Cool Weather

 Florida got some more cold weather.  Nicer than what we’re used to.  I can feel the need for air conditioning soon.  Unfortunate side effect of living in Florida.  We have another cold front approaching.  I know our dog loves ut!  

Another Rat Bites the Dust

 I went downstairs and noticed a familiar smell.  I closed the bedroom door so the smell would not get in the room.  This morning I pulled out the ladder, put on the gloves, and searched for the body.  I pushed in the first tile and looked.  It did not smell any worse.  No body in sight.  I moved over and looked again.  This time I found it.  I saw his brown fur.  I went over and bagged it.  Then, I checked for others.  Nothing.  I checked an area where poison had been added.  It was still there.  No new rats, I guess.  The air freshener upstairs is still doing its job.  You can smell a faint odor of the rat.  

Censoring the Oldies

 After meeting Kieth Coogan, I went home and turned on Adventures in Babysitting for my daughter.  It was on Disney+.  Halfway through, I notice that the dialogue is not what I remember.  The character of Brad tells his sister that “Thor is a homo!”  On Disney’s version, it became “Thor is a weirdo!”  There were other slight changes.  It reminded me of when TNT censored Die Hard 2.  John McClane’s catch phrase was altered to “Yippee Ki Ye Mr. Falcon!”  I guess if you watch Disney+, older movies will be sanitized for today’s audiences!  I don’t not want a corporation sanitizing what I watch!  

Cruising Out the Tunes

 I hope everyone got what they wanted from Black Friday.  I got rest.  No sales out there.  Today, I got two pair of pants for  $4.30.  Then my daughter and I went to the mall.  Kieth Coogan from Adventures in Babysitting was doing signings for a new store.  I knew that I could not afford to pay for a signature, but I thought it would be fun for my daughter to meet an actor.  She loves Bon Jovi.  Everyone she meets she asks if they know Living on a Prayer.  Before they can answer, she will start singing. He was gracious enough to entertain her by singing along.  He did offer to sell us some things for $50.  She even said she had the money. Of course, she did not.  She was happy.  She said she crushed it out with him!  

Black Friday

 Seems like Black Friday is a did this year.  I’ve looked at the sales.  It’s pitiful.  I guess if they took the tariffs off the pricing it would be better.  Oh well!  Who needs all this junk.  When you hit a certain point in your life, you run out of things to clutter the house.  I am looking to downsize.  

Thanksgiving 2025

 Another turkey day.  Just our little family this year.  No visitors.  Might have to watch a movie later on.  At least I will not be working at a theater.  Those days are gone.  Plus, event pictures have slowed down or the quality has gone down. I know my family will be napping later today!  

Thanksgiving Eve!

 The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is always the slowest day.  Everyone is either travelling or already at their destination.  In my past, this was the calm before the storm.  Thanksgiving through the weekend was a very busy time.  New movies would come out, and they would expect you to work.  Christmas, also.  I sort of miss that, but more the great movies versus the work.  Working all holidays grows old over time. I know I will not be joining the Black Friday craze, if it still exists.  I think it is stupid to fight over things that will eventually be in your local Goodwill.  This demand gets people to spend more than they should.  I don't mind looking for deals.  

Oscar Race

 Wow! They are already predicting nominations/winners.  So ridiculous!  They tend to forget movies released early in the year.  They also fall heavily on box office take versus actual acting/performance.  I do not put much effort into caring.  It tends to be a popularity contest made worse by campaigning.  You may see a newcomer give the best performance ever, and they will worry about an actor who is nominated for the 10th time, thinking they deserve the award before they die.  Many great performances have been overlooked, while mediocre performances get the award.  Politics and political message movies also tend to be put on a pedestal, even if they are not that great.      

Turkey's Pardoned!

 I am truly shocked that Trump pardoned the turkeys.  No, I am not talking about white collar criminals and rich pedophiles who could pay for their pardon.  Nor am I talking about patsies that were awarded a pardon for doing what Trump encouraged them to do.  I am talking about two birds, real turkeys.  How did this happen?  My guess he wanted to show he was not truly evil. Beating and jailing humans is okay, but he has a soft spot for turkeys.  Luckily, it was not a Big Mac! That burger would not stand a chance against Trump.  Trump does not pardon anyone without getting something, especially money!  It does surprise me that they did not die of boredom, having to sit through all of Trump's accomplishments.  

