Whiskey in the Jar...

Happy St. Paddy's Day!  Doesn't Lola look cute sporting her Irish hat?  She wore it for a moment and I was much more amused than she was with her fashion statement.  The hat brings out her big, green eyes, at least, saving her from total humiliation.  As an Asian leopard, she doesn't see the point of all of this St. Paddy shenanigans.  But she does look really cute-don't you think?

 Our celebration this year included some Michigan friends down for a visit. Cocktails, sunset, dinner and a cool magic act were on the agenda for a wonderful Keys evening.  No green beer, no corn beef and cabbage, no Irish music, and definitely no leprechauns!  I barely even wore green.  And that's just the way I like it.

I wonder if there were any Norwegians that did something worthy of a day I could celebrate?  Gotta look into that possibility and what a celebratory day could entail.  Hopefully there could be a big, Nordic god or goddess that would be more palatable than any old leprechaun-which totally give me the creeps.  Or at the very least a Viking mascot-which could necessitate a big hat with horns.  That could be cool.  I'm pretty sure Erik the Red did something as worthy as driving out all the snakes ...We could eat salmon, drink black coffee, and view the night sky hoping for a natural light show.  Sounds like wayyyy more my speed!

Anyhoo..  Hope your week goes as smoothly as a sip of Irish whiskey, with the wind at your back and the sun in your face, with the luck of a four leaf clover, and all that nonsense!  xoxo

Blue Heaven...

In an old, two story, funky looking house in Key Heaven my favorite restaurant can be found.  Located off the main strip in an area known as Bahama Village, it is the epitome of Keys style.  You have to look closely for the signage and the big blue arched gate that marks the entrance. 

There is both indoor as well as outdoor dining areas and bar space but I always prefer the outdoor arena. Tropical plants and flowers are left mostly in their natural state with colorful hibiscus and bougainvillea everywhere.  The open air is 'roofed' by multicolored tarps strung between the trees.  It's imperative that you watch your step so you don't trip on the roots of giant banyan trees in the middle of the 'dining room'.  There is an area that once was a boxing ring that old Ernest himself used to come and spar.   Wild chickens roam around on the ground and nest in the trees accepting any food offering you might have for them.  They co-exist peaceably with numerous cats lounging about as well.

There is most usually a wait for a table.  The outdoor bar is fun to cozy up to and watch this crazy dining experience play out.  If that doesn't suit you, there is a gift store hocking the usual souvenir's available to poke thru.  And randomly, a ping pong table sits off to the side allowing for gamesmanship if you are so inclined.

I love the food.  It's a cool blend of local fresh fare with a Bahamian twist.  I find myself ordering the exact same thing every time I go there and it never disappoints.  Yellowtail snapper with a citrus sauce, beans and rice, cornbread and plantains is the plate I can never turn down.  Playboy magazine rated this very dinner as a top ten favorite once.  You know I agree!

Do you have a favorite eatery?  I'd love to hear about it.  xo

Believer...

What day is it anyway???

 Tuesday?  Omigosh, I forgot to post!  Now that doesn't happen very often.  After arriving in the Keys on Saturday night, everything seems like a blur.  A very warm blur.  With long, sultry days with temps hovering at 80, it's very easy to lose track of time-and days.   And now, on Tuesday night at 8:58, all this fresh air and sun has me completely whipped.  When did I become such a wimp?

To add to the surreal situation, we put Warren out to sea today.  A small group of us gathered and remembered him in the place he loved to visit.  I read the post that I wrote shortly after we lost him with background music of some of his favorite songs.  My brother did the final honors and feel he is resting where he belongs-perpetually happy and at peace.  R.I.P. dear friend. xo

So, Dolls, on this happy note, with a belly full of mahi mahi and vodka, I am calling a 'blog pass' this for this week.  Kinda like a blog vaycay.  A blogstop.  A postacation.  We are heading to Key West today for more hi jinks, tomfoolery, and shenanigans.  Also, Mark (Walking Man) has me on some mission in the horticultural arena.  Seems that there is some interest in a certain yellow flower that happens to thrive in the tropical foliage at mile marker 0.  I promise to keep an eye out, Bud.

See you all next week, when hopefully I'll have my head together. 

Or not.... xoxo

Really Bad MF...

As mother nature decided once again to shake up her snow globe, Jim, Mark and I hooked up at Timmy Ho's for coffee and convo.  Kismet it was that allowed the three of us to be able to punch a small hole in our lives and make time to get together.

 I arrived first and watched Mark come thru the door all snow covered and looking like an off duty Santa Claus.  We had our traditional-albeit wet-hug.  Soon after, Jim strolled in and graced us with his gorgeous smile.  He tolerates me throwing myself at him for a squeeze.

After the usual weather observations, we got down to the business of catching up with each others lives.  Mark is fighting chronic pain and the frustration of Detroit politics, as they directly affect him.  He mostly is content with observing life around him while enduring some painful losses of friends and family, and one special little doggy. 

Jim is on his own new life adventure and he has never looked better.  As things in his life have ironed out, his eyes are bright and he is able to see the humor and irony, better than ever.  Tales of his teaching inmates petrify me and I can't wait to see him safely retired.  But his social life stories are hilarious.

