Jet Ski Nationals on the beach this weekend

paid the longrooffan a visit Saturday after work.....lots of noise coming thru the front door of the Taj Mahal as we sit and enjoy good company....race week is a short distance away and I ignore it as just part of the environment....the Rolex series as been practicing and I hear it from work everyday....so loud engine noises are drowned out in my daily life.....later I came to learn that the Jet Ski Nationals were taking place on our very own beach....after getting home I quickly fired up the old 2A and placed a call back to the longrooffan and inquired as to his availability to join me on a short drive down the beach.....picked him up and off we were.....once again he FAILED in the photo department....guess this will be a Memorex moment as we have it committed to memory.....couple of passes down the beach and a short viewing of the activities of the event and the decison was obvious....there were way too many skiers to concentrate on a conclusive winner......then the ever present Beach Patrol drove by and offered to trade vehicles....his brand new F-150 4x4 for my old trusty Jeep.....maybe last week....the heated seats in the 2A don't work so good....had to decline his offer as the longroooffan was in a hurry to get back to the Taj Mahal.
which leads me to today's adventure.....the kid's sister and I took off for the ocal recreational center to shoot some hoops before the daily football games began....
about an hour and a half into the forced exercise ( I watched as she played in a pickup game ) I was off to enjoy the first of two televised football games......
swung by the longroof's place first for a quick cold pop and walked into what could be called a 'federal disaster zone...seems the longrooffan decided it was time to 'shake things up abit' and clean house.....I am sure there is a blog in this for him and I won't go much further here.....other than to say that there wasn't much room in his place for one person....much less two.......made a quick exit....ok, maybe not so quick, two beers and a smoke....but man that place kept getting smaller and smaller as long as I stayed there.....exited via the 'World's Most Famous Beach' and saw some of the most extreme jet ski operators ever...
and the sungoddess thought I went to extremes......a couple of reverese flips.....several barrel rolls.....more ten to twenty foot launches off breakers.....
and the sounds could be associated more with the circle track 4 miles west than with the more common place watercraft normally navigating the waterways of the greater Halifax Basin....
all and all a great weekend Celebrating Life....

Beach Sunday

went to the beach today.......every day spent at the beach with my wife and kids is another day to CELEBRATE LIFE.......had a great time......lots of sun and surf.....the kid spent the better part of four hours catching waves......the kids sister fought her way out to the breakers and then nailed three good waves.....using one of her brother's boards.....the kid's second oldest aunt gave him a couple of surf boards that belonged to her late son.....after a little work on them we were able to make them sea worthy again......one of the boards was missing a couple of fins, and on the way to the longroof's yesterday I saw a broken board in a wastemanagement pile......had to double back because the fins looked familiar......brought the tail home and the fins were the same that the kid had been shopping on ebay at $20 each......three fins.....0 dollars....and they worked perfect.......gotta figure that was a trip that was meant to be.........back to today.....the kid commented no less than three times how sweet the new board was with three good fins......cuts like a sharp knive was his exact term........the kid's sister was using one of his other new boards and she grabbed the first wave and was gone like a flash.....the grin on her face was priceless.....
she couldn't get back out to the breakers fast enough......two more good waves and she was done for the afternoon.....there was a wicked current today and by the time the kid's sister called it quits, I was ready too......rather sit and watch than fight the surf sometimes.....
so thanks to my second sister and her gift to my son.......
it enables him.....and I.....to........

CELEBRATE LIFE..........

Thank you Carol

No, it's not done yet.....

as the longrooffan is always asking me......is it done yet????.....well, not yet but it is getting close..
placed a call to the longroof today to see what he was doing......
as he was available for any adventure I headed over to show off the new old jeep.....
I really was looking for it's maiden voyage on the beach, and the company of my brother to share the experience with me.....
got the needed windshield sticker that allows unlimited access to the sandy shore thanks to some guy in Flagler that is having his kitchen remodeled, so thank you whoever you are.....
then we made a quick left hand turn into forbidden sand unless four-wheel drive equipped....
three miles later we made a quick u-turn and headed back towards our favorite beach access pass.......
about half way back the little mule overheated.......those ever present beach patrol officers came to the rescue with a water jug and after a quick stop at the closest external shower to refresh the little girl we were mobile once more......
dropped the longroof off at the Taj Mahal and bee-lined it home trying to stay ahead of the afternoon rain showers I could see forming......didn't need to hurry as the rain clouds passed without leaving us any happiness......
got home and decided to see if the top would fit on the old jeep.....as anyone who is familiar with the type of fabric used in the soft tops available, they know the tops are pretty much useless after sitting around for 10-15 years......as was the case here, so off came the side windows and the rear window......it helped that the windows were all cracked and broken......what I ended up with is a primative safari top.......seems to work pretty well too......well, you can be your own judge as for the effectiveness...
































