Life in the Fast Lane...or is that the slow lane?

Driving in Southeast Florida is always a "treat." And by treat I mean something unexpected and fun, right? OK, maybe it is not always a treat. But after living here for nearly 2 years there are some traffic norms I have come to expect, even if I don't love them.

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Slow Lane/Fast Lane
On most Highways, the slower traffic keeps right while speedier drivers enjoy a little freedom with the left hand lanes. Not so in South Florida. There seems to be some code, although I have not quite cracked it yet but everyone knows the fast lane is on the right. Maybe not the far right because that could end up being an exit lane but the next lane is it. So if you want to move it down the highway, don't bother with the far left lane. You'll get stuck behind some grandpa going 55 in the 65 in which most want to go 75...Did I say that out loud?

Pick a Lane
When turning at an intersection on Palm Beach, turning into any lane is quite acceptable. For example, I'm on a four lane road, let's say South Ocean, going south. I'm in the right lane turning right onto Royal Palm Way. It's clear. I turn into the center lane instead of turning into the right lane. What if someone coming north was trying to turn into that lane??? Well, turns out they wait 'cause they know I'm going to just pick any lane I want. CRAZY!!

U-turns are Not a Federal Offense
Florida is a great place for U-turns. Unlike Colorado where U-turns can get you into big trouble. Here, you can make them almost anywhere. I guess if we gave tickets to all the lost folks, we might not have such a great image with the tourists and retired individuals gawking at the ocean and scantily clad beach goers. So while the police ignore it, you MUST watch out while others do it.

Life is distracting to drivers here, I understand.

So, while you are out there on the road, be careful and learn from this Colorado turned Florida girl, u-turns are your friend.

Theory or Razor-tivity

It's fall. In Colorado

that means you start layering, wearing jeans, maybe throwing on a sweater in the evenings. Your wardrobe begins to show off rich fall colors, gem tones and if you are civilized, you put away or flip flops until next summer.

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You venture outside, breath in the cool, crisp air and watch the golden leaves fall from the trees. Then you remember, besides Starbucks bringing back your favorite pumpkin latte, you have one other fall bonus, you can take a few days off shaving your legs. I mean, you won't be showing them off as much.

It's fall. In Florida

that means you continue wearing your Jack Rogers, maybe opting for a slightly richer color like platinum instead of the darling pink of summer. You look longingly into the bright sky and wonder when the days will come when the mercury will dip below 75 degrees. You know these days are payment for all the love the coast will give back during the mid-winter glory.

Right now, though, you pine for the life of a mountain girl who can just cover her legs with cute pants, maybe jeans even and actually stop shaving her legs. I mean, no one ever sees their legs anyway.

In a way, I've lived both lives and that's how I formulated the theory of "razor-tivity".

Undoubtedly you've heard of the theory of relativity...something about time and space folding in on itself blah-de-blah, black hole, yada, yada...watch the Big Bang Theory if you don't know what I'm talking about.

So, here goes, Eli's Theory or Razortivity

Every razor is designed to only cut a certain length of hair. That is the constant. What is relative is the number of times it cuts to get to that total length...but let me tell you, when it is done (and it knows) it starts pulling your hair.

Here's how this works.

In Colorado, during the cold months when mountain women don't shave (I've met a few), the razor cuts long pieces of hair infrequently, when the total length of the average strand cut is equal to three inches...the razor starts to pull and it must be replaced. So you get maybe 8 shaves over the winter and it's time for a new one.

In Florida, however, winter months are filled with showing off legs (darned it). So getting to the three inches takes the same time but nearly 45 shaves before it starts pulling.

I really would have thought you could use the razor 45 times in either place but NOT SO! 

Stupid thing is smarter than it looks.

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Jack-in-the-box!

Ever seen one of these? Of course you have. If you grew up some time in the 70's or 80's you might even remember this exact one. Funny thing about Jack-in-the-Box is that: Some people love'em. Some people hate'em.

You know, you turn the handle, it plays a little tune and at some point, the scary little clown comes popping up sending an adrenaline rush through your entire body.

Well, in Colorado, at altitude, we don't need no stinkin' Jack-in-the-Boxes, 'cause we got PILLSBURY!!

Those impossible cans of yumminess. Ok, so just like a Jack, you hold on to the paper handle, turn the can and although there may not be any music, the scary little biscuits come popping out with a mini explosion, sending an adrenaline rush through your entire body.

Guess what? That has not once happened to me at Sea Level. I'm waiting. I'm waiting, and NO POP!

I've had to take matters into my own hands. Looks something like this:

After you hold the foil-icious paper and twist the can, lay it on the cutting board and give the seam a whack with a wooden spoon...problem solved with control.

Next time you are out west, go to the mountains and go big with your adrenaline rushes: Pillsbury!

