Honda Helix

Two years ago I bought this 1986 Honda Helix. It has a 250cc engine. It is quiet and smooth so Lulu does not mind too much going to games on it. You can park it anywhere.  It is a long story but it only has 2700 miles on it. It looks like new. It has an automatic transmission - it has just a gas and brake control - twist and go. In Florida - they do not require you to wear a helmet.

Noles Beat Virginia Tech in Volleyball - Remain Undefeated

We just got home from Sunday afternoon volleyball. The Seminole beat Virginia Tech - 3 games to 1.  We arrived late and only saw the last 2 games - and the Hokies played very well - almost pushing it to a 5th set.

The Seminoles are 18-0 on the season and 4th ranked nationally. 

Noles Beat Irish In Front Of Cousins - Never Buy Early Tickets Again - Noles Get Some Irish Luck Of Their Own

The Cousin now will spend 6 days at Michelle's condo in Cocoa Beach.

One time we saw Larry King at a Seminoles game in Jacksonville with his pretty young blonde wife. Boy - I felt like him last night. My biggest accomplishment was sitting thru a 4 hour game and not having to go to the bathroom :-) No - I was not wearing a diaper. 

Lulu's 4 cousins came to town hoping for an Irish Victory - for about 10 seconds they had one. After a week of "All Jameis - All the Time" ESPN Network - the game finally arrived. In all the excitement - we decided to buy tickets 3 days ahead of time - a big mistake. Even though the stadium was full - there were plenty of tickets being held in the air outside - even some by me. 

We got a deal for 4 secure tickets for a little over face value. The tickets were not close - they were in the last row. 

We drove Brother George Dawson's van to the game of the 6 of us. We parked in the faculty lot in front of the FSU main gate for free. We enjoyed supper there - but there was not much excitement a half mile from GameDay and Doak Campbell Stadium. After we ate - we walked down Jefferson Street to the game. 

We decided to sell either 4 or 2 tickets. If we would have sold 4 - we would have found 2 better ones. A young couple came up to us - they had 2 tickets in hand. They said when they tried to enter the scanner said the tickets were no good. We were asking for $150 a ticket for our extras - but Lulu asked how much money they had - they said $197 - and she said that is what we were asking for 2 tickets. She also said we would walk them into the game and sit with them - to make sure they were not ripped again. Like I said above - I never plan to buy advance tickets again. We will try our luck outside. 

Speaking of luck - the game was tight all the way. I am sure the home TV crowd loved the game - in the few moments that ESPN was not blaming the world's problems on Jameis Winston. I understand he is now recruiting for ISIS and also flying charter flights from Liberia to Tallahassee full of Ebola patients. 

Notre Dame played as good as they can - but after Jameis opening the second half with 13 straight completed passes - the Noles pulled ahead by 4. Notre Dame had the ball at the 50 yard line with 3 minutes to go - surely they would score a touchdown - and th happiness would be over. ESPN would need to find another shill. With the clock running down to 10 seconds - the Irish had the ball on the 1 yard line - just 1 yard from victory. It was 4th down - Notre Dame threw a pass and scored a touchdown. The happiness for the Nole crowd was gone as they arms collectively fell off in a pile like cord wood. Notre Dame did it again. But wait - they were called for a penalty! The prayers to Jesus must have bounced off all the cell phone waves flying overhead. The Knutes had to try again and they failed. 

Now the Pope is threatened to make Jameis - gay and pregnant - and in charge of handing condoms out in the Tallahassee Ebola Clinic. Undefeated Notre Dame now has a loss - the Noles are 7-0. Now FSU has 12 days to get ready to go up and lose in Louisville on Thursday night in the cold and rain. 

Brian and his friends flew down from Chicago for the game. We met them in the crowd at Gameday. No we did not know them before. 

Bill and RuthAnn pose in front of the Wescott Building at the main gate.

Lulu And Her Cousins On GAMEDAY In Tallahassee - Go Noles - Go Irish

Lulu has 4 cousins - RuthAnn - Kathy - Bill - Joe - visiting here for the Seminole/Irish football game.  This morning they went to the stadium to see ESPN Game Day.

Last night they went to the FSU/FAMU volleyball game where FSU extended their undefeated string to 18 games. They also went to the Downtown Block Party.

