Robert did it

Great vacation with friends and family. Traveled to one of my favorite spots - Key West. A strange and bizarre place on earth. Visited the East Martello Museum for the first time and met - face-to-face with Robert the doll. A long history behind Robert the doll and his owner. Robert is on You tube and has many many stories about him and his antics. He has his own website - www.robertthedoll.org.
Check out his blog....http://keywestrobert.blogspot.com

So while visiting the museum and Robert the doll high up on a rooftop with my very own Robert I snapped a photo. Very interesting museum. When out and about please visit the West Martello Museum an almost replica of the East Martello Museum just a little mortar damage. Awesome flowers and a great ocean view.

www.kwahs.com/martello.htm

New Years Resolution

I am being 'Proactive' - starting early and getting all my ducks in a row. I am contemplating my New Years Resolution for 2011. My resolution for 2010 is almost complete. It was get healthier and STOP getting sick all the time. It has improved at least the asthma end of things the back is another story.

So my thinking quest for the next years resolution is producing excellent results. I am still in the fine tuning stage and it will be completed by January first.

It begins in the front yard. My plan or resolution is for my entire yard to take on the ambiance of a Key West cottage. I shall begin on the front yard and slide gracefully into the backyard to have a tropical oasis surrounding my abode.

I have made a suggestion to hubby about this but I believe the idea floated right over the top of his head. This will need some fine tuning. And he has done an awesome-awesome transformation on the front of the house. So I know he will produce fantastic Key West looking results in the front yard.

Thankful

Hubby and I spent Thanksgiving week at Sigsby in the R.V. park - the military base in Key West. My second oldest brother spends his winter life nestled among the throng of other snowbirds at this awesome park. The park sits right on the water at the end of the base. Total seclusion and quiet is what this place is all about. Well, not exactly. The residents or snowbirds who put down their awnings at the military base are quite a collection of individuals.

They come from all parts of the U.S. and all branches of the military. What they seem to have in common is their fellowship and giving attitudes. If one needs help setting up camp their is always a helping hand. Camaraderie at its finest. It's an amazing sight to witness - especially with all the selfishness surrounding our everyday lives. It felt good to be amongst people who cared.

On Thanksgiving Day we were guest to an enormous feast put on by the MWR. The only contribution was a dish to pass. We ate outside under a huge tent as the rain first misted and then poured down to earth. The company was interesting and ever so friendly. I was still in my impressed mode. 'Why can't we all just get along.'
Our holiday week was a true life experience being thankful for what we have and what we can pass along.

Out the In

There is something inherently wrong with people that go out the 'IN'. Can you not read? I suspect you can but I suspect you feel that you can do whatever because it is owed to you. Follow the rules. If it says 'IN' it means 'IN' not 'OUT'.
Just the other day when I was going 'IN' the grocery store with my cart which leaves little room for anything else - there you are coming out my 'IN' space. It's like a violation of my space. And then when you leave the parking lot you drive against the arrows. Get a life - or perhaps I should get a life and not pay attention to those that go out the 'IN'.
On the thought of 'IN' - I have these two lovely creatures that are displayed right next to my 'IN' door at home. I don't have the sign that says 'IN' but it's still 'In'. And I can still go out but that's okay because it is not a public place. So there be the difference - whatever....
Back to my creatures - my beautiful colorful creatures - with the stoned looking eyes. They are from one of my favorite places - Key West. Everytime I go 'In' my front door there they are to greet me and remind me of Key West. They also look like the folks that one sees at Key West. Such an interesting place. I bet people there don't go out the 'IN'.

