May 28-31 - In Trinidad with Simone

For the last couple of years, Team Finnegan has had the good fortune to have a fantastic investment team. The leader of our financial team is Steve Coplin. Steve's critical right hand assistant is Simone Matthews. Over the months of working with Steve and Simone, we have become excellent friends. Somewhere along the line, Simone began to call us "mom and dad" and we started to call her "our girl".

Simone grew up in Trinidad and Tabago. She came to the states with her mother, brothers and sister when she was 13. After attending middle and high school in NYC, Simone attended and graduated from Florida State University in Tallassaee. Simone has been a US citizen for many years. Simone has been in the banking and securities industry for many years. She specializes in details, organizational skills and regulatory knowledge.

About a year ago while out to lunch with Steve and Simone, Robert suggested that it would be a lot of fun to visit Trinidad and Tabago with Simone as our guide. Simone agreed and thus we made our travel plans.

We flew to Trinidad and Tabago from Ft. Lauderdale on Carribean airlines, an easy 3 and a half hour flight. Simone's dad met us at the airport and drove us to the Hilton, our hotel. The Hilton, in the capital city of Port of Spain, is lovely with a wonderful restaurant.

The next day, Simone's Aunt Patsy picked us up for our personal three day tour of Trinidad. Just as Team Finnegan are hororary mom and dad, Patsy is an honorary aunt. Patsy is Simone's mom's best friend.

First up was a ride out to Maracas Beach, Trinidad's most popular beach. It is a lovely ride up into the mountains and then down to the beach.

Maracas Beach

Simone relaxing on Maracas Beach

Our personal chauffeur and gracious hostess, Patsy.

Team Finnegan on Maracas Beach

One of the most famous things about Maracas Beach, besides the view, is a unique, local food called bake 'n shark. Simone reminisced on many childhood trips to Maracas Beach to eat bake 'n shark. What is bake 'n shark, you may well ask yourself. First off, there is nothing baked. Bake 'n shark is a fried dish. First dough is rolled into a ball and fried.. This creates a puffy shell, sort of like a pita. Shark or other white fish is fried in a batter. The fish is placed in the puffy shell. Next comes the fun part. The diner takes the fish in the puffy shell to a huge row of tables containing many sauces and a wide variety of accompaniements. There are chopped tomatoes, lettuce, maybe avocados, mangos and many other things. The diner individualizes the bake 'n shark.

On Maracas Beach are many stands offering the bake 'n shark. Natually, we chose Patsy's Bake 'n Shark in honor of our chauffeur.

Simone prepares to enter Patsy's bake 'n shark.

The bake 'n shark in all of it's glory.

Robert enjoying a stag beer with his bake 'n shark

The view from the top of the mountain, looking down toward Maracas Beach.

After dining on bake 'n shark, Team Finnegan were well on the road to becoming regular "Trinis"....the local term for a person from Trinidad. However, another local treat awaited us at Patsy's house...the abundant and yummy fruit.

Simone points out the sapodilla fruit and demonstrates enjoying the creamy, caramel tasting fruit.

In order to sample coconut jelly and coconut water, Patsy broke open a coconut.

Patsy drove us to many parts of Port of Spain and surrounding towns. We saw many bright, colorful houses. This one took the prize of brightest house.

We had a reservation to take a boat ride at a nature preserve. Our big goal was to see the scarlet ibis. We learned that this was the nesting season for the scarlet ibis and thus a huge section of the preserve containing the rookery was off limits to give the scarlet ibis families privacy. This was disappointing, but I looked far overhead and saw this sight...hundreds of scarlet ibis.

For our second day in Trinidad, Patsy drove us far into the mountains to the Asa Wright wildlife center. I didn't take my camera, but on our hike with a guide, we saw some amazing birds. It was a significant adventure to find the Asa Wright wildlife center, involving steep, winding, narrow roads perched on deep canyons.

The second evening, Patsy joined us for dinner at the Hilton. After a yummy meal, we went up to the deck overlooking the city of the Port of Spain.

On our last day in Trinidad, Patsy drove us to the zoo, the sure place to see scarlet ibis up close.

We had a terrific time visiting Trinidad and Tobago with our daughter, Simone. We saw many lovely sites and enjoyed a taste of the interesting and multi-cultural heritage. Patsy was a  knowledgeable and extremely informative local guide. We truly appreciated the fact that she gave three days to our adventure.

So long from the new trinis - Team Finnegan

May 8, 2010 - Chris graduates in Phoenix!

