Florida is Freezing

 We are hitting freezing temperatures in Florida.  One day it's warm, and then it's cold.  The kids are getting sick.  I even had to pull out my leather jacket.  That only happens a few times in a year, if at all.  I can guess that it will be warm again soon.  At least there is no snow and ice.  I would hate to drive in Florida during a snow and ice storm.  These people can't drive in good weather.  

Shore Excursion and Shopping Shows

 When you cruise, they will have a show that will introduce you to the places you will visit.  We made a mistake and sat through one.  I reminded my wife to hit me in the head if I ever suggest doing another one.  When you get in, they will give you tickets for "prizes" you can win.  They will give away excursions, clothing, and other knick-knacks.  You have to stay to win them.  The person doing the show is the ship's "personal shopper".  They will act like they have your best interests in mind.  They are not looking out for you; they are looking out for the port shops.  I am guessing they might work on commission.  They will tell you about how great prices are because they are duty-free.  Use common sense.  The prices do not look that low. If you are looking for alcohol, jewelry, etc., do your research.  My wife said she saw where people bought jewelry and brought it to be appraised when they got home.  They found that it was worth less than they paid for it.  They will also tell you about the rarity of stones like Tanzinite.  The only place I hear about this is on cruise ships.  Investigate before cruising.  Once you're onboard, the internet is limited.  The people on the boat are getting paid to push it.  These shows are extremely boring and very repetitive!  

Excursions are Overrated!

 When we were younger, we did a couple of excursions.  We saw a Mayan pyramid, we took a bus through St. Martin, and we visited a snorkeling beach in St. Thomas.  When you start bringing children with you, it becomes more expensive.  Not only that, but the costs have really gone up.  Walking tours begin around $50 and then go up from there.  The problem we would have is that it would not be worth the money.  Our kids are just as happy staying on the boat.  Usually, I just go into port and look around.  My family might accompany me if they have not been there.  All port stores are the same.  You are lucky if you can find anything original.  Most is imported from China.  Another issue with excursions is that they rush you through areas and go only to certain tourist traps. By the time it is done, you have to get back on the ship.  Do research and plan ahead.   

Attack on Movies

 For every critic complaining about Netflix killing the movie experience, they are not doing much to champion going to movies in theaters.  Every time I see a story, I don't see much encouragement, especially for smaller films.  Then, you have the instant returns.  Publications expect movies to make all their money in the first week.  An example would be the Christmas release of Avatar 3.  It was released one week before Christmas.  That is the week when everyone is doing their last-minute shopping.  Kids went on vacation the Monday after it came out.  To me, it is no surprise that it is "rebounding."  When we worked in theaters, it was the calm before the storm.  A slow first week before Christmas usually meant a slaughter the next week.  Don't believe what you read about a film dying in its first week.  Sometimes it is just beginning.  

Beaches in the Caribbean

One thing I noticed on our cruise is that the islands have the same problem Florida has.  The rich and corporations are taking over the beaches.  It is getting harder to find a beach that is not charging for access.  Some places can be pricy.  One place charges over $100 to access its property.   Influencers will tell you it's a great deal not to have to mingle with the locals.   What's the point of cruising to specific countries?  If you want a beach without locals, go to a cruise ship's "private" island.  The people are what make these countries interesting.  Who wants a generic beach with generic food?  Those shops you look for souvenirs in are probably not owned by locals and offer all the same stuff.  Try to find local spots and buy handmade goods.  

Early Morning

 Our ship arrived early.  We had to get up around 6 am.  When you cruise, they give you one last meal.  We love to do it in the dining hall.  Most go to the buffet on the Lido deck.  No thanks.  Plus, we hope we get to say one last good bye to those who worked in there.  It’s the people that work on Carnival that make it great for us.  They treat our kids like everyone else.  It also helps that they look out for us.  When you have special needs children, waiting can be hard on them.  We do tend to slow up things.  After our meal, we have to go to our waiting spot.  Sometimes, we get assistance.  You usually have to wait.  Today, we ended up in the leave line.  So, we just went with it.  We also were almost in the middle of a fight.  Someone rudely bumped into someone. That person made a comment. It started escalating. We jumped on the down elevator.  Luckily there was no fight.  Then, we had a line to get to luggage. A line to get to passport checks. A line to get to our vehicle.  Finally, a line to get in the traffic up north!  

We Got Kicked Off a Cruise

 The final day arrived.  Everyone was sad.  No mattter what we did, they would not let us stay on the ship.  My daughters even said the would teach dance, sing, be a magician, pickup up dishes(that daughter said she would take them off the boat). It still did not matter.  They said if we had wanted to stay, we’d have to buy another ticket and do a back to back.  

