Feb 17, 16th Voyage
(5th Voyage of the Second Year at Sea)
submitted by Patrick cbjngl@msn.com

AHOY MATES!  Well before long we should be able to put this winter nonsense astern, quit wearing socks and break out the cargo shorts.  Until then, we’ve got plenty of upcoming events to liven things up.  On this voyage we have updates on the 2007 Tour, Bikini Models, and a real international flavor from the Caribbean all the way to the Land Down Under, so hoist the sails and let’s go! 
Capt. Patrick   “You can hear it on the Coconut telegraph saying who did Dis N’ Dat”

• What’s Next?  New Orleans Saints Offensive Coordinator? The NFC ran a Jimmy Buffett designed play in the Pro Bowl last Saturday according to an article in USA Today. Tiki Barber's farewell touchdown came on a 1-yard second-quarter run. His lone disappointment was throwing an interception to the Ravens' Ed Reed on a first-quarter, halfback option pass designed by Jimmy Buffett a few days before Super Bowl XLI in Miami when NFC coach Sean Payton was out on Buffett's boat.  Hmm, I am not sure if Jimmy added some sort of tropical twist but I think the halfback option pass has been around for quite some time.  Maybe the play involved sipping a Margarita instead of Gatorade which would explain why it didn’t work. 

• Buffett and Babes In Bikinis – Sounds Good To Me! Well we can now add another achievement to Mr. Buffett’s fun filled life – Tropical Hugh Hefner - As you no doubt have heard by now, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition is out and includes a feature on Jimmy Buffett along with a copy of the new song “Getting the Picture”.  The new song was written by Jimmy and his old pal, Mac MacAnally and is also available for purchase on iTunes. In the video, Jimmy certainly appears to be enjoying himself, surfing and hanging out in St. Barts with the scantily clad SI Swimsuit models.  The video also features a Special Edition Jimmy Buffett Martin guitar, Polywog model (shown at left), #5 of only 168 ever made.  The guitar is signed by all  21 of the SI models and Bubba himself.  The guitar is being auctioned for charity on ebay and is currently up to $33,100.  Proceeds will benefit The New Orleans Musicians Clinic and New Orleans Habitat for Humanity.   Links to the SI Features:  Getting the Picture - 2 minute video excerpt    Q&A with Jimmy Buffett      Pictures of Jimmy with Brooklyn Decker 

• Pentagon Planning for Cuban Exodus  MIAMI, USA (UPI): The Pentagon reportedly plans on spending $18 million to prepare the US Navy base at Guantanamo Bay to harbor Cubans migrants.  The expenditure would be made in anticipation of a mass exodus from Cuba when ailing leader Fidel Castro finally dies, the Miami Herald reported Friday. Additional space is needed at the US base in eastern Cuba because the facility currently houses an unspecified number of terror suspects. One expert predicted as many as 500,000 Cubans could flee the Communist island after Castro dies.  The long-time Cuban president fell ill in late July and handed over authority to his brother Raul Castro. Reports, however, suggest that Fidel is recuperating from his yet-unspecified gastro-intestinal illness.

• Kelly McGuire Back In Town?   It definitely looks like Kelly McGuire wants to come back and play for us.  He is going to be passing through here the 1st weekend of March and would like to do a house concert again on Sunday March 4th.  He is looking at $20 per person for the evening.  If you are interested in attending, please contact Tracy Campbell at 2moreboatdrinks@comcast.net.  She would like to get an idea of how many would attend so she can let Kelly know what to expect or not to expect.

• Down To The Banana Republics!  Even without that Minor I got in Economics many years ago, I think I could advise them that this probably isn’t going to work.  Maybe I could get them to pay me a big consultant’s fee and sell them on my idea of making RUM and BEER the official currency instead.  Just so they don’t try to pay my fee in those damn Bolivars!  Capt. Patrick 
  Venezuela to Chop 3 Zeros Off Currency Bills  CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): President Hugo Chavez said he will chop three zeros off new Bolivar currency bills to bolster Venezuelans' perception of a strong currency in a bid to curb inflation, which is now highest in Latin America. One Venezuelan bolivar = 0.000465701113 U.S. dollars.

