Vaccines. Done and done.

Both Patrick and I have now had both our vaccines. It is obviously a a big relief.  I'm still feeling, frustration and even guilt that Canada and Ireland are still behind in the vaccine game. Patrick's parents have both got their first shot, but no clear timeframe of when they will get their second.  My dad has just got his first one, and will get his second one around May 12th all going to plan. And hopefully my mam is in line to get hers first soon also.

For posterity, here is a photo of me getting my second shot. If you want to read about my first, click here.

 

Patrick sent me this photo after getting his second one, and I love him for it.  He is not a selfie taker at all, but he knew that I would like it.  I did slag him that it appears they did his in the broom closet and we had a good laugh about that.  

Another pic for posterity.  I don't think I've ever posted a photo of us in this blog of us wearing the face masks.  Well, maybe this blog will still exist, and be read by someone in 150 years time, this was life in 2020 and 2021.  I hope with these vaccines we are close to the end of face coverings.

Social distanced, safe socializing, Friday night gathering

 We were invited for dinner in a friend's house on Friday.  It emerged that friend's of theirs had smoked a big hunk of pork and wanted to share it, but their condo is very small. So it made sense, and was a win all round, to host in G&K's huge house instead!  If you remember, that is where the superbowl party was also held.

Check out all this lovely food!

Guess what this is?!

It's tequila watermelon!  I didn't try it.  Yes, I still don't eat fruit. (Goddamn me, and my picky eating slash supertaster genes).  Plus I am a wuss when it comes to tequila to be honest.

Mac and cheese in the making!!

Mac and cheese covered in bacon and panko breadcrumbs

Look at this! LOOK AT THIS!

The lovely host Katrina and our friend Scottie.

A lovely evening!  Thanks guys!

Elvis: That's The Way It Is - Special Edition

 Just before covid19 hit and the cinemas closed one of the last films we saw in The Tropic cinema here in Key West was the Robbie Robertson documentary about The Band "Once Were Brothers".

The Tropic is (softly) reopened, and when I saw an ad on facebook for the re-release of "Elvis: That's the way it is", and that it was playing in the Tropic.....well I just hopped on it and bought two tickets.

It felt incredibly safe in the theatre....well there was only us and two other couples there! Great for us, but I do worry how the cinema will survive with that kind of attendance.

What was really cool is that the major of the film is clips of (full songs) of his Las Vegas concerts so, as Patrick said afterwards, in a bizarre pandemic kind of way it felt like we were at a live show. It is as near to a live concert you will get right now so we will take it I suppose!

Sorry :(
I can't rotate this pic

We both really enjoyed the gospel songs part of the show so went online and ordered a CD of them.  Best deal was to also get his number 1's also.  And then, I went the whole hog and ordered a cd of The Band also. Spent the afternoon today listening to them while swimming in the pool. Pretty good afternoon me thinks!

Yard chores and crab traps. Life is good!

Fall has arrived, and with it Stone Crab Season!  We have had the crab traps stored in our shed for a while now so we decided we needed to get on to things - and get the traps made up this weekend and then hopefully get them in the water next weekend coming.

            I think we all know how happy power tools make me!

How about that?! We are all set! I will update you once we have laid them next week.  

The plan is that with our fellow crab hunters, our friends Garrett and Katrina, we hope to catch enough over a month or so to have a big stone crab dinner for the four of us.  Each one of us will make a key lime mustard and we will eat the crabs and vote on whose mustard is best.  How much fun does that sound?!

We also borrowed a power washer from Garrett and cleaned the front and back of our garden.  And the 1953 clamshell storm shutters/window awnings. Hard work! But worth it.  Apparently you should do a power washing of your home once a year or so - we are going to buy our own power washer soon.

Ps.  29 days to the election here in the USA.  Right now the big story is about a man who has Covid 19 and who may or may not be a super spreader.  That's all I have to say on that matter, friends.  Good night, wear your mask, wash your hands, social distance, stay safe!

Covid19...what is going on here

It feels like we are now averaging about 20 cases a day here in Key West. Versus about 8 a day initially since reopening on June 1st. We are a population of about 25,000.  To put that in context, back home in Ireland it seems they are averaging about 20 day also.  Ireland is an Ireland with a population of about 4.9 million.  