Day at Sea

 We had two days at sea before returning home. We woke up Christmas Day with the girls getting some gifts.  Before that, my daughter and I had walked upstairs.  I found that Carnival has bagel options for free!  They were tasty.  We all trained to go to brunch, but one daughter did not want to go.  When returning, I found another daughter did not want to swim.  Her sister did. I got to experience the waterslide in the freezing water.  Then, my daughter dragged me to the hot tubs.  They felt nice. My daughter is a social butterfly teetering on social stalker. She tries to talk and sing to everyone.  If people do not respond, she will follow them.  She had some fun.  We sat through the Grinch games.  It was okay.  Definitely got kids.  My daughter did not seem that interested.  Later in the day, we ate Christmas dinner.  We picked turkey meals.  There was a 50/50 chance it would be any good.  Many years prior, we did a Thanksgiving cruise.  The turkey was round, like the kind that came out of a can.  The sides were not like we had ever had.  For Christmas, it was better.  The turkey cut like it came from an actual bird and not a can.  The sides were okay.  The stuffing was very mushy, like a pudding.  The sweet potatoes were good.  The desserts were good, just very rich.  

St.Thomas, Deja Vu!

 Today, we are in St. Thomas.  It feels like I was just here.  Well actually, it was last year.  This time I tracked down a grocery store.  It is not like St. Martin.  Guess the tariffs are hit them hard.  Their prices are like tourist prices in Orlando!  The stores all sell the same still with prices deviating slightly.  There is no hand made stuff.  It looks like they get most from China.  Really, I only not needed cough syrup for my daughter.  I found a local pharmacy and only had to pay 6 or 7 dollars for it.  Oh know!  I said it.  My mind thinks of my daughters waving hands saying 6. 7!  If you want to go to a nice spot in St. Thomas, you have to take a cab or excursion.  Soon we will be leaving.  Merry Christmas to everyone!  I will return on Saturday!  

St.Martin Island

 Yesterday was St. Martin.  It is an island of two nationalities.   One side is Dutch and the other side is French.  The family was not doing well, so I decided to walk into town.  When you arrive, you find out that from the port it takes five minutes to walk to the town.  The shops were okay, but tended to be the same old stuff.  I did find some hand made goods.  They do have a beach on the port side.  It is covered with sun chairs tvat you have to pay to use.  You have to walk to the far side to find free beach.  Walking back, I stopped at a local grocery store.  I’m glad I did.  I found a great deal on spices.  If you ever visit this island, go into the grocery store.  The other beaches can be reached by tours or taxis.  Also, a person who had involvement with the creation of Yoda has a museum there.  You actually can meet him and see the work he has done in Hollywood.  He and his wife run it as a non profit to benefit kids around the world!  

San Juan Sightseeing

 Arrived in Puerto Rico this morning.  At first, it was comfortable.  When you got in the sun it was hot.  My daughter and I walked to a pet we’d never been to.  I got to see a beach we could not get to.  We saw some government buildings, a fort, and a bunch of iguanas.  It was a nice walk.  It helps to visit different parts if you go there multiple times.  Tomorrow is St. Thomas.  Been there a lot of times.  I might not stay long.  

Height of Entitlement

  live near a place where the elderly or those over 55 are constantly complaining about young people and entitlement.  I am on a cruise with families and lots of kids.  They just did a giveaway.  You’d think the priority should be the kids.  There was a mob scene and they had to tell people that kids should be the ones to get them.  My handicapped kid was pushed out of the way.  Some lady passed us with 5 in her hand.  Do you think they were kids? No! It was a group of adults too lazy to go get them!  Most of them seemed to go to older, entitled adults!  Adults should be able to understand why kids should be the priority.  Kids have less understanding why adults should be able to push them out of the way to get a hat.  

Christmas Surprise

 We got to surprise our daughters Thursday.  We drove fown to Miami.  The girls thought mom had an appointment with a lawyer.  The next day we drove to the Port of Miami.  Then we had to park.  We had hoped to pull up to the terminal, but the traffic was worse than usual or it was the usual.  At this point, we explained we had to park for the Carnival Magic.  Nothing.  I turned and had to say, you are going on an eight day cruise for Christmas!  Then, we got excitement.  One daughter claimed she knew it because she saw some paperwork.  It was a surprise to them.  Now, they want Christmas cruises every year.  I don’t think we can afford that.  

Oscars Streaming

 It looks like the Oscars will be streaming instead of showing on TV.  YouTube won a contract to show it after the Disney contract ends.  It's a sign of the times.  The one thing they embrace is the one medium they fear.  Those in Hollywood worry that streaming will kill the theater experience.  It definitely has changed movie watching habits.  Small, intimate movies do not really sell in theaters.  People want to see big movies on the screen.  I think it also depends on the story.  If it's not really good or just repetitive, what do they expect?  I wish they would realize that they need to make better movies for them to succeed in movie theaters.  They will never realize that lesson.  

Betrayed Update

When I was younger, I saw the movie Betrayed.  It is a gritty movie about an FBI agent who goes undercover in the world of white supremacy.  Today, we need a follow up.  Not a remake or a reboot.  They could have another person go undercover.  That movement is thriving.  With our current government, it is not being watched.  They are part of the government.  They are politicians, preachers, ICE agents, etc.  Their hate is now legal and even encouraged by the president.  If you watch Betrayed, you would see that in the end, they achieved what they were aiming for.  

