It wasn’t the best of weekends. I read a threatening poem dedicated to a friend. Meanwhile, another friend received angry, unkind messages because of a post I shared on Friday.
My blog has been a vehicle for me to promote
women and love. There has always been one constant message – positivity. It is all I know.
I refuse to condone, accept, or promote hate, envy, bullying, or violence. Love, acceptance, and understanding are the cure.
During my worst moments, I always retreat to my favorite lady. She always resets my mind, my inner peace, and priorities.
I often feel these lyrics by Jack Johnson were written for me.
When this work is done
And this coat is dry
When this world is too much
It will be
Only the ocean and me
When these sails go up Mountains fade away Stars come out I’m finally free it’s only the ocean and me
Lonely Author: Week In Review (As if anybody really cares)
Couldn’t think of a better title.
So, let’s get right to the action.
The neighbor’s dwarf hen has visited the construction site everyday for the past two weeks.
She delivers an egg every other day. Now, if I can teach her to make bacon and brew some coffee, I will be all set.
My roof is up. (Bad joke).
Since I am no longer allowed to work on my own hut, I have been shopping for curtains, bathroom tiles, furniture, etc.
Found this fish art in a mall. He is made of ladles, spoons, empty bottle and spatulas.
A closer look.
A mall aquarium.
Selected the dark gray tile pattern for the bathroom. It should stand out beautifully against a contrast of a white and light gray scheme for the other tiles and bathroom floor.
You had no idea the Beach Boy could get all HGTV on you. Did ya?
I attended a baby shower this past weekend. Pearla (black dress) the momma to be and her hubby Johan, the father to be, asked me to be the Godfather to be, to their baby to be. His name will be Axel and his estimated time of arrival is late October.
What would the end of the day be like without a gorgeous sunset? Well, I guess it would be the end of a day without a gorgeous sunset.
Seriously, I am doing very well. I followed doctor’s orders. (Something very new for me).
Thank you all for your beautiful messages and concern. Sigh. So sweet of all of you. Much like the mosquitos on the island, you have touched me in places you will never know.
And this concludes…..
Lonely Author: Week In Review (As If Anybody Really Cares)
Will leave comments open for a while to have a few laughs. Enjoy the end of the week.
I have been busy building a little love hut on this tropical paradise. My friend Berto wanted to give me a break from construction with a day at the beach. We argued over who was driving (my friend is notorious for driving drunk), so I refused to go.
Later that day I learned Berto was in a severe driving accident. He hit a motorist and smacked into two cars. Several people were severly injured.
Guilt was consuming me on every trip I made to the hospital.
Berto pointed at an empty bed in his room, “That would have been yours.”
Back at the construction site, I was as active as can be participating in all aspects of construction. Well, as most of you know I have a blind side (right) I tripped over a block and violently crashed in a wall of blocks.
I woke up in a hospital, lying in the very bed Berto said I was supposed to be in. Stayed there for several days. Thankfully, no concussion. Just intense back pain and some difficulty with mobility.
There in the blue polo is my best friend (and engineer) Titi. My buddy picked me up at the hospital and we drove straight to a beach resort. Where for fours days I was without cell phone or laptop. Just watching the beach, getting constant back massages.
So why the coconut photo? Since I have been on heavy pain meds, coconut water was the only exotic drink I had all weekend.
Will catch up with everyone over the next few days. Two versions of the same post posted today on my blog. I will get to all comments. Please be patient, I will touch all of you when I get back to my room tomorrow.
Several years ago, my friend Ramon bought land on a hillptop near the beach. He built a large villa for his family. (This is his view).
There on the side deck, we drink wine and Presidente beer, playing dominoes until all hours of the night. We talk about sports, politics, philosphy, and our favorite subject – women. Last year he told me he wanted to build a small church near the villa. I volunteered to help out. (I had my own ideas of construction in mind).
We built the tiny church during my February/March vacation earlier this year. I laiud blocks, plastered, and mixed concrete. The painting and final touches were completed after I returned to the United States.
