Summer Updates

Paula's Posts

Hello everyone! 
Big Big News!!!  I have given my "NOTICE" and will be leaving my full-time job at IU Health Arnett Hospital.  I will no longer have a full-time job!  Although many people ask...."Are you retiring???" the answer is NO!!!  I'm leaving my current full-time job but will trade it for working part-time and (hopefully) teaching at a Caribbean medical school.
I hope summer has been fabulous for all.  The highlight of my summer was spending a week aboard Tabula Rasa, even though we were just at the marina in Stuart, FL.  Catherine, my daughter, came to visit for a few days and we had a lovely time.

Back in Indiana it has been another chilly, cloudy summer.  We are trying to sell our lake home and even though the weather has been better this year than last, we are just not having the nice hot summers needed to attract buyers to the lake.  In addition, our lake water level was dropped over a foot (to save some transplanted-not native to the area-river mussels)...WTF is the only comment I have.  The GOOD NEWS is now our lake is PRIVATE to homeowners, as the public boat launch sites are closed due to the low water level.  It's terrible for our poor little community's economy, but really a nice perk for lake dwelling homeowners owning a private dock like us.  I know, I'm working really hard to stay positive!

October brings yet another Birthday for me.  I can now unequivocally say that I am Blessed to celebrate another healthy and happy year!

We have now made progress on our future cruising plans.  We will move the boat after hurricane season to Key West, FL for a few months.  Once again, I will be staying behind in the "frozen tundra"...oops, I mean Indiana!  Scott will stay warm in the sunny Florida Keys.  He will have to suffer through the International Speed Boat Races, multiple festivals and the rowdy New Year's Eve celebration!  I must stay behind to pay the Duval Street bar tabs!!! God Help Me!

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Scott Speaks

Summer is over!?!?!?

How did that happen? 

Where did it go? 

It must be over because I am back on the boat working.

Oh, I know why I missed it. Because, it never really showed up in Indiana! Coldest July on record, August not much better, and September lake activities shut down compliments of our national government valuing the river mussels more than the fair people and economy of Monticello, Indiana. 

Paula says I must summarize my summer so here it goes:


Dudes night-out in Monticello and at Scotty's Tiki Bar. Steve, Kurt, Dex, Frank, Mike, and Digger created their usual mayhem.


Celebrated my Birthday Weekend with the girls. Paula, Tammy, Lindsay, and Rochelle created their usual mayhem.


Went to Charlotte, NC and played golf with the Umberhochers. Steve, Bill, Bill Jr., and Cindy created their usual mayhem. 

Went to a Cubby Game.  They lost and so did I - nothing new here.


Went to the St. Louis Rams Opening Game and they lost - nothing new here. 


Visited Alex at Fort Bragg.


Entered a Margarita Show Down with my neighbor Ms. K. She won "Best Margarita" by one vote! The deciding vote was her husband. Hmmmm? 


And last but not least Paula tormented Kitty by strapping her in a Cat PFD. It was not pretty. I had to take Kitty to a Kitty Whisperer for psychological support.


Now I am back in Stuart provisioning and doing PM (preventive maintenance) in preparation for the next cruise season. November 2nd we will relocate to Key West (Stock Island Marina) until February 1st.  I will be stuck there until we leave in February. We will then head to the Exumas and continue my search for the "Best Tiki Bar". 

While in Stuart I have visited and reviewed a few local Tiki Bars in my spare time.

Speaking of Tiki Bars, I have had numerous helpful suggestions related to the reviews. "Why don't you add a category for purse hangers under the bar (Paula)"? "Why don't you add a category for food"? "Why don't you have a category for cute"? I have pondered the helpful suggestions and come up with the following thoughts; I don't carry a murse, if you want 5 star food go to a restaurant, and I don't do cute. So after long unilateral deliberation, Ahhhh...  NO!

My 82 year old Dad's comment and question last week were "Let me get this right... you are traveling the world to go to Tiki Bars. What are you thinking?"   Hmmm?  I must admit that was a very good question. The best answer I have come up with thus far---It is easier than climbing Mount Everest!