Short Story Contest

 Around October, I saw a post looking for entries for a short story contest.  I decided to try and see what I could come up with.  It seemed good to me.  Of course, I wrote it.  I entered the contest.  They said it would take time for them to go through.  It's been a couple of weeks.  I have decided to add it here.  See what you think.  

Stuck

By Sean Fahey

 

Jimmy’s eyes snapped open, his heart thudding as he sat up. He squinted at the sliding glass door in his room. Pale morning light spilled across the floor, painting the carpet in streaks of gold. The curtain was wide open, fluttering slightly in a breeze that carried the faint scent of cut grass and dew. He remembered closing it before bed.

The air felt cool against his skin, but a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. Outside, the world was quiet except for the distant chirping of birds. He could see his whole backyard. The patchy lawn, branches fluttering in the wind, and the wooden gate at the back, its hinges rusted and squealing as it opened.

A dirty-looking man with a machete stepped into the yard. His boots crunched on gravel, and the blade glinted in the moonlight. Jimmy tried to get out of bed, but his body was frozen. His mouth opened to scream, but nothing came out. The man’s footsteps thudded on the wooden stairs, each one echoing up to Jimmy’s room. He looked to the side but could not move his head. 

A bead of sweat dripped from Jimmy’s forehead, stinging his eyes. He lay back down, pulling the blanket over his head. The fabric had a faint scent of laundry soap and sweat. He waited, listening, his ears straining for any sound. Silence pressed in, thick and heavy. After a couple of minutes, he peeled the sheet down. He blinked, and the room was dark again. The curtains were closed, just like he had left them.

“Got to stop watching horror movies!” he whispered, voice shaky.

When morning arrived, he got up and prepared for a nice summer day.  His mom had already gone to work. 

In the kitchen, he found the newspaper and turned to the movie section.  Many movies jumped out, but he decided on Space Raiders.  Looking at the time, he decided he needed to get ready.  The theater was a couple of miles from his house.  His bike would get him there.   Even if he is early, he knows he could stop by Showbiz Pizza and play games or grab a burger at McDonald's.   Before he left, he called his mom.

“Hey, I’m going to see a movie,” said Jimmy. 

“What are you going to see?  It’s not going to give you nightmares, is it,” she asked.

“No. It’s a comedy slash sci-fi movie, like Star Wars, but funnier,” he said.

“Clean your room before you go, or no more movies!”. She exclaimed.

“Can’t I do it after?” he mumbled.

“No, because you won’t do it.  I’m not asking for much,” she said.  “You need to help me.  It’s just you and me.”

He hung up the phone and ran into his room.  He grabbed clothes from the floor and threw them into a clothes hamper.  He kicked toys under his bed and tossed the remaining in the closet.  He gave it a once-over with a vacuum and thought he did a good job that would appease his mother. 

Walking out of the house, he locked the door and got his bike.  Although he was 10, Jimmy did not have a babysitter. It was the eighties, and he was used to coming and going as he pleased.  That is why they could not keep a babysitter.  The final straw was when he ran off to find his father, and the babysitter freaked out. He even hid in nearby bushes as she frantically looked for him.  When she found him, she let him have it and told him to stay until his mother came to pick him up.    A shiver ran up his spine.

He thought, “I’m too old for a babysitter”.

He rode his bike all over town and was familiar with most roads.  If he needed a shortcut, he would take it.  Today, he decided to stick to the back roads.  There were fewer houses and even less traffic.  The roadway ran towards an area characterized by scrub vegetation, rolling hills, and unpaved terrain.   Locals like to use the area to drive their trucks.  Just on the other side of this area was the start of the shopping areas. 

The sun was slanting in the sky as it approached its apex.  The day was warm but dry, as only California can be.  Up ahead, he could see the heat rising from the pavement as a shimmering mirage.  A boom snapped his attention forward.  A van was approaching.  Jimmy did not think much of it.

