Got to Panama and all is well

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Just a quick post this morning to let you all know that we are here and all is well.  Got in last night after delightfully easy and smooth flights from Raleigh to Houston to Panama.  The pilot made one hard left turn to avoid a thundercloud but still got here early.  The usual luggage delay at the baggage claim area (one day in the future they may figure it out), but customs and immigration were a breeze for us.  

Guess who looked great.  Yes indeed dee sir-re-bob.  Young Raleigh here.  Holds good too.  Patt will attest to that.  Jen and Stephen looked good and at ease, somewhat rested - to that we somewhat attribute the presence and service of Fa (Jen's Mom who got here late on Raleigh's birthday) (yes the get up and go idea in practice).   

Well more later.  It is off to breakfast at the Executive Hotel - the big Sunday Brunch for which they are famous.  And one of Raleigh's introductions to Panama City Society.

Restaurant Review 19 & 20

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Actually this could be mountains to the sea or sea to mountains.  You will see where that comes from in a moment.

After the Air Show, referenced earlier, Andrew took Eric and me to the Marina Cafe for dinner.  Whoa - back, this is a great place for seafood, local character, atmosphere, and probably late on a Saturday night-- a really good time in a city that has about 17,000 Marines.  There was a dance hall, game room, outdoor dining, indoor sports bar type dining and almost but not quite sawdust on the floor.  The patrons were from all across the spectrum much as one would expect in a City like Jacksonville (eastern NC military).  In other words all kinds of people.  It was fun and I want to go back.

 As it was on the edge of the bay that makes City of Jacksonville a bit of a port, at least for sport fishermen and the Marines, there was the a boat dock associated with the outside dining.  We started out there, but the smokers drove us indoors and we beat a very heavy rain by about 5 minutes.  There was also a nautical and international flavor -lots of flags and such as decorations-.

 in addition to the sports bar and international flavor there was a beer flavor, and not those crafty beer flavors either - note the hefty Bud sign behind me.  The seafood was wonderful.  Eric had grilled tuna, Andrew blackened mahi-mahi and I, when in a place like this go with the combination platter.  All were winners but the hushpuppies pushed mine over the top -

 and in one huge cultural shift.

Restaurant Review # 20 Jack of the Wood —  Asheville.

Patt and I are in the mountains (well duh ) as she is at a conference where her company is a sponsor, Patt is a panel participant and so on.  So last night we went  on the town to one of the local establishments that we had heard about as an interesting place.  It is indeed just that.  It is rather rough looking upon first entry and a very mixed looking crowd but it was what you would expect in Asheville — not so many Marines — (that I saw ) but they would have been welcome -and probably enjoyed it too.  The crowd was what you would expect in Asheville (western NC- and only in Asheville -counter culture crossed with country— actually Boone has some of that too)— Some of these places are really interesting.

 The kitchen unfortunately was under renovation, but not to worry said the waitress, we can bring you dinner from the "laughing seed" restaurant upstairs - She did warn that it was vegetarian.  And was it ever.  After working with the menu — we were at the table just behind the guitarist in the green shirt in the foreground ( yes we had the "front row") - well back to the menu — after close examination and much work  I went with the Harmony Bowl.

Patt quizzed me on my choice.  I told her that her choice, tofu burrito was not in the running and a salad is not dinner and the Harmony Bowl had black beans and rice and grilled tofu and when I visited Linda and Charles, Linda had cooked black beans and rice and I like it and besides, there in the Harmony Bowl the beans and rice were organic.

 There were other good things in the Harmony bowl but I was not interested in them as the prefix for them was steamed and I had pushed enough steamed veggies aside on other plates not to be off put by steamed stuff.  Long story short - I should have gone with the burrito though the beans and rice were good.

 The music was great, I enjoyed it.  the selection was mountain country - and as Mark says, he likes country because they play only two songs "Rocky Top and the other one— well they played the other one.  There were about 10 musicians and they seemed to rotate in and out of the circle.  And actually it was more than one song because they sang some too- a gospel tune I enjoyed.  More enthusiasm in the singing than would compliment a Harmony Bowl, but very entertaining.

check 'em out.  and yes we will return, if their kitchen is open.          

