I had to take a moment before writing this to zone out with tea. It’s a beautiful Saturday morning, albeit on the chilly side for Florida (45°F) which made for a pleasant long-walk, but I’m simply feeling kinda lethargic and lazy.
Time to avoid my to-do list at all costs!
I went to bed early and slept late, but Keely dragged my ass out of bed by 6:30am to get out the door. I admire her forbearance in waiting that long
[photo: Keely being very patient]
Keely walked me along the regular southern 5th Ave. loop, and as usual for Saturdays, there was fairly little traffic. The city was doing some line-work on Thomasville Rd. by the Whataburger stand, and it strikes me that I have seen a lot of city govt. vehicles out and about over the last two days, which makes me wonder if we are close to the end of their fiscal year or something. Spend all that money, now!!!
Keely has taken to wandering northward on Monroe Ave. up to the new Maria Maria Mexican restaurant, where she turns to cut up the parking lot/thru-fare to Duval before continuing north again. Not sure why she takes this turn, nothing seems out of the ordinary for the rest of the block, but I have no mind for doggo preferences.
The old bar Mardi Gras is still empty, which I find odd. It sits in the other half of the building behind Maria Maria and has been empty now for, oh, a year? Or so? I think it closed up right after Mardi Gras last year. It’s a nice space with a great outdoor patio and it is a fantastic location, so I wonder at what is keeping it from being leased. Maybe renovation costs? I love the full length wood-paned windows, I think they are classy even if the bar never was.
If I owned Maria Maria I would look at leasing it and turning it into a complementary Mexican-themed bar. I mean we have El Cocinero tequila bar already, sure, but it’s more restaurant than bar.
Admittedly parking is a bear for that location, with so few spaces. Spill over from Sakura restaurant on popular nights is a lot. Ah, but welcome to Midtown, that’s endemic.
The walk went as usual to loop around Publix and we finally got home an hour after starting. Keely stood outside the door for a moment then turned around and pointed her nose toward the great outdoors in a not-subtle commentary on my lack of appreciation for even longer walks.
Which is true, I suppose, but by then it was going on 8 am and I had a mighty need for caffeine and nourishment.
It is odd to eat breakfast, much less want to in the first place, but the ravages of the post-stomach flu digestive system are petty and capricious. So, more yogurt and banana for me. I considered cooking a couple of eggs but my mind was very “NOPE” at that idea, which I take to mean my gut is still in control (isn’t it always?).
My plan though is later today to head up to Siam Sushi and have a bowl of Thai soup with steamed tofu, because what is life without some risk????