While traveling via air over Memorial Day weekend from Fort Lauderdale to Milwaukee,  my family and I watched as the arriving passengers at our gate deplaned. We couldn’t help but notice that each and every passenger appeared to be miserable, sad or just spaced out as he or she walked into the airport. There were no smiles whatsoever. We doubted that “deplaning doldrums” were typical of every flight, so we watched closely as other flights arrived in our concourse. Again, deplaning passengers appeared miserable. Upon our return to Fort Lauderdale, we validated this in Milwaukee as well.

Can every flight be an unpleasant experience? We are not talking about exhausting overseas or red-eye flights here. Domestic, three hour flights are most often not all that bad. Why did we not see any single passenger who was happy to reach his or her destination? This remains a mystery.

As for us, upon our return, when we deplaned in Fort Lauderdale, we purposely entered the concourse with big smiles on our faces. People standing around looked at us like we were martians from outer space.

These are actual photos we took today in the Park N’ Fly lot!

I just returned to Fort Lauderdale with my husband and daughter from a magical weekend in Milwaukee, where my niece got married. We were on the Park N’ Fly shuttle to pick up our car, and I was about to say out loud, “Wow, that was the most uneventful traveling experience we’ve ever had – no flight delays, no weather problems, nothing the least bit unusual.”

It was good thing I kept that thought to myself.

We got off the shuttle with our baggage, and while lugging it to the car, my husband screamed, “Monkey! There’s a monkey in the parking lot!!!”

“What!? A monkey? Where?!” my daughter and I shouted. As we turned to look, there he was, just a few feet away from us. We knew there were wild monkeys in the area, but we did not expect to ever encounter one face to face.

I’ve read conflicting stories about how the monkeys got here. One claims they were brought to Dania Beach to film a Tarzan movie, but got loose. Another claims that many decades ago monkeys were used in a laboratory in Dania Beach for medical research. Yet another says the monkeys were brought here for a zoo exhibit. The animal keeper was negligent in securing the monkey cages, and they all ran free. No one seems to know for sure which of these stories, if any, are true.

However they got here, these Vervet monkeys are not natives, though they seem to love the mangroves in Dania Beach, near the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. We asked the cashier at the Park N’ Fly about them, and she said they come out during the day sometimes to look for food. They don’t really bother any people, or than startling them, of course.

Vervets come from Southeast Africa and live in large groups, and the mothers generally give to birth to one baby at a time. Their diet consists of seeds, nuts, fruits, insects, small rodents and chick eggs. In Florida, their numbers have significantly decreased; some have been hit by cars, others have been hunted and land development has forced some to move away.

In any event, our non-eventful weekend ended with a bit of monkey business, although very welcomed at that.

Public Domain Photo: http://tinyurl.com/7e7g7dm

• Think Ahead – Whenever possible, reserve a table several days before your event. It’s easier to book a table on a Tuesday or Wednesday for the upcoming weekend than any other day. The more important the occasion, the more important it is to reserve in advance.
• Be Flexible – If the restaurant is ultra popular or it is tourist season in your area, consider eating there on a weeknight, rather than on a weekend.
• Go for the Heart – Tell the Maître d’ you need a table for a special occasion – birthday, anniversary, marriage proposal – and be passionate about it. Chances are that the Maître d’ will be touched by your special event and will want to accommodate you.
• Butter ‘em Up -  Mention to the Maître d’ how much you love the restaurant and how often you eat there. Everyone loves repeat business, and regular customers tend to be treated like royalty.
• Go for the Gold – Don’t be afraid to ask for the best table. Perhaps you want to be seated close to the live entertainment, in a quiet corner or at a table with more legroom.
• Order in Advance – If you’re really going to be celebrating a special occasion, consider ordering a fine wine or champagne in advance.  This will not only ensure you’ll be treated to your favorite label, but it will also send the Maître d’ a message that you will be splurging on your meal.
• Watch the Clock – Arrive at the restaurant about 10 minutes prior to your reservation time, but not any earlier. If you are going to be unavoidably late, call the restaurant to let the Maître d’ know, and expect a longer wait when you do arrive.
• Look the Part – Take the time to dress for your special occasion. You simply cannot expect to be treated like a special customer if you show up at a popular upscale restaurant in jeans and a t-shirt.
• Ask and Ye Shall Receive – Ask your waitperson what he or she recommends for the best entrée. They’ll almost always tell you what they prefer themselves, because in fine restaurants, every worker has tasted all the dishes and knows all there is to know about how it is prepared.
• Compliment the Chef – Tell your waitperson how much you enjoyed the meal and give your compliments to the chef. Your kind words will be remembered.
• Be Generous – Being a generous tipper when receiving great service is good practice and can take you a long way in establishing a relationship with the restaurant – at least 20%.
• Tell the World – If you love the restaurant, write a glowing review online and tell the restaurant about it.
• Leave the Attitude Outside the Door – Even at the finest restaurants, even with the best planning, there can be a longer wait than you expected or a situation may arise that inconveniences you. Don’t be offended or take it personally. Be gracious and patient no matter what – that is, if you ever want to come back.

