It has been awhile since I last posted here on my blog. I do not know about everyone else, but it has been busy the past few weeks. As well as hot. There are some days I come home, I do not feel like doing anything.
As I mentioned last week, summer camp is over, and the children are in their second week of school. As soon as the children go back to school, however, we start our after school program.
It is like those old science fiction/horror movies that I talk about from time to time. I can just imagine the voice over for the trailer now:
"Just when you thought you were safe because summer camp is over and THEY have gone back to school. THEY now return to haunt you in AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM!"
Insert picture of woman screaming as children approach very slowly dragging their back packs behind them.
Anyway, I have been trying to get the neighborhood center back into shape during the day. Since the summer camp is over, I find that I have some energy to do a few things after work, so I have been busy running any errands and catching up with some friends.
Last Friday, I had the day off, so I went for a road trip up to Astor to see my friend Ron. He was not at home, but I dropped off a few things I needed to give him and went down the street to have lunch at the Dockside Bar and Grill. This place sits right on the St. Johns River across from the Blackwater Inn. It's great to have a cheeseburger and a cold draft beer while watching the boaters sail by.
"Good God almighty, I way do I steer? It's a cheeseburger in paradise..."
Afterwards, I drove into Ormond Beach and visited an old friend, Bruce. He happens to own a cigar shop called The Big Smoke, located on Granada Boulevard (State Road 40) in downtown Ormond Beach. Look for the wooden Indian figure that sits out front. That's the one that an old friend of mine, David, carved for the store. And when you go in, Bruce always offers you a beer or a coffee if you stay to smoke your cigar.
On that afternoon I went in to the store, Bruce had a few customers sitting down having a smoke and a beer while a gentleman named Joseph performed magic tricks from his bag of tricks. Needless to say, we made an evening of this, watching a deck of cards disappear, only to see those cards reappear out of thin air. I do not know what was more fun, watching the magic tricks that Joseph performed, or watching the reaction of the customer who walked into the store to purchase tobacco, only to end up performing along with Joseph and his illusions. Like the young lady by the name of Tonya.
I had to drive back to Orlando, so I wished everyone goodnight and drove back through the rain. I will have to get out to Ormond Beach again, but the next time I go, I will have to take a few days off and stay over night.
As for my friend Ron, I talked to him on the phone today. He was out with his wife Cathy and did not get my message until he got home. By that time, I was watching someone make a cigarette disappear.
We did make plans to get together on Monday. Ron says that he has not been fishing much lately, so I have an idea that we will be taking the boat out and try to catch a few. Remind me to get a case of Bud long necks and ice down the cooler.
And if we don't catch any fish, then good God almighty, I'll steer right up to Riverside and dock the boat right there. Get me a cheeseburger and a cold draft beer.
"I like mine with lettuce and tomato...."
Folks, there are trash cans throughout the park. Please use them! There are also baby changing stations in every bathroom throughout the park.
