Jeff...Man of Many Hats

When you're a bald guy living in the tropics, keeping your head covered is a priority.

Sometimes "hair" is an option.

 Most days, 

 a straw hat...

...Or a ball cap will do to keep out of the sun.

But, sometimes there are hats to keep warm, like  the greek fisherman's cap...

...Or the one your momma knitted for you.

Sometimes there's the brand names:

Buff...

...And Tilley.

Sometimes hats are for a good cause...

With Howard Livingston

The cap says it all -  "Cruzan Rum"

...Or just because we like Cruzan Rum.

Santa Jeff

And then there's hat's for holidays!

Christmas....

New Year's Eve...

Pot of Gold!

St. Patrick's Day...

 

Snorkel Bunny

Easter...

Cinco de Mayo...

I'll Have Another!

... And Derby.

[Which this year were the same day!]

That's a lot of hats!
[We may need a bigger boat.]

Full Boat [Part 3]

So, in mid-March, we had one more bout of company.  Avid blog followers will probably recognize my friend, Angela, from previous blogs ...[Angela's Visit ('09), Angela's Adventure ('10), Return of the Redhead ('11)]...but on this quick visit, she brought along her boyfriend, Chip.

They arrived in the early afternoon on a Wednesday just as I was getting off work.  We promptly gathered their luggage and shuttled them out to the sail boat where cocktails ensued.  Knowing our guests would be fatigued from a day of travel, we watched the sun set, gave Chip his first lesson in conch shell blowing, then dinghied off to Dockside for a bite of dinner.

The next morning, Angela and Chip had plans to go fishing on one of the local charter boats.  It was a half day trip and I promptly picked them up at noon and whisked them to Castaways for a much needed bloody mary.  They had a great time on their excursion, but the fish just didn't cooperate and it wasn't a big haul.  It was enough, however, to make use of Castaway's "You Hook It, We'll Cook It" policy and Chip ended up with a blackened snapper sandwich of which the main ingredient had been swimming less than 2 hours prior.  Talk about fresh seafood!

Before I go any further, I should probably introduce you to Angela's other traveling companion.
This is Chipmonkey ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>>>>>>>>
He's a Rushton Vintage Collectable with origins in the 1950's "Howdy Doody Show" and he has traveled the globe with Chip, the human.  Mostly used as a photo prop, Chipmonkey has seen his share of adventures...all well documented.
[Think Traveling Gnome.]
Chipmonkey's trip to Marathon would be no exception.

Here he is deep-sea fishing with mate, Tim, to help him out.

And here he's making friends with Ruckus at the docks.

After our lunch at Castaways, we all headed to Big Pine where we looked for the elusive Key Deer.
We found several.
Most of which looked at us and shied away, but not this brave guy!  He actually started wagging his tail and then walked right up to the car and gave Chipmonkey a nuzzle.




Next, we visited the Blue Hole and it's 2 resident alligators.
Pretty cool, Chipmonkey!



On our way back to town, we stopped and bought some basic supplies:  Key West pink shrimp, and stone crab claws.
Dinner tonight would be on the boat.  Shrimp and grits...always a favorite.  Throw in a side of crab claws and some grilled peppers stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon and how could you go wrong?
One of the "basic supplies" we forgot to acquire was fuel for the generator and since everyone was ready for a nice, hot shower some needed to be obtained.
The boys made a quick trip to shore where a funny thing happened that Jeff will continue to tease Chip about so therefore, I had to include it.

Celebrity Look-Alike?

While at the Publix, Chip was asked by the cashier if he was the guy on the cover of the National Enquirer:  the controversial,"Dancing With the Stars" celebrity - Chaz Bono.

Chaz Bono

Hmmmmm....




The boys returned with Jeff in a fit of a giggles, then it was hot showers and a tasty dinner for all.

Friday we had big plans to do a lot of nothing.  We all slept late then enjoyed my nearly famous pressed cuban breakfast sandwich while sipping tea in the cockpit.
Soon, the beverage of choice was mimosas.

Next, I headed to shore to retrieve our Friday main event...2 boxes of fresh, raw oysters.
Upon my return, the shucking commenced!

Friends popped in to share in our mollusk-ular fun and it was a good day on the S/V Thin Line!

Just before sunset, we all got cleaned up and we headed to shore where a cab awaited to take us to Castaways for a evening of more friends, food, and the melodic emanations of  Dan Sullivan.
There was an abundance of dancing, carousing, and cocktails...and another cab ride home.

Saturday dawned with everyone a little worse for the wear but we were volunteering to work the Seafood Festival, regardless!

