Hagen Park Yard Sale Today 8 to 2 - Picture

Well, today's the day.  

The Yard Sale, which is always fun, happens at Hagen Park and Old City Hall from 8AM to 2PM today.

I walked the dog past Old City Hall today at 6AM and the lights were on in the Commission Chambers, but they had not set up yet.  There was some intrepid soul in the parking lot setting up a Red Pickup Truck and some awnings for their own private sale, so I know it is a go for later. 

Yes, for once I am writing this and posting immediately instead of my usual write-ahead and set-to-post-at-8AM deal.

What you see in the pic is a fond goodbye tombstone by those who worked in the place.   I was invited to sign it last time I was there but just didn't think it was quite right.   So out of respect, I passed.

If you want a chance to see why you really do need that brand new City Hall on Wilton Drive today is the day.  Come on over to the Yard Sale, meet your neighbors.  I'll be in Old City Hall with the Historical Society and some friends trying to make myself useful and sell a few things. 

You just may find a few bargains too.  Oh and if you do go, say hi!  I'm that really tall guy trying not to walk around too much and looking somewhat confused but I can help you find some things if you ask nice!

How about some desks and office equipment?

So, can we sell you a few good desks?

When I was walking through the old City Hall in Wilton Manors, I stepped into this room first.   It was the old Police Gym and at this point ended up being the repository for old office equipment.  Here you see the big pile of desks that were there for your choosing that created an interesting maze.

I managed to get through there unscathed - no knees damaged when I walked through the piles of desks, stacks of weights, tottering towers of old TVs and clumps of computers. 

Still in all, what is leftover will be sold as is by the Historical Society of Wilton Manors.  The money goes for a good cause, and you can pick up some furniture if you need it. 

I will be there having a look around and will be manning the Chairs so if you are nearby say where you heard about it.  If you don't see me, there are some truly wonderful people involved with the Historical Society who have some amazing story about this wonderful and quirky slice of paradise.  Trust me the Sale is worth it just to meet Diane, Ben, Paul, Mary and some of the others.  I count myself very lucky to share some time with them every chance I get.

Hagen Park and Old City Hall, Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305
8AM to 2PM April 10th.  Saturday.

CYA There!

Anybody need a phone or three? - Picture

If I were in the telecom industry this would be a great background shot.

In Old City Hall, there was a big pile of old phones.  Apparently that is a problem everywhere with old phone hardware companies going out of business and the technology shifting over to Voice Over IP systems.

This was part of the surplus equipment that is being sold off from Old City Hall this weekend.   There's going to be a yard sale over at Hagen Park, and I'm signed on to do a shift early at the sale.  Hopefully the weather will hold out so that the sale and the proceeds will go to the Historical Society of Wilton Manors.

There are a lot of items left over and you may see something you could use.  If you have been watching this blog over the last weeks you have seen the pictures from inside Old City Hall and most of those pictures will have something that you may want.   I know there's a lot of desks and office furniture as well as filing cabinets and so forth. 

I'll get to be an early bird for this one since I'll be part of the staff.  This way if I spot something, I may beat you to it.

8 AM Saturday April 10, Hagen Park, Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL

See you there!

Many Monarchs in the Sun at the Park - Picture

A block or three over there is a little  park.  I've written about it before.   It is M.E. DePalma Park and it was a converted "part" of a lot that was too small to do anything with.

On this weekend the  weather was so amazing that I decided I'd go there and take some pictures.  It shows that in a small garden park, you can have some beautiful visitors if you just do the right plantings.

Mother Nature would be there and show off her beauty if you would just allow her.   M.E. DePalma has in her namesake park native species and the local critters have come back. 

I went out there in the sun and sat down on the bench and watched the goings on.  I got a couple of confusing glances, and waved to them all.  The WMPD looked over and made sure I was fine.   Neighbors looked out and wondered what I was up to, and watched me watch the critters.   There were small clouds of Monarch Butterflies there because of the native flowers, and the Mexican Milkweed that had been planted as food for their young.