Cruisin

I'm kneeling on the super sized bed with my face pressed against the porthole in our lush stateroom. No balcony here but we have a huge window to view the sea. I watch the crew as they slip the gigantic ropes off the dock and slowly we start to move away from land. The blue sky is filled with puffy white clouds. The sun shines upon the water turning it a marvelous shade of aqua as the slight breeze ripples the still waters. A holiday trip awaits hubby and me.
Then, the light bulb (actually it seemed like a floodlight) goes off. OMG, I realize that my much needed can't live without medicine is home on the kitchen counter. It's not granite just the neutral Formica. My light bulb and my blood pressure blows and goes dark.
What to do? Jump ship? Cancel the voyage? Ask the captain to wait till I go home (1 hour) and return to the ship (another hour) so we can begin our cruise? I'm sure that would go over like a deflated life raft.
I'm in panic mode. I take in my deep belly yoga breathes and try to relax. The light comes back on - dimly - like the lower part of the dimmer switch. I call my pharmacist and spill the awful truth. A few tears and hiccups seals the deal. He doesn't laugh, criticise or lecture me. I tell him our first stop is Key West. He calmly informs me that he will call the pharmacy in Key West and have my much needed life sustaining medicine ready for my retrieval on the next day. He also assures me that one day with out my meds will not cause my death.
I'm thinking after we disconnect from the line there's lots of laughter at the pharmacy. If only my head were attached better to the rest of my body or my brain worked in a more normal pattern.
The next day we race to the pharmacy to pick up the much needed medicine and relaxed a bit as we toured the island. We lunched with my brother spent money on trinkets and t-shirts and moved on to the next port. Mexico was hot and our adventure was exciting. More trinket shopping and back to the ship on time. We sailed away into the night with stars lighting our way back to the states. The cruise was enchanting and restful. Christmas at sea is a happy experience especially when you have your life sustaining medicine. It could have been worse or worser. When we returned home from the cruise I read the headline, 'Woman Lost At Sea.' I wonder if she had forgotten her medicine and jumped over board to swim back to shore to retrieve her meds? Or my gut feeling is that the husband pushed her over the rail. I wonder if my hubby had similar notions?

Crocs Shoe Fetish

Something stinks in the rose garden. I can feel the vibes. I try to be an organized individual. When I take off my glasses they are always put in the same place. Scissors go in the scissors drawer, car keys are hung by the front door and my house shoes (Crocs skutes) are always left right next to my bed. Today, they were no where to be found. I smell a rat or a Crocs thief.

Hubby refuses to even look at Crocs, http://www.crocs.com/, when we go to the shoe store for my shoe fix. He says they are not a manly shoe. What does he know, he's not a shoe connoisseur. He has two pairs of shoes compared to my 22 (okay 50) pairs.

I tell him how comfy and versatile they are but he will not budge from that perch of denial. I point out other manly looking men who wear Crocs but still he resists. When we go walking on the beach me with my Crocs - I walk in the water (definitely not on the water) breeze through the crushed shells and climb mountains. All with Crocs hugging my happy feet. Last week he cut his foot on a seashell because he was shoeless. His leather Kino sandals are not water proof. http://www.fsicatalog.com/kwsf/default.aspx Kino sandals are one of my favorites but they are not waterproof. This terrific footwear is made on the back streets of Key West right before your eyes.

Back to the issue that something smells pungent. My Crocs were not in their normal position. They were missing. I faulted myself for not leaving them in their normal resting spot. I searched all the places I may have left them. Nothing! Gone like the rain. I'm a mad woman with lost shoes on her mind. Yes, I could always buy another pair but these were my favorite. And they are gone.

And then, I saw them, and him. The old fart had on my Crocs. He who would not be caught in public with any type of Crocs was strolling around the yard in MY Crocs. I yelled and demanded MY Crocs back and half-heartily he returned them. I felt rather happy that he had come over to my side but annoyed that he would not purchase his own. I went about my business and a few minutes later he comes walking by with another pair of my Crocs on (I have many). Now that's just plain wrong. Off we go to the store to purchase his own pair of Crocs. and feet off of mine.

Goals

One of my goals for this year is to get more exercise. I started with that goal while vacationing in Key West. Driving a car in Key West is like walking thru a maze blindfolded. It is more peaceful to ride bikes. While at Key West I decided to rent a bike instead of walking all day. They have these cute little baskets where you can store water and all of your kool purchases. Once I even put my dirty laundry in the basket and rode to the laundry mat.

So the bike rentals are basically one size fits all. I am a little on the short side. They lowered the seat as far as it would go and still it was difficult to stop and have my feet reach the pavement. I can not even tell you how many times I came face to face with asphalt. Bumps and bruises all over my sore body and I said, "I will never ride a bike again." That was then - this is today.

I search the garage to find my bike - I know it's in there somewhere. Hidden beneath the old pool cover (why haven't we thrown that out?) the umbrella and several stacks of throw rugs: there she is just waiting to be found. I know I should walk the dog today so possibly I could kill two birds with one ride. Not that I would ever kill a bird - maybe a seagull!