We were honored to be able to attend the graduation of son-in-law, Chris Nielsen, from the University of Phoenix nursing program. We flew into Phoenix with the Nielsen family - daughter, Katy, grandson, Justin and granddaughter, Noelle.

We were extremely impressed with the determination of Chris to complete his bachelor's degree. It took several years, but he preserved while participating in family life as well as working full time as an RN. The hard work and sacrifices paid off before he graduated. While we were eating dinner at our hotel in Phoenix, Chris announced that he had just accepted a supervisory position with an impressive salary raise.

The graduation was held at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

Chris in graduation regalia

Chris with his very proud family - Katy, Justin and Noelle

Daughter, Katy, waiting for graduation to begin

Grandson, Justin

Granddaughter, Noelle

Chris, waiting to enter the statium

The graduates escorted into the stadium by the bagpipe band

Chris, in line to march into the stadium

 Chris, in line to receive his diploma

Congratulations, Chris

You did it!!!

After the graduation, we went to a steak house near the stadium for a celebratory lunch.

Noelle got a big kick out of the complimentary cotton candy.

Congratulations, Chris, we are very proud of you. We are also very proud of Katy, Justin and Noelle for providing support to Chris during his educational adventure. 

April 3, 2010 - Loren and Terri in Key West

We always have a great time when son Loren and daughter-in-law Terri visit. We did something a little bit unusual this time. We caught the high speed ferry from Marco Island to Key West. This is the relaxing, fast way to get to Key West. The trip takes about 3 and a half hours. It is an interesting car trip up the keys, but it is very slow.

We made reservations at a bed and breakfast near the ferry station. Key West is famous for its unique, funky bed and breakfasts, among other things. Ours featured very relaxing hammocks.

During our stay, we spent most of the time wandering around town and of course, swinging in the hammocks. Key West is a very scenic, colorful, unusual town, a lot of fun to visit for about 24 hours.

One feature of Key West is the chickens running wild all over town. Visitors think they are charming. Some of the locals are less charmed, but the chickens stay.

Terri points out one of the colorful roosters

Loren, at the wharf

Walking back to our hotel, we spotted a manatee, happily slurping water from the hose. If you look below the water, you will see the shape of this gigantic, gentle animal





March 14-19, 2010 - Aunt Dessie and Cousin Joe visit Naples, FL

Robert's Aunt Dessie and Cousin Joe live near Decatur, Georgia. We looked forward to their visit as they are very entertaining people and they love to share nature adventures. Dessie is Robert's favorite aunt. He has many fond childhood memories of summer trips to his aunt's home near Disneyland.

Aunt Dessie was 88 at the time of this visit. Besides her wit and sense of humor, Dessie is known for her fitness. She goes to aquatic fitness almost every day, plus she walks upwards of three miles a day. When Dessie walks, she does not stroll. I challenge a person half her age to maintain her pace. I'd estimate that Dessie probably walks at least an 17-18 minute mile, which is stepping out pretty good.

Cousin Joe is also an entertaining guest. He is extremely well read and knowledgeable on a wide variety of topics. Since two of his interests are history and nature, it is a lot of fun to share adventures with Joe.

The first day we took Dessie and Joe on one of our favorite walks to Clam Pass Beach via a very scenic boardwalk through the mangroves.

Robert and Aunt Dessie at the beach.



The second day we went to Corkscrew Swamp, an Audubon sanctuary. We have always enjoyed a trip to Corkscrew. Along the 2.5 mile boardwalk, are several different environments found in the natural Florida swamp.

Aunt Dessie, Cousin Joe and Glee in front of the Corkscrew Swamp vsitors' center.

Aunt Dessie on the boardwalk path

Great egret stalking gracefully

The cypress swamp with beautiful bromeliads

 Some Corkscrew Swamp scenes

 Little blue heron in Lettuce Lake

Black crown night heron on the bank near Lettuce Lake

Aunt Dessie relaxing at the visitor center after our wonderful walk.

On the last day of the visit, we took a ride out to Shark Valley, with a stop at the Big Cypress visitor center. Overlooking the deck at the Big Cypress visitor center, we have always seen HUGE alligators.

Aunt Dessie and Cousin Joe on the hunt for that big gator

Like this one, maybe?

Once out at Shark Valley, we saw many other alligators, plus some nifty birds, like this tri-color heron.

Male anhinga, drying out his wings after a fishing expedition

In full breeding plumage, this male anhinga has a wacko appearance, but the female anhinga probably is saying "hubba hubba"

Female anhinga, spearing a fish.

Green heron on lily pads

All too soon, our visit with Aunt Dessie and Cousin Joe came to an end. We look forward to other adventures with them soon.