Today I am celebrating the anniversary of my dad's birth! He would have been 104 and we always said he was a sweetheart.

Things on the homefront are not so great. My son and his girlfriend are down here for her grandmother's funeral, and last night, my son tested positive for flu-A. She is fine but doesn't drive and probably won't fly back without him. But she should! We'll see once they get up. He is hacking away in the other room and had a 103 fever yesterday. Ugh.

Oh, boo, Laura, I'm so sorry. I hope he feels better soon.

I told them both my opinion that he should stay and she should go to deal with work and the cats and so forth. I told them to mull it over, but the flight is tonight, so quickly. She has a LOT of anxiety about negotiating 2 airports by herself, but I think it would help her in the future if she does it. The other option is they both stay another week. (Not sure if that is better or worse!!)

To further complicate life, my cousins are arriving next Friday!

My onerous task is going to be making a dental appointment. It's been way too long because I kept getting colds when I scheduled and then rescheduled.

So officially there is no DEI at work. No displays for Black History Month like last year. However at the team meeting the other day we did have Black history trivia. It's not a lot. But it's what could be done without getting management in trouble. So I'll take that

She wasn't up to going without him so she rebooked for next week.

To give myself a treat I booked a few days in Key West for our 35th anniversary next month. Yes, Floridians go to the keys for vacations. Right in old town near restaurants and such, because I don't really require a beach view. I do require a kitchen though! Since we will be driving I can pack food and cook. The place has a nice patio to eat outside. I need to see if they have a grill, hmmm.

That sounds lovely. I've never been to the Keys!

Unfortunately, it isn't what it used to be as the price of everything is insane. I miss it being a funky island place that seceded from the country. But it is still a lovely break.

Edited because to secede is different than succeeding.

A while back I read a book - sort of a travel memoir I guess - by a woman who was chronicling traveling around the US by Greyhound by herself (I think she was not American but I could not swear to that, I don't remember the author's name or the title or anything to verify) and I think she ended her journey in the Keys. At the least, there was a girl also travelling on the bus who had this aloof mystique that all the passengers were drawn to and she was from the Keys and going home. The author was struck by once they got there and the girl was amongst her friends she lost her cool factor and was just one of the crowd. Anyway, that's pretty much all I know about the Keys. That and something to do with Hemingway and cats.

The last time I was there the Hemingway House and the extra-toed cats still were there.

Mr. Google tells me I am .7 miles from the Hemingway House and .3 miles from the Southernmost point. I won't be walking too much because it will be hot. I am considering putting a bike rack on my car and taking our bikes, or maybe just renting them there. I don't want to deal with parking.

Sigh. Last time I was in the Keys was for a friend's wedding. I think that was the trip I finally saw the Hemingway House. I'd say "good times" except that this is the friend who served at the pleasure of You-Know-Who and so I don't speak to him anymore.