Detours

January 22, 2024

Greetings from Sunnyland.
Occasional Cold fronts and Hurricanes.

Have you missed me?

I turned 75  on November I 8

On the 20 th I had surgery to repair two broken bones in my Clavicle on my left shoulder
5 stitches in my hard stubborn head

This incident happened September 23. 2023

Airlifted by Trama Star to Kendell Hospital

Surgery postponed and released

Home a few days

Developed a very bad cellulitis in my right leg.

Hospitalized a total of 31 days.

Not a pleasant experience by any means.

Still going through Physical therapy.

Doctor says I may have a screw loose that needs taken care of.

Mentally let alone physically my body is worn out.

Enclosed photos in sequence

I cherish every moment.

Of all the incidents in my life this was the topper.
Pain overboard

Taking Tramadol feels like a baby aspirin.

The pain block given before surgery gave 14 hours of no pain.
I could not find my arm let alone feel it.

Chewy, Amazon and Instacart are my new friends.

Month after surgery

I had to cut 7 inches of my hair.

The metal plate they put in to hold my breaks together

Surgery was on the 20 th of November 2023

I lost almost 23 pounds.

So, tangled and stuck in glue.

Before the Detour

By Cynthia

“Never underestimate the difference a day can make.”

Cat Space

I had went to bed early.
Tired from the days chores.

My cat always has made a comfy spot right next to me.
Her space.
My hubby said move over as he tried to climb in bed.

I said you know that is Cat Space.

He insisted.
He was becoming to controling.
Reminding me of past marriages that had dissolved.

I did move over and straight out the other side.

I found Cat and we packed a small bag and walked towards the river.

When we arrived a young lady said she would like for us to walk with her.

It was a very steep hill.

At the top,I found a community of wonderful artists and animal lovers.

The years passed.

I wondered if anyone had looked for me in my absence.

I went down the steep hill and followed the same path back to the home I had fled from.

I knocked on the door.

A young lady came to the door.
She had several children crying for her,hanging on her apron,wanting attention.

She said her husband was very controling,yet was seldom home.
She looked older than her years and frazzled with anxiety.

I told her I understood.

She than mentioned that her husband’s ex had wondered off one day with her cat.

Her body was never found, although most persons thought the river had taken her.

She was just recently declared dead after 7 years.

I wished the woman well.

I went back up the long, steep hill where I was welcomed and loved.

Most importantly,where my cat had her space.

We both had our space and place

This story was derived from  a dream.

Also,in the dream was my daughter as a baby.
A suitcase with 3 hamsters, and a friendly wide eyed 🐍.

I had to protect the hamsters from the cat and the snake.

I had to protect myself only from the snake.

In life we meet many persons that are like the snake.
They coil around us, trying to suffocate us with there control,strength and tanatcity.

I looked up dream meanings:

Snake🐍

” Snakes — a common dream archetype — typically representa person in the dreamer’s life who exhibits low, dirty, toxic, or poisonous behavior. However, they can also represent something related to health or healing. Regardless of what you imagine the snake might represent, though,if a snake appears in your dream, Loewenberg says you shouldn’t ignore it. 

“These days, it seems the collective subconscious is giving this virus the form of a snake because it literally is poisonous and we all want to avoid getting bit by it”

Hamsters:🐱

Sometimes when you see a baby hamster in your dream, it means a new family member will soon come into your family.

Hamster dreams are a sign of your inner thoughts and processes. It represents positive omens like romance, joy, freedom, good luck as well as negative omens like difficulties.

Usually, baby hamsters bring joy, and happiness to your life. It is a sign that you will be at peace with yourself and your situation. 

Cat: 😻

Cats in dreams symbolize a part of you that is independent, strong, and powerful to fight all odds in life.

This feline cautions you, and reminds you to stay away from dishonest people and frauds in waking life. There are people surrounding you who are hiding their real face in the name of friendship. 

