Canes Buzz

 When a team is having a great season, the entire city is abuzz -- and for me, when it's the Canes, that's especially true. We watched them upset Ohio State as 2025 ended for us in San Juan Harbor, causing the most memorable New Year's for me since '83-'84, one whose details, if revealed, would cause nausea for many...

Yesterday I took Wifey over to Baptist for an epidural injection, to try to help the back pain that has once again reared its ugly head. The check in guy, with the heavy Creole accent, saw my Canes shirt and threw up the U. At least half of those waiting were in Canes swag, and we all greeted each other with "Go Canes!"

When I took Wifey back to the pre-procedure room -- same thing with the nurses -- Go Canes, throwing up the U. I didn't bother the tall, handsome doc who was going to do the injection -- I had read he was a double Wolverine, anyway, but the hospitalist threw up the U. The anesthesiologist was a woman of some undetermined Eastern European background, with an accent I sword sounded just like Andy Kaufman's Latka Gravis. She wasn't part of the spirit, either, but did a fine job.

I went to get a coffee at the Baptist atrium, and before I had drained my cup, I got a call. Oh crap! Had they dropped Wifey off the gurney? Nope -- they were all done, and I saw her in recovery -- with a nice nurse with a clear Bridge and Tunnel accent and demeanor.

I chatted with Allison and asked about her background. Mercy in the Grove "when I first moved to Miami," and Baptist for 2 years. When she told me she lived in Bensonhurst and Staten Island, I said "Oh -- so you're Italian?" Of course -- nailed it. Wifey was unimpressed by by geographical and sociological grasp of my native state.

I drove Wifey home, and she napped. I avoided Miriam as much as possible -- it was her 72nd birthday and Wifey asked when she was finally retiring -- an event we long for -- but she said HER pain is better by moving -- she wanted to keep on. I suggested maybe Wifey do some more of that -- SHE clean the house instead of Miriam -- and Wifey smirked "I KNEW you'd say that!"

Miriam left, and Wifey discovered Miriam had popped a pair of expensive sneakers into the washing machine -- probably ruined them. I reminded Wifey you literally have to HIDE stuff from Miriam that you don't want her to wreck...

Anyway -- the buzz is in the air for tonight. Since we're superstitious, we plan to recreate the energy we created for the first upset playoff win. Barry is coming over after work. His boy Josh will watch the first part of the game with Norman and Benji, at Benji's apartment in Kendall, and then join us for the ending.

Hell -- it worked last time -- why not tonight?

I hope we win -- tonight we're favored over Ole Miss -- a game folks are calling Confederates versus Convicts. Ha -- so old. Canes haven't had convicts in years, and it's not like anyone flies Confederate flags anywhere anymore - right?

I invited Chris over, since his Dad has flown to Phoenix, and Chris has a wedding. He had to beg off because of said wedding's activities, but told me his wife is expecting baby number 2 this Summer. I was thrilled for my friends, and told them whatever Canes do -- he made my week.

Not really , Chris corrected me. We STILL need the Canes to win, and I get it. He's a third generation orange and green guy -- I'm only a new immigrant to the shores of Cane-hood, though I started there 47 years ago.

So Go Canes! Let's make it to the Natty -- right here in our home stadium. That'd be awesome.

Sailing Into 2026

 So I got the idea for a NYE cruise a few months back -- wanting to celebrate the new year bigly. Barry, Mike, Donna, and Loni were game, and we booked a San Juan back to Miami trip -- and then the Canes complicated things! Damn team is great this year, and there would be a playoff game on NYE! Worse --- since we'd be sailing back to San Juan harbor, we were an hour ahead -- would our grand trip be really a watch party? Well, it worked out -- the Canes won with minutes (before the ship's horn signaled the new year) and we celebrated in grand style.

Since I always think in song lyrics, Jimmy Buffet's applied here: "It's been a lovely cruise." On Sunday Wifey and I navigated the busiest  I had ever seen MIA (it was the Sunday post Xmas) and made our flight fine -- a bit over 2 hours to San Juan. We met at the Sonesta with our crew, who had flown in earlier, and I got an immediate feeling.

