Mike's birthday bash

Mike and his sisters



they look innocent enough......


Let's get this fire started!


Last Saturday night the place to be was at Mike's birthday party. Every year around the 2nd weekend in October he celebrates his birthday with a big (fun) party....rain or shine! and even on occasion...a hurricane or tropical storm
Everyone who has attended in the past...knows it's going to be a great time.Everyone brings a side dish and he cooks up smoked turkey, beef and pork and his special fish gumbo...chock full of shrimp, fish, crab? you name it. This is the real deal...something in every bite...(sort of like my favorite Ben & Jerry's ice cream! haha) His family and his parents and sisters and nieces and nephews always come.(that's him with his sisters Denise, Christina and Marie and one of his nieces in the photos) Old friends and friends of friends.(Steve & Heather) (Steve, John M. Rick B and Courtney in photos)..it's just a great time.
This year I had a blast...for whatever reason I was just in a good mood and I had more fun than I've had in months! Probably after just having spent time enjoying visits with my own brothers and sister Martha...it was like more of the same. Lots of laughs, a great football game and good music. I did have my bottle of champagne....but I didn't really over do it. We (John M., Steve M and someone else
(?)only caused a little trouble when as the night went on and the crowd thinned out,,,we noticed that many of the people were over in the side yard near where the fire was burning. (it was finally COLD! outside) Well...we were standing next to a little
chimnea and a stack of wood...so why not light one in it? (made perfect sense)
Well...of course it made no sense because Denise didn't want a fire in it during the party in case a child got curious, or someone accidentally tipped it over, etc.....not thinking along those lines due to champagne-me, beer-John and actually just water for Steve...no excuses there haha...John, Steve, and I and the other guy all thought we had a great plan. The guy (wish I could remember his name) decides to make it really easy...and goes over to the other fire and brings back a burning log.....sticks it in and "Voila!" a fire.(he's getting it ready in the next to last photo) In the meantime...I went inside to get something. When I returned just moments later the wind had stoked up the fire and SMOKE was pouring out of the "fireplace" gassing everyone in the area out....John, Steve and I looked at each other and said something along the lines of "Oh Crap!""This may be why they didn't light a fire in this thing!" After we all stopped laughing...Denise came out and saw the smoke and said "Hey...who lit a fire in here?" The guys were already working on putting it out...by way of lifting the whole "fireplace" up and hauling it off around the corner...to where Shane (who just happens to be a firefighter) was more than happy to hose the whole thing down and then some. Luckily, even Denise was laughing at this point.Meanwhile John, Steve and I and the other guy were looking a little sheepish...as we apologized for smoking everyone out...haha The only other event was when my acrylic glass that I was telling everyone was perfect because it was unbreakable...fell/got knocked out of my hand and bounced off the pavers...breaking the bottom piece off.....so I was left with the glass and a stem....John M suggested
that if I needed to set it down I just needed to find a soft patch of dirt or grass and poke it in! hahahaha (last photo). Really...I wasn't out of control...we were just having fun! (my) John had left around 9:00pm and promised to come back to drive me home after he took a "nap".All night people were laughing when I told them that...but lo and behold who came dancing out onto the patio around 11:00pm...JOHN! Mike's sisters couldn't believe it...Marie looked up and said "Hey! He's back!" (If you know John you know he's either going strong...or he's going to eat have a beer or two and get tired. He has been known to slip out of many a party...to go home and sleep....but this time...he came back and stayed until 1:30am!) I figured when I went to bed that I might be moving a little slowly in the morning...but I woke up feeling great! Walked up to Chris and Heather's house to get my car...and drove it home. I think I am ready for the next party!

Go Gators!

We went to a FUN party this Saturday. Our friend Mike has the best party in town every October and this year was no exception. Every year they consider NOT having it....but then figure people would probably show up at their house on the 2nd Saturday in October even if they decided not to have it...so might as well go for it. They always have GREAT food, lots of people...all ages.....and great music that gets people dancing before the end of the night. Of course...the football games are always on the TV and the Gator fans were watching..the ones who could take the nerve wracking tension. I'll give more of a report on the party on another post....but here's a few photos of those last 2 or so minutes when the Gators were driving down the field hoping for a Field Goal if nothing else. I snapped the photo right as they were kicking the ball.....and then I was too busy cheering to take one after we pulled off the win! We made it through another week...and I don't care what anyone says...to me winning a close one like Saturday's game shows more determination to win than a total blowout....because the only reason we won...was because Tebow and the team found a way to pull it out...they did NOT want to lose. After that the other games came on...but I went ouside to listen to the music and enjoy some cool air that FINALLY made it down to Florida. It was great!

and then it was time to go......

