The Owl & The Palm Frond

It's hard to distinguish between each visit down to what my friends call "South Beach". They can be very routine and therefore blur into one another. But I have a feeling that this one will stand out, for numerous reasons. Possible, potential numerous reasons that are yet to be divulged.

A lovely sight at Newark airport. You'd be crazy to give up this life of travel.

Anyhow, Lopez & Matt picked me up from the uncharacteristically frigid Miami airport at 1am, which was already a change from Daniel or Alex being 2 hours late in the blistering January heat, so that was nice. And spending some time catching up with two of my favorite people was also a pleasure, even if it was semi-comatose at 4am over black berry Red Stag.

This is a rare photo of Lopez's face. He thinks photos steal your soul and usually covers his face. I am serious.

I was there to teach tho, and early Saturday afternoon that's just what I did. Braddock's putting a show about the last hours of Jesus on the floor this year. Pretty heavy material, but I didn't let it weigh me down. I had my very first "WWJD" moment and all of the sudden I was halfway thru the rifle feature. Amen.

Daniel showed up late Saturday evening from his HS to approve my displays of mediocrity, and I got to make some jokes with my kindred spirit Keith, a pasttime I will miss once it's gone.

Once it's out of me, I'm pretty much done, so I spent the remainder of the rehearsals snapping some shots around the school including a session with a little silver owl who may or may not have threatened my life.

Mark, Daniel & I saw a film Sunday night; Up in The Air. While it was ultimately just a little disappointing in the end, I can't help but feel that the defeatist motif throughout put a slight damper on the rest of our evening. I tried to lighten the mood by posing with Alvin, Simon & Theodore, but to no avail.

When that didn't work I had to pull out the big guns and abduct a fallen palm frond from the parking lot and present it to Daniel as a gift. Getting it home in the already crowded 2-door was a challenge, but we proved were up to it after a red light transition from passenger window to sunroof without even unbuckling.

And I think it really ties together the room.

What's that? You wanna know if I had Chicken Kitchen?

It's the only reason I go.

Bring The Water To Horse

Since I didn't go to Miami...

I made my own.

The Secret Recipe

I've been in love with the mustard curry from Chicken Kitchen going on a decade now and never thought to try and make it at home, but after our luck with the chipotle mayo I figured, how bad could it be? A quick search came up with this....

• 2 cups mayo/2 cups sour cream (or just 4 mayo)
• 1/2 cup dijon or yellow mustard
• 3 Tbs + 1 tsp (red) curry powder (probably put a little more in there)
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 juiced lime
• garlic powder (optional)

A couple gallons of this stuff under my tree and I will have a Christmas to end all Christmases.

Miami Is.... And That's What I Want

Always a trip, literally & figuratively when I gotta teach down in Miami, once again, the least likely place I am ever to be found on a vacation, road trip or anything concerning travel on my own volition. The shiny cars, the fancy style, the heat, it's everything I care not to concern myself with. But duty calls. Someday I gotta screen that call.

CHAYCE!!!

He's gotten so big. And he's talking and asking lots of questions. Granted no one can understand him but that doesn't stop him. He really is too cute and a handful I'm sure. Nothing April & Marcos can't handle tho. At least he's taking an early interest in sports.

Here's the crew outside Ale House Friday night.

Then we went to Focal Point to watch Michael's dance class
where Chayce also took over the dance floor.

Saturday mornings are always a little rough.

But when we smell Marcos cooking breakfast it gives
us that boost we know we'll need to make it thru the day.

Spent a little time being creeped out by Chayce's vast array of Elmo toys.

And then took a quiet moment to reflect on just why I come
down here so often, and what I am doing with this life.

Taught the kids a ton of counts and I gave myself a wicked blood blister.

For the evening we headed to Bahama Breeze for dinner. The grilled peppers stuffed with goat cheese was delectable. And for an entree I had the mango butter pan seared salmon. Eating healthy, here come the holidays.

But this is the real reason I visit Miami.

The genius chop-chop chefs...

And mustard curry to die for.