Whenever I visit a place for the first time, I either get a good vibe, neutral one, or negative one. And San Juan was the first -- I dug the place right away, even though we spent just a day there. For dinner, Donna picked a steakhouse in the Fairmont Hotel next door, and it turned out the place was historic -- rat pack era -- casino and banging nightclub in the lobby. After our first large meal (there were a couple -- 25 -- during the trip) we listened to Fania type salsa, which I love -- Tito Puente and Celia Cruz stuff.

The next am a van fetched us for the overpriced short trip to the ship. Wifey and I had taken an Explora before -- Barbados to Miami -- but Mike and Loni and Barry and Donna were rookies. We knew Mike and Loni would love it -- we feared a lot of eye rolling from Barry since the cost is easily 4 times his usual Royal or Celebrity.

Nope. He was hooked -- already wishing to go again -- maybe even a repositioning cruise! Mission accomplished -- a man who needed a great trip more than anyone of my dear friends got it and more.

The only negative, which ended up just being an unforgettable event, was the first excursion in Anguilla. It was a hike in a plantation to a cave, and the brochure said "uneven surfaces." Well -- Donna fell 5 times and Wifey twice. Barry got dragged down one time, and ended up with a badly skinned shin. The hike was truly meant for much more agile and young folks than we -- I lucked out because of my weekly balance and strength training -- I was able to support Wifey most of the trek -- except for twice, when she went down like a sack of potatoes.

But again -- no fractures -- and we decided to cancel the following day's  hike on St. John, and even though it was within the no cancel time, the ship happily refunded the money -- in cash! As the young agent counted off the bills to me, I told her I couldn't recall the last time a young attractive woman paid ME cash -- really any woman at all. She laughed -- I hope I managed to be only minimally creepy.

The rest of the week was a drink and food fest -- with a nice easy tour of Puerto Plata in a private van -- great beachside lunch on the way back to the ship.

After that, the only stop was Key West, and we just walked a bit and headed to Blue Heaven -- alas -- a 1.5 hour wait. I told the hostess our ship would be sailing by then -- we found a serviceable tiki bar type place and had some good fish sandwiches and buckets of vodka and grapefruit juice. Really.

We toasted our manifold blessings. A lot. Barry and I solved all the world's problems on the top deck, in lounge chairs, as the sun set beatifully. It was SO romantic -- until Wifey ruined it by showing up. Ha.

Last night was Sakura -- amazing sushi and pad thai. We said our farewells, and all agreed it was an a (pause) mazing trip.

Barry and Donna were to be fetched by Josh -- Mike. Loni, Wifey and I found Uber issues and so piled into a cab van -- we dropped Mike at his Downtown office -- marveling at the new "Signature bridge" being built. I used to say Miami was a new city every 10 years -- now it's every 5.

The driver then headed south, and dropped off Loni and Wifey and me at our house. For the final bit of hilarity, I noticed the driver, before leaving, walked across the street to our neighbor's wooded area -- and had himself a nice, long piss. I told Loni to turn around, and got the predicted "Oh Lord, Dave!" It seemed appropriate to end with a belly laugh -- as we ended 2025 with some, and began 2026 with others.

Taking Stock

 One of my favorite parts of being a Jew is getting to celebrate TWO New Year's Days. The Jewish New Year is in the Fall, and of course, the secular one in 4 nights. In college, we also learned that the Serbs celebrate NYE later, which was our excuse for a great party after everyone had returned from Winter Break. That celebration was followed by the Hangover Bowl, where the first guy up woke up everyone in Bldg 22, the Honors Dorm, and we played tackle without pads.

I played QB one year, and couldn't get out of bed for 4 days because of the pain. The following year, my roomie Mike was tackled from behind, and shattered his fib/tib. That was the end of the Hangover Bowl...

But a major thing I like to do each NYE or the days before is to take stock of my life. What's good; what I wish to discard. As Bob Seger sang: what to leave in; what to leave out.

I was reminiscing with Paul earlier today. For many years, he employed what I called the "E words" with many people -- thinking his friendship could enlighten them, enliven them, elevate them...there were a few more I can't remember. When his efforts invariably failed, I answered with my stock answer: "He (or she) can't help themself."

It's funny -- in my 65th year -- I believe this more than ever. Oh, I still give advice and support, and most of all love to those I care deeply for -- but to think I can change their outlooks, or even minds about something, is folly.

