Roosters & Magic Wands

I've spent the past few days mulling over how to categorically describe my new surroundings.  After a long productive nap, brain cells peacefully recharging as I succumbed to the charms of the tropical breezes, the realization finally came to me.  I can't.  The kaleidoscope of color, vibrancy, and diversity that greets me at every corner continues to surprise me.  And as an island rookie, I suspect it will for a long while ahead.    


When I finally opened my eyes this afternoon, two thoughts demanded my full attention.  First, I'm actually on my sofa inside my air conditioned house because it's too sizzling hot to contemplate a catnap in the hammock.  Second, the hammock is still tightly rolled up in its original plastic and neatly propped against the new sail shade ... also still in its original packaging.  Yes, even paradise comes wrapped in plastic! 

Roosters.  Seems that these island natives have stories of their own, and I suspect I'll be hard-pressed to find a day when their cocky souls (har har ... couldn't resist that one!) don't impact our lives in one way or another.  Here's a little diddy the other morning.  I'm naming him Charley. 

Make yourself at home, Charley!  Note:  I think he was posing just for me.  Now, common rooster folklore is steeped in symbolic meanings that deal with watchful vigilance against evil (think folksy weathervanes on top of pristine white church steeples), many other cultures embrace the rooster as a solar symbol - a sign of illumination.  With that in mind, I'm fairy certain - positive, in fact - that this is the feathery rascal that wakes us each morning at 5:30 am.  And just a side thought as I ponder some more ... there certainly is a superabundance of roosters hangin' among the dead folk in the Key West Cemetary (sic) at any given time.  Brrrr, that's actually kind of spooky.

Speaking of spooky.  Two of our new friends here in town, Donna and Magic Tim, own and operate two very interesting businesses.  First they are the proprietors of Key West Ghost & Mysteries Tour - one that Chop and I intend to check out as soon as we find the opportunity.  Though one of several in town, rumor has it that Ghost & Mysteries is geared toward a more personal, intimate experience.  Keep your minds out of the gutter, people!  What I'm sayin' is that there is nothing commercial or scripted about their storytelling.  To each his own, but I like this couple and will unabashedly promote them at any opportunity.  Booooooooooo!  If chills and thrills aren't your cup of tea, check out their Trails and Tales of Key West instead, a casual 2-hour stroll through the republic's more colorful and entertaining bits of island lore.  This tour likely will be one of our next explorations, as high-energy conch boy will be well-rested for the 4pm meet-up.  Not to mention that the tour conveniently wraps it up at Margaritaville just in time for a pre-dinner refreshment.

Magic Tim is a .... drumroll please ... MAGICIAN!  Did ya think?  Tim Glancey is the president and director of operations for Magical Arts & Design and has been a master magician for more than 30 years.  I've witnesses his illusions.  I'm tellin' you ... he performs the impossible.  Impossible!  We have had the pleasure of his company and magic on several occasions, but his Parlour Magic Show at the beautiful Victorian-styled Porter Mansion (decorated in detail by Donna herself) is supposed to be quite spectacular.


P.S.  For all of you Parrotheads out there, be jealous.  Tim traveled with Jimmy Buffet for 14 years as his opening act.  And ...

...that's all I know (wink, wink).

 
So, with all that said and done, what's up with the magic wand?

Here's my classroom in it's current state.  I can assure you, it's going to take more than a little island magic to pretty up this room over the next two weeks! Seriously ... doncha wish you were me right now??  ;)

Helloooo Key West!

We are here!  We made it!  And believe it or not, this week is the first chance I've really had to catch my breath in a manner that feels more comfortably like my 'old self' again.  My old pleasant, cheerful, relaxed self.  Let's just say that this particular move was by far the most challenging, stressful, and exhausting move Chop and I have made together as a couple, but we managed to survive without either begging for divorce or jumping off the 7-mile bridge that separates the Lower Keys from the Middle.  It was tempting, though.

So, really?  We're in Key West, get over ourselves... right??

Let me entertain you with a quick recap:

Day One:

1.  Despite our addiction to yard sales, we still rolled on the island with too ... much ... crap.  Already feeling overwhelmed.
2.  Chop chased by crazy land crab first night in town.  He swears it was after his blood.

3.  Attempted late dinner on rooftop overlooking-the-marina Thai Island with cranky and tired 2-year old.  Grandma entertained him by wearing cloth napkin and sunglasses on her head.  Desperate times equals desperate measures.  Brought fabulous feast back to Navy Lodging in to-go boxes. 

Day Two Plus:

4.  Picked up key to house.  Completed walk through.  Promptly discovered that shower ran either scalding hot or freezing cold, dishwasher flooded kitchen floor, back door lock was jimmy-rigged, and cable wires had been severed in our hard-to-reach neighbor's attic.  Took one week to get a reasonable shower.  On the flip side, we now know all the maintenance staff on premises.
5.  Filled up house with all our worldly possessions; found out our free base storage option is no longer available.  Sh*t.  Do we really need Christmas decorations this year?
6.  Decided to keep pooch in kennel through the weekend.  Suspected UTI from four days of traveling.  Staff at Pampered Pet rocks.  Wonderfully attentive and helpful until we could bring said pooch home.

Day Three:

7.  Interviewed for job at Sigsbee Charter first thing in the morning.  Good thing I found fantastic new supersonic strength deodorant that smelled pretty.  No shower again.
8.  Babysitter arrives at 6pm to utter chaos.  She had fair warning.  We loved her for being so daring. 
9.  Met Key West friends at our first official "Conch Tale Hour" at the Galleon Tiki Bar.  I love these people.  Love them.  They loved Chop.  They loved his mom.  I can't even explain the feeling of being met with wide open hugs, kisses, and "welcome homes".  I think we will live here until we're old and gray.

Day Four:

10.  Found poisonous fang-toothed Bufo toad snooping around our front door.  Maybe dramatic to reference sharp teeth, but they are poisonous beasts.  And ugly.  Prodded it for reaction.  Nothing.  What a bore.

11.  Meandered over to Alonzo's Oyster Bar for half-priced appetizers, cold la-la drinks, and dinner.  Little conch boy behaved beautifully.  Stuffed our faces and rolled back to the house. 

Day Five:

12.  Offered a teaching job!  Accepted!  I wanted to cry.  The maintenance man celebrated with us. 

Day Six - Eighteen:

11.  An unpacking blur!  But ... there was a lunchtime key lime martini at the White Tarpon somewhere in the middle that took the edge off.  Not to mention the company of two fabulous ladies.  Oh, and brand new neighbor Ashley had a brand new baby boy named Fin. 

Seriously, it truly has been one heck of a flurry these past couple of weeks.  I think I'm only now beginning to catch up on emails and voice messages, and I've already chastised myself for missing a birthday.  J, I love you!  However, despite early spikes in blood pressure, we've made an incredible amount of progress since day one.  Chop is already on his second trip back up to Virginia since we've moved, and the Navy is keeping him busy.  To say I am grateful to be employed by the school I've been following so closely for a year is a stark understatement, and our house finally looks and feels like a home again.   

Over the next couple of weeks, we plan to start enjoying and exploring more of this beautiful island we now call home.  Seeing the sunsets.  Getting on the water.  Strolling about some of the quiet back streets that connect this paradise into a singularly unique community.  One Human Family.  That's the motto here.  However, I think they forgot to include the roosters.

"Rooster Republic" courtesy of John Hartung