Sunset Evening Cruise June 15, 2024

Last Saturday evening (June 15, 2024, before my fall in the Walmart parking lot); Pat, Glenn and I went on an evening cruise. It was wonderful.

Glen and I chatting as the sun sets on our evening cruise out of Lewes, Delaware

I have been on this evening cruise once before with my friend Bob C. in 2009.At that time I was much younger and healthier, I could stand up straight. As you can see in the current picture of me the arthritis in my neck has changed my stance. I'm not an old man. There is getting around that fact now. But be that as it may, there was a long time between evening cruises.

Me and Bob C. Whale Watch cruise 20009 (we didn't see any whales)

This cruise leaves Lewes, Delaware out the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal to the Broadkill River to the Atlantic Ocean and back. The cruise leaves about seven PM and returns approximately two hours later, at nine PM or just about when the summertime evening begins to darken. It is a lovely cruise.

The last time I took it with my friend Bob C. (the picture of us is one of the daytime cruises which I also took) the cruise was booked solid. There was a large Russian contingent, most of those folks were young foreign workers in the town of Lewes, Rehoboth and thereabouts for summertime employment. Even though I enjoyed that cruise I didn't have a chance to stand by the railing and enjoy the warm summertime evening breeze off the water.

When the cruise boat leaves the Fishing Wharf Dock, the captain blows the horn and folks around the canal know the drill, wave at the tourists going out on the boat to see the dolphins. Sure, it's hokey but it's fun. Especially when you're with friends and Pat and Glenn are just the perfect friends for a summertime holiday! Two delightful men who I am very fortunate to have as my friends.

This is the Sunset Cruise and the sun didn't let us down. Glenn and I took advantage of the beautiful sunset on the water to take some great pictures. 

Glenn taking that iconic sunset picture of the lighthouse

Glenn and Pat were here for ten days. Every day the weather was perfect summertime weather. Of course the sun and warm temperatures probably contributed to me collapsing the next day in the Walmart parking lot but that's on me. I should have gotten more rest. 

My lighthouse sunset picture - good enough for a calendar?

With Glenn I was able to get some pictures of me and Pat that weren't selfies. I have a couple pictures that strangers took when they saw me trying to take a selfie of me and Pat in whatever city we were in at that time. Glenn took some candid pictures of me and Pat. That was so considerate of him. Just how lucky am I to have such friends? 

Here is an interesting fact. I met both Pat and Glenn through my blog but neither one of them reads my blog. Even now they don't read it or follow it. Pat saw my photo on the Internet when I testifying before the Delaware State Legislature in 2013 for Marriage Equality. He was wondering who that handsome guy (me?) was and did some Internet sleuthing and found my blog. That's how he contacted me in the summer of 2013 and the rest is history. He occasionally reads my blog when there is something special but I doubt if he will even see this posting like most of my blog postings. That's all right. We're friends now, and that's all that counts.

With Glenn, it was his late partner Michael who followed my blog. Glenn never read my blog but was aware that his partner liked my blog  and eagerly looked forward to my postings. Can you imagine anyone looking forward to my postings? Not fishing for compliments here folks but my blog is mainly about my self therapy. I just have to write. Glenn knew of me. When his partner Michael died, he sent me a note telling me of Michael's passing. I was wondering why Michael never commented on my blog anymore. As I wrote before in this blog, I received Glenn's note of Michael's passing the evening Bill was airlifted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia with a traumatic brain injury in January 2021. I was so distraught that night, thinking that I would never see Bill alive again. I managed to find Glenn's phone number and FaceTimed him and we've been friends ever since. This was Glenn's second visit to Casa Tipton-Kelly. He is always welcome to visit.

I'll post more this week about Pat and Glenn's visit. Their visit was one of the delightful times of my life in spite of the three day hospital stay I had when I over extended myself. Thank goodness they were with me when I fell and provided support for me. I am so fortunate to have such friends. 

Hang On Sloopy

Drone view of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

It has begun, the annual assault onslaught of coastal Sussex County Delaware. Yes folks, our Summertime Visitors are and have arrived with a vengeance.  Of course the 80 degree plus sunny clear skies weather has released this damn dam of summertime visitors. 

I think I see friends there in the upper right corner under the orange beach umbrella!

