So a couple of weeks ago, after fleeing Mark’s place after his meltdown, we moved to a nearby hotel in Panama City. Karen and I thought it would be better to stay there and clear our heads for a day or two before figuring what our next move would be while in the city. David, a Canadian trip alumni and PC resident who has since become a good friend of ours, said we could stay with him. But we didn’t want to be any trouble. We did, however want to go get some stuff from his place that Karen left with him before a previous trip, and to bring back some stuff he had let us borrow recently. (more…)
Tony’s Corner
Some people…
… just can’t be helped or saved. I’ve known this most of my life. I’ve seen good friends of mine go down the slippery slope of addiction and never come back from the abyss. My own mom was a lifelong addict of tranquilizers, painkillers, and pretty much whatever drug she can get her hands on. Her addiction did eventually kill her, even if it was indirectly. And no matter how much you want to help these kinds of people. At some point, the truth is inevitable, and you just have to let go. (more…)
The Big 45…
So as of today, I have now outlived Elvis by three years. And so far so good, I think… 😉
The only thing that exasperates me about this birthday is the fact that I’ve been on Andiamo now for more than five years. In some ways, it actually seems LONGER. I keep telling myself that there is no way I could have fit all that has happened with me and Andiamo in just five years. But then again, on some levels, it feels like just yesterday. How does that happen?
I look back at previous birthdays during my Andiamo tenure with smiles and fond memories, especially the ones spent on Utila. I find myself feeling incredibly lucky to have been among great friends and good times each and every birthday since leaving Miami in 2004. Make no mistake. It’s been a rough and crazy ride so far, filled with incredible moments of happiness, thrill, adventure, and yes, even sadness and loss. Through it all I can honestly say that there is no place I’d rather be right now, than right where I am, doing what I’m doing. How could I ask for more than that?
And yes, people still guess my age at around 35… 🙂
Pop…
Pop, a few months before his death...
Four years ago today, I lost my Pop. I guess I’m getting better at handling this particular date as each year passes. And this year, I even wondered if any prevailing thought or theme would enter my head enough to make me want to write about it. Yet again, here I am doing just that. And the prevailing theme for this year’s go-round, is that painful thing we can only call regret. (more…)
Christmas in the Caribbean… Volume IV
It’s hard to believe that it’s my fourth Christmas aboard Andiamo. What’s more that I’m topping off my FIFTH YEAR living and cruising aboard her (it will be five years in February). So much has happened, so many adventures, so many incredible people encounters, so many places, so many experiences (good and bad) in such a short time. I remember when I was in the navy 25 years ago for a four year stint. Those four years seemed to drag on forever! These days, time goes by at such a dizzying pace, it’s staggering. Yet, things remain interesting. Yet, I’m not tired of it. (more…)
The Muchas Gracias List! – 2008 Edition
It took me a little longer to get this year’s “Muchas Gracias List”, an annual thanksgiving tradition here on the Andiamo blog, together. It’s mostly because Andiamo’s been crazy busy lately. Nonetheless, I want to get this year’s list up now while I had a chance to give a special thanks and recognition to the people who’ve been exceptionally helpful and supportive to me and Andiamo this past year.
So without further adieu… (more…)
Behold… History in the making….
One good thing about Andiamo’s engine deciding to take an implosion break was that it got me back to land in time to watch the 2008 election unfold. And what a sight that was indeed! It was the antithesis to the disastrous, horrific and just plain criminal events that unfolded on that fateful Tuesday of November 7th, 2000. For as infamous as that election was, this election shall be FAMOUS, if not more. (more…)