EXCITEMENT + DANGER = DAVIE, FLORIDA PRO RODEO

Gotta love a rodeo!  This year, we were lucky enough to get to the Davie Pro Rodeo, part of the Professional Rodeo Circuit that arrives in Davie, Florida at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds four times a year.

Held in a covered rodeo arena, this is an exciting and exhilarating event—another sport where action is counted in seconds and winners by milliseconds.

The previous night had a sell-out crowd, so we arrived early and had the opportunity to meet some very friendly people on line and to explore the grounds and the concessions.  There was plenty of food, the usual fair fare of sausage and peppers, corn dogs, fries, cotton candy, ice cream, and a host of other tempting treats.  Beer by Budweiser.  Spirits too.  We ended up drinking Amber Bock.  Hot, sultry evening and beer is a great combo.

Plenty of cowboy and cowgirl gear for sale—from the real thing to adorable stuff for kids.  This is horse country.  It was smile-making to see the little girls in pink hats and cowgirl diamond-patterned boots with those blinking-as-you-walk LED lights.  The kids twinkled as they pranced along the edge of the arena. 

Very good country/western music before the show, so coming early was a really great idea.  Total fair atmosphere, and a kind of electricity as we waited for the hard-hitting events.

That fair atmosphere fades only slightly once the rodeo begins.  This is serious stuff. A dangerous sport.  And it happens quickly.  The chute opens, the event occurs in seconds, the cowboy is rescued; the arena is cleared; another chute opens.  This is definitely not baseball.  If you haven’t gotten your food, beer, cowboy attire and souvenirs by the time the rodeo begins, you’re going to miss some pretty exciting action.

The arena is a big oblong with chutes on either end.  A squad of security guards stands in intervals along an orange railing lined with Danger signs warning spectators to keep off the rails.  Security guards enforce that rule, and for good reasons which I learned later.

More than once during the rodeo, men working the arena leapt up those rails for safety—even the ringmaster at one point.  These are big and dangerous animals on the loose in there. 

Before the rodeo officially begins, cowgirls gallop into the arena, some holding American flags that flutter as their horses circle around the ring.  The cowgirls perform a synchronized riding dance around the ring, passing one another and criss-crossing each other and urging their horses on at full tilt.  Pretty exciting and very fast.  Flags waving in the breeze.  Costumes sparkling.  They are joined by cowboys, but the movements do not slow as the horses perform their complex ballet.

The ringmaster offers a prayer, primarily for the safety of the competitors, our military and for all those who serve their communities. A little nine year old girl in full cowgirl regalia belts out the Star Spangled Banner truer than many professionals I’ve heard.  Everyone stands, silent, many with hands over their hearts, every cowboy/girl hat removed, and frankly it is a pleasure to see no one keeping his/her seat or chatting disrespectfully.  Life is good.

But the serious mood does not last long!  In case you’re wondering if the crowd remains silent, they do not.  They cannot because danger rides in on the opening event.  Bull riding.  This is an incredible event.  Those bulls are humongous!! 

Just watching the cowboys getting ready in the chutes is exciting.  The man gently lowers himself on to the broad, muscular back of the bull.  If he is not seated properly, he rises and lowers himself again.  He fixes his hat (although it may not stay on long), makes sure his gloves are fitted properly, and he winds the thick rope around his hand.  The crowd’s anticipation is almost palpable. 

All these men are making sure that the cowboy is really set to go--
seated correctly, holding securely

Men are hanging over the sides of the chute making sure everything is ready.  Men are in the arena ready to pull open the iron door of the chute, and when they do, the behemoth slams out and the men jump up on the railings.

The bull lunges out of the chute, leaping up in the air, all four feet off the ground.  Despite his size, that muscled monster is adroit, throwing that cowboy, who is hanging on to that thick rope, around like a pesky fly.  We can see the cowboy’s head snapping back and forth.  If the cowboy stays on long enough, the bull twists his body and weight.  He makes mechanical bulls look tame.  One way or the other it is over very quickly, and the cowboy is off in a not so graceful hard landing in the dirt.  He bounces back up quickly because that bull, his head menacingly lowered, goes right for him.  Cowboys need to scurry quickly and nimbly!  Two wranglers quickly ride to cut off the bull’s path, and the cowboy swings up behind one and is taken to safety while the other gets the bull to enter another chute.  When the cowboy jumps off the back of the horse, he retrieves his hat and slaps it against his body, raising a dirty cloud.   Usually he’s shaking his head.

