Bye Bye Johnny .. Hello $700

Sadly, we had to bid farewell to John Collins yesterday after a really fun filled week here in Daytona. John proved to be the greatest house guest I could ever wish for. He pitched in at every opportunity, helping out with cleaning, cooking and footing the bill many times. John, you will be sorely missed. While here we organized a dozen or so friends & classmates from both Florida and back north. We had a really fun time with all of our "new" - old friends.

John and I collaborated together on our "pig roast in the woods" 40th reunion party to be held this summer. It should truly prove to be yet another great weekend.

Good Bye at the Orlando airport

After dropping John off at the airport, Karen and I continued on to the Hard Rock Tampa where Karen proceeded to pull a rabbit's foot out of her butt and win over $700 !!! She definitely is "LADY LUCK". We had an incredible feast at the 7 kitchens buffet and headed home at 2:30 am. That put us in at 5 am. THAT'S IT.... I NEED A VACATION !!!! Now I'm gonna chill for a week and get ready for bike week ( Mar 4-12 ). Who knows?.. maybe a new tattoo !!!!

Karen doing it right !

Plate #3

The "WEEK" according to John

The "ULTIMATE" houseguest earns his stay

It's Monday and my very good friend John Collins is wrapping up a very eventful week here at the estate in Daytona Beach. John arrived at Orlando last Tues afternoon and I was waiting at the curb for him. We started the trip with customary stop at the Daytona Pig Stand for some killer BBQ, We caught up on news as John devoured a plate of ribs/brisket and greens. John and I have been organizing our high school senior classmates for the past year and last summer got over 60 of them together for a "clamboil in the woods" in Dartmouth, It was a grand time but through Facebook we have acquired a number of Spartans of 1971 that have settled in the sunshine state so John, along with an invitation to stay with me, organized a "Winter Meet-Up" here in central Florida.

Ready for ribs at the "Pig Stand"

The festivities began Thursday evening at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa where a number of us met for drinks,dinner and mayhem. Some of the Orlando and St. Pete delagation were there and the fun and conversations ran rampant.

Some of the class of 1971 Spartans at the Hard Rock Tampa

Friday was an "off" day so at night I took John ( a basically reserved person ) to both a very hectic biker bar called the Boot Hill Saloon in Daytona Beach and then on to our local drinkery...The Rockin' Ranch. Suffice to say that after this night, John would never be the same.


At the Rockin'Ranc


Karen poses at the Boot Hill Saloon Daytona Beach

Saturday John, Karen and I piled in the Ford Edge and headed to Orlando for the final leg of the meet up. We met on International Drive at Cafe TuTu Tango for a drink then on to the Boston Lobster Feast ( all the Maine Lobster you can eat ... $34.95 )...then we ended the night totally off the hook at a duelling piano bar called "Bark at the Moon". It was a Cinderella night laced with drinking, dancing, air guitar solos from John, group singing to a girl at her bachelorette party and a cream filled jello shot for Karen. WE HAD A BLAST !!!!!!


Here we all are outside the Lobstah Feast !

Karen "takes one" for the team !!! ( Jello that is)



Dave Haley,Maureen Murray, Patty Lentz(Haley)

Roger Dumas, Mindy Dubois,Barbara Dubois

Janice Serano, John's back

Sunday ( late wake up call ) was spent int he lanai room drinking beers, eating hot wings and watching a 20 year old "kid" win the Daytona 500. Again a great day. Tonight ( John's last ) we're going to go eat at the "Last Turn Bar and Grille" ( John's treat ) then maybe over to Ponce Inlet FL to see the Ponce deLeon lighthouse. I found out that lighthouses are a longtime fave of John.

Tom'w the trek over to Orlando airport and I might take Karen back over to Tampa for a little "slot" action. Phewwwww... I'm getting to old for this pace !!!!!

Comings and Goings of the past 2 weeks

Amazing but true...It's been 2 weeks since my last update. I'm finding it increasingly harder to find any spare time to update my blog this year. I thought the winter "get away" was supposed to be relaxing but everytime I turn around, I've got myself involved in another project. In any case... I'm not home shovelling snow and I'm not getting up for work everyday so I guess that carries some merit.