New House

 My daughter is moving out.  She is strapped for money.  You'd think anything she could get to furnish the house would be appreciated.  I saw a curb alert on Facebook.  That is where someone is getting rid of something, but they are alerting people that it is free for the taking. I sent her a picture, and she said it was nice.  I told her it was free for the taking if you can beat others.  She does not care for it because it does not fit her style. When we were low on money, we did not have the luxury of style.  If we needed a piece of furniture, we'd get it for the least amount of money. When we could afford better furnishings, we would upgrade.  Kids nowadays don't mind maxing out their credit. I just don't get it.  I know a lot of it comes from programming in social networks. When you have no money? I'd rather have money than care about what people on a social network think.   

What is Hollywood to Do?

 Everyone is up in arms about Netflix buying WB.  I don't think either should be able to buy the company.  I have no say.  We need to go back to the Paramount Antitrust Decrees.  It says that those who create movies can not be the same as those who show those movies.  Back in the day, the movie corporations owned the movie theaters.  We are going in the same direction with streaming.  If I had to pick one, I would go with Netflix.  They currently do not own a production/film company.  They pay others to create for them.  They will not have as much duplication as Paramount will have.  If Paramount wins, there will be mass layoffs.  It will also mean fewer movies being released. Some will say no movies will be released in theaters if Netflix wins.  They say they will continue to release movies in theaters through WB.  Who are we to believe? Paramount says they will not fire people and that the Middle East partners will not control access.  I have a hard time believing that people who put up a large amount of money are not going to want something besides return on equity.  As you can see from WB Discovery, there was a decrease in that return. Another thing I have to point out for Hollywood, Oscar-bait movies are not doing well in theaters. Ella McCay was poised for an Oscar run.  After this weekend, I do not see it.  Look at current nominees for the early awards.  A good half are coming from streamers.  I just don't see how theaters will play a role in the Oscars, except for big-budget effects.  That is, unless the Oscars take over the MTV
 awards and start awarding best kiss, biggest box office take, biggest explosions, etc.  

Animal Farm Destroyed

 I saw a preview yesterday that I wish I could unsee.  George Orwell would be rolling in his grave to see what has been done to his novel.  It evolved from a cautionary tale to a DreamWorks animated tale, featuring all the usual characters and villains.  This will be one movie that I will never see.  It is not the book I read in high school.  That book had meaning.  This looks like a Hollywood producer said this is depressing, let's add fart jokes and current slang/music.  Sorry to any parents that feel forced to take your children to this movie.  

Forgotten States

 Every year, you hear of states that feel the government has forgotten them.  Now we have a president who only cares about making money for himself.  Those forgotten really backed a winner.  If you really must know, their problem lies with the people they elect.  They elect republicans who are totally beholden to the rich.  These politicians do nothing to help the people of those states.  Then, you have the idiots who are trying to save dinosaurs.  I mean, businesses like coal.  It's a dying industry.  Technology has surpassed the needs of coal.  Even China is backing away from coal.  From the pollution they have suffered through, they realize it is no longer sustainable.  Our country could be putting in factories for solar and wind power in these so-called forgotten states.  Jobs that are probably safer and pay better.  The politicians are taking bribes to make sure that they do not.  If you live in a forgotten state, probably a red state, elect representatives who speak and fight for you.  You have no representation when competing with wealthy donors.  These people don't even all live in these states.  They make money off of they're misery.  

Autocrat Condolences

 So, our wannabe Autocrat gave condolences yesterday.  He told the victims of the Brown shooting that shit happens and his fake prayers go out to them.  For Rob Reiner, he said that because he hated trump so much, that it came back to haunt him.  Go to love this guy!  The only person he cares about is himself.  Just what we need as a president.  So sad!  

Losing the Past

 I woke up this morning to another death of a past actor/director that I liked.  Rob Reiner did a lot of movies that I grew up on.  Not to mention watching all in the family as a child.  Before that, it was an actor who was a bad guy in many movies.  Getting older sucks.  

Paul Dano is a Great Actor

 I read about Tarantino's hate for Paul Dano.  I went to Amazon and bought Prisoners.  He has had many movies that I liked.  I do not understand why he does not like his performances, but they beat the hell out of all the movies he put himself in.  At least, Hitchcock knew to keep his walk-ons to a minute or two.  Check out some Paul Dano films.  Little Miss Sunshine, Prisoners, Mad Money, The Batman, and There Will Be Blood.  Although Tarantino has a good eye for actors to fill the roles he writes, he is not god and most of his movies are stories that he writes with shots borrowed from other filmmakers. To say his movies are original may be lopsided.  Maybe that is why Oscar for best director eluded him.     

Trump’s Hate Rules the World

 It’s trumps world and we’re just living in it.  More like the hate he espouses is infecting everything.  He probably loves it.  We have a shooting at another school, there is a mass shooting in Australia. Russia taki g out infrastructure in Ukraine, our military killing fishermen in Venezuelan waters, etc.  The world is just trying to survive the hate our country is importing.  Yet his political party remains silent.  How disgusting!  This man is a felon, who continues to commit crimes as president. 

War Crimes

 You see trump is taking oil shipments without killing anyone. Why can’t they do the same for the smaller boats they are blowing up?  Maybe it’s because they know they will not find drugs.  That is why they are executing survivors.  Dead men tell no tales!  There needs to be a full investigation.  He is acting like a dictator!  

