Good Times

November 14, 2009

Jim, Kathy & Michael

Miami

St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders

Good Times

One of the many great things about the tight-knit Key West community is that there always seems to be some sort of celebration taking place and this week was no different. Our friend Jim Smith, who just happens to be rebuilding our bathroom (which was gutted when our lateral lines failed the city’s test and the leak was found under the house) invited us to join with his wife Fiona and friends for his birthday celebration at Braza Lena, my favorite Brazilian steak house.





Fiona & Jim

A large crowd of Jim’s friends gathered for the meat-fest, as Braza Lena features the constant delivery of 16 different cuts of meat which are brought around by gauchos who cut slices based on your personal preference. It was a fun and festive evening and the food and libations were in good supply. The food is truly outstanding and the salad bar is easily the best in Key West. Jim seemed to enjoy himself and we wish him a happy birthday again!!

Graf & Eileen





The next day, I was on the road again, headed up to Miami to attend the 26th annual Miami Book Fair The fair, which is held on the campus of Miami Dade College in downtown Miami is the largest event of its kind in the nation. It features a huge street festival of book sellers, vendors and wacky non-profit and religious groups and over 300 of the best writers in America giving presentations over the weekend.
I made a brief stop at the street fair to give it a once over on Friday afternoon before heading over to check in at the hotel. The crowd on Friday afternoon was very manageable, not the mobs that can crowd the vendors over the weekend. I was able to pick up my passes and free tickets for the more popular author events in advance an be ready for the fair.





Having no plans for Friday evening, I decided it might be interesting to take the short drive up I-95 to Ft. Lauderdale where the number 1 ranked and defending National Champion high school football team, The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders were attempting to complete another perfect season in their game with Cypress Bay.



TD Raiders!

Considering how many great high school football teams there are in America, winning back to back national championships is an amazing feat. The crushing 35-0 pounding they gave Cypress Bay was televised nationally and played before a packed crowd. There was all sorts of talent on the field, many players who will be playing on Sundays in a few years. They honored two players named to the all-America team, Lamarcus Joyner and Phillip Dorsett who then went out and lead the rout. It was cool too because the St. Thomas coach is a Purdue grad and the school uses the Purdue fight song as their school song. The Raiders won their 34th straight game.

Lamarcus Joyner & family





It was a perfect night for football, so perfect that 1000 miles away at the same time, my alma mater, Cathedral High was playing for the regional championship against the New Palestine Dragons. They too won big, cruising to a 45-6 win and moving on what hopefully will be a second straight Indiana State Championship. Go Irish!!