As the van passed, Jimmy felt a shiver down his spine.  He did not know why.  It brought him back to his nightmare.  He laughed awkwardly and shrugged it off.

His heart was thudding in his ears. The road sloped upward, putting pressure on his legs. He could not even see over the hill.

Whoosh! 

The van flew by in the opposite direction.  This time, like a bat on fire!

“Jerk”, muttered Jimmy through his sweaty lips. 

He glanced up the hill. The promise of a smooth descent waited on the other side. His legs burned.  He did not know if he would make it.  He may have to walk it up the rest of the way.  But somehow, he made it.  He looked back triumphantly over the hill he had conquered. 

When he looked down the hill, he saw the van in the middle of the road.  Its hazard lights were blinking, and the side doors were open. 

“Great,” he muttered. 

He would have to ride on the passenger side of the van.  If he passed on the driver's side of the van, an oncoming car would leave him with nowhere to go.

His first thought went back to a movie he saw earlier that year.  The movie was Without a Trace. The film centers on a boy abducted by an unidentified attacker and his family's search to find him.

Absently, his hand touched his back pocket and shut down any fear he was having.    

“Where was he?” he thought.

He pedaled by the van. He did not look for the man.  He did not want to see someone pooping. A glint of light in the van caught his attention. Before he could look back, everything went dark.

When he regained consciousness, he was in the van. He tried to move his arms and legs and discovered that someone had tied him up. His mouth was bound with a gag.  He tried to scream out.  He wiggled and kicked his legs towards the door.  The man grabbed a thin bamboo pole and whipped Jimmy.  It hit his face and stung him into silence. 

It was the first time he saw the man.  He was clean cut, wearing a black hat.  He was nothing like the villains in movies.  He looked more like his English teacher, but he had a look in his eyes that scared Jimmy. 

The man picked up a gun from the passenger seat and showed it to Jimmy. 

“Unless you want to end it now, you might want to keep quiet,” turning up the radio to drown out any noises.

A red mark appeared on Jimmy’s face.   He took a deep breath. His heart was beating, but he knew he had to calm down. He closed his eyes. 

 He was transported to the forest with his dad.  He was looking at a buck through the sights of a gun. 

“Take a deep breath and let it out,” said his dad.

Jimmy pulled the trigger, and the animal fell over.  They got up and approached the animal.  He was still alive. 

” When showing mercy to your prey, a dull knife would prolong the animal's suffering,” he told him.  

Jimmy took out his knife and approached the animal.   Jimmy looked into its eye. 

His father guided his hand towards the animal’s neck. 

“You need to cut its artery.”

He did the deed quickly.  The animal went still. 

Opening his eyes, he knew what he had to do.  He had to get these binds off of him. 

He sawed at the rope. Each cut sounded like a chainsaw cutting a log. His hand shook, but he tried to control his fear. The man continued to sing old tunes on the radio. He would only look up when the van slowed to a stop. Jimmy guessed he was stopping at lights or stop signs. It was an easy pattern for him to remember. Just like sneaking up on his prey.  Another strand came loose.  He did not know how much more he had to cut. He felt time moving slowly by. Then, the ropes' tightness went slack.

Hands done, he reached down for his legs. He looked around to see how he was going to get out of this situation. The side doors were missing handles.

The van stopped. The man looked in the mirror.  Jimmy was still in the same position.  Nothing looked out of place. His attention went back to singing and the road.  A song started, and the man turned it up.

Jimmy did not know the song. His father would play music like this during those weekend visits.  Something about being stuck in the middle. The man sang as loud as he could.  Jimmy was fine with that.  It hid any noises he would make. He knew his time was limited.   With a stop approaching, he had to get into place.

He crouched and crept toward the man. The man was moving his head as he sang.  He had no care in the world. Jimmy was fine with that.  Better for him to be into his song than seeing him sneaking up. He did not want to make any sudden movements that would break his concentration.

The van slowed. Jimmy was right behind the man.  He focused on the man’s neck. He could see the beating of the vein.  With the van stopped at a streetlight, the man looked up. The boy was not there. Then, a sudden movement, and all he could see was a light shining off the blade of the knife as it plunged into his neck. His hands grabbed the boy's arms. His foot came off the brake.  The van started to roll.

