Noodle Drop Time! *gasp*

Noodle Dropping is in the quirky trivial BS category, v.s. Brain Dumping ... which is more a therapeutic cleansing of my brain. Just thought I'd explain the difference ;)

Things that rolled around my noodle recently that made me smirk, chuckle, scratch mah head thinking WTF? ... or made me do some soul searching:

Am I a bad mother because I woke up to the sound of my son barfing and thought, 'Shit, I'm going to have to clear the snow off my car this morning." *gasp* ... But just for a split second!


The joy of wearing my favorite jeans again was overshadowed by the knowledge I haven't worn them in over a year because they were too BIG *gasp* ... I started my dieting again.


After working with a guy for over 13 years, I just found out his ex-wife is a childhood friend of mine *gasp* ... She wants to friend me on FB, which links to this blog, where not-so-nice posts of said co-worker have been published!


Cabo San Lucus and The Keys Florida are so yesterday *gasp* ... Don and I are talking about our next plan, hopefully a permanent 70'+ temps 12 months out of the year!

Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.
~Mae West~

The Key to Florida

Key West Florida


Without a doubt, a little piece of paradise. Hemingway was definitely on to something.

We spent the rest of our vacation in the Keys, splitting our time between Marathon and Key West.

Although the weather was cool by Florida's standard, we preferred the 60's temps to the single digit, freezing snow storm that hit back home in Michigan.

Our first fishing trip was with the crew at Sea Dog. It was cool and windy, but the sun was out. We tried free line fishing but with 5 others on board, plus the wind, the lines tangled too easily. After changing to drop fishing the fun began. The variety of fish caught was awesome. Three kinds of snapper, a shark, a king mackerel, some grouper, and a couple yucky remoras. We kept snapper and mackerel for a fresh fish dinner that night.

Mullet Snapper
(without his buddy Joe Dirt)

Such a great place, Key West. We went shopping on Duval Street and stopped at Hog's Breath Saloon for drinks and a snack. My favorite places were Schooner Wharf Bar and Irish Kevin's Bar. The live music was the best. We enjoyed checking out the streets off the beaten paths of the touristy area. Don and I agreed it would be easy to spend the rest of our days there.

We stayed at a hotel on Key Colony Beach. The one day it was slightly warm, Don enjoyed soaking in the rays while I sipped Bloody Mary's at the bar.

Don with his Kindle

I thoroughly enjoyed Ryan from NY, sweetest little boy.

Later that evening we met Clyde, Barbara, and their daughter Carrie at the Cabana Breeze Club. Great fun with new friends from Canada.

Barbara and Carrie

Cocktails and laughs were non-stop. We'll never really know if Jimmy, another we met that night, with his new fiance Carmen, is really about to marry CarMAN. All in quiet jest between us 5, we poked fun at the unknown. I hope we're wrong ... Jimmy is a big biker guy, the idea of CarMAN just doesn't fit.

Don, Clyde, Jimmy
The Three Amigos

Our final day was spent fishing. This time we went out with Capt. Michael of Robbie's on Islamorada. We were drop fishing in 140' deep waters. I caught a tile fish (?? ?) released and several blue runners that we released. Don, once again, caught our dinner. Two snapper and two porgi.

Manny, at The Hungry Tarpon, prepared them to perfection.

Too short of time, we both agree we have to go back.

Yourami

Don and I just returned from a fantastic 9 day trip to Florida.

Well, make that 7 days ... the first and last days were travel days and airports suck.

Come to think of it make that 5 days ... two days were spent in Miami and only one was fun because Tyler and her friend Allison came from Naples to hang out with us.

We flew into Miami, but the Keys were our destination. Since the Miami boat show was going on, we decided to stay a couple days to check it out and spend time with Tyler. I've never been to the show or Miami. Don has worked there several times in the past.

If you live in Miami or enjoy visiting there, forgive my opinion please. [smirk]

I'll start with the boat show. I PASS. Too many floating mansions that look like a big pain in the butt! The only thing missing was Thurston Howell, III and Lovey!

*note the helicopter on upper right,
I couldn't fit the whole boat in the frame!

South Beach Miami, eh, I'll say it was okay, but probably because Don, Tyler, Allison, and I just walked the main streets window shopping and stopping for lunch. I did appreciate the older hotels and their architect. I took a lot of photos so no need for me to go back. [again, smirk]

My real gripe? Let me start by saying, being from Detroit, Motor City, cars and crime ... Miami you win! I have never feared for my life on the road as much as I did trying to get around this city. Do people take a course in how to be rude while driving? Does my turning on a turn signal indicate time for you to speed up so I can't change lanes or make a turn? Every frickin' time? It got to be a joke. I'm probably considered an aggressive driver but Geez Louise, I felt like I was playing Highway Russian Roulette.

In Detroit, they may shoot at you while driving down the expressway but by golly, turn on your signal, they'll let you in and won't run you off the road.

Buh-bye Miami expressways.

Nope, it's not a place I'll be in any hurry to visit again ... Miami can be Yourami!

I'll post more about our trip ... the rest, good times ... for the most part ;)

Super Bowl Sunday!

Saints? Colts?

I always root for the underdog.

Saints 31 Colts 17

Congratulations!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I realize I haven't posted about our trip to Cabo San Lucas from last December. That darn FaceBook makes it easy to be lazy. I posted a few updates and tons of photos from our trip while we were there.

The Arch at Lands End

With every intention to write about Cabo ... our trip to the Florida Keys in a few days has taken over my brain. Nooooooo, we aren't traveling snobs. Don and I have worked hard at building our "vacation money" account and for sure, we play hard to spend it!

Here are a few pics from Cabo. If you've "friended" me on FaceBook, there are several albums of photos. We went early December with my sister Sandi and her husband Gary. We loved it and had a great time. The weather was perfect!

Sunrise just before fishing.

Pelicans chasing our fishing boat
for the bait we were feeding them.


Don, Sandi, Gary, 5 minutes after we arrived at our hotel,
our non-stop cocktail hours began.

Gary & Sandi at "The Office" ...

... where Nancy discovers tequila.
(unfortunately)

The "fishie" I caught.
20 pound Dorado (Mahi-Mahi)

...and after, mmmmm!

New resort, golf course, marina.
Don & Gary golfed here.
Bill Gates & Tiger Woods keep their yachts here.

Slims, the smallest bar evah!

And now, I have to go pack for The Keys and pray that we get out of town before the predicted snow hits!