A Fine Weekend

 So we seem to slouch back to pre Plague normalcy -- and it's a fine thing. D2 was sick this week -- she attended a party at Alyssa and Freddy's place, which was infested with preschoolers. I keep thinking of the song "Turning 30" and it's poignant lyric "All my stupid friends have stupid children..."

Anyway, one moppet Beatrice, thrust her fingers into D2's nose and mouth, and sure enough, a nasty cold resulted. But, alas, per the at home Covid test, it seemed coronavirus-free, and so we were relieved. But it did keep D2 and Jonathan home Friday night -- whilst Wifey and I met D1 and Joey.

The plan was for a food hall in Design District, but they were running late, and this old, everything is daunting guy wanted to avoid the craziness of parking there, so we audibled and met at The Citadel, another food hall -- this one on the true edge of gentrification - East of Liberty City.

It was terrific -- though, per usual in Miami, Wifey and I were the only Boomers I saw there. Still -- Joey and I had some fine burgers, and well poured martinis, and it was a lovely night. We came home to find D2 and Jonathan and their friend Michael watching TV. She had felt better.

Saturday, I fetched Mike, whose usual Canes crew had begged off due to our playing Central Connecticut State, and we got bagels and headed to Joe Robbie. We met Barry and Josh, and Josh had prepared a great breakfast of eggs, bacon, and pancake strips, which, with our bagels, provided a lovely tailgate lunch. And there were a few adult beverages. Freddy and his cousin Ivan, who works for UM Med, came by, and Ivan was thrilled to ask Barry's advice about stuff. Barry has been there since before they had X rays.

The Canes went up 49-0 at halftime, and as the 3rd quarter was beginning, we heard the dreaded announcement "Due to dangerous lightning -- head for shelter." I convinced our group to head instead for dim sum -- and we reconvened at Kon Chau off Bird Road. It was delicious -- my first time inside since early '20. We feasted well.

Yesterday Wifey announced that her BFF Edna's oldest Lauren was coming over for an overnight stay. D2 and Jonathan were out on a boat in Biscayne Bay, where the Cuban gentlemen sleep all day... I got us some DiNapoli, and we caught up with Lauren, a young enterpreneur living in LA, but likely moving to Miami.

D2 and Jonathan returned, with Chana Thai, and we had a lovely meal together in the dining room -- with newly designer chosen chairs which are comically uncomfortable. The designers followed Billy Crystal playing Fernando Llamas "It is more important to LOOK good than to FEEL good."

Today Lauren is working here, accompanied by her adorable rescue dog Cocoa, who weighs 7 pounds and barks at Betsy, who weighs 80. It's beyond adorable.

Lauren will get Dadber treatment to MIA later, and Thursday night the Canes play again -- hosting UVA in their first ACC game. Friday DadBer will ride again -- D2 and Jonathan are off to NYC for several days -- Wifey and I have to ride herd on their enormous dog. I joked that I was going to send Betsy off to doggy boot camp in the Redlands -- like we did with Honey. It really worked --Honey came back the best behaved dog ever. But it's not in the cards for Betsy -- they adore the dog like we adored Midnight -- our willful black Lab. So they'll just endure a lot of scary loud barking and destroyed stuff.

But again -- nice to have a normal vibe returning. Our local mayor Joe said his Friday announcement on the state of Covid would be his last -- hopefully forever -- but surely for now as the numbers keep dropping again. Oh -- let this be in our rear view mirror.