I also increasingly rely on a small group of inner circle advisors -- those who can see my life issues from above, instead of from within, as I live them. I can and HAVE changed my mind this way. But I'm careful about sharing my opinion when its not desired.

And it's a shame. I see red flags, to quote the overused cliche, more and more -- typically with relationships. I try to gently question folks, and when their denials of what is obvious to me are emphatic -- I back off -- they can't HELP themselves.

All I know is, I savor the days. Yesterday Little Man slept over and did so until 7:15, when I reminded him it wasn't to be a "Bagels at first light" day. Instead, we took a wagon walk (I pulled -- he sat) and fed the fish and turtles and had some honey yogurt. We then left for Mo's, and met Barry, Donna, birthday man Scott, and later Paul and Josh. Little Man had everyone laughing with his energy and vocabulary, and infectious laughter when Dr. Barry examined his full tummy with some tickles. It struck me that alone is why one becomes a pediatrician -- I can't imagine any of my adult doc friends EVER hearing hysterical laughter from their patients...

From there, I dropped him off with Baby Man, and the two acted brotherly -- whacking each other with plastic sabers...and then building and destroying each others' block castles.

I came home and started the sad part of packing. That's when you realize you have to get all your old man meds in order for the trip -- not just sun screen and birth control, as it was back in the day...Ok -- so WAY back in the day...

I'm all packed now -- Wifey got her hair did -- and is finishing up. She ALWAYS makes great fun of me for having us leave WAY too early for MIA -- but now Uber has come to my rescue! When you reserve a ride, as I just did, you plug in your flight, and Uber suggests a pick up time! I swear I heard Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" playing -- I made Wifey put on her glasses and read it for herself -- lest she excoriate me as usual. So the Uber is due tomorrow at 6:25 for our 9:55 flight -- I'm guessing the Sunday after Xmas is a bit nuts there.

Then, Wifey also showed little trust when I told her our itinerary would have NO temps in the 60s -- it's the freaking Caribbean! She had to check for herself -- the DR came close -- a low of 70 on January 2 -- but Wifey has satisfied herself that no coats need be taken along.

What to leave in; what to leave out...

So we're off to San Juan tomorrow -- West Side Story's "America" is my earworm. It occurred to me that play and move can't be made today -- total cultural appropriation! The thing was written and choreographed by a bunch of Ashkenazi Jews. Hell -- even the star, Maria, was played with dark makeup by Natalie Wood. Rita Moreno WAS in the show -- but just as a token...

But they can't take that tune away from me. "Everything better in San Juan..." I guess I'll see for myself.

All I know is 8 days of ultra luxury awaits some of my best by far...the trip costing more than we all paid for 4 years of tuition at UM just a few , um forty years ago.

Here's to a great 2026! To steal from Lennon -- let's hope it's a good one, without any fear...

Noche Buena

 It's funny -- growing up on LI, my Christian friends made a bigger deal about Christmas Day than Eve -- except maybe the Italians. My friend Debbie was of mixed parentage -- Irish Mom and Italian Dad -- and her paternal grandparents were old school -- they would host an amazing get together with plates of delicious food -- mostly seafood -- and I still remember that feast nearly 50 years later.

One year I went to Midnight Mass with Debbie, and I knew enough to not kneel, and as I looked up at the huge statue of Jesus, just kept thinking of the joke about the Jewish juvenile delinquent who failed reform school and jail, only to straighten out when his Jewish Mom relented to the pleas of her friend Mrs. O'Leary and sent him to Catholic School -- young Joel came home an angel. When asked why, he said "I looked up and saw what they did to that guy on the cross, and I knew THESE GUYS meant business!"

My youthful Christmas Day memories were mostly centered around my brother in law Dennis's parents' house in Levittown -- and sometimes a moveable feast to his lovely aunt and uncle Betty and Bill. Dennis's younger brother and sister, Michael and Kathy, would be showered with Christmas gifts, and I would get maybe one sort of consolation gift.

I remember whining about that to my Mom on the way home, and she answered "David -- you get gifts ALL year -- not just one day. You are NOT deprived!" I sort of bought that, but to an 8 or 9 year old, it felt being deprived.

