Jandins de la Reina- Cuba

While poking around the treasures of Virtual Cuba...I found this

http://putlockers.ch/watch-cubas-secret-side-online-free-putlocker.html

Gardens of the Queen was named by Christopher Columbus to honour the Queen of Spain. The area is now named a National Park.

Cuba's most popular diving area it was once former President  Fidel Castro's personal diving playground.

Crocodile, Iguana, and Sea Turtle live side by side in the thick mangroves surrounding the reef.

While colourful fish, coral, grouper and shark prowl the reef itself.

Hutia are also indigenous (fearless and friendly) denizens of the tangled mangroves.

And,of course, more pristine beaches!

Truly a Paradise.

 

The large arrow pointing to the archipelago.

And several dive vidos

https://youtu.be/vThHxMRocN8

https://youtu.be/f6m9YXNLDog

 https://youtu.be/bhC1U8hj4Yk

And possibly the best:
 
https://youtu.be/8zreWSBxxLs



 More anon...

Musings of Monday

It is the first Monday after the Inauguration and well...most of us are still here. The sun rose (somewhere...I am sure...although not in Greencastle where, with the exception of Saturday, we could be stuck in Folsom Prison...) the marches and protests are slowly dwindling down...and life goes on.

Had a moment this weekend when a friend back-handly accused me once again for handing President Trump the election because I refused to vote for Hillary.

For the record...I didn't vote for either of them...but

1.  If your candidate was too weak to win without MY one vote...well maybe the DNC should have ran a stronger candidate. Like BERNIE, maybe...

2. Maybe your candidate and the DNC shouldn't have backed a losing nag. Or rigged the primaries.

3. If you are still confused...feel free to place the blame on my third party vote...I have wide shoulders and I accept it...gladly...willingly...I have zero tolerance for election fraud and though I have deep concerns about this new Presidency...at least he didn't have to defraud people or cheat to get it.

Everything beyond this...refer to #1.

Falling into the category of "Well THAT didn't Last Long"

The FB Off the Grid Group.

Overall composed of some thoughtful real people from both sides. I know a few of them personally. BUT...after the Inauguration was over, OMFG.

It devolved into the squabbles and bickering of school-children left unsupervised. In some instances just nastiness to be...well...nasty.

I may try it again in a few weeks or so...but for now, as Marley would say

Proud of Chris and Tina and their GROUP OF FRIENDS, this weekend. This moderately sized group has been together for around 20 years now. With the exception of Kevin (...who ended up moving in with Zach and his parents...eating off their table...driving the car they gave him...wearing the clothing they bought him...then helping some less than decent individuals rob their home when they were gone...)  no one has ever been  booted from their Circle of Friends. It is really  quite remarkable and wonderful to know through everything theyall have each other's backs.

They are a lot like Bison forming a Circle to protect calves or the injured.

Anyway...one of the group just went through a really bad breakup after a 5 year relationship.
Worse yet there are 3 children involved.

The Rest of them Formed a Tight Circle this weekend...helped her clean...pull it together...watched and played with the kids...cooked and were a positive ear helping her see past the crumbling debris of the relationship and focus on a healthier, brighter future with her children.

I am proud of my Son and future-DIL for being the kind of people...for being involved with a group of like minded friends who would do this for another person/family/human being.

Catching up with Lennon, tomorrow. Whose Mom and Aunt have made it safely back to Massachusetts.

James and Hannah came by on Sunday!  Eliciting a million thanks for getting all those BOXES from online Christmas Shopping out to the rubbish bin. Seriously one of the shipping boxes was large enough for me to lay down in comfortably and the only thing that was shipped in it was a box...inside a box...inside another box with a 12" Pioneer Woman Iron Skillet in it. Totally overkill and impossibly awkward for me to drag out for pick up.

Got to catch up and chat. His lawyer has filed the necessary Modification of Custody paperwork. So now we wait.

They did the whole "pet shop" thing this weekend and brought Brenden back a White Goldfish to accompany the lone survivor of Fair Time...also a Green Budgie for Hannah.

Hannah excited as we discussed our Annual Upcoming Valentine's Tea that I throw with all The Grands...and me, excited, because by next Saturday there will be Thin Mints...and Lorne Dunes and Tagalongs and a new cookie this year:
S'mores. 

And for those following the Championship Games Sunday...

Superbowl LI will be between

The Patriots and The Atlanta Falcons.

Since The Falcons was Loran's Team (...and he would have been so pleased had he lived to see THIS day...) I think many of us from DS are hoping they "Win one for The Gipper" this year.

I know I will be.

Nicole is throwing her Annual Super Bowl Party, and I promised I'd be there for this one.  If for no other reason than James, Fred, Shel, Nicole and I will all be rooting for the same team this year!
That has to be a first.

Finally sorted the wave wash, sky and beach on my painting and tonight I will start the Royal Palm Trunks...including that bent one from Coco Caya.