Cats are highly flexible and adaptive animals. When you dream about cats, it means that you will fit yourself in any circumstance; even if it is not favorable. With your patience and perseverance, you can feel comfortable and make desirable changes in your life.

Source:

https://thepleasantdream.com/

Daylight Savings Time 2021

That was quick.

On March 14 th Spring up is upon us again.

Another blog from another time

Why is Time Speeding Up? – Cryominute Eclectic Avenue (wordpress.com)

It’s being here now that’s important. There’s no past and there’s no future. Time is a very misleading thing. All there is ever, is the now. We can gain experience from the past, but we can’t relive it; and we can hope for the future, but we don’t know if there is one.

~ George Harrison

Key West and Corona

Haven’t posted for a while

Key West opened up our main Highway 1 as of June 1st.

We now have over 230 cases in Key West alone.

A mandatory face mask has been amended and states they must be worn at all times and all places.

No one likes it, especially the tourists.

We were in Lockdown mode for over three months and had just 41 cases.

Wildfire is upon us.

We are so small a Island.

Just a 2 x 4 with the Gulf and the Atlantic surrounding us.

We care about our home.

Others visiting should honor and respect our guidelines.

If not, another closure is inevitable.

Our grocery shelves are still rather bare.

We do have toilet paper.

“Did you hear the ice is melting? It’s fallin’ into the sea

And the oceans are rising Little by little by little

I just want to ask you Where do you want to be when Those waves come crashing down?

A big change is comin’ A big change is comin’ I can feel it comin’ on”

 

 

 

The Simple Ways

Time is but an illusion.
Blessings ❤️🐾
Stay safe and well

Much Love and Compassion to those who are suffering now.

The families who have lost loved ones without being able to say proper goodbyes.

May a greater understanding come of all this pain we have endured and may we continue to always have hope in our hearts that this too shall pass.

The Simple Way
I don’t know if I dreamed it, but I woke up and turned the local Keys News on.

I must have been dreaming because I do not even have that station.

The alert said that they were closing off Key West Old Town for repairs.

Only persons on bicycles and mopeds allowed.
The City bus that makes the Duval Loop would be rerouted.

It would actually be like back in the 70’s and before.

Larger motels off Duval would be renovated and become rentals for our locals who keep this Island going.

Restaurants of every known cuisine would prosper.
No more rip off stores.
No more endless displays of novelty shops. The ones that charge extravagant prices to persons that want a piece of Paradise.

Spring Breakers and the constant influx of Snow Folks..
Miami folks would find it a less desirable destination.

Fantasy Fest would go back to what it actually was meant too be.
Something to look forward too during slow revenue times.

Children could once again have a park and swimming pool.a skating rink and things to do here.

So many Mom and Pop stores, small businesses could open again and thrive without having threats of foreclosure looming in the future.

Yes, I suppose a Utopia, a pipe dream of the old Key West.

Where everyone knew your family name.

No more homeless laying on Duval, panhandling is a lucrative enterprise.

One Human Family would take on a new and welcome
Interpretation.
We have a rich and diverse population.
Conch’s, Fresh Water Conch’s, Cuban, Latino’s, Bohemian, Jamaican, Haitian.

Key West has so much unique history.

The stories.

Pirates to Graveyard.
They stack persons now at the Key West Cemetery that do not want to be cremated. Above ground.
There is no more room at the Final Inn.

https://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/department/division.php?structureid=62

Shipwrecks.

https://melfisher.com/default.html

Hemingway

https://www.hemingwayhome.com/

Hurricanes

https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/1037/Florida-Keys-Hurricane-History

The Grotto

https://stmarykeywest.com/grotto/

The Overseas Flagler Station Railway to Key West

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/florida/overseas-railroad-fl/

https://www.florida-keys-vacation.com/1935-Hurricane.html

We have to many accidents now.
Too many deaths.
Too many cars.
If things stay the same, their will be only the very rich that will have a place here.
Where we all relocate too is the ?

