When the sun goes down over St. Augustine Municipal Marina...

... the noise of the construction work from the Bridge of Lions slowly dies off. But honestly – we don't care about traffic sounds or cranes moving giant pieces of metal three feet from our boat, we finally made it into Florida and we! really! enjoy! the warm weather! Being so close to a major building site is a little bizarre but also pretty interesting. I even found a website that shows the progress of the bridge work with photos from different angles: www.fdotbridgeoflions.com/progress.html 

The site also gives information on the operating hours of the temporary bridge. From 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. it opens every half hour, except it does not open at 8:00 a.m., noon, or 5:00 p.m. After 6:00 p.m., the Bridge of Lions temporary bridge opens on demand until 7:00 a.m. So while you're waiting to get through, just enjoy the picturesque view of the city and the Castillo de San Marcos and try not to run aground!

Somebody is humming a lonely tune on the bottom of Factory Creek in Beaufort, SC.

Isn't it a sad thought that there is a lonely cell phone on the bottom of Factory River whistling a love song somebody wrote for his girlfriend? 

Interview with Philip Roth, seen through a cutout of himself.

The discovery of a parallel universe in my living room today actually didn't change much.

Yeah, sure, the supernatural is really something - but, you know, you have to be in the mood for it. When I turned away from my laptop screen this afternoon, I discovered a parallel universe right on the other side of my living room. Not only could I watch myself folding t-shirts, but I was also sitting on the sofa reading a book at the same time. Wow, isn't that special. Wormholes, time travel and all that? Give me a break. If folding underwear and reading is all I can do in parallel universes, I can as well stay home and watch tv. 

Now is the time to get ready for Valentine's Day!

With less than a week's time until Valentine's Day you better get going if you want to surprise your sweetheart with something special! I'm glad I have found a romantic way of expressing my innermost feelings with this little ladybug I drew. You can print it, cut it out and place it on a flower you are giving to your loved one, or you can just send the postcard. Don't be shy! Say how you feel! And make this Valentine's Day a day to remember.

If I don't change my life today, I won't make it to my grandson's wedding reception.

Random portrait of another person I didn't meet on the train today: Derek.

Introducing the Honorable Mr Quan Dary