La Habana Vieja ( Old Havana)

When I imagined Cuba...Old Havana is always what came to mind. Arched architecture...clay tiles...pastels building façades and (of course) all those lovely 50's vintage cars.

A jewel nestled in the midst of the urban sprawl that is Havana. A city of 2.2 Million people.

 

Dotted with Royal Palms and statues of Revolutionaries.

 And not to disappoint

 also the cars

and the cars

and yes...the cars

What could be more enjoyable than an island...where the average temperature year round is 74 degrees...a sugar white beach is never more than a few miles away...and you are surrounded by Royal Palms & 50's Automobiles???

Seriously.

But they are are Communists and have President Raul Castro, you say.

Right...and this year we have President Donald Trump.

What's your point?

So, yes. I have been smitten with the Island Life, Scruffy Bearded Beret'd Revolutionaries and The Vintage Cars since about 1974.

Most of the cars range in vintage from 1940's up to 1959. With the embargo beginning in 1960 and no American Imports since, Havana has become what one writer in Vancouver called "A Rolling Car Museum".

In Havana they take the care and restoration of these vehicles very seriously. They are a huge part of Havana's world-wide tourist industry. People come from all over the world to see these rolling beauties.

https://youtu.be/kUt0DZGQNxE

Check out this slideshow.

(I may need a smoke)

Also procured from my local library 

Under the Royal Palms

A girl's life growing up in Cuba

And yet another Autobiography

dictated by 

Fidel Castro

I have personally read 3 of them.

Yes...AUTOBIGRAPHIES

No idea how many biographies are floating around out there as well.

To  be honest he kind of lost me in his last one released several years ago when he admitted (or a least boasted) that he was responsible ( and the informant to the CIA in Guatemala) for the death of Ernesto "Che" Guevera- who had

(direct quote)

"Outlived his Usefulness"

Around the same time Fidel also started referring to The People as 

The Peasants.

Go figure.

The ravings of an egomaniac 

or the bragging of an old man

who realized the end was near and 

wanted the world to know?

Perhaps, at the time, he knew he was becoming more and more 

like Batista and realized that Che

might one day rise up,

so Fidel would not give him that chance.

Or maybe he was just an uncaring vicious bastard.

A Narcissist that would not...could not

share the spotlight

any further.

A Walking Tour of Old Havana

https://youtu.be/5WgmOggFSrU

More anon...

Novel The Plan: Thoughts- Mark

I'm not sure what is going on in her head. Maybe the same thing that is bouncing around in mine. Oh I keep up a good front.
Everyone thinks I am fine.

I am far from fine.

Underneath the whole Ironman Suit I am still blown-to-shit Mark. They have just prettied the package up a little.

Not sure what is going on with the Doc either? He has been preoccupied and irritable the last couple of times we have talked.

Come to think of it, so has Dad.

I love how easy it has been to replace my own father with The General.

You know, I can forgive them for bailing on me. But never for bailing on Josh and Jade. They don't even know what The Shel Program is. Or the progress I've made. How hard I've fought to feel human again. How hard I have worked to come this far. As far as they are concerned I am dead. They stop contacting the kids when Tracy married Jerry. I know they were upset, but it wasn't the kids fault. Jade was pretty little but it hurt Josh a lot.

The Exo-Shel Team has been beside themselves. It isn't every day you give someone back their arms and legs. Their life. They are giving a presentation soon on ME. There may even be a book or movie deal in the works.
Imagine that.

I wish she would just come back up to see me.

Dad has a room at his place...and one for "Ohio" too. Says I'll be "Coming
Home Soon".

And I should be grateful, I suppose. Feel grateful.
But HOME is with Tracy and the kids.

I wonder sometimes if I'll ever see it again.

Cuba...Cafe con Leche and Tostado (Pan)

Why Cuba?

A long time ago it was a wish-I-could-see-it destination. Prohibited from a few years after my birth until only last year. Maybe the Prohibition actually added to the allure. Who knows? But I think the most likely reason was the photography I would see during my twenties. Urban decay surrounded by Royal Palms and Sugar-white beaches. Havana and a parade of 50's vintage automobiles in primary colours. A handsome dreamy eyed Che (Ernesto "Che" Guevera) or a serious scruffy bearded Castro (Fidel). Winners of Uprising and Revolution. Ouster of Batista. Champions for The People.

