Feeling like Rose from The African Queen

Well its July and the mosquitoes are drunk on my blood, my hair is higher then it was in the 80's/90's, I drink more water then an in-ground pool and sweat like a menopausal woman in a sauna; it's July in the Keys and I wouldn't prefer to be anywhere else!

The rainy season of course brings rain so I get to break out my lime green/pink polka dotted golashes that I love :) It can be beautiful weather and with a quick directional change of wind and a sudden coolness to the air it will rain like the world is ending. Crazy winds, waves, rain, thunder, and lightning make for a pretty awesome sight out on the water. Unlike NY the rain does not break the humidity, rather you go from sweating in 90% humidity, to being 90% soaking wet, to sweating in 90% humidity all over again. I simply gave in yesterday and just ran around in the rain with the dog!

DEET is my new addiction, I mean seriously some people smoke, I lather up in DEET each day I have to work outside. I have lost compassion for some living creatures, that is squirrels, wasps and misquitoes. I will spray them mid flight if need be (this goes for all three). The squirrels that live on the beach near the hut I work in are so aggressive that each morning I spray them with a strong hose in order to let them know I am not the nice counter chick who feeds them...oh no...I'm the b*tch who wishes you would simple get the f-off the beach so I can work in peace. The wasps atleast provide entertainment, see they don't actually sting but all the tourists on the beach assume they do and they run frantically screaming, swatting, and just about crying up and down the beach so I get a few good laughs in each day! And don't think I am evil...after they come running my way I let them know that the wasps are harmless.

Bathing suit etiquette should be a class provided in flight while those from other states fly into FL. It your large that doesn't mean your ugly but it does mean your clothing size is L not XS. Klingons are for Star Trek, not what a mans bathing suit should be doing do his crotch. Leopard print is wrong no matter who is wearing it. It is hot here, the sun is closer to us, use sunscreen or get served as lobster to other unassuming tourists. I am starting to think alot of men are pregnant and that this is simply not making the news just yet. Now I know I sound like a horrible human being, but just know that some days are so quiet at work that we have coconut throwing contests. I love people watching and without the "crazies" it would be no fun, so deep down I love these people for keeping me entertained.

So on a daily bases life is different down here, but; good, entertaining, and laid back. I will try to update more often about daily life here in the Keys. Oh and as a wise fortune cookie once told me "if you feed a squirrel, be prepared to get bitten." :)

Keyzee

So I thought I'd share some info from the locals and the things I have learned while living here in The Keys, here goes.

Definitions:
Keyzee-simply means "keeping it easy." Down here simple beats complex
Keys Disease= slower life style, there are many definitions some positive, some negative, if you slow to the point of starting to not show up at work it becomes a -, if you simply enjoy a laid back atmosphere and less stress well thats a +
Rag Bagger= sailor
Stink Pot= motor boater
The Rock-=The Keys
Main Land= Rest of the US

Things you see here on the Rock that are alittle off beat:
Barefoot people at the grocery store, DMV, shops, etc.
Lots of long haired hippies
People of all ages riding bikes
"Something About Mary" Old ladies- just alittle over baked-crispy to be exact
Beer Can Shorts-they have a specific pocket for your beer, now if they only kept it cool!
Cuban Refuge boats hidden away in the mangroves
People of all flavors, the people watching is amazing...AMAZING, coolest part is no one cares down here...be yourself- it is the only way to be
Laid-back attitudes; take a NYer who is having a great day times their care-freeness by 3 and add alittle genuine and you arrive at the equivalent of a Keys Local, one that has lived on The Rock their whole life. If they were any more laid back I'd have to poke them with a stick to make sure they were still breathing.
The lifers don't lock their doors, wear sunscreen, or bug spray...this is why I know I will never be a true local- mosquitoes love me, I'd be a lobster, and I literally get out of bed to lock the doors.
How do we give directions? strictly by mile marker then Ocean side or Bay side

Street names:
Tropical, Bahama, Sunset, Ocean, Atlantic

What do we listen too?
Kenny Chesney singing Key Lime Pie
Barefoot Man
Micah singing anything local-check our his "Barstool Sailing"
Anything and everything by Jimmy Buffet, I personally love "Still in Paradise"
Most of our radio stations have Spanish/Latin/Cuban music (makes you wanna move!)

