Riptide...

 So long till next year to my beloved Keys after an extended annual Sloth, Indulgence and Debauchery Tour.  It is the longest time I have every been away and I am happy to have slipped out on March and half of April!  But, as usual, I am happy to be home.  As a creature of habit and a true homebody, I'm most happy here.

But it sure was a good time.  Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.  Daily happy hours and fresh fish.  Laughing with friends and family.  Sleeping with the warm salt breeze blowing on me.  Reading all afternoon without guilt.  Observing incredible flora, birds, and ocean creatures including the biggest starfish (modeled my darling mermaids, Lexi and Elle!)

 I have ever seen!  And how wonderful it was to spend Easter Sunday hanging out at the sandbar with 'my ass in the water and my toes in the sand, not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand'!  Yes, life was certainly good that day! 

But I'm home and content.  Also blessed and grateful.  xo

Hemingway's Whiskey....

During lunch yesterday on our way to Key West, I spotted this amazing boat that was so befitting of the day.  Ernest was also immortalized by Kenny Chesney in a song by the same name.

Wandering the streets and seeing the places that he haunted and loved always makes me think of him, enjoying his whiskey and telling his tales before stumbling home.  I have enjoyed a few 'Hemingway Days Festivals' where I attended some readings of exerpts from his books.

But... I really have to say that I do not care for Ernest's style.  He is such a man's man and his writing style shows it.  The only book I have ever got thru (barely!) was 'Farewell to Arms'.  Wanting to experience the Hemingway style, I plodded along, but did not really enjoy the story.  Ernest invokes a very sparce, no nonsense way with words.  While I do not care for overly descriptive prose, I do prefer a little more detail.  I then read The Paris Wife in hopes that I would get a better understanding of ol' Ernie.  In that story, there were few, but telling details regarding Ernest in all his philandering glory.

I think the idea of the hard living, gypsy soul that Ernest possessed is actually the story that intrigues me most.  Living in Paris, sailing on the Pilar and catching giant sailfish and marlin, drinking and womanizing are the true story to me. 

Do you have a Hemingway story that you liked or disliked?  Let me know your Hemingway Experience.

"All things truly wicked starts from innocence."  xo

My Favorite Part of You...

Happy Birthday today to my brother, Steve.  It won't be necessary to say how old he is today-let's just say he is my younger brother-by 18 months.  I can clearly remember being a big sister to that curly haired, hyper little boy.  As a big sister, Steve, was like my own personal baby doll.  I watched over his every move and anticipated his every need.  He did not speak until he was 3, not because he couldn't, but because he didn't need to.  Steve wants milk, Steve is hungry, etc. etc. etc.   As his real live Chatty Cathy, I took care of everything.

Fast forward 50 years or so and you will find us hanging out any chance we get.  We have vacationed together for the past 13 years and we have no intention of stopping the fun anytime soon!

As a little side note, this week was also National Sibling Week.  My sister, Lisa joined me here for a quick visit, so I had the pleasure of vacationing with BOTH my siblings!  How often does that happen?  I feel sorry for 'onlies' who miss out on having a sibling.  There is nothing like close friends that just happen to be family. 

I've heard it said that you can't pick your family.  Guess, I just got lucky.

 Happy Birthday little brother.  xo

You will...

My buddy Matt is 100% Irish, so when his visit coincided with St. Paddy's, we headed down to Key West to celebrate his heritage.  Along with others Irishmen-true and faux, and one Norwegian  girl, we did our duty.

As usual the people watching was supreme with nutballs decked out in their finest Irish themed finery.  The revelry was probably unmatched this side of Ireland!  Matt even threw down an authentic Irish jig at one party and then on Tuesday (after a few lunch cocktails), got a large shamrock tattoo. Somehow, he blames me for this, but I am, as you know, innocent.  I just located, read the reviews, called and set up the appointment, and dragged him to the parlor.  I also conferred with the tattist on size, color and design.  I'm sure the artist thought my tipsy ass was a pain in his ass.  But, the tattoo is perfect!!