          

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I think I mentioned that the Air Show was well attended.  Several of our friends and neighbors were in attendance as you can readily observe.  I heard from crowd comments that there were 150,000 or 180,000 people present.  Eric heard there were 100,000.  What ever the number, it seemed like a lot.  They went on and on and on.  The airfield is so very very large it can accommodate a crowd.  It was also hot like "hotter-n-hell"

 Attendees were advised to bring a chair, earplugs, and sunscreen.  All three were necessary.  

Lots of cameras

 not everyone was happy

 this guy missed the sunscreen part but was happy

 it was a long day and this guy got in a nap

 looking for shade anywhere you could find stand these girls found it

  That is Eric in the photo above whose shade was poached by those three little girls and their Mom.  It was hot and there was not a lot of shade as is obvious.  This is an airport.  We three took time out and got under one of those tents that was sheltering a display and visited with the attendees.  The airplanes had crowds under the wings.   there were just lots and lots of people

and these three guys were having a grand ole time.  and looked almost too cool for school!

Air Show

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Saturday Eric and I met Andrew at Cherry Point Marine Air Station.  I do not think that is the correct name of the base but lets go with it.  The day was the Air Show and the feature was these guys— the Blue Angels — and they sure can put on a show.

 There were all sorts of airplanes, and other weapons of mass destruction lying all over the place.  This little piece was a B-52.  Not sure if it was radioactive or not, but it was available for inspection.  I can remember when these things were top ultra top tip top loss lips sink ships secret.  Times have changed.

 As were big ole trucks, half-tracks and all sorts of big and and bigger objects.   Andrew was a real good tour guide and gave some great insight and commentary on much of the equipment, sharing much from personal experience.  Like (and hope I am not going to far here) but just how sick you can get inside the ocean going landing craft when it is closed up and approaching a beach- something about diesel motor exhaust, heat, motion and close quarters.  I think just getting into the landing craft would be intimidating enough.

 As I mentioned there were all kinds of weapons of mass destruction.  Big and little, well even the personal weapons are not so little — the M-16 rifle — well it is not a M-16, but something newer is very heavy but has a whoopdeedoo laser sight on it.  I know it is very heavy because I picked it up and looked though the sight.

 Part of the show was making the airfield at the air base safe with a sort of war game with practice bombing and strafing runs complete with paratroopers, medivac action action landing armored vehicles and eventual total victory— lots of loud bangs, smoke and flashes of flames.  The Harrier Jet put on a show too.  I do not have a photo of a jet standing still in the air.  It does do a lot of tricks, not sure what the point of some of the tricks are but it has a fruit basket of tricks.  The

 there was a show by some stunt pilots who were pretty good and had a nice blue sky to paint with their contrails

 the stunt pilots are not part of the Marines or Navy but just part of an air show.

 By the time the Blue Angels got into the air the sky was clouding up and my goodness but they were fast, I was pleased to get a few photos that caught some of the formations.  Watching the Blue Angels take off was a treat.

 Four of them took of in tight formation and curved out over the crowd.  The other two took off one at a time  - one went down the run way up into the air a bit  kind a did a barrel roll, back down about to the runway and then up slightly and then up and out on a tight curve.  the other down the runway just a short distance and then of course straight up.  they can fly those jets.

 I was unable to catch any of the crossing or intersecting patterns.  I also have many shots where I have part of a pattern or where the planes are not distinct at all.  The crossing patterns and intersecting patterns were the most impressive too.

I also am working on another post about the crowd after I go through the photos and select some of the best shots.  the crowd was fun.  It was not a crowd I am not normally in.

Restaurant Review # 18 Vic's

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This scene is for orientation purposes, and those of you familiar with downtown Raleigh know where we are- we "inside-the-beltline"  folk and I include south north Raleigh people as inside the belt line know where this is while those from way up north in the far northern reaches of North Raleigh may be clueless.   For you out of towers it is across from the Old City Market in Moore Square.

 Anyway just down this old cobblestone street —and across from the acorn  we are talking cute here- is Vic's Italian Restaurant.   And it was such a nice discovery it was when Patt and I found it earlier this week.

Of course during the meal I forgot to take pictures despite planning to, The food was terrific, as reported by all.  We had the most delightful evening, good food and a very good time and we most certainly look forward to returning to Vic's

As you can see one could have easily thought we were in Venice.