Okay, mostly the cars.

Today though, we'll start with Desayuno...a Traditional Cuban Breakfast
 

Café con Leche y Tostada (Pan)

Basically, the strong sweet Cuban Coffee (espresso with a lot of sugar) served with a mug of warm milk to mix.

Served with Cuban Bread, which is a little sweeter than white bread, cut into long strips, flattened, buttered and grilled.

The Tostada is designed to be dipped in the Café con Leche.

This is usually accompanied by a bowl of mixed fresh fruit.

The first impression of the coffee is sweet...so sweet...sets your teeth on edge sweet.

I was a bit hesitant to dip the long strip of bread, but the salty buttery taste of the pan seem to take the overly sweet edge off the café con leche. It was surprisingly good!

And, against my better judgement, I was talked out of a small saucer of the strong, sweet coffee concoction by Tucker.

Who also gave it two mitted paws way up.

(...yes...just what the cat needs...Cuban Coffee...)

Tucardo?

" 'ey hooman...I'm 'ome...."

The fresh fruit mix worked nicely with the whole thing. Since a great deal of it was citrus it offered a nice tart balance to the sweetness of the coffee and the saltiness of the bread.

And a great start to Virtual Cuba.

More Anon...

The First Week of 2017...A Return to The 5:2...James' 30th...and Movies and Books

So...you've heard of Three Dog Night?

Last night was definitely a 4 Quilt and One Large Tuxedo Cat Evening.

Brrrrr. 
The January temperatures already dipping below zero.

Hibernation seems eminent. 

The bright side to all of this, is that just before the temps bottomed out-it snowed! So it is flash frozen in place. Not going anywhere for a while.
Of course, so am I. 

Tuesday I returned to the AFD (Alternating Fast) version of the 5:2 in order to drop the 7 pounds from the holidays. Alternating Day Fast's are (for the record) much easier in the summer when a salad and fresh fruit and lighter eating seems almost preferable. It is much more difficult to do in the winter when your body is crying out for thick stews and chili and soups.

Example:  Breakfast

Soft Boiled Egg with Whole Wheat Toast and Coffee

Body:  "Great...Now when do we actually EAT?"

~sigh~

Broth and A Salad with Lemon Juice for Lunch...and Lemon Water

Which leaves me 200 calories for the remainder of the day.

50 of which will be taken up with one square of Lindt Orange Dark Chocolate...just because. 

So a whopping 150 calories for dinner....

I'm not really bitching, of course. This was entirely self-inflicted. The things I have let pass my lips from November to January were worth the minor inconvenience of a first of the year adjustment. And I can muffle the cravings by reminding them we only have to wait until tomorrow.

It is funny, because usually by the time tomorrow arrives I no longer crave them.

And the Adjustment (Atonement?) will only take a month or two tops.

Best Diet/Lifestyle Change EVER.

Enjoyed a visit by both James and Chris this week. Hard to believe that tomorrow James will be 30 years old!

Happy, Healthy and Still Very Much In Love!

And it is

with three of my grand-daughters in troops this year. There will be Trefoils, Thin Mints and Tagalongs again, soon!

Wayside Gardens has also got  a jump on the gardening mag competition this year...arriving with snow on the ground  and minus one temperatures. 
Garden Porn. 

And we gasp appreciatively...and get a pen to circle and dream of Spring...only 70 Days Away

(...per my friend, Gail, in Minnesota who keeps track of this annually...)

Tucker loves the AFD because I have a tendency to feed HIM more on the days I can't have food. One of us should be eating. 
My loss (literally) is his gain.

He'll be 15 this year. Still plays like a kitten for short bursts...but (like me) moves much slower, and enjoys our long afternoon nap daily.  He is healthy and spends far more time inside, curled up, than out now.