Hey folks, who am I to complain? We don't make anything here on the east coast of Sussex County.  At least the Sussex County natives who live more inland raise chickens and farm crops for a living.  There are no steel mills (never were) or furniture factories around here.  Back in a previous life, the natives here on the eastern shores of Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and Milton eked out a living fishing and making Mother of Pearl buttons by punching out old oyster shells.  But those days are long gone folks, only to be seen in black and white photos in big picture books at the various historical society buildings in Lewes and Milton which very few people ever enter those doors (Bill and I being the exception).  

Folks, this annual influcks influx of flip flop wearing, tank topped attired, free spending folks from northern Delaware, and the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey (a lot since Hurricane Sandy) and the District of Columbia (we call them "D.C.") IS our economy.  

We are a service orientated economy.  Those folks are our lifeblood.  Without them we would be just another musty, sleepy fishing village with a lot of memories.  

Works for me

Instead, we're a vibrant, traffic congested, over priced restaurants, salt water taffy eating, feed-the-seagulls Thrashers French fries community.  That said, we locals will now stay away from Rehoboth Beach until after Labor Day.  

Touristias?  It's all yours.  Open those wallets and spend freely and try not to hit any of us locals as you speed down Route One towards your hot sands beach destination of the Atlantic Ocean.  

Renovations Complete!

Happy at work last night - like the new curtain?

Regular followers of this blog know that I work part-time as a front desk agent at a boutique hotel in Lewes, Delaware.

For the past two months the hotel where I work has been undergoing total (ceilings - no more popcorn ceilings - to floors to toilets) renovations.  

To say working at the hotel during the renovations has been an inconvenience would be an understatement.  But you know me, I'm easily inconvenienced (fussbudget that I am). 

Yesterday, when I returned to work was welcomed by the final phase, the renovation of the front desk area.  Ah, the smell of new carpets, manna from Heaven. 

Newly renovated hotel lobby at the hotel where I work

I am SO LUCKY to still be able to work, albeit part-time.  And the icing on the cake is that I work at this top-notch hotel in thee visitor destination, Lewes, Delaware.  

As I had stated earlier in this posting, I am a fuss budget.  I'm a clean freak.  I am a PAIN IN THE YOU KNOW WHERE.  I wouldn't work at a hotel that I wouldn't stay myself.  Of course I can't afford to stay at the hotel where I work.  The only exception being when I'm snowed in and that has happened twice, and believe me I luxuriated in that king sized bed with the fantastic water view.

So folks, with all the bad that is happening in the world.  With all my aging issues. With all my constant battles fighting tent worms in my wild cherry tree and starlings building nests in my Purple Martin house. I am happy to report that I work at a fabulous place.  

Good things happen to good people hotels.  

Bloggerpalooza 2014 - One Month Away!

Some of Dr. Spo's "prizes" from last year's Bloggerpalooza

Folks!  Bloggerpalooza 2014 is only one month away.  Yes folks, that's right.  One month from now those attending the second annual Bloggerpalooza will be immersed in gaiety and frivolity at the Inn At Canal Square in Lewes, Delaware.  

Dr. Spo with his "Cha Cha" heels - there will be dancing tonight!

Here is the list of those who have confirmed their attendance (so far):

Those who WILL be attending:

1. Dr. Spo
2. Someone
3. Nate
4. Cubby
5. Anne Marie
6. Todd (Mr. Anne Marie)
7. Sassy Bear
8. Jeffrey (Mrs. Sassy Bear)
9. Jay (of VA)
10. Randy of Nebraska (new this year)
11. Java Jones 
12. Superman (Clint, Jr. Java Jones)
13. Jack (new this year)
14. Mark R.
15. Joe (Mark's spouse)
16. David G. (new this year)
17. Ron - ME! (The Instigator)
18. Pat (from Toronto - new this year)
19. Larry (new this year)
20. Lois (Larry's spouse) (new this year)

Java and Mark R.

Those who will definitely NOT be attending:

David J. and Dr. Spo - Big Hug Last year

David J. (Lady Slipper) and his friend
Doug T (Dr. Spo and Someone's friend)

Cubby and Doug

Those who have not confirmed they are coming but haven't said they aren't coming (still waiting for you guys to let me know - we need to know so we can have enough food from the caterer):

Catered by Nage last year

Up in the air:

The Cajun

The Cajun

Mark and Fred

Mark and Fred

Here is the plan this year folks:

Saturday March 15th, 2014:

5 pm to 6 pm - Meet and Greet in the breakfast room at the Inn - open bar (BYOB) with hors d'oeuvres.