Local Food:
Anything Key Lime; pie, martini, juice, cookie, ice cream
Fish, Fish, and more Fish, they have a term for Mahi Mahi here that took some time getting use too, they call it "Dolphin", I just about freaked the first time I heard someone say "caught some dolphin and it was delicious!"
Conch; the locals ate it almost to the point of extinction, so we now import it while our own reserves grow
Lobster and oysters
Key West Sunset Ale

I'm sure I am missing a few key (no pun intended) details...I'll update again soon (meaning like a month from now...as the pace of my life has slowed and yet filled it self with many enjoyable leisure activities.)

Expanding My Web of Opportunity

I have kept an open mind, put myself out there into the universe with positive vibes, and in return have gotten positivity back ten fold! I have focused on two specific actions in the last two years:

#1 Keep an Open Mind
#2 Face Fear

KEEP AN OPEN MIND

Keeping an open mind leads to many opportunities; meeting new people, learning knew things, trying new things. Walking into a situation with joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and eyes and ears eager to listen and learn really makes a difference. Think positively, ooze positivity, and the universe sends it back ten fold.

Try it, go to some new event like a "meet up" or "dinner party" where you don't know everyone and think to yourself; I could potentially meet awesome new people/friends, as you walk through the door ooze positivity and then open your heart and mind as you interact with each person. Each individual will share something unique with you.

Be conscious of yourself, be present in the moment, feel your mood, be truthful, be you, there is no one else better to be! Remind yourself to listen. Wait till you see the results of opening your mind!!

As Charlotte from Charlotte's Web said:
"Chin up, chin up / Everybody loves a happy face / Wear it, share it / It'll brighten up the darkest place / Twinkle, sparkle / Let a little sunshine in / You'll be on the right side, looking at the bright side / Up with your chinny-chin-chin."

Without keeping an open mind I would be very lonely here in the Keys, when we moved here we didn't really know anyone. I now have a volunteer group I am involved with, a wonderful family I babysit for, people I can talk to who have similar interests, multiple businesses to work for, and on any given day I meet someone from another state or country with a very interesting story to tell!

FACE FEAR
(feed off the adrenaline rush)

Lets be honest with ourselves, how many times have you been afraid of something and after you did it you laughed at yourself for thinking so foolishly, or gotten an adrenaline rush from fear that you were high on it for the next few days/weeks!

I read a book by Roz Savage called Rowing the Atlantic, in this book she coined a phrase "JFDI" Just F'n Do It...her concept on dealing with fears is; right as you start to feel the butterflies just F'n Do It- whatever it is. Beat fear before it defeats you.

Don't let fear take hold and limit your web of experiences. Coming from Long Island where you can't see what is swimming around at Robert Moses I had to adjust to FL Keys CLEAR tropical water. I prefer to not see the fish and sharks that like to swim around me, but I couldn't let the fear of seeing the creatures me keep me from swimming in this beautiful Keys water. I took a lesson in stand up paddle boarding, and right before the lesson I told myself I would go into it with my heart full of excitement and my mind and body ready to achieve success at the sport. I told myself "JFDI it will be awesome" and the result was amazing...it is my new favorite sport, not to mention I aslo met cool new people!

Everyone talks to themselves whether it is in their head or out loud. We are supposed to love ourselves right? So why wouldn't we say nice things to ourselves and pump ourselves up!

My mom uses a saying that will stick with my forever, it goes "Rock on with your bad self". When I say it in my head I picture her saying it loud and proud and using her whole body to express AWESOMENESS!

So keep an open mind, face fear, be awesome...JFDI...and in your moment of success say to yourself "rock on with your bad self" (swivel your head or shake your hips when you say it, it makes the moment feel even more great!)