Monday, June 26, 2023

Virtual SA: El Salvador...Land of Volcanoes and Beaches

 

With 190 miles of coastline and surrounded by volcanoes...El Salvador is a photographer's paradise.

Most of its beaches have black sand. Lava ground to bits over millions of years.

Today, we will explore both the sea and fire that makes up this small country.

Little but mighty...El Salvador is made up of beaches, jungles and volcanoes. It is famous for its waves and surfing opportunities. The best waves are found from May through October.



Surfing competitions are held yearly along its coast.

Surfing El Salvador

https://youtu.be/rOtder65Fr0

https://youtu.be/RJ5q-ZM88Zw


Leaving its wild surf and black sand beaches...we see another of its beautiful attributes...the jungle.

Lush tropical and dotted with waterfalls!



There are trails for hiking and guided tours. 

Jungle Hike

https://youtu.be/ZUkgzP0XglQ

This is the rain-forest!

The wildlife here is bright, many and varied.

 From the lowly Tapir to the magnificent Jaguar. And everything in between.



And a cacophony of brightly colored birds shrieking overhead.



The jungle itself littered with Mayan remains...a lost civilization.



Mayan Tour

https://youtu.be/lUz46OwwXFk

And the volcanoes.

Many, still active.

Towering over everything.



and sometimes causing tremors, earthquakes and erupting.


Land of Volcanoes

https://youtu.be/iJcwo-1FUMI

Climbing Santa Ana

https://youtu.be/S4mUIVrFgAI

A few other things El Salvador offers

https://youtu.be/F0PU4Nu1dn8

Until next time....

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Exhausted...The Submersible...The Coup that Wasn't...And a Chaotic Week


 I think I can speak for most all of us, when I say that after the chaos of this week we all need a Zen Sunday.

OMG.

A week that started with this 

And for four days we waited...and listened...and hoped.

In the end we learned that they had a catastrophic hull breach on the first day of the dive...and lost these five explorers.

Rapid depressurization and implosion in the 6000 per square inch depth...leaving nothing of these people to bring up...and they will be at the site of Titanic forever.

Then...when we had stopped reeling from that.

The Russian Coup Attempt.

Friday night we sat glued to our screens/the news watching well into the night as The Wagner Group marched on Moscow...taking several towns and downing helicopters along the way.

History in the making.
 

And make no mistake about it...he is a monster.

Maybe more monstrous than Putin.

But at Midnight he and his mercenaries (which numbered over 25,000 strong) were walking their way well across Russia and were about 600 miles from the Kremlin.

TASS reported that several cabinet members and Putin had fled to St.Petersburg.

I went to bed convinced that change was coming by the next day.

Not that I thought Prigozhin was any kind of upgrade from Putin...but he had been very vocal about the war with Ukraine was

1. Started under false pretenses. 

2. Unwinnable.

With these two thoughts in mind...as horrible as he is...and as horrible as the thought is-

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

When I woke the next morning they were closer yet...some Russian troops had actually joined their march and the regular-folk...citizens...were bringing them food and water....everyone seemed to be happy that change was coming.

By the time I settled for a nap they were only 200 miles out of Moscow.

When I woke up...the whole business was over...at mile 140 they had stopped...and turned around.

WTF????

Prigozhin reportedly wanted no more bloodshed.

Funny, coming from a guy who dispatches traitors within his own ranks with a sledgehammer.

A reported deal with Belarus...and a complete pardon from Putin.

Excuse me if I find the whole thing a bit off.

My prediction is 

The death of Prigozhin within a couple of weeks.

Or that this whole thing was a collaboration between the two of them and there is something more nefarious afoot.

Time will tell.

Anyway,  Apparently I slept through the Coup That Wasn't...a little disorienting.

But the week is over.

Rained this morning and my plants and hummingbirds are thrilled.

Kayleb is on his way home from Florida...where he had a wonderful time!


 Even calling me from the beach and holding his phone up to let me hear the breakers rolling in and seagulls crying overhead!

And got to talk to Aiden!

"I love you, Grandma Rose."

Diane and I have made a breakfast date for later this week...and Sisters Day with Tina and Lisa soon.

Loretta is back in the hospital with pneumonia...but recovering.

