Severe Drought in Florida

Florida's worst-known drought is continuing into our rainy season, with news that Lake Okeechobee's water level today is matching a historic low. The Lake is the key water supply for nearly 5 million people in South-Florida's Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, and the Everglades.

The average water level should be around 13 feet in the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the United States. The South Florida Water Management District is expecting a new record low of under 8.97 feet by Friday due to evaporation.
According to weather forecasters, an average rainy season, which we are in now, will mean that florida will still be in drought at the end of the season. Then the impact of the drought will be much more severe next season.

Should the freshwater levels drop to low, contamination from the surrounding saltwater is highly likely and forecasters predict that in such a scenario it could take up to ten years before South-Florida's drinking water is restored.

For the moment there is severe water restrictions - which seems so unreal because there is lakes everywhere on my way to work - and everyone is looking to the Heavens for rain.

Cayaking the Loxahatchee

Today is Memorial Day, when America remembers and honors their fallen heroes in all the wars the country has participated in.

We left early morning for the Jonathan Dickinson State Park close to Jupiter, about 100 miles North-NE. The relativity of distance is amazing! Living in Cape Town we'd never even consider driving to Stilbaai, other than for a holiday or a long-weekend, but it's less than a 100 miles away. Here everything is so spread out, and Miami is so far South, you have to drive to get anywhere.

We spend the day at the park, cayaking a couple of hours in the most serene surroundings, alas the river was too busy to spot much wildlife, other than ospreys. The Loxahatchee river was designated a wild and scenic river estuary in 1985. It's certainly a worthwhile paddle and the camping area looks great.

Mayor League Baseball

Hotdawgs, beer and onions under the floodlights! Yes, on Saturday we attended our first Mayor League Baseball game as the hapless Florida Marlins hosted the New York Mets at Dolphins Stadium.
It's nearly as good as cricket and lasts only about three hours, excluding the pre-and post shows. A fantastic experience.

Marriage Announcement

Guess who's getting married in March, in Africa...?

Focus on Local News

I've lived in this beautiful country long enough now to have an informed opinion on most of the prevailent issues, the main topics, e.g. the federal government's strange stance on immigration, the Iraq War, Donald Trump's hairstyle and so forth.
Sometimes the daily news items are downright strange:

For instance:
According to NBC, more than 20 000 excited Star War-fans showed up this week in Downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the movie that made George Lucas rich and famous and put Harrison Ford on the Hollywood map. Wow, 20 000 fans... they obviously don't have girlfriends, jobs or much else to do!
It started off Wednesday with a marathon screening of ALL SIX FILMS in a row, exhibits of old props and costumes and appearances by old cast members. (I can't imagine Harrison showing up, after all, he "made it". Surely Chewbacca will be there, he'll need the money. There can't be many acting opportunities for big, hairy, screaming ape-men.)

From Entertainment to Politics:
On Thursday Senator John Edwards, Democratic Presidential candidate, spoke on "The War on Poverty" to a large audience. He charged $55 000 for his appearance...

Hurricane Season Coming Up

Today marks the tenth day prior to the start of the Hurricane Season in Florida.
The Central Weather Bureau announced this afternoon that it'll probably be a busy Season, with 15-17 tropical storms/hurricanes being predicted for this year. Last year 20+ hurricanes were predicted, with eventually only one tropical storm limping past the East Coast. However, in retrospect, 2005 was expected to be relatively quiet and we hosted Katrina and Wilma.

We're gonna be buying our hurricane supplies early...

Birthday Announcement...

OK, it's my birthday today - 21 May 2007.
I have just passed the age where they say men stop growing and stop recovering as fast from hard excercise like walking to your car or playing chess. Or as friend Gideon says,"When a pretty girl smiles at you, you wonder if your fly is open!" Apparently that age is 33.

Sarah held a nice birthday party for me on Saturday evening, which was great. I BBQ'ed for the first time at our current home, made possible by the new grill Sarah got me. Apart from an unfortunate incident in which flames engulfed one of her Chinese lanterns hanging high up on the ceiling of our balcony, I was King of the Grill.

Super-South-African S14 Final Aftermath

Dis die BLOND
dis die BLOU
dis die BUL
met die BAL
dis die Shark wat hom disnis VAL
dis al......

The past few days I've repeatedly received the following e-mailed picture and poem from friends, aka Blue Bull supporters. I thought I should post it, just for the sake of the occassion.

Please note that this Blog does not endorse or support all posted items (or teams!) neccessarily.

Billboard in Orlando

I came across this pic of a billboard that I took on our last trip to Orlando with the whole Bouwer clan. Still think it's pretty funny.

O Maggies, dis Marius!

Middagete geniet ek toe gistermiddag op die Miami Internasionale Lughawe, die een met die vrot reputasie na die een bestuurs-debakel na die ander die afgelope aantal maande.

