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.