My friend Ola, and her friend Star...and I are forming our own Out To Brunch and Shopping Bunch in July.

John and I have our Escape for July pretty much together now...and have both been inundated with kitties.

"I caught the feathers, John!"

                                     Mr. Wilson

"Dad, it's amazing...he is a carbon copy of me..."  Gadget

And me, with the ferals...Crabby Tabby...Roof Kitty:Finnegan...and Black Tom.

And my neighbor's cat (Charlie) who comes over when I am sitting on the porch and jumps up in my lap for some snuggle-time.

"The treats are delicious, too!"

                                                   Charlie-Cat 

I am the Crazy Cat Lady, now.

He and I are going to get another baby...but not quite yet.

Still dealing with the loss of Sofi.

Angie is good...and working a bunch.

Che is almost 25...how can that be????

And today....I'm just enjoying some outside time...a nap....and maybe baking a loaf of homemade bread, later.

 

Have a Peaceful Sunday.

Love,

Carla  



 


 




 



Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Summer...

 

Summer time...and the livin' is easy!


Spent the morning outside loving up my borrowed Charlie-Cat...enjoying the hummingbirds...the scent of flowers...the sounds of birds...and an ice-cold rootbeer float.

Life is good.

Happy Summer!


Monday, June 19, 2023

Virtual SA: El Salvador...The Rainbow Slide

 

Located at the Picnic Steakhouse...on the side of a volcano!

For 5 USD, you too, can experience the 60 second 35 meter Rainbow Slide. As many times as you want

https://youtu.be/W5nlTrcZk5c

First person POV

https://youtu.be/7ppexZGV_yM

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

https://youtu.be/gW2EA_m3gtM


 






Until next time...

Sunday, June 18, 2023

The Scent of June...Kayleb's Adventure...The Patio Garden and Hummers...And an Afternoon with John

 

Kayleb and I caught up before he left on his adventure.

"Florida, Grandma...the ocean!!!"

So excited!

"I'll bring you back a shell from the beach!!!"

 

...were we ever this young???

sigh

 

The Patio and Borders are shaping up for summer.

 And the hummingbirds are out en force!

This little guy shows up in the early evening and makes it his sworn duty to run the rest off...it is amazing how much energy he expends doing this...after he has drank his fill he perches on the top of the shepherd's crook defiantly.

 NONE SHALL PASS!!!
 

...lol...

Spent yesterday with John and an al fresco brunch at Almost Home.


 


 He is recovering well after one hell of a year...pneumonia...cancer...reaction from the immuno-therapy...Covid...more pneumonia...

But...tanned...back to exercise...and biking the trails...tiring easy...but building his muscles back.

It's a process.

We are plotting and planning our July Escape together...which will include (among other things) the very last Indiana Jones film...and a pot-roast sandwich from Culver's.

You gotta have a plan .

This month's scent...Strawberry Poundcake

from Bath and Body Works.

It is as decadent as it sounds...and I have it in spray...gel...lotion and soap.

...may even get the candle before I'm done...

John brought me a box of assorted dark chocolates, yesterday...and enjoyed a few while soaking in my strawberry scented bath, today!

Life is good!

Love ya, hon!

 





Tuesday, June 13, 2023

It is Almost Time...

 

And in Miami...the circus has already started... the courthouse has received one bomb threat.

Trump's Federal Arraignment.

49 pages...37 counts and 31 of them Espionage.

...Jesus wept...

And the usual suspects, Kari Lake, and, of course, Lunatic Loomer...shown up to defend their lying, cheating, grifting, narcissistic self-appointed messiah.

He keeps mentioning Jesus..maybe someone needs to clue him in that it ended rather badly for  JC. 

...just saying...

 Baking brownies and watching the freak-show.

The bomb threat has turned out to be a hoax.

Not sure if the pig head is real or rubber but it will be in the high nineties today...so by 3 we should know.

...so will the crowd...

The flag cape is definitely a Code Violation.

Miami's mayor has just released a statement that he will not tolerate violence of any kind from the protesters, and it will result in immediate arrest.

They have placed no barricades at all at the courthouse...only yellow police tape.

The Secret Service was NOT happy.


 As of noon..AP is reporting that journalists still outnumber the protesters outside.

