I am in Utica! In the heart of Upstate New Yotk!

Snow! Everywhere! Big time!

Cold! It was 13 degrees when I got off the plane in Syracuse at 12:30 this morning.

All of a sudden, Key West at 60 degrees is burning hot in comparison.

After waiting for my luggage and a 50 mile drive to Utica, I did not get to bed till close to 3.

Pure abuse!

I must admit that the snow is beautiful. White all over. But if I had my druthers, I prefer Key West and no snow ever.

I flew at night. Cheapest tickets. And still over $800! Anything else was $1,000 plus to over $2,000. Yesterday must have still been a holiday return time for travelers.

One stop. A good deal. Normally three. The stop was Charlotte.

I arrived in Charlotte at 10 in the evening. I assumed the airport would be dead. It was not. The whole world was traveling! People all over the place. I was shocked.

Many tans. People returning home. It was the hustle and bustle of a holiday crowd. People alive and happy.

Again I ask, where is the recession? We all know it exits. Are we developing into a have and have not society? I don’t know.

My goals today are twofold. Avoid the cold. And spend the day with my 95 year old father.

Enjoy your day!

This is Key West’s cold time! It will be cold all week!

Low 60s by day. Mid 50s by night.

One dresses for the weather. As many clothes as possible. I noticed last night that the tourists were even piling it on. They were doing Duval in the winter jackets/coats they wore on the trip down.

I spent sunday morning in bed. Reading the sunday papers and watching the TV talk shows.

I was over to Don’s Place just after 1. Long pants and a leather jacket.

The crowd at Don’s was thin. Had to be the weather. Those there were dressed warmly.

Cheryl and Roger were sitting at the outside bar enjoying themselves. The cold did not seem to be affecting them.

I did not stay long. Sitting outside in 60 degree weather did nothing for me.

It was over to Lisa’s.

Donna was there.

Donna’s jewelry is featured in Lisa’s internet department store Via Key West. They were going over details and Donna had brought some new jewelry to be offered for sale.

We talked about the wedding from the day before. I told Donna how nice it was. It was. I said Stacey did not look pregnant. Donna said oh she was. Five and a half months. The fluff of the dress hid it.

Robert was not home. He had gone to the movies with a friend. Robert and his friend are only 5 years old. The friend’s mother was with them. A first for Robert!

Ally was with a friend, also. A girl friend her age. 4. They were experiencing a play day together. Lisa had done up their faces with a bit of make up. A little eye shadow and some cheek stuff. They were all excited! Women are the same regardless of age.

I started my evening at the Chart Room. Expected to see Marty. No Marty. It has been almost 2 weeks since I have seen him and about a week he has been back. His wife Donna is here with him for a few days. Even some of the natives at the Chart Room were concerned they had not recently seen Marty.

Marty, where are you?

Che was standing at his usual spot at the end of the bar. Michael bartending.

The three of us ended up having a lengthy gin discussion. For all his years of inbibing, Che was unfamiliar with gin. Michael and I sought to educate him. Che ended up with 2 shots of gin in front of him. Michael’s favorite Bombay Saphinre and my favorite, Beefeaters.

And they were refilled.

Che would sip from one, then the other. And back and forth. He was sampling taste and bouquet. Or so he said.

I left Che still sampling the gins and rendering his expert opinion. One swig after another.

La Trattoria was packed. I thought business would be considerably down since it was Sunday night. No way. Tourists are still jamming the town. Kathy was sweet enough to seat me at the bar after only a short wait. Tables had a one hour wait.

This is one of the best Christmas weeks Key West has had in years. Tourists by the tons.

Where is the recession?

The crowds do not make sense to me. A recovery or a last hurrah?

I have a bad few days ahead of me weather wise. I leave for Upstate New York today. Will return to Key West thursday. Zero tempeatures where I am going. If you think I have been complaining about the cold here the past few weeeks, wait till you read tomorrow’s blog and the 0 degree temperatures!