CELEBRATE LIFE.................

5 months, 22 days......

Yep....that's how long it took.....
5 months and 22 days for the kid to get his first ticket while a licensed driver within the state of Florida......and those other lesser states that don't count hanging chads.....
seems that if you back out of a parking spot in a darke parking lot and hit the car parked across the lot from you is considered a driving offense if done on the beach in the state of Florida....
I suspect that he spent too much time in the sun surfing and was just anxious to get home....
of course to Officer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_7C0QGkiVo
this is a violation of state statue , whocaresaslongasbothpartiesareokwithit....
so he writes the kid a ticket for, and I'm not kidding here,....."improper backing".......
now what the heck is 'improper backing'..?????
seems this is what you write a kid a ticket for, when you want the kid to get off, but are required to write the kid a ticket for something......
well tonight the sungoddess was told about the incident.....she, while extremely upset, handled the situation quite to my surprise......
since I am still able to sit here and write should be an indication of how well she responded....
still got my fingers and voluntary use of my mind....
the kid is still breathing on his own, so things look good here......
seems kind of funny, here I sitting thinking that I am the first parent to go though this experience......
then I recall my parents and realize they are extracting their own personal revenge.....
and every parent, or grandparent, since motorized transportation began........
well, it was bound to happen sooner or later...........

CELEBRATE LIFE...........

Happy Birthday to Me....

Wow.....another year year goes by an before you realize it you've had a birthday.....well, not really a birthday, but a celebration of your birth.....not counting weekends or holidays, I'm only 21 ......at least that's my story....so stick with me here now okay.....
spent the day working as the majority of people do.....it's not a national holiday, not even a local one....spent the evening with the kid.....went to watch the last night launch of the space shuttle....
the kid and I picked up the longrooffan and drove a block easgt to the beach.....of course the first thing the kid said when we got to the beach...."should have brought my board Dad, some good waves tonight"......no way possible to follow the mind of a sixteen year old.....we go to watch a historical significant event, and he wishes he had brought his surfboard......always looking for a good time.....but it was a great show.....the sonic boom lasted a good 20 seconds and was a fantastic conclusion to a pleasant evening spent with good company........

not with standing the shuttle launch, this time of the year always makes me think of where I came from and how I became what I am......what are the memories that formed the person I am now.......don't start this trip trepidly.......a lot of time and energy is spent rationalizing what we are.....
I saw this movie with my Faher and Mother the first time......my Father truly enjoyed it and I in my later years understood why......

A Week Away From the Beach

As we all know, and the bus has recently experienced, sometimes the best things come to those who wait....we both spent many an hour following jeeps around the country only to find the right jeep at the right price, after we quit looking.....kind of like finding what you are looking for in the last place you look.....a while back the kid decided it was time to look for a new surfboard....
during this search for the best deal on the best board we scoured every pawn shop in town......I put the word out to everyone I knew......no results......gave up looking for a board.....then the longroof hooked us up with a sweet board down in New Smyrna Beach.......the kid got a great deal...

check earlier blog for details....but...par for course, earlier this week word comes to me about a decent board to be had cheap.....how cheap is the first thing I think of....the kid already has a board so I'm not pressing this too far.....the response is it's 6'6" Orien real cheap......how cheap....REAL CHEAP.....seems a guy I once did a favor for knew a guy...you get the drift here....anyway, the board shows up today and it is all it is led up to be......guess that favor was worth more to him than I thought....but man it is sweet board....6'6" three fin fish Orien board, with a lease.......just about perfect......but the kid already has a board......but perfect for the kid's

sister......okay, maybe a little to long, but hey, a long board is soo much easier to ride.....but as the price is right along with my favorite word......you know.....CHEAP....I snatch this baby right up..... got to the house while the kid's sister and the sun goddess were at softball practice...... so the kid and I were alone at the house.....how much trouble does that sound like.....but the kid was studying for a History Exam so I am alone to unload the board.....when the kid finally comes out to the garage and sees the new board I am amazed at what I got.....the kid was ecstatic to say the least.... I guess it a pretty good board because he wanted to hit the beach immediately to try it out....not so fast kid....this is for your sister......WHAT.....you got her a sweeet board Dad.....guess it was a good deal after all if the kid approves.....the kid says it would be cool to put the board in the kid's sister's room so she would be surprised when she gets home from practice.....so we tried to hide it over by her closet against the wall......

