New Year's Blog!

My buddy Big Dog (we call him big dog because he rides a “Big Dog”) called and invited Mrs. Harley Howie and I and a whole lot of our friends to his new place for an open house party on New Year’s Eve. The Mrs. and I had no other plans so we gladly accepted his generous invitation. I have not seen Big Don for a while. It’d be a great to catch things up and see all of our other friends as well.

Big Dog is a very serious and experienced boater. I used to go to his old studio apartment a lot. He has a sixty-footer sail boat which he’s working on it constantly. He used docks right in the back of the studio apartment but he had always stayed on the boat. He had to move because his landlord had just sold the building recently. We used to make fun of him because he is endlessly working on the boat and spending way too much money on it. We all used to call that boat “The Money Pit”. We’d her one day hear he had put in a brand new sail, which I’d imagine would cost a few pennies or two. The other day we’ll be hear him complaining about how much he spent on replacing the plumbing of his bathroom. I guess it all adds up. We all assumed he will fix the sail boat up and then sell it or trade it in for another one. When we got to his house, we realized he had bought another 55 footer cruiser-fishing boat. He actually docks both of this boat right in his back yard deck.

He invited us inside to take a look and boy, was it nice! Flat screen TVs are all around the main cabinet, which consists of the living room, dining room and kitchen. As you walk further inside, which is the lower deck, you’ll see the crew member’s bedroom, a guest bedroom, bathroom (with a shower) and the master bedroom. When we went on the top deck of the boat, you’ll get a clear view of the ocean all around the boat. I am sure this new boat cost a few buck or two. He offered to take us up to Daytona during Bike Week, I told Big Dog I’ll try to get my sea legs together and get back to him.

Don is single but he knows his way around the kitchen very well. He almost handled the entire meal all by himself. We had chips and dips (which I am sure I could also manage), few delightful appetizers, and of course, prime ribs, honey baked ham and all the trimming to go with it. There was an open bar but I stayed with beers all night. I ate so much I don’t even remember how many plates I had. Then after dinner, we all sat around the deck and just chatting.

We sat around for a while and I realized it’s almost 11pm. The Mrs. and I did not stay for the New Year count down because I thought maybe it’s much safer to go home before midnight. But, I already had a bottle of champagne chilled and ready for us at home. The Mrs. and I turned in to Regis on TV and pop the bottle right at mid night.