Merry Christmas

Joey's Orange Speedo with a Variation

Saturday, September 18, 2021

Perfect afternoon for a cigar out back. 

For cocktail hour I made a Joey's Orange Speedo but with a variation.

Instead of making it on the rocks and topping it off with strawberry Bubly I shook the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, strained it, added not ice and did not top it off. 

I listed to some Shelly Manne...

...but also some new Abba. Forty years since their last album. Wow. 

Day for Reflection

Saturday, September 11, 2021

Three weeks back at work and I'm exhausted, but in a good way. I feel we got a lot accomplished. Great day to sit out back with a cigar.

Reflected for a bit on that horrible day which is now exactly 20 years behind us. I know it's a cliche but I'll say it anyway: Where does the time go? Dale and I stopped by Cindi and Maggie's earlier this afternoon for a small gathering and I had the chance to talk with Laura who is a high school music teacher. We chatted about our experiences as teachers in regard to the past 18 months of the pandemic. We discussed how over the summer we had a chance to start processing what it's been like dealing with the aftermath of doing distance learning for 1-plus school years. We've both become aware of some PTSD-like symptoms that have developed like surges of intense emotions coming from nowhere, general malaise, and episodes of brain fog. I realized, surprisingly, that I've haven't processed these after-effects with another teacher to the extent I was able today. Wow, the first 20 years of the 21st century have been bookended by a couple of seriously traumatic events.

Yet, obviously, life goes on. Having the chance to reflect on hard times and the ability to recognize our resilience and success in making it through them is a gift. Today was a beautiful day to do just that. 

Tiki Town Vol. 1 - Playlist

Tiki Town Vol. 1

Playlist found on Apple Music.

                      

Labor Day, 2021 - The Tiki Hour

Monday, September 6, 2021

Today has been a most beautiful summer day which is especially nice on this last official day of summer. 

It was a great day for a cigar in the back yard. 

This cigar was a La Gloria Cubana. 

And it wasn't as strong as the cigar I had a few days ago. 

Sat in the backyard with Dale...

...and listend to Mondo Exotica. 

We moved inside to the porch and entered the Mermaid Lounge.

And Athena begged for snacks. 

I made a Joey's Orange Speedo, or two. 

And listened to Ritual of the Savage by Les Baxter. 

The Tiki Hour

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Perfect afternoon for a cigar in the yard. 

This was a Romeo y Julieta I picked up at Anthony's Cigar Lounge on Lake Street. It was strong and a little tough on the draw. I had to work for it but it was oddly pleasurable to the taste. 

It was nice sitting in the back yard. It was a most pleasant day. 

Listened to some exotica. 

And had a Joey's Orange Speedo. 

Athena wanted something. She kept bugging Dale. We weren't sure if she wanted us to cook or if she wanted to go outside. It turns out she wanted to go out so I took her. It was nice to have some time on the porch.