The bull lunges forward, and the men in the arena
leap for safety

Wouldn't guess this animal could act like a kangaroo!

Must be a bull's version of Twist & Shout

Most of the cowboys wear cowboy hats, but some of the contestants wear crash helmets.  They can take some mighty dangerous falls.

Look at the helmet this bull rider is wearing.
He also has a protective vest.
This is not a sport for the faint-at-heart.

If the cowboy lasts on board that monster for the requisite number of seconds, the two riders come alongside, and the cowboy slips behind one and is taken to safety. 

Sometimes that bull is an angry, moving mountain of muscle and not amenable to being coaxed into the exit chute, or he might really get dangerously close to the cowboy.  It’s then that the rodeo clowns come to the rescue.  Those guys move like greased lightning, and we see bulls chase them right up and over the railings—you remember with the signs warning against climbing! 

A helmet and a protective vest, but it's the rodeo clown who is the
real savior.  And look at the guy with the brace on the knee.
Wonder what the story is there.

It’s a tough way to make a living.  And it must be a “late-bloomer” sport as four of the top bull riders in the entire country’s rodeo circuit are in their 40’s.  What happened to the rest of them????

Each of the events has its own kind of excitement, but always, always, the event is fast.  Single and double rider calf roping takes place in under six seconds.  What is amazing is the way the horse and cowboy work together to keep the rope taut.  The horse is an equal part of the team whether it’s a one man event or a two-cowboy event.

Once lassoed, the cowboy jumps down while the horse keeps
a taut rope, and the cowboy ties the calf's legs together.
Imagine doing this all day to brand the new calves in the herd.

In the 2-man, one cowboy lassos, and the other ties.  If the first man
misses, the game is over for them.

Bucking broncos---just a few seconds.  Those horses leave the ground and leap to incredible heights, backs bowed and cowboys flapping like paper cut-out dolls.  Tremendous strength and over 1,000 pounds of propelling muscle beneath each leap.  Add the twisting, and you can see how skillful these cowboys are. 

The your usual find for a trail ride, huh?

The cowgirls competing in barrel racing show just how communication between horse and rider is tantamount.  Look at the lean in that horse as he rounds the barrel.  They come out of the chute full speed, round the barrels in a pattern, and race back to the exit chute. Every one of the competitors finishes the course in less than 15 seconds.  It’s an event made of superior horsewomanship and unbridled fearlessness and trust. 

If you are anywhere near Davie, Florida, check out the schedule to see if the rodeo is coming to town.  Get there early and enjoy the leisure before the events because once it starts, things happen very quickly!!!

FRIDAY'S FOTO

A peaceful day might mean a stroll the Morikami Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida
and pausing to listen to the sounds of the waterfall and feeling the serenity of the
green surroundings.

FRIDAY'S FOTO

Bull riding is just one of the dangerous events at a rodeo,
and it leaves you with your heart in your throat as you watch these cowboys and cowgirls.
One amazing thing about a rodeo is that events are measured in
fractions of seconds.  That's how difficult they are. 

FRIDAY'S FOTO

Could not resist this beautiful spider and web in Florida's Morikami Japanese Gardens and Museum.
Isn't nature wonderful?

FRIDAY'S FOTO

To me, one of the prettiest and most peaceful places in the world is
dusk at the Sailfish Marina on Singer Island, Florida.

FLORIDA'S HOMOSASSA SPRINGS

This is a guest post from one of TAT's readers.  I really enjoyed this, and wanted to share with you.  I think you’ll enjoy it too.  Remember you, too, have a standing invitation to share your vacations with us.

Follow this link to get more information on Homosassa Springs

******************************************

What if you're adventurous??????

Just came back from turning a sour weekend into a good one.  Went from the funeral of a friend in Ocala, Florida on Saturday to a neat experience of reliving the past by visiting Homosassa Springs in Central Florida, one of the first attractions my parents introduced Florida to me when I was 12. 