Jimmy pulled back. The man could not grasp Jimmy’s arms.  The blood was making everything slippery. Horns started to blare. The man covered the cut, trying to stem the flow of his blood.  Jimmy stood staring.

Suddenly, Jimmy was slammed against the van's side and then thrown to the opposite side as it swerved out of control. He fell into the side door in the well area. His head buzzed. He sat staring at the ceiling, mesmerized by the blood.

A knock on the side door brought Jimmy back to reality. He did not know where it came from.  Then, the door slid open. A woman looked at the blood-drenched boy and the blood dripping down. She screams. 

A man comes over and looks.

“It looks like a Jackson Pollock painting!” 

Jimmy looked at the man, not understanding the comment. 

“Hey, kid, are you okay? Do you have an injury? What happened?” asked the man.

“I had to do it.  It was going to be him or me,” barely audible. He looked around to see that they were in the middle of the intersection.

=The police arrived and secured the scene. They checked on the driver and found he was dead. 

“Son, what happened?” asked the police officer.

Jimmy told him what he could remember.

“You are lucky to be alive!” said the officer.

A paramedic put a blanket around Jimmy. He rubbed his back. 

He clung to the scratchy fabric, staring at the flashing lights. He wondered if his mom would be angry or just scared. For the first time, he wished he’d had a babysitter.

“Is he going to be okay?” asked the police officer. 

“Yes, he’s in shock, but I’m sure he'll be fine after some therapy,” replied the paramedic.

 

 

Glade Air Freshener

 I doubt they advertise that they can cover the smell of a dead rat, but I am here to tell you that it does.  I went home last night and could not smell a hint of the dead rat.  Not only that, but the freshener seems to cover a huge area in the house.  If you need to eliminate a smell, try the Glade plug-in air freshener.  We are using a holiday scent.  

Treadmills for Blind Students

 My daughter came home from school the other day.  She is blind and also kind of a comedian.  We asked her what she did that day.  She says, "I went to the gym and walked on the treadmill."  We go "really?"  She replies, "Yes, they have treadmills for blind students.  They do not want us going on the track and running into everybody!"  She kept up with it for many days.  Then, my wife spoke with the Vice Principal.  She asked if they had treadmills for blind students.  She had to ask another person in the office if they did. The answer was that they do not have treadmills for blind students.  My daughter spun a good tale!    

Mistaken Identity

 On our Carnival cruise, they have elegant nights.  For one daughter, every night was elegant.  I dressed in khaki pants and a dark blue polo shirt with an Under Armor logo. I was pushing my daughter around in a wheelchair.  People kept coming up to me to ask directions.  I had to break it to them; I did not work for Carnival.  Watch how you dress!  You might be asked for directions, also.  

Covering the Smell

 The smell of the dead rat comes and goes.  When it comes, it is strong.  I decided to buy some air fresheners.  There is a downside to them.  My blind daughter loves to play with them.  If she finds it, it may disappear.  When I got home from the store, I opened the package and pulled out the device.  My first idea was to place it near the sink.  My daughter may not look there.  The one closer to the floor would be a more likely place to look or feel.  To my surprise, the plug is horizontal and not vertical, like most plugs.  The device does not swivel.  I had to break down and plug it near the floor.  After a little time, the smell was covered.  As of this morning, they are still plugged in.  We'll see if the air fresheners last longer the the decomposition of the rat.  

Lazy Sunday

 I know I should be doing something, but it feels like one of those days.  I fed the animals. I dug out a stall.  Now, I just wait.  My daughters want me to take them shopping for lunch and dessert.  I feel like napping.  I do live this time of year.  It’s not hot.  It could be cooler, but we live in Florida.  There is a chance of cooler weather for Thanksgiving.  

The Rats Strike Back!

I went out on our deck today.  I was tossing scraps to the chickens.  I look down and see what looks like breadcrumbs.  Upon closer examination, it was not breadcrumbs. It was foam we had placed on the door frame that we are trying to fix.  Even closer, and a hole comes into view.  This hole leads to the area where the rats are getting into the house.  I had to get some foam, hardware cloth and wood.  I also gave them a couple of pellets to snack on.  Just hope they don’t stink up the house.  