• Mamajuana Caribbean Love Drink launches in the US   So now we know – all the power in Dominican native Sammy Sosa’s bat didn’t come from steroids after all.  Say, isn’t David Ortiz Dominican too?  Could be why they call him Big Papi!  Well, gotta run to the health food store and pick up some recreational herbs!  Capt. Patrick 
  MIAMI, USA: Dominican herbal liqueur mix manufacturer; Don Ramon Mamajuana, Corp. has announced the official United States pre-launch of its Dominican love drink: Don Ramon Mamajuan, Considered a natural Aphrodisiac, this special blend of 20 roots, herbs, and spices native to the Dominican Republic has been used for centuries as a powerful vitality drink. Tourists and natives of the islands have enjoyed this secret drink for years.  Typically, the only way one can get a hold of an authentic bottle of Mamajuana is by traveling to the Dominican Republic. For the first time, it will now be available in the US. This herbal aphrodisiac beverage first came into existence hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus arrived on the island of Hispaniola. It was initially discovered by Taino Indians who inhabited the island of the Caribbean region and utilized it for its vitality and health advantages.  Today, Mamajuana is considered by Dominican Republic natives as a National drink. It is referred to as: "The Baby Maker" and "The Male Member Enhancer's Drink".  Many of the natural ingredients found in Mamajuana are widely used today in western herbal supplements such as Chamomile, Star Anis, Anamú, Brazilwood, Cat's Claw (Uña de Gato) among many others.  Unlike many other traditional Mamajuana found on the islands, Don Ramon Mamajuana is specially prepared to comply with USDA and FDA regulations set for safety and cleanliness of product. Each bottle is tamper-proof sealed and includes mixing and preparation directions.  The product launch will start February 27 to commemorate Dominican Republic's Independence Day. "We are thrilled that finally American consumers will now have the opportunity to benefit from the ability to enjoy this traditional and long-awaited product," said Ray Payano, co-founder and VP of the company.  Don Ramon Mamajuana is the first product of its kind offering consumers a perfect passion liqueur mixer that will help set the mood for intimate moments and much more.

• Vodka-fueled Man Catches Shark Barehanded   Australian catches 4-foot animal by hand, suffers only a tear in his trousers....Ah, Australia, where the Men are Men and the Sheep er, umm – Sharks are scared!  Those Aussies are crazy!  Must be something in the water down in Oz!  Or maybe this guy is one of Steve Irwin’s relatives – Captain Patrick  
  CANBERRA - A fisherman fueled by vodka caught a 4-foot shark and wrestled it onto a jetty on Australia’s south coast, suffering only small tear marks in his trousers, media reports said on Friday. Phillip Kerkhof, 41, caught the bronze whaler shark by hand on Monday after he spotted it chasing squid lures near the jetty at the tiny seaside town of Louth Bay in the South Australia state.   “I just snuck up behind him and eventually I went for the big grab and I fluked it and got him,” Kerkhof told Australian Broadcasting Corp. The area near Louth Bay, around the southern tip of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, is well known for sharks, and live shark action for the 1975 movie Jaws was filmed nearby. Kerkhof, who said he had “a fair few vodkas” before he went fishing, said he only realized the danger of his actions the following day.   “It’s not something I’d recommend to do,” he said. “When I sobered up I thought about it and I said, ’I’m a bit of an idiot doing it’.”  Nooooo  - ya think?  Oh and just a few vodkas? Sure!  And I wonder how many tinnies of Foster’s too? – Capt.  Patrick

• More Residents Face Evacuation in Montserrat  “I Don’t Know Where I am Gonna Go…..When the Volcano Blow” As any good Parrot Head should know, one of Jimmy’s best albums “Volcano” was recorded on Montserrat.  Many other artists including The Police recorded there as well.  Capt. Patrick  
  BRADES, Montserrat: by Karen 'Lioness' Allen, Caribbean Net News Montserrat Correspondent
  Recently imposed mandatory evacuation boundaries may be extended, affecting additional residents living on the borders of Belham Valley. The size of Montserrat’s Soufriére Hills Volcano now stands at 1,065 meters above sea level, containing some 250 million cubic meters of volcanic material, the largest it has ever been. This new record in dome size surpasses the previous record size, the 2003 dome at 240 million cubic meters.  This dome subsequently collapsed converting areas from south woodlands to Salem and the surrounding environment into a disaster area due to the abundance of ash deposited in these areas.  This 2003 eruption resulted in a six month clean up campaign. The Emergency Policy Group (EPG) met last week to reassess the volcanic situation with the current dome size and growth focused to the northwestern quadrant leading into Belham Valley.  The Scientist at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) briefed the EPG and informed them that the dome continues to grow on the western side. The Scientific Advisory Committee’s (SAC) computer modeling revealed that additional areas in the present safe zone could be impacted by pyroclastic flows and surges. Having considered this advice Montserrat’s emergency authorities decided that further areas needed to be evacuated and informed residents of Bishop Lane and south of the Old Towne roundabout to be prepared to move at short notice. However EPG officials still assure residents of Salem, the biggest community nearest to the volcano, that it is unlikely that residents of Salem will be evacuated. The unaffected residents in the northern portion of Montserrat feel great empathy for those residents living on the fringes of the evacuation zone, wondering if their turn will come.