It is slowly becoming...

More anon...

Novel The Plan: Thoughts-The General

Smug bastard...who does he think he is, anyway?

Looks at me and come off with that smart-assed remark instead of just taking care of the problem.

Getting moral on me, now.

Looking at me like I am some kind of a monster because I want rid of Tray for Mark's sake.

Let me share a little about parental love and how far we will go for those we love.

It isn't common knowledge, but I had a flesh and blood son once. Just before getting involved with my ex-wife. Tray's mom. That mistake of a lifetime manipulative whore.

Yeah, once I was in love.

Her name was Regina.

 I called her Gina. To tell you the truth, back then, I never even knew if it was her real name. Didn't really care. She was just My Gina. Come to find out, it was. She was thin, dark-haired, funny and a prostitute. For a couple of years I was one of her regulars. At the time I hadn't made General yet but I was on my way up. Still, prostitute or not, something clicked between her and I. More than just the sex. Pretty soon I wasn't just another "john" I was spending more and more time with her. Not a "regular" any more. I was her exclusive. About the time I realized I was falling in love with her she ended up pregnant. She told me one night while we were still tangled in her sheets. Tossing popcorn at each other and laughing. When I saw it wasn't a joke I excused myself to her bathroom. I didn't want her to see me cry.

I remember being in a such a state of panic realizing that I could kiss my promotion to General, and my Military career, goodbye if it all came out. It was a different time, then. So it didn't come out. She understood. Somehow, that made it all worse. I chose being a General over the woman I loved. Chose it over the only son I would ever have.

A few years later I married Tray's mom.

At least Gina loved me.

If I have any regret in life. That night, and all the nights that followed, would be it.

Oh, I kept track of them through the years. Sent her money from time to time to help them. Watched him grow up in photographs. Not too much of a replacement for having a Father, I guess. A skinny asthmatic kid. I used to look at him and wonder how much he got beat up and bullied in school. Tortured in gym class? How I wished I could have been there to raise him.  Be his Dad.

 Anyway, she died, and I lost track for a long time. Then I found him again. This time in the newspapers. In trouble. Murder. He was tried and executed, and I couldn't do a damned thing. Had a façade to maintain. I couldn't even be there for him in the end when he needed me the most.

Damned shrink wants to judge me as a father?

Judge that.

I'd plead guilty, every time.

I blame myself for the way his life turned out.


I had his body flown back to me, though. Buried him right here in the family plot at the back of our property. Next to grandparents he would never know, and who would have loved him.. Headstone and everything. Gave him something I couldn't give him his whole life.

My last name.  

Cuban Spanish...

First of all...if you can speak English...you will get along just fine in Cuba. Most everyone can.

Second if you understand or speak any Spanish you will have no problem either.

"Cuban Spanish" is just Spanish (South American...without the lisp) with a few particular to Cuba words thrown in.

http://www.cubarocks.co.uk/useful-spanish-phrases-for-cuba

One such being CHAO.  Not the CIAO of Italy...but sounding and meaning the same thing.

Dale.  Meaning "Let's go."

El Radio Bemba. Meaning someone who  gossips.

La pincha. Meaning to work (instead of trabajo)

But even these and others can be figured out fairly quickly in context.

I did discover something amazing while poking around (virtually) on the beaches though.

An archipelago barrier reef known as Jardins la Reina...and will share this with you on Monday!

Until Then!

 

Inauguration Day 2017

So the torch has been passed, and love him or hate him, Donald Trump is now 45th POTUS.

It is no secret that I was not a fan of him, or Hillary...and "Miz Cleo" (okay...I) predicted this way back during the primaries when the DNC was shoving Hillary down our throats...they basically beat themselves, you know...

Yes...that WAS my I told you so, moment. Right there.

Moving on...

1. Yes, all you NOT MY PRESIDENT people, he really really is...and he and this Congress will impact your lives in very real ways. Time to pull your heads out of the sand, come out of your "safe place" and work with others on the best way to watch-dog the situation now and keep the checks and balances going.

2.  Assaulting officers, burning vehicles, smashing windows and chanting all the while "This is WHAT Democracy LOOKS like" is counter-productive and UNTRUE. That is what mob rule and Third World Nations look like. It is an EMBARRASSMENT. You are hurting, not helping, any CAUSE you might have.

3. All your anger and chants and rioting won't change the fact that Trump is now President.

4. Harrassing girl scouts, death threats to a 16 year old girl who was just given the opportunity to sing our National Anthem at an Inauguration (anybody's), and comparing our Military marching in today's parade to Nazis...is all reprehensible as far as I'm concerned.
Get a fucking grip, people

and 5.

As an activist I am going to hold all their feet to the fire as much as I can...but I am not going to burn the damned ship because my guy isn't The Captain.

And it is sad...because now the lunatic fringe on the left is sounding just like the lunatic fringe on the right was, when President Obama was President.  