So what does a world weary poet, a buff prison instructor, and an aging party girl have in common?  Nothing and everything!  We wrangled an innocent bystander to snap our pic and I was prompted to make my usual 'rose between two thorns' observation.

Three hours passed like minutes.  Till we meet again my friends, I'll think of you often and with a smile.  xoxo

Better in Stereo...

Hello Darlings! What a week it has been!  I love to use "holiday's" as post prompts and this week is a real lulu.

We celebrated Valentines Day on Friday and that is so overdone and I've posted on it numerous times-so I'm taking a pass.  That day always makes me think of a special little valentine named Michelle, who absolutely ABHORRED said holiday.  She would, however, eat the chocolate. xoxo

Presidents Day is also today.  My non political ass has no right to even venture a comment in that arena.  You are lucky to be spared my incredible ignorance.

It's also a day for a little known 'holiday' called National Sisterhood Day.  Okay-now, here's one I can get behind!  On Friday night, I sat at my sister's restaurant and watched in amazement as 180 people were greeted, seated, and served drinks and luscious dinners.  The place was jumpin' and was running as smooth as a chocolate martini.  This totally ties in with National Entrepreneur Day which is exactly what my sister is.  In addition to the crowd that was served, Lisa had to turn away 200+ diners due to such a full house!  She has grown and built her restaurant into a legend, and of this I am very proud. While I love working with people (sometimes!), I could never handle the dollars and cents of the business like she can.  Putting together her creative menu would totally boggle me and I fear my best offerings would be in the libation department.  All hail the chocolate martini!

And last but not least, it's also National Random Acts of Kindness Day.  Now this gives me cause for a pause.  Yes, I do little things...I give out food and money to people I see living on the street, and I try to smile when someone cuts in front of me at Kroger.  I hold doors open for elderly people.  I feed a stray kitty and even built it a little house to get out of the cold. I keep my son in M&M's.  But, really?  That's it?  My husband will anonymously pick up tabs for some family he sees out to eat.  My brother in law will randomly tip a waiter or cab driver in Mexico, enough money to make a real difference in their lives.  But me?  I can't remember when I've done something 'randomly'.  This I intend to work on.

Have a great week.  Stay in love.  Be grateful for our country.  Call a sibling.  Do something kind-randomly.

 And if all else fails-eat some chocolate!  xoxo

Look at You...

Last Wednesday, February 05, marked my anniversary.  Or rather my 'bloggiversary'.  Happy 6th to me!

On Sunday, I printed out the last 3 years of posts and carefully put them in binders.  I have 6 books that hold all my essays.  All 314 of 'em.  I blew through 2 colored ink cartridges in the process!

 Yep, for  6 years, once a week without fail, I have posted something that was on my mind.  It's among the longest relationships I have ever managed to sustain.  And in many ways, the most fulfilling.  Blogging has been an adventure in self discovery.  There is something very telling in the things we write about.  From a glamorous and trivial beginning, I like to think I have grown in both content and punctuation.  Thank God, I learned to use paragraphs, (Mark!) It has been very cathartic and has helped me deal with some sad losses.  At times, it has strained my creativity and my imagination.  But I love it.

I have made some wonderful friends.  Mark, J.R. and Michelle and Erik are friends that have encouraged and supported me and let me into their 'writers club'.  I cherish the times we actually get together for conversation and coffee/and or drinks-which is not nearly often enough.  Others, especially Charles, have been steady with their words of support.   Some friends never comment, but call or text me their thoughts on what I have written.  It has opened me up to so many new perspectives and opinions that I wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise, creating new dialogues.  If my stats page is correct, I have readers around the world.  What an incredible thing to consider!

So as I hit 'publish' for the 315th. time, I want to thank you all.  It means more to me than you can ever know.   xo

Riptide...

He wasn't the hottest guy.  He didn't have the greatest body or the best smile.  But when Phillip Seymour Hoffman was on the screen, I couldn't take my eyes off of him.  I have seen most of the movies he has acted in and was completely convinced of his character every single time.  Be it a priest, a gay porn star ,or a backwoods redneck-he nailed it perfectly and most times stole the scene from the leading character.  I loved his New York world weary, and very honest personality.

January 27-February 02 is Drug Awareness Week and I find it a horrible irony that Phillip's death was on the very last day of that week.

I have been learning about something called Harm Reduction in regards to addiction.  It has been used in drug programs for years in Canada, Europe and Australia.  From what I understand, it's a more realistic approach that the typical all-or-nothing method.  The all or nothing mentality doesn't work for most people and seems to be a set up for failure and that brings the very consequences that caused the relapse in the first place.  And with a very large chance of relapse, it seems clear that maybe a different method should be investigated.  It's the proverbial vicious circle.

  People with allergies have access to an epi-pen in case of emergency.  People with diabetes can control it (to some degree) with insulin.  There are medications available for most chronic diseases that can minimize the risks associated with the condition.  With heroin, an opiate agonist drug must be used to counteract the overdose.  I realize the controversy this will generate, but possibly the legalization of drugs.  With regulation, comes safety.

I know this is not the usual fluff that troubles my world, but I just wanted to give you all food for thought as I feel the loss of one of the great actors of our time.  It will take much more education, compassion, understanding and realistic thinking to possibly make a difference for this situation.

So for today, R.I.P. Phillip Seymour Hoffman.