Jim & Klara

June 17, 2010







Jim & Klara



There are some people who become such a part of the fabric of your life that you sort of take it for granted that they are around. Such is the case with my friend Jim Hale, I was trying the other day to recall how long I have known him and how we first met and I just could not place it. It just seems that he has always been around at least as long as I have been in Key West. Like many friends, we can go weeks or months without seeing each other, so it was somewhat of a surprise when he invited me to his wedding, especially considering that I was not even aware that he was involved with anyone.







Jim is one of the most fascinating Keys characters that I know. Most people will recognize him for the many years that he would ride his bike around with his dog slung over his shoulder, or many might know him through his beloved racing pigeons that he races and releases at special events (including his own wedding as well as our own wedding).







Love has a way of creating the type of whirlwind courtship that Jim & his bride Klara seem to have experienced, and so I found myself along with many other friends joining Jim & Klara on Rest Beach for their sunset wedding ceremony this week. It was a beautiful warm (hot) night for the ceremony, which was simple and beautiful and I have to say in the many years that I have known Jim; I don’t think that I have seen him happier.







After the vows were exchanged, toasts were exchanged with shots of Tequila for all and the happy couple rode away in true Jim Hale fashion on his Harley. It was just another wonderful Key West experience that I was happy to be a small part of. Here’s wishing Jim & Klara all the best. Congrats!







In addition to the wedding, I had the happy experience to reconnect with our friend and former Key West resident, Janine, who is back once again for another visit from her home in Madison. She has been here all week, but I just had not had the chance to see her until I joined her and our friend Gae for dinner at the wonderful Hogfish Grill on Stock Island.

Gae, Michael & Janine

Gae & Janine



It is always great to see Janine and we always have a great time, reminiscing and hanging out. I’m sure Kathy is disappointed that she won’t get to see Janine on this visit, but with Janine having a birthday coming up this fall, we just may end up heading to Madison. Kathy has slowly begun making her way home after three weeks away. She plans on visiting friends along the Eastern seaboard as she makes her way South, reporting in last night from Staten Island, New York.

Oil & Water

June 15, 2010

Learning to Clean Oiled Birds



Rugby Match

Oil & Water

I have always attempted to keep this blog mostly positive and free of much of the negativity and bad news that is so prevalent in our society today and can easily be found on any number of other sites. I try to refrain from addressing politics, religion and any other potentially hot-button issues, keeping in mind that I have many friends and possibly readers of this blog who have their own personal beliefs and certainly don’t need to have mine or Kathy’s foisted upon them in such a public setting.



The on-going disaster of oil free-flowing into the Gulf of Mexico is an unfortunate exception. It is so horrible, so massive and so encompassing that I can’t in good conscious avoid it any longer. Without getting into the blame game or focusing too much on the details of what anyone with a television can see is the worst environmental nightmare in our nation’s history. I want to focus on how the spill has impacted us to date and what is happening here to prepare.

Debbie & Michelle of Key West Wildlife Rescue



First off, I want to be clear that as I write this, there is no oil in the Keys or are we under any immediate threat. In fact, other than the blazing heat, this has been one of the nicest summers in recent memory as far as the crystal clear water and beautiful boating and diving. This is important because at the first sign of a few tar balls (which were not from the Gulf disaster), the media created a frenzy which caused people to cancel trips, hurting our delicate economy.



Having said that, Key West and the Keys have gone about organizing and preparing for the worst case scenario that we hope never comes. There is a great article in TIME magazine (link below) that details the efforts of many locals in spite of the frustration they feel in dealing with Federal, State & Local officials and the rep that BP sent to open a claims office here. I attended a couple of meetings organized by C.E.R.T.S (Citizen Emergency Response Team Services) at Sippin’ where officials and concerned citizens spoke about the crisis. Just attending the meetings is frustrating as it becomes redily evident that as much as people want to help, that officials are unprepared (at best) or unwilling (at worst) to accept the assistance.

