There's No Place Like Home.

So Brother-in-law Tim is here with us. We had a really busy day. We had to inflate the dinghy and go across the canal to investigate the 4 foot long iguana hanging out in the mangroves a little too close to our boat for my liking. Now the guys are picking on me regarding my pre-coffee disposition this morning. Evidently I was a touch on the crabby side. And now we are debating whether we should be good little patriots and suffer through yet another of those redundant, uninspiring, rhetoric-ridden, Obama performances. They made me swear that I will withhold narrative until its over. And they are laying bets on how long I'll last. I said, "that's it - I want to go home" Tim told me to click my heels three times. I responded, "y'know this is a little like Oz. I've got the Cowardly Lion to my right (Tim), the Tin Man to my left (Tom) and we're about to listen to the Scarecrow" sing along with me folks..."with the things that I'd be thinkin' I could be another Lincoln, if I only had a brain..."

I failed miserably. Obama opened with Ladies and Gentleman our Constitution states...and I blurted out, "oh NOW you want to consult the Constitution!"

Uncorked Help Menu

This blog is dedicated to our friend Jim Franey who recently complained that my blog does not contain enough geographic data. For example I told you that we traveled from Key West to Little Palm Island but I neglected to tell you whether that was Little Palm Island Florida, in the Keys, or say Little Palm Island India. My bad. Should I commit a great oversight such as this in the future, might I suggest that confused readers familiarize themselves with this new thing called "Google" where you can enter just about anything and get info on what and where it is.

For those of you who figured out where Little Palm is, here's another pic of us while we enjoyed this heavenly little 5 miles in size island in the Keys, near Pine Key, but west of Marathon Key.

From Manatee Moments to Senior Moments

Our friends headed home to Michigan today but not without a great Florida send off from a Mama Manatee and her baby. Yesterday morning Tom was cleaning the boat and this big manatee was attracted to the fresh water from the hose. I commandeered the hose and Uncorked became Sea World. First we held the stream over her head and she opened her mouth to drink. Then, while getting in position to touch her, I accidently let the end of the hose go into the water and she latched onto it like a baby to a nipple. Seriously, I couldn't get it out of her mouth without really pulling. It was just like trying to take Ella's bottle away! This manatee was right next to our swim platform we were eye to eye. What a sweet and wonderful encounter. She let me pet her head and everything. None of us had ever seen a manatee so close up and it was really quite an experience. Her baby just hung out underneath Mama's flipper and showed no interest in the fresh water and Mama seemed to keep her away from it. Fresh water must not be good for baby manatees - it was like all the new human mommies who say "no dairy!" as naughty grandparents try to slip a little whipped cream into their mouths (not that we would ever do anything like that) I made a slideshow of our manatee encounter - if you scroll over the picture to the left and click, I believe it will open in large format. First try at this - no promises.

That was the last wonderful vacation moment for The Lozons. Yesterday they left for Miami to stay at the airport since their flight was so early this morning and on their way they realized that they'd left their winter coats on the boat. Then they received an email informing them of the Harsens Island Ferry shutting down until the ice jams could be cleared (could be days) The only way to get to their home would be on the uncovered airboat, which is not only scary but cold as hell (remember where their winter coats are??) They got up this morning at the crack of dawn to get through security at the airport with time to relax over a newspaper and a cup of coffee. You can imagine their disappointment in arriving at the airport and finding out that their airline only flies out of "Ft. Lauderdale/Miami Area" not Miami International Airport. In a panic they hailed a taxi to Lauderdale and $80 later they found themselves racing through the terminal and onto the flight. But - whew - they made it. So much for coming home refreshed.

Had a visit today from Chris LaBelle, Rick LaBelle and Jeff Sangster on their way to Key West. Mel stopped by as well. It's kind of fun connecting with people from home for quick visits. Tomorrow Bro-in-law Tim arrives for a week and agreed to be the Galley Wench (great cook - we will eat well this week!)

Wonder what wildlife we'll encounter next?

Da Plane, Da Plane...

We have found Fantasy Island. Little Palm Island is a magical place and we all want to stay here forever. We are the only boat in the tiny little marina. On the island there are 30 little thatched roof huts;one houses a library, another is the spa, the rest are private rooms for guests. The grounds are manicured yet lush with foliage. There are hammocks and lounge chairs set throughout the grounds so that you can stop and enjoy the 360 degrees of ocean view or enjoy the various birds and wildlife that seem completely untroubled by our presence . Check out the photos I took of a great blue heron on the beach - I did not have to use the telescoping lens - I actually got that close. It is the most romantic place ever and no children are allowed here.

The beach is lovely. Lozons are relaxing with ipods in their ears but Tom and I do not lay in the sun well. We get bored. Tom announced that he was going kayaking and put up his flag to alert the Cabana Boy (Yes, you heard me correctly. We have a Cabana Boy - loved it) I said, "I like to kayak" and Tom responded "You like to YAK" But he let me come along anyway. Very cool kayaking through the mangroves although a little creepy too. We took Scrappy along and while not keen on being that close to the water, he did seem fascinated by the all too friendly wildlife.

Dinner on the beachfront terrace was wonderful and so relaxing. There is a giant firepit and a few tiki torches and that is the lighting - period. A guitarist was there to set the perfect mood but the best, best, best part of the night was having this utterly adorable little Key Deer (like a pygmy version of the white tail deer) wander up between Tom and I and stick her nose right in my lap begging for a little treat (which she of course got - are you kidding!) I don't think I have ever seen anything so sweet and precious in the wild and I broke all the laws and gave her my apple chips (served with unbelievably delicious beignets - yummm) And she thanked me by nearly kissing my nose, which was fine with me until my RN friend Lynn alerted, "Wild animal! Wild Animal" I got the pic though and it's really cute.

