National Tequila Day?

You got it right. National Tequila Day. Right up there with Boxer Day. Crazy. Might as well send a passel of diabetics out for National Donut Day. Maybe free the sex addicts from thir therapeautic environs for a National Vibrator Day. Think of the parades - fireworks? Floats? What a country.

Of course, despite the jokes, it seemed to TQB Nation that the holiday should not go without appropriate revelry. In honor of the historic day, the TQB founders - together again after a two week hiatus - stretched their legs along "the Avenue" as Atlantic Avenue is called in Del Ray Beach, Florida. The TQB were also celebrating some member birthdays and roamed the streets with Flip, the Princess, the LaVigna's (now there's a holiday name in the making...)and flanked, as always, by their female love interests, Julia and Big Red.

Cocktails kicked off at Bluefin, a trendy sushi and seafood spot. A nice black lacquered and circular bar engulfed a few of your basic south Florida bartenders - cute,blonde and busty but slightly "bartender challenged". The tequila selection was weak - Patron silver and reposado and a couple of well bottles of junk. We made the most of it, had blonde #1 pour us a couple of silver's, chilled and up with a little lime wedge. Nothing extraordinary, but certainly refreshing. Blonde #2 pulled a couple of flat beers, but that didnt dampen things for the fellas.

After an hour or so, we headed over to a "gastro-pub" - just dont like how that sounds, between you and me. I do understand this is the latest in themed restaurants for the "foodie folks", of which, as you know, I am not. The joint, called "Taste" was also a very hip spot - our waiter, Kirk, a decent enough fellow, but unfortunately appeared to be stretching his skills a bit in the food service industry. We had an assortment of appetizers, all really good. Of particular mention was the chip and dip plate - really tasty, but did remind me a bit of my Saturday nights babysitting in the 70's knocking back bowl full of Ruffles and a pint of Dean's french onion dip while watching The Bob Newhart Show - no matter, everyone loved it.

To a man. all enjoyed their food - from some extravagant burgers to crab cake sliders. Fellow TQB founder JB polished off a "skirt steak", which by the way was longer and looser then the skirt Big Red had on for the evening. She was, for a birthday girl of any age, much less one in her mid 40's, just plain smoking hot.

Oh yeah - the tequila - again, nothing special in terms of choices, leaving this non driving TQB to top off with a Milagro Reposado - had them chill it a little longer and toss into a martini glass. Again, no award winner, but a nice crisp and refreshing cocktail. No complaints.

The Key Lime Pie that all shared for dessert was also quite good - creamy with a neat graham cracker and cocunut crust, but maybe not as sharp as Key Lime lovers would prefer.

Finished up with an icy cold Anchor Steam. Very Bohemian, I know. Especially for a true blue Anheuser Busch guy. Was good, I will tell you that.

Great friends. Great night. Great holiday.

Countdown to the Keys...

No LeBron. I doubt the Spanish World Cup champs be there. Oooster-something? You know, the guy that just won the British Open - Maybe those White House party crashers? Hope not. The Boys, the Tequila Boys will be there. A week from Friday, the boys head south to the isle of Hemingway, 12 toed cats and the usual assortment of miscreants. Thus, we fit right in.

The Tequila Boys begin their first official corporate outing a week from Friday. All are invited to join us roaming Duval from Sloppy Joe's to the dirt floor of the Parrot and all oak bars in between.

12 days, but who's counting?

"...all I ever wanted..."

...vacation, had to get away... Loved that song.

After a solid run of 70 hour work weeks, could not get the Go Go's out of my mind until I set foot in sunny south Florida.

Fast forward ten or so days and we are at the end of another family vacation. After 24 years of marriage and four kids, we have been fortunate to take a good number of trips, many during the summer. As the last day of another getaway winds down, I do tend to look back at the trip that was and wonder how many more I will get. Things have certainly changed over the years. 21 years of parenthood have taken me from one weekers to the Delaware shore with diapers and "pack n plays" in tow to flights down south with not much more than a book and a couple of kids who think I am from another planet.

This year's family trip was different in many ways, primarily as it was without a third of our family. My oldest elected to stay at school, work and be near her boyfriend. Sucks. Listen - I understand it but if you are a father of a grown up daughter, you know the feeling. And the feeling is, uh.... it sucks. My 17 year old is spending the summer in camp as something called a CIT. For the non campers out there that means "counselor in training". What it really means, however, is that your kid goes to camp,works for the summer and you still have to pay something close to college tuition for the privalege. Whatever. Bottom line, another kid gone for the summer. All together now: it sucks.

The good news, of course, is that there was more time for me to hang with my other two not so little ones. Beach, pool, waterparks, zoos - fun time. Tiring, but I loved every minute of it.

The evenings brought adult time with Julia, Big Red and my TQB brother, Johnny B. Several nights spent together, hanging out and laughing til we cried, sipping some great, great tequilas in the process (more about those in another post).

Not the movie "Vacation", I know. No great Chevy Chase scenes, no Christie Brinkley dropping her white bikini by the pool - but no doubt,like those Go Go's chirped in that eighties 45, "...vacation, all I ever wanted..."