Praying for three so-so months

I was about to lose the amethyst from my ring, so I stopped at Fire Opal shop to have Ricardo fuss with the setting. He asked me how reservations were. Good, I said. But I am cheap. I think the holiday bubble will be just that. High season hopes will remain just that.
Oh, please, just three OK months. Then we can get caught up with our rents, he said speaking for merchants.
Miquel's Moon Lite had no one when I arrived. Miguel said Hurricane Ida generated the most business he'd had in months, what with Saturday's riding the storm party and Sunday's celebration. But now, dead again!
He started to smile when I ordered coconut shrimp, a guarantee that the cook's salary will be covered. I also got guacamole and two Cuba libres.
Then Sandia came and got two Cuba libres, joining me for a bit. And Miguel was so glad to see her!
By the time she and I left, there were six other patrons in house. Not bad for a so-so night on Isla Mujeres, where we all pray tourism will pick up.

The book is out!

My friend John Tidyman had a book signing in Cleveland last night for Get Me Rewrite. It's a book about the newspapering of the recent past. I contributed some anecdotes. I hope he enjoys good sales for the holidays! OK, John, you can fly down with that copy anytime!

Ida Rather

Boca's been pitching in and going to the roof with me periodically to drain the pool of Hurricane Ida water. She is tired. She gets great comfort in Mom's Wii balance board and her "brother." Sister has lost most of her stuff to teething.
Before Ida moved in, I went looking for that odd photo. The best I could find was people in the water near Na Balam and Avalon. So what it if's raining!
My feelings exactly. When I'm on the roof with Boca, I'm tempted to actually get in the pool! Why not?