawn on the Braden River is a primal event. The only sound is the occasional splash of a fish as gravity pulls it back into the water.