Enjoy your day!

I went to a wedding yesterday!

Stacey and Rob’s wedding!

The ceremony took place on the beach behind Salute’s. At 2 pm. The sun was shinning. The sky blue. The wind blowing big time off the ocean. Temperature 63 degrees.

A beautiful setting. But cold!

I dressed for the occasion and the weather. Long pants, shirt, sweater and a leather jacket. The jacket was zippered up.

Most of the other guests were similarly dressed. Except for the women. Something about women at a wedding. They always dress the same. No stockings, dresses with bossoms bursting forth and no jacket or sweater. They have to look good!

There were some tourists nearby sunbathing on the beach. In minimal type bathing suits. It’s the blood thickness thing again.

An interesting wedding.

I was invited because of Donna. Mother of the bride. I was her escort.

Donna is part of Donna and Terri. Terri the brilliant star of Finian’s Rainbow on Broadway. Terri had to remain in New York and work.

Donna was dressed for the weather, not the occasion. A pant’s suit. No fool is she!

Stacey and Rob have lived together for several years. One has 2 girls from a previous marriage. The other one daughter from a previous marriage. Together they made one daughter, a 2 year old. And Stacey the bride is with child again!

They decided it was time to make the relationship official. So marriage it was.

Both were extremely happy and joking. Stacey looked lovely. Had to be cold, however. She had a short skirted white dress on. Off the shoulder. Rob was wearing a white linen suit.

They used self created vows. Their teen age daughters wrote them. One daughter stood behind Stacey and another behind Rob whispering the vows to them during the ceremony. The vows were a bit long, but heart warming. The girls understood.

The wedding reception took place at the outside portion of Salute’s afterwards. Stacey is the general manager of Salute’s.

Good food, good booze. Great people.

I got to sit with the family. Donna’s 3 sons and 2 daughters in law. And Donna. One of Donna’s sons has a doctorate in organic chemistry and is into research. Another is a musician. The third a writer. All somewhat successful. All noticably respectful to their mother.

We talked of many things. One was the economy.

One of the sons is in his early 30s. He told me how strange it was. 10 years ago he was out of school and working in New York City. Making more money than he knew he even was worth. Now things are tough. He plays with a band. They take whatever gig they can get. Whether $200 or $2,000 a night. It was like the mighty have fallen. Would it ever get better again was his concern.

Donna of course talked about Terri. She refers to Terri constantly as her wife. Which she is.

Donna shared some bad news. Finian’s Rainbow is closing. Sometime soon. Terri had received an official notice. The show will have run 3 months.

How sad!

Terri is looking for another show or some work in New York. Her credits are big from the recent publicity she has received. Donna says if no work pops up, they will return to Key West. They still have their apartment here and Terri can return to the Keys Piano Bar to sing.

As the world turns. Success can be fleeting. I hope it is not for Terri.

I could say that yesterday was a Key West day. It was not. On reflection it was a day representing today’s society. A marriage with people already living together and already having children, an extended family, a pregnant woman getting married and a gay couple married.

This is today. Values have changed.

I lived today yesterday.

Enjoy your day.

Yesterday was day one of the new year! A good day!

The weather was fantastic yesterday morning. Sun shinning. Sky and water blue. Absolutely no breeze. Everything quiet and motionless.

Then came the afternoon!

A rainstorm. Big!

Then all of a sudden, a cold front. The temperature dropped around 15 degrees just like that. From mid 70s to 60! And wind. A cold biting wind coming off the gulf.

The temperature last night was 59. The high today is projected at 63.

Ho ho weather!

I put the quilt back on the bed last night and turned on the heat.

My day yesterday started at Walgreen’s. They had screwed up my prescription. Gave me an old one. A good thing I am a bit anal and generally check things before I use them.

Then to Lisa’s.

During the drive over, I had the windows of the car open. That is how good the weather was.

