Fleeting Festive Fragments

As the Christmas Season, and indeed 2011 draw to a close, here is a two minute review of some of the work that went into the activities, some glimpses of the activities themselves and, hopefully, some memories of time enjoyed and time shared.
Do have a Great New Year,

Pete

Luminaria Labor Camp discovered in Webster

A luminaria labor camp was discovered last week just east of Webster. Inside the commune, inmates have been coerced into producing hundreds of candle powered lamps without any form of compensation, medical benefits or even a decent pension plan. A few recalcitrants, like the lady shown at right, stamped their feet and resisted for a while but finally succumbed.
The lamps were later set on fire and discarded the following day. See more shocking scenes from this drama right here.

Morphing into Christmas

As folk recover from the often unintended excesses of Thanksgiving there is a gradual refocus on Christmas and all that it entails. Turkey day items are returned to storage and Christmas items are brought out producing a gentle metamorphosis to the mistletoe and candy cane period. How fortunate we are that we take all of these seasonal changes for granted, so much so that we are in danger of missing many of the cues.
Here are a few of the Yuletide elements that have appeared throughout the park over the last few weeks as we coasted toward the end of another year.

Around the Park in 90 seconds

If, when moseying through the park at a sedate 10 MPH you have ever wondered what it would be like to floor the gas and have yourself a little Monte Carlo fantasy, you are in luck. Even better, if you have never experienced a drive with Marian at the wheel then you've probably never maxed out your adrenalin production either. Suffice it to say, in Marian's eyes, the picture at right might just be another trip to Winn-Dixie.
So here you have it - Two vicarious thrills for the price of one!

The Second Annual Cookie Cook-Off

Sunday December 11 saw the 2nd Annual Florida Grande Cookie Show. With nine entrants it was perhaps fortunate that most were numerically challenged for, if they had each brought the 12 dozen cookies suggested, there would have been 1296 treats to get through. As it was, there were more calories than enough to go round.
In the picture is the current champion in the World's Biggest Cookie class. Baked in 2003 by Immaculate Baking Co., this tempting treat was 100 ft. across and weighed in at 40,000 lb. The picture was taken from a height of about 100 ft and you can just make out a person with a red jacket standing in the middle.
Our refined Cookie Champs at Florida Grande went for Quality over Quantity as the results here show.

A Christmas Parade

For several years a Golf Cart Parade has been part of the annual rituals that comprise the silly season at Florida Grande. This year would be no exception. Following a sumptuous complimentary ham dinner at the regular Friday Night Happy Hour yesterday, it was time for all cart owners to strut their stuff.
Thus it was, that earlier in the week our Social Enforcer, Mugsy Moran, had been dispatched to visit all cart owners and explain that, absent a current Death Certificate, they were expected at Friday's parade or risk needing such a document shortly. As a promotional technique this proved very effective resulting in an excellent turn out.
Before starting the slideshow however, do make sure you have something useful to do such as laundry or a trip to the Villages since it is quite lengthy.

Which Craft Would You Pick?

You've probably witnessed the almost daily procession of sundry groups into and out of the hobby room. You may even be one of the participants with clear purpose and detailed knowledge of your pursuit. But what about the rest of us mere mortals? Beyond the thrill of threads, needles, material scraps, wood chips, paint smudges and the like brightening our otherwise mundane lives, we seldom get to see the end products.
Finally, the Florida Grande Craft Show changes everything. In one colorful montage the entire repertoire of own cottage industries is laid out for all to see.
Having exhausted the delights of the Craft Exhibits it was, you guessed it, time to eat. This evening's treat provided by Judy and Ernie Finch, awesome Turkey Soup followed by half an acre of Gingerbread. More pictures right here.

Getting Carded at Florida Grande

Cézanne's "The Card Players", 1895.

Card playing is a thriving pastime for many residents of Florida Grande. Frequently, from 6:30pm on, closet cardies can be seen sidling up to the the clubhouse, slipping into one of those cozy rooms with comfortable chairs and subdued lighting and then plying their arcane skills against each other for the thrill of a win.
Last Thursday was one such occasion. Under cover of the potted painters pandemonium in the hobby room, two card games get underway as the participants eagerly slaked their thirsts for conquest.
For a look into this secret world and to check out some recently discovered bonus footage of another Florida Grande ritual check this out.

Veterans Day 2011

Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. To mark this event, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919.

Seven years later, back in the days when Congress actually did something, a resolution was passed causing Calvin Coolidge to proclaim the annual observation of November 11 as Armistice Day. With their usual lack of alacrity it took Congress another dozen years, until May 13, 1938, before Armistice Day was elevated to a legal holiday.
Alvin King, an Emporia, Kansas boot maker proposed in 1953 that Armistice Day be expanded to celebrate all veterans, not just those who had died in World War I. With the help of U.S. Representative Ed Rees, a bill to this effect was signed by President Dwight Eisenhower on May 26, 1954 and, in June of the same year, Congress amended the act, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans."
Ever unable to leave well alone, in 1971 Congress got to tinkering and changed November 11 to the fourth Monday in October to comply with the utterly pointless Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
 Following seven years of confusion, in 1978 Veterans Day was moved back to its original day, November 11, concurrent again with the rest of the world and where, hopefully, it will remain. See local celebration here.