We enjoyed our visit with Martha and Tony. It was great to see them in Amelia Island for a couple of days and then again when they made it down to Indialantic. Mark was excited...cooked us all his "famous" prime rib dinner and had a fishing trip planned for Tony and John. They headed out on Thursday morning....John was a little reluctant....but Tony told him they weren't taking "No" for an answer and he needed to "RALLY". Ha...well rally he did and they left at 6:15am. A little rough getting out...but they said the seas settled down and it was a beautiful day on the water and coming in was a breeze. They caught a small black fin tuna and a variety of snapper. Not too much....but enough for dinner for David, Mark, Lynn, Paul, Martha , Tony, John and I! And it was delicious! Fresh sushi from the tuna...followed with the snapper grilled and some fried mahi (from our freezer). We had a nice dinner with all of us sitting around the table at the house.Ideas fro Martha And Tony's costumes for the "Hollywood Then & Now" party got tossed around again. David suggested Nick Nolte for Tony...hahahaha.(get the hair teased up and look a little disheveled, etc) Then we laughed and talked for awhile outside before we said our goodbyes. Martha and Tony were heading out Friday morning at about 10:00am. Back to Orlando and an early flight back to Honolulu in the morning on Sat.The good news is Martha has a meeting in Orlando again in December.....so we might have to have an early birthday(s) dinner together. She has another meeting next spring in Naples Florida...so I am going to plan on heading over there. I have heard it's a beautiful place ...but have never been there....I think Martha's meeting would be a fine time to check it out!

The visit continues

Martha and Tony are winding down their trip to the mainland.After our visit in Amelia Island....they headed to Gainesville with Andy & Cathy for a couple of days. From there they went to Orlando for a couple of days of meetings for Martha...visits with old friends for Tony.Yesterday they were in Indialantic. I had to work until 5:30pm...so Martha relaxed while Tony, John and Mark played a round of golf. Mark had planned to make dinner for all of us back at the house. While he was finishing up the final preparations for his prime rib, potato pie and Caesar salad....Martha and I headed up for the Wednesday night jazz at the Crowne Plaza. We knew David would be there...but also because the Dan Wilborn (SP?) trio was playing...and they are pretty good. It was a nice evening...it finally cooled off a bit and there was a nice breeze from the ocean. We sat and enjoyed a cool drink and the music.As the sun set in the western sky...the clouds over the ocean lit up...had to snap a picture of the one unique cloud. David and Paul arrived...so we enjoyed visiting with them and getting our picture taken. We promised Mark we would be back in time for the dinner he was preparing....and we got there in good time. Mark was insistent on cooking this dinner for Martha and Tony...so it was nice to go enjoy it with Mark, Lynn, Tony, John, Paul and Martha. David joined us after dinner. We had some laughs and it felt
nice to be sitting around the old dinner table with almost everyone.
Paul looked at Mark at one point and said..."Well Mark...you finally got some people over to sit around the table." Everything was very tasty too. :)
Today the guys went off-shore fishing. I took the day off, so Martha and I ventured up to Cocoa Village for lunch at Cafe Margaux and poked around in a few shops up there. There are a lot of antique shops and consignment shops...so we decided to see if there were any potential costume items for the two parties Martha and Tony have to attend. They are going to be pirates at one (have those costumes) and have to dress a a famous Hollywood couple for the other. They aren't sure who they will be yet...Liz Taylor & Michael Jackson (can't you just imagine Tony as Michael?hahha) Sonny & Cher?, or Paul suggested Cybil Sheppard (since people comment that Martha looks like her) & Bruce Willis. We saw some awful stuff...haha...some actually for sale and not as cheap as you might expect....certainly didn't look like anything recently seen in stores...at least not where I shop....Now we are just waiting to see if we're
having fresh fish for dinner...........

Pumpkins

Just a few little things I have around the house. I love October!