Maybe that contributed to my later on not only not wanting stuff, but actually being revolted by it. Unless it's Stoli Elit -- I always like getting a bottle of that...

In Miami, I've been invited to several noche buenas, with caja chinas (Chinese boxes) roasting whole pigs. Those are fun -- the men standing around the pit, drinking Heinekins (not sure how the Dutch beer became the cerveza of choice) and then later singing and enjoying the feast.

This year, none of that for us -- just scrambling to find boarding for the Special Needs Spaniel. Wifey thought our long time housekeeper Miriam would move here and watch him, but last night she texted us in Spanish to beg off.  

D1 told us of a boarding place named Pet Lodge, and Wifey called, and was unable to deal with the owner since "I don't understand accents." I grabbed the phone and learned that indeed this may be a solution. 

I just want no tensosity before our trip. Ha. I also want to be Tom Brady sometimes -- that's not happening either.

But assuming the one living creature we have responsibility for is accounted for -- then we can fly to San Juan. And I am CONVINCED that Bo is our , at least MY, last non granddog dog.

So Ebenezer Dave bah humbugs into Xmas...

A Winning Team And Its City

 In my nearly 46 years in the 305, I've been around a lot of sports champion teams. The still pretty new Marlins -- 2 Series titles. The Heat -- 3 titles. The Fins have made the Super Bowl a few times since I've been here, but haven't won since before I arrived. The Panthers have 2 Cups -- trying for that Pat Reilly patented phrase Three-peat this year. Canes baseball -- 4 titles. Pretty, pretty, pretty impressive.

And here the thing -- the whole town gets happier with wins. My main team, the U, won a playoff game Saturday -- hopefully on our way to Ring #6. And yesterday, just walking around with my Canes shirt -- folks started up conversations -- it's very cool.

At the nail salon, where I got my pre-cruise pedicure, 2 older ladies, both U grads, chatted me up. One was a retired WHO nutrition expert, and the other a widow of a long time UM Med School Radiology professor, who died in 2024. We shared tales of our Canes experiences -- I told both I would be on a NYE cruise the night of the Ohio State game, and somehow a luxe NYE dinner was now going to be a game watching event. We all understood.

I never got backing losers -- like Cubs fans, or Red Sox fans, or NY Jets fans. I was lucky as a kid -- the Jets won the Super Bowl when I was 8, and the Knicks a few championships. Most important, my Mets miraculously won in '69, too -- that was the golden age of NY sports. But when teams lose and lose and you care -- it's depressing.

The counter argument is that sometimes fandom is a birthright. Yeah -- so might be alcoholism and pedophilia -- but when something is toxic -- change it!

Of course -- I'm Mr. Big Talk -- I continued to cheer on my Canes through a lot of mediocre times. Now that we can see the mountain top again -- well -- that's just grand.

I spoke today with Karen, one of Wifey's BFF's sister, who is a MAJOR Canes fan -- despite being a UF alum. Her late father was OG Canes -- in his later years, his cardiologist asked he not watch the games as it hyper-excited him. I can see that happening to me someday. Luckily Lou got to see a bunch of championships before he went that great Orange Bowl in the Sky. I expect that if there's a heavenly Orange Bowl, the urinals won't leak onto the fans in the lower deck...

Meanwhile Wifey solved a pre- trip issue -- what to do with the senior, aging Spaniel. Bo has become emotionally needy in his senescence -- barks and cries while left alone. During our last trips, D2 kept him, and had to bring him to her room at night, but he also snores, and that kept awake Jonathan.

We thought we figured it out -- Bo would spend days at D2 daycare, and spend nights sleeping with Little Man -- but we realized he STILL barks and whines, and D1 is afraid of him keeping up her boys -- and her!

So Wifey started calling around to sitters and referred sitters -- turns out that Xmas week, everyone was all booked up.

Wifey mentioned this to Miriam today, our 3 decade housekeeper, and Miriam and her husband Marvin will stay at our house for the week. Their 30 year trailer evicted them last Summer, and they've been staying with their son and his family in West Dade -- I think they'll welcome the change -- and the money won't hurt, either.