The Smell That Will not go Away

 I cleaned the bathroom.  I was hoping that might help us pinpoint the smell of the dead rat.  My daughter had gotten hold of a waxy air freshener.  She likes to tear up things.  This time, she got it all over the floor.  Wiping it away was not that easy.  I took a used scrubbing pad and some cleaner and brought them into the bathroom.  That had a better effect on the floor.  Once done, it seemed to be gone. I kept getting whiffs of the rat later in the day.  I think we will have to cut a hole in the wall and locate the body.  I guess this is the downside of using poison.  

Found a Body

 Still haven't found the dead rat in the house.  Sometimes it seems like it is going away, but then it comes back stronger.  I was feeding the chickens and walking around our backyard.  Then a smell hit me.  It smelled just like our bathroom.  Only it was in one of the runs.  I walked in and flies buzzed everywhere.  I pulled back a piece of plastic, and there it was. A dead rat!  I put on some gloves and placed them in a box.  I did not want any predators eating it.  Hopefully, it will burn before the vultures arrive. My neighbor will probably be happy.  She is always shooting in the air to disperse them.  I think she's the one who attracts them.   

Next Cruise

 Our next cruise is approaching.  It will be a surprise for our daughters. Our itinerary:  Half Moon Cays (Carnival beach in the Bahamas), San Juan, St Thomas, and St. Maarten.  This time, it will be an 8-day cruise.  Our last one was only 5!  5 or less go by so quickly.  I couldn't even imagine going on a three-day cruise.  The entire first day is dedicated to boarding the bus.  San Juan and St Thomas were well-walked last year.  I have a new objective in San Juan.  I want authentic Puerto Rican food.  In St Thomas, I want to search for spices.  I did find a store close to the port.  I went on Google Maps and searched.  I still need to find a place to eat in PR.  I look forward to St Maarten.  It is an island that is half Dutch and half French.  When we were younger, we did go there.  We took an excursion that drove us from one side to the other.  This time may just be a port exploration.  We can not afford an excursion with all our daughters.  Plus, they couldn't care less.  They would be bored.  I'm sure we will find things that excite them.  Half Moon Cays will give them the ability to go in the ocean.  The other three do not appear to have beaches near the port.  

Grand Cayman

 The second island we went to, on our cruise, was Grand Cayman.  It was our first time visiting the island. One downside of visiting Grand Cayman by ship is that it requires a tender boat to get you to land.  Depending on how long it takes, you may not have the most time to get around.  When we finally got on the land, we had about three hours.  Not much time.  We did walk around the port shops.  They were expensive. Up the road, we found an arts and crafts tent with locals.  We found much better deals.  The people were super friendly.  They did not even try to pressure us into a sale.  The big and famous beach on this island is Seven Mile Beach.  It is on the opposite side of the island.  Since they do not provide maps, we were unsure of the island's size.  They want you to depend on an excursion.  We found a small cove where people were swimming. One daughter ran right into the water.  Temperature does not bother her.  It could be freezing, and she'd still run out there.  Because she is deaf, I can not let her go out too far.  She thinks she is a fish.  The shallow parts of the beach were rocky.  Luckily, I had on water shoes.  They kept slipping off.   When I caught up to my daughter, she would kick and push me away.  I even think the port authority was coming by on a boat to tell us to go back to the shallows.  I finally had to pull her out. She was not happy.  She gave up when we reached the road. It is a nice island, and I wish we had seen more of it.  

Breaking Down

 I think we are going to have to cut into our wall at home.  The smell is becoming overwhelming. I know once we clean it up, we need to seal off those areas.  We do not need another one dying in there.  My wife was even trying to get a new shower out of it.  I do know there is room to grow, but our finances need to grow as well.  We have enough debt. Maybe a walk-in shower.  It is the guest bathroom, but it is the best for cleaning one of my daughters. I'd like something closer to the handicap shower we had on the cruise.       