For a mere $13.00 ($10 with AARP) each person gets to go on a scenic boat ride on the crystal clear springs of Homosassa and view the "real Florida" as it was when the first explorers came to our land.  There are hundreds of species of beautiful birds, including 5 foot high gorgeous flamingos and many 14 foot toothy alligators. We walked boardwalk about a mile long through a thoughtfully put together theme park with "open" cages filled with Florida key deer, fox, the "blue" wolfs of North Carolina soon to work their way down to Florida, and huge bobcats. There’s a reptile house, and the oldest hippo (53 years) inside the United States.  I believe his name was "Lou."

They also have a rehabilitative center for manatees, "the Florida sea cow, or mermaid," and two of the biggest manatees I have ever seen in my life.

Throughout the park are a good number of clean restrooms for us older walkabouts with ice cold water running through the fountains.  There are several rest areas that sell ice cream and drinks and snacks and at prices that won't send you to having to use your credit cards just to get some refreshment. 

 Another thing, when you park your car, guess what, they don’t charge you $15.00 for them only  to slap you in the face and say they are not responsible for your vehicle.

Right next door we stayed in the beautiful Oasis Hotel that was as clean as the theme park (not connected), with a beautiful pool, bar, and restaurant. The room with nice furnishings included your coffee pot, refrigerator, microwave, and plenty of hot water for---are you ready - ? - including tax $65.00 per night.

I have to warn you in advance, however, there are not many hotels in the area, and although this hotel appears to have at least 200 rooms in it, I would recommend booking in advance as far as you can.  We stepped right into a room on a Saturday with no prior reservations, and around us were several "good old" 1960's type MO-tels that were $32- 38 per night each.

In morning we went across the street to the Sunrise Café, and for a mere $16 had a super "Platter" breakfast that stuffed the two of us. 

What a refreshing way to see the real Florida.  We enjoyed it and maybe one day after my description someone else may take a look at it too. 

This was originally written to a grand friend who travels a lot herself with her husband and I thought after writing it to her I might share with the rest of my friends as well.

Everybody out there take care of each other.

FRIDAY'S FOTO

I've always gotten a kick out of this pelican photo from Sailfish Marina on Singer Island, Florida.
He is waiting for the man cleaning fish to throw him the offal!  Terrific.
This was not the year for us to stay home from Florida.

FRIDAY'S FOTO



Yes, he is real!  He posed for me in Everglades National Park in Florida.
Seeing him and so many of his buddies live and in their natural habitat was mindblowing.
If you go to Florida, visit the Everglades through the National Park Service.



FRIDAY'S FOTO



Read my next post and you'll see what this pelican is eying



PALM BEACH SHORE'S SAILFISH MARINA--GREAT FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER AND SUNSET CELEBRATIONS

A trolley carries customers around Palm Beach Shore and other hotels

One of the nicest Sunday brunches one can imagine is at the Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores on Singer Island, Florida, a relatively well-kept secret and a lovely respite from the hustle and hubbub of the nearby communities of West Palm Beach and Jupiter just minutes away.

Sailfish Marina is a charming place located diagonally across from Peanut Island.  Boats enter through the inlet of the Lake Worth Lagoon separating Palm Beach from Singer Island.  The boats docked here are a show in themselves, big and beautiful.  Charters are available for fishing, and there is a “taxi” service across to Peanut Island, the artificial island created to serve as JFK’s headquarters and bunker during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  With the passing of time, this artificial reef has developed into a delightfully rewarding public park and off-the-beach snorkeling site.  Walk right into the water, and before you are knee deep, you can see the fish.  Don’t wear jewelry when you snorkel here as there are even barracudas—albeit small ones--who will be drawn to the sparkle. 



You get to see some really big fish

 The Sailfish Marina boasts a “seawall aquarium.”  Walk along the edge of the walkway and see dozens of different kinds of fish of all sizes and colors, and if you care to, you can treat them to a meal.  They love to be fed.  Bring your own bread or purchase fish food from a machine.

Be on the lookout for pelicans, not that they are difficult to find.  They thrive at the Sailfish and perch on the pilings creating beautiful living sculptures.  If you catch it right, you will enjoy their unique performance when the fishermen come in and clean their catch at the long sheltered tables.  Those pelicans, very familiar with the routine, patiently wait as the fisherman skins and guts and filets his catch, throwing pieces here and there to his hungry, anxious, audience.

