Crashes and Gridlock in Delaware

Here's what happens when you don't yield the right of way

There are a lot of advantages to living in southern Delaware but there is one BIG disadvantage…..traffic in the summertime.

Thankfully no one was seriously injured when yon teenager pulled her Ford Explorer into the path of a Lexus - you get hit

We moved to Delaware in 2006.  I was very careful where I chose to build a house and live in my retirement.  I love Rehoboth Beach and the "cottage" feel of the town.  However I could neither afford the houses ($700,000 and up for a "cottage") or the lots.  Lewes is a cute town just up the road three miles from Rehoboth but I couldn't afford their prices either which fell into the same stratosphere.  

Air bags deployed - lady wasn't seriously hurt

I checked out the environs of the Rehoboth Beach area for several years.  While there are many nice communities with prices more in my range, I soon realized that in the summertime, when the hordes of tourists descend on Rehoboth that the traffic was not only gridlocked but dangerous.  Route One scares me.

Yon teenager took out the Cave Neck sign - she would make her yon teenager boyfriends proud

So, after much thought and consideration I chose a lot in a development ten miles north of Rehoboth Beach, on the east side of Route One. In retrospect my decision has turned out to be…..well let's say BRILLIANT. 

This is what stupid looks like and why teenagers have such car insurance - they think they're indestructible 

Just this week, as I rolled into work on Wednesday my bosses wife called him and told him that "traffic was backed up because there was an accident at Cave Neck Road."  Familiar words my friends, familiar words.  I left for work at 2:40 PM.  The accident happened at 3:15 PM.  A 16 year old girl who failed to yield the right of way (as so often happens on Cave Neck Road) and she got smashed.  Thankfully she wasn't seriously hurt, there have been people killed at that crossing, but maybe she learned a lesson.  YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY DUMB ASS.  

Not an unusual scene where Cave Neck Road empties into Route One - thankfully no deaths this time

Cave Neck Road is just about a mile down the road from where I turn out of our development on my way to work.  I always stay in the left lane because three miles down the road I have to make another left to go into Lewes.  Bill (of course) drives in the right lane (always the opposite of what I do) and has to quickly get in the left lane when one of these dumb assed aggressive drivers doesn't yield the right of way coming out Cave Neck Road.  Sometimes people turning into Cave Neck just scoot across which is apparently what this 16 year old did.  

So I just missed this one folks.  Then this afternoon, after my nap I decide to take a ride to Sandy Hill Nursery.  On the way back, cruising down Route One all of a sudden the traffic slows down…..then comes to a ………STOP.  Yep, another accident.  And here we are folks, late Friday afternoon, and the Horde is descending on Rehoboth Beach and points beyond (Dewey Beach, Ocean City, Maryland) for a weekend of fun and frivolity and obviously someone else has taken their aggressive driving a bit too far.  I just hope no one was injured this time also.  

Fun at the beach folks.  This is why when The Season begins, most of us locals stay as far away from Rehoboth and off of Route One, because the Crazies are out.  

Safe driving folks, safe driving!

"The Kiss"

Michael Sams kissing his boyfriend on national TV - "OMG! The sky is falling!"

"The Kiss" of course is referring to Michael Sams, the openly gay University of Missouri football player who was drafted into the National Football League on Sunday.  Michael was so happy with the new he heard on the phone that he dared to kiss his boyfriend on national television. 

Of course the Usual Suspects sent the Twitter universe into overload with comments like former NFL running back Derrick Ward who appeared to take exception to how intense Sam's kissing was.  Ward wrote:

Derrick with Khloe Kardashian - Uh, should I be offended by this PUBLIC display of affection?  Just asking.

"Man U got little kids looking at the draft. I can't believe ESPN even allowed that to happen." And later posting, "I wasn't against him kissing his significant other.  All I said was he shouldn't Had done it the way that he did it. Even if he kissed a girl I woulds said the same thing." 

