It's not easy to exercise in this hot weather but these young men are keeping trim and fit by exercising after working hours today. They are taking a breather here on Red Road, in front of the executive building of the Goliath health care in South Florida, Baptist Health.
Didn't I tell you that this year, my longan trees are loaded? Here is one proof. I was ordered to go into the role of migrant worker to harvest the longans that are now ready to be consumed. Thankfully, these come from overloaded branches that graze the ground so I didn't have to risk my limbs climbing up any branches or ladder. But getting them under the Florida hot sun is no picnic, I can attest to that. This is but a very tiny fraction off my trees this season, and there are lots more where these come from! Now I have to drive around and deliver them to friends, free of charge, of course. Should I cut down all these trees? This is too much work! This is just like owning a swimming pool or a boat. You pay for the maintenance, the gas and your friends and neighbors enjoy the benefits.
Is this a strike? No one knows for sure. This action is at Miami's Bird Bowl, on Bird Road and about 97th Avenue, SW Miami. This is a slow day as many of the bowling lanes are unoccupied. Today's cost for one game, one person is US $5, which can add up quickly if you have a wife and several kids. I guess throwing these heavy balls is good exercise, better than just typing on a computer keyboard. I had some good exercise today here, and too embarrassed to show you shots of my scores. Somehow, the balls I launched were more attracted to the gutters than to the pins.
Being students at the University of Miami is a great deal (except you have to be able to afford it.) Being at the beautiful campus in Key Biscayne is just like being on a vacation beach. The main campus in Coral Gables is simply beautiful. This is a quiet corner at the school of architecture. Students can relax at shaded tables to recover from time spent in class. The medical campus is less ornate but it is a vibrant small city in a big city. There, you are surrounded by talented medical professionals of all sorts. This is the best place to have something horrible that may happen to you like having a heart attack. You are at the right place. Don't worry! Be happy!
If you knew where to look, you can find quite a large number of jack fruit trees in Miami. Here is another one. I got a few large fruits off this tree and it still has many more remaining. If left on the tree, the fruits will ripe in the August - September time frame. They may taste better then, but I can't wait that long.
This is US-1 going North. The elevated concrete structure on the left is the Miami mono rail transportation system. If you read the white warning sign, you can see that the fine levied if you ever block traffic by foolishly getting stuck in the middle of the intersection while the light turns red, is oddly US $133.50. I have never undestood why the fine amount is so odd. The yellow Mustang is the famed Shelby Cobra, a very hot car for the young at heart. This car may belong to a person associated with Auburn University from the reading its license plate. It comes from the state of Alabama, a long drive to Miami. Without air conditioning, the driver must be sizzling inside this car because it is HOT today.
Sunset Drive, Miami, 6 PM. This is summer in Miami and the day is long. It is not an usual scene but you can see a woman cyclist riding a Vespa. With all the crazy drivers here in the streets, it's not very safe.
This is a real slow day as if summer time is creeping on us in Miami and slows things down with its already intense heat with humidity to boast. So here is a quiz to keep your brain cells active. What is this piece of art that I found in natural Miami landscape? I will not give you the answer, but may be some of you may care to venture a guess and share with the readers. The painter is Mother Nature.
On a day like today, a big US national holiday which is the 4th of July, everybody is celebrating: flying a US flag, go to a movie, go shopping, BBQ at the beach, fireworks at night. This is taken outside a Wachovia bank which is closed to celebrate the holiday. Happy 4th, everyone.
It is very easy to find peace if your heart truly desires to do so. An icon, any icon and not necessarily this one, a small quiet corner somewhere and you are divorced from all worldly worries. Zen indeed! If it weren't for these d..n mosquitoes. The small plants you may be able to see to the right of the statue are true "Bo" trees. They will not be allowed to grow unchecked though. Read about "Ficus religiosa" here.
I have noticed that lots of rain usually make longan fruits split. That phenomenon provides an opportunity of a free meal to many insects that live almost invisibly in Miami (South Florida in general.) If you look closely, you can see many insects feeding on this single longan fruit. The pulp should be transparent (the name of this fruit is "Longan" literally meaning "Dragon Eye" so the flesh is transparent.) The fruit once peeled from its protective skin really looks like an eye ball. Not sure about the "Dragon" part. Here, the insects have transformed it into a cotton like mass. Chemistry has interesting ways to make matters change form. These insects look like 1/3 ant, 1/3 fly and 1/3 termite. Very interesting little creatures and I have never seen them around before. I now know they like longans.
It's empty, and I am shameless! In order to show you something that is empty right here in Miami, it didn't take me long at all to figure out the perfect sin! It was a great pleasure to empty this small cup of delicious vanilla ice cream from my freezer. Yummy! Now I have to figure out how many miles I need to walk this excess off! Hmmm, how many calories were in it? Forget it! Who cares?
