Morning started with Albus, my furry companion, looking like he’d rolled in a pile of green confetti. Turns out, those weren’t festive decorations, but a whole bunch of those prickly things. Dave was already running late, so Operation Pricker Removal fell squarely on my shoulders. Let’s just say, Albus wasn’t thrilled with my attempts at grooming.
And the animal adventures didn’t stop there! Later, I went to the bathroom, only to be greeted by a lizard chilling on the toilet tank. Cue a hilarious (and slightly panicked) dance of me trying to use the facilities without becoming a lizard taxi service. Seriously, the amount of wildlife I’m encountering is starting to make me feel like Snow White.
Dinner plans were a must! A quick escape to The Hideaway was in order, where we bumped into familiar faces like Darren and Wesley. Amaretto sours were my beverage of choice, and I even managed to squeeze in a call with my mother-in-law, Janet, although she was tied up and I ended up leaving her a message.
The next morning brought another critter crisis: a lizard had taken up residence in the shower. Dave claimed he tried to evict the little guy with water, but apparently, this lizard *liked* the shower. Was it the same guy from yesterday, or did he tell his friends about us? Are we running a reptile resort now?
The social train kept chugging along. I got an invite from Anise & Jennifer for an evening out. And Daniella, the new property manager, stopped by to introduce herself. Albus, ever the charmer, made a new friend, and Daniella got straight to work tackling the jungle that was our lawn.
That night, I met up with the ladies, and Dave played chauffeur. Now, here’s where things got interesting. While waiting at Amonhana I ordered an amaretto sour, only to be presented with…amaretto on the rocks with a lime wheel on the rim of the glass. No sour. Just amaretto. It was like ordering a pizza and getting a plate of just cheese. I shared the saga of the sourless sour with the bartenders at Colibri, and they hooked me up with the real deal. Crisis averted!
Seizing the opportunity for a four-day weekend, I took Friday off. A quiet evening at home involved us chatting with Janet. Turns out, Dave’s newfound interest in mediation (he’s taking a course on conflict resolution for work) and Janet’s legal background made them the perfect conversational duo. Who knew?
The next morning was all about coffee on the patio and checking in on Jenn, who’s been battling the Connecticut winter blues. They’ve been having a particularly hard winter up north this year, and everyone I’ve talked to is a bit miserable. Anyway, a care package was sent, smiles were received, and mission accomplished!
The day was productive, filled with calls, writing, and catching up with friends. While enjoying some outdoor time, our neighbor James stopped by with Junior (our neighbor’s dog) to deliver some shocking news: our prickly pear cactus is actually a roadkill cactus. You can’t make this stuff up! Despite its beauty, it’s not the most pleasant plant to have. It drops both little shard-like splinters, as well as big flat paddles which create a skating opportunity on our walkway. Pretty, but dangerous!
To cap off the week, we indulged in Eddie’s Friday night barbecue at the Swinging Doors. Eddie’s barbecue nights had been on hiatus for several months, so it was my first taste of his famous chicken and ribs. And let me tell you, they were delicious!
So, there you have it, folks. Wildlife encounters, cocktail confusion, and delicious barbecue. Stay tuned for more adventures!