What you see is a Monarch Caterpillar feeding on a seed pod.  This particular plant had been stripped bare of leaves by no less than 10 caterpillars on the little clump there.  No wonder why there are clouds of butterflies there in this little plot of a state named after flowers... Florida.

I got to spend an hour there as a quiet observer waiting for the butterflies to land.  They never did.   They had their own agenda and were floating around like something out of a Disney Picture.  If you get a chance, I'd say give it a go.  If you like watching them as much as I do, you will have plenty to watch.

Oh and those seed pods?  I am hoping that they re-seed that little clump of Milkweed.   The Monarchs need a place to land and my own Milkweed is a bit spare too.

Air Temp 78F, Water Temp 73F - Picture

Winter is over, folks.

We had a beautiful weekend this week.  It was so nice that we had the windows open all day, from when I got back from the AM Dog Walk And Skate until the PM Dog Walk and Skulk!

At the peak of the day, it was warm, not hot, sunny with not a cloud in the sky, and the wildlife was out and about.

Seems to me after all that cold weather, the Geckos were all out thawing their lizard blood, and I heard the songs of birds everywhere.   The flocks of Parrots have come back and there were butterflies everywhere, floating on the spring breezes.

If you are down here in South Florida, you know just how amazing the weather has been the last week.   We're expecting more like this.  Soon we'll be hitting the "Duck and Cover" season and buying dried food for the impending summer storms.

Until now, I'm enjoying it and driving home from work with the roof off the Jeep.

Ever Been in a Jail Cell? - Picture

In my trip through the Old Wilton Manors City Hall, I got to wander through the entire building.

Why not?  They moved out!

But in this case, I got to see some things that I had never seen before.  In this case, it was a Jail Cell. 

I have seen Cells on TV, and before the New City Hall was officially open, on the night of the dedication, I got to see the new cells, but it really looked rather artificial.  You just don't expect places like that too look clean and shiny!

After all, the Lavatory in the new City Hall was actually cleaner than the one in my house!

This looks more like what I expected the Cells to look like.   It was dirty from bug bombs that were set off, graffitti carved into the walls, and all sorts of grunge all over the place.   I'm glad I've gotten to my current age and was so very naive as to not have been in one.

I guess that the folks weren't too happy to be in there, Right?

This was just a Holding Cell, according to what my friends on the WMPD have said to me.   Once someone gets in here and has a chance to go ahead and carve their names into the walls, they are sent off to the County Jail in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to have a chat with the Judges down there.

For the meantime, this place won't be used again for holding Drunks, DUIs, and other criminals.   They've got a nice shiny new Jail cell over at the new City Hall to carve the names into.

M.E. DePalma Park at a perfect moment

On Good Friday 2010, at my evening walk, it was a beautiful Spring day in Wilton Manors.  The weather was absolutely perfect, not too much of anything, and everything that makes it wonderful to be outside.

I was out with my dog, Lettie, as usual at the walk, and got to the corner of the park and paused to look at something that caught my eye.   The sunlight was streaming down through the Slash Pines to the flowers that have been recently planted there and lit them to a shine.

What caught my eye was a bit of an orange flash, and I stopped at the beauty of the scene.   In the little park, there was a small flock of Monarch Butterflies rising and fluttering in the Thermals of the afternoon.  Monarch Butterflies are a creature that basically lower my IQ and make me act like a child once again.   Seeing three of them in the same small patch of Florida was amazing to me, and I and my dog stood there stuck to the spot.   I don't know what she thought of it, but I had a smile on my face and gained a feeling of calm that crowned the day perfectly.

As if to give me a blessing for being there, one of the Monarchs fluttered over and landed on the leash that was in my outstretched hand.  Neither of us moved much but the butterfly took a breather then went on its way.

I had always wondered what on earth would happen to that place.   The plot of land was too small for a house in this neighborhood.   It was left fallow and then given to the City.  It is too small to be a park to exercise in, although I suspect you could easily do Yoga or Meditate.  The Butterflies and Flowers will certainly help that. 