• Cocktails At SunUp  The Tequila article below inspired me to search for a new flavor of Margarita and here’s a tasty one I came across.  Hop in, hang on and enjoy the ride!  This one is so incredibly good that you have to try it!  We have been sipping these the past few weekends and I think it’s one of the best Margaritas I have ever tasted anywhere.  Although the recipe says to serve it straight up, we can attest that they are great frozen as well – just bump up the Tequila a touch if going frozen.  Hop in, buckle up, hang on and enjoy the ride!  Capt. Patrick

  Tijuana Taxi

  Generous handful of ice cubes

  2 Ounces Tequila

  2 Ounces fresh squeezed Tangerine juice

  1 ounce Sweet & Sour

  1 Ounce Cointreau

  
  Add ice to a cocktail shaker, then add the other ingredients, in order, shake vigorously, pour into chilled martini glasses and enjoy!

  Bottoms Up! 
  Have a favorite drink recipe you’d like to share with the crew?  Send it to cbjngl@msn.com  and we’ll feature it on one of our voyages.

   

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Feb 11, 15th Voyage
(4th Voyage of the Second Year at Sea)
submitted by Patrick cbjngl@msn.com

AHOY MATES!  Jimmy has been really busy hanging with bikini models at the Super Bowl while we have been up here freezing our coconuts off!  Oh well, as he always says, he’s spending our money foolishly!  But he did find time to squeeze in a few shows.   Here’s a recap along with some tales of other colorful folks, and as always another drink recipe for you to test drive.  Capt. Patrick    “You can hear it on the Coconut telegraph saying who did Dis N’ Dat”

St MinneSomePlace Calendar  Check out the island's upcoming phlockings!  

Find out where ol' Joe Bones is playing by going to his website:  Joe Yira 
The Wino and I know one thing for sure… You should go out and support
 St MinneSomePlace’s very own ol' Joe Bones who sings and plays all the good ol' Jimmy Buffett songs!

16^th Williow River Saloon, Burkhardt WI

22^nd Ruby Begonias, Stillwater

23^rd Rascals, Apple Valley, MN

Margaritaville's Jamaican Dog Sled Team     Soon come, the team will be on the island in Brainerd for the ISDRA races. Come down island and witness the Jamaica Dogsled team in action. Booooooo Bad Winter Weather; Yeeeeeahhh, Jamaican dog sled team!  
 

Friday Feb 16^th:  The IGUANAS at Turf Club, St. PaulCan’t escape somewhere warm?  Come on out and feel the heat from down on the bayou!  Tickets ON SALE NOW AT TICKETMASTER. Come on out and see one of the BEST bands from the Big Easy.  Longtime St MinneSomePlace member and former New Orleans Resident John Sherwin will testify that this is one show you don’t want to miss

March 24, 2007:  THR
Mark your calendars and get ready to party!  Well, winter has finally made an appearance so cabin fever can’t be far behind!  And just in time!!! - A temporary break from cabin fever will be here before you know it – This Hotel Room Phlocking!  This year’s event will feature both a new venue and new entertainment.  We’ll be Phlocking at the Canterbury Inn in Shakopee and have locked up the entire hotel just for us!  Details on room prices and reservations will be finalized soon – watch for the email boat updates on when you can begin making reservations.  This year’s lineup will feature the six piece band “Phins” from St. Louis, Missouri.  Several members of the club have seen them perform in Key West at Meeting of the Minds over the past few years and we think you’ll all be very pleased. To have them play at our event.  You can check them out at www.Phinsband.com  As you can see from their website, they play plenty of BUFFETT!  Check out the “about the band section” on their website and you’ll see that four of the six name Buffet tunes as their favorite song, and one of the others mentions Scott Kirby’s  song “4 Good Dogs”.In addition to appearing at MOTM, and club Phlockings in and near St. Louis, they play several regional Phlockings including Pardi Gras, Stars Fell on Alabama, and Flipperstock.

