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Let's Slap

  

I thought a Friday afternoon is a great time to share the expression, “Let’s Slap!” Last week I spent some time at the Fiesta Key RV Resort & Campground, MM70 in the Florida Keys. I’ve never been to a RV resort. I didn’t know what it was all about. Now I do. I get it. It is whatever you want it to be, from roughing it in a tent to ‘glamping’ it up in a mini-mansion on wheels. No place is more ideal than a little piece of paradise called Fiesta Key. Pool, right on the ocean, snorkeling, boating, biking, and sailboarding…

   Which is the point of my blog today. You can meet all kinds of people. Serious full-time RVers, retirees, snowbirders, world travelers, weekend honeymooners, family vacationers and sailboarders. The group I met was from Tallahassee. (Shell Point Sailboard Club) This is a serious group that doesn’t take sailboarding or having fun with friends lightly. As a matter of fact, I think they have it down to an exact science. No, scratch that, they have elevated it to an art-form.

   This group has been travelling together, chasing the wind for many years. As with any group, when you hang that much together…a kind of second family atmosphere evolves and with family comes traditions. For example, every year one of the members carves a wooden Tiki that travels with the group and is auctioned off at the end of the year for charity. Which brings me back to “Let’s Slap!”, well, kind of…

   This is the almost tribal call that happens at sunset every day during their trips. I’m feeling the need to back track a bit. After a long day of camping in tents and sailboarding it is time to relax, unwind and celebrate the day’s adventures with a martini. Not just any martini. A very Perry martini. He seems to be the 'go-to guy' for the magic drink. He has perfected his gin martini mixing with much practice and it even includes hand-stuffed blue cheese olives…ummm…yum!

   I got the honor to join in on this lovely ritual on their last night at the camp (probably because I was longingly drooling over their blue cheese olives). And, it really is a ritual complete with rules and lingo. I only participated once, so I’ll try to do justice on the basics:

   1. Perry mixes the magic martinis at base camp. (But with the night’s winds, the drinks were poured at the destination).

   2. Martini glasses are filled. Two olives per.

   3. Several multi-lingual cheers are voiced. “Na zdrowie! Prost! Cheers!” And the first group sip is taken.

   4. Watch the sunset. Laugh. Sip. Repeat.

Now here’s the fun part, as the sun starts its descent, so do the martinis…and the 2 olives become a critical part of the ritual’s timing.

   5. The first person to ‘expose’ their olive, calls the first “slap”. “Let’s Slap” is shouted. The friends gather, rescue their olives, and raise them overhead for a rowdy cheer and eat their first tasty, gin soaked delight! Aaaaaahhhh…

    6. Fyi- now you PUSH your olive to the bottom of the toothpick to ensure that it keeps soaking in that gin.

   7. Watch the sunset. Laugh. Sip. Repeat.

   8. The next person to expose the remaining olive calls the 2nd and final ‘slap’. “Let’s Slap!”

   9. Finishing off the final olive and martini makes for a very ‘happy ending’, of course, to a lovely sunset tradition.

Oh what do those Jimmy Buffet fans say…’Just another shitty day in paradise.’

Skal! (my Swedish heritage and the word for cheers) Slainte! (the Irish version)

Cheers!

Sunday in New Orleans

So Sunday, January 15th, the PPA ImagingUSA conference officially kicks off. Made it early to hear a couple speakers and cruise the tradeshow floor. I had to take a break early for lunch and a changing of hotels...So back to wandering and exploring New Orleans!

The Howlin' Wolf - right around the corner from the Convention Center on St. Peters St. near my hotel. The Den serves food. Really good food. On Sundays, Chef Nathanial Zimet from Boucherie takes over the little kitchen area and serves really awesome food. On this particular day, David & Scott were in charge of the grill.  Here is what I enjoyed:

Pulled pork Po-boy with purple cabbage slaw and Krispy Kreme (as in the donuts)  bread pudding. To wash it all down, I enjoyed a Purple Haze, just one of the many beers available on tap:

Time to change hotels...maybe catch a little catnap...it is Sunday afterall!

Nola - Emeril's Place - New Orleans

So I decided to treat myself to one little extravagent New Orleans adventrue. Fine dining at an Emeril hot spot. I chose Nola. In the French Quarter. I was not disappointed. I went in the afternoon on a Saturday. Sat at the dining bar by the kitchen and wood-fired oven. Remember, I am out by myself...so I need the added entertainment and cover :)

When I sat down, I met a couple who just met for a glass of wine and an appetizer. They raved about the crab cake. (which is my standard thing to have when out and about). So, I ordered it. I was not disappointed by either the presentation or yumminess:

So, my meal was awesome.It was fun to watch the lead chef order up and check final plates before they went out. The cook at the the wood-fired oven wasn't too talkative, but still nice. (She cooked my entree') It is a warm place to sit...the only negative for me.

So., chardonnay was excellent, wait staff friendly, attentive and food delish! My crabcake was to die for...and my entree was a fish I had never heard of..drum...which stands for yum when cooked in a  wood fired oven.

Cheers to Nola & Emeril!

PPA - ImagingUSA - New Orleans

So every year the Professional Photographer's of America association has a national conference. I don't go every year. This is my second trip. The beauty of the the conference is that it is kind of whatever you need it to be...research products, vendors, educate yourself, hear amazing & inspiring photogs, get certified, etc.

This year I am in the process of re-launching my business and going full-time. So my adventure/goals for PPA for this year was to rethink my business, research vendors and network...and explore New Orleans.

I wanted to post images sooner...so today I am catching up. 

P.S. I fell back in love with New Orleans and really got to meet some of the the people/artists of NOLA.

Enjoy!

First day in New Orleans. Arrived too early to check in to my hotel, so I went for a walk. Just love the old buildings and signs...

Presenting Art Gecko Graphics

Happy New Year!

To celebrate the new year, I have finally organized, updated and launched my Art Gecko Graphics online art gallery!

Art Gecko Graphics

images of flora, fauna & a bit of funkitude

Here you can find the full line of my images that I present and sell as Fine Art prints and Art Cards in Key West & North Manchester!  Browse and enjoy. Available for framed or canvas wrap wall art or gift cards. Custom orders available.  A work  and passion in progress. 

Enjoy!

Michele Marie