Attitude Adjustment!

In the relentless search for new energy efficient processes, Marty Whitney came across a little known technique which might be described as Alcohol Powered Art. The recipe is simple, a shoal of seasoned citizens, some brightly colored paints, something to paint on and abundant adult beverages to taste. Place all ingredients in a confined space for about two hours and harass them occasionally via a public address system.
Result? A bit like chicken soup; starts off as a pile of unappetizing plant pieces and body parts but slowly melds into a smooth and enjoyable whole. See more exiting action here.

All Saints' Day

Today is All Saints' Day also known as All Hallows or Hallowmas Day. That makes yesterday the eve of Hallowmas which is contracted to Hallowe'en. I don't know if I really care as long as there is plenty of candy!

Anyway, with 57 coaches already in the park, a Fright Night Party was organized which was attended by most current occupants.

Fine dining was redefined when Pizza Hut arrived (or at least the delivery truck did) bearing sacks of odorous cardboard cartons tastefully adorned with large grease spots. YUMMY! Fifteen minutes later, 25 or so of the 30 pizzas were totally gone, replaced by numerous contented faces. Games, desserts to die for and a knockout contest for the evening's best dressed couple followed. For a step by step report of the festivities, click here.

Down for the Winter...

Well, the weather finally broke in Indiana, changing rapidly from the long hot summer to cold and uncharitable rain. Time to head south, me thinks. So it was, that last week found us chugging south to the warmer climes of Webster.
Great News! The resort looks, well... just like a resort, at least around the lavishly landscaped clubhouse. The grass is green the trees are gaining traction and the shrubberies appear to be vigorous. Overall, the lots seem reasonably maintained and the lakes are three feet full - with weeds not water - but then we can't have everything!
Friday evening brought Happy Hour, this week with a German theme. There weren't actually any Germans there that I could see but there again, they can be really sneaky. Plenty of good food and lots of chatter - a typical Florida Grande evening. Check out some more scenes here.

A little more closure...

Special correspondent Fred Wolf filed this report on October 11, 2011, covering the details of Deidra Peterson's sentencing hearing in Federal Court on the 11th. One more chapter in the sorry Peterson saga finally closed.
Many thanks to Fred for his untiring sleuthing in tracking down these stories. Have a Great Season in Webster this year.

The longer you've been at FG, the more this will mean to you

Remember this Rascal?
(Click on picture to enlarge)

Yesterday, September 12, 2011, was one of those satisfying days when justice was seen to done. The following report is courtesy of Fred Wolf:

"At the courthouse in Tampa yesterday, David Peterson was sentenced to 84 months in the federal prison at Coleman, FL for conspiracy to commit fraud, for which he had pled guilty. The Judge also gave him mandatory career change and forbid him to ever seek investors along with 3 years supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount of approximately $6.5 million. There still has to be another waste of time hearing for the court to determine who gets what. We all know what that amounts to.
The judge stated he had to go by the federal sentencing guidelines, which in the cases pertaining to fraud, he feels are not harsh enough. He gave him the maximum allowed by these guidelines.
It helped that four of the victims came forth at the hearing and told the court their story and how Peterson's crimes affected them, and that many wrote letters to the court. The judge stated he read every one of them and thanked all that took this time and that it really put it in perspective to hear directly from some of the victims."

One of the four people that told their story in court yesterday was Sandy Gallup. Here is Sandy's perspective of "their day in court."

"Yesterday I attended the David Peterson sentencing and it was very interesting. There were four of us who spoke and the Judge acknowledged that he had gotten LOTS of letters from "victims" and had read everyone. I was most impressed with his handling of the sentencing and if the laws had not been recently changed, I am sure he would have gotten 20 years, at least. However, sometime recently the time was changed to 78 months with Judge's discretion to increase it (and he did to 84 months).

The Come-Uppance Dinner Group
(Click on picture to enlarge)

"David was given a HARSH verbal thrashing by the Judge after our testifying as to how he took so much from all of us - not just money, but time from our "golden years". This was the first time I had ever laid eyes on David. Most there had commented on how he had aged, etc. David spoke in his own defense to the Judge who absolutely did not buy a bit of his story and admonish-ed him greatly for all he had done. His wife, Diedre (whom I had also never seen before) was there in court along with his aging parents (how sad for them to see this), and at the end, Diedre was crying - probably cause she is terrified that the same will happen to her when her sentencing comes up on Oct. 6th.  A very moving day to say the least!!!!"

After the hearing, David shuffled off to his cell and many of  the Florida Grande attendees seized the occasion as a great reason to go to dinner - how elated they all look!

Feast on the Fourth

With just about a dozen coaches left in the resort, the thought of letting July 4th go by without celebration was too hard to take. With pictures courtesy of Sandy, here is a quick review of the festivities.