Hemisphere Dancing  Two down, and one to go - on Jimmy’s 2007 Tour.  The shows in Florida and the one in Anguilla are all that have been announced for this year – so far.  Maybe Bubba is a bit worn out from all that Super Bowl partying with the SI Super Models  - Capt. Patrick
The Party At The End Of The World Tour continues into 2007
Tour Schedule (so far)
Feb 10^th LEON COUNTY CIVIC CENTER Tallahassee, FL
March 24^th: Jimmy Buffett and will be doing a show at the Dune Preserve in Anguilla. Tickets go on sale on February 5, 2007. For more information visit the Bankie Banx website.  Buffett's performance will be with the full band. This performance will be captured for a live CD with video. 

• Changing Channels  Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band played a benefit show at the Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday night with proceeds going to the United Way of Big Bend. Buffett ended the show with Changing Channels, which hadn't been played in concert since May 20, 2004 in Minneapolis.  
   

 

 

• CONCERT REVIEW  The Orlando Sentinel has a review of Thursday night's concert at the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida: "Buffett pleases, which isn't surprising."  There aren't too many surprises at a Jimmy Buffett concert anymore, but the people in the grass skirts and feathered headgear keep coming.  Near the end of his generous, highly spirited concert on Thursday at the Amway Arena, Buffett did a nice job of explaining the reason as he offered his own thanks for such enduring fan adulation.  "I always liked coming here," Buffett said of Orlando. "I know what I'm gonna get." Read the entire article here .

Singer Jimmy Buffett and friends at Super Bowl party where he announced his new video, Getting the Picture, which will debut in conjunction with Sports Illustrated's 2007 Swimsuit Issue, on sale Feb 14!

• Amateur weatherman: January rain signals hurricanes  BY ANN HENSON Citizen Staff
  For the sake of my beloved Florida Keys I sure hope this guy is wrong, or that at least someone starts paying attention to him – Capt. Patrick
  Ralph Arenas' face may not be familiar, but some weather watchers believe Ralph's Tropical Weather Web site is the place to watch during hurricane season because of its simplicity.  Arenas, 50, is a self-trained amateur weatherman who grew up in South Florida. By age 17, he was hooked.    The rainfall in May, he said, tells him how far north the storm will go.   "I'm basically an ordinary Joe who loves the weather," he said. "I've been learning a lot out of books, I bought satellite books and learned how to read all the forecast models."   Arenas, who has been tracking the rainfall in January and May at his home in Homestead, said the Florida Keys might be in for some trouble this coming hurricane season.  His theory is that if there's more than an inch of rainfall in January, a storm will strike South Florida sometime during the hurricane season. The rainfall in May, he said, tells him how far north the storm will go.  "If we get more than four to five inches of rain, I can say it will be a lower latitude storm that will see the Keys," he said. He has created a chart to back up his theory.  Arenas offers a variety of data on his site www.ralphstropicalweather.homestead.com .  He numbers the tropical waves, shows hot spots that look like they may be forming storms and provides links to the National Weather Service, the Navy and other storm trackers.  But perhaps the best feature about his weather site is that Arenas makes weather easy to understand.  "A bank from the Keys thanked me for making it easy," he said. The animation tells most of the story and he adds narrative to tell the rest in simple terms, such as "this low-pressure area could develop."  A University of Miami employee who works security, Arenas would love for his hobby to become a full-time job. His dream is to work alongside of the meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center.  When he was young, he'd track storms on a road map, he said. When the Internet came along, he found his niche. A father of four, he keeps his computer equipment in his kids' rooms.  "My wife hates it," he said.  After Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992, Arenas thought  he should do as much as he could to protect people and prepare them for what was coming. "I was in Hialeah, I don't remember sustaining much damage," he said. "But after seeing what happened [in South Dade County], I needed to get into this stuff."  His biggest concern is what he believes is coming soon. "I'm fearing we could have a stronger storm, like a Wilma or a Katrina with the force of an Andrew. That's what I'm afraid that South Florida may see," he said.

• Pesky Pirates  KEY WEST, February 10, 2007 — A Key West man who reportedly admitted he has a problem with pