We are Family....

So, yesterday was, "National Siblings Day" and it's been awhile since I've used these corny 'holidays' as a blog prompt-but this one is just too easy.

A quote by Harper Lee from To Kill a Mockingbird expresses the sentiment 'old skool.'  "You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family, an' they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge 'em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don't."

When I hear someone say, "you can't pick your family, just your friends,"  I have always realized my great fortune in having a brother and a sister that are both to me.  Smugly, I can feel sorry for anyone not as lucky as myself.   As witnessed in the pic taken a few years ago at Sloppy Joe's, we always have a blast together.  (And maybe sometimes a little TOO much fun, but hey, we did the Papa H. proud!)  We confide, vent, commiserate, scheme and defend each other to the end.  I could go on and on about our bond, but I think you get the picture.

The bonus of having family that happens to be good friends too is a blessing and I would not trade Steve and Lisa and our relationship for anything!  We have a vacation together coming up and I look forward to the new experience while having 50+ years of memories and laughs thrown in.

Thanks Steve and Lisa for always being the best friends and family I could ever have.  I'd choose you every time-sho' nuff.  Now bring it in for a group hug!! xo

Heatwave...

Sunday Funday at the sandbar was in full swing yesterday with boats anchored up, jet skis buzzin' around, Frisbees being tossed and the usual beach tomfoolery.  We set up out camp and enjoyed the view that this gorgeous day afforded us.  Bathtub warm water with just enough breeze to keep us cool and keep the palm trees swaying.  Having friends down to join us only added to the perfection of warm water and icy cocktails.  I love the indulgence of a day where the main event is just sitting around and people watching-that is after gassing the boat, hauling beach chairs, setting up an umbrella, syncing the playlist, icing the cooler, packing snacks, mixing drinks,and applying sunscreen!

And with bellies full of pizza, we all slept like dogs.  Sunshine and fresh air are the perfect cure for insomnia.  And we might just do it all again tomorrow. 

Life is good!

More Life...

What day is it?  Is it 5'o clock?  Does it even matter? I'm a day late with my usual blog!

 With my case of 'Keys Disease', in full swing, most of the time I am totally confounded. Days and nights are as mixed up as a newborn baby with colic. I called my mother one Tuesday and asked her how church was.  Seriously now!

My brother made his annual pilgrimage and friends Don and Shannon were here to join us for St. Paddy's day in Key West.  It was a full on banger with me as the DD. And that's not MY cup
size either!  It's been pretty non-stop and some other friends left this morning.  On Saturday, our BFF's and their children arrive and another 9 days of nuttiness will ensue.  I love it, but man, this old chick is tired!!  Gonna catch up on my sleep for the next few days and get ready to rock.

Got some big (well, for me, anyways!) news to share in the next few weeks for you all.  I am very excited to tell you all!

Until then, y'all have a great week and I'll catch up with you all on Monday. xo

Draggin' the Line...

Another year of our annual 'Sloth, Debauchery, and Indulgence Tour is in the books!  My brother Steve left today and friends Don and Shannon leave tomorrow.  As a regular gig on our tour, we hit Key West for St. Paddy's Day.  Shannon and I posed for a pic with my Scandinavian Sister-by- another-Mother, Inga.  It's not my first rodeo with girlfriend Inga and we have posed many times before; just not on St. Paddy's Day.  Two Scands with an Irish Shannon-just 3 chicks celebratin' the day. 

I gotta give a hand clap for ol' Inga.  Day in and day out she dresses up in all her finery and transforms into whatever she feels like for the day/night.  The rest of us, mostly, wonder what that would be like. 

What or who would I be like if I could unabashedly choose a persona everyday?   Considering that it's barely all I can do to get it together everyday, that effort seems daunting.   Oh, I've had my moments...I wore hot pants and go-go boots ala'' Nancy Sinatra in the late 60's and loved every moment of it.  The seventies were just so-so with the clothes that were quite mainstream at the time.  The eighties brought me out in full on Madonna with the thrift store rage and rubber bracelets.  I was happy to glam it up a little in the 90's.  And today, I can get by with a Keys Tuxedo-cut offs, a tank top and flip flops.

Predictably, I  am comfortable with how I look-not to mention of how very lazy I am.  My effort is minimal but I have never felt more comfortable both physically and mentally.  I am what I have finally become. 

And it's okay, I'll just be the me I have evolved into, and if I need to feel glam, I'll just sidle up to Inga.   Girl has got it goin' on!

La Tortura...