Disgusting Pig

 Our president is a disgusting pig.  With his anti-DEI measures, he is going after the disabled.  How low can this guy go!  He’s fighting to stop from having to use an interpreter for the deaf!  I have disabled children.  People like him are no better than the Nazis.  His followers feel the same.  They probably think that disabled people add nothing to society.  I take a million disabled over one trump!  

Screenplay Contests

 On my Facebook page, I get ads for screenplay contests.  The problem I have is that I would have to pay to enter and there is absolutely no guarantee I would be able to do anything with it.  You got to think, Hollywood only has a certain number of scriptwriters that actually get jobs.  You might as well save your money and learn to write one yourself.  It would be the same, but you would still have the money.  Believe me, Hollywood is not an open business.  There are gatekeepers.  Just look at the screenwriters whose scripts create low earning movies, who still get to write more.  It’s the American way, fail upward.  Soon those awful scriptwriters will become producers or directors.  

Christmas Surprise

 This year, my daughters are getting a gift they know nothing about.  I cannot wait till they see what they will be doing.  Currently, they believe it's a road trip.  It will be so much nicer.  I just hope we see some real reactions.  They have shown that there might be some.  I know one daughter will just smile and wonder what is going on.  

Freezing in Florida

 Last night, I had to go out and cover my avocado plant.  We had a freeze warning.  That try has been growing for at least 3 years, and I do not want to lose it.  It would be great if it were big enough to stand a slight freeze, but I do not want to chance it.  At least I do not need to worry about the dormancy of our lawn.  If we had an HOA, they'd demand green lawns.  Nature be damned!  Karens think money grows on trees and winter will not brown lawns!  

Avatar 3 is Coming

 I can't wait for the third Avatar.  It looks really good.  If you believe it will fail, just look at how much the first two did.  This one looks to ramp up the tension by adding an additional group to fight the Sullys.  I learned this long ago with James Cameron: never think his movies will fail.  I did that with Titanic, and I ran a movie theater.  Guess what? I was wrong and lost out on commissions.  Get your tickets!  See it in IMAX!  This is the best format to view it in!  I wish we had an IMAX theater near here.  The closest theater is in Orlando.  It is located in our tourist corridor.  There are other venues with IMAX name, but the theaters lack the screen sizes that IMAX demands to be seen in.  

Storage Hell

 I was driving into work yesterday and noticed all these storage companies.  I remember when I was younger, and a building was going up.  I would wonder if it was an eating place or a store of interest.  Nowadays, it's a storage company.  People need to declutter their lives.  I had to use one once.  I will never, I hope, do it again.  Currently, I want to go through our belongings and donate as much as possible.  If not donate, hopefully sell.  Most is not worth much.  We do have some "collectables," but unfortunately, collectables are just a term to get people to buy. As I look back, there are some trends I wish I had avoided.  Beanie Babies, Baseball Cards, Comics!  It was at a time when they were cheaper, but they had little value.  Most of my baseball cards were from mass-produced eras, or the players were steroid addicts.  It's truly a shame that people buy so much unnecessary junk that they need these units.   Wake up, people! You can not take it with you when you die, and your family is most likely to trash it. Save your money and do things to make memories.  Take lots of pictures.  Stay away from anything that is trending.  It is a scam created by marketers!   

Turning on the Heat

 I woke up this morning and turned on the heat.  Well, actually, I woke up around 12 and turned on the heat.  It was set for 69.  It never dropped below that.  At 3, I woke up and nudged it up to 70.  That will be comfortable enough for me.  Any more and it starts getting too hot.  I really don't even like using the heat in my car.  

A New War Down South

 It looks like America is going after South America.  He's starting with Venezuela.  He says it's because of drugs, but if so, why pardon drug dealers?  Now he's even threatening Columbia because they were mean to him.  Will his son take control of all that coke?  They'll probably have a party at mar lago after they get the drugs.  If you think he is going after Venezuela because of drugs, then you need to turn of Fox news.  It's all about the oil.  It will be a war to give the oil rights to corporations.  I'm glad my kids will not be risking their lives for corporate domination.  All countries south of America should be wary of trump.  

Go Fund Me! Legal Scam

 Don't worry, I am not starting a Go Fund Me.  I just saw a story that makes me hate this service.  A girl up north was fired for insulting a black couple.  Now she has a Go Fund Me that is actually making money.  Just goes to show you racists will take care of their own.  I have never liked Go Fund Me.  It's a scam.  Actors who have "fallen on bad times" start them all the time.  They would never give to people in need.  They want you to fund their lavish lifestyles.  We tried doing one for adoptions, but they said we could not do one for adoptions.  Do you know the cost involved in adoption, especially overseas?   The red tape both countries have costs money.  Kim K can sell her garbage as a fund raiser for herself.  Unless you know a lot about the people doing one, do not give to them.  Especially actors/musicians, etc!  They have made more in their short lifetime than you will ever make.  If they pissed it away, oh well!  

Affordability, Yeah Right!

