The rumors of my demise were somewhat exagerated.

you wanna join me and yogi in the bing?

Who would say such a thing?

E 'stato quelli Dannazione Rosado Fratelli !!!!

Fuck.

Sure... wait, no thanks

Whats wrong?

E 'stato quelli Dannazione Rosado Fratelli !!!! [/quote]

Translation: It was those damn Rosado Brothers

I have no frame of reference, but I'd just assume take your word for it.

I remember Hurricane Andrew back in August of '92. Miami Beach was in its last years as a retirement community; before the revitalization of South Beach. My parents had a place in Sunny Isles back then, just north of Miami Beach. Fortunately they were up here when it struck. When we went down a few weeks later, I was shocked at the devastation. To this day, I've never seen anything like it in person (as far as natural disasters go).

Awful.

Wasn't that the hurricane that devastated Homestead??? My niece went down there with Habitat to help build houses.

I was just down in that area, PB. Did you know that they tore down the Rascal House on Collins?? How COULD they???

Yeah, that was the hurricane, Babe.

I know about The Rascal House. First Wolfie's now this. No more Jewish deli in Miami Beach (not the classic ones, anyway). Who would have believed that?!

I'm about 45 minutes to the north in Delray Beach. It's close enough to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale for when I feel like visiting, yet not as congested on any everyday basis. The best of both worlds.

Joe's Stone Crab is still going strong, though. Thank God for small favors.

I haven't been down there in 4 or 5 years. Seeing Rascal House like that was so very sad. All the motels on Collins are gone, replaced by luxury high-rises. It's more upscale, but no character.

Did you see the newly renovated Fontainebleau?

Over ONE BILLION DOLLARS!! The most expensive hotel renovation ever. I mean, it's gorgeous, but DAMN!!

Yeah, the whole area is still beautiful, it's lost its cache.

I just made 2 quarts and 1 pint of tomato juice. I'd like to make more if my tomato's would hurry up and turn red.

Make fried green tomatoes, Miggie. Elvis's favorite!

Sounds good PB. I love fried green tomatoes.

Ours aren't turning red either. The first crop of tomatoes were stolen by squirrels (at least I hope it was squirrels). Mr. Babe built the fence higher, and we got a second crop in, but they are just stubbornly sitting there being green.

My mom turned 82 today. Actually, I guess it was yesterday. She is an amazing woman. She raised 3 children and buried one. She has diabetes and high blood pressure. She has survived ovarian cancer, a heart attack, triple bypass, and an abdominal aneurysm. And if you looked at her, you would never suspect it. She looks amazing.

So, Mommy, Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday to Mama Babe. She sounds like a wondeful woman. God bless her.

How is the knee coming along?

Getting better. Still having trouble bending it, but it's improving. Thanks for asking.

I have to tell you, she's the coolest. I have a great picture of her, but can't post it here because the file's too big, and I can't make it smaller.

I might know someone who can manipulate graphic files...

Happy B-Day to Mama Babe! Bless her soul! Does she still go out w/ the girls? (And, who the hell drives?? lol)

Oh, she drives everywhere. You know I'm rarely up late, but the reason I was online last night was because she went out at 6 with her friends, they had dinner, then went back to one of the other ladies' homes to play cards. They got her a cake and sang to her. She didn't get home until 1. They do this every Friday night (except for the singing, I think, although who the hell knows). And sometimes Saturday. She's one of the youngsters in the group. One woman is 93 and one is 87.

What cracks me up is that they wait for the weekend. They can go any day at any time, and they wait for the weekend when everything is crowded.

Geoff, I'll email you the photo.

Here she is... the lovely Mama Babe!



Happy Birthday!

SB,

Your mom is simply beautiful. You look like her. I think it is wonderful that she's able to get out and enjoy life with all the health problems she's had/have. God bless the both of you.

Thanks, Geoff. She looks pretty damned good for 82, especially with all the problems she's had. She truly is my hero.

I just turned in a bunch of recycling and while I was there some lady was all mad on the phone. When she got off the phone she told me her Mom is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is refusing to leave her house with the hurricane coming. Supposedly it is mandatory, especially after Katrina. Does anyone know if that is true? Are people allowed to stay or do they have to leave?

Thanks, Mig. Btw, she was very impressed when she met our Don Geoff. She thinks he's very smart.

Blib, I heard that they were evacuating, but have no idea how that works.

Tell her about: http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=505705

Then see what she says!

She said he was SMART. She didn't say that he had any common sense.

I see....smaht, like Fredo!

SB,

A belated Happy Birthday to your mom. Great picture. I can certainly see a resemblence with you two. Best wishesto her.


TIS