Middagete saam met vrint Marius Acker van Grand Cayman se kontrei. Surfer-vrint Marius. Huismaat Marius van Taichung-dae. Durbanville-boorling soos ek. Lekker gesels en heerlik om iemand uit die "ou dae" raak te loop.

Andre en Louis - julle moet kom kuier. Daar's genoeg van ons hier om 'n trippie te regverdig.

Cultural Diversity

I can mention many negatives about Miami, but one thing that I do appreciate here is the cultural diversity. I know I will miss this wherever in the world we are lead to go from here.
I was at a dinner the other night where we had a German, a native from Minnesota, two Venezuelans, me, the South African, a Brazilian, a Cuban and a Canadian at our table. (Canadians are like Americans, without the guns and WITH the canabis!) ;-)

In my English tutoring class, there's a ladies from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Puerto Rico. Furthermore, the lady from Bolivia is a Quechua Indian - a tribe related to, and part of the great Inca race before the Spanish "invasion".
(Upon entering the New World, the Spanish started introducing their culture to the natives of South America until nearly everybody was dead!)

My MBA group consist of me, two Puerto Ricans, a Columbian, a Cuban, a Venezuelan, a Costa Rican, and more. All of us were born outside of our adopted homeland, the culture of Miami being prevalent. However, I enjoy asking each of them on occassion to tell me about their hometown, and see their faces lit up as they explain. The different cultures guarantees that class discussions are never boring, since no one case study or management problem will play out exactly the same in any given culture, regardless of the organizational architecture and hierarchy.

It's mucho fantastico to be experiencing globalization as such. I've started my Spanish again.

S14-Plesier!

Saterdag die twee S14-semi's by die Ninneman's van F. Lauderdale gekyk - "Happy birthday bro". Ons was uiteindelik 'n aansienlike groepie Suid-Afrikaners bymekaar, wat immers vreeslik lekker was.

As I explained to Sarah, on a relative scale there really ain't that many of us around. No matter where you are, some of the first questions a fellow S.African would ask is; "Where're you from?" and "Do you perchance know....?" And I've not met a fellow - be it Taichung, Taipei, Hong Kong, Bali, Phi-Phi, Krabi, Miami etc. - where we could Not establish a mutual acquaintance within a few minutes.

Thus on Saturday I could prove my theory to Sarah, who just shook her head in amazement. Turns out (Saturday) another invitee and me both grew up in Durbanville, where his brothers went to school with me! Small SA world.

Pic:The viewing of the semi-finals was done in luxury. The ladies had the house. Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale.

Sssmokin'!

A thick blanket of smoke has been covering Miami for the past week as the fog from huge forest fires in Georgia is blowing down to South-Florida (Started by two schoolboys, imagine that.). Hundreds of homes in North-Florida has also been evacuated as a precautionary measure, should authorities not be able to control the fires.

Due to the draught we are experiencing in S-Florida, it has been reported on Tuesday that more than 200 fires were currently burning in the State! Sections of the Turnpike has been closed because thick smoke from brush fires have been blowing accross the roads, decreasing visibility dramatically. Pure fun when you're stuck in evening traffic making your way home.

Lake Okechobee, tha main municipal water source, is at a record low (Less than 20%) and tight water restrictions are in place in S-Florida. Driving on the I-95 it seems unimaginable with all the small lakes around, but water is scare and people are praying for rain... (Miskien nie in Miami nie, maar wel elders.)

(Ek voel oor Miami soos Jonah van ouds oor Ninneve' gevoel het!)

In the Eye of the Storm

So there we were watching grand finale of The Amazing Race and an announcer suddenly pops up, warning that a tornado is heading straight for our area. He gave 25-minute interval target areas in the estimated path of the storm. It was heading straight over us! Arrival time - within 30 minutes.

Ja, it brings your comfort to an abrupt end. You can't take off by car, because it's already too close. It was absolutely howling outside.

So I braved it outside and tried a few pictures towards the dark, restless night. Most of 'em came out like the posted pic - all lit up because of the lightning. This pic - not a good one - but I posted it to show the electricity in the air. I did not use a flash.

Within 25 minutes of the aired warning, it became dead calm - the eye was passing directly over us. A pretty neat experience and luckily there wasn't much damage in our area.

Lug-en-See Skou - Son, Sand en WEG

Die laatoggend-hitte maak die oorlogskip in die verte deinserig voorkom, die sweet tap my af, die irriterende rap-musiek blêr onophoudelik vanuit die geledere van die hoop strandgangers erens in die voorgrond. Ek is min gepla!

Die oue agter ons lê oopbek en snork in die hitte, ons ham-en-bloukaas toebroodjies is pap en my bier is warm, maar watwou! Ek is min gepla!

