My Week to Borrow

Caught at Allogenes blog:

Wednesday Chuckle

Several centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal. He'd have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy; if the Pope won, they'd have to convert or leave.

The Jewish people met and picked an aged and wise rabbi to represent them in the debate However, as the rabbi spoke no Italian, and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they agreed that it would be a 'silent' debate. On the chosen day the Pope and rabbi sat opposite each other. The Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. The rabbi looked back and raised one finger. Next, the Pope waved his finger around his head. The rabbi pointed to the ground where he sat. The Pope brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine. The rabbi pulled out an apple. With that, the Pope stood up and declared himself beaten and said that the rabbi was too clever. The Jews could stay in Italy

Later the cardinals met with the Pope and asked him what had happened. The Pope said, 'First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up a single finger to remind me there is still only one God common to both our beliefs. Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us. 'I pulled out the wine and water to show that God absolves us of all our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin. 'He bested me at every move and I could not continue.'

Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to ask the rabbi how he'd won. 'I haven't a clue' the rabbi said. 'First, he told me that we had three days to get out of Italy, so I gave him the finger. 'Then he tells me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews and I told him that we were staying right here.' 'And then what?' asked a woman. 'Who knows?' said the rabbi. 'He took out his lunch so I took out mine.'

borrowed from Idle Eyes and a Dormy

Labor Day 2008

Big waves from Gustav. Plenty of surfer dudes and chicks. Water was murky with sea weed. Sun was out and it was HOT!

Apparently, on Sunday night as Gustav was making landfall in Louisana, the waves washed up a ton of seaweed and shells on the beach. As you stepped into the surf from the beach, there were a lot of shells underfoot and suddenly there was about a foot dropoff and then it leveled out again.

The Start of Year 2

It's official! I'm in Year 2. It has been quite a year of change. As the new year begins, the day was feeling the outer rings effects from Hurricane Gustav. It was an overcast and windy day. We went to the Home Show at the Tampa Convention Center. It was my first time exploring some of downtown Tampa. The above photo was taken as we drove along Channelside Drive in the Channel District. Channelside is a district just east of downtown and is bordered by Ybor Channel on the east and Garrison Channel on the south. There is a sidewalk which runs along the water for 4.5 miles. To quote a travel site: "Bayshore Boulevard Linear Park is a wonderful 4.5-mile long waterfront scenic sidewalk leading into downtown Tampa It is proclaimed as of the world's longest sidewalk. This is the place where the locals go for jogging, walking, and rollerblading. The waterfront, historic homes, and people watching make this a top Tampa to do."

Heading towards the Convention Center.

We went to the historic Hyde Park district and the Hyde Park Village. The guy from Rochester that we had met at Valentino's on Saturday night told us that Abbott's Frozen Custard from the Rochester area had a shop in the Hyde Park section. So naturally, being the epicureans that we are, we had to head over there.

Think I enjoyed it?

We went to Miguel's for dinner. The food was excellent. Wayne had a pork burrito and I had Enchiladas Del Mar (Crab meat and cream cheese-filled enchiladas, topped with melted Monterey Jack cheese, cilantro sauce and fresh onion rings). The restaurant was festively decorated, and dark. So, to avoid embarrassment, I opted out of taking a photo. Besides, haven't you seen enough of the food I eat on here? Oink! Oink!

A Year in St. Pete

Wayne's friend David is visiting the area this weekend. We originally had planned to go to the beach this afternoon, but the afternoon brought rain, so we just hung around my apartment. I'm not sure if it was some of the outer rings of Gustav or not, but it was a good afternoon to stay in.

As you can see, David is tall and I am short. No kidding, Sherlock! But actually, David is standing on a stool and I am sitting on the floor.

This weekend marks the first year anniversary of my move to Saint Petersburg! A year ago on this Saturday, I was surrounded by boxes. For dinner tonight Wayne and I went to Valentino's, which is located about 5 minutes from my apartment. It's a small place and the owner is very personable and comes out to talk to the guests. He was talking to a couple at the table next to us and the guy at the table asked Dennis, the owner, if he was from New York. Dennis said he was from upstate, from Schenectady. The guy said he was from the Rochester area. So naturally I had to let them know I was from Albany!

Wednesday Evening Walk

Went for another walk tonight. This time I walked over to 2nd Street N and walked to downtown. I found some interesting looking "urban" townhouses and condos interspersed with apartments and single family homes. I took a short break at BayWalk and had a "caprese" salad. Then I walked over to the Bay and back up northward along the Bay to my apartment. So . . . here are some of the things I saw along the way . . .