C.E.R.T.S.meeting



I decided that it might be best to just get as prepared personally as possible in case the Keys are impacted. So I signed up to take the OSHA 24 hour HAZWOPER –hazardous material class and last weekend took a 9 hour class at FKCC entitled “Oiled Wildlife Response” that was taught by Lee Fox, director of Sarasota based “Save Our Seabirds”.

Lee




The informative class was about half classroom work and half field experience learning the techniques to clean oiled seabirds. We used roadkill, dead ospreys and cormorants to train and to learn the procedure to clean the birds. Hopefully I will never have to put this skill to work locally, but being prepared can’t hurt. Now I have to get some practical experience working with live birds at the Key West Wildlife Rescue.

Coach Barry & Key West Rugby




The Oil crisis is not the only thing that was going on this week in Key West. I headed out last Friday evening to watch a series of competitive sporting events between the sailors aboard the visiting British Royal Naval Ship HMS Manchester and local soccer and Rugy clubs. It was the latest in a series of friendly matches over the past few years and the first I had seen.







The Rugby match was especially intense. The wicked 90 plus degree heat and direct sun took its toll on the players with the Brits especially affected, most likely contributing to their 19-10 defeat at the hands of the Key West Rugby Club. The Key West Club looked great and it was a tough, tough contest. Incredibly difficult conditions prevailed. The Soccer games were a split with the Brits claiming a 2-0 victory in the B group and losing 9-0 to the Key West A team, composed mainly of players from Key West High. It was a fun, hot night.



Time Magazine Article

Keys Spill.org -Keys Oil Info

Save Our Seabirds

Birthday Bonanza

June 14, 2010

Bethany & Richard

Rhett

Todd

Birthday Bonanza

Since returning to Key West from attending the Indy 500 a couple of weeks ago, I have been maintaining a very low profile. Kathy has been gone, heading up in early June to Massachusetts to go to her 25th High School reunion, attend the high school graduation ceremonies of our niece Bayla and spend a few weeks visiting with family and friends along the Eastern seaboard. I have remained here in Key West, taking care of our pets, working and not really getting out so much until this past weekend, when I joined in the celebration of a number of birthdays of my friends Rhett, Todd, Richard & Bethany all who celebrated birthdays over the weekend.

Old Man Rhett



The Key West weather has been hot and humid, much more like late August weather than early June, It has been past 90 for about ten days straight or more. The hot weather finds many Key Westers hitting the water to cool off- either out on a boat or poolside. The four birthday celebrations that I attended all involved pools, drinking, food and fun- pretty standard for summer in Key West.

Trevor

Volley-Sheep

The four birthdays were celebrated in three parties (Richard & Bethany hosted a joint party) over two days that kept me busy party hopping. I started off at the 40th birthday party for our friend Rhett. His wife Melissa worked overtime getting food ready and their home decorated and Rhett worked overtime on the grill, preparing wonderful fall off the bone baby back ribs.





The party was an all day affair, lasting over 12 hours and through a wicked storm and power outage that did little to dampen either the spirits or mood of the festive affair. I made two visits, early and late at the shindig and enjoyed the party immensely. Where else could I have seen a game of volley-sheep?

Dude & Andy

Carol & Tara



In between visits to Rhett’s party, I checked on our sick kitty Suzy, watched the end of the USA vs. England opening World Cup match, which ended in a 1-1 tie and slipped over to the Hilton Haven party of our friends Richard & Bethany. Their respective birthdays are only days apart and their combined party featured a wonderful pool, food, drinks and games. It was a nice chance to see more great friends and to cool off, relax and enjoy the beautiful, hot Key West day.

Seth & Carol

The final birthday celebration was Sunday evening, a wonderful birthday dinner for our friend Todd at the home of mutual friends Tom & Terry. This gathering featured a delicious grilled out meal with T-bone steaks and all the fixings, all served poolside. It was an excellent way to cap off the weekend and the food was fantastic. Thanks to all my friends for inviting me to such great parties. Kathy certainly missed out, and it was nice to get out and think about something other than oil spills, sick pets and the like.



Jackson



Glen