Lisa had a migrane.

Robert and Ally were playing. Both gave me a Hello Poppa! and kiss.

Corey and I chatted.

I had a selfish reason for visiting yesterday. I had purchased the day before a new cell phone. An AT&T i phone. I could not work it. I read the instructions. I went on the internet and tried to follow the instructions there.

All to no avail.

It is a generational thing. As smart as I think I am and as well educated as I am, I am not mechanically inclined.

All I wanted to learn was how to enter telephone numbers into the phone. I could not do it.

Corey understands these things. In minutes he had it fugured out. Showed me. I learned. Placed 3 numbers in on my own.

Then I left.

I should have stayed longer. I soon discovered that even though I could enter new numbers, I did not know not what to press to initiate a call using those numbers. Even worse, I did not know how simply to make a telephone call directly by just entering the phone number. I could not bring up the numbers page.

Pure frustration!

About 10 o’clock last night, I figured out the direct dial page. I found it! Repeated the process and found it again! Only took 2 days!

I will be visiting Corey again today.

I do feel stupid. However I accepted a long time ago that my mechaincal talents were lacking. As long as there are younger bright people like Corey around, I shall survive!

The Chart Room last night. My first stop. The wind carried me in.

I was thrilled to see Joe and Jean Thornton. They have been back about a week. A granddaughter with them.

Jean and I talked quite a while. Such a nice person.

I met Myrla and Tom for the first time. They are friends of Joe and Jean.

Interesting people. They have found new lives in Key West.

Originally from Arizona, they “retired” and moved here 2 years ago. Tom was into air conditioning in Arizona. In Key West, he is a boat captain and dives for treasure. He is affiliated with the Mel Fisher group.

Tom was wearing a gold chain with a gold coin hanging from the chain. An emerald was embodied in the coin. I asked if he had found the piece diving. No, he said. Only the emerald.

What a great new life he has discovered for himself here in Key West!

Myrla told me they live on White Street. They enjoy sitting on their front porch and watching the world go by.

I was hungry. Day 23 of the diet. I had plateaued for several days at 19 pounds lost. Frustration was building in me. Also all of a sudden I desired a meal. Real food. I needed to eat!

I went to La Trattoria. The place was packed. Erin told me their were 6 people ahead of me waiting for a seat at the bar. So La Trat was not for me last night.

I figured it would be difficult to get an immediate seat any where. The town was still packed for the holiday.

Where to go? I decided to go to Outbacks. I rarely go. It is not part of old town Key West. It is located in new town in the Sears Shopping Center.

Tourists rarely go to Outbacks. Only locals. So I figured I could get a seat.

I did. There were several open at the bar.

What a meal! Yes, I cheated but still basically stayed within my diet. The diet permits one meal a day of 500 calories. Big deal! If beef, 5 ounces is permitted. There was a 6 ounce sirloin on the menu. Came with a sweet baked potato and steamed vegetables.

I enjoyed! Ate all the steak. Took the butter off the sweet potato and ate it all. Should not have, but it was so good. And had 2 slices of zucchini and a small piece of broccoli.

I enjoyed every morsel! Ate slow and relished it all!

There was a gentleman sitting next to me at the bar. When I finished, he commented that I looked like I enjoyed my meal. I did!

Clem was at Outbacks having dinner at the bar also. I have known Clem for over 15 years. I first met him when he waitered at Salute’s. More recently he has been at the Yacht Club so I see him frequently. The Club was closed last night so he was out enjoying himself.

I stayed at the bar a while enjoying the Florida/Cincinnati bowl game.

Then home to bed. Fixed the quilt on the bed. Turned on the heat. And slept the night away.

Today is wedding day. Donna’s daughter is getting married. I am escorting the mother of the bride to the wedding. It is at 2 pm on the beach. On the Atlantic. The temperature at best will be 63. The cold wind off the ocean 35-45 miles per hour.