All my company has gone home and I have a few quiet days before my sister, Lisa joins us on Saturday.  Then look out Keys, there will be 2 Norwegian girls on the loose!

Have a good week and take time to smell the clover-I mean roses. xo

No Way No...

All sorts of crazygood reasons to celebrate this week.

 Last Friday, on March 13, all Detroiters in the know, acknowledged this as the date that is the numerical same as the area code associated with Detroit, 313.  Not sure exactly why this is of great note, but well, Detroit can give the nod to anything positive these days.  Coincidentally, it was also Friday the 13th.

Then, the very next day on the 14th of March, someone declared this National Pi Day.  Again, I'm a little gobsmacked as to why some nerd thought we should recognize this day nationally.  As a total math dunce, I chose to run out and buy an overpriced, but delicious apple crumb pie.  Whoo hoo-works for me!

And just when you thought all the hysteria was behind you..  On March 15, while I was blithely making my way thru the Marathon Seafood Festival,  the coolest thing evah.....I spot a real life mermaid.  Yes, there she was selling sea shells or some shit by the seashore!  OMG, turns out she loves a good photo op and was all too pleased to pose with me.  Dreams do come true people!

So anyway, now that I've survived this trifecta, or hat trick if you will of nuttiness, what do you think will happen tomorrow?  Yes, me and my merry band of revelers will make our way to Key West to be Irish. There will be the wearin' o' the green, and the singin' o' the songs, there may even be the drinkin' o' the whiskey, as we celebrate St. Paddy's Day.  Erin Go Braugh and all that.  God save me..

 Have a great week and watch out for mermaids, leprechauns and unicorns!  xoxo

Wrapped up...

Hey, who loves puppies more than anything in the world?  Yep, this girl!  When friends and German Shepard breeders, called and said that their new litter was ready for visitors, I was out the door FAST!  I grew up afraid of German Shepard's, but these little darlings posed no threat.  As I approached the wading pool they were in, I gave full respect to the mama and let her sniff me up and down.  She seemed to approve, so I started scooping up her sweet little furballs.  They were all a puppy(s) should be.  They were soft and cuddly, they smelled delicious, and had that marvelous 'puppy breath'.  At one point, I just climbed into the pool and let all 5 of them walk around and lay on me.  I can tell you this-it's the closest thing to heaven that there is for me.

Thank you Daryl and Tammy for sharing your perfect puppies with me.  I am happy to hear that they were all successfully adopted out to loving homes.  What's better than knowing that they will be loved and cared for?  Call me when you have another litter and I will show up again and smother them with love.

 

Have a wonderful week, y'all and take the time to snuggle something or someone you love.  It's the best! xo

Towards the Sun...

The irony of a beautiful ice sculpture is that it's too cold to enjoy it.  The weekend they carved them, the temps were at an all time, record breaking frigid.  There isn't enough hot chocolate and Baileys in the world when the wind chill is -20 degrees.  I love watching the carving live and am absolutely amazed at the talent these artists have-in the freezing cold.  I managed to see some of them the following weekend before the local dipshits smash or tip them over, and it was awesome.

By this time next week I will be enjoying the balmy weather in the Keys.  I am anxious to get away for an extended vacation-it's what we have been working for and dreaming of.  Lots of friends will be visiting and the usual Key's antics will take place.

 Here's my irony.  I have misgivings about, well, just not being here.  Home is where I feel the closest to Dane and somehow I feel as though I'm leaving him behind.  There is something so very final about this and I am choked with emotion once again.  The responsibility that kept me from a long holiday is the very thing I miss the most.  I'm still feeling without direction.  Totally rudderless. 

 Pray for me friends, that the sun provides the balm to soothe my broken heart.  Thank you all for listening and sharing my pain.  It helps so much.  I love you all.

And to Dane, you know where to find me Honey. xo