Summer is over!
The last time I updated this blog was the first week in June. Obviously I took off for a LONG summer break. I had really good intentions of keeping up with the blog all summer from Indiana where I spent the summer visiting our three daughters and grandson. I tried a couple of times and couldn't get connected to the website so I took that as a "sign" that I should take a break. But....... I'm back!!!!
First of all I want to mention a couple of great events that occured over the summer. Jim and Julie Nevius, good friends of Don's Place, moved to New Orleans this summer and we really miss them. We had a going away party for them but the real going away party was the "military" ceremony. Nancy said that she was "overwhelmed and felt very proud to be an American and feel the stability of the military forces. Jim received numerous awards from the Air Force and Jules was made an "Honorary Conch". Nancy told me the best was when Jim saluted his father in law for the last time as a Major..... How fitting since his father in law was the first person Jim saluted when he was commissioned twenty years ago. Now that bocce has started and football is about to begin, we will really feel the loss of Jules and Jim at the bar. Good friendships like theirs don't come around very often. Thanks Julie and Jim for being great patrons of Don's Place. Go Saints!!!!
In addition to all that fun, Mike Pastore's (our a.m. bartender) brother Vinny stopped by this summer for a visit. Vinny is classically trained on the violin and plays an electric fiddle. Well.... this is another event I am sorry I missed. He played with Chief Billy at Blue Heaven, Caffeine Carl at Schooner Wharf and members of the Bubba System at Don's. Word had it that he was amazing and really rocked it everywhere he played. I can't wait until he returns. I just hope I am here.
Now that summer is over, I am back in the swing of things at school. The eighth graders at HOB have been great so far. I am really enjoying every day. It is getting a little bit more difficult each year to keep up with the kids as I get older. This summer, I seemed to think that I was still a pretty good water skiier, but after a nasty fall and several days of back pain, I decided I need to keep my activities to knitting and reading, with an occasional bike ride or yoga class. I turned 57 in August and gone are the days that I can zip around the lake on one ski.
Of course things start getting a little quieter in Key West in September. But Don's Place is still going strong. Bocce has started and football is almost upon us. Sunday football at Don's is always a treat with cookouts and free goodies. Of course the best food always comes from the scrumptious dishes our customers cook up and bring in to accompany Chef Dave's hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, or BBQ chicken. I have gotten some of my favorite recipes from Don's Place customers. If you've never experienced a Sunday afternoon of football and food at Don's, please visit us. And if your favorite team isn't playing on one of our sixteen TV's, just ask us and we'll make sure you don't leave disappointed. Are you ready for some football????