Now I can't wait to go back, but if someone can find me a recipe for this mustard curry, maybe I can save Braddock some money.

Just Another Day In Miami (For Me At Least)

While you read thru this keep in mind that I live a very fast-paced, non-stop, high-octane lifestyle and please don't try to reproduce the events described in the following timeline without first consulting a physician to ensure your heart can withstand the extreme strain that I endure on a daily basis. And don't hate.

5:32 am - receive text from Francis, she is on her way to work

5:33 am - roll over, realize I fell asleep on the couch (again), and turn on ESPN

5:56 am - receive text from Francis, she is at work

5:57 am - fall back asleep

6:21 am - wake up to April crashing down the stairs & moaning

6:33 am - pack April's lunch & send her off to work

6:35 am - try to find some cartoons but end up back on ESPN

8:04 am - have a bowl of vanilla almond Special K

8:08 am - have another bowl of vanilla almond Special K

10:49 am - get bored of sports and flip channels

10:50 am thru 12:49 pm - watch various programs including Tom & Jerry, Awakenings, a special on Hitler's manager Albert Speer, and that channel that scrolls thru the other channels and tells you what's on

12:50 pm - leave the house for a walk

12:51 pm - call Francis at work, she is too busy to talk

1:08 pm - buy a pint of Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream at Publix

1:11 pm - buy lunch at Chicken Kitchen


1:17 pm - sprint back to April's

1:24 pm - stop to take a few pictures of trees (and catch my breath)



1:36 pm - sit down to enjoy a delicious lunch, deluxe chop chop


1:48 pm - take a "full-belly" nap

2:33 pm - try and figure out this facebook thing

3:00 pm - April comes home from work, moans, and takes a nap

3:24 pm - eat half a pint of Ben Jerry's cookie dough ice cream

4:09 pm - April wakes up & we watch the last few scenes of "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days"

4:27 pm - April cries

4:28 pm - turn on ESPN

5:18 pm - peel potatoes


5:27 pm - shower

5:49 pm - watch "Monk" (eh)

6:30 pm - salivate over the dinner April & Marcos (& I) have prepared


6:33 pm - eat the dinner April & Marcos (& I) have prepared

6:59 pm - take a call from Francis, she is home safe & sound

7:00 pm - watch "Everybody Loves Raymond"

8:00 pm - start watching the new American Gladiators

8:02 pm - turn off the new American Gladiators

8:15 pm - start watching the BCS championship game

10:52 pm - talk to Fran about pushing the PODS delivery back some more

11:11 pm - say goodnight to Francis

11:12 pm - continue to watch Ohio get embarassed by LSU

11:29 pm - finished off that pint of Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream

11:49 pm - BCS game ends, OSU 24 - LSU 38

11:50 pm - turn on Letterman just in time to see them shave Dave

11:55 pm - settle in on a good zombie flick

11:57 pm - post this blog

Back In Miami

Sooooo I am back in Miami. Yup. For 10 days this time. Knocking out three jobs at once. I have always prided myself on efficiency. I flew in on JetBlue, watching an America's Next Top Model marathon & snapped a few handsome shots of Miami before landing.





April and her gang are never dull but this time they had some new tricks up their sleeves which, actually, I am supposed to keep a secret so let's just say that April & Marco really know how to "ring" in a (baby) new year.

A few shots from the weekend:


Shortly before my arrival there was a safari massacre in April's bathtub.


I managed to cure my boredom with April's bathroom mirrors, albeit momentarily.


Alex tried so hard to hide his manic enthusiasm during rehearsal.


During a brief moment of clarity, I chased this cloud around the building & named him Matecumbe.


Proof that I had Chicken Kitchen (the actual food was gone too fast for the camera).


A six.

So I'm done with the 1st weekend. Got tomorrow off. Bouncing around this week and ending up back where I started. Should be good times.

Oh and the New York football Giants won the wild card game. Surprised? I was. Hopefully 3rd time will be a charm against the Cowboys next weekend. I'm not crossing anything.