A Visit with Martha & Tony

It's kind of late and I'm tired...but I decided to go ahead with this post. I do have to get up and work tomorrow....our new schedule/hours are in effect and it will be interesting. The bad thing is that I will be at the circulation desk for the day...the good thing is the first hour(9-10) and last hour(2-3) I'm scheduled are
actually hours that we are closed...so that's good. for me. One hour to get organized Before we open and one after we close to finish things up after the patrons are gone. That will be nice...no rushing people out so we can leave on time.
We did get an invitation to dinner and the big LSU - UF game. Our friend Chuck is an LSU fan...but now has a son at UF...so he can't lose! I am supposed to make a dessert...my favorite activity...but I am too tired to start tonight.....so whatever I bring will still be warm when I make it after I get home from work. (The butter is already on the counter getting soft. )
Earlier today we got home from 3 nights at Amelia Island with Martha & Tony, Andy & Cathy (Tony's sister and brother-in-law)(or as we call them....our in-law-in in-laws.
*I would have to say out of all of my in-laws...Tony's family is most like ours. He comes from an Irish-Catholic family with 7 children. I always felt completely at home with his parents and brothers and sisters. We have taken many trips with different brothers and sisters and their families....as have my children. Brenna traveled to Hawaii for a visit to Martha,Tony & Ian's, with Andy & Cathy and their two boys one time...then spent time with the rest of the Smith family on Maui and Oahu. Megan went on a ski trip with the gang one year to Whistler.(My brother Mark was on that trip too.) And John and I and the girls have skied with them here and there. Rob, Jen and Shane have been with the group, so have Paul, David, Brigit and her daughter Destin. When Ian turned 21, he wanted to go to Las Vegas, so....John joined Tony, his brothers Andy & Kiran(I thinK), brother-in-laws Wim, Andy, Tom and Ian's cousin Marcus (also just 21)...it was, as they called it...the Brother -in -laws trip.*...but I digress....back to Amelia Island
I was happy to be able to get the days off...because as I mentioned a couple of months ago...my boss wasn't sure I could have the time off when I first requested it. We enjoyed a nice relaxing stay at a condo on the beach. View from the main room was the beach. We watched the sunrise each morning. Cathy has been taking photography for a while...she took photos of the sun popping out of the clouds each morning. I am more likely to catch a sunset versus the sunrise most of the time...but until the time changes back on November 1st...I AM actually up before the sun. And of course with the Smith family; Tony, Martha (and the rest of the brothers and sisters)...you don't spend a whole lot of time sitting around! Martha ran each day...so did Tony. Then the guys golfed 36 holes Wed, and Thurs. Cathy and I opted for a walk rather than a run. We walked ALL over the resort area...for at least an hour. In the afternoon we walked around the shops on Wed.Then on Thursday...Cathy took a tennis lesson...Martha and I took a golf lesson. It was a "Group" lesson...but the place was pretty slow...so Martha and I were the "Group". Got some good tips. As I told the guy...I took a class 31 years ago...haha (Martha suggested I might want to leave that tidbit of info out...(31 years ago!) and another lesson about five years ago...and I probably have played about once every three years. I am okay in a "Best Ball" tournament..because sometimes I hit the shot just right. I did pretty well all things considered.borrowed shoes, socks and clubs.... and the guy told me that if I played more than once every three years I might actually be pretty good at it. :D
Martha did pretty well too...not having the advantage of taken a class....even if it was a looooooooong time ago.When we signed up we told the guy we were "beginners" so I think he was pleasantly surprised to get to people who picked things up quickly and weren't totally uncoordinated, etc.
The first day when Martha, Cathy and I were eating lunch down at the Cafe...who should we happen to see...but John. Tony and Andy...finishing up on the hole right in front?behind? the building.(see photo above)
Thursday after our lessons...Martha, Cathy & I headed to Fernandina Beach for lunch and shopping. I liked the area...love all the oak trees and the beach reminds me of Indialantic/Melbourne Beach area...especially similar to Floridana Beach. Not too built up...mostly homes and some condos on the oceanfront...not too many strip malls etc. Nice low-key feel to the town.Many homes reminded me of Winter Park, Maitland area...and looked a little more like the "north" than Indialantic does.Downtown reminded me of downtown Melbourne with it's tree lined streets and little shops and the old historic buildings.Like Meg O"Malley's several shops had the old tin ceilings.However.... most of the shops were not too exciting...it seemed like they were all selling the same things...and we kept commenting..."How do they stay in business? in this economy." There were several groups of women (a few men) walking around and they all sort of had the same look to them...which got me wondering if we looked like them as well? (younger versions maybe). Interesting.......
One gentleman volunteered to take our picture after he saw Cathy taking a picture of Martha and I. We had lunch down by the water...and I decided to get into the whole feel of the place and ordered Shrimp and Grits with a red pepper gravy. It was tasty...not too hot for me...which I was happy about...since I got a little nervous after I ordered it! We had great weather during the trip...nice blue skies...but a tad on the WARM side. after one week of cooler temperatures had us all thinking Fall had arrived! Martha and Tony were following Andy & Cathy down to Gainesville for a couple of days...then they go to Orlando for Martha's meetings and tour of Florida Hospital (Children's Hospital). Wednesday they will make their way to the beach again and spend a couple of days visiting David & Brigit, Mark, Paul & John & I here....before they head home to Honolulu. It was a nice visit and I am looking forward to next wed/Thursday. Now...if I don't go to bed...I will be yawning all day at work!