The church’s inauguation was this past Saturday. Over 200 persons stood outside the church for a mass and celebration (in blistering 100+ degrees heat). It is the only church in the beach community.
The tiny church only has seating room for 18 persons. It is not the size of the church that mattered. We knew the community would never fit there. It is what it represents.
If I don’t accomplish anything in my life, I know I helped create a little positive place of hope in a corner of the world. And honestly, that is enough for me.
I will let you know of my own construction project in a future post.
Seriously, did you really think the Beach Boy didn’t have one last adventure in him? Today, I am flying to the Dominican Republic for a three month writing retreat/vacation.
Question: Who wrote the following? A tramp, a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer, a lonely fellow, always hopeful of romance and adventure.
The first week, I will be staying at exclusive 7,000 acre resort Casa de Campo. It is a great golfing resort. President Bill Clinton just stayed there in July. The resort’s theatre was opened with an exclusive concert by with performers Frank Sinatra , Buddy Rich, Heart. and Santana (Aug 20, 1982).
On my last vacation I chased whales. The itinerary for this trip begins with the exploration of the 100,000 year old Las Maravillas Caves, where long before Chistopher Columbus arrived, the Taino Indians left pictographs on the walls.
Altos de Chavón is a replica 16th century Mediterrean village which serves as a cultural center for students, tourists, and artists from around the world. St. Stanislaus church is a stone building in the center of the village. Consecrated in 1979, Pope John Paul II sent the ashes of Poland’s patron saint, St. Stanislaus, and a hand-carved statue from Krakow to commemorate the church’s inauguration.
Of course, I will be spending time with my goddaughter Dibel (a.k.a. Lily) and so many friends.
I will stick to my regular blogging schedule Monday and Thursday (comment closed)
Answer: Charlie Chaplin wrote these words in his diary.
A tramp, a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer, a lonely fellow, always hopeful of romance and adventure.
Sitting at a bar, thoughts of muses, poetry. and loneliness floated alongside the ice cubes in my mojito.
I scribbled an occasional sentence or verse on a napkin because they were napkin worthy, unlike most of my other thoughts which are written on….
A waitress asked what I was doing.
“Writing poetry on a napkin.”
Time passed, my melancholy mood in this crowded bar, did not.
The waitress returned with a carnation. Pointing at an empty booth, she advised me a beautiful blonde was watching me as I drank and wrote. She was the curious person who wanted to know what I was writing.
Just before she left, my secret admirer asked the waitress to deliver the flower with a message.
“Mr. Poet, let this inspire you until the next time we meet for the first time.”
.
This photo is the carnation resting on the footboard of my bed.
Well, since I don’t have a girlfriend, I need to give someone my love, don’t I?
This past Sunday, was my three month anniversary here in Florida. That same day Ravy came into my life. She is a 2019 Toyota Rav4 XLE.
I usually hand wash and wax her on Fridays after my gym workout (what the heck I am already sweaty anyway, right?). But this week, I groomed her on her birthday. Even took the time to add some accesories (side door trims and door sill protectors).
Tonight, Ravy and I will have our first companion. Not what you think. (I should be so lucky). My daughter will be visiting for then next 12 days.
A bold glimpse into me. Since I was courageous enough to post this, I will leave comments open. I could use a good laugh.
Must Love Shoes
In a recent conversation with my friend Shelley of Quaint Revival I confessed my love for women’s shoes. (No, I do not wear them). No, not a shoe kisser type either, I just adore women who have plenty of shoes (in all styles and colors). Women’s shoes and feet, totally drives me insane.
One of the reasons I chose this new apartment, it has a shoe closet.
My idea of the perfect evening?
Lights are turned low. We are sitting on the couch, sipping wine, listening to soft mood setting music. We talk about poetry, life, books, and my favorite subject – YOU. My hands gently caress and massage your feet which rest in my lap.
