Running the Gauntlet of Madonia

In our family of animals we speak of "running the gauntlet" when one of our womenfolk is forced to introduce a male friend into the pack of females. The gal invariably resists, makes excuses and then tries to run for the hills until the guy punches through the resistance and ends up in the hornets nest of the Madonia Matriarchs. All hell breaks loose but after plying the males with food and drink the deer-in-the-headlight look subsides and they get into the groove of what it takes to hang in this feline family. As Soren said after an entire weekend ensnared in the Madonia web, "It's smooth sailing now..."

A younger female in the clan has finally graduated out of the total mess of what we still call a "high school education" without too many scars and to celebrate we tried to wrangle as many kinfolk as we could to hang out at mama bird's house without coming to fist-a-cuffs or experiencing a full blown Italian shouting match over some inadvertent petty insult. In fact, it all came together- a surprise visitor from the west coast appeared and a variety of siblings and odd friends all collided for a pretty damn good weekend...in my opinion. And I have a LOT of opinions.

(We whiled away the weekend in harmony by driving to St. George Island and Wakulla Springs, catching some local music, and sharing meals...Slideshow not loading today but I will figure it out somehow soon...))

Day of the Ed

Forced into a birthday celebration, Ed is dragged to the Wacissa and made to ferry around the Little General while patiently listening to 3 Chatty Cathys. Running the gauntlet of the local color and their kin was swiftly done and a dip in that cool, sweet spring water was key to Ed's day of fun.

Drinking beer helped....

(and he got to go to Cabo's where everyone licked their plates, drank margaritas and Ed got carrot cake. Happy Birthday Ed...)

Hugh Moves On...Sopchoppy Bound

Hugh had such a good time hanging out with the Usual Suspects at Truett Place that he may secretly just ride the entire 2200 miles around Tallahassee just so he could get the good meals, drink Cortaditas at the Red Eye and hang out on the porch writing all day....

Here he is pretending to leave for Sopchoppy and points west...

Blogging to Follow a Blog: Hughie Does America...Slowly

My disappearing act from all electronic transmissions has been a relief and an inspiration at the same time. I scatter my thoughts too freely and end up divided in my efforts but falling all by myself. And then, more importantly, I feel that most people really don't give a damn where you are or what's going on because they're too busy checking in with the whole world in sound bites that are so brief that they are long forgotten before the end of the day. On to the next best thing.

I'm compelled to post a word about my amazing technicolor friend Hugh the Magnificent as he journeys across America, on the Slow Ride, and gathers and sorts his thoughts concerning the next chapter in his life. The talented Mr. Holborn has left St Augustine and the shrapnel of his overly busy life, reducing his personal footprint to a bicycle and small pull behind trailer, and heads for New Mexico. A slow, controlled journey indeed.

Hugh enriched my weekend by showing up here in Tallahassee after his successful first week on the road and is letting me do what I do best: entertain, feed and support. Of course, a quick All Call to my Number One's for a Friday Night Stone(r) Patio dinner party helped kick off a productive weekend for Hughie as he maps and organizes his next week.

Damn, I love Tallahassee...

Hugh's travelogue can be found at: slowlifeonabike.com