Sigh

I arrived to my local Denny's for my special fortnightly Amy treat of me, a copy of the New Yorker and pancakes and syrup.  It was closed.  For "deep cleaning".  Code, I believe, for a staff member has been diagnosed with coronavirus.  

I hope they get through it and recover well.

Sigh

But life continues here at Duncan Street and we continue to control what we can control i.e. reduce our social circle, wear a mask when out, social distancing when talking to others (we have conversations with our neighbours standing on either side of the street!), hand washing and avoiding touching mouth and eyes etc.  I can't lie we probably eat out more than anyone else I know. But we are trying to be careful there - choosing carefully where we eat and ensuring social distance.

Stay safe out there friends

Art during Quarantine

During these crazy pandemic times I am turning to lots of things to help me through.  You know, important things like wine, vodka, key lime pie :)
And art.

I am seeing and hearing about lots of wonderful things people are doing here in Key West.  Even simple things like facemasks (we are all wearing them!), local artists are doing fantastically creative things with them.

How simply beautiful are these masks hand-painted by Rick Worth.

Back home in Ireland I am hearing about an AWESOME project in the works, by a woman, for women, in the Gaeltacht area of Connemara.  I can't say too much about it right now, but watch this space, as soon as I can share more with you I will!

And then of course there is my guy, Irish artist Pigsy.  

He just never stops.  He has just sold this amaaaazing large piece to a couple in Dublin who I am going to assume have a very big wall and house to showcase it.  It is large in size and large in expression.  "Phoenix Rising" it is called and I just adore it.

And then he also has been working on this fun little commission of a dinosaur head.  

Such a wonderful energy to his work...

"Rex the protector" is a work in progress and I am looking forward to seeing the final piece.

Support Art!

If you would like a piece from Pigsy in YOUR LIFE but your budget doesn't quite align with his :) Then how about a print?  They are available from designyard.ie aaaaaand during these pandemic times if you use the code "SupportArtists" you get 10% off.

And finally! If you have 10 minutes spare sit yourself down with the family and check out this thought invoking, yet feel good little film about Pigsy, some of his struggles in the past, and where he is now.

Featured at the London Irish, Bristol, Galway and Cork film festivals.
Click here to view this award winning documentary film.

Letter from Key West, May 23 2020

1,635,836 covid cases in USA
96,370 covid deaths in USA

Key West continues to open up - restaurants are now at 50% capacity, the check point will be lifted on June 1 and tourists can come and stay in accomodations at 50% capacity.

We had neighbours over last night, and amongst lots of other things the virus in Key West was a topic.  The general consensus was to enjoy the next week and a half and be prepared to bunker back in again when the visitors come.

It is hard to see how the spread of the virus can be controlled in a tourist/partying area like Duval Street.  People come to Key West to socialize in the bars, enjoy great alcoholic drinks, listen to music, make new friends, talk into ears, congregate in groups etc etc etc....how do you get drunk people to practice proper social distancing?? Although, the bars are not open yet, only those that serve food.  Maybe that is the answer - no standing-only type of establishments, table service only.  Maybe that sets the tone and the parameters??

On a nicer note, it was a really lovely evening.  Our neighbours are the best and have been beyond helpful to us recently with flat tyres on the jeep!!! Yes flat tyres - two!! B and his young sons are car crazy and always tinkering on their own, but still, what they did for us was above and beyond.  So this little get together was a thank you for that.

Not pictured is the hummus, guac, salsa and chips. And key lime pie! And beer.

We started with rum and coconuts (from the garden, cut down by Patrick).  How cute do they look with a bamboo straw?!

And then Ciproskas by moi.  Which co-incidentally was one of my very first blog posts back in March 2012! A recipe of how to make a "caiproska" - spelling seems to have changed in my mind over the last 8 years lol!

Letter from Key West, May 19 2020 - June 1 reopening

Well it is official.  The checkpoints are being removed, and The Keys will be open on June 1.  Which means that come June 1, Key West is open for non residents i.e. tourists to come visit.

Restaurants are allowed serve diners inhouse at 50% capacity.  Bars - if you are also a fully functioning kitchen/restaurant then you are allowed open as per the restaurant rule.  If no food, bars are not mandated to open (yet?).  Hotel rooms/accommodations/lodgings are allowed open and have guests stay, at 50% capacity.

What can I say?  Like my previous post, I'm nervous. I'm anxious that just one asymptomatic carrier will kickstart the spread of the virus through our little community.  We have been incredibly lucky and our numbers are so, so low currently.  I am worried that is about to change.

But what is the alternative?  We cannot stay holed up forever. Would it be any better in another month?  I cannot say.  What I can say is that in one month the tourist season is practically over for Key West and unemployed service industry workers would then be looking at a lean few months until October for Fantasy Fest.  IF Fantasy Fest goes ahead?  Who knows at this point what is going to happen.

What I do know is what I can control.
Practice excellent social distancing, wear my mask at all times in public, wash my hands, wash my hands, wash my hands.

Stay well friends.

Just a perfect day....

Yesterday (Saturday) was a day, that will make my heart sing for many days and weeks to come

- We were on the boat at 9.15am and I ate a breakfast of English muffin and coffee on the water.  Is there anything better
- Patrick had an amazing morning of fishing.  Including the fish monster pictured below!
- We enjoyed a really lovely early afternoon in the back yard and the house.  We had a fab cold lunch of Norwegian smoked salmon, Italian prosciutto, Spanish sausage and Irish cheese.
- I may or may not have had a vodka screwdriver with my lunch (of course I did). And we had some squares of key lime pie chocolate for dessert.
- Patrick went grocery shopping and came back with 4 bottles of our favourite Cabernet Sauvignon that were on special
- We faffed around and had fun in the house and yard for the afternoon
- I had an outdoor shower.  Yes, I know, an every day occurrence.  And one, that will never not be, an awesome novelty experience
- Back we headed to the boat at around 4pm.  We went for a massive spin all around the island and I had my famous "goofy [aka really happy]" smile on my face the whole way
- We went for dinner in Dante's and it was fabulous - had the seafood sampler of oysters, shrimp and crab claws
- Went back out on the boat and did some evening fishing.  Patrick caught another fish monster.  Saw a beautiful sunset
- Home and chilled for the evening.
- Ate some key lime pie for a late night treat
- Went to bed absolutely exhausted but so happy.  Slept amazing!

Letter from Key West, May 17 2020

89,498 Deaths from Covid19 in the USA

On Friday evening we went out for a quick dinner before going out on the boat.  It was not a great experience.  The social distancing arrangements in the restaurant were good - thumbs up there.  However service was slow (drinks and food) and the menu was limited (ok I am fine with this).

But my major concern was some of the other patrons.  Key West is supposed to be residents only at the moment, but there are definitely tourists in town.  Hey guess what, four of them strolled into the restaurant, not a mask to be seen, straight up to the bar, not giving a care in the world about keeping 6ft away from the bartender.

Frankly, I don't think they should have been served.  And finally, about ten minutes later they were politely (too politely imo) invited to step outside - the prompt for this being when one of them dropped their drink and the glass smashed everywhere.  Not cool man, not cool.

Contrast that with Dante's on Saturday.  Am happy to report: great social distancing of tables, great service, great food.  We had the seafood sampler and it was awesome!

Oysters, peel'n'eat shrimp and crab claws

Oysters to die for, the size of a a plump baby's fist!

Covid Cooking - Shrimp & rice

We ate out last night and it was "fine" but a little bit, dare I say it, fast food/"kids food" type of fare. Ok I hold up my hands, we had chicken wings.  And flatbread. Which let's face it, is essentially pizza.

So this morning we made a pact, no more "kids food" and aim for food with more complex flavours than buffalo and ranch.

So I made dinner tonight! Nothing fancy, in fact rather simple. But it had some good flavours and left us both feeling good after it.

Shrimp, basmati rice, tomatoes, onions, garlic, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper

And that's it!

Letter from Key West, May 11 2020

Key West continues to open up.  For residents only! The road blocks are still in place and no tourists can come...yet.

There is talk of non residents from June 1.  I am conflicted.  I get it has to happen. Life on the island as is, is not sustainable, but on the other hand is life itself sustainable by bringing the virus into our midst?

Am I being dramatic?  All I can say, is that after an initial few weeks of anxiety, based on the current numbers of cases in Key West and up the keys (Monroe County) I feel safe.  Looking at the numbers up North (Miami eek) scares me.

Anyway, on a nicer note, as noted, Key West continues to open up.  Today Shanna Key reopened.  So guess where we went for dinner!