Spring and summer’s bounty includes so many delicious fruits and vegetables. Florida is one of the nation’s top strawberry producers, and our markets are full of many varieties of fresh local strawberries. I love to eat them right from the carton, but I also enjoy making and eating strawberry jam.

Ingredients

• 2 quarts fresh strawberries
• 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 2 boxes of pectin
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 7 cups white sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

I’ve tried this recipe with less sugar, but the consistency is just not right.

Wash berries, slice off tops and cut them in half. Mash them in a bowl with a fork or potato masher. Place them in a heavy duty pot with the lemon juice, butter, pectin and split vanilla bean. Bring to a rolling boil. This may take a while. The mixture will be watery. Once it boils, add the sugar all at once and bring back to a boil. Boil for 1 full minute. Take the pot off the heat, add the vanilla extract and mix by hand for a couple of minutes. The butter helps to prevent foaming, but if you do get some foam on your jam, you can skim it off.

I can my jam, but if you are not into canning, then you can share your large batch of delicious Strawberry Vanilla Jam with friends and family. If you don’t can the jam, keep it refrigerated. Read about keep jam safely here.

South Florida provides glorious beach weather year-round

Summer is fast approaching, and if you live near a beach or are planning to visit one, you’ll want to keep your family safe:

1. Don’t Get Burned – Apply sunscreen liberally to all exposed skin.  If you plan to go in and out of the water a lot, reapply your sunscreen regularly. But no matter how much you apply, it may not be enough to keep you from getting a sunburn. Wear protective clothing, such as a lightweight long sleeved shirt, a hat with a wide brim and sunglasses. Know your limits, and get out of the sun before it’s too late. Also, know that you can get a severe sunburn even on a cloudy day.
2. See the Signs – Don’t ignore rip current and jelly fish warnings. If signs are posted recommending you do not go in the water, take them seriously.
3. Don’t Get Caught in a Current – If you or your children are not strong swimmers, stay close to the shore, and make sure you are in sight of a lifeguard. If you do get caught in a rip current, don’t fight it; swim parallel to shore.  If a lifeguard is on duty, he or she may throw you a rescue buoy or rope and instruct you how to safely get to shore. The vast majority of drownings on beaches are due to rip currents, and many of the victims drown in shallow water.
4. Alcohol and Water Don’t Mix – Don’t swim if you’ve been drinking. Alcohol reduces the temperature in your body, is dehydrating and impairs your ability to stay in control and make sound judgements.
5. Never Swim Alone – This is true for ocean, lake and pool swimming – no matter your age or level of expertise. If an emergency arises, you are much more likely to survive a swimming disaster if someone else is there to help you.
6. Use Your Feet, Not Your Head – Don’t even think about diving into the ocean or a lake head first. You cannot always tell how deep the water is and you do not want to sustain a potentially crippling or deadly disaster.
7. Shark! – Shark attacks are not all that common, though when they do happen, they are well publicized. Attacks that do occur usually happen when a shark mistakes people for fish. Avoid swimming in areas near piers where people are fishing. Also, since sharks are attracted to shiny lures, remove your shiny jewelry before getting in the water.
8. Stay Hydrated – Outdoor activities such as sunning and swimming can be dehydrating. Sunburns can also lead to severe dehydration. So drink plenty of water while you’re at the beach and after you leave.
9. Keep Your Food Safe – Foods that need refrigeration should stay in a closed, well-iced cooler protected from the sun. To avoid food-borne illnesses, don’t keep perishable food out for a long period of time.
10. Know Your Stuff – If you bring valuables to the beach, such as a wallet, cash, camera, expensive shoes or even car keys, don’t leave them on or near your beach towel unattended. Thieves love to peruse beaches and wait for the opportune moment to rip off unassuming beachgoers. You won’t even know they’re there until you realize your possessions have been stolen.

© 2012 by Debbie Glade, Smart Poodle Publishing. All rights reserved.

Click here for last week’s comic.

© 2012 by Debbie Glade, Smart Poodle Publishing. All rights reserved.

Click here for last week’s comic.