Southern Exposure

In May the Rocket dog and I set out in the Grrrltruck for a month of hotel living while I worked on a special job related project in Fort Lauderdale. He was an excellent close personal friend and traveling companion, enjoying the ride from the comfort of his crate which was seated between the front seats and just behind me. Conveniently located so he could share our preferred road food, chicken nuggets. (He preferred the Colonel's, Popeye's was too spicy for him.) It was a looong but uneventful 11 hour drive. I wasn't thrilled about being away from home for a month but...duty called so off we went.

One of my good friends, a hilarious, high energy fella who happens to be gay was my partner on the project. We spent a number of evenings out together visiting the local gay owned bars and restaurants in Wilton Manor. It's quite an experience to be in an establishment seething with testosterone and hunky men while realizing it has absolutely nothing to do with "you", the token female. We went to Georgie's Alibi for drinks where my partner lost himself in admiring the body builders coming out of the gym. Another event was Will & Grace night at Cathode Ray where we happened to catch a lesbian comedian.(yea! I wasn't the only woman!) She was extra funny but I can't recall her name as it was an evening of several Sapphire Martinis and I was feeling pretty festive. We had dinner at Mustard's one night and Tropic's Cabaret and Restaurant another. Tropics had a kitschy piano bar where a splendid Queen sang all our favorite torch songs and show tunes. Too much fun and the food was delicious.

Sweetie came down for Memorial Day week and took us to Cap's Place Restaurant. What a cool place! It's a shack like building that was a haven for rum runners and gambling back in the 1920's. You get there by motoring across the intercoastal on a ferry. Casual atmosphere and scrumptious seafood.

A friend of ours came to Miami from his home in Italy. It seems that his hometown and Miami have a Chamber of Commerce/Sister Cities relationship so a whole contingent of the local business people were with him for a two day event. We were invited to lunch at the Italian Consulate and had a blast eating and drinking with restaurant owners, cheese and wine exporters and fashion designers from Italy. We're looking forward to seeing all our new friends in their native country and are planning an eventual trip to Italy.

Sweetie took me to The Four Seasons in Palm Beach for a long weekend holiday. (Yes, I am spoiled rotten.) Of course the Rocket dog came along and seemed quite at home drinking Evian out of his special Four Seasons dog dish in between munching gourmet dog biscuits and graciously accepting the admiration of the hotel staff and guests while strolling through the lobby.  The hotel was lovely and comfortable and the weather was just right, not too hot.

We had an exquisite lunch at Taboo on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. A delicious selection of homemade breads arrives when you sit down and then they have all types of wonderful continental cuisine. We had a white cheese pizza appetizer that we would travel back for along with a lovely crisp white wine. Yum.

June was a fairly quiet month of rest and recuperation. After the month in south FL, I had NO desire to travel anywhere. I spent the time shuffling around in a bathrobe, clicking my fuzzy red slippers together while saying…..

"There's no place like home."