Accumulation, Part II: Tropics Defined

Now that I live in Palm Beach, I've discovered what accumulation means here {at least what I have noticed}: how deep the piles of overgrown greens, palms and other natural products are.

It astonished me after five months, seeing bushes bloom numerous times. Back in Colorado, many bushes bring out their splendor in the spring or summer but only once.

Blooming tree in the front of the house with a hungry visitor

Early on in my time here, I began to notice piles of green debris in neighborhoods. These piles, comprised of clipped hedge leaves, fallen palm fronds, discarded limbs and dried bits of flora, piled up at the end of driveways all over the island.

Around our block, these piles magically disappeared on Thursday afternoons.
I mean, I know it's a magical place here but that is going a bit far. On the other hand, I wouldn't put it past the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County to make middle-of-the-night round ups.

After weeks of wondering, I finally saw the claw along with his truck and gentlemen who made the magic happen.

Apparently this crew is out on the Island five days a week to keep the accumulation cleared away...all year.

Smiling! I think he couldn't imagine why I was taking these pictures.

What I want to know? Where does it all go when the truck is full? Feel free to comment if you know.

Thanks and see you next time, Eli

No More "what's your sign" It's "What's Your Plate?"

Growing up in Colorado, we had one license plate. Green mountains with white background...

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Sure, you could customize it with some quippy letters and numbers to actually "mean" something but a solitary image ruled the roads. Recently, the state inverted the design. There are lots of varieties of this plate which tout your university, colonial status or others but the central design of white mountains with a colored background is the way it is.

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When I arrived in Florida, I saw dozens and dozens of plate designs, beginning with the most common:

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Then the list explodes with Universities, Armed Forces and causes. Last month I kept a list of all the different license plates I saw. I think you'll be astounded at the giant diversity and each is designed completely differently. Here goes:

1. Agriculture
2. Air Forces
3. Aquatics
4. Challenger Columbia
5. Choose Life
6. Disabled Veteran
7. Discover Florida's Oceans
8. End Breast Cancer
9. Endless Summer
10. Family First
11. Family Values
12. Fish Florida
13. Florida A&M University
14. Florida Panthers
15. Florida State University
16. Florida Whales
17. The Gator Nation
18. Go Fishing
19. Golf Capital of the World
20. Helping Sea Turtles Survive 
21. Florida Panthers
22. Miami Heat
23. Hospice: Each Day is a Gift
24. Imagine
25. Indian River Lagoon
26. Miami Dolphins 
27. Play Tennis
28. Police Athletic League
29. Protect Children
30. Protect our Reefs
31. Protect the Panther
32. Protect Wild Dolphins
33. Salute Firefighters
34. Salute Veterans
35. Save our Seas
36. Save the Manatees 
37. Share the Road
38. Sportsman’s Natural Land Trust
39. State of the Arts
40. State Wildflower
41. Stetson University
42. Stop Heart Disease 
43. Support Education
44. Support Families
45. Support Law Enforcement
46. Support Soccer
47. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
48. United we Stand
49. University of Central Florida
50. US Army
51. US Navy
52. US Paratroopers

I found this fab link to a gallery on the Orlando Sentinel website. It has images of 114 specialty plates. Cool! They also have a link that includes news on license plates.

On a final note, if you are curious about vintage plates, like I am, check out this site: PlateShack.

While you are out on the road, check out the over 100 funky images on the license plates in Florida...

Until next time, Eli

No Yawning Awnings

The sun is strong here. Everyone tells me so.

The latitude, being on the near side of the equator, actually makes it so. Check out my blog post on the Sun's rays at sea-level beach vs. high altitude mountains.

Any way you slice it, clipping around town for some jaunty fun is a bummer when you stop at a cafe or diner and have to wait outside in the sun for a table or for your valeted car.

Chic stores in Palm Beach use awnings. These aren't your run-of-the-mill, boring awnings. But just like the fashion of hip Palm Beachers, they wear the latest styles with graphic patterns, bright colors and fun shapes.

Graceful shape and dynamic colors

 Let's take a little tour around Palm Beach Island and view some of what the best looking doors wear.

Bold Stripes and scallops

Triplets and Twins

Classic white with scallops

Elegant cloth and metal

Form and color

Here's an activity for you, as you drive or walk around town, see if you spy any of these, or maybe some that I missed. Just enjoy the hunt!

Until next time, Eli

Sea Level Baking

 I can't wait to show you what I achieved today, Asiago Cheese Bread!!

mmmmm, and now for the story!!!

Today is a momentous day in our Palm Beach house by the sea...I am making bread...not a quick one and not with the bread machine...I know, right?