Ghosts that still linger.

New Town has new roads and traffic lights along with numerous new hotels on the Blvd.

In the interim Stock Island would now be called and known as The New and very much Updated Key West.

Key West downtown will be Old Town reinvented.

New Town will be known as in The In-Between

New extravagant hotels at the marina, new roads and new greenery planted and thriving in the medium strips.
More traffic lights and stop signs at various intersections.
A brand new CVS just a shot away with free delivery.
It has been renewed so much the past few years even Old Town delivers to higher end establishments in Stock Island.

Not mentioned in the news is the rise in murders, drug overdoses, missing persons.
We are a money making tourist industry.
Bad news vs publicity does not make for lucrative tourism.

Just Saying

Cynthia J.
April 16 2020

My thoughts:

Maybe going back in time too the way Key West was is not such a bad idea.

Our 2 x 4 Island has become even more greedy than ever it was.
It is overcrowded with the influx of Snowbirds and Tourists from everywhere in the world.
Cruise ships that pollute our waters.

We use to have so called Seasons, not like your regular Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall.
We planned for them by saving up for the lean times.
I was a server here from 1992-1998.
Than I worked at Publix Deli and Home Depot.
I retired in 2011.
I can not afford to go out too eat or enjoy any of the many activities here.
But, I am happy and content in my piece of Paradise.

I still have my cat China. Hamster MuMoo, Guppies galore, and 5 birdies.
The smell of the blooming flowers, fresh mangoes this time of year, the water, the cool breeze.

The Iggy’s.

The Roosters.

Everyday is almost always the same.
Mostly sunny and warm, with an occasional rainstorm.
Now it all seems to blend.

It is rather eerie here now.

On lock-down with the Corona 19 Virus.

Streets are empty for the most part.

Kots Homeless Shelter is like Hotel California. If you enter you can never leave.
It is nearly empty.
The homeless wonder the streets like zombies in the Walking Dead.

Bodies found on main streets. Only locals have privy to this. It is never in the mainstream News. With no tourists, panhandling has come to a complete halt.
They refuse to be in lock-down. Even with three meals a day. Most say it would be as if they were incarcerated.

Long time Conch’s have been literally forced out.

Rent is so high for regular folk they need three jobs or three roommates with three jobs to even contemplate staying.
Where there is Water the developers come and take out what affordable housing is left.
One bedrooms $$$ usually costing nearly $ 3-4,000 just to secure it.

First, Last and Security. If you have a pet another $500 upfront
Than add on utilities.

No one ever said living in paradise was cheap, but it has gotten so greedy even businesses close after a few months of struggling to stay a float.
There is no more housing available.
The wait list is 5 years or more from the time you sign up.

On Saint Patty’s Day I walked with my daughter and a friend around the area of the Hogfish. It was right before the City locked down.

I thought this photo made a unique point.

It.s like WTF is happening to our World ???

Music and Missteps

Lady Blue Phoenix Utube Channel

It’s my 71 st Birthday on the 18 th. I finally got a Smartphone. I am on a huge learning curve, but loving it.

A new tattoo.

A furry hamster I call MuMoo. He looks like a black and white cow.

 

I love my UTUBE channel setup especially with my recent installment of Firestick.

I can sit relaxed and comfy in my living room chair without being tied down to my computer chair.

It has been very handy since the incidents in my life lately.

First a shot of cortisone (July 29 th) in my out of whack left hip caused 6 weeks of not being able to lift my leg enough to put undies on. Not a good thing.

Than my fall ( September 26 th 2019) which bruised my buttocks (will not show graphic photo). It has left numerous bumps that are painful to my touch.

Than on the 28th of November I was misting my flowers. A very heavy vintage bottle (Heavier than a iron skillet) fell on my right foot.

Either I am moving at the speed of light or I can not seem to get out of my very own way.