 Now Big Brother is trying to make Americans believe that he has made everything affordable.  I don't feel that way.  Costs just keep going up.  Going out to eat is a luxury.  Fast food is available at rates of $10 and over.  That is not affordable.  Bring a family and you're looking at $60+ to eat at McDonald's.  Don't even get me started about electricity.  I live in a state where the ruling party rubber stamps all increase requests.  They are even asking for more money in a season without hurricanes.  Our government is not making it cheaper.  They are phasing out renewables so that we can burn more oil and coal.  Instead of looking into the future, we are going in reverse.  Healthcare in this country is a joke.  Republicans feel that we should get the care we can afford.  If you can't afford it, sorry.  Just like education.  Only the rich will get the best.  The rest of us can get training to do menial jobs.  The government is even taking away loans for education.  Republicans want us to be dumb, Fox absorbing humans.  

Verses in General

 I wish Hollywood would go back to original storytelling and stop trying to create some kind of universe.  If the story warrants exploring other areas, then that's fine.  But they are writing all kinds of spin-offs before the first story even comes out. Universals Monsterverse was a stupid idea.  Like all these villains would come together to fight a bigger villain.  Plus, it takes the horror out of the story and turns it into some kind of dumb comic book gathering. Then, you have studios trying for the next Harry Potter.  That has given us lots of crappy films. Not even the kids it is geared towards want to see them. How does Warner Bros. compete with itself?  A streaming series of the same movies.  Now with actors that look like poor replicas of the originals. They have to milk the property for every dime.  Surprisingly, the writer is not creating stories within the books or a prequel.  They did try it with movies.  But it sucked.       

Flesh Eating Bacteria

 It looks like Florida has a new surprise in store for visitors.  Flesh-eating bacteria are on the rise.  This is at a time when waterways are cooling down.  I suppose it doesn't help when Tallahassee allows companies to discharge wastewater into our rivers and oceans.  If you come here, be careful.  Do not go into water with cuts or scratches.  If your skin starts to turn red or fevers begin to occur, go to the hospital.  It happened to my daughter.  She had a break in her skin.  She thought the salt water would help it.  It did not.  She ended up in the hospital.  This is the second time this has happened to her.  The first time was a freshwater swimming area.  Stick to chlorinated pools.  

Nice Cool Day

 Woke up this morning and had to put on a light jacket.  Some in Florida will probably break out their winter wear.  It's only in the 50's.  It will not stay that way.  Florida always warms back up.  Enjoy the cold when you can get it.  

Five Nights at Freddy's 2

 Wow!  I thought this movie was going to bomb.  From what I found out, the creator of the video game was also the screenwriter.  Frankly, it did not look that good.  I suppose the game's fans came out in droves.  I think that is great.  I need a movie with a story that makes you care about the characters.  This just looks like a movie where people enter an old building, and things jump out at them.  If that's your cup of tea, enjoy.  I'll wait for streaming.  I'm a Matthew Lillard fan.  I still look forward to it for that reason, no matter what Tarantino says.  Paul Dano is also a great actor.  See Prisoners, and There Will Be Blood, if you want to see his performance.  

Affordable Housing? (Pump-and-Dump Scheme)

 I saw one reason why affordable housing is such an issue.  It's from a pump-and-dump scheme.  If you saw the movie The Wolf of Wall Street, you know what pump and dump is.  If not, it occurs when a broker buys a large quantity of a penny stock.  Then, they encourage others to buy because of some future event that will increase the value tenfold.  Once it hits a level, the broker sells off their share.  That is what is going on in the Housing/Renter market.  Companies like BlackRock are buying up groups of houses for around $300,000.  Then they sell it to themselves for a value of $700,000 a piece.  This causes the values of houses to artificially increase.  At this point, they can sell them at a gain or rent them out.  Since the values of the houses are so high, they can set the rent values even higher.  Unfortunately, this is all legal.  These companies own the politicians.  As long as a politician is paid, they will not bite the hand that feeds them.  Those in America do have the right to vote.  Just remember what the rich are doing to you.  It's not the poor and immigrants.  They want you to believe it is.    

The Rain Continues

I'm shocked.  The rain has continued.  I love it.  In Florida, when summer ends, the state enters its dry season.  Every bit of rain helps.  Especially when you have as many homeowners' associations as Florida does.   They require everyone to have green lawns, even in the winter.  Then, water control districts have to reduce watering.  You'd think the government would make it so HOAs cannot enforce ridiculous rules, such as requiring green lawns all year long.  However, many people profit from it.  

Rain in Florida

 Running around yesterday was a game of hit and miss.  One minute it would be raining and then it would stop.  The rain really did not last for a long period of time.  At one point, I was picking up my daughters.  We walked out and it began to pour.  Someone asked if I needs an umbrella.  I said no, we’ll wait a minute.  Sure enough, the rain stopped.  It’s Florida.  

Amazing Weather

 Florida is having some of its best weather.  Not all will agree with me.  Just as warmth and humidity were sneaking back, we got rain and a decline in temperatures.  I love this.  I hate our usual weather.  December tends to be warm.  Maybe not humid, but definitely warm.  Air conditioning runs all the time.  For the last couple of weeks, we have not needed it.  I also think our farm dog is enjoying this.  He likes cold weather.  The chickens are another story.  We see a decline in eggs.  In a couple of months, it will pick up again.  