when she got home and headed to her room to get cleaned up after practice...of course I tagged along trying to hide behind the wall when she went into her room....you ever notice that when a guy enters his room he goes to get what he wants and then leaves...girls don't do that....they look around...kind of like taking an inventory....then they got get what they came for .....you can only guess where I am going here.....the expression on her face was priceless......when she saw the board leaning against the wall her face first contracted in a confused look...what is that...??? then the look of recognition...that is a surfboard..... then the look of realization that because it is in her room, then it must be her's......total surprise and joy......when she turned around and saw me standing there she literally jumped into me.....remember the last time your child jumped into your arms......WOW....she clung to me like we were in ten feet of water.......take your arms away and the kid is still hanging around your neck type of hug.....last time I experienced that was a few years back when the kid didn't understand why he got nothing for Christmas until he walked out into the garage and saw the go-cart.......jar dropping, total shock, total surprise, then sheer joy at the realization that this was their's....and no one else's......it was that type of hug.... I guess it was then that she realized that there would be no more arguing between her and the kid at the beach about who got what surfboard...... she had her own board now.....and a sweet one at that.....anyway....the kid's sister is now sleeping with the board and is totally 'cool'.......no longer does she have to compete with her brother over who has a surfboard in their room.....not sure if this will help her play better in this weekend's softball tournament.....but it sure made her get her homework done sooner.......

see you from the beach soon......


Celebrate Life........

Not Another Day on the Beach

Today was supposed to be our family day on the beach....didn't happen....got a call to do a little side work....I started a small remodel company a couple years ago and despite my best efforts I have been unable to shut down it's operation....while it does generate a small profit it is time consuming and takes a lot away from the family so I try to limit the amount of jobs I take.....of course now that I have another trust worthy individual living in this area I have started to accept more jobs....so this weekend I took another job that I thought would consume my Saturday afternoon......called the olerag top to see if he was up to assisting and he agreed.... too easily.....of course as soon as he got on the job sight he told me that my plans were not going to work.....what I thought was going to be an easy floor float of about 2 inches turned into a complete refloor float 4 inches thick.....guess I should have rethought/rebid this job.....as with most jobs where I include the old construction worker, I have underbid the job....gotta remember that I have a crew now and need to bid up to cover cost.....I guess the old construction worker is not up to the task the day after.....worked the old man like a dog on Saturday afternoon and then called him Sunday night to tell him the kid and I were going fishing.....he was laid up with a bad back.....anyway, back to the reason for not making the beach today.....after floating only about 20% of the floor on Saturday I had to go back on Sunday and finish the job.....took the obligatory trip to my local Lowes store(good luck today Jimmie in the race)to secure another 18 bags of concrete to complete today's job....yep, 18 bags of hand mixed concrete.....of course when the kid heard what I had planned for the day he talked his Mother into taking him to the beach....his sister didn't want to go to the beach so after much discussion it was agreed that she would stay home and help me.....after a couple of hours working with me Taylor somehow talked her softball coach into holding an impromptu practice and she disappeared......can't blame her a bit.....I got her to help for a couple of hours and that is about the limit one should expect from an eleven year old......well after she split it was amazing how fast the project went.....finished it up and as yet still don't feel much pain....ask me in the morning.....but back to the beach.....the kid and his Mother had a blast at the beach today....the kid finally got to use his new surfboard and from what I was told it was a great surf day......of course it helps that Mom got to relax and soak up some sun too.....funny thing was that when they got ready to head to the beach the kid asked if it was ok that he take the Jeep......I laughed alittle bit at that....had to ask him if he was serious or just trying to make me laugh....we don't have another vehicle in our fleet more designed for the beach.....checked to make sure he knew how to put it in four wheel drive and gave him the go ahead.....that was all he needed for a fun filled day....hope the oleragtop gets to feeling better soon......got another job lined up.......

Another Great Day at the Beach (with photos this time)

Wow, another great day at the beach....

"Epic" waves....


the picture needs a close look but on the right side you can see the wave forming....
Not confused....decided last night that we would sleep in late today because the weather gods said it would be a rough day on the beach today....damn, I need to get a job as a weather forcaster....you are either right or wrong....and you still get paid....best job short of politics with a 50% failure rate and still keep your job.....
woke up this morning to the forcast of a"Epic" waves.....can't lay around in bed no matter who is next to you with that information.....

those who were present will remember the 'bus' back in the early 70's coming in to dinner one night at the farm to inform everyone that the back field was on fire.....his actual quote involved a few four letter words followed by FIRE....as those of us around the table began to jump up and run for shovels and rakes and blankets, Dad stands up and says that dinner is NOT dismissed until grace is said.....everyone sit down until grace is said.....that was the quickest grace my Dad ever said followed by directions to us for what to grab....ok enough sidebar and back to the beach....we quickly loaded up and headed to the beach... after a quick pack job we all jumped into the Jeep and headed over the big bridge....short of the bridge about a half a mile the surf boards strapped to the top of the jeep begin to waver.....way too quickly the new board that the kid just bought takes sail up and over the jeep......it took every bit of strengh and a hyper-extended thumb to prevent the new board from hitting the pavement....after a brief pitstop to resecure the boards to the jeep and to hear how poor of a job the kid and I did strapping everything in place we resumed our trip eastward....got to the beach.....set up camp and began to enjoy another family day in the sunshine state......