Just another Beautiful day in Beautiful Key West…

(Photo by Mimi)

Not complaining 🙂

 

Seasons Change

I am on my fourth day of not smoking cigarettes. I have smoked everyday since I was 15 years old. I will be 71 on the 18th of this month. I quit Mary-Jane in August of this year. I started smoking POT when my daughter was a baby.  51 years ago.  I quit smoking cigarettes when I was pregnant, the day I had her I started up again. It is a powerful addiction; Nicotine. It is harder to quit than any drug I have ever used and abused.

For my birthday I got another Tattoo. Have not gotten one since my Phoenix in 2009.

I got this one on the 27 th.

“Life Is Beautiful”

On to the Blog Post I wrote last night. Thinking is a powerful thing. Best to write it down.

It is what it is

2:35 AM 11/1/2019

“You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.”

It Was what it Was

Leaving Michigan

Wake up.

Wish I could go back to sleep.

Listen to the same people complaining about the same things.

Emotions

Hoping that I wake up in the morning.

No matter what I did too not wake up, I woke. In a super duper Daze but alive.

Wake up again and repeat.

This was my routine for YEARS before I finally couldn’t take it anymore.

I was possibly more miserable than I’d ever been.

Why wasn’t my life changing ?

So I plodded on, and accepted my life as it was. I tried to make the best of things. And sometimes, it worked, but not for long.

Eventually the feelings of dissatisfaction would return. The feeling of helplessness. Feeling stuck. Wanting to escape.

But there was no way out. I’d be repeating this day forever. And ever.
Let It Go

Around this time, I was reading a lot about how we need to close one door before another can open.

I didn’t even know what I wanted anymore. I just knew I didn’t want what I had.

I had to follow my heart. What if my heart was only telling me what I didn’t want? What if it was refusing to tell me what was next?

What if I closed one door and the other one got stuck?

What then?

I was so afraid of what would happen, I held on for months, hoping for an answer to drop out of the sky.

Until the pain of staying where I was suddenly became too much to bear. I couldn’t take it anymore. Suddenly, what happened next didn’t matter.

I didn’t care.

I saw the madness of what I was doing. Just to survive.
And even surviving wasn’t much fun.

The Brass Key

So I surrendered. I did what I’d felt called to do all along: I said goodbye to the man I’d been clinging to. With no idea of what was coming next. With no income and little money.

But as soon as I made my decision, I felt a huge sense of relief. I wondered what had taken me so long.

Of course, it wasn’t long until the fear crept back in. I had moments when I wondered what I was doing and how I would survive.

But even in those moments of doubt, there was a knowing that leaving my present situation was the right thing to do.

All my life, I’d put survival first. Now it was time to put myself first.

My happiness. My sanity. My peace of mind.

The worst-case scenario may not be so bad. In fact, it might be quite good.

I was lucky. I was never going to be out on the streets ever again. I knew I had the option of returning to stay with my daughter until I sorted myself out. But I really didn’t want to do that. I was far too old for that now. It was the Year 1992

Besides, that would mean living in a town far away from anywhere, with no transport of my own.

Despite my best hopes that something else would magically turn up, I indeed ended up hitch hiking to Key West. I tried telling myself it would be fine, but the scary thoughts were still lurking.

18 Wheels to Key West

However, within a couple of weeks of the move, I saw the new path begin to emerge—chance meetings with like-minded people, work opportunities in unexpected places.

And for the first time in months, I actually felt happy. Because for the first time in my life, I was truly putting myself first. And I was truly living in the present.

Survival was no longer the name of the game.

My own peace of mind and happiness was.

When the pain of being where you are is too much to handle, when life is shoving you in the direction of the unknown, dare to trust it.

As I said, I was lucky. I know not everybody can do exactly as I did. Not everyone has someone who can help them out while they make a drastic life change.

I also know how annoying it can be to be told to change your life when you simply don’t see how. But the point here isn’t to do what I did, but to let go where you can.

You may have to face your own worst-case scenario.