My geleende WEG lê onaangeraak en rein in die piekniekmandjie en 'n belowende dag lê braak en wag. Afrikaans, son, see en nogmaals Suid-Afrikaanse nostalgie op vandag se agenda, my China!
My aandag is verdeel tussen die blou lug, die stilte wat enige oomblik aan skerwe gebreek kan word deur die F-16's se tienduisend(!?)-silinder straler-enjins, en my geleende Afrikaanse tydskrif. Ek wil niks mis nie...

(En Afrikaans rock!)
Kiekie: Me on F. Lauderdale Beach, with the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge (LHD3) on the horizon.

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

The McDonald's Air and Sea Show happened on Sunday from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. along 4 miles of Fort Lauderdale Beach, between the famous Las Olas Blvd and Oakland Park Blvd. The military air and sea performances by the world's most powerful military force was simply breathtaking.
Amphibious Assault ships, Cobra helicopters, Hornet fighter jets, USAF Thunderbirds, air acrobatics, pararescue demonstrations, F-16's, B-2-Stealth Bombers, Warthogs, Lancer Bombers and F-15's were all part of a spectacular day's display. Glad we went.

Thus the USA Air Force and Navy paid homage to its servicemen and women - and to us taxpayers who finance their magnificent flying machines!

Die B2-Stealth Bomber was my hoogtepunt:
Dis net toe ek 'n teug wil neem uit my koeldrank-borrel wat die swart Spook onheilspellend laag - en geruisloos! - oor ons koppe swiep. Voor ek aan 'n gepaste uidrukking kon dink om my skok te omskryf, word die drukkende blou lug oopgeskeur deur 'n geweldadige klapklank wat dreunend, donderend, klaend die hemel inboor, verder en verder totdat nie een s'n spikkeltjie sigbaar is van die vlieënde oorlogsmasjien nie. Was my naam Abdul, en was en ek lid van Al Queda se woestyn-rolbalklub, was ek bokveld toe voor ek enigiets gehoor het.

Pics: The B2, F. Lauderdale Beach flowing over with beachgoers and a quartet of Thunderbirds flying past in formation.

Rugby Murder at Loftus

After the Shark's tantalizing win at Newlands (hoendervleis!) and the bulldozing, murderous performance by the Bulls on Saturday at Loftus, the New Zealand rugby media are showing little hope that either of their two sides will progress past the two semi-finals next weekend - both played in the Republic.
In fact, so much is the pessimism and shock after the 92-3 demolition of the Reds by the South African Bulls, that the Springboks are now vouched as "strong favorites" to win the William Web Ellis Trophy later this year in France!
Here's one example from the NZ Herald:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10438192

The Queen is Back in Town

Queen Elizabeth II is visiting the States for the first time in 16 years. It's a big deal in the States.
The Queen started her 6-day visit in Virginia, with a parade down Richmond, elegantly waving to the crowds of people eager to see the British monarch. Today she is in historic Jamestown, with her travelling companion, the Duke of Edinburgh. They will take part in the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the town, the first permanent British settlement in North-America.

Her state visit will include a 2-day visit of Washington D.C., where she will meet with President Bush. The Queen certainly has star power and she's attracting huge adorning crowds. Ironic how history runs in cycles, like fashion - all the former British colonies fought to be rid of her governing power, but we do love her today.

(AP picture from BBC)

Bush Veto's

The big news here in the States, other than Angelina Jolie's new hairstyle, is President Bush vetoing yesterday the proposed Iraqi war-spending measure of Congress, led by the Democrats.
The Spending Bill was an effort to dry up funding to the Iraqi War effort, thus forcing Bush to start the withdrawing of troops, instead of the increase he strongly proposed.

A Few Good Men

Dis Vrydag die laaste rondte van vanjaar se S14 kompetisie. Dis op hierdie stadium wat dinge grootliks wyyyd interessant raak, veral met al die verskillende permutasies wat in spel kom.

Die Sharks kry Semi-finaal tuisveld-voordeel mits hulle wen met 'n bonuspunt en Mamelodi verloor die vorige dag, die Bulls ontvang 'n gratis Spur-brêkfis as hulle 5 driëe druk, dit Woensdag rëen en die Crusaders met minder as 7 punte teen die Chiefs verloor. Etc.

Iedergeval, ek gil Saterdag my longe uit vir die Sharks op Nuweland, met of sonder AJ en Bob. Take the weather mates!

Spotprent: From a Kiwi newspaper, depicting the unhappiness with this year's new scrumming laws.

Lakeside Walks at Dusk

Last night we had our usual walk around the lake after supper.
It's the most perfect time of day, this time of dusk, when the frogs starts calling and the birds start settling in. It's not as hot, there's usually a slight breeze, which is a blessing in Florida's hot, humid weather.

However, our potential romantic walk along the banks of the lake (next to our complex) turned into a photography competition. I must've said something innocent like, "Wow, I sure know how to take pictures better than you can!", or something non-provocative like that.
Sarah always ends up more artistic than her African, when it comes to taking pics. But surely I can't give in and admit to this.
You judge if her pic (left) is well-taken...