As I told Wifey, this is PRECISELY why I wish Bo to be our final dog - granddogs will be plenty for me. As Wifey's bad back has reared its ugly head, she can't even lift up the 11 pound guy. Wifey thinks the answer is a tiny dog next time around -- my masculinity isn't secure enough to allow that -- so we maybe headed to couples therapy when Bo crosses the Rainbow Bridge. I guess we'll cross that bridge when Bo gets to it.

Meanwhile, the year grows short. I've been busy with Todd, my Muni guy, harvesting losses to offset the gains this year f rom Eli Lilly (yay fat people)!. 

We mercifully have no Noche Buena plans, and then on Thursday while a lot of the world celebrates the birth of the Jewish guy from Bethelem, we will celebrate Wifey's birthday.

And then, Big Man willing, pack some warm weather clothes and call an Uber Sunday am -- to MIA and a flight to San Juan.

And man -- a Canes championship to start off 2026? That would be just grand...

The Orange and Green

 I say it all the time, but I kind of wish I wasn't such a rabid Canes fan. With the time I spend watching them, traveling to games, and talking about games, I could, I don't know -- do more significant stuff.

Yesterday they were in the first ever College Football Playoff - really their first chance to proceed towards a national championship since they were robbed of their 6th ring in 2003. They were underdogs at Texas A and M, and Barry said he'd drive down to watch here -- I brought in sandwiches from Boulangerie, a French place owned by Venezuelan Jews. Josh might join us later on.

His coming over to watch with Wifey and me brought back a memory of 41 years before. I had a nasty cold, and decided to skip the rainy, cool Orange Bowl where we were hosting BC, and their little annoying QB Doug Flutie. Barry felt bad for me, and so came to our shag carpeted apartment -- Eric and Dana went to the game. I had a decent TV -- a Sony 19 inch color job, bought as a gift by my sugar mama Wifey -- not yet Wifey -- just bottom squeeze. The TV sat atop our cinder block and plywood shelves.

The game became an infamous one, as the little vantz Flutie threw a Hail Mary at the end, to beat us. Barry fell to his knees and buried his face in the carpet. I did the same. Had there been phones with cameras, I have zero doubt Wifey would have taped us. We were forlorn. We were disgusted.

Yesterday, in a much more meaningful game, it ended VERY differently -- a freshman DB made the game ending INT for the Canes,and we won. We jumped up and down on our arthritic knees (not Josh -- he's young) and were thrilled. I poured us a celebratory 3 Tito's, and we basked in happiness.

Wifey and I had to leave -- delayed birthday party for Little Man. We arrived at a happy house -- 2 boys and their neighbor friend Riley -- Riley's Mom Sunny, and D1's pilates friend Harley -- all eating pasta brought from Pasta Luna, a great MiMo place. D2 and Jonathan and Betsy joined, too, and there was a toy Australian Shepherd bunking in, too -- D1's German friends were off visiting a sick mom, and D1 agreed to watch the cute little dog (I said maybe it was a lamb dog, given her size).

We lit the 7th night Chanukah candles, and sang happy birthday to Little Man. He and his brother kept emerging in a series of different outfits -- kind of like mini Village People. Jonathan and I had some Ketel, the better to endure the noise and tumult. It was a delightful night -- one I think will stay in the memory banks for as long as my memory banks operate.

Meanwhile, the upcoming NYE cruise has a wrinkle. The Canes play Ohio State, with whom we have a quarter century score to settle, on New Year's Eve! And, we'll be in San Juan, an hour ahead, which means the game WILL be going on as 2026 comes in.

This happened once before -- Wifey's 60th cruise. Canes were hosting FSU and Norman and I watched a lot of the game during dinner, to the annoyance of 2/3 of the wives. Eh -- what are ya gonna do?

This trip, Wifey, Loni, and Donna KNOW their 3 husbands are ultra orthodox followers -- they will understand there WILL be watching among the NYE festivities. 

And if the Canes can upset the heavily favored Buckeyes -- well -- there may be midnight pool dips...

Regardless, it's been a great season -- native son Mario Cristobal's 4th. He built the team from the lines out, as he said, and they're doing great. I'm VERY glad I renewed my season's tickets -- year 47 now. And I plan to indoctrinate Little Man into the fraternity.