Better Call Saul

 If you haven't watched Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, you should check them out.  They are probably the best shows ever created.  I recall that when Breaking Bad premiered, I wasn't sure what to make of it.  The father of Malcolm in the Middle in a drug show.  Once you start watching, you get hooked.  There are some amazing performances. It really has to be seen to be believed! It is not a comedy.   

Carry Your Papers!

 The US has gone crazy.  Our Gestapo, ICE, is now pulling all citizens and arresting them if they refuse to show their papers.  This is disgusting and scary.  Kids are going missing.  Families are being torn apart.  Politicians stand by and do nothing.  Now, our "supreme court" is siding with anything our corrupt government wants.  If you live in the US, carry your papers or you might disappear.  Even papers may not protect you.  Your politicians are worthless and will do nothing to help.   

Crazy Chickens

 I'm sitting in my office at home.  All I can hear is the sound of chickens squawking. I think they are trying to encourage me to feed them.  I know when I go out, it will be like Ace Ventura and the animals flocking to him.  I do know they will squawk before laying an egg.  The roosters are non-stop with their calls!  

Burning Down the House

 I'm sitting here in my house, and I start to smell smoke.  I start running around looking for a source.  Nothing can be found.  I look out towards the lake.  Smoke is coming up from the trees in front of the lake.  Our neighbor is burning again.  I do not know what they are burning.  Maybe they are clearing a path to the lake.  I believe some of that soil is swamp land.  Maybe they will build a walkway over it.  It would be nice if they would give us access, but we do not even know them.  I do wish they would stop burning trees.  I feel like I live in a campsite.  

Tag Line Ideas

 When I was in college, I took classes in scriptwriting.  In one class, our professor had us read this book about selling ideas to Hollywood.  I tried.  I never got a reply.  In the end, I think it was a scam, similar to the "How to Make Money Through the Mail" scam.  You run an ad and say If you want to learn how to make money just like I did, send me $1.  You send it, and they reply that you set up an ad and do the same as them.  It is illegal, and the post office will get you for this.  Often, these ideas are easy to come up with but awfully generic in Hollywood.  That is one reason sequels are so bad.  They replay the original and make slight adjustments. The rule of thumb in Hollywood is to keep making it until it stops making money.  Additionally, they will always copy something successful.  Or if they perceive they will be missing out, they may even compete with the same idea.  I remember when we had 2 Christopher Columbus movies.  Really, I didn't think we even needed one.  Be cautious of books or services that charge you money to sell your ideas to Hollywood.  Very few people see these things because of gatekeepers.  They may even steal any idea you have.  I have seen a lot of that.  

Weekend at Bernie's 3 Idea

 Bernie is alive and runs for president.  His people have radical ideas he freely implements.  If he ever died, they know all their changes would end.  Bernie dies and his Secretary of State and Head of DOJ carry his body around to fool the public, while dodging politicians and the media.  This seems plausible.  Wonder if we'll see this one in real time!

The Body is Missing

 I placed the rat's body in a bag and threw it in our Gator.  Eventually, I would have driven it down to the trash bin.  Unfortunately, our road can not take really heavy trucks.  It breaks up the concrete.  When I got home, I found the bag sitting on the back seat.  It was open, not torn open.  I know the cat or certain other predators did not get to it.  Whatever it was, it took the body.  There were some hairs and maybe residue left.  I'm guessing whatever got to it will not enjoy their meal.  It may even kill them, unless the poison did not kill the rat.  

Nightcrawler Sequel Idea

 Have you seen the movie Nightcrawler?  If you have not, you should.  Jake Gyllenhaal plays a guy who wants to get into filming accidents to make money.  He wants to be the best at it.  By the end, he seems to have mastered it.  I could see his character becoming bored and moving on to another endeavor.   Possibly an Internet Influencer or a poster looking for views for cash.  He may even see where a person did a found footage movie, like " The Blair Witch Project.  He would use unscrupulous methods to achieve his goals.  

GOAT (Space Jam 3?)

I saw a preview for GOAT the other day.  It resembles Space Jam without live-action elements.  They use the same crazy opponents as Space Jam.  It also features a large basketball.  Did he allow lesser players to voice characters? I didn't watch Space Jam 2, and I will not be watching GOAT.  Just another movie to sell basketball and shoes.  Will this be a Hollywood trend?  Every 10 years or so, they produce a basketball-themed animated film? 

Conquering the Smell

 Once I removed the rat's body, I replaced it with pet odor powder.  You could still smell it.  Later in the day, the smell was gone.  As for the one in the wall, the odor lingers.  The air freshener may need to be replaced.  I think it is going way.  I hope so!

Stranger Things Returns

 I tried to watch the new season of Stranger Things.  I could not continue.  I think the biggest problem is the time jump.  Even if it is not a big one, the kids are adults playing high schoolers.  It seems like only a little time has passed.  I hope the best for the series, but I am tired of waiting for streamers to continue shows and movies.  There is a time table when people lose interest in the subject. I still haven't finished Cobra Kai.  Word of advice for streamers: continue things within a year or risk losing your audience. If I watch it, I'll be surprised. Also, I hate how they are milking the season. They should just release an episode a week or every other week.     