Christopher Kise has agreed to represent Trump...so he now has an attorney.

 

The brownies smell amazing...and there is ice-cream.

...who knew arraignments were fattening????

 

Originally thinking four buses were needed...they have now settled on 2 and the Republican Assembly are busing Trump supporters from areas like Orlando to Miami.

Trump release a statement that he is Not Guilty and will plead Not Guilty.

Trump, stayed up well into last night berating Jack Smith, bemoaning the unfairness of being indicted...and of course, a last minute grift.

Donate Now!

...donations won't save you this time...maybe they can be added to your commissary later, though...

And...he has lost Susan Murkowski who is VERY concerned, now.

...eyes rolling...


 McCarthy when asked about the indictment minutes ago deflected the question and summoned up Clinton and Biden.

...of course he did...


 

Chris Christie, seeing the flabby exposed underbelly of his opponent...quickly tweeted:

Loser. Loser. Loser.

 

And before 3:00 Trump was formally arrested and booked.

 

He entered a plea of Not Guilty.

...right..

 

DeSantis and Haley have both said they would pardon him if elected. They are calling it proactive pardoning.

...like I needed another excuse not to vote for either of you... 

Now...the million dollar question...will they turn him loose...or refuse bail???


And overhead shot of the crowd reveals it to be small...in the low hundreds...with still more reporters than actual protesters...

And McConnell refuses to issue a statement at all concerning today's events.

The crowd has been subdued...quiet...not rowdy.

 ...I think I feel good about that...

 

And there he goes...out of the courthouse...O.R ed...characterized as defiant...free to bitch and moan and grift at Bedminster tonight.

...sigh...

And you wonder why he does not take any of this seriously....

 

Well...at least the brownies were delicious.




 

 



 

Stayed up entirely too late and watched his bitch,moan and whine fund-raiser at Bedminster...OMFG

IDK who is sadder.

Him, or the people who STILL support his grifting ass.

They milled about for 2 hours...he was 2 hours late...when he did arrive did he apologize for making them wait???

No.

He simply launched into the same list of grievances he has been bemoaning for years...attacked his well-worn enemies list  (now including Jack Smith and Smith's wife) and played poor me for about 45 minutes.

I'm just tired.

So damned done with him...but more than anything...just tired!!!

 

 



 

 


 



Saturday, June 10, 2023

Gardening...The Weekend...and Other Observations This Week

My roses have bloomed, and the hummers love the new feeder with an edge they can rest on while they sip.

May have to get a second one.

Most of the outside done for summer, now...just mulch left to spread.

But I'm old and tired...built for comfort these days...not speed.

Sat here and read the afternoon away after tidying everything and enjoyed sweet tea and the hummingbirds & scent of my roses and the white clover in the sun.

A really nice day.

No more rushing around for me.

And I LIKE it.

A lot.

The  Charley-Cat stopping by twice a day...and hanging out a bit. Not nearly ready to find another cat of my own yet.

He helps.

Our new property manager and maintenance crew is wonderful.

Came by on Friday and made a list of everything that needs done...and are starting on it next week.

They power-washed the green off the vinyl siding.

It sounded a lot like a hurricane hitting the place, but it looks nice.


 Kayleb had his Graduation ceremony..and is off to Florida the end of next week!

And tonight we're just waiting on the rain.

Pat Robertson died this week...and the world became a bit less hate filled.

And yes, I made coffee this morning, brewed with fresh MAGA tears...delicious, if a bit salty.


 

They released the indictment...read it for yourself-

https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-documents-922839660373

and watched Jack (I'm seriously not fucking around here) Smith's DOJ Presser. The guy is The Iceman. Maybe all of 10 minutes. Short and sweet and to the point...took zero questions...just walked off.

37 or 38 counts...

31 of them related to violating The Espionage Act.

Evidence and Witnesses...even pictures and audio-tape.

His arraignment is Tuesday...and he has to surrender all passports at that time.

He is truly fucked....and so is his valet..who was also indicted.

Trump is used to huffing and puffing to get his way.

Jack Smith is used to dealing with the worst of the worst who end up tried at The Hague.

He is not impressed.

and Ron & The Mouse???


 

 




 


 



 

 

Have A Great Weekend!

love,

Carla