The fisherman filets his catch in front of a waiting audience



They are waiting for their share!




They are ready to dive in too



Sunsets at the Sailfish Marina are times for celebrations, and each Thursday evening there is a Sunset Celebration with music and entertainment.  Local artisans show their creations, and everyone gets happy!  I never leave there empty-handed.



Walking around on a Thursday night for
the Sunset Celebration



The Sailfish Marina’s restaurant is top notch.  On Thursday nights you’ll undoubtedly get a flashing beeper as you wait for your table, but you’ll be able to walk the whole length of the marina as you wait for the flashing lights to blink.

Writing about the restaurant brings me back to my original thought—Sunday brunch.  While you can order off the menu, the Sunday buffet is well worth the $19.95.  We had seats at the window walls.  In warmer weather the front window walls open totally to the water. 

Let me describe brunch buffet:

We begin with the freshest of fruit: beautifully arranged giant strawberries, sliced watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe and honeydew melons. 

Then we see platters of nicely rolled slices of nova salmon paired with capers, beautiful, ripe, sliced tomatoes (a special treat after what we get up North), and thinly sliced purple onions. 

Moving on we see heaps of herring covered in cream sauce loaded with onions. 

Covered servers contain mounds of freshly scrambled eggs all light and fluffy, bacon and sausages, waffles, fruit filled crepes, and sausage gravy—with a mound of fresh biscuits on the side (this is, after all, the South).

Cross to another section for bagels, cream cheese, English muffins, toast, and butter.  This is also the place for a selection of pastries.

Move a bit further, and order from the omelet station.  Anything you can think of that could possibly please your omelet palate is there for the asking.

The coffee is delicious.  The service friendly and prompt.  There’s no waiting for coffee refills, and as we’ve met my cousins for breakfast and are talking up a storm as we catch up with each other, no one rushes us.  This breakfast has become an annual Florida vacation reunion ritual for us, and we spend a long time enjoying the Sailfish Marina’s hospitality.

Rob and I make sure to get to at least on Thursday night Sunset Celebration.  We stroll along the seawall aquarium and watch the fish.  We feed them too.  We walk up and down the docks and wish we could have a boat “like that one.”  We buy some things from the artists.  We’ll have a wonderful fish dinner too.

If you are anywhere in the Palm Beach County vicinity, put the Sailfish Marina on your hit list.  You won’t regret it. 

KEY WEST -- THE FINALE

My pilgrimage to Hemingway’s Home in Key West, Florida would have made our trip worthwhile, but our day offers more wonderful sights, sounds, and adventures. It is barely afternoon!  Butterfly World is our next stop.

Tucked away in what appears an unpretentious house is Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory.  It seems as if butterfly habitats are increasingly popular these days, and Rob and I have visited them in places as diverse as Las Vegas and Costa Rica.  It really is walking into a different world.  Key West’s is a total joy. 

Moseying along the path through the tropical foliage, we see butterflies at every turn.  Feeding stations filled with a variety of ripe fruit are there to delight them.  The broad tropical leaves offer platforms on which the butterflies rest but also offer smiling observers a site to closely observe the distinctive patterns of the butterflies' wings and their beautiful hues so harmonious with the natural surroundings.  We walk past fish ponds where the koi’s gold colors sparkle. It’s a joyful experience getting up close and personal with these marvelously fascinating little creatures. 

A butterfly’s gentle reputation precedes it, and this gorgeous insect doesn’t make even the most indoorsy person squirm.   If anything, when they light on me to hitch a ride, I am flattered!  When we leave the conservatory, we are peacefully happy and amazingly refreshed.  There is something so soothing about the quiet beauty within.

After Butterfly World we return to South Beach and Southernmost Point.  (http://thirdagetraveler.blogspot.com/2012/05/key-west-daytripping-imagining-part-i.html)  Not only did we grab our photo op but also dawdled on South Beach, this beach truly aptly named.  You cannot go any farther south in the continental United States.  It’s a neat beach with very interesting rules.  It’s almost de rigueur that you at least dip your toe in the water, but it’s so hot in Key West, you might want to spend some time at the beach and cool off!

I also liked this mosaic overlooking the ocean near Southernmost Point.  It’s always good for us to be reminded.

