the town that i live in is a pretty quiet place. its full of front porches, and folks who like to sit on them, and is generally a friendly area. i have neighbors who love to work on their houses nearly as much as i do and are proud of the results: cracker-style homes with overflowing flowerpots and swings and rocking chairs and weather vanes. number 406 seems to be occupied again, perhaps they are snowbirds, and i wonder how many of the houses in m-town are owned by residents of northern states but come here for the mild winters. it seems a good idea to me. they must be so spoiled by the glorious weather that is always surrounding them.

i live on the side of the town that is more agricultural; its my side of town that has the farms and the horse ranches, etc. this small town stretches to meet another small town, and so on, until you get all the way to orlando area, going through a state forest along the way.

the other day a horse and its rider passed me while walking; she was heading to the gas station/convenience store. there semi-trucks are always parked, waiting for their drivers, and there is a blue tarp set up for guys to sit under and shoot the breeze. its a good place to run for a last-minute beer pick-up.

the cuban place down the road is usually full of pick-up trucks and their various loads: horse trailers, hay, etc. and then theres the family restaurant thats one block further, with its heavenly smells of potato pancakes and other european treats. (i read the menu once and i seem to recall an attempt at old world cusine. i should actually try eating there one day.)


three days ago, an elderly couple in their 80's were stabbed to death a few blocks away.