I was concerned the other day that I would be too warm wearing long pants and a blazer. Now it is going to be long pants, a sweater and a leather jacket.

Enjoy your day!

Happy New Year!

A new year. A new beginning. The best to eveyone.

Yesterday was a quiet one for me. Intentionally.

I spent a couple of hours running errands during the day.

I needed a new cell phone. Apparently cellphones have a short life. The one I had was 3 years old. All of a sudden I had no screen, was not receiving all my messages, etc.

AT&T said it could not be fixed. So I bought a new one. Cannot live without a cellphone!

The represenative told me he could transfer all my phone numbers from the old phone to the new. Good luck! The process did not work for me. Two people spent 45 minutes trying to do it to no avail. Whatever had screwed up my old phone, had wiped out the numbers.

So I am starting fresh. I know no one’s telephone number. Help me! E mail your home and cell numbers so I may load my new phone.

I spent a part of the afternoon at Lisa’s. Both Robert and Ally each had a friend visiting to play from school. Boys are boys. The girls were cute. Ally was in all her glory.

I did a quiet New Years last night. I stayed home. Alone. There were places I could have gone, people I could have been with. My mood however was to stay in. I made a light dinner and was in bed by 9. Fell asleep. Woke at 11. Figured I would stay awake till Midnight and watch the ball fall on Times Square. No way. The next time I woke it was 5 am.

The weather was spectacular yesterday. Close to 80.

This morning is good, also. Sun is up. No clouds. And no breeeze! Not even a slight one. Everything is still. Motionless. Even the water.

Enjoy this first day of the new year. May God bless you and yours during the entire year.

The last day of the year!

A time for thought.

Good year? Bad year? Whatever. May 2010 be better!

Golf yesterday.

I dressed for the cold. Long pants, tee shirt, sweat shirt and jacket. I figured I could always peel down if it got to 73 as projected.

It got to 77! I was down to the tee shirt on the back nine.

Play was slow. Tourists playing. Took us 5 hours.

We played a scramble.Tom, Yankee Jack and me on one team. Don, David and his son on another. My team lost. We were fighting for pars. Never birdies. The ball was never close to the hole. The putts did not drop.

Such is golf! But it was fun! These are good guys!

Last night was Jackie Grimm time. Lucky me!

She had asked me a few days before to join her last night at the Key West Pops Concert at St. Paul’s Church.

Jackie is nice people. I first met her and her husband Roland about 10 years ago when I bought my home in Key West. I had tremendous respect for Roland. Besides being a nice guy, he was the most brilliant economic mind I had ever met. He knew money!

Roland passed on a bit more than a year ago. Jackie has been living in their New Mexico home since. Until two weeks ago when she returned to Key West.

I drove over to Riviera Drive to pick up Jackie. She is renting for a while.

Jackie had told me her new home had a putting green. Did it! The whole front lawn is a putting green. With several holes!

We should have a putting tournament there next week.

Jackie and I started the evening at the Chart Room. Time for one drink. The place was mobbed. Mostly tourists. Captain Peter and Che there. The Hartford couple was in.

We walked over to St. Paul’s Church for the Pops Concert. St. Paul’s is a lovely large old church right on Duval. Right in the center of all kinds of activity. It is an integral part of historical old town as that portion of Key West is known.

St. Paul’s Episcopalian pastor has always made the Church available for public events. Especially those of a musical nature. Monday through Friday each week there is an organist playing Broadway tunes. Locals and tourists alike wander in to sit with God and listen to the best his children have produced.

The Church was a mob scene. I have never seen so many people inside. Standing room only!

I grabbed Jackie by the hand and maneuvered through the crowd. Luck was with us! I found two empty seats in the front row on the right side. We were in business!

The band was on the altar. Singers and other performers also.