The Running Man

 I can not believe it did not do better on opening weekend.  I still plan on seeing it.  On top of that, it was beaten by Now You See Me 3.  Too much CGI magic for me.  Perhaps word of mouth will spread, and more people will see it.  It looks more faithful to the book than the 80s Running Man.  I have Zootopia 2 on my list of upcoming releases to see.  My daughters want to see it.  

Mystery Smell

 When I got home, I pulled out a ladder and went through our bottom-level ceiling.  I did not find any dead rats.  I did find that recently laid poison was gone.  I added more.  I went upstairs and had to go through the attic crawlspace.  I did get whiffs of dead animal smell, but no bodies.  As I progressed further, the smell became stronger.  I pulled up some insulation and found a big hole that led to the back of the bathroom shower.  What it looks like is that a rat fell in and couldn't get out.  I do not think I can get in there.  I may look again because the smell is bad.   

Bait and Switch

 On board the cruise, there is a jewelry store.  They thought of using the cruise duck's popularity to run a promotion.  Their version involves hiding a green rubber duck with the company name.  It has turned in for a prize.  To me, that means you would receive a cheaper prize.  I wouldn't expect much, as it is a promotion.  The other night, I looked down and saw the duck.  We were encouraged to submit it and receive our prize.  It turns out there was no prize.  Instead, you get the opportunity to get $200 off a gaudy yellow diamond ring that costs $14,000.  How many think they actually get any takers?  I really doubt it.  In legal terms, it's a bait-and-switch.  I wish we had kept the duck.  It had more value.  They did offer things they already give out for free.  

What's that Smell?

 When I got home on Saturday, I used our upstairs bathroom.  There was a smell.  I thought somebody had put a poop diaper in the trash.  As of yesterday, the smell is still lingering.  My wife thinks it might be a dead rat.  That makes sense.  I did block off their entry point.  They ate a lot of poison.  I guess when I get home, I will have to search for a body. Just what I want to do.  😒 

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

 I read that Ocho Rios means eight rivers.  It gives you an idea of how to pronounce the Ocho.  We were the first cruise to return to the island with vacationers. They even had a ceremony to welcome back the cruise ships.  We walked to the port.  It was okay, but it had a very corporate feel.  Many of the shops were familiar to those found in every cruise port. There were some locals.  We tended to stick with them.  I dared to walk outside the port area.  At first, it was okay.  Then, I was approached with taxi requests and a strange man with a paper bag.  He wanted to know if I wanted pot.  I knew it was time to go back to the safety of the port shops.  There was not enough time to avoid the rain.  As we approached the ship, the weather went from a drizzle to a downpour.  Then it stopped.  The shops seemed expensive.  Like I said, we found some local deals.  Overall, the area looked fine.  Untouched by the massive winds, Melissa packed.  There was also a mountain that would have shielded Ocho Rios from the winds. They were probably hit with power outages.  

I'm Back!

 I took a couple of days off for a cruise.  We got to visit Jamaica and Grand Cayman.  I was surprised by the day we embarked.  The Miami Cruise Port was not as bad as I remembered it being.  When we returned, it was the port I know and "love".  I guess it depends on road construction, which Miami always seems to be doing.  95 is a nightmare.  They are always closing lanes.  That, combined with accidents and congestion, creates nightmares.  We always try to go down a day early.  If you cruise, that's the way you should approach embarkation day.  Especially if you are flying.  Ships will depart on time, unless there is a reason not to.  Late passengers are not a reason.  When driving in Miami, think defensive driving.  People will do crazy things, and there is little patience to be found down there.  The weather was great.  Not the burning heat of summer.  

Port Miami

 Port Miami is a nightmare.  I guess when they brought in all these cruises into one little port they didn’t consider all the traffic.  If you come down 95 to Miami, you’re going to be in traffic.  Day or night.  Plus they have a bunch of professional sports stadiums all crowded in there.  Just remember leave early and bring your patience.  These people are the worst drivers.  

Winter Wonderland

 The big freeze is coming to Florida.  I’m going to miss it!  Hopefully, we will get later rounds if cold.  Yesterday was awful.  It was hot and humid. We stopped at a KFC and their AC was broken.  Today is starting out okay.