Dr. Spo entertains rapt bloggers with tales of his encounter with a vampire pig whilst on his morning walk with Harper

6 pm to 7 pm - buffet dinner by Gary Papp, The Essential Chef of Lewes, Delaware. Our caterer is different this year.

Everybody gets a cheap, gaudy ring bling

7 pm to 8:00 - Welcoming remarks and "prize" presentations - you're all welcome to bring your own prizes for presentations but this is not a requirement - everyone will receive a "prize"

You know who flapping his gums as usual

8 pm until 9:30 (approximately: A comedy hypnotist show by Marshall Manlove - clear out your heads, prepared to be hypnotized and reveal your true personality.  Be prepared to have a GOOD TIME!

Some, Sassy Bear and Dr. Spo

Dos Locos

Me and Pat at La Quezalteca (me after ONE margarita)

Yep, that's "Two Crazy Guys."  My friend from Toronto arrived yesterday.  We spent the day weaving our way through the tourist jammed streets of Lewes, Delaware. I foolishly suggested that we go to Rehoboth to have and old time photo taken of us.  Oh my, we sat in the parking lot called Route One for about ten minutes then I told Pat, "turn around" and we headed back to Lewes where we spent the day.  

Pat in Lewes, DE (staying at the Hotel Blue in background to left)

Pat is a vegetarian and he is introducing me to this much healthier way of eating.  Even though we started out the day at a traditional restaurant for breakfast (I wanted to introduce him to our local delicacy scrapple) we soon righted our course for lunch and had fruit and veggie smoothies with our carrot curry soup at Nectar in Lewes.

Traditional breakfast - scrapple, eggs and toast

Nectar - non traditional and healthy breakfast

Smoothies and carrot curry soup

By the way, Pat is staying at a very nice hotel, one of our competitors in Lewes, Hotel Blue.  Clean line, minimalist which is Pat.  He loves it and it has a pool!

Pat in lobby of Hotel Blue

After coming back to Casa Tipton-Kelly to meet with Bill (all my guests come back to meet My Bill), we headed out to eat again.  Rehoboth was out of the question, a Saturday night in the height of the summer tourist season?  Oh no.  I suggested we go to Milton and the Bay Leaf Restaurant.  Big mistake.  The parking lot was full.  "What going on?" I asked.  Guess what?  Elvis Appreciation Night!  I don't think so.  All I wanted was to have a quiet dinner with my Canadian friend.  

Of we go again, traversing the backroads of Sussex County, looking for a foodie destination.  I made another suggestion, the new Italian restaurant in Long Neck, La Dolce Vita.  We headed down John J. Williams highway to that shopping strip.  Couldn't find the restaurant!  Then I thought "Mexican!"  Viola!  

We went to La Quezalteca in Millsboro. Perfect!  Good food, great service and cheap.  And did I mention HOT food?  I do like me a meal served hot.  But man oh man, check this out.  Good thing I had half a margarita under my belt.  

Waiting for Godot

I'm sitting here, patiently waiting for a blogger friend who is traveling down from Toronto Canada to visit me for the next six days.  

Earlier this week he told me he would be leaving early this morning (we're in the same time zone) and his trip would take approximately nine hours.  That would mean he should be arriving soon.  

I tried calling his cell phone several times today but couldn't get hold of him.  I left a message.  I suspect he has his cell phone turned off.  

He will be staying at the hotel (Hotel Blue) across Lewes-Rehoboth Canal in Lewes from the hotel where I work.  We didn't have room in our hotel for the next week for him so I suggested he make reservations at our competition.  He'll like that hotel though because it is a more modern eclectic hotel.  The hotel where I work is "Nantucket" themed.  Talking to my blogger friend on FaceTime I could see in the background that his habitat in Toronto are spartan and minimalist.  Clean lines, lots of light.  Just like my other blogger friend Bob of "I Should Be Laughing" often features in his weekly architecture blogs.  I happen to like that kind of house too but since I'm a packrat accumulator, that's not the type of habit I inhabit.

Since I'm going to be the Entertainer in Chief for the next six days I ventured out this morning to see what we could do.  We're in luck because the tall ship the Kalmar Nyckel is in Lewes for the next week or so.  I LOVE tall ships but I've never been on one.  Bill won't go with me.  Maybe I can talk my blogger friend into taking a two hour "Pirate Cruise" with me next Tuesday.  That is if I ever hear from him.

