Budman

indytravel

<It's a sad evening for me. Summer is over and I'm breaking down the beer keg refrigerator for the winter. Sigh...>

My only sad evening is when my keg "spits up on my." That's when I know it is time to change kegs.

Mine stays active all winter.

Paul

After work I hit the gym and then a quick bite to eat. Am settling in with a simple glass of chardonnay.

Dreaming of a Pacific Ocean weekend in Southern CA. Now that sounds like a piece of heaven.

Patrick - On the Today Show this morning, during the first 10 minutes of "news," they showed people standing in line for plywood at your Home Depot store in Naples. Is it old footage or are people boarding up again? I really am sorry for what you Floridians have been going through lately. Stay happy!

Patrick

Yep, boarding up again. Those pics were taken this morning. And Naples is big time. We now have two Home Depots plus an Expo! Yes they really did a new load of plywood and it was gone by 7 AM.

coldwar27

Mr. Riesling has been my friend as I pack to get the *#$&%$ outta here. Back to Vermont for me!

Paul

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

...and yes, I know about the two H.D.'s and have been in the new Expo store too. {Love Expo - have one near my home here in Mi as well}

Patrick

Hey, Paul, I'm in such a daze I didn't even realize it was you who posted. Who's minding your parents' place? Is it boarded up or do they have hurricane shutters?

indytravel

I was thinking of you Budman when I put in your trademark mug.

Are you in a clime where it's easy to have a keg year 'round? If so lucky you.

I have to switch to VO in the cold months to keep the volume down.

I will say there's nothing sadder than the sound of a blown keg on a 4th of July weekend. Especially if it's Sunday in Indiana and no way to buy a replacement.

Paul

They have the shutters. Hey - all they do is press a button, the blinds go down on all of the windows, and then leave for the summer.

I have friends that live in the Daytona area that buy new plywood everytime there is a threat. They have a home and have lived in FL for at least 20 years. I can't understand why one would not make the investment of h. shutters. Or at least keep a stash of plywood in the garage! Oh well, to each his own I guess.

I remember going through hurricane Alicia when I lived in Galveston. Of course being much younger then (MUCH), I do remember the storm - but I remember more so the hurricane parties. I also remember how much better the island looked after the insurance checks kicked in.
Huh.... funny what one remembers.........

Statia

Buckeyemom, keep nursing that herbal tea. I only wish I could be so abstained.

MSS, Jose Cuerveo and I have just never gotten along for some reason.

Indy, I can relate. My DH and I both have relatives in Indiana and one of our favorite pastimes is having a cool one on the porch in Lake Village while watching the semis go by the mast amounts of cornfield. We also enjoy putting some balls in the huge yard, too. Oh my, how we do enjoy getting away from the Caribbean blue sea to "see" the green cornfields of Indiana in the summer. (sigh)

Patrick, glad you are still with us (and Mr. Dewars, too). How's Mom doing?

Cheers to everyone else who has named their poison and their desired "place of travel." It's nice to have Fodor's friends to hang with on a Friday night when my DH is obviously not quite up to the usual "inn outing."

Marilyn

Statia, I hope your DH is quickly recovered.

Statia

Hey Paul...I was a pre-teen during Alicia in the Clear Lake area. They pulled us out of our house by boat and took us to a shelter. That was one awful storm.

In the end, one side of our house literally fell over after a tornado hit it. Brick and all just laying in the yard when we came home. Oh, to remember the clean up process and think that my mother still lives in that house.

indytravel

Oh Statia you really missed it this summer. Odd, stunning and weird all rolled into one.

We had 17 year cicadas screaming in June.

We have not had an official day over 90 degrees in central Indiana.

"Knee high by the 4th of July" for the corn? Hardly. It was 10 feet tall the beginning of July. Except for the cicada damage in the trees it's been green, green, green.

Hope your husband is doing well.

Statia

Thank you, Marilyn. I appreciate your thoughts.

Statia

Ohhhh, Indy.....both DH and I relish the thought. He was raised in Indiana and loves to visit. Thanks for your thoughts, as well.

BTW - You mentioned Brown County. Do you have a nice, old covered bridge near there? If so, I think I know the area.

indytravel

Statia I like this thread way more than the "freaky friday" one.

What one is drinking is way more important.

Perhaps you should fire this up every Friday?

Statia

I actually really enjoy FFR&R, but that's an additional thought Indy. However, I'm usually on my patio watching the sunset while having a cocktail with my DH on Friday night, so I don't make it to Fodors often then. He can't partake tonight, however. I'll do what I can, though.

Glad you're enjoying it as much as I am. Fodors friends are the best! Otherwise, I'd probably be a lonesome dove 'bout now, other than checking in on my DH every few minutes.

Paul

Statia... yeah, Alicia was a fierce one! Sorry to hear of your troubles with it all though. I bought a souvenier T-shirt that read, "Alicia - What A B!tch" and my mother threw it away. Grrrrrr...... LOL

Yup..... more memories.

And yes, indytravel - this was a terrific year for midwest farmers. Best season in 70 years I have heard.

Travel, weather, and wine. Great thread!

Tandoori_Girl

mr. romance and I have been enjoying sweet vermouth. We add it to vodka. And we add it to bourbon with bitters. Preferably a good bourbon, he says, to make a Manhattan. Now what would you call that cocktail with vodka? I'm not sure. Vermouth is wine, you know.

For dinner he had Chianti, I had Sangiovese. It was lovely. With pasta de mer.

Mr. romance is wonderful. And so is sweet vermouth.

Here's to you, Statia.

indytravel

OK Tandoori_Girl. You're killin' me with "Mr. Romance."

Is that anything like "Sex in the City" and Mr. Big.

Statia

Here's to you and Mr. Romance, Tandoori Girl. (Actually, I have a Mr. Romance myself, but he's a bit under the weather tonight, which is why I've enjoyed spending my time with you fine folks).

It's getting past my bedtime. I just heard the roosters crowing when I was on my patio enjoying my last sip of vino. Yes, it's still before midnight, but we have very confused roosters on our little island. Must be the pressure of all those close passing hurricanes lately. Everyone having to deal with them, please stay safe. Seriously.

As the SNL "Cawfee Tawk Ladee" always says, "Tawk Amongst Yu-Selves." I have very much enjoyed this thread and will check in first thing tomorrow to see who has a hangover and who does not.

Thanks for a fine evening, my Fodors Friends.