Total Wine in Ft.Lauderdale

My friend Mark recommended this place to me and it didn't disappoint. Total Wine in Ft. Lauderdale off 17th street is the real deal. It's overwhelming. Give yourself plenty of time to cruise around the store and check out everything they have. The wine selection is enormous. Shawncy and I picked up our favorite table wine, Paul Masson. The beer selection is out of this world. They have beer that you can't find at your local knuckle-head alcohol store. You can create your own six-pack with beers from around the world. Prices are the cheapest around. It's the Home Depot of Alcohol.

The Ficus Hedge, My Love/Hate Relationship

Anyone familiar with the South Florida landscape knows about the ficus hedge. It can be your greatest friend or your worst enemy, depending on the circumstances. It's way better than a wooden fence, if properly maintained. Its a living wall, and that's the problem, it never stops growing. During the winter months, you can get away not trimming it for maybe a couple of months (Isn't that ALL of winter?). But during the summer rainy season, expect to have to trim it every couple of weeks. If your neighbors are the type of people that let their landscape go wild......well, your in deep trouble. The taller they get, the deeper and farther the roots will go. I currently have over 216 feet of ficus in my backyard and it's about 8 feet tall. I love the privacy, but knowing I have to get on a ladder every two weeks and trim it is daunting. I'm knocked out for the rest of the day. So, if your thinking of planting a ficus hedge, think about it hard, it will always provide great privacy, but your going to have to bust your butt for it.

Sailor Jerry

Although I have a beer fridge, my drink of choice is Rum. Rum and diet and only a lime when I'm feeling nautical. I used to be strictly a Captain Morgan person, but after a few months of sampling different Rums a couple of years ago, I found my Holy Grail of Rums. Sailor Jerry . It's 92 proof, almost twice as strong as Captain and better tasting. A hint of cherry too! Absolutely delicious. You might have some problems finding it though and prices vary from store to store. One store I went into had it for $45 dollars. At my liquor store, Plantation Wine and Liquors, you can pick it up for $23. Once you taste this Rum, as they say, there is no going back. If you are a Rum person and would like to do some reading on the history of Rum, I recommend you pick up the book "and a bottle of Rum.....A history of the New World in Ten Cocktails" by Wayne Curtis. In short, it's about Rum and how it helped shape American History, from grog to the mojito.Its a very good read. Cheers!

Best BBQ in Broward = Scruby's

Asking someone what is their favorite BBQ restaurant is like asking someone who they find attractive. Everyone has a different answer for different reasons. My favorite BBQ in Broward is hands down Scruby's. That's the first place I want to go for BBQ. They have three locations in Broward, but the one I go to is off 84 and Pine Island. The BBQ sauces I think is what does it for me. There are five different sauces from hot to sweet, and by the end of the meal, their all just mixed together. The beans are spectacular, the best I ever had, the quartered chicken is awesome, and that's all I order now. Everything is good....the pork platter, the pork sandwich, even the sweet tea. Whats your favorite BBQ in Broward? I'm always up for recommendations, I'm always up for eating.

Euro 2008

Although I enjoy watching soccer, I can understand why most of America doesn't. Its the non-stop diving, flopping, crying and falling to the ground like they just got shot in the leg with a bullet that tends to turn off a lot of people to the sport. All the above theatrics tend to make some of these professional soccer players look like "Nancys" , and as Americans, we should say " NO !" to Nancification. That's the great thing about American Football. The next play maybe your last. There's no time to ACT like your hurt.(Only in the closing minutes, when you need to save time, to kick the winning field goal). So I'll enjoy this Euro 08, the drama and all, but appreciate American Football even more, where the big boys come out and play for real.

Kona Longboard Island Lager

This is definitely a summer beer. Clean, crisp and refreshing (the label agrees with me), it goes down nice and cold. Paul rating: B.

My First All-American Fathers Day Gift

I have been a Dad now for six days. The most surprisingly "Dad" moment I have had was receiving my first Fathers Day present, a corn on the cob grilling basket with 8 corn skewers. I now know what Fathers Day is all about and I still laugh to myself about getting this gift. I really am a DAD now!!!! I have made it!!!! I cant wait to try this bad boy out because I love corn on the BBQ.

Summer is here-- Royal Poinciana

I'm one of those people who love (most of the time) summer in South Florida.The tourists are gone, school is out, traffic is not as bad.... I know it's hot....but I lived here my entire life and I can handle it. I love the sky in summer. The chaos of it. The colors. The boomer clouds. The cooling afternoon showers. One of the signs I know summer is here is when the Royal Poincianas are in bloom. Especially in the older neighborhoods where they are really tall and spread out. It's the most beautiful color orange imaginable. They are really messy though, and bare in winter. The saying is to give a royal poinciana to a neighbor so you can enjoy it from afar, but my theory is I should plant it, so You can enjoy it from afar. Now that's gardening!!!!!

