This speaks for itself

 (Thanks Diana)

Kamikaze Iguanas

The cold snap appears to be causing iguanas to fall out of trees...this information is thanks to my lovely niece, Nurse Carly:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vqq9XUZhJ4

Those of you who are familiar with Boca Grande know that one of our most pressing issues is:

IGUANAS TAKING OVER THE ISLAND!!!

They can be found in your attics, in your eaves, in your petunias (this has caused a near extinction of petunias here), and even in your toilets!

There are very wild and rancorous SRO Community meetings where  ladies ask whether it is better to freeze an iguana or drown it? The concern about drowning.... polluting our waters....

There used to be a lady who would ride around in her golf cart with a gun, and shoot them.

The word has always been that Boca Grande is Ground Zero for the Florida Iguana Invasion. This is where it all began:

All the old-timers around here claim to know EXACTLY who brought the iguanas to the island, well maybe, they say, it was two people. But they are not naming names!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vqq9XUZhJ4

It snowed in Tampa; even the pelicans need a jacket

Brrrrrrrrr.... gloomy, rainy, cold, it even snowed in Tampa and Ocala.

The Brown Pelicans need a winter jacket:

The White Pelicans just want to go back to Lake Tahoe (they are huge prima-donnas anyway)

It's just so boringgggggggg

One of the greatest photos of all time

Our dearly departed Tucker and niece Katy

PHOTO CREDIT TO MISS LILY POE

All the way to Hell and back

Today was the day.

We made the excruciating hour and a half drive to Coastal Veterinary Surgical Specialists, behind every under-the -speed-limit, can-barely-see-over-the-steering-wheel, person who should no longer have a driver's license  in SW Florida.

This was the 8 week check up (really a bit more) for Freddy's blown, plated, and screwed knee.

The news was good!!!!

Hurray!!!

Mick looks a bit happier than Fred who is still annoyed about having to come back to this terrible place.

We can walk.

We can jump.

We can play.

We can zoooooooooommmmmmmmm

Boppin around without Freddy

Poor Fred. All he really can do is lie around. And that's when there is this whole wide world of fun right outside our door:
a fenced in yard, with doggie friends on both sides
a fabulous gulf front dog park
a bay right out the back door, chock full of egrets, herons and what have you
golf carts galore
long walks and runs

So yesterday we humans went off island to see Invictus (a really good movie) and on the way home got a little entertainment:

There was a drunk driver on the road, but the guy in front of us called the cops whilst keeping all the traffic behind the drunk driver from getting crashed into by blocking the lane with emergency blinkers on. This is the first time I have ever seen the cops actually catch someone in the act!

Then we saw something really really really cool:

These Wood Storks were having some kind of a showdown with a Snowy Egret. The Wood Storks were on the roof and surrounding the Egret. I think maybe they were having a staring contest

Then one of the Wood Storks was all "Hey, whatchu lookin at?"

Then he decided I wasn't worth his time ... so long

Wow, pretty cool

The Bush Dynasty leaves, and we missed it!

The Bush family loves Boca Grande. The Gasparilla Inn is pet friendly,and has its own golf course.  One of the sons owns a home here on the island. There is always lots of excitement when they are in town, plus it is good for business, since the Secret Service needs a place to stay, and they love to eat. It is a fun (but easy) game to play-- Spot the Secret Service Agent---- not too difficult, since they are the only guys riding bikes around town wearing black socks and a blue windbreaker with an earpiece attached to their faces.  Looks like Barbara has a new dog..... RIP Millie.
T

On the Road with Tico and The Princess

Freddy is happily in Boca, all traveling done for the moment, but not the grand-dogs.

They are en route from a fun filled trip to the Big Apple where they did New Year's Eve the right way.  They even got to  stay up really really late.

Fred got to be with the old folks who go to bed really really early

Happy New Year

Back at Whidden's Marina

Well, we've been here before. Probably the best place on the Island.  Notice all the services, including TACKEL.

Hurray, the shrimp boat is in today! See Fred pointing to it.

Yup. The shrimp boat is docked.

If you go onto the dock to buy shrimp, there are many questions which have conveniently already been answered.

We are off to PJ's for a 6PM dinner to ring in the New Year!

Deja Vu all over again

Staybridge Suites, Chattanooga, Again

What a long day... semis strewn along I-65, it was closed down completely at one point, but for no discernible reason-- no rain, ice, no snow, hail, no sleet, just cold.

Well, at least we know what to expect here in Chattanooga. Fluffy, Tucker, Freddy, Sonny, Laura, Brady, Jamie, and Mick and I have all stayed here in the last many, many, many years.

Even on his last legs, Tucker would strut into this place, knowing that he was on an adventure.

Freddy flies down the hall to the room (somehow we always get the same one) tail up and flicking back and forth. He knows he's da man!! This is HIS turf.

Well, let's hope tomorrow is a better driving day. We hope to get all the way to Boca...sigh....it should be 70ish.

Golf carts, water, sand, and sun. Maybe a little Sudoku.

And hopefully no disastrous puppy zooms.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Though the knees are swollen
Keep them Doggies Rollin'
Rawhide!
Through rain and  wind and weather
Hell Bent for leather

Move 'em on! Head 'em up!
Move 'em up! Head 'em on!
Move 'em on! Head 'em up!
Rawhide!

Don't try to understand 'em
Just rope 'em, throw and brand 'em
Soon we'll be livin' high and wide

But first we must pack.....

Twas a Christmas Miracle

Fred managed to get on the furniture AND  his dad

and the ottoman

He got to play with another dog (Princess Chuchi) for the first time since the knee blowout

Diana finally got warm

Jamie got happy (see the Princess hiding over his shoulder)

Mick got a Kindle

Wow, how happy  is he???  JK, he liked it.

Mom got a Fanny Pack.

Everyone was happy

And well fed

And just a wee bit sleepy.....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!