Band Downtown

ESPN - bite me shirt

Osceola covered by sign

FSU Marching Chiefs Band

Bill and Doak

Bill at Doak with the Blimp

Joe - Kathy - RuthAnn- Bill - OSCEOLA and RENEGADE

photos by Lulu

Lulu Hosted the Women In The Hood (WITH) Party a At Our House Last Night

photos by Lulu

Every room/closet/attic were open for the grand tour. 

Every few months - the Women in the Hood gather at someone's home - and last night from 6 to 8 - I went to a ball game as the ladies gathered at our house. Even though we have been in the neighborhood for 10 years - we felt like newbies because everyone wanted to see the inside of our new home. While it was being constructed from August 2013 to January 2014 - we had tons of "sidewalk superintendents" slowly cruising by on Seminole Drive as Gary Shiver built our home. 

I do not know the names of these lovely ladies - but if anyone wants to identify them for me - I will add the captions. 

The kitchen/dining/living room easily held 35 people. 

Food was served on a 1300 pound slab of granite

Fall Ball At Howser Stadium

While Lulu was hosting the Women In The Hood - I went to the annual Seminoles fall baseball game between the Garnet and Gold teams. It was free. It felt like a fresh autumn night with a beautiful sunset and cool calm air. I could have used something besides the shorts and short sleeved shirt I had on. It was pretty nippy on the scooter as I took a slow ride home.

Before the game I had supper at Brooklyn Water Bagels. They make great fresh bagels but also make New York Style pizza. For $6 you can get 2 slices and a drink. I love their fountain drinks - you can make all sorts of combinations as you jerk your own syrups. My favorite is a seltzer egg cream custard. You can also have free refills of anything you want - go blame Jameis. 

citEcar - Some Neat Electric Cars made in Gainesville

This little bus could squeeze in 12 people but it was too heavy to qualify for the NEV Act in Florida.

On Sunday on the way home from Disneyworld - Lulu and I stopped in Gainesville to see some electric cars. You all know how gaga I am over electric vehicles - and I am in search of the perfect electric one for me. Yes - I went to see the Tesla in Casselberry and Miami - but at $75,000 and up - it is more than I want to spend for a toy. These cars are in a much more favorable price range. The ones I saw ranged from $8000 to $13,000. 

Electric cars have not made the big stride yet in battery life. In 1974 - I drove an electric car that went 25 miles at 25 miles per hour. You plugged it in at home every night - and were able to drive to work safely - if you only worked about 10 miles from home. 

Florida passed a new law allowing golf cart style cars on the street - but only if they had safety stuff on them and a license plate. I already have a golf cart - but my street driving days await a cop stopping me and fining me for no tag. I would like to be able to legally and safely take my cart to FSUand the stadium. 

The NEV Act states you can put an electric vehicle on the streets with speed limit of 35 or less. I could shop - go to restaurants - go to football games - basketball games -etc - with one. 

This one was prices right at $8500. It went 50 miles at 25 MPH. It sat 6 people and has a roof over all 6 seats. It has lights - belts - mirrors - windshield - etc.

The Bubble Buddy is more like a car. It cost about $11,000.

WITH - Women In The Hood Will Meet At Our House This Time

Join us for the next Women in the 'Hood (WITH) event THIS Thursday, October 16, at the home of Nancy Everhart at 1816 Seminole Dr., from 6-8 p.m. We've all been curious to see what Nancy and Harry created with their new home--here's the chance! Bring the beverage of your choice and the co-hosts will provide munchies to enjoy. Co-hosts include Donna Joyner, Ruth Godfrey, Sue Newman and Anne Peery. We need a few more co-hosts to help with food; please contact Anne at annepeery@aol.com.

Sold desk On Craigslist Today

I sold this desk on craigslist this morning - $190. The buyer came from Moultrie GA. I bought it 6 years ago on Craigslist. We decided we liked smaller open desks with our laptops. I love selling stuff on Craigslist - it is like spending your money twice. First caller bought it.

Craigslist is a web page that allows you to list items for sale for free. Items are divided into categories - cars - furniture - computers - etc. You are able to put 24 pictures of the item on the page for free.

You can see craigslist at craigslist.org.

Everhart 8 Getting Ready For November Disney Adventure

Lulu with Buzz Lightyear

Harry with Woody

In November - the whole Everhart Family is traveling south to Orlando for a 4 day Disney Adventure.