Eden. This is Eden and we are coming back sometime soon. (with a stock pile of carrots and apples)

Something to Crow About

Key West is, well, Key West. You can't really do the Keys without going to Key West and it is hands down some of the best people watching on earth. It is amazing what you see on any street near Duval. Scattered among the various drunks and roosters (yes - lots of roosters) are these entrepreneurs of sorts trying to sell their "talents" (and I use the word loosely) to the tourists. There's "Dirty Joke Guy" who will tell you jokes - the more you pay, the dirtier they are. There's the couple who fashion hats out of palm branches they no doubt "borrowed" from the neighbors' trees, mimes (who really likes mimes? they weren't exactly raking it in) And there was this young kid who was very astute at reggae music but who we felt should have been in school on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. Hmmm

But, our friends Dave and Lynn introduced us to a new little gem among the usual beer joints. Across from the Westin Marina (where we swayed all night on our earlier trip) is a lovely little island called Sunset Key. You can only get there by shuttle and there is a fabulous restaurant overlooking the famous Key West Sunsets. Food was fab and the ambience was magnificient! I'd go back for sure. Thanks Lozons.

Old Home Week

We headed back to Naples on Tuesday and found a whole slew of Harsens Islanders waiting for us. Amy Crouchman (Mel's ex-gf) lives here now - she recognized Scrappy as she drove by us one afternoon and stopped to say hi. Mel is down here visiting his friend Bob Farabee (old neighbor of Tom's). And Dave and Lynn Lozon arrived Saturday to boat with Tom and I to the Keys.

Ist stop, Sunday at Stan's Idle Hour on Marco Island. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Stan's, it is a party every Sunday, and only Sundays. They have these powerful little drinks called Buzzards (which I'm sure are just Rum - lots of rum- and Hi C)that go down way too easily. There's a little shop called Island Woman Boutique that sells all the tackiest clothing and accessories you could imagine. But somehow after a couple of Buzzards you find yourself shopping in this horrid little store and finding "must have" items like the ones we are sporting in the pictures to the left. In fairness, our boat is named Uncorked and so you see how these items just fit with the theme and had to be purchased and proudly worn. Stan's attracts every walk of life from your basic degenerate to the neighborhood millionaire. Hands down some of the best people watching on earth. And we saw a lot of people we knew, Gary Broad, Marv Tomlan, the Schmidts, the Hobsons, the parents of a guy Lynn and Dave's daughter could have ended up marrying, and someone my hubby did end up marrying, Tom's ex (Mary). Stan's never disappoints.

After much coffee and a little recovery, and after waving goodbye to a sad Melvin who'd lost his cell phone at Stan's, the four of us set off for Key West this morning and got a fairly calm crossing. The weather is back to lovely - yea!!! The Lozons have been contemplating a boat purchase so that they can do The Loop. They thought this week would be a good way to determine whether they will like boating enough to do it - we hadn't even left the dock and Lynn looked at Dave and said, "let's get the boat" We'll see if she's still as enthusiastic on Friday.

Rhapsody in Snooze...

With 40 degree temps, hanging out at a Tiki Bar listening to Jimmy Buffet music was not an option so I found the Fort Myers Symphony Orchestra "Evening with Gershwin" and Tom was game. The first half was a symphony performance of An American in Paris (which we both really enjoyed - well done) followed by a guest pianist performing a tinny, emotionless Rhapsody in Blue (which made me really miss Danny Patrona plopping down at at our piano on random weekends on the island) But what really pained my hubby was the "Selections from Porgy and Bess" performed by guest (not so great)vocalists. I'll never understand why Gershwin wanted some of the greatest jazz/blues numbers he'd ever written performed as an opera. The contrast of classical singing combined with "dis" and "dat" and "nuttin'" just doesn't work for me. High brow doing low brow? It would be like hearing Bocelli do rap. Po' Tom he done had to sit dare and listen. What a sport.

And what a show we're missing at home. Five freighters stuck in ice in the South Channel!! Thanks Lozons, Licatas, and Whipples for the pics and updates on all the island excitement we are missing. I'm posting the pics here for non-islanders.

Greetings from the Arctic South

We're back to the two of us and Scrappy but we proved that our family of 6 + baby can peacefully coexist in under 650 sq. ft. of living space and have a lot of fun doing it!

Family departed at 10a.m. on Jan 2nd and Captain had guests (Franeys) arriving at 11 to cruise up to Fort Myers for a cocktail party. Yes, I could have killed him. We ran in crappy waves but made it to Ft. Myers by 2 and 11 more friends hopped aboard. It was too cold to enjoy the view from the bridge so we stayed inside the cabin and picked our noses. NOT literally...I found these clever cups with noses printed on them so that when you tipped your cup to drink, you looked like you had a new nose. See the pics to the left and you'll get it. Look, its freezing down here and you have to find creative ways to make fun.

Labelles stayed on the boat that night & the next morning Chris reported a repetitive mechanical noise under the v-bunk. Tom checked the anchor winch, the heater, everything, then I put my head on the pillow and said, "I know that rhythm...give me a minute...ch-ch-cha-chu...it's the baby swing!" Sure enough. He stowed it under the bow and the waves must have switched it on. In seven nights Baby Ella never once disturbed our sleep but she got the Labelles good.

I did a 24 hour turnaround trip home to get Scrappy on Monday. When I left Detroit Tuesday night it was 32 degrees...I got to Fort Myers and it was 38. Does Al Gore feel like the fool he is? Global warming my a$$.