odds and ends

Getting back to "normal" is not easy 

    Just some odds and ends about my trip with Emily to Key West.

    I learned my phone tracks my steps.  Here is how many miles I walked:  W 6.3; Th 1.9; F 3.2; SA 5.2; Su 3.  Today? .9

    I was wearing my Cubs sweatshirt.  Some guy yelled "Go Cubbies!" as I walked past.  It was outside a marijuana store, and I thought he yelled "Go Gummies," so I did not answer.

    We walked a little an Emily pointed out he said, "Go Cubbies."

    On the way back he was still there and I said to him, "I'm sorry for ignoring you.  I thought you said, Go Gummies".

    That lead to a highly disjointed (pun intended) conversation about a lot of things from a guy who was really willing to talk while abandoning his job of weaving hats from palm  leaves  After about 10 minutes Emily dragged me away and asked me not to engage with homeless people again.

    We went to a pizza place called Onlywood.  Nice Italian lady seated us.  I said I needed some time to look at the menu.  When. I decided she came back and asked what I wanted.  I told her I would have the wood fired pepperoni pizza.

    "We don't have any pepperoni,"  she said.  "No pepperoni. Pick something else."

    So I picked the cheese and she laughed and said, "Of course we have pepperoni!  I figured you for a pepperoni guy!"

    We had a good laugh and a great pizza.

    At another place I wanted sausage and peppers, but I misread the menu.  That only came on a pizza that also included mushrooms and eggplant.  It was pretty darn good.

    When in Key West, why would you eat at a McDonald's or Wendy's?

    Almost every place we ate had grouper.  I had never had grouper and was afraid to try it.  I finally Googled grouper and it was described as a light, flaky sweet tasting fish.  So I decided to order it at the next restaurant we went to.

    They did not have it on the menu.  That was Saturday and we left Sunday.

    My balance was an issue.  I walked like a drunk at 11 a.m.  I think people wondered about the old man.

    I ate more key lime pie in a 5 days than I ate in my lifetime.  I now love key lime pie if it is well made.

    I felt guilty and overtipped in a couple of places.  But I did not tip at the t shirt shop.  Really? A tip jar in a retail shop?

    90 miles from Cuba and I did not have any Cuban food.  Emily did.  Nor did I have fish tacos.

    I went to the Cuban Coffee Queen for coffee and it was great.  We got Dan and Linda 2 bags cause he loves it.  Today Julia asked why I didn't buy some for me since I liked it.  Good question.

    I had to bet warned to get out of the street a few times.  For some reason, I just stopped in the roadway and looked around. One time I stepped in front of a bicycle and the biker behind him almost hit the ground.  In my defense, they blew their stop sign and I had the right of way.

    We should have had a drink at The Green Parrot.  Looked like a fun spot.

    Back in Chicago I did not have gloves so I put dirty socks on my hands for warmth.

    I have a gazillion pictures to go thru.

      It may be cold here, but it is only 64 there.  Still, I'd take the 64.

Peace and Love