Uh huh.  Here we go again.  Sounds like my brother saying "Ronnie, I couldn't care less what you and Bill do but do you TELL EVERYONE YOUR'RE GAY?"  The old "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" mentality folks.  Some straight folks will "accept" what you do in your private life but just don't show affection in public, it might cause my children to think gay is normal.  You know folks, the "Crazy Uncle in the Attic" mindset that some straight folks can't shake.  

Crazy Old Uncle Joe

Heaven forfend that gays should act like other folks in public.  We're not talking about having sex in public, just a kiss between two human beings who love one another.  Why do so many people feel threatened by that simple act of affection?  

An angry lightening bolt God - "get out of the way, He's mad!"

I think the answer is more than just simple bigotry against gay people.  I think those who are offended by same sex couples acting just like heterosexual couples in public feel it sends a message that gay is normal.  Well folks, it is.  God (if she exists) created me this way.  I'm not a mistake (regardless what some people may think).  In fact, I'm a pretty good guy, especially compared to some of my peers.  And yet, if I show affection in public to someone who loves me and who I love in return, that causes some to want to hide their children?  You got to relax peeps.  RELAX.  Gayness is not contagious.  You either are or you're not.  

RELAX.  And prepare yourself for more "kisses." 

The times are changing folks.

Yes folks, we're making a lot of progress in societal recognition that gay folks are just like straight folks but I'll know we're really making progress when I see a Cialis commercial that has two MEN in a bathtub. 

Michael Sams Drafted!

It happened!  It actually happened!  An openly gay football player was drafted into the National Football League.  His name is Michael Sams. 

Michael Sams is a University of Missouri college football player who decided not to let others determine how he would live his life.  Michael Sams is gay and he came out. I have to admit I am in awe of the courage this man has demonstrated.  


Now I have something else to admit, I am experiencing schadenfreude again. I am throughly enjoying the discomfort of all those homophobes who are beside themselves now knowing that not only did an openly gay college football player get drafted but he kissed his boyfriend right in front of everybody!  Oh my, the sky is surely falling for those folks.  

First it was the repeal of the odious "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law that ignoramuses like John McCain said would destroy the military.  It didn't.  Then there was the same sex marriages that those who were opposed said would destroy "traditional" marriage (whatever that is).  It didn't.  Now an openly gay football player who isn't ashamed to show his emotion and KISS his boyfriend.  I bet my homophobe cousin in North Carolina (who told me never to "step foot on his land again" when he found out that I "practiced the gay lifestyle" won't be watching Monday Night football anymore. 

Surely the End of Times, a man kissing a man!

Don't  you feel just a little bit sorry for those folks?  After all, that was their last acceptable prejudice, "the gays."  Now that's gone.  What's next?  A woman president?

Thankful Just To Be Alive

Hi folks!  Haven't been around the old blogosphere for a few days.  Been busy don't you know?  

So what have I been doing?  Basically getting Casa Tipton-Kelly ready for The Season and that means buying plenty of flowers and plants.  LOTS!

But before I start down that road I just want to say I'm thankful to be alive.  I've added a new notch to my Life Experience Gun.  I'm a cancer survivor.  That's right folks, a year and half hour after being diagnosed with prostate cancer I'm still here, bringing joy to some people, pissing off the Usual Suspects and delivering pure happiness to a couple of Very Special People (they know who they are).  

This is the post I did this morning on the website Inspire, a support group website for those of us with different medical maladies.   

Happy to be alive. This morning was just another reminder.

Flower Power

Loading up

My regular followers will notice that I've been missing in action around these parts lately.  Yep, my work schedule at the hotel has again been changed.  Yep, I used to work two nights a week, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  We're going on month two now that I'm continuing to fill in for my co-workers.  God knows I love them all but they all have lives too and come to me when they need or want some time off.  Yes, I know we have TWO part-time workers but it always seems to be that the other part-time worker rarely fills in.  It's Good Old Ron as usual.  Same thing happened when I worked at the Hampton Inn in Lionville, Pa.  I had seven co-workers there but it was always Good Old Ron.  You know, the guy who can't say "No."  And yes, I know my co-workers read this blog.  

Yesterday I had a chance to get out and visit my favorite nursery and drop bucks on them.  I do love to keep the local economy going.  They're always happy to see me coming.  