and it was as advertised.....what a day....just 7 short days, and one hurrricane, away from a confused surf with a major rip current we found ourselves with 7 to 8 foot breakers and rollers than ran to the beach....perfect weather for surfing and body boarding.....loaded a couple of pictures of the kids in the surf....hard to catch a surfer with a domestic digital camara...seem to get a lot of photos of the breakers or the wipe out......anyway the tide came in about 1:30 and we soon found ourselves with the only vehicle on the beach.....why was it that the Beach Patrol told everyone they had to park off beach....I think they like the old jeep as they all stop to visit when they do their drive bys.....either that or they like the girl sunbathing....but the best thing about today was the time spent with the kids.....the kid's sister upset because she couldn't use the kid's new surfboard....the kid riding 50 to 75 meter waves....the kid's sister building a sand castle complete with mote.....the waves washing over the sand castle......the concern over wether the jeep would carry it's self out of the hole the waves caused as the tide came in and washed out the rear tires....all and all a wonderful day on the "World's Most Famous Beach"

Family Day at the Beach

Sunday at the beach......with the family...
sun...surfing...picnics....beach games with the kids....body surfing the breakers....WOW....nothing like a wonderful day at the beach.....I am sure that it happened somewhere today....

we went to the beach for our weekly family outing and the effects of the hurricanes are being felt even here on our little beach....when the weather man is talking about confused surf.....these waves were as confused as a flower girl at a Morman wedding.....great looking waves breaking at about 5 to 6 feet....they just don't know where they are going....they break over, under, and around each other....no way to catch a clean wave to surf....just jump and go and try to make something out of it before you crash because the wave has nowhere to run.....

oh, and those rip currents.......WOW.......they were wicked today.....six foot current in twelve inches...what this means is if you jump 12 inches up to break a wave crest, you come down six feet away from where you left the ground....and then spend the next three waves trying to get back to where you started.....just don't fight it too much....go with the flow because fifty yards down the beach you find yourself standing in knee deep water wandering why you just didn't start here to begin with.....the kid and his sister spent the entire time trying to catch a good wave....the kid's sister stayed close to shore and road the smaller waves while the kid did his best to put his new board to use.....a little rough for using a new board but damn he gave it a good try....he did catch a couple of beauties on the old long board....good close to shore 50 yard runs.... one took him completely to shore next to an elderly couple that watched him the whole time.... the look on their faces was beautiful....pure joy watching a kid enjoy himself at something he is good at.....or maybe that was the look on my face.....anyway he got his day's admission's worth on that wave alone......

Jon-Jon came and joined us for a couple of hours....it was a good time just sitting and watching the beach action with him.....didn't talk alot....don't always have to.....just enjoy the time spent together.....did see a couple of whales we thought were going to beach themselves.....but then they got up and walked away.....that we talked about......of course John came with digital technology and he took some photos that I know will become a blog, or a part of one soon.....

something about a beachrider lowrider.....with spinners too....

Surfs Up

the kid got a new surf board tonight...after repeated attempts to repair old surf boards....starting with a short board, 5'11", that I picked up on the beachside for real cheap....a couple of failed repairs later....you have no idea how hard it is to repair a surf board....I thought it was a simple affair involving fiberglass bought from the local auto parts store.....not so lucky....the skill of repairing a surfboard is not an easy undertaking....took me three attempts to realize that I had no idea about what I was doing....but it would hold water for about three hours before becoming a submarine....but then I came across a long board...7'4" .....that needed a little repair....another project....I was in heaven.....until I realized that it would also involve fiberglass repair.....at least it would hold water for about six hours.....I guess I gotta learn that skill if the kid and his little sis are going to be surfers ....but then Jon-Jon found the finds of all time....a board for sale.... cheap...and basically in our backyard....New Smyrna Beach....anyway...the kid and I drove down this evening and checked out the board.....a 6'8" fiberglass board that a local firefighter has owned since new.....has been repaired three times by a professional...there is a difference in quality....and with a cool logo...the kid thought it was great and after a short visit with the seller and his roommate.....gotta love buying from roommates... they fix everything and always have it professionally done....something about 'dinks'... dual income no kids.....like the bus, the kid kept his bankroll in one pocket, a couple of notes short of the asking price and he struck a deal.....didn't even have to dip into the second pocket... got it short enough to afford a new leash and maybe a sock too....of course the new board can't stay in the garage with the others so the kid has made a spot for it in his room....at least until we can build a rack for the beach toys in the garage.....stopped by the longroof's condo on the way home to show it off and he took this picture....thanks again John....