I've been a bread machine baker for years. Not a lot of loaves but I did manage to figure it out when we lived in Denver, the Mile High city, and even in Blue River, Colorado, at an elevation of 10,200 feet, just south of Breckenridge and 10 minutes from South Park {the real one, closely related to the  funny one!}

Altitude can dramatically effect the way ingredients work together, as does humidity. {flour is much drier in Colorado...lacking in humidity!!} So trying traditional bread baking is new to me and achieving it would feel like quite a feat. I am thrilled at the prospect of baking bread at sea level. I found a recipe: asiago cheese bread on Betty Crocker.

So excited to give this a go...
I gathered my ingredients: flour, yeast, sugar, salt, hot water, chopped asiago cheese and rosemary...

I love that you can actually pronounce all the items... I followed the recipe and what do you  know??? It worked!

Forming the loaf

It raised beautifully.

A deep cut down the middle and the addition of asiago!

Yummy, indeed!

 Maybe it is your turn to try something new. Find a recipe and make it. Go dancing in the rain. Try a new craft. Hug more...laugh more...give it a try.

Thanks for stopping by today...I wish you could smell my house.
Eli

Until next time, Eli

Turtle Tracks

I try to take walks on the beach a couple of mornings a week and I always have my eyes open for interesting sites...something I haven't seen before...or simply something different from the last time.


This week, I saw delightful little paths like this:

 

At first, I could not identify them. I described the tracks to a long-time resident and he let me know they were baby sea turtles. He asked me if I had seen any large ones...not yet.

I have to admit, I thought Sea Turtles were creatures of South America or exotic Islands in the Pacific. I didn't really know they lived and reproduced right here in Florida. But it didn't take long to figure out that I was wrong. In fact, did you know that "Nearly 90% of sea turtle nesting in the U.S. occurs in Florida." [source]

Yesterday...I saw the mama tracks...

This one, in fact, went to the wall of a beach-side house. Another mother must have been close by. {It's a little challenging to see but look closely, the tracks start in the bottom corners and move toward the center. The right-hand one is more visible.}

I wondered if these two moms laid their eggs there. How could I know? I mean, I didn't go up there and dig...(that's stupid and illegal: Harassment of sea turtles, an endangered or threatened species, or their nests, is a violation of State and Federal laws, punishable by a fine up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment. )...Well, guess what, there are folks who let us know where the nests are...you might see something like this

You can see four stakes that are marking nests. It is my understanding (and again, this is an unprofessional, Colorado girl talking) that volunteers come out every few days to mark nests to let us all know to stay clear and let nature take its course.

Since I haven't actually seen any turtles yet, mamas or babies, I thought I'd leave you with this link: Tour de Turtles: Shelle the sea turtle is being tracked here, or squirt here So check them out to see where in the Ocean they are!!

Until next time, watch out for turtles...Eli

Visitor in Red

This is a quick post today {I have several that I'm working on that are taking some leg-work.}

This little ruby visited me this morning and played peek-a-boo.

Boys get all the great clothes! I'm just sayin'...

Want to learn a bit more about the Northern Cardinal Bird? Just click!

Until next time, Eli

Sunshine, on my shoulder...

Gives me a sunburn, of course!

 Living in Colorado, everyone talks about how strong the sun is. Did you know that for every 1,000 feet in elevation, there are nearly 5% greater ultra violet rays. Imagine living at a mile high, that's more than 25% ouchier sunburn; sunscreen is always a must!

Moving to Florida, I've been admonished by many folks, "Don't forget the sunscreen. The sun is really strong here." I have to admit I may have rolled my eyes because of all the Colorado training I had...but Floridians aren't thinking about that, they care and want us to be safe. After all, we are a lot closer to the Equator...

Being an inquisitive writer, I wanted find out if one was worse than the other: elevation or equator. (I love Google...)


UV Awaremess is a place to go for detailed info. I discovered many factors affect UV strength, including:

1. Latitude and time of year: Basically, the closer you are to the equator, the higher the UV levels and the smaller amount of ozone that can filter out the harmful rays.
2. Time of Day: "Solor noon" is the issue here. It can be summed up by noting the length of your shadow...shorter shadow? Higher UV!
3. Ozone Levels: We've heard about ozone for years and there is good reason, it helps filter the rays.
4. Reflection: Both water and snow intensify the effects of UV rays. So when you're surfing building a snow fort, be sure to screen up and re-apply if you get wet or sweaty.
5. Altitude: Higher altitudes mean thinner atmosphere yielding powerful rays. So, when you put on your ski boots, be sure to slop on plenty of sunscreen, you've got the double whammy of reflection and altitude.
6. Clear or Cloudy Skies: A cloudless sky obviously provides great saturation of rays but what many people don't know is the amount of UV that can scoot right on through cloud cover, up to 80%. So don't be fooled into being unprotected.

The moral is be aware that UV rays are harmful anywhere. Plenty of sunscreen, covering up skins, limiting time in the sun, especially from 10am to 4pm can help reduce the effects of the harmful rays. For more complete information on sun safety, visit this site, Melanoma.

Until next time, Eli

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