I had the chilli as I ALWAYS do

Patrick got chicken wings which is unusual for him.  He also had two pints of Guinness which is not unusual.

It was a really lovely evening actually.  We must have told our server eleventy seventy times that it was great they were back open.

Letter from Key West, May 10 2020

4,097,158 Worldwide Cases
282,495 World Deaths
1,328,201 USA Cases
79,508 USA Deaths

Key West continues to be in the early stages of opening up/planning an opening.  A small amount of restaurants are open at 25% capacity.

We went to Alonzos for Happy Hour appetizers yesterday and we pretty much had the restaurant to ourselves.  A good thing for us, not so good for the business.  It felt good to be out and having a drink, even with facemasks etc.

There have been reports of some businesses not managing the crowds adequately, and the patrons not practicing good social distancing.  Yes, Smokin' Tuna I'm looking at you.

Us...we've been practicing social distancing by heading out on the boat. A LOT.  So happy with it.

Yesterday morning we took home 4 fat grunts.  

Stuffed and seasoned, with garlic, lemon, rosemary and thyme, we enjoyed them for lunch yesterday and today.

Letter from Key West, May 5th 2020

1,194, 494 Coronavirus cases in the USA
70,272 Deaths due to coronavirus in USA

Key West is starting to open up - limited opening, residents only.

Letter from Key West, April 29 2020

I bought myself a new mask yesterday.  It is from Sister Season and they are $10 per mask which goes into the fund to help people who work in the hospitality industry and who need financial assistance.

It is a lovely vintagesque flowery material and it is nice (firm?) material (double lined) and cut in a good shape which covers my whole face.

I also bought Patrick one too.  It is a soft t-shirt material.  It is double lined too - in fact reversible - and is made from a donation of  old stock of (unworn) Conch Republic Celebration 2019 t-shirts.

This one works great for him because it doesn't matter if he squishes it into his pocket (which he does!) as compared to the medical mask he was previously using, which really did not respond well to the squishing.

Both masks are also much more comfortable/more breathable than the medical masks.

Letter from Key West, April 26 2020

CVS have reduced all their Easter stock so I snaffled some peanut butter cups, some lindt chocolate and some PEEPS! Why the capital letters??  Because they are an unknown in Ireland and intrigue me so much.  Like didn't we have enough goodness, and sweetness, at Easter with all that chocolate?  Well, it appears not, someone came along and said, heck no, have some lurid coloured, sugary marshmallow while you're at it. 



 

Right, well who am I, to argue with that?

 

*******************************************

 

 

Things I am thankful for right now:

 

1. Fresh, clean bed linen. 

I did some chores yesterday, which included laundry of our bed sheets. Simply nothing like it.

 

 





Temperatures are going up here in Key West.  We have started using our AC and literally have two sheets as covers at night.

 

2. A healthy and happy relationship

I've grown a lot over the last couple of years, slash decade....ok, so, slash two decades. Yes it took time but I can confirm it was worth the wait. 

 

A couple of years ago, I remember meeting up with visiting friends to Dublin, an older (and clearly wiser) couple.  With drinks in hand, and sitting by a fire in the Library bar of the Exchequer Hotel I beseeched them for the answer to happiness in love.  Ok, truth be told. I whined to them. "How? how do you do it? how do I do it?? How, when you want to absolutely kill the other person, how do you avoid that turning in to a big massive argument? Howwww?"  

 

The advice they gave me was "we just laugh about things".  At the time I struggled.  How could one laugh about something, when you felt so passionate about it, when you just KNEW you were right and the other person was wrong? 



But slowly over the years, I realized it was great advice. I also realized it was ME who was in control of my happiness, not the other person.  I started thinking about me and what I could do differently, ok so I didn't laugh every time, but I certainly started breathing and thinking more. Thinking things like, is this really important to be "right" about?  Is this really the one thing that I want to hang my hat on today? Really....reeeeeeeally???  The answer invariably, tended to be no. 

I guess it's a variation of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, or something like that??  All I can say is, it definitely feels a lot better to be the person that I am now.

And as for the laughter?  Well that came too.  And maybe that is to do with the other person, as well as me.  God damnit he is funny! God damnit he makes me laugh about something every single day!

And you know, I like to think that I make him laugh too.

For this, and a million other reasons, it just works.

And for that I am grateful.

Letter from Key West, April 24 2020

A little bit of a catch up since I last blogged...

