rips…

my place in the sun…

Welcoming sight of flowers upon arrival at my place in Florida March 1^st, and pretty warm weather compared to what I left in Southern Norway the day before.

Hadn't seen these bushes in full bloom up close before. These older bushes have bloomed several times while I was in Norway, but watching them via video-link isn't the same.

Most of what I planted last fall seemed to be OK, but a few plants had apparently not survived the few nights with temperatures below freezing this winter. Also some that need weeks and months, and some more water, to catch up after the winter.

Dry weather is dominating here in Weeki Wachee now, and I am not the only one in the area that wouldn't mind some heavy afternoon showers during the week. Hope to see some more rain over the coming month, so lawn and plants can grow.

All in all things look good, and I can relax with regards to conditions both outside and inside my little “cabin”. Suits me just fine.

Texas Steel Guitar Jamboree…

First part of my scedule included being at the Jamboree this year, which meant a long drive from Central Florida to Dallas, TX. Around 22 hours on the road to get there.

Had to stop for a few hours at one of the many Rest Areas along the highway towards Dallas to catch up on sleep, but as most of these places are quite well designed and kept, and my minivan has the necessary space to sleep rough, that wasn't a problem.

The TSGA Jamboree was every bit what I hoped it would be — even better than when I visited in 2010. I know I want to be back to enjoy more of the friendly atmosphere and music, in a year or two.

If anything negative: it rained heavily as I drove into Dallas on Thursday, it was cold and wet in the area the whole time, and the sun didn't really show up until Sunday when the Jamboree ended. No big deal really, as all the good stuff was going on indoors at the Sheraton DFW airport hotel.

On my way back on Monday I took the roundtrip via Nashville, TN, to see friends. All together a long drive, but the weather was fine and Rest Areas along these highways are just as good to stop for catching up on sleep on, as those along the more direct route between Dallas and Florida.

out of circulation, again…

I felt fine from the day I arrived in Florida, to the day after I came back from the TSGA Jamboree, but then my recurring, medical condition kicked in with full force again and more or less put me on hold for two weeks. Haven't felt bad all the time, but apart from leaving the house for a few hours once a week to shop food and necessities and visit a friend in the area, I haven't been up to much lately.

Shivering with cold through the entire body as of hypo­thermia, when daytime temperatures were around 80°F in the area, isn't normal. Nevertheless that's one of the ways this medical condition hits me. Spent more time in bed, sleeping or just resting, than I spent on my feet, and could not do much of anything for more than maybe an hour at a time. I hate when this happens, but there is not much I can do about it other than to take my medication and wait for it to pass.

Same thing happened a few weeks ago back in Norway, so it wasn't totally unexpected that it would hit me again while in Florida. Certainly hoped it would not have followed me over the pond though.

As I write this my condition is improving and I can start doing “something”, but still feel quite weak. Hope my health continues to improve over Easter as I have at least one visit to a steel guitar show on my scedule this month and would hate to miss it.

In a sense it is OK that when I am going to be sick anyway, that I am sick while being alone here in Florida. I like the fact that I am not bothering anyone by being sick, and I only need a peaceful and quiet environment – and my medication – to get over this.
Plenty of “peace and quiet” here…

sincerely 
farm assistant

Weeki Wachee 04.apr.2012
last rev: 05.apr.2012