Leaving Nashville and heading to sunny Key West was no difficult task. I managed to fit right in with the red necks, gays and high-class folks (well, not really this group) but having a pool boy wait on me hand and foot for days on end was fabulous…
Where’s Tom Hanks and a blow dryer when you need him?
I kicked off my trip with a Sunset Colada – Captain Morgan in a pina colada. Hello love at first sip!
Captain Colada
While sipping on my new favorite beach cocktail, I died and went to heaven, then came back to Earth as I ate fresh stone crab claws.
Is this heaven? No, it’s just a crab claw.
We crossed the longest bridges that I’ve ever seen – it was like the movie Groundhog’s Day, only above water.
Have I been here before? Or am I just having a blonde moment?
Meanwhile in Nashville, Teddy was putting a voodoo hex on me with his glowing eyes and ultra scowly face. I received this photo while pulling into the hotel…(don’t let that face fool you. Mom said it sounded like a bowling alley when Ted and his two feline uncles were playing the nights away – he was having fun but just being a bitch about it!).
Paybacks are HELL.
I quickly forgot about what a grouchy cat I’d be coming home to once I laid eyes on my home for the next few days.
Palm trees? Oceanside balconies? Can I stay indefinitely? PLEASE?!
Upon checking into the hotel, I wanted to see what beach rules I could break.
What? No moonshine?!
Regardless, I was overjoyed to be on vacation and accidentally got ‘happy’ in the hammock.
Oh glorious vacay day!
And then on the way to dinner, I then gave my best Cameron Diaz impression from There’s Something About Mary.
Ben Stiller bangs.
After a relatively early evening (the hammock cocktail party started way too early), I got up the next morning and did yoga on the beach. There was only one other person, so it was like a private session – score!
I could get used to this…
After the hour-long (exhausting because I was so dehydrated) yoga, I parked it poolside with a mimosa (because alcohol always helps rehydrate, right?).
Yoga and booze. The way every day should begin.
My home away from home proved to be more luxurious and relaxing than the mini manse I share with Ted.
This didn’t suck.
As I walked the streets of Key West, I realized it should be my new place of residence. Pink shutters….
Shutter me timbers!
Kit cat mailboxes…(and yes, I was a creepy tourist almost on someone’s front porch. Trespassing, anyone?).
I’m destined for this mail box.
And pink taxis…!
I wanted to drive this cab back to Nashville to use as my personal vehicle.
After walking the streets of Key West for all of 1/2 mile, it was pool time once again.
Walking makes me so thirsty.
While I was enjoying my 139th Skinny Pirate, I came up with a brilliant idea. All on accident…
Hair makes a nice place to keep a straw when not drinking. I should probably patent this idea, don’t you think?
After all of the rum, I balanced out with a little (really, a truckload of) food. Lobster and corn on the cob (not as good as Iowa sweet corn but still good enough to eat like I’d just discovered a new delicatessen) happily kept me grounded (and the room from spinning).
The 26th time I stuffed my face.
Between mouthfuls of lobster and sips of Skinny Pirates, I commented on a fellow bar rat’s Tennessee hat. Our conversation went as follows (with me doing most of the talking – surprise!):
“OMG! You’re from Iowa? Me too! You used to live in Des Moines?! Me too! You’re a Hawkeye fan wearing a Tennessee hat? Wait, you live in Nashville?! Me too!” This man was so schnokered up, he would have told me he was my long, lost uncle and I would have believed him. Being blonde is hard work.
Iowans unite!
While perusing shops at midnight with an overloaded stomach, I saw this oh-so-perfect for me dish towel. I wanted to break the glass window of the closed store to get it…hence the reason why I needed the damn towel!
Fitting, yes?
Keeping the make new friends tradition alive, I ran into a local Key West celeb (I only knew this after he was pointed out to me, therefore I felt the need to rush right over and become instant besties)- the mayor. So I did what all tourists do and got the camera out.
No, I won’t be your Deputy Mayor.
Ten hour days of cocktailing is exhausting work. Below is what I require in order to marathon drink five days in a row…
Please follow the rules and shut the F up!
While a little sad on the way back to Nashville, I snapped pics of the bridges once again. Only this time I was about 2.3 million brain cells short of completing a panoramic shot with my iPhone.
The wizardry of my photo genius. I somehow missed half of the car. Yes, you can hire me but it’s going to cost you.
So was Mr. Bear happy to see my tanned, relaxed face? I think all of you cat owners know the answer.
He’s seriously rolling his eyes. Seriously.
Forced snuggling usually does the trick…
Not light as a feather but as stiff as a board.
And when snuggling doesn’t work, I use the mauling tactic.
Ted loves to hate this.
You can imagine my happiness when I stepped into a nice pile of “F-you Mom” regurgitated cat food yesterday morning. And now I can rest easy, knowing I was missed.
Cheers!
CBXB
Cowboys and Crossbones 