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sequel Idea

 I will never be a part of Hollywood. So I might as well share ideas that I think would be great. Maybe someone will see it, make it, and pay me for the idea.  I won't count on it.  One can dream!  My thought would be a prequel.  With that, I mean to Tobe Hooper's original.  Leatherface would not be called Leatherface.  He would not be a wrestler with a steroid rage.  He would be the simple hulk that hides behind a mask, childlike, but dangerous.  The character of Chop Top would make an appearance.  This would be during his service in Vietnam.  The movie would be called The Machine Gun Massacre.  It would follow a group of ex-Viet Nam soldiers, who hold up a rural Texas bank.  In the process, something goes wrong.  Fleeing, they go to a pre-determined abandoned house.  One that is located near the house of the Chainsaw Massacre.  The cars they use to get away should match the ones in the back of the house from the original movie.  Nubbins would still be alive.  Maybe they could have other family members.  Of course, Chop Top would be there in a flash back.  He would set up the idea of a robbery and where to lay low.  I would use men who look like they have seen war, not actors with fresh faces.  

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.  

Ocho Rios

 It looks like Ocho Rios in Jamaica did not get hit as hard as the rest of the country.  I saw a post that Carnival is going there again.  It is on the opposite side of the island, where the hurricane cut its path!  I guess I’ll have to write a post and share pictures.  

Sealed Off

 I went into the ceiling in my room.  No rats, but rap poop was there.  I looked in other areas.  No rats could be seen. So,  I decided to seal off the area where I thought they were getting in.  I used hardware cloth.  It’s like chicken wire but stronger.  Chicken wire is used to keep chickens in a run. It is not predator proof.  Most predators can use claws and horns to cut right through it.  That night my wife tells me they saw a rug in the corner moving.  She pulled it back.  A rat had chewed through the floor board.  What I am guessing is they are trapped and dying.  All the poison I put up there has disappeared.  

Need to Find the Bodies

 I checked the ceiling for the rat poison.  All the pellets were gone.  I have not seen any dead rats.  Hopefully, I can find them.  If something gets them and they eat it, they might get sick.  Besides that, my daughter says she keeps hearing them.  I added more for them to eat.  I bet it does the opposite and turns the rats into mutants. They escape the ceiling and kill whatever they come across.  I might need a stronger pellet gun.  

Asian 7-11

 One thing we loved when going to China was the 7-11.  Unlike America, they actually had good food at a reasonable price.  I know if it were to come to America, the prices would increase. It might be worth it to invest in higher quality.  Yesterday, I was looking at the 7-11 app, and they listed a Japanese-style egg sandwich.  In my opinion, they may be testing Asian offerings to gauge their performance.  I stopped at a location.  They had it.  It did run over $5.00.  I was really good.  It was served on Milk Bread.  Now, I will have to look for the ingredients to see if I can replicate. If you have a 7-11 near you, buy one.  

New Predator

 I'm not sure if I will see this movie.  I liked Prey.  The amount of digital effects in this movie does not interest me.  Plus, the whole warrior lore seems like it's right out of Predator 2.  It also seems like a setup for another round of the lamest movies from this series: Alien Vs. Predator.  I can happily say I have not watched either movie.  To me, any movie that has two storylines competing with or against each other is lame.  Did you see Batman V Superman.  Come on!  One is a human who can be beaten, and one is a superhero who is virtually undefeatable.  Also, it is unfortunate that his weakness is revealed.  Getting back to AVP, it's boring to watch two digital creatures fight.  

Rats! Update

 I do not know if the poison is working.  We still have them.  I may have to spread it out to areas where they nest near the chickens.  It has to be in an area where the chickens and other animals do not ingest the poison.  That has always been my main concern.  I only want to kill off the rats and nothing else, well, mice if they are around.  Shooting at them is difficult.  They are fast, and even if you hit them, they bounce off them.  You have to get them in the right spot.  The farm cat is worthless.  He comes around after I shoot them.  I keep telling him there is extra food if he wants to eat.  I feed him once a day.  Anymore, and he will just lie around and lift up his head as the rats walk by.     

Cruising During Hurricane Season

 A tip for cruising would be: Be cautious when booking cruises during hurricane season.  According to the contract with the company, they reserve the right to change the itinerary as they see fit.  A great example would be all those going to Jamaica.  Since Melissa, they will not be accepting cruises until December 15 at the earliest.  If you're booked to go there, be prepared to visit an alternative spot.  I am hoping for somewhere I have not visited, but I think Nassau might be our destination.  If you've been there a couple of times, you know that there is not much to do.  All port shops are pretty much the same.  If we go there, we will be staying aboard to enjoy the pool and free food.   Most of the time, it is out of the cruise ship's hands when situations like this arise.  If it is something related to their ship or something they can control, they may offer you cruise credit or refunds.  Just remember, if it's an act of God, you will have to accept the changes.  So, do yourself a favor and actually read the legalese that comes with booking a cruise.  This will save you time posting online about how they owe you something.  

Fall is Definitely Hitting Florida

 I woke up this morning, and when I got in my car, I noticed it was 50 outside.  We generally do not see temps like this.  I even saw a weather report that next week we could feel some 30s.  We'll have to see how far down it goes.  North Florida tends to feel the fall greater than the rest of the state.  If it happens, I might have to look for some gloves.  Also, we have to worry about the chickens.  I think they hate extreme heat versus the cold.  We may see fewer eggs.  