Seating outside is also available and quite nice as is obvious.

volunteer — more things to do with your time

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See those yard signs,  I've been putting them together, yeup, been spending some of my time as a volunteer with the Bob Etheridge for Governor Campaign.  I don't know Bob himself well, but do know his son and daughter-in-law very well and like them very very much.  They go to our church and I have known them for several years having been in a couple of bible studies with them.

 One of my lease favorite parts of my volunteer work and what I have not done a lot of is "Hello, My name is Paul, I am a volunteer with the Etheridge for Governor Campaign calling to remind you that early voting has started and to ask for your consideration for Bob Etheridge  for Governor".
Name recognition is a big deal they tell us here at the campaign.  Apparently people don't know squat.  Seeing who has been elected recently I certainly would agree.
the primary is next Tuesday and we are not leading in the polls, so my volunteer services may be short lived on this particular campaign.  I may get involved in another campaign when we return from our travels later this year.  This election is important.

The computer program that does all that dialing and feeding you phone numbers is amazing.  And tiring to sit there, just never hang up — a name and data pops up and there is the script, and boxes to click or check — I do not like it, that is why I was the sign specialist.

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We have been celebrating Patt's birthday now for several weeks.  We are doing birthdays right.  From REI a couple of Saturdays ago Patt got a new bicycle - a greenway rider- and we have been riding Raleigh's Greenways of which Raleigh has many many miles and is adding many more.

 they are quite nicely paved - which Patt appreciates, as she is not much of a fan of "off-road" riding.  In fact if the salesman at the REI store suggested the bike would do well on a mulch or sawdust trail, Patt wanted a different bike.

 So we are riding the rough roads of the greenway- and it is so nice.  we are enjoying it immensely— they are so beautiful and very nice to ride

 Many of the trails follow Crabtree Creek or its tributaries, crossing and recrossing the waterways often, providing many very nice views here in the middle of the city.

More on the birthday celebrations to come — I have been a bit derelict in posting to the ole blog of late.

in case I did not think I was retired

Earlier this week I went to the annual Retired State Employees meeting/convention that was held in Cary.  Check out the photos.   We are talking a room full of old people.  We are talking gray hair if there was any.

See what I mean.  In the lobby there were there were booths that had things like hearing-aids, insurance, and a guy from Social Security Administration.  The swag was not so hot, a few pens, some letter openers, sewing kit, glasses cleaner, and hand-outs that made me think I sure hope someone is recycling.  No hats, KoozieZ, wine bottle openers or things of use.  

anyway I saw a few people I knew, had a pretty good chicken dinner — no desert — I think they figured we did not need the calories.  Oh,  and Iput the top down on the car when I got ready to leave.  The parking lot was a little  over-represented with Buicks and Toyotas.

a new neighbor - a bird

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 Outside our back window is a bird house I put moved to this location in hopes of attracting a blue bird.  This fellow and his mate instead moved in.  I have watched them come and go and a day or so ago I saw one of the pair go into the bird house and thinking, I will get a photo when it comes back out as they normally spend a lot of time on the tree and walking around the bird house.

Walking back down the tree

Check out the beak.  I think he is holding a tick or spider.

Delivering the morsel.  and how do I know it is delivery.

Ta Da !  check out the portal.  Mama bird is inside 

I did not know I got the above photo until I was looking at them on the computer.

And now quiz time.  Just what kind of bird is this since it is not a blue bird?  First to get the correct answer wins a prize.  Not the 640 million but a prize.

a wedding shower

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last weekend at the old farm site just down the road from where Patt grew up and where Patt's Dad did indeed grow up and started farming.   Patt, Betty and Kay hosted a wedding shower for niece Melissa and her intended Cory.  It was a beautiful March day.  (it should be noted that I missed part of the key games of the ACC tournament to help get ready.  In addition to standing around helpfully, I run errands)  (I am putting myself in for saint of the year award)

 The party site was this "outbuilding" that had been cleaned up and fixed up for the farm agri-tours that come to the farm.

 The happy couple.  

 the couple with a portion of the loot they scored and the official note taker herself keeping score.  They made out really well too.  (What I want to know is whatever happened to the idea of hand me downs?)