We had to walk across Key West to reach our next destination, and we had enough time before enjoying the Sunset Celebration in Mallory Square.  We wanted

 

to stop in the Hog’s Breath Saloon where the motto is “Hog’s breath is better than no breath at all,” and which sponsors such exciting events as the Hair of the Hog contest and the Homemade Bikini Contest.  We’ve enough time to energize ourselves with a Hog’s Breath Beer for Rob and a memorable margarita for me.  Of course we accompany them with some conch fritters and chili.  Hmmm    Good and fun in a really neat environment.

And then on to Mallory Square for a daily event famous worldwide.  Each evening brings the Sunset Celebration.  Another day has ended; we’ve gotten through; and we can celebrate the beauty of life and nature and of being together in one of the most interesting spots in our country as we share one of Nature’s glorious moments.  Day is done; gone the sun.

What is a celebration without music and joy?  Mallory Square offers all of it.  The visit to Key West could not end on a better note.  The air is filled with a palpable excitement as tourists (probably primarily) enjoy the spectacles of the artists: talented dogs, one-man bands, fortune tellers, acrobats, fire-eaters, and a host of other entertaining, or at least interesting performers, each in his own inimitable fashion providing the denoument to our day's story.

By the time the sun has set and we are reunited with our bus-mates for the ride back to Ft. Lauderdale, we, too, are spent.  It was a long, hot, glorious day! No matter how each of us spent our time, we’ve all had a memorable experience. 

The ride back is far quieter than the ride down.  The lights are off in the bus, and yes, we hear an occasional snore.  Once again we are happy we came this way because the night is a thick black curtain through which there is nothing to see but the illumination on the highway.  After the full and wonderful day we’ve had, driving back would have been a terrible idea. 

Once more we’ve explored a little piece of the United States that stands apart from all the others.  It makes me appreciate the symbolism of the jigsaw puzzles of the United States we played with as children.  More than the differences between states, we are bits and pieces that come together in our separate ways to make a whole.  Maybe that’s why the mosaic at Southernmost Point hit home.

(for the other posts on Key West, enter "Key West" in the search block at the top of the page and press "enter")

KEY WEST Part 3

Key West Part 1 - http://www.thirdagetraveler.blogspot.com/2012/05/key-west-daytripping-imagining-part-i.html
Key West Part 2 - http://www.thirdagetraveler.blogspot.com/2012/06/key-west-part-2.html

This is Key West to me

 We arrive in Key West about lunchtime after what has already been a wonderful bus trip down from Ft. Lauderdale along Highway 1 past the Everglades, Key Largo, 7 Mile Bridge, and some of the most magnificent water scenery, a route that almost rivals Pacific Coast Highway in California.  It is peaceful and calm whereas the PCH is rugged and exciting.  Ah, the differences in America are thrilling.

The bus drops us off by the Courthouse in Jackson Square, named for Andrew Jacdson, and a place depicted on maps dating back to 1827.  As we exit the bus, though, I am ready to head to Jake's, the still-existing seedy bar that was the original Sloppy Joe’s Ernest Hemingway frequented.  I like Katz's Deli in NYC, so seediness is nothing new to me!  But Mindy our guide tells us we really ought to put off Jake's and head to Kelly McGillis’ (of Top Gun and Witness fame) for a better meal.  Truth is that Kelly's is no longer owned by Kelly, but ignorance is bliss when 'tis folly to be wise.  I am totally happy there.

Kelly's "Backyard"

The restaurant is lovely, the building being the 1927 birthplace of Pan American Airlines.  We head out to the patio where a canopy of trees make it amazingly and refreshingly cool.  The restaurant is also a microbrewery, and that doesn’t hurt us at all.

Rob orders Clipper Wheat Beer and I order a Top Gun Margarita.  Of course. It arrives in a tall salt-rimmed glass and is top gun as margaritas go.

In Key West our regular bar food tastes are out.  We order two appetizers: sweet and spicy conch fritters (what else in the Conch Republic) and Flash Fried Calamari. 

Kelly's from the front.  Notice the Pan Am sign.

I have never had conch in any form and only know how to pronounce it because I’m a reader.  This is scrumptious!  Fried but not greasy, and the sauce is a chunky, tomatoey, chutneyish, spicy deliciousness.

