Decompression Ft Lauderdale Style

Churchill's Pub
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It didn't hit me until we were on the flight to Ft Lauderdale: we had actually packed up a suitcase, handed off our house keys and kitties and have embarked on this three month journey that has been foremost in our minds all summer. We can finally shed all of the stresses of the past year, walk away essentially debt free and fully immerse ourselves in the Now of the next three months.

The Tropi Rock Resort is where we would call home for the next three nights and is perfectly eclectic & funky. There are unusual furnishings, mosaics and native/tropical artwork, not to mention our quirky, but delightfully genuine host, Mick. Unable to check in until 7:30pm due to the office closing for dinner, we walked to the beach boardwalk for some fruity drinks and coconut shrimp. On the way back, Todd picked up a Chronicle-type rag and found a punk rock show in Miami that he really wanted to see. I was a bit skeptical (The Queers?!) and exhausted from our last whirlwind week in Austin, but reluctantly agreed.

punk rock show
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It was an authentic, dark & dirty punk club whose pub grub we braved for dinner (and did so alone as not one other person in the place had food). Todd's Shepard's Pie was expectedly bland and my Lamb Curry was true to form but sinfully over-allspiced. In hindsight, we should have hit one of the small ethnic eateries that dotted the neighborhood, but the Yuengling's washed down the pub grub nicely. There were three bands to play before The Queers, the first two of which were unremarkable. The third, however, garnered my attention. The Independents were an interesting blend of Sublime-ish beats & vocals and punk rawk guitars. Although not inspired to join the small sweaty mosh pit, I dug it. The headliners took the stage around 1am and delivered a sufficiently old-school set that the crowd & Todd loved.

wild eyed Kava night
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The rest of our time was spent walking on the beach, seeing The Wackness at the Ft Lauderdale Independent Film Festival, trying a traditional Kava brew & wrapping up a few things before leaving the country.

On Tuesday, Sept 16, we boarded a plane for Jamaica...