Coming from New York, I met women all the time, on the bus, trains, stores, and streets. I guess you know by now, shyness is not one of my traits. So, I don’t use any of those internet meet sites.
But if I ever was to place a personal ad….
Single guy in Orlando area. Loves walks on the beach, shopping, coffee, sunsets, writing, and great conversation. Enjoys an occasional sangria, wine, or mojito. Other than blogging, not into social media. You: Should share my love for writing and poetry. Prefer if you were smarter than me. Don’t worry, this is a no brainer. (bad joke). Love for trying new restaurants required. Good sense of humor necessary! Oh, and you MUST LOVE SHOES.
This is exactly how I start my blogging day. My coffee mug reminding me I am the author of my life.
I have come to realize that New York and my current lifestyle consume so much of my time, my manuscript goes unattended. Too many friends, ex-girlfriends, parties, and after hours. There is always something fun to do.
With that in mind, on Friday afternoon I flew down Orlando, Florida in search of a new apartment (where I can write in peace). I decided on Central Florida because it is the perfect place to explore the entire state while I decide where I want to plant new roots. That is my birthday gift to myself.
I considered my beloved Miami, but it would only be reliving the same problems I face in New York (see above).
As my close friends know trying new restaurants is my hobby. So, tonight (April 8th), for my birthday, I will be dining at Cuban singer Gloria Estefan’s restaurant Bongos Cuban Cafe.
I will catch up with all of you when I return to blogging next Tuesday.
As I said right before my vacation, jobs fill our pockets. Adventures fill our souls. My first 5 days in the Dominican Republic were at a beach resort to relieve my stress. This was the view outside my balcony.
There was nightly entertainment. On the second night 8 professional dancers selected 4 men and 4 women from the audience to compete in a Dancing With the Stars competition. Yes, I was selected. When I survived the first five rounds (rock & roll, the twist, hip hop, lambada, and salsa) I thought I had a chance. The last two elimination rounds were the typical island dances; merengue and bachata (my forte). At the end of the competition I was called back onto the stage to receive my award (a bottle of rum) and I pulled a hamstring. The very next day I received Swedish massage to ease my pain.
One of the reasons I went to the island was to see the humpback whales. These whales come every winter from as far away as northern Canada and Norway. This is a single female flirting and letting the males know she is free. The white on their tails are like our fingerprints. No two whales are alike.
Here I captured two males crashing into one another as they fought for the attention and right to be with the female. In all, there were four males fighting for the lone female. I guess she had an amazing tail.
This is my goddaughter Dibel (proounced Dee-bell). We spent plenty of time together shopping, beaching, and playing. Now, the peculiar thing about Dibel is she swears her parents gave her the wrong name. She insists her name was supposed to be Lily. So, I always make sure to call her Lily.
My good firiend Luis has a slight resemeblence to actor Daniel Craig. After years of teasing him about it, I put it to a test. One night in a beach bar, I turned on the charm and convinced two lovely ladies that Luis is James Bond’s stunt double. Well, after a wonderful night of dancing, laughing, and drinking, the two ladies left the bar with 007’s stunt double. Lonely Author went back to his room alone.
Because of the wedding, I had the opportunity to stay at this private resort for two nights. This was the table where I had breakfast and did some writing.
My long time followers recognize Ally. We spent some time together at the 75th birthday party and at the beach wedding.
I had the chance to dine at two mountainside restaurants. This one Aroma De La Montaña (Aroma of the Mountain) has a revolving floor which gave us spectacular views while me and my friends dined.
Ah, the wedding. It was my first time being a bestman. I had plenty of fun dancing and mingling. I recited poetry (English and Spanish) during the bestman speech at the celebration.
Sadly, I said goodbye to two old dear friends Maria (95) and Tato (93). Hope they will still be there when I return.
Here is a peek at one of the orange sunsets.
Life is about the memories we make. And the memories waiting to be made. So, go out there and make some memories of your own.
The Lonely Author 