Day Two: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Rise and shine, it's breakfast time. After the previous night's alcohol overindulgence, I decided to forgo the mimosas. I arrived at the table a little later than CLH -- he was dying for his coffee and I was lingering a little too long on my new iPad (I downloaded the second book to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire. Oh, so good.) CLH had to catch me up on the juicy convo he was eavesdropping on. We were sitting next to Tony Soprano! I don't mean James Gandolfini. I mean Tony Soprano, John Gotti, Al Capone. Get the picture? Maybe not the Boss but definitely in the family. These two soldiers where shooting the breeze about the waste management business and their beef with the IRS taking what they deemed an unfair taste. The nerve of the IRS; confronting the wiseguy in front of his unsuspecting missus about the house he bought for his goomah and their illegitimate child one block away. Maybe they were in the Program or in the wind, whichever; they didn't seemed scared of getting pinched. Are you following me? To decode, check it. Very entertaining.

What to do today? CLH wanted to coast down to the southernmost point to take a photo for the boys. I'm up for that. We're trollin' down Duval Street with the top down and the wind in my hair and we run into a couple that we'll see later tonight in Duck Key at a wedding. Fancy meeting them here. After a quick hello at the stoplight, we head out again. I'm taking in the sights and all of the sudden, CLH says, "I think we need to turn around." We turn into the airport and everything is one-way but whatever. Wait, why is he driving all the way to the back of the airport. Now he's parking. What is going on?! I look up and see a poster for Conch Republic Air Force Biplane Rides. No way! "Are we doing this?" I asked. He knows I've always wanted to do this. But now I'm scared. "We're aren't going upside down, are we?!" All I can say is, thrilling! 

We landed just in time to race to the hotel for check out. Back in the convertible for the most beautiful drive north to Duck Key. Hopping islands means bridges! Those close to me know . . . bridges are my nemesis. But I was OK. We made it there in about an hour, all the while chasing blue skies and the big white drug smuggler spy blimp. Can you see it? I think that's the point.

Hawks Cay on Duck Island is a super great resort, especially for kids -- but very nice and secluded if you're there as a couple.The wedding was beautiful but scorching hot. We danced the night away and later, took a late night dip in the adult pool. There was no time to get frisky. The wedding party - bride and groom included - had the same idea. Party on! During a break from dancing earlier, I took this picture with my phone. (These weren't all my glasses but I do have to claim a lot of them.)

I'm telling you . . . tonight I felt my age. Most of the wedding guests were about my age (give or take five years) or older but I could not keep up. They all must have two wooden legs. I gulped down two water bottles while we stared at the amazing star show. We even saw Venus. That's a good night for me. Back to the room and that big, comfortable bed.