Maitland Art Festival

It's a beautiful Saturday night and I'm home watching football (TN vs AUB).
I spent Friday and Saturday over in Orlando with my friend Linda. We went shopping at the Mall of MIllenia..( got to go to Anthropologie-one of my favorite places to shop) and spent most of the afternoon there. After dinner at the Cheesecake Factory we headed to the Sheraton Hotel in Maitland. Checked in, had a glass of champagne (of course!) and made our way to the Maitland Art Festival where my brother David is showing his work this weekend. One of the nice things about this particular show, is that it goes until 10:00pm each night. Most shows close down at dark...but this stays open late...with sparkly lights in the trees, lighted walkways around Lake Lily and nice music too. It was a lovely evening....a bit cooler a and perfect night for "art under the stars".
Linda and I are both what some might call..."directionally challenged". I don't think I ever go to Disney World..or Orlando without making at least one wrong turn, u-turn, etc.(ask Brenna and Megan about this...haha) Part of this is due to the fact that in Indialantic...it's pretty easy to get around town... there's little room for error...the ocean is east and the river is west...and when you are on a peninsula or barrier island...like we are...that pretty much leaves North & South as the only things you have to think about.So...getting around Orlando....is a little bit of an adventure! I will always let someone else do the driving when I can.....and Linda was good natured enough to agree to drive, even though she is about as bad as me when it comes to more than 4 lanes and exits, etc. haha...so we made quite a pair! The good thing (for both of us) is that each time we took a wrong turn (and there were several) we just laughed, did a u-turn and went the other way! The gal at the desk drew us a nice little map and carefully explained...turn left, turn right, etc...."it's really simple" she didn't know who she was dealing with and we set off........well...that "simple" little trip took us about twice as long as usual...because we immediately took a wrong turn. Eventually...we made it to the park and spent an hour and a half at the show. As most of you know...David always knows the best place in town to eat...no matter where he goes...and Maitland was no exception. The is a Deli/Restaraunt right across the street from the park; Antonio's Cafe. David ate lunch there at 12 noon, dinner at 5:00 and told Linda and I we should hang around and join him and our friend Mo (Maurice) when the show ended.Last year the place closed at 10:00pm...and my brother told them they ought to consider staying open until 11:00pm during the show weekend...because there would certainly be plenty of people looking for a place to have a drink or a bite to eat after the show. They took his advice and this year stayed open until 11:00. Of course they recognized him immediately and we got the deluxe service with plenty of smiles! Mo had some tasty Eggplant Parmesan and I had some Creamy Butternut Squash soup that was DELICIOUS! Davis, Linda and Mo also shared a nice pizza. It was a perfect way to end the night. Saturday, Linda and I slept in, ate breakfast and headed back to really look at the art. The weather was wonderful......clear, a little breeze and not too hot. David had a great spot on the side of the lake...right near the entrance of the park. We watched people looking at David's art(always fun to hear the comments), took a couple of walks around the lake to see all the artwork...and Linda bought herself a couple of things. We stopped for lunch at ....where else but Antonio's Cafe...and David was in there when we got there. Haha. We got a table and he decided to sit with us a minute (Mo was watching the booth) and then headed back. When we left, the manager thanked us and said..."See you at 11:00PM!" haha He will see David....we were heading home. We packed up and headed out.. When I got home John cooked up some of the fresh wahoo they caught Wed/TH....caught 3 40-50 pd wahoo, mutton snapper, red snapper, grouper, amberjack......LOTS of fish. He and Ron spent 4hours cleaning fish Friday afternoon! Great weekend and there's still one day to go!