The concert was entitiled Home for the Holidays. An appropriate title. Featured performers included Pops alumni who had now grown and had moved on to college and New York musical careers. The kids, now adults, were home for the holidays. And Key West was made privy to their accomplished talents.

What a night! What a setting! What music! What talent!

I have no plans for this evening. I may stay home. Probably will. Might have dinner earlier with Lisa and the family. We shall see.

Enjoy this the last day of 2009! And whatever you do tonight, do it carefully!

Cold yesterday! High 64!

Cold this morning at 5 am! 62!

A warm day ahead. Going to be 73.

Long pants, sweater and leather jacket yesterday.

The tourists amaze me. Some are bundled. Some only in shorts and tee shirts. Brave souls! I care not how thin their blood may be, cold is cold!

I read the papers and sipped coffee at the Coffee House. Jam packed again. I am being told by the seasoned locals that this is the best Xmas week ever. I believe it.

Then to Publix. I needed a few things. Basics like paper towels and eggs.

The afternoon was spent absorbed in paper work.

The Chart Room last night. People! In and out! A good crowd!

Mark bartending. Sheila at the bar. Sheila drives a Conch train by day. She told me she had worked 6 straight days. Tourists big time!

Che there also. Holding court at the end of the bar. One of the last Chart Room regualrs. The rest have long left this world.

And Ted Kane. Also known as Edward Kane. The court clerk from Madison County, New York. Wearing a Syracuse sweat shirt! Good man!

Syracuse played last night. At Seton Hall. The game was not televised in Key West. Last I could figure the game was tied. Hope Syracuse won. I forgot to check before I started the blog.

It’s a little difficult to enjoy the town when there are so many tourists. I walked over to Hot Tin Roof expecting a bit of quiet while I had dinner. Good luck! It was a zoo!

Valerie bartending. She told me her husband Clayton had officially opened their internet tee shirt store Dog Day Tees. Had a few sales. Needed to optimize.

General Manager John was his usual congenial self. However very busy. The customers were coming in in droves.

I quickly consumed a small piece of chicken and some greens. Still on the diet. Should hit 20 pounds in the next couple of days.

And then I left! I could not take the hustle and bustle.

Stopped at Lisa’s on the way home. Lisa in bed working on her lap top. Corey upstairs on his. The grandkids in bed with their mother.

Robert was falling asleep. Ally was wired as usual. Wide awake.

Ally was into me last night. Some times she is not. She will ignore me.

Last night it was I love you Poppa! Kisses and hugs! And don’t leave!

A good Ally night!

Golf this morning. Long pants, a sweatshirt and outer jacket. I will peel as the day progresses.

Enjoy your day!

I walked big time yesterday morning.

Duval Street was mobbed. People everywhere. Happy and festive.

The walking is part of my good health kick. This is day 61 of no alcohol and cigarettes. It is also day 19 of my diet. 18 pounds so far.

What a good boy am I!

The weather was minimally ok yesterday. High around 70. But last night it was crazy! Dropped to 58!

I turned on the heat. Why fight it!

Today’s high will be somewhere in the mid 60s.

When it is cold cold up north, it is cold in Key West. Buffalo to Albany is experiencing low single digit temperatures. There has been a 20-30 mile per hour wind from the north hitting the keys since yesterday morning.

So suffer we must!

It will be cold through Monday, except for Wednesday when a high of 73 is projected.

The walk ended at the Coffee House on Duval. The papers and a bottle of water.

Last night was Kerry McNally evening. We had met a few days earlier at the Hot Tin Roof. He is associated with the CBS Minneapolis television affiliate. He is in Key West producing a documentary. He had invited me to join him for dinner Monday evening.

We met as agreed at the Chart Room.

Michael bartending. Michael is a Marine vet. So too is Kerry. There was a natural bond from the first moment.

The Chart Room was jumping. Captain Peter was there when I arrived. I had not seen him for a while. He had to leave early. The big boat was coming in and he was needed at the dock to handle the ropes and steady the boat. The winds were making the water a bit rough.