We've had a string of fabulous spring time weather in these parts.  So unusual because usually we get one, two or at the most three days of nice spring weather before "The Humids" set in.  So far so good, just nice spring weather.  

Hopefully I'll get a chance to enjoy the next few days (after I go to work today).  I was hoping for a long stretch until I go to work again but I agreed to work for my co-worker this Sunday, Mother's Day.  How could I say no?  She's a mother.

A Walk on the Boardwalk

Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk

Yesterday morning after I got a haircut I decided to visit the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach.  I don't visit the boardwalk as often as I used to.  Mainly because I don't like the ten mile ride down Route One from Casa Tipton-Kelly to Rehoboth Beach.  Although it is a straight shot, there are too many lanes, too much traffic, too many aggressive drivers.  I don't need that stress.  

However, I do like the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach.  It is exactly one mile long.  I park at the one end and walk to the other end.  The combination of the boardwalk and my walking sneakers has the proper spring to my step.  I always feel good after my "Boardwalk Walk."  

When I first got my new Subaru three years ago I used to make the ten mile trip almost every day.  I enjoyed walking by the ocean, hearing the waves wash up on the beach, hearing the sea gulls, observing the many different folks…..life.  After all, I'm only ten miles from "the beach" so why not take advantage of it.  I remember all those years when we used to live in New Jersey and Pennsylvania when a trip to Rehoboth Beach was a major endeavor (three hour trip one way).  Now that I'm only ten miles away, why not?

Well, one reason is in the summertime, after Memorial Day we local residents avoid Rehoboth Beach as much as possible.  Why?  Traffic.  Very simple.  One just sits in traffic, inching one's way towards "the beach."  I remember last year when I suggested to my Canadian friend that we "go to the beach."  After about a half an hour of sitting in traffic in the steaming heat I told him to make the next U-turn.  We headed home for a more sane alternative to spend our summer afternoon.  

So yesterday I put myself on the boardwalk and did my sprint to the end.  After only a few minutes I heard "Is that Ron Tipton? Yes, that is Ron Tipton!"  I was recognized.  Ah fame, not so fleeting.  The person who recognized me is a blog follow and a new found friend Susan M.  Small world.  This is the same Susan who just happened to be in the Backyard Restaurant in Milton last month and recognized Dr. Spo and Company.  Small world.  

Susan - blog follower meets up with blogger 

Susan and I had a pleasant chat and we were both soon on our way.  Just another interlude in a very pleasant day folks here in Rehoboth Beach, Washington D.C.'s summertime capital.

May Day

Today is the first day of May folks.  

Every year when the First of May rolls around what it reminds me of is a May Pole.  Why?  I think May Day triggers a long ago childhood buried memory of a May Pole.  I don't think I ever danced around a May Pole, at least in this childhood.  Maybe I did in a previous life.  




 These days I appreciate just being able to get up in the morning and put my two feet on the floor.

At this time of my life when I finally realized much of what I was brought up to believe in, the propaganda that our religious and governmental institutions brainwash us with is a fraud.  When I realized that if we get through this life relatively unscathed and not taken advantage of is almost purely a matter of chance.  

I try to so hard each day to concentrate on the positive and try and push the evil that exists in the world into the background.  There is a lot of good in this world but there sometimes seems to be an equal amount of evil.  No wonder some people are nuts, bipolar or whatever the current fad word is for unbalanced people.

I have my little routine every day.  I try to stay out of people's way.  My mission in this world is not to look for angels angles, to take advantage of people but to live my live in relative happiness in my little corner of the world.  And pay my bills.  

May 1st signifies the beginning of a new season, perhaps the best time of the year.  For me, living in the tourist Mecca that I do, it means avoiding Rehoboth Beach as much as I can until the Horde tourists return to their little suburban hovels.

I have my very own Garden of Eden here, which I worked my whole life for folks and I'm ready to enjoy it.  Now bar the door Katie so I can keep out those who seek to take it away from me.


Kiss the sky today folks and spread the love you have for tomorrow we'll all be dead.