I had thought it might be something of a White Elephant before the park came out of its cocoon. I am quite happy I was wrong. 

It was given to the City and guided by the right person to do so.   M.E. DePalma and those who worked on the plot have shown that they know exactly what to do with a place like that. I am glad that my little city and those involved with it whether Volunteer or Elected have the knowledge and understanding to turn this into a jewel.

Thank you all.

(Picture "borrowed" from http://www.medepalmapark.com )

Cancel your credit car before you die - Humor

Cancel your credit card before you die..........(hilarious!)

Now some people are really stupid!!!!
Be sure and cancel your credit cards before you die.

This is so priceless, and so, so easy to see happening, customer service being what it is today.

A lady died this past January, and Citibank billed her for February and March for their annual service charges on her credit card, and added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00 when she died, but now somewhere around $60.00. A family member placed a call to Citibank.

Here is the exchange :

Family Member: 'I am calling to tell you she died back in January.'
Citibank: 'The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.'
Family Member: 'Maybe, you should turn it over to collections.'
Citibank: 'Since it is two months past due, it already has been.'
Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?'
Citibank: 'Either report her account to frauds division or report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!'

Family Member: 'Do you think God will be mad at her?'
Citibank: 'Excuse me?'
Family Member: 'Did you just get what I was telling you - the part about her being dead?'
Citibank: 'Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor.'

Supervisor gets on the phone:

Family Member: 'I'm calling to tell you, she died back in January with a $0 balance.'
Citibank: 'The account was never closed and late fees and charges still apply.'

Family Member: 'You mean you want to collect from her estate?'
Citibank: (Stammer) 'Are you her lawyer?'
Family Member: 'No, I'm her great nephew.' (Lawyer info was given)

Citibank: 'Could you fax us a certificate of death?'
Family Member: 'Sure.' (Fax number was given )

After they get the fax :
Citibank: 'Our system just isn't setup for death. I don't know what more I can do to help.'
Family Member: 'Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her. She won't care.'
Citibank: 'Well, the late fees and charges will still apply.'

(What is wrong with these people?!?)

Family Member: 'Would you like her new billing address?'
Citibank: 'That might help...'
Family Member: ' Odessa Memorial Cemetery , Highway 129, Plot Number 69.'
Citibank: 'Sir, that's a cemetery!'
Family Member: 'And what do you do with dead people on your planet???'

(Priceless!!)

You wondered why Citi is going broke and need the feds to bail them out!!

Fire Radios left behind - Picture

When you have an old building you have things that are abandoned.  I had a chance to take some oddball pictures and this particular closet caught my eye.

I couldn't tell if it was still plugged in or turned on but there it was, sitting on some metal shelf, and old Decoder for the Fire Department.  That would be when we had a Fire Department, and probably back when we had a generation of Fire Radios back... or more.

This was in City Hall, in a little utility closet next to the offices, tucked away near the Commission Chamber.  I do not doubt it still works after a fashion, but probably turned off and left there forlorn.

Old electronic equipment fascinates me.  It it is truly old, you'll see the good stuff with Vacuum Tubes, but you hardly see any of that any more, even in a thrift shop.  This was installed before October 13, 1983 and left there ever since.   The Fire Chief would be happy to know, if he were still around, that his radio outlasted the building.

Well, Motorola did and does build good equipment.

Mayor's Conference Room in Old City Hall - Picture

From the best I could tell, this is the closest to an actual Mayor's Office that the Old City Hall had.  There may be another room that was used, but this little ante-room was right off the Commission Chambers and was labeled the Mayor's Office (or so I remember).

I never saw it in use by the Mayor or any of the Commissioners, but it looked like it got some serious use over the years.  It was resplendent in 1970s paneling and had no windows.   The desk you see was standard size, and you can see the credenza just behind it.  On the right wall there's a book case and that should give you some idea of how small this room was.   I put it at about 10 feet square.  100 square feet of cramped office.   While Yes, it is a small town, I would say this would be a bit too minimalist for our city.   I actually felt claustrophobic being in that room.