When you begin to take care of yourself, when you follow what feels good for you and put your own physical and mental health first, you’ll find the path will begin to open up. You’ll find support from unexpected places.

You may even find that your worst-case scenario turns out to be the best thing you could have hoped for.

What I’ve learned is that having a plan is overrated.

Sometimes we really do need to let go and see what happens next.

 

4 20 Wedding

It’s been a whirlwind of activities.Trips from Key West to Orlando.The Bridal Shower back in Feb,than the Rehearsal Dinner,Prep Day,Wedding and reception in April.

The most beautiful and extremely planned wedding in all it’s details and grandeur.

My Granddaughter took the reigns and did such a awesome and wonderful job.

I made several videos on my UTube Channel

This one is amazing.

April 20 2019 Trailer from Cristian Osorio on Vimeo.

Mind’s Eye

 

I was moped riding some of the old streets in Key West. I had a moment where I felt sorry for those who travel here and get stuck on Duval .The money traps and frozen seafood. and hustlers. A church and a bar on every corner.

Key West is so very beautiful if you know where to go. Little hide aways tucked into lush tropical gardens with dragonflies, butterflies and long-legged cranes.

The added sweetness of flowers so intoxicating. An aroma that takes your breath away.

The broken down wooden fishing spot destroyed by Hurricane Irma just a block or so away from me. I must go there and get some photos.

Still it is quite and peaceful to sit on the broken timber.

Notes From Home

Greetings to all of my faithful followers.

I have been very much on vacation of late. I still live on my little island in thee sun.

Due to extreme weather up North the past weeks has been giving us cold and then very warm days. The fluctuations and with the Island being over run with Snowbirds coming down for some sunshine.
Along with them they bring so many unknown virus’s and the Island is sick literally.

Every where you go someone is sick, getting sick or  have been sick for months. The virus presents flu symptoms but is not the Flu.
In November my daughter and I both felt unwell. Than my beautiful cat China decided to take a bite out of my hand which put me in the hospital the next day.

In December just a trip out to see Christmas lights again brought us down to the Crud status.

In bed for an entire week with heaviness on chest, headaches from hell, sinus, throat and ear issues. I self doctored and it reared back again like Groundhog Day when he keeps having the same thing happen over and over again.
I am totally over homemade chicken noodle soup.

After a week of suffering, and the fact I was having issues breathing I went to the ER.

I was told their was something in the air here making persons ill. They did not know what it was. They diagnosed it as bronchitis and upper respiratory and prescribed the ZPAK, Inhaler, Prednisone and cough syrup. That settled things down and I am feeling much better.
My daughter is still suffering and is in the line of fire so too speak. She can not afford to miss work and can not rest as she should.

My granddaughter is having her wedding shower on March 2nd and then her wedding on the 20th of April.
Yep, 420 everyone.

So that’s two back to back trips coming up for something I must be well to attend.

In November I finally met a friend I met online back in 2010. We are from the same city, went to the same school and even lived just two doors down from each other.We had never met.  It was an awesome reunion at the Hilton 5 Star Hotel. The 12 hour bus trip by Greyhound was the horrors of the trip. That’s 12 up and 12 back.

She had found me from my now extinct web site zimbabast, searching for a Kinkling recipe, a tradition in February with the locals of Frederick, Maryland.
Last year I did not make my fabulous cherry cheesecake on Heart Day because my precious Minnie Kat was dying. She turned 15 on Valentines and passed on March 7 th 2018.

See featured image of my precious Minnie.

I miss her so much.

This year I made two pies and gave slices of heaven to special ones.

My favorite music of late is Sleeping at Last.

I have also recently set up a 10 gallon fish tank. I put in 3 females and 2 males. I am now overwhelmed with so many baby fry. It is beautiful to watch them. I feel like Mother Hubbard who had a shoe with so many children she didn’t know what to do.

With my fish, cat, 8 birds and a sweet furry hamster  I call Chibi, my life is always on a roll.

Until next time.

Be Well and Happy.