The calamari is lightly breaded and lightly fried—still soft and not chewy.  Two sauces arrive with it, a red, spicy sauce and a milder sauce similar to ones I’ve had before.

Had we been staying overnight, we would not have left Kelly’s.  It is that kind of inviting place, and I recommend it. 

But there is still so much to see and do, and the day is passing.

Despite the heat, Key West is a walking city.  The residents take pride in the South Florida heritage and keep their homes beautifully restored.  The architecture is unique; the flowers are out of this world, and the maintenance is perfection.  Tin rooves (yes, and the heck with Urban Dictionary) reflect the abominable heat and help keep it out of the house. Walk. Walk. Walk on the brick walkways because you are walking on ballasts found in ships wrecked off the Keys.



President Harry S. Truman  "The buck stops here."



From Kelly’s on Whitehead Street, we head toward the Truman Annex, a neighborhood that leads us past beautiful homes to President Harry Truman’s Little White House where a large statue of Harry sits on the front lawn, the haberdasher’s hat on his head and his legs crossed—just as he might have sat while he was down here. 

The only presidential museum in Florida, it was originally built in 1890 to house naval officers, but Truman spent 175 days of his presidency here.  There have been many famous visitors and other presidents as well who have found this a restful and lush setting: Taft, Eisenhower, and Clinton, for instance.  Peace talks have occurred here, and problems wrestled with here. 

The Little White House

For us it is a must-see.  American history gives us insight. We do not take the house tour, but the photos and information on the main level are informative and interesting.  I’d read David McCullough’s Truman, and so being here is a special treat.  One wonders about a man who seemed a “safe bet” and ended up changing the world through his strength of character.

From the Little White House, we walk past more charming homes to the water enjoying the views despite the sweltering heat.  We wend our way through the streets back to Whitehead, and for me the most important stop of the day, Ernest Hemingway’s home.  He may be my favorite American author, and he is surely one I lovingly taught in high school and led book discussions about in the local library.  Being in his home is awesome because much of it is just as he left it.

Wendy outside Ernest Hemingway's home

Two particularly wonderful moments occur.  The first is going to Hemingway’s study by crossing the courtyard and climbing the flight of stairs to this room.  For years in the high school I’d shown a film on Hemingway, and in it were clips of the author walking up those stairs early in the morning to write his extraordinary books.  He began each day re-reading the previous work, re-writing, and then sweating over the next words. It is here he finished A Farewell to Arms.  Here I stand, walking up the same stairs and looking at his desks and his typewriter as if they are waiting for his action.  Silly?  Maybe.  But that is me. 

From the top of the stairs I can see the lighthouse that he used as a marker to guide him home after too much drinking at Sloppy Joe’s. 



The chain keeps people away; the cats have the run of the place

 The second wonderful moment concerns cats, a fact that might surprise my friends. Hemingway was a lover of cats, and the descendants of his cats still live in the house.  The cats can be tracked because each has an extra toe; they are polydactyls.  They have free run of the house, and there are places for them to seek shade outside the house.  They are cared for lovingly on a daily basis, and a vet comes periodically to make sure they are well.  They are named after celebrities: actors, authors, artists, royalty, and novel characters.  There is a cat cemetery at the house too, and one can see the names of the cats—in itself making for an amusing moment.

Shade and some good reading material

Cat tombstone territory

To name just a few of the deceased decendants

It is heartening to see several copies of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in his library (though most of his books remain in his home in Cuba).  Twain is his rival for my American author’s affection.  It was Hemingway who said, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” This book might be my absolute favorite.

Hemingway's "last cent"?

You do not have to be an English teacher or even a great fan of Hemingway to enjoy this site.  The tour is informative and interesting, and the house is quite marvelous.  The gardens are beautiful (enough so people get married here), and you can even see the penny near the pool which cost, in those days, the enormous sum of $20,000.  Hemingway was a correspondent during the Spanish Civil War when his wife, Pauline managed the construction.  When he came home and saw it--and the cost--story has it he said that the pool cost him his last cent.  With that he threw down a penny and it is imbedded in the stone around the pool. The 65" pool remains the largest private pool in South Florida. Don't miss this place!  Do it!