2007 Key West Chicken Wing Tour

Cayo Hueso, Conch Republic, Key West...it's all the same. A little island on the Straights of Florida, 90 miles north of Havana. We had a pretty good time, but for future reference, there isn't that much to do there unless you are into scuba diving/snorkeling. And more info for future reference, Key West isn't kid friendly...well, unless your kid is a functioning alcoholic. There was ample rain so there was no worries about getting sunburned.


We walked all over the island(in the rain) and saw pretty much all there was to see by day two. We went to the southernmost point in the contiguous 48. In the same area was the Hemingway House, yep, the house Ernest Hemingway resided in that has all the crazy six-toed cats. We didn't go in because it was $11 a person to go in and some guy who had just left the house said all there was to see was the cats. We checked out all the famous Duval Street haunts like Sloppy Joe's, Captain Tony's Saloon, and Hog's Breath Saloon. They were fun, but that kind of fun only lasts for a few hours.

At the Hog's Breath Saloon, there was a guy playing music from Nashville. He was taking requests. I asked him if he knew any Verne Gosdin songs...no. How about Gary Stewart? No. But, he did play Country Roads for Beth. The guy told me on the microphone in front of the crowd since he didn't know any of the songs I requested he would play something he knew I would enjoy...Rocky Top. That's what I get for wearing a UK hat and keep in mind this was four days after Tennessee beat UK in triple overtime. A similar scene with the song requests went down in Sloppy Joes. The guy didn't know anything I requested, but, hell, he knew Country Roads.

We ate at some decent restaurants: The Rum Runner, A&B Lobster House, The Conch Republic Fish Market to name a few. They were all decent, but I think I had chicken wings at all of them. Beth claimed I was on a chicken wing tour of Key West. I think she was correct. The wings I had at the Cuban restaurant were the best.

There was a crazy cat trainer guy on Sunset Marina each night behind our resort. He was an older French guy named Dominique. (I tried to post the video on here, but it was too large. Come over to the house and I'll let you check it out.) He seemed to be a sad old dude who went home at night and sipped cabernet and tried to teach his cats the French language. I am sure his show was the highlight of Beth's trip along with the conch fritters. She came home with confidence she could train Zoe to do the tricks. Now she is home, I think she has lost her dream realizing you can't teach an old cat(read "surly cat") new tricks.

And for Chase and Alisha, I caught a wild pirate in action working the tourists. They were having a pirate celebration the weekend we were leaving. Everytime I saw a pirate, I let loose a deep "Yaaargh, me hearties!" It always turned their heads and they usually gave me a "Avast, ye land lubber!" Goodtimes.

It was good to get back to Lexington, though. We came home Friday and watched UK play

horribly against North Carolina. The refs didn't help. We had a quick week of work and then this past weekend we went to our company's holiday party. Before the party we watched UK get thrashed by Indiana. It was really fun, believe it or not. Not the game, the party. The food was really good to be catered. It was a little rednecked in the fact the party was BYOB, but everyone hid their coolers well. The best 80's cover band I have ever watched, Long Duk Dong, was booked to play the party. Actually, I should say they rocked the party. Believe it or not, since back surgery, Beth still has the moves on the dance floor. Me, not so much, but I'll let you judge for yourself in a pic of me dancing with our friend Donna.

See you around.