Tony is home and recovering well from his blood clot episode. I had been taking him every other day or so for blood work at a local lab to check his coumedin level but last week after his follow up visit with his doctor, he was given a clean bill of health and now just has to stay on a daily pill and follow up with his Dr. at home. YEAH>>> He still has to pace himself though.,,, long walks or drives take their toll on him.



Tony's nephew Jimmy Alphonse paid us a week long visit from Feb 2-9 and he had a blast. We showed him ALL that Daytona has to offer and he went back to Arizona filled with great memories and quite a 7 day hangover !!! Phewww ... he wore me ragged. Check out the pictures below



First meal at the Daytona Pig Stand


Jim goes to the Daytona dog track and "WINS"

Jimmy gets all friendly with the bartender at the Boot Hill Saloon


Karen & Jimmy & "The Last Resort" bar ( where the movie "Monster" was based )





Jimmy did a "ride along" with Denny Hamlin at 180 mph !!!



Jimmy rescued a couple of sweet young girls at the "Rockin' Ranch"




Saturday night, here at the community I live in, there was a Valentines Day party/dance which I volunteered to help with. It was organized by 2 ladies ( Carol and Brenda ) and they asked if I would put on a show and entertain. Well you all know me.... I rose to the task and we put on the "My Funny Valentine Bash" at the clubhouse. We gave the residents a free buffet which the girls cooked. I made cornbread, smoked 2 turkey breasts and Karen made her world class American Chop Suey. There were various cold salads, beans and full desert tray. Over 100 people attended... the largest turnout they've ever had at a community function. I played music, DJ'ed... had singalongs.... we played some great games ( reverse strip tease ..... Haunted pineapple game.... "heads-up" drawing contest and Name that Tune. Karen even came up and belted out a few tunes. It was just a total blast. Tony helped with tables and chairs and setup and clean up after. Everyone loved everything,. They want me to do New Years Eve 2012.... Hmmmm we'll have to see.



Tonight's entertainment -- "The Holly Forest Love Machine"

Some of the "crowd".. can you see the arteries hardening ?

Bob Leland does the "reverse strip tease "

The ladies doing the "head's up" drawing contest



Karen belts out "Down at the Twist & Shout"


Yesterday ( Sunday ) Tony and I went to the Daytona International Speedway to watch 500 pole qualifying. They had FREE admission tickets in the local paper so I cut a couple out and we spent the day there. Tony was lovin' it. What a thrill to tour the infield, see the tech inspections, watch the crew chiefs work on the cars in the garage area...etc. We saw the ESPN "Hollywood Hotel",,where they announce all the action from... we saw Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart in the pit area and the most exciting thing is to walk along the fence of the front stretch as an 800 hp car comes straight at you at over 200 mph and as it passes by, only 6 feet and 1 chain link fence away.... the noise and wind is beyond belief. Tony loved it !



My buddy in the stands watching 500 pole qualifying

Look carefully... Dale Earnhart Jr. winning the pole at 186.965 mph


Main entrance


Tony couldn't believe the size of this place





Tom'w, (Tues) my friend John Collins is flying into Orlando for a week of revelry with myself and a bunch of Bishop Stang "Class of 71'" graduates that John has organized. We have all really bonded in the past year thanks to John and his "Meet Ups"... mostly in the New Bedford area but with me having a Florida winter residence and a bunch of fellow Spartans living in the sunshine state, John has once again organized a winter meet up with the "southern delegation"..The only thing is, all were invited and a bunch of northerners are headed south to party. We're all gonna meet in Tampa on Thursdays at the Seminole HardRock for a night of dining,drinking and gambling then re-meet on Saturday night in downtown Orlando at a crazy place called "Howl at the Moon". This is a dueling piano bar with all night debauchery and mayhem. Sounds like we're going to have a BLAST.





I've attempted to signup for organ donation at the RMV but they rejected my liver.....said it was pickled !!! Charlie Sheen...move over !





Well it's Valentine's Day and to all my female friends and acquaintances I'd just like to send you gobs of love and happiness. Enjoy your day and here's an old Swedish proverb I read in today's newspaper....




"A LIFE WITHOUT LOVE IS LIKE A YEAR WITHOUT SUMMER"