On their way out, Barry and Josh and I said the Chanukah prayer as I lit the electric menorah. I just lit the 8th and final bulb -- the holiday is over tomorrow.

Thursday is a big celebration for the birthday of some other Jewish guy over 2K years ago, and we will gather at Sadelle's in the Grove for Wifey's birthday -- a number not to be published, nor revealed she was born when Eisenhower was president...

Then we'll pack, and get ready to jet off to San Juan -- mustering with Mike and Loni and Barry and Donna for a night there before leaving on the Explora ship -- first to the East -- Antigua and St. John, and then back to San Juan for NYE and that football game.

Loni's birthday and our 39th anniversary will be celebrated aboard -- assuming the US Navy doesn't mistake our ship for a Venezuelan drug vessel and cut short our voyage.

Nah -- likely won't happen. Now if the Canes can just muster better offense...

A Drive By Nutting

 So I was enjoying a lovely conversation with D2 today, as she turned onto her leafy Miami Shores street, and I heard a thud followed by her screaming "OMG -- that the hell was that?" As an anxious Dad, luckily that interjection was NOT followed by silence, or worse, by more screams, as that would have aged me instantly MORE than the normal aging that comes from being an anxious father and grandfather.

I immediately thought maybe a dog had darted out in front of her, which in my dog crazed family would have been almost as bad as if it had been a person -- actually worse than had it been an OLD person as none of us really like old people any more. Ha.

Anyway, she said right away that a coconut had fallen from the sky and cracked her windshield. She pulled over, and found the culprit -- in fact NOT a coconut but a small and heavy tree nut of some kind -- later identified as a mahogany seed pod. The damned things ARE dense and heavy, and it probably fell from about 50 feet.

D2 was fine, and sent a picture of the damaged windshield. I joked that probably Betsy and Lemon, hers and D1's dogs, had likely peed on that very tree hundreds of times, and it was time for the tree to get revenge.

The good news is that she was fine. Also, in one of the few VERY favorable Florida auto insurance laws, anyone having comprehensive coverage (all of us) enjoys a law that says there is ZERO deductible for windshield damage claims. I recall this from my 2 incidents of damage -- both actually more serious than a pretty tree shedding a pod. The theory is that driving around with a damaged windshield is a hazard, unlike, say, a dented fender, and they don't want anyone avoiding repairs because of the cost of a deductible.

So in fact Safelight will be out next week to replace the windshield -- billing the insurance company directly. As D2 noted, easy peasy...

I told her about MY 2 windshield incidents. The first was driving at highway speed in North Miami, and I saw a heavy steel spike fly off a flatbed truck in front of me, and come directly towards the windshield of my car -- smashing through. It was a railroad spike-looking thing -- probably weighed 2 pounds. Luckily it crashed into the passenger seat, and more luckily, I had no passenger. Safelight came out a few days later and replaced my windshield -- I think I may have left the offending spike in the garage of our last house after we moved.

The second time was comically timed. After we bought Villa Wifey, the next day we listed our Falls house for sale. That house, in unincorporated Kendall, was the scene of two car thefts -- my Lexus LS 400 stolen from the front, and, 3 months later, when I replaced the never found first one -- stolen again!

My anger was assuaged by the fact that the second time, the residual value of the lease was $3000 higher than the payoff, so Prudential paid me $3K after paying off Toyota Credit. Hmmm, I thought -- at that rate...

Anyway, I stopped leasing Lexuses, as they were, per the detective, easy to steal. By the time we were ready to move to Pinecrest, in 2000, I had a BMW. The VERY night we listed the house for sale, some POS folks came out, stole the 4 wheels, and attempted to pry off the windshield so they could get to, I guess, the BOSE sound system or maybe the airbags. They must have gotten scared off, as I found the car up on blocks, but the windshield only partly removed. Safelight came out -- free new windshield. Insurance paid for the 4 wheels -- but there WAS a deductible.

More importantly, I took it as a sign that it was indeed the time to flee Kendall for the safer Pinecrest. Man -- that was 1/4 century ago.

I don't see any sign in D2's experience today -- kind of hard to avoid trees in Miami -- especially outside of Brickell and Downtown. But maybe Betsy will look up when she pees under a tree next time.

And -- I AM of course relieved that only some glass was broken. Vengeful trees...