Kalmar Nyckel in dock this morning in Lewes, Delaware - a beautiful, clear day for sailing!

UPDATE!  I just called the hotel, he's not checking in until tomorrow.  My bad.  

Bloggerpalooza Lewes Delaware 2013

OMG! These are the bloggers?

Friends, it is late and I am buzzed.  (Don't worry, Bill picked me up at the hotel and drove me home). 

The Bloggerpalooza just ended and it was a fabulous success!  

I will post more about it tomorrow (or maybe the day after when I recover) but this picture says it all.  Blogger friends meet and have a wonderful time!  

See if you can identify your favorite blogger in the above photo.  Bet you can't. 

We all had just a wonderful time today. Fantastic!

Bloogerpalooza Almost Here!

The much anticipated Bloggerpalooza is almost here!  Can you believe it?  Get on your dancing shoes baby because we're going to party!

Just a reminder to everyone, that this wonderful event will take place this weekend in Lewes, Delaware this Saturday, March 23rd.  

The Lewes-Rehoboth Canal with rainbow from our hotel (I took this picture)

The event will be catered by Nage of Rehoboth Beach.  The cost is $25 per person which will be collected at the event when name tags are handed out.  

Me at the hotel front desk, I won't be at the front desk this Saturday, my co-worker Robert will.  He will direct you to the Parkview Room where the Bloggerpalooza will take place

Meet and Greet will take place from 5 pm to 6 pm at the Waterview Room.  To find the Waterview Room just enter the hotel, Robert the front desk clerk will direct you to the event.

Robert - on duty Bloggerpalooza Night

Meet and Greet in the Parkview Room

We will have an open bar of wine or sparkling beverages (for those of you less adventurous) available at the Meet and Greet. 

The open hot buffet from Nage will be available from 6 pm to 8 pm.  I've had this menu before folks and believe me, it is delicious!  Here are the items available for your pleasure:

• Roasted Porkloin sliced thin and served with natural sauce
• Broccoli Rabe
• Roasted vegetables with roasted Garlic oil
• Tarragon Potato Salad

For dessert:

• Mini dessert tray - Pecan bites, mini Brownies, and Key Lime Squares

This is a list of the bloggers (and a link to their blogs) who are planning on attending this fabulous Bloggerpalooza: 

• Spo - Spo-Reflections
• Harper's Keeper - Harper's Valley
• Ron - Retired in Delaware (that's me!)
• Cubby - Patently Queer
• Anne Marie in Philly - From My Brain to My Mouth
• Mark - Tales of the Sissy
• Sean - Just a Jeep Guy
• Jay M. - Jay in Va
• Doug - Gossamer Tapestry
• The Cajun - On Transmigration
• David - Lady Slipper Cove
• Mark - Our Simple Lives
• Sean - Idle Eyes and a Dormy
• Java Jones - My life, or something like it
• Nate - A Buckeye in Virginia

The Inn at Canal Square

For those lucky few who elected to stay at our wonderful hotel you will have access to the historic town of Lewes, which we proudly call "The First Town in the First State."  Lewes was originally settled in 1631 by Dutch settlers.  Unfortunately the local Indians wiped them out but the good old dependable English came by a few years later and made Lewes (pronounced "L-E-W-I-S", just like Jerry Lee "Great Balls of Fire" Lewis) Delaware a permanent English settlement.  The wonderful thing about staying in Lewes is that the beach (Delaware Bay) is less than a mile within walking distance and the Atlantic Ocean is but a short drive (less than two miles) away to Cape Henlopen, a Delaware State Park.  

Cape Henlopen

While you're in town do make it a point to visit Cape Henlopen and watch the waves from the Atlantic gently wash up on our pristine beach.  

Breakfast at the Inn

Also for those of you staying at the hotel we offer a compliment breakfast with everything short of homemade gravy and biscuits, we can go out for that if  you have a hankering for scrapple (which I am going to take Dr. Spo and Someone out for to sample one of our local "delicacies").

The "Golden Sentry" outside Dr. Spo's and Someone's room on the fourth floor at the Inn

After the festivities are over hotel guests can retire to their heavenly beds and go to sleep with visions of a day well spent of camaraderie with old friends and new friends.  

The Inn at night - sleep well