Thursday - we were exploring around the Disney All-Star Hotel where we will be staying. Disney offers Florida resident discounts so we booked 3 rooms together there. We selected the wing with the Toy Story motif. The kids will love it. 

We also bought some 4 day park hopper passes at a Florida resident price. We could not get Florida resident tickets for the other adults - but the grandkids could. 

The trip will start with Lulu and I driving a van from Tallahassee the day before everyone flies in. We will be fresh at the airport waiting to jockey everyone to our hotel. Then the action begins. 

Driving From Tallahassee to Disneyworld

Fireworks over the Magic Kingdom - seen from the roof of the Contemporary Hotel last night.

FAME - Florida Association of Media Educators - meets in Orlando every October. Lulu is usually there to make a presentation. I come along for the ride. 

Yesterday - we packed up our new car at 10:00 AM and head east and south. The new car has a nice trunk - but if you plan to put the hardtop roof down - you must make sure the trunk is only half full.If it is overpacked - the servo will not even open the top. So each of us packed one small suitcase  - and everything was set for the ride. The new car has 230 horsepower and very long legs. I do not go fast - but the test reports say it will cruise at 150 MPH - I think they do that in Germany. On the Interstate highways - we kept the top up. 

When you are an old couple - the big choices for lunch are between Cracker Barrel and Steak and Shake. For me - I prefer to eat at places on the right side of the road - less crossing over traffic. When Lulu picked Steak and Shake - I guess old age love is making 5 left turns to get there.

After our fantastic $4.00 lunches - it was Lulu's turn at the wheel. We arrived safely at the Bonnet Creek Hilton in Disneyworld - the place where all the Florida Librarians convene. Lulu likes this hotel because of the gigantic pool which includes a lazy river - when you get in the current it takes you on a 1/4 mile circle. It is even better when you remember to bring your inner tubes.

The pool - the hot tub not so much. It was great until this overblown male librarian proceeded to spill his guts about being transferred to a bad school because he tattled on the teachers for cheating on the FCAT Test. Finally - I had to tell him back off - I said I was a former school board president and union president. After 10 years away from the classroom - it all seemed so comical. 

My favorite thing so far was Celebration. We drove about 4 miles to this contrived town where people really buy houses and live. We have been there several times before - but this time was the best. It was 80 degrees - sunset - the full moon was rising. Riding around with the top down on the bricks streets of this fantasy village was great. It was downtown Tamaqua in the 1940s - but super clean. All the store fronts were filled with cutsy stuff. There were so many sidewalk cafes to eat.

Around the corner - suddenly - Lulu spied the Columbia. She had heard of this Cuba/Miami eatery before - and it looked so nice. The prices were not Cracker Barrel style - but who know the next time we will see one. The big choice was sitting inside our outside. This picture shows the view from our table.

I thought it was called Columbia House Restaurant in Celebration FL is very nice. When th waiter brought the check - I was afraid he had a bill for some old mail order record albums.

Spending Friday On Peter's Electric Boat

The Electra is a 50 foot long electric powered yacht - presently harbored at Shell Point - with a future home on the Hudson River on Coxsackie NY.


While we were there we had a downpour - Peter kept working while I held the umbrella.

My friend Peter owns an electric boat. This is not a toy we are talking about - the Electra is 50 feet long. It had two 12 horsepower golf cart engines and 24 golf cart batteries. It has two luxury cabins that include a kitchen and a bathroom. Almost the entire deck is covered ala the African Queen.

Parents Day Saw Perfect Weather As The Seminoles Beat Wake Forest 43-3

Not bad seats for $12.50. 82,000 paid attendance - I am guessing 70,000 showed up.

What a great day to be living in downtown of Florida's Capital City. The temperature was 75 degrees - and you could not find a cloud in the deep blue sky. It was 3 PM - but the moon was already raising in the east. 

Lulu and I left home on our Honda scooter in Myers Park just before 3. We like to drive down to the park  - cut under the Apalachee  Parkway - then head west on College Avenue. We like to park near the traffic circle at the end of Jefferson Street - it is free and safe from traffic - and we have a straight shot home after the game. 

40 yard line. 2 for $25 total - left house at 3 on scooter

www.harry.everhart.com

Abingdon Virginia - I Never Heard Of This Beautiful Little Town in the Appalachians - But What a Great Visit We Had

Abingdon was the home of Martha Washington. For 70 years the Martha Washington College called Main Street home. 