I hook the big boy up to his long leash, hop on the bike and off we go. First stop soft grass by the end of my driveway. I look around the cul-de-sac to make sure no one has seen my misfortune. Second try gets me to the corner by the STOP sign. I stop big boy doesn't. The loose fender now hangs precariously closer to the ground. Third and final try - off we go!

The pit bull behind the fence notices us first. I am not prepared. Woof, his deep loud bark shatters my concentration. The big boy takes it as challenge and woofs back on the run. That dog can run faster than I can pedal. It's funny how curbs can stop a person (riding a bike) right in their tracks. I watch my pretty purple bike fly like an eagle gently through the air and land on a perfectly sturdy mailbox. It looked sturdy before it met my bike. I wonder if my homeowners insurance will pay up.

The big boy is busy charging at the pit bull behind the chain link fence as I sit in the gutter and survey my missing skin. I hobble over to the fence and grab his leash and give him a tirade of BAD words. He pants. The owner of the mangled mailbox comes over and asks if I am okay and offers to drive me home and then he looks at big boy. I thank him and offer to replace the mailbox. I pick up my once shiny purple bike and limp home with the big boy. I certainly met my exercise goals for today.

New Year's Eve

It was New Year's Eve and we were celebrating. I was drinking my usual - water. It scares me to think what would happen to me if I did drink alcohol. So here we sit on the upperdeck at the

Whiskey Rose Bar (I think) on Duval Street in Key West. Friends having a good time enjoying the old year and looking forward to what the new year will bring us. I'm sipping my water everyone else is on their third drink (alcohol). None of us were driving vehicles. In Key West on foot or bike is the best way.



So i'm leaning over the edge of the railing and off goes my flip flop, gets kicked into the road and this HUGE truck rolls quietly over my flip flop. I yell for someone to save my flip flop. No one hears my cries. The party mood is prevalent on the streets and no one notices the squashed lonely flip flop. I hop down the long winding wooden (yes splinters) stairs and run into the street. Well, actually it was too crowded to run into the street. I felt like a sardine in a too small greasy tin.



I searched the street for my lonely flip flop but it had disappeared with the rolling crowd. I hobbled back upstairs and took a wrong turn and ended on the third level. My cell phone rings and I answer it. I realize much too late that I have ended up on the clothing optional deck. Some old hag that should be covered to protect society screams at me about not having a cell phone on the third level. Like I would take a picture of her! So I hurry back down to the next level and search for my friends. They didn't even know I was gone.



So I stand there with one flip flop on and one bare foot feeling foolish. I peer over the railing and see some tanned young stud riding a skateboard barefooted. So I think to myself if he can ride a skateboard shoeless I can ride my bike minus one flip flop.



My bike pedal was made of metal with ridges. Recipe for disaster - barefoot, metal pedal, hot Key West day. Off I go on my bike rental. Scratches on the bike are added to your credit card. Always careful, always considerate I stop for the pedestrian who walked right in front of me. The Cafe Ragu sign saved my life. It didn't look very pretty with me and the bike dumped on top of it. Somewhere along the way my remaining flip flop went AWOL.



I hobble to a store to purchase new over priced flip flops to pedal my bike with the now bent frame. I wonder if the rental place will not notice the bent bike frame? Should have taken out that insurance for $29.99.

2008

Happy New Year!!!!! Greetings from Key West!!!!!

Travel Review

Saturday AM hit the road in fog. Road conditions on I75 south- not too bad. A little lackluster across Alligator Alley - spotted only a few gators - but then, it's winter.
Road condition in Miami - not bad at all - for a change. A pit stop at the mall in Kendall. Great lunch at an Italian place and we ate outside with the dog. The parking lot was scary - angry people looking for a place to park. Lots of horn honking and a few space fights? Whatever - get a life. One man stood in an empty spot saving it.
Thr Ramada Inn in Florida City - not bad for the price. Right next door an outlet mall and found a GREAT divers warehouse. Bought a shorty wetsuit for 30 bucks. The hotel room coulda shoulda been a little cleaner but for a one night stand it was okay. And I have seen a lot of bad hotels. Will check out their breakfast (free) in a few and head on down to Key West. Can't wait to get in the water and try out my new wetsuit.