The lure of the open water 2-25-12

The company boat has been down in Sarasota for nearly 6 months. It is being stored in a doorless pole barn off of Clark about a mile and a half east of I-75. This boat is only 25 feet long, as opposed to the last company boat, which was 42 feet long. The last boat was a huge 42 foot Miami Vice offshore, and looked like it would top out at 90 mph...but in reality struggled to get up to 50. The current boat is only 25 feet long and at first glance seems as though it's top speed would be 50 mph, but it's large engine and light weight propel it to 75. The outdrive of a boat is the part that sticks out of the back end, and the propeller attaches to it. While sitting in my driveway in Michigan, a friend of Sue's daughter cut her entry a little close...and hit the propeller. She broke the lower outdrive unit. Thus finding a new lower unit was the first order of business after we towed the boat to Florida. The new lower unit is on and the boat is seaworthy again. To be cont....



This pic was taken in the pole
barn where we store the boat.
Note the fearless guard dog in
the foreground. The little friend
you see behind her lives at the 
farm and follows Sasha
everywhere. 



Dog update 2-12-12

Spent an hour in the backyard last Monday with Sasha. I was trying to collect some vitamin D. Our fearless dog was hunting squirrels. After some time, a particularly threatening squirrel ventured down from his tree and began to boldly munch some nuts on the ground. I marveled at the animals audacity, and Sasha immediately went into full stalking mode. Our old but brave hunting dog kept her gaze steadfast on the furry prize. Oblivious to it's imminent danger, the squirrel continued enjoying what could have been his last nut. After one minute, Sasha had shortened the distance between them from 40 feet to only 30. Suddenly her instincts took over, and she lunged toward her prey. White fur flew and her fat rolled in waves across her body as she rushed in at speeds approaching 10 miles an hour! The hapless squirrel noticed her immediately...and decided to finish eating! Finally, when death by doggie was only 10 feet away, the foolish critter turned and scampered back up the tree. Only seconds later our chubby, heroic pet had the tree surrounded, daring the squirrel to come down one more time. And thus ended another contest between hunter and hunted in our wild and untamed backyard. We lasered her arthritic hind legs and front elbows this evening. Next time those two foes meet, the prey may not be so lucky.

No Valentine for my co-worker? 2-7-12

I spent part of the morning feeling sorry for one of our trainers. She mentioned that she intended to spend Valentine's Day with her young nephew. It was at that moment I realized she did not have a significant other to spend the day with. When I mentioned that I wished to alert our clientele of her plight in case they had somebody waiting in the wings who could step in...she insisted on keeping her dilema private. Naturally, I shall respect her wishes. This post is merely to express how stunned I was that she is unable to find a suitable boyfriend. It also has posed several other questions. Has she had any recent offers? She seems quite confident and likable in the studio, but perhaps she is very timid or nervous on dates? Or does she come on too strong, demanding certain things that a gentleman simply does not do on a first date? I shall try to obtain additional information about her situation and post it here before Valentine's Day.

The catfish has retired 2-1-12

Many of you have expressed concern about the large, striped Panga catfish that resided in the back fish tank. He had a large boo-boo on the front of his snout from the last fish tank. The boo-boo was a recurring injury after he continually failed to stop before hitting the glass sides of the old tank. In fact, we suspect that these continous impacts hastened the demise of the last tank. The broken 72 gallon was replaced with the 125 gallon tank about five weeks ago...and the Panga catfish has not eaten since. We tried every little delicacy that we could think of, and Eminem the Oscar gulped down every one of them with gusto---but still the Panga refused to eat. We tried several types of medicine to heal the injury on his nose, but his condition never changed. Thus it was with a heavy heart that we decided to release him into a large pond on a small farm 1 mile east of I-75. Lacking a net large enough for the 18" long catfish, we cornered him in a bucket placed below the surface of the water. Then we immediately transferred him to a huge tupperware container and placed a lid on it to calm him. Sasha volunteered to accompany me and Panga to the farm, as she enjoys wandering around the property. The release into the pond went without a hitch, and Panga swam happily off. I shall check on him this weekend when Sasha and I go back to work on the boat that is stored there.

Our toughest trainer? 1-23-12

Most of you have met our trainer Laura by now. If our staff has an "aerobics queen," Laura would the closest match. Laura likes to enter contests. But she does not enter baking contests or anything having to do with swimsuits or talent competitions. No, that would be too safe. Laura likes to enter grueling, mud soaked marathon obstacle course types of contests. I'm sure that any tendonitis in her knees becomes a distant memory when she passes some dude on the course as he gasps for air. I sort of get it. I like to do something different every once in a while as well. Just the other day I was checking around for an open casting call for local ballet recitals until I couldn't find my toe shoes and leotard. Laura felt compelled to enter the Warrior Dash. I accept this, even if she has to come to work using a walker.

Going on Vacation 1-19-12

Full time employment, for a personal trainer, is 30 hours per week. Susan and I work about 30 hours a week from January to July, and a little less otherwise.  Our original business plan called for us to work 20 to 25 hours a week after we moved down. We intended to use our spare time for boating and to write and edit my third novel. Our Sarasota clientele, however, is even more health and fitness oriented than we anticipated and we found ourselves eager to get to work every morning. We seldom leave the area because Sarasota has all of the restaurants, beaches and shopping that one could desire. But that does not satisfy everyone...no it does not.
Jim and Sue D. work out here on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Sue's main line of business was nursing. As to Jim's main business, I would rather not elaborate beyond the word "trusses." They have been wintering on Siesta Key for many years. I can't blame them. Michigan is harsh or depressing for 7 months of the year. They have become experts on where to dine and what to do in and around Sarasota. Jim and Sue fully realize they selected the ideal getaway area years ago. Both of their Chihuahua's agree. So what does one do when they live in the perfect vacation spot? Well, they go ON VACATION, of course. Neither Jim nor Sue will be working out at their usual times next week? How come? Well, they are going on a CRUISE! St. Martin and several other miniscule islands are on the agenda for the 150 passenger sailing ship they will board. St. Martin....I seem to recall a client telling me about her experience on Orient Beach on St. Martin. I remember her mentioning it is a nude beach. Oh gosh. I am sure that neither Jim nor Sue have any idea about the existence of this hedonistic piece of sand. I should probably warn them...or make sure they pack a good camera so that I can verify my other clients story.

Siesta Key Tragedy 1-15-12

As many of you already know, a lady was killed on Siesta Key by a drunk driver. Her injured dog was found and rescued from the bay by a kayaker. The 22 year old drunk driver was fleeing the scene of a collision with a pickup truck at speeds approaching 80-90 miles per hour. His car first struck a light pole and then the lady. What you will not read in the paper is that the lady was struck so hard that body parts were recovered some distance from the body. I will not go into further detail about that, nor do I intend to rehash the driver's encounter with police officers at the pavilion prior to the crash. The papers have covered it fairly and in sufficient detail. I would like to suggest, however, that the word "accident" should not be used to describe what this piece of human sewage did to this mother and wife. Calling it an "inevitable" might be a little closer, but too harsh. I read that the jerk broke at least 9 different laws. The only solution offered by the surrounding residents? Lower the speed limit from 40 to 30 mile per hour. Sure, that should make it all better.