Officially a Dad

Well, its official. I'm a Dad. Mason was born on June 10, at 11:06 PM. 8.5 pounds and 20 inches.( For those into that thing...I still don't get it). Shawncy and I survived the first two nights of a screaming baby and no sleep...I developed a migraine headache (from no sleep, eating like crap, and sleeping on a rock hard couch) and at one point I was throwing up in the bathroom while Shawncy was taking care of the baby. Good times. But we survvvvvived mmman, and the whole birthing process has been beautiful. Happy Fathers Day.

Sunflower Update

The sunflowers are really starting to bloom. The Skyscraper sunflowers have gotten really, really tall. The photo to the left is me looking up at one ( I'm 5'8..... and on a good day, 5'9). Keeping these bad boys well watered is the best way to make them grow really tall. The birds have been having a grand ole time with them, especially the cardinals.

The Beer Fridge

The Beer Fridge is looking pretty good. The sad part about it is the beer I want most is not in there. Fire Rock Pale Ale is the best beer I have tasted in a while. It is very unique, and it's no longer in my beer fridge.

Sleeman IPA #46

After coming home from Albertsons(Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, Albertsons. Shawncy and I detoured from our cozy Publix sanctuary and experimented to see if we would save money elsewhere (which we did!!)), I was very excited to try this beer. Its OK, nothing mind blowing. It really doesn't even taste like a pale ale. Paul rating on this beer is a C , and that is only because it has a cool bottle shape.

Presidential Display of Affection (PDA)

Well, thank god its not the Al Gore make out. That kiss alone should have told us Al Gore was never going to be elected President of the United States. This is what I like to see in Presidential Display of Affection (PDA). I mean, this is the type of stuff we have had to endure for the last eight years.(Do you want eight more?) Trust me when I say this, The "O" Man, will never let us down.

Decanters = Class

Could Einstein have imagined something as brilliant as that? Having a decanter means your serious. Your not playing around. Just the mere fact that I have a decanter makes me somewhat more elevated than you. Its just a fact of the universe, as Einstein would have most undoubtedly concurred . Shawncy picked up this decanter from the Faith Farm Thrift Store ("It's hit or miss"----Shawncy) in Ft. Lauderdale for $15. Obviously, it was owned by some very rich Baron who lost his "Old Money" in the stock market. It was a family heirloom for about 200 years.... But that is another story...For another time...... Now this beauty sits on MY counter, holding MY rum...It's too good to be true, if you could believe that.

My grass is dying, and I don't care anymore!!!!

Yes, I am coming out and saying it. "I don't care anymore about my stupid grass!!!" It's ridiculous. Why should we waste time, money and water on it. I feel enslaved to the yard. Cutting the yard, fertilizing the yard, watering the yard....It never ends. Its so conspiratorial..... You have to buy a lawn mower, fertilizer, sprinklers, pipes, you have to buy gas and pollute the air, pay the water bill, you have to spend your free time cutting it, weedwacking, edging, you have to make it look good when company comes over, and to top it all off, it will always grow back. Think about it. Its creepy. How bout that for a conspiracy theory, huh? Its perfect, and it comes with just about every house.

The "O" Man

Finally. The "O" Man did it. I hope he lets the dust settle before he picks a VP. I am not a big fan of putting Clinton as VP. I think Webb from Virgina might be a better choice. But lets wait and see...... The Republicans need Clinton to feed their hate machine and there IS always something going on with her and Bill. She is too easy a target. I feel it was pretty classless last night of her not to concede to Obama. Her and her supporters are such.... I don't know, what......crybabies. I am looking forward to the Obama V. McCain election. Politics is like football to me.

Bring in the Closer?

What a heart-breaking week it has been for Marlins fans. We could of won the Met series.... We could of won the Phillies series.....Now the Braves. Last nights lost killed me. I have never been a fan a bringing in the closer in the 9th inning if your current pitcher is going fine. I just don't get it. Is it a money thing? The stupid pitch count? Why take someone out of a game if they are doing fine. Hey, I understand if you have a righty in there and all lefties are up, but, just to bring in someone BECAUSE they are your closer shuts down a lot of your options. I'm going to stay positive though, remember, the Marlins are supposed to finish in last place. A 1 1/2 games out a first place at this point in time is A OK.