Had the first Out to Lunch Brunch with Loretta, Sharon, Janelle, and Judy this Wednesday. Very nice, but ending in somewhat of a disaster when Sharon stepped off a curb and lost her balance falling forward, where she attempted to break her fall with her arms outstretched...necessitating a immediate trip to the hospital and not one- but 2- broken arms.  The left fractured. The right broken in 2 places. Compounded by the fact the Ortho is out of town until Monday. Surgery is indicated and hoping she heals quickly.

The rest of us have or Monthly Mall-Ratting next week. Looking forward to checking out White Sales. Also bringing Sharon back a Cinnabon, as she always looked forward to it when we went.

Finally saw "Passengers" this week

with Jennifer Lawrence (as a blond). Very interesting insight into human behaviourism under unusual and extreme circumstances, and a quite nice love story as well.

Highly recommended!

Also finished reading

The Girl on The Train

which I had been in queue to read since Idgy's visit, and our watching of both movies by the same name.


The book followed the second (female) version much more closely. Hawkin's did a wonderful job of keeping the pertinent to the plot twists and turns hidden and the reader engaged and in suspense to the very end. If you haven't seen the film yet, read this novel first. 
You will be glad you did. 

Superbly written!

Getting prepared and looking forward to my (virtual) Cuban Adventure beginning Monday!

(...as an aside...my granddaughter, Emma, remarked on my wall of virtual travel posters pointing out London,England and saying "I want to go there, someday" so maybe by sharing the maps, stories, chocolate and recipes, and pictures...someday she, too, will become a Gypsy...like her Grandma Rose...)

More Anon...

  

Novel: The Plan- A New Year's Plan

The General and I have spent the last few weeks at odds, despite our Rockwell-esque Thanksgiving.

It started with his urging me to "take care of our Tracy problem" before Christmas.

When I refused him, telling him there was no way in hell I would take the children's mother from them a week before Christmas, and that there would be no further discussion of this; he slammed his first on my desk so hard I half expected to see a crack when he lifted it.

Bastard. I hope it hurt.

A lot.

He obviously isn't used to being told no.

Ever.

His affect was one more of disbelief than rage.

Then, he pressed his fingertips to his greying temples and agreed to after the New Year.

"If that is agreeable with you" he added, sarcastically.

I began to formulate my plan that evening.

I would phoned the throw-away cell, the kids call them "burners" these days, soon.

I would take care of The Tracy Problem.

Mark was nearly ready to leave the hospital and re-join "Ohio", the General and (unbeknownst to him) his children.
 
They would move into The General's and be one big happy family.

Since Tracy had lied to the children and Mark about Jerry's demise I thought the best way to cover her sudden and permanent absence (at least to Mark and the kids) would be to give the impression she had dumped the kids and left to be with Jerry. To the authorities and anyone else who might notice her departure...you could just substitute "anyman" for Jerry and the lie worked equally well.

There was just one small thing that still needed taken care of...then they would all be forever out of my life.

And not a moment too soon.

Undecking the Halls...Re-Purposing the Tree...and Preparing for Virtual Cuba

But first, had to share what Chris and Tina dropped by on NYE (early) to share with me.

A Bug Eyes Ring. 

I know, right.

Who ever came up with this is brilliant. You slip the plastic ring over your middle finger and voila... Bug Eyes!  We had a ball playing with them, and I have got to get several in different colours for the grands, James & Nicki.

Yeah...we're pretty easily amused!

Started the New Year well, though. 

I've the tree, decoration and cards down. Tucker (...being a cat and therefore quite OCD...) finds the loss of The Tree quite disturbing, and has been piled in a kitty-ball on the deep brown thrown I had at its base completely distraught.

About The Tree. 

Ten Years old now, and starting to get sparse and shabby. I'm going to buy a hinged and pre-lit replacement...and have been putting it off for a couple years...this is part of the whole procrastination thing I have vowed to beat this year.

Anyway...disassembled the tree and re-purposed it for outside winter decorations today!

Go me!!!

Arranged the branches in a outdoor metal trough and topped them with the tipped white (painted) pine cones.  Took the very top of the tree and potted it...assuming we have some snow this winter both will make nice winter decor for the patio. Tucked a few more branches in various terra cotta pots by the arbour.