The State Theatre of Virginia is on Main Street - it has daily shows.

Abingdon was a main city on the Wilderness Road - today US Route 11 and Interstate I-81 - follow that path. Settlers moving west stopped here for a last bit of culture. 

Lulu's brother Jackie lives about 40 miles east of here on I-81. Lulu had to visit a library intern here - so we were introduced to this beautiful town. Today - tourism is their number one product. Before - lumber and travelers left here via The Wilderness Road and later the railroad. The town sits at 2000 feet above seal level - so winters are cold and snowy - but the other 3 season have marvelous weather - clear skies - plenty of breezes.

Main Street cuts the town in two - going east and west. Most of the downtown buildings are red brick and many of them have historic signs on them. Because of the federal and county courts here - there are a lot of law offices. 

The inside of the theatre is top drawer - we will return to see a play there. This weekend Lulu's Mom is visiting brother Jackie - and he is taking her to a show there.

The Barter Theatre got its name because it was started on the premise that the farmers could exchange products for admission to the shows. 

Lulu spent Wednesday and Thursday visiting a library intern at the elementary school. The school was about 4 miles outside of town in a rural valley setting. In order to be a school librarian - one must have a teaching license - then take a masters degree in librarianship - and finally work as an unpaid intern for a semester. People are surprised when they hear the program is that strenuous. They are even more surprised when they find out Lulu has a doctor's degree in library science. 

The main theatre entrance of the Barter Theatre.

Lulu found the Washington County Library and to her surprise - one of her FSU Library School graduates was working there.

Virginia Beach - Military Aviation Museum - Was Worth Two Days Visit

This is a Fokker tri-winger - the aircraft flown by the famous Red Barron. It is housed in the wooden German hangar.

Jerry Yagen has a wonderful collection of flying World War I and World War II aircraft. He houses them at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach. It is about 10 miles southwest of the beach proper. I stumbled on the collection pretty far from the touristy area of the beach. While Lulu was slugging it out in the public schools downtown - I was enjoying this wonderful display. 

The collection fills about 9 large buildings - some structures collected from other places. My favorite was an authentic Luftwaffe Hangar brought back from Germany piece by piece and reassembled to house German aircraft.

The price of admission was $10. They let me in the second day for free. 

All of these aircraft fly. They have regular shows. 

The only USA made plane in WWI was the Curtis Jenny. After the war - they were sold as surplus for under $200.

Virginia Is For Lovers - And Visiting Library Interns

The same pool at our wedding hotel - heated to 87 degrees was great.

Our wedding room is directly behind us on the 3rd floor. We stayed there again. 

Whenever Lulu is assigned to visit library interns in the field - she tries to plan it around other events so that we have fun killing the time between schools. Virginia is a big state - and the two interns are on opposite ends - 6 hours of driving apart,

Friday - we flew to Richmond and stayed the night with son Drew and family. We got to see the kids in a run - a football game - and a soccer match. 

Saturday - Drew - Liz - Keith - Lulu - and I went to Raleigh to see FSU play North Carolina State. Tickets were hard to get - but we got two for $40 each and three for $25 each. We also had a nice tailgate buffet after the game. 

Sunday - before we drove to Virginia Beach  - we got to see the kids in a run - a football game - and a soccer match. Virginia Beach is on the far eastern end of the state on the Atlantic. The first intern is there - but it is also where Lulu and I spent our wedding night on the honeymoon trip to Miami - June 24th - 1971. That is also my mother in law's birthday. 

Back then we stayed at the Empress Hotel. To our delight it is still there - and now an Econolodge. It is a boutique motel and the rooms still look the same - the same furniture after 43 years! We got our old room - Number 341 - the middle on the top floor. Lulu loves the beach and this was special. We paid $32 back then - $72 this time - senior discount  :-)

Monday and Tuesday - Lulu visited the intern in Virginia Beach while I went to the Military Air Museum. The museum is classic and a story in itself later. It was so good - I went back Tuesday. Then we drove 6 hours to Rural Retreat VA. 

Wednesday - Today and tomorrow we are at Abingdon VA - home of Martha Washington. It is a cute resort town and I will enjoy 2 days here while Lulu visits the intern here. Tomorrow late we go home.