I could tell the wind was moving the water in the afternoon. There were white caps in front of my home. Unusual.

Two guys came into the Chart Room from Texas. Kerry and Michael engaged them in a spirited conversation.

Where to eat? Kerry suggested Blue Heaven. I said are you crazy. Blue Heaven is outside. It is cold! I was wearing jeans, a sweater and a leather jacket. Even thusly dressed, I would freeze my ass off.

No way, I said. Michael had overheard the conversation and concurred.

Turns out Kerry had met a young lady. Jen. She had suggested Blue Heaven.

Kerry understood me, however. Where do we eat? Inside, I said. La Trattoria. Telephone Jen and tell her to meet us there.

I telephoned Beecha for 3 seats at the bar at La Trattoria. She said it was the worst night of the year. She was already overbooked through out the restaurant. However she and Kathy would take care of me.

The bar at La Trattoria was packed. In fact, the whole place was. People standing all over.

We had to wait a bit. Not bad. But there were 3 seats for us in due course.

Jen arrived. A nice girl. Late 30s. Thin. Dirty blond. Has been in and out of Key West for years. Has lived here off and on. She has been back since October and may be staying this time.

Jen works at the Key West Island Book Store on Fleming. The store sells used books. Every time she returns, she is rehired.

She also works part time as a yoga instructor. Hot yoga. Apparently there is a difference. She says the hot tends to tire her out more.

We had a good dinner and good conversation. Kerry has completed most of the work for his documentary. He is turned on by Key West. No question. He came, he saw and was conquered! His cry is to return, rent or buy, perhaps work from here.

Kerry and I have beome friends. One of those situations where two people meet and are instantaneous bonded. I am sure we will keep in touch.

I left Kerry and Jen at the bar. It was just after 9. I decided to stop at Lisa’s on the way home. All the lights were out at her house when I arrived. So I drove by and went directly home.

Lisa is working her Key West internet department store Via Key West big time, even though Christmas gift giving has passed. Like the big stores, she is having post Christmas sales. She is pushing the Key West Lou tee shirt. Her biggest seller to date! She is attempting to sell even more!

The Key West Lou tee shirt is on sale for $22, except for the xxx large size. A good deal! Buy one, buy two, buy more! I love seeing people wearing them!www.viakeywest.com/T_shirt_p/viat100a.htm.

Long pants today. Leather jacket, also. Haircut this morning. Lori time!

Enjoy your day!

A quiet day yesterday. As Sunday should be. Perhaps a little too quiet.

I had a sense early in the morning that I might be doing a hang around the house day. So I hopped in the car and drove to the gas station at the entrance to Key Haven to buy the Sunday papers. The Key West Citizen and New York Times.

I read the newspapers on and off all morning and into the afternoon.

The weather turned out to be not so cool. And not so warm. Just right. Around the mid 70s.

I spent most of the day sitting outside on the deck overlooking the ocean while reading. And occasionally slept a bit.

Donna telephoned. She will be returning to Key West Friday evening. I may have to pick her up at the airport. Her daughter’s wedding is Saturday. On the beach. I am escorting the mother of the bride.

Watched TV last night.

It did turn out to be a lazy stay at home Sunday. Good occasionally for mind and body.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

Welcome to frosty Key West!

Chilly. Last night and this morning. High 60s to low 70s. That is cold for Key West! Long pants, sweater and jacket weather.

It’s all in the blood. We who live here all year have had the heat thin out our blood. Those from the north visiting have thick blood to keep them warm. Ergo the tourists walk around in shorts and tee shirts and enjoy the beaches. We locals complain and dress warm.

I was at the Coffee House on Duval reading the papers and sipping coffee when I ran into Gail. Gail is a Key Wester for many years. A nice lady. She is tango crazy. Dances to it all the time. Even when the music may not be tango music. She told me she is off to Miami for New Years Eve where she will tango the evening away. Enjoy, Gail!