Down to berating his wife and kid...already.

And examining their every move through a damned microscope.

Melania Trump (Our First Lady) was elegant, graceful, gracious to the Obamas and lovely today. Her style reminded me of Jackie Kennedy.
Classic and Timeless.
The gift from Tiffany's was a very classy touch.


There were several comments today about how "Stupid" she is...funny because the woman is fluent in four languages and had a very successful modeling career and business. She has literally been modelling since age five.

There were the backhanded compliments too

"Well, she looks good with her clothes on." 

Yes...you're so funny.

You know what else is really really funny. How for years before I finished college and became a Nurse...and had a successful 15 year spotless career as a Nurse, I was a STRIPPER. 

You know what...during all the years I was a Nurse...Everybody knew and nobody CARED about what I did before I was a Nurse. (...beyond amused curiosity...)I had also been a car hop...a marketing research interviewer...a waitress and a cook.
Anybody over about 25 has a past.

You know what they DID care about? Whether or not I could discern indigestion from a heart attack. A cough from CHF or bronchitis or pneumonia. Whether I could re-start their heart in an emergency. Whether I could perform peritoneal dialysis or start an IV or evaluate and treat their wounds. Whether I could save them in an emergency. Whether I could talk down that schizophrenic patient with suicidal or homicidal ideations before they harmed themselves or others.

In short...whether I could do my job well.

And they've already started blaming President Trump for EVERYTHING...exactly like President Obama was blamed for EVERYTHING.

"It's raining outside...Thanks TRUMP"

"I burned my toast...damn you, President Trump."

Don't be an asshole, okay? 

Be vigilant.

Be watchful.

Be politically engaged.

But don't be an asshole.

More Anon...

Barcoa...Beaches and A New Painting Soon

Yeah, so it is dreary and raining and not quite Spring (62 more days), but definitely not the usual snow-filled Winter Wonderland we usually enjoy...

Time for Virtual Barcoa...Mojitos and A Beach!  And maybe even start a new painting to boot.

Saw this (above) Coco Caya, Cuba and know that is where I'd rather be!

Ass in the powder white sand, feet in the shallows, with an umbrella drink!

But first...let's check out Barcoa.

The Original Capital of Cuba.

Visited in 1492 by Christopher Columbus, and later founded by Spanish Explorer (and its first governor) Diego Valazquez : Cuidad Primada (First City)
The oldest city in Cuba.

Barcoa sits on the Bay of Honey (Bahai de Miel) and has a single mountain road leading in and out of the city.

The region is noted not only for its coconut and fresh fruit, but also its heavy cocoa and chocolate production!

That's right. Sell the house. 

Sell the car. 

Sell the kids.

I'm HOME!

And now I've got to buy some Cuban Cocoa and Chocolate, you know...


Let's explore the Bay of Honey

Complete with the Sounds

https://youtu.be/y4NluptoQuY

Going to use this as background noise as I paint my beach!

Surrounded by Mangrove Trees and Royal Palms...and dotted with fishing boats, Honey Bay seems almost idyllic.

A Sneak Peek at one of the beautiful beaches. This is Paradise!

https://youtu.be/aiPi7SZkdME

So join me in a Mojito as we discover the beaches of Barcoa!

Mojito Recipe

Classic Mojito

Servings: 1

• 1-2 teaspoons fine sugar or simpleMore anon... syrup
• 8 mint leaves
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 3 oz. (88ml) white rum, or 2 jiggers
• Club soda
• Ice
  
  
  
  The Painting: The Very Early Beginning
  
  ...if I can't FIND a beach, why...I'll PAINT one instead...
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  No Happy Trees yet...but I see a Big Old Bitchy Royal Palm...or maybe a Mangrove Cluster in its future.
  
  More anon...
  
  

Cuban Flan

Much better presentation when it is inverted on a plate, but since I won't be serving it all at once- It will keep better in the dish.

This is amazing stuff!

Nice chilled, but really wonderful still slightly warm.

Here is the recipe

El Flan de la Reina
(Queen's Flan)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

lemon juice (1 teaspoon)

1 teaspoon water

Place all in small skillet on low heat until sugar carmelizes. Tilt pan but do not stir. When mixture is caramelized (light golden brown and bubbly) pour directly into the dish you are going to bake the flan in coating the bottom and a little way up the sides. Set aside. This will turn hard and glazed and feel like smooth glass. 

In a large blender put

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 can water

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 whole eggs

Blend until all ingredients are well mixed and smooth.

Pour this mixture over caramel glaze in your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle top liberally with cinnamon.

Set entire dish in deep water bath which covers 1/2 way up dish (like preparing egg custard) 

Bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes.

Chill for one hour and invert on a serving plate.

The caramelized sugar re-melts to provide a wonderful syrup and the cinnamon mingled with the glaze give it that unique Flan flavour.

Enjoy this flavour of Cuba!

More anon...