Today in Key West news the county (Monroe) have said the Keys will not be opening to tourists in May - it will likely be June 1.  I appreciate this decision has a huge economic impact. 

I am still nervous about when we do eventually totally re-open, and for going forward.  With key West being a tourist destination it will be very hard to identify and control people movement.  I see myself just being ultra careful with hand washing, wearing my mask and social distancing until the vaccine arrives....

************************************************

I cooked a dish for dinner the other night which was an absolute disaster.  Chicken, garlic, rice  and broccoli bake.  I used chicken soup in it and I simply did not add enough water/milk/liquid so the rice used it all up during the cooking and it was dry and awful.  I also used Panko breadcrumbs on the top.  I am only familiar with Panko from books and American recipes.  We do not have it at home in Ireland.  I can report it is awwwwwwful.  Weird processed, sweet (almost coconut flavor and texture???), NOT breadcrumbs, processed something or other made out of flour yock.

*********************************************

I successfully cut a dress to a shorter length and hemmed.  It is a stretch jersey type of material so it was a pain to hem but I did it!

*****************************************************

Enid texted me yesterday evening and said quick go on InstaLive on Reece's Witherspoon's page.  I clicked in and joined a lovely conversation between Reece and Jenna Bush Hager talking about books.  It was a really enjoyable thing to watch and I liked the thought that my twin was watching it too at home in Ireland. 

That's it I think!  It's Friday evening and we are heading into the weekend woohoo!!!!

Stay well and healthy friends! Stay at home!

Letter from Key West, April 17 2020

One Human Family.
There are a number of charities and outreach programs here on the island who support people in need - rough sleepers/people who are homeless/unemployed/people who are laid off - now, and before, the Covid19 pandemic.

In addition to this there are restaurants around town who are giving out free food to people in need.Yesterday it was Margaritaville who stepped forward and I saw this in action as I out went to CVS for some essential items.

As I pulled up on my bike I noticed little pockets of people standing around eating.  Then a man across the street sitting on a step eating from a take out box, shouted across to me "hey, they are giving out free food at Margaritaville, make sure you go get some".  I thanked him for telling me and shouted back to enjoy his lunch "oh I am, I am".

His unbridled joy brought me happiness.  I am not too proud to admit that I was a little nervous when I pulled up initially.  But you know,  his happiness and his willingness to engage with me gave me perspective, we are all just humans, and all just trying to get by in this old world of ours as best we can.

Fair play to the following for what they are doing to help:
- Better than Sex Restaurant
- Off the Hook Grill
- Margaritaville
- The Florida Keys Outreach Coalition
- Sister Season
And many others no doubt, as I hear of any more I will add them here.

Hey, if any of you out there wants some of these stickers just let me know and I will post to you

Letter from Key West, April 14 2020

Yesterday I had to go to the bank for some essential business.  Town was deserted, and while wearing my mask, I took the opportunity to take some photos of some of the Closed signs on shop doors. Apologies for the quality - it was difficult to capture with the shine from the windows - but I think you can see most of them ok.



It sure is sad seeing the optimism of the unknown, and some of the proposed re-opening dates which we have gone well passed now at this stage.

I re-read my last blog and realized how whiney and first-world problemy I sounded "it's so boring" For the record, just in case it is not apparent, boring aside, I totally understand the importance of flattening the curve and why this quarantine is so vital and needed.  I totally support it. 

Letter from Key West April 12, 2020

I am sure the situation is the same in Key West as where you are right now.  It's life, but not as we know it, and boy is it BORING!
Masks are de rigeuer.  Even Marilyn Monroe is wearing hers.

Hard to say when things will start opening up here in Key West.  Most people accept that April is totally over now.  And it is my belief that May is a bust too.  Maybe all the bars, restaurants and hotels open up again on June 1st?  Hey guess what, that is our off peak season (it gets HOT on the island) and then we are in to August/September which is hurricane season.  I reckon it will be October i.e. Fantasy Fest before the island sees any real action...

Hmmm... Moving swiftly on. On a nicer note; it's Easter Sunday today!

Woke up and the Easter bunny had come and made a delivery which was nice. 

And this evening we are having lamb for dinner.  We wanted to have salmon but none of the supermarkets had any that looked decent.  Lamb and wine will be MORE than fine!

Edit.
Here is a picture of our lovely Easter dinner!