Fun Spot

 I got to ride some rollercoasters.  I was not planning on it.  My daughter wanted to ride it.  I could not turn her down.  We also did a ride where you sit, and they raise the swinging chairs up.  Once in the air, it spins around.  That did not bother me.  The ride that gets me sick is a kiddie ride.  It is a swinging bench.  It features a lap bar and does not tip over upside down.  It still gets me.  The kids had fun, and that is all that matters.  

Scurrying in the Night

 Last night, I started to lie down to sleep. Little feet on the ceiling tiles broke my concentration.  I got up and took a broom handle in hand.  I started poking the tiles.  I really don’t think I did anything.  I imagine they were standing nearby laughing at me.  By the way, I checked a mousetrap and they had set it off.  No signs of injury.  I also checked the poison and can not tell if they indulged in a late night snack.  

The Local Disney

 If you live in the Orlando area, and find Disney too expensive, there is an alternative.  It’s called Fun Spot.  It has free parking.  Yes, you read this correctly, they do not charge for parking.  Another perk is who needs a ticket.  Let’s say you’re elderly, like me.  You do not need a ticket, if you are not riding.  If you have children with disabilities, you can get a chaperone ticket for free.  Once you go through the metal detectors, there are plenty of rides for the family to enjoy.  Granted tgat is about 10 or so amusement park type rides.  They also have go carts.  Be warned, others tend to be dangerous.  My daughter was slammed from behind at the end of one session.  They do have food, but it is expensive.  You can leave and go to a fast food restaurant nearby and come back.  Unlike Disney, it does not take one to three hours to get on a ride.  Depending on the day, it only takes a couple of minutes to get on them.  The best part is, kids have fun and we do not have to take out a loan.  

Halloween 2025

 We went to a nearby neighborhood to trick or treat.  The church the girls go to held an event at the pastor’s house.  They had popcorn, hotdogs, snow cones and cotton candy.  Some of my daughters went on a hay ride that brought them around to houses to trick or treat at. I pushed my daughter through the neighborhood with her nurse.  Overall, it was fun.  Not a lot of mosquitoes, but some did bite.  By the end, the neighborhood was filled with of cars/trick or treaters.  Olive were even directing traffic.  

Horror Movies

 I love this time of year.  I always want to watch old horror movies.  Ones that use practical effects and do not have a load of money.  Texas Chainsaw feels like a documentary.  The horror is more psychological.  There is very little gore.  Your mind has to fill in the blanks.  As a child, I would watch these movies.  They would always give me nightmares.  Now, as an adult, I do not have them.  At least not from movies.  If you see a movie like the original Maniac and The Thing, you can see the mastery of prosthetic special effects.   I can not believe that The Thing was not a huge hit.  It did have to compete against ET, but that was a family film.  If I were an adult at that time, I would have picked The Thing over E.T.  We also had some of the best Werewolf movies.  An American Werewolf in London and The Howling beat anything that has been made since.  I prefer a good old transformation over a person jumping in the air and digitally becoming a wolf.    As for Vampires, the 80's had Near Dark, Salem's Lot and The Lost Boys.  Now we get crappy digital effects to show a vampire transformation.  If you need a good horror movie tonight, watch something from the 70's/80's.  You might even see an actor who was starring in their first few movies, like Johnny Depp (Nightmare on Elm Street) and Kevin Bacon (Friday the 13th).  

Cruising Information

 I enjoy watching videos on YouTube.  Primarily, I enjoy movie criticism and the background stories behind the making of movies.  I discovered there are channels dedicated to cruising.  I find them both entertaining and informative.  La Lido Loca (https://www.youtube.com/@LaLidoLoca) provides news and entertainment.  As I have kids, I wanted to experience what a Disney cruise would be like.  Theme Park Express (https://www.youtube.com/@ThemeParkExpress) focuses on attractions from Disney and Universal.  From them, I have seen a Disney cruise and do not think I will miss anything by not going on one.  Additionally, some of their offerings would not appeal to my kids.  They have since branched out to other cruise lines.  I find it very entertaining!  Check them out!  

The Big Freeze

 In Florida, the weather tends to remain warm throughout the year.  We do get the occasional cold front.  Usually, it hits around January.  Today, we woke up to temperatures in the 40s.  Most people will be getting bundled up today.  I love this weather.  Enjoy it while you can.  It may also reduce the number of mosquito bites during trick-or-treating.  

Mousetrap

 I'm sitting here, and I hear scurrying in the ceiling tiles.  I pull out the ladder and push aside a tile.  Rat poop rolled down on me.  I go upstairs to grab a mousetrap.  I put peanut butter on it.  Then, I have to set it.  I get really paranoid about these traps.  Every time I set one, it snaps.  I finally feel it is set.  I shakily grab the trap and bring it to the ceiling tile.  As soon as I drop it, it goes off.  The more I try, the more it goes off.  I feel like that comedy movie mousetrap.  I bet the rats are laughing in the dark.  I find some sticky paper to put the set trap on.  This time, I set it down, and it doesn't go off.  Wish me luck!