Even re-purposed the tiny white lights in a sea-grass basket to twinkle and glow this winter while I relax in a bath.

Have been spot cleaning the carpet, and made a start on my after-the-holidays declutter and organize.

Also found this

and absolutely LOVE the idea for 2017.

I have decided that my First Virtual Travel for the New Year will be to a country I have ALWAYS wanted to see/experience but was only open to US Travel last year.

Cuba

I want to see the older parts of Havana.

I want to read more about Che and Fidel's overthrow of Batista.

I especially want to see all those vintage 50's automobiles!

I want to learn some Traditional Cuban Recipes

I want to learn a bit of the language  (  Cuban Spanish)

I want to sip a Mojito.

I want to see Barcoa (beachside town and Cuba's first Capital)

I want to find a circulated peso from 1954-1959 (during the revolution)

I want to explore Pinar del Rio 

I want to visit Santiago de Cuba (Che's Home)

I want to discover Trinidad.

I want to (virtually) dive at Maria la Gorda. 

I want to check out all the National Parks.

And whatever else I happen on along the way...

Going to spend this week getting the house organized and then begin next Monday!

Oh...and get back to work on The Plan (My Novel) or I will never get the first draft complete before the end of the year!

More Anon...

Happy New Year- 2017

Celebrated NYE with "Idgy" (split screen/streaming) in London last night! Their festivities (midnight) being 7 PM my time; which was actually 6 PM her time...hearing Chicago playing in the background.

"Does anyone really know what time it is?"

Last year, we rang in the New Year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It works so well for us we have decided to pick a live streaming different city every year!

The London celebration was amazing. The Bridge. The Eye. The Fireworks over The Thames, which must have sounded like a small war if you were on the water or the banks. We started the stream about 45 minutes early...chatted and got to hear Big Ben chime out the half hour and the quarter hour...very neat!

Perhaps the best part being that you can ring in the New Year...still have time for an amazing steak dinner...soak in a deep hot bubble bath...slip into silk pajamas and still make it to bed by 10 for a decent night's sleep.

There is a LOT to that.

So...here we are.

(...incidentally so am I...)

All is Right with The World.

Goals for 2017 

This is beginning my 10th Year as a practicing Zen Buddhist. I can't imagine ever NOT being, now. This is the Goal that has become a Lifestyle. Couldn't be more at peace or happy. Grateful for Everything.

Start back on the 5:2 this week because...damn...lol! Not a crisis, but I did gain 7 pounds from Thanksgiving to NOW. Stopped the Maintenance Program from Thanksgiving on and ate...oh...everything...a lot. More than a lot.  
I REGRET nothing!

Give back more than I receive (and surprise a few friends/family members this year by mailing a few "just because" items). And never lose sight of the fact that I always have ENOUGH.

Continue the Pro-active Approach to Finances...The $50. Project and Implement a New Yearly Savings Program.

Continue to Re-Use, Re-Purpose or Compost as much as possible. Also research and implement more energy-efficiency, less mindless consumerism, and find things for my home in the work smarter not harder category. 

Using Virtual Travel finish up the 2 States I have left in the US that I never saw (Real Time)  Alaska and Hawaii.

Use Virtual Travel to Explore Cuba.

Use Virtual Travel in the hottest of the Summer to discover all that Sicily has to offer! Going to finish out the year with Virtual Sicily.

Make this Year MY Year.

Stop Procrastinating...which is one of my biggest downfalls. Get around to all those (as yet) unfinished projects. Break the Procrastination Habit and replace it with the Pro-Active Habit!

Cross a Few more items off my Bucket (Life) List.  Add a few more.

Continue to Declutter..Simplify...and Minimize! 

Finish the first draft of my Fiction Novel this year.

Continue to spend as much time as possible with my family and friends.

Learn to navigate a manual wheelchair...go me!!!

Reserve Sundays as a Zen Retreat and Recharge Day.

That is about it!

What ever you decide to be for 2017...be a GOOD one!


love,
Carla

Oh....and I want to make a Tree of Life Quilt this year!

or maybe something like this