The Chart Room was a bit busy last night. Gary and Tecia were there. My friends from Oswego, New York. I had been missing them all week.

We had a couple of drinks. They park their RV at the Fort Zachrey Taylor State Beach where they also work. They care for the beach. Minimal work in a great atmosphere! Gary was telling me last night that one of his responibilities is to be sure that all women are covered top side. When not, it is his responibility to go over and politely ask them to put their tops on. A good job!

Then it was to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner. The meal I could not get the night before.

The bar was full, except for one seat at the end. A good seat. I could clearly see everyone else sitting at the bar.

The Hot Tin Roof was a Damon Runyon experience last night!

Seated next to me enjoying a huge steak was Edward Kane. First time we met. A tourist. From Madison County, New York. Madison county is next door to my home county of Oneida. And Edward is an attorney besides. Though we never met back in New York State.

Edward is a court clerk. Technically referred to as a court attorney. He works directly for Judges. Does their research, writes opinions for them. He has to be a smart guy and responsible person to hold such a position!

We talked about Madison County.

I apparently am much older than Edward. I did not know the Judges he assists. My time in Madison County Supreme Court was spent before Judge Zeller. A stern tough fair minded jurist. Now long gone. My primary adversary in many of the cases was attorney Hugh Humphreys. Hugh went on to become a Judge.

Madison County’s Supreme Court room was different. It moved me. I always expected to see Abraham Lincoln walk through the doors. Rotunda in shape. The bench, jury box and attorney tables were located in a half moon setting up front.

Many the case I tried there. Some of serious significance.

Edward was/is also a Syracuse fan.

Our talk was interesting.

Chris showed up!

Chris of bocci and golf fame!

I have known Chris for years. A natural athlete. He is one of the best bocci players in town. And a low handicap golfer.

A bit of a ladies man, I did not think Chris would ever marry. Turns out that is no longer the case. He announced to me that he had become engaged.

It happened December 21st. For whatever reason, Chris knew that the 21st was known as Winter Solstice and was the shortest day of the year.

Chris was obviously bitten by the love bug. He was gushing. Not his nature. He is in love love!

Good for him.

The lady is Aja.

Chris is 46. Aja 31. About time Chris got around to marrying. I was sure he was the perennial bachelor.

Besides rambling ad infinitum about Aja’s attributes and how lucky he was, he told me about the wonderful Christmas dinner he had had with Aja, his parents and her father the night before at the Hot Tin Roof. The same meal I could not eat.

Chris was a bit bombed. He was enjoying the holiday spirits. I wondered where Aja was, but never got around to asking.

A young French couple came in. They were chatting with Chris and told him they wanted to jet ski today. Chris immediately told them the best place to rent jet skis was at the Reach Hotel at the other end of town. The couple did not speak the best of English and Chris spoke no French so you can visualize how the conversation was going.

Chris kept stressing the jet ski concession at the Reach, they were the best, etc. I assumed he must know the people who run the jet ski concession there.

There was a young man sitting on the other side of Chris. He interjected. Said my name is John Edwards and I own the jet ski concession in this hotel. Hot Tin Roof is located in the Ocean Key House. Edwards’ business is known as Hyrdo Thunder Water Sports and sits right at the point to the dock. A prestiguous location.

There was a moment of awkward silence.

Chris came back. Told the French couple they just had to do business with Edwards. The couple was a bit confused.

Edwards was a class act. He solved the problem for the couple. He told them they would receive 2 jet skis today for free! No cost! They were to be his guests! And he did some necessary paperwork for them right there at the bar.

And so it went.

Today is Sunday. I will watch the talk shows, read the Sunday papers, visit the grandkids and hopefully get out tonight. Kate Miano’s Gardens. I have not been there in a while. I will need to wear jeans and a leather jacket.

Enjoy your day!