Last Friday of Freedom

It's official.  I start back with USAA on Monday.  I'm excited and scared.  Some people thrive on change.  I can't say that I thrive on change, but I don't shirk from it, either.  I approach change with caution and some trepidation (kinda like me on an unfamiliar bike trail.)  I'm never all out balls to the wall unless I know what I'm doing.  I don't dive into water not knowing how deep is.  (OK, enough metaphors already...I'm sure you get it.)  The point is, I'm on the brink of a major life change, so I'm taking a deep breath and focusing on forward.  I'm trying to be mindful and observant of what's happening to me; I'm far more self aware than I was when I first started with USAA on January 2, 1989.

This past week has been a flurry of activity.  Do I spend my final days of freedom being productive or lazy?  I did a little of both.  Got some great rides in, cooked some fabulous meals (well, that's nothing new) hung with friends and kids and goofed off a lot. Finally joined Facebook so I now know what all the fuss is about and have played Zuma Blitz way too often.  I've also been running carpool 2x in the morning and 1x in the afternoon, so I've been spending over an hour and a half a day in my car, just shuttling kids (I'll be happy to say adios to that chore, for sure.)

Was going to ride yesterday morning, but woke up in the middle of the night to thunderstorms, so I knew the ride wouldn't happen.  That was OK.  My legs were still recovering from riding Croom on Thursday.  Riding my mountain bike in actual hills, not knowing what's coming up around the next corner.  Bombing downhills.  It was fun, but a lot different from Flatwoods.  I felt well exercised after leaving Croom, and eating at Maw's Vittles in Brooksville capped off the experience.

Friday started out rainy, as I said.  Met Nancy and we ate lunch at Latam at Centro Asturiano in Ybor City.  They had a Cuban Buffet that was fabulous.  We then headed over the the Restaurant Warehouse.  Steve's husband owns New World Brewery and had recently joined this wholesale-for-the-restaurant-trade club.  He'd warned us to wear our heavy coats in, and he was right.  It's a big warehouse, very reminiscent of Sanwa on Hillsborough.  I love all things food and all things restaurant related, so I had a ball touring the aisles with Nancy.  When we went into the refrigerated section, even with our coats and hats and gloves, we still froze.   There was a sign that they keep it between 28-32 degrees.  It was damned cold.  In truth, I didn't see that the prices were any better than Sanwa's on their items, and I could do better at the produce market on Hillsborough for most of the fruits and veggies, but I still had a great time.

After a busy afternoon, I headed back to Ybor to The Cuban Club.  WMNF is holding it's annual book and record sale today, so volunteers were needed to get the books out and organized.  We've been doing this for about 10 years now, and I've never seen so many books before.  The place was overflowing with donated goodies. It was overwhelming, but many hands, etc.  Tons of people make this happen, but Walter and Ray are the ones without whom it would not be possible.  I'm hoping the sale was successful.

Three of my favorite bands were playing Friday night at New World.  Headed over to New World and said hey to Devon of the Takers, who was opening, and to Matt from Have Gun, but I'm lousy at small talk with people I don't know really well, so I got a Creative Loafing, ordered a beer and pizza, and sat at the bar and tried to read in the very dim light. CL was supposed to run some ads for the book and record sale in exchange for them hanging flyers at the event.  The flyers were abundant.  I scanned the paper two times and did not see an ad for the book and record sale.  Hmmmm.   I have to say, IMHO, that New World Brewery makes the absolute best pizza.  The crust is thin, the red sauce is divine and garlicky, and the toppings of mushrooms, cheese and basil just exploded with flavor.  I had half of the pizza at that first sitting, two more sitting in my car later waiting to get out of the parking lot, and the last two for breakfast this morning.  Absolute, sheer pizza heaven.

After I ate, folks started showing up that I knew, so I had someone to hang/chat with.  Bev and Bryan.  Devon started playing about 10:30 and did a good 30-40 minute set.  He's from Gainesville but, as often as he plays out here,  he may as well live here.  I don't get out often, so it was great to see him.  He's got a voice for country music, writes amazing songs, and can play a mean guitar.  He's really got the chops to make it big.  Hope he gets to be more than a big fish in a small pond.  His former band was The Takers, and they have one record out.  Don't know the whys or hows of the band break up, but as long as Devon's still playing and writing songs, it's all good.

At the set break was heading out and ran into my good buddy, Eric, a park ranger at Wilderness Park.  I'd try to contact him earlier on Facebook about the show, but his internet has been down.  Jarrod was there with him, another park ranger.  Jarrod shared his flask with me (bourbon...like I needed anything) and it was great to see those guys out.  Eric asked me who I was there with.  I sorta shrugged, because I wasn't really with anyone.  It's just that people I know show up at these events, so I don't feel alone.  They were with two pretty young things, so I excused myself so they could concentrate on their dates.  As I turned around to leave them, there was Henry and his girlfriend. For a while, when USAA was doing their great experiment about combining Policy Service and Claims into one unit,  Henry had the desk across from me.  We see each other occasionally at shows.  He laughed when he heard I was going back to USAA.  He'd moved on a few years ago.

Will Quinlan and the Diviners were absolutely top notch.  There's a new bass player.  They played their familiar stuff extremely well.  He did a Tom Petty song.  And one of the new ones he played...wow!  it was just outstanding.  I admit I couldn't understand the lyrics, but musically, on the first fresh listen, it was as catchy as any song I've heard.  I can't wait for the new stuff to come out.

Have Gun were as totally wonderful as always.  It's such a treat to see a band in top form, with the audience singing along with the songs.  It was truly a special night.

Took forever to get out of the parking lot, and didn't get to bed until 2:30.  Fortunately, was able to go back to bed after breakfast and stayed in bed until 2:30 in the afternoon.  Woo-hoo!  Felt normal Saturday night.

A new chapter begins.