I can't name too many Middle Eastern actors and actresses but I can tell you one thing, the native sellers at the local clothing market in Dubai have NO IDEA of ANY American stars.  While strolling about and shopping, one of the vendors called out, "Angelina Jolie!"  I swiveled my head around half expecting to see her tall, skinny, brunette, big lipped self walking by.  It was a stunning reality when I realized she was NOT there browsing and that he actually was pointing at ME.  Ummmm, I told him that 1) I have never slept with Brad. 2) I am twice her age and 3) I am easily 3 times her body weight.  Do the math...those numbers do not add up to anything close!   He did not believe me.  Really.  He did not believe me.  Soon all the Sook vendors were yelling, "Angelina Jolie!"  It must have been a long day at work or there was some type of hallucinogenic smoke in that hookah.

So I tried on this outfit in an effort to convince them that maybe I was Shakira. (Hey, that's an iota closer!)  I shook my big 'ol hips and snapped my fingers much to the amusement/embarrassment of my family and still-no Shaikra.  Angelina Jolie, all day.  Whatever...shows over, folks.  The entertainment portion of the night is over.  Move along-nothing to see here.

No real moral to this story-just pure silliness.  After a little sun and fresh air today, I'm off to bed.  Let's hope that I have sweet dreams of Brad.  Cuz, baby, I earned it!  xo

P.S. I did not purchase this outfit!

Green Light....

Guess who's comin' to  dinner?  Captain Luis! Luis is our trusted and favorite charter captain and very good friend.  Providing the fresh yellowjack and mutton snapper as well as a luscious bottle of Caymus, I threw down fish tacos with my famous (and only!) dessert-hot brownie sundaes.  Ahhhh, the taste of fish that was swimming just a few hours ago.  I'm happy to be back settling into Keys life.  Late mornings and early happy hours. Reconnecting and catching up with friends that we see only a few times a year.  Sleeping with the door wall wide open, letting the waves lull me to sleep.  Still being amazed at seeing giant iguanas-and hoping they don't find their way thru that open door wall!  Driving over bridges and seeing 6 shades of blue gracing the ocean-with the occasional dolphin jumping.  The smell of mangrove gas that smells like, well, gas-but also vacation to me.  Enjoying the bright colors of the flora in full bloom.  Getting calm with everybody driving so slow-and for a Detroit driver this is hard, and has me chomping at the bit.  But I'm working on that...We've been enduring a cold snap-75 degrees but don't call me a 'Whaaaaaaaaaambulance' just yet, it's warming up in a few days!  Realizing that I am blessed.  Yes, not to be taken for granted, the things that I love are gifts and I feel lucky and blessed to have them and have Randy and special people to share them with.   Sunshine, salt air, good food and good friends and the realization that life, for all it's shit, is good and pure if you just stop, take a deep a breath and smell the bougainvillea.
Peace and love to you all. xoxo

Here's a Quarter...(call someone who care's)

Hi friends!  It's been a long time since dear friends Kara and Vivi were featured as my 'blogstars.'  Vivienne, who is a beautiful and happy child seems to always get her 'Angry Bird' or some such face when she sees a camera!  Thank God she's too young to be a selfie poser...

Speaking of endless selfies and other invasive species, (day to day minutia, political rants, etc.) the TMI we are exposed to is crazy.  It's amazing to me how self important we as a society have become.  We cannot just hold an opinion anymore-everybody must know exactly how we feel about EVERYTHING!  Oversharing and self promotion is crazy rampant.  Are we truly living our own 'reality show?'  And has social media fostered this condition as we are free to share endless pics? (all right, I love the great photography in SOME of those shared!)  Does hiding behind a key board free us up to even more opinions that would not otherwise be so insisted on?

In the real world case of TMI, I recently had a few zingers.  While checking out at a store recently, the cashier leaned forward and said conspiratorially, 'I'm so nervous-today I'm going in for my first ever bikini wax!  I've trimmed back things as much as possible so maybe it won't hurt as much.'  Let that sink in a moment....I've never even seen this girl before!  Does my face or my purchases elicit such a confidence?  Wax on, wax off already.  Sheesh...

A gym acquaintance confided in my that he was unable to do some exercises due to a raging case of hemorrhoids.  Really.  Well good for you for all the self-love.  Gotta watch that, I guess.  And again, why should I be privy to this very personal info?

And while sweating in out at a Doctor's appointment, the specialist that was making sure I didn't have a blistering case of something, looked me in the eye and said, " I have been barely able to go on since my wife died."  Then with me in my paper gown, he leaned over and hugged me while bursting into tears.  I had the very unique experience of comforting him while STILL worrying if I had a fatal case of Hoogala Schmoogala. (I didn't).  I guess Doc took my concerned facial expression as a sign I was concerned about HIM!   What the unholy hell?

So as I shake my head over these little oversharing incidents, I beg you to look at my face in the pic and tell me if you see anything that shows an openness to such behavior.  A look in my eyes, a turn of the cheek?

Seriously, I want to know!!   P.S. Please pray for me as we load the truck with the stuff for vacation along with Mickey and Hazel and head down to the Keys.  The hillbillies take the road again and who knows what adventure this trip will bring!  (I'll try not to overshare!)