While Jeff had to make a boat run, Angela and I donned our volunteer shirts and with Chip in tow, headed to the back gate.  The Marathon Seafood Festival, a 2 day event in the city park next door, is the biggest event that happens during the year and we love having company come and share it with us.  I have volunteered myself, our company, and unsuspecting friends for the past 4 years.  The job comes with a t-shirt, free admission, and a 2 hour shift admitting festival-goers into the gates.  It's easy.  It's fun.  And I like it.  Can't wait until next year!

We made the mistake this year of having a bit too much fun...or too few brain cells,  and we forgot to pick up the rental car that would take Angela and Chip to the airport the following day!
It didn't even occur to us until we were relaxing, having a snack in the shade at Burdines...30 minutes after the rental place closed.  Oops.

Oh well...nothing to be done about it until morning.
We headed back to the boat, enjoyed a lovely sunset, and turned in early for a good night's sleep.

The next morning, with fingers crossed, I called AVIS and was told it would be a bit before we could get a car...but at least there was one to be had!

We headed off in the dinghy for breakfast at nearby Dockside to wait it out.
And WAIT we did!
Breakfast took over an hour just to make it to the table, albeit, it was really good when it finally got there...or we were starving. One or the other.
Perhaps both.
No matter, though.  It seems to be an island thing and so it was Ang and Chip's last little dose of  life in the Keys before they headed back to the hustle and bustle of the mainland.

I think this trip only furthered Angela's desire to sell her things, leave it all, and live on a boat...

...And maybe Chip caught the bug as well.



And let's not forget Chipmonkey.  I think he would LOVE living on an island!

Pig Races!

There are a lot of fun events that go on here in Marathon and whereas Seafood Festival may be my favorite [blog coming soon!], the Pig Races rank right up there as well.  To celebrate National Pig Day and their 25th anniversary of being in business, the Stuffed Pig Restaurant hosted the pig races for the first time the last weekend in February, 2009, and we were there.  We had no idea what we were in store for, but we had a blast and have attended every year since.
[See - Pig Races 2010]
What is there not to like?
There's food and drink, parimutuel betting, racing PIGS, and the whole town turns out to see it.

There are pigs so fast you can barely get their picture:

And then there are the pigs
that
take
their
time...

We even get local celebrities at the races!  I was quite tickled to get to hang out with US1 Radio personality, Leigha Fox.

I was also tickled to win $12 on a big named Tyrone the Terrible.  I am pretty sure that's him up there sporting the number 2.

So, if you ever need a vacation destination for the end of February, I highly recommend you come for the Pig Races!

I'll see you there!

Full Boat [Part II]

So, Denise and Kelly left on Tuesday, and when I came home from work on Thursday our second set of company had arrived:  Steve and Lisa Lindell from Louisville, Ky.

Thursdays at the marina are "Movie Night" and by the time I arrived, the movie - The Birdcage - had already started and our guests were comfortably seated with snacks and beverages.  During the second feature - The Blues Brothers - we ordered Chinese and when the movie was over we headed back to the boat for a good night's sleep.

Friday was spent floating around on the boat and relaxing.  I made us one of my soon-to-be-famous breakfast sandwiches with ham and cheese and apples slices on pressed Cuban bread and we listened to music and caught a few rays.  Evening came around, and we headed to Castaways for some live music and dinner.

Boys @ Castaways

Saturday morning we headed to shore for a bit for the marina bake sale and a few errands and then back for another relaxing day on the boat.  The boys played some guitar, practicing for music at the tiki in the evening.

Chef Misty

 Friends, Charles and Hilary, dropped by for happy hour snacks and sunset cocktails and afterwards, we grilled some bacon wrapped peppers, steamed some shrimp, and cooked up a pot of cheese grits for dinner.

Eventually, we headed to shore to join the Saturday night festivities.  Steve and Jeff jammed out a handful of songs for the crowd and Lisa sang one as well.

It was a late of night, but a good time!

Stevie - Guitar Demon!

On Sunday, I left my company in Jeff's capable hands and headed off to work.  By Sunday evening the weather had taken a turn for the worse and as we were discussing where to go for dinner, it started pouring down rain!  I gave it a minute or two of consideration thinking of what we had to eat on the boat then promptly set a bowl of leftover shrimp in front of my guests for them to peel while I started up a pot of rice and beans.  I cut the peeled shrimp into bite size pieces and heated them in a sauce of salsa verde, garlic, and butter.  It was a yummy, impromptu meal and everyone was happy not to have to brave the weather and a wet dinghy ride to shore.

Come Monday morning, I returned to work while Steve and Lisa entertained themselves.  That evening I met them at Dockside where our friend, Dan Sullivan, was performing. We had lots of friends in attendance and it was a really good time.  After a few cocktails and a bit of dinner, I left my car in the lot and traveled home with the rest of my crew via dinghy.

Tuesday morning rolled around and Steve and Lisa decided to head to Key West for a couple of days - but not without first doing a load of laundry!
Jeff had a snorkel boat run that morning so we all packed up our things and headed into shore.  When the laundry was all said and done, my company headed West after first stopping by the Marathon airport to see the traveling display of WWII planes...and I went into work.

The Lindell's spent 2 nights in Key West seeing the sights, but they were back on Thursday in time for another movie night.  This time the flick was Captain Ron - an all time favorite here in the harbor!  We ordered a pizza to be delivered and called it a night.

Perhaps this champagne was a little too DRY!

Friday ended up being a lovely day here in the bright, sunshiney Florida Keys.  We started off with a bit of bubbly on the boat but we had big plans for the evening with oysters and scallops on Charles and Hilary's catamaran, Ship O' Fools.

Delivered directly to the marina, we ordered a 50 lb box of oysters and a couple pounds of bay scallops.  Dinner was to be all you could eat oysters with all the fixings and tiny bay scallops sauteed in butter, garlic, lemon and white wine over buttery orzo with onion, spinach, and parsley.  With a side of steamed asparagus and some crusty bread, we had quite the lovely dinner amongst good friends.

On Saturday, Jeff got called in to make the snorkel run to the reef and Steve and Lisa opted to join him.  I got everyone to shore, and then headed to a local art show and then to the grocery to plan a nice meal for our guests.  This was to be their last night here before they started their trek north.  I wasn't sure how the day was going to go out  on the Starfish...it might be a little rough...and I wasn't sure how everyone would fare.
I decided mojito's - Lisa's favorite cocktail - were in order so that the mint could soothe possibly upset bellies.

It ended up, they had a great time and I was worried for nothing.

Lisa on the nets!

Lisa still appreciated the mojito's, though!

In fact, I think we all did!

For dinner, we had an appetizer of bacon wrapped shrimp then burgers loaded with smoked gouda cheese and all the fixings and hashbrowns.           
YUM.

I have no doubts that the Lindell's had a great time during their stay on the S/V Thin Line, after all, I did keep them well fed and watered!
We hope they'll come back soon, because we had a great time as well!

A Full Boat [Part 1]

Right now, I am less than a month behind in my blogging because I am getting ready to tell you about life on the S/V Thin Line - January 29th through the 31st.

Our first round of company arrived:  Jeff's mom, Denise, and her husband, Kelly.

It was only a short visit, but we love seeing them whenever we can.  They rented a condo in the Sarasota area for a couple of weeks and came down to the Keys before checking in.

They arrived on Sunday afternoon and we shuttled them back to the boat to relax and catch up.  Eventually the subject of dinner came up and we had to make a decision on where we were going.
We decided to meet friends at Castaway's and had a great dinner and a lot of fun.

Those of you familiar with our boating lifestyle understand to get back and forth from the boat to land and back again requires a ride in a dinghy.  And if you go out at night, you do this in the dark.

For safety's sake, a light that can be seen 360 degrees around is required.  We've had various lights on the dinghy...the preferred method being a solar light on a pole.  But our pole was displaced in a towing incident and the solar light has conked out.
But never fear!  We have a back-up battery-powered light equipped with a suction cup.
Normally, you would use the suction cup to secure the light on top of the motor, but sometimes...

...boys will be boys!

Monday, was not the prettiest day we've ever seen in the Keys but we didn't care.  The overcast skies and wind weren't going to ruin our day.  We started off with coffee and tea in the cockpit and then I made us a breakfast sandwich of smoked ham, cheddar and muenster cheeses, and apple pressed in Cuban bread.  We didn't really have any plans for the day nor did we really care to make any.  The boys ended up taking off in the dinghy to take water to a neighboring boat and Denise and I played cards.  When the menfolk returned, we were given the choice of going to the grocery or cleaning the grill.  Us, girls, opted for the former.  The goal was to bring back the biggest chicken we could find so we could smoke it on the Cobb grill and since cooking a really big bird takes 3-4 hours, this was going to be an all day event. Denise and I returned from our shopping expedition to messy boys but a clean grill.  It was time to get that chicken started so while Jeff lit the flame, I prepped the poultry by stuffing it with pieces of orange, apple, and lemon, and then sprinkled it generously with garlic, pepper, and jerk seasoning.
Now it was time for cocktails and a casual afternoon aboard the S/V Thin Line spent in good company.
Needless to say, the chicken turned out magnificently - smoky, juicy, tender - and served with mashed potatoes and mixed greens, you just can't ask for a better dinner...or a better day!

The next morning, we all went for breakfast at the 7-mile grill and then Kelly and Denise headed north.  It was a great visit...even if it didn't last long and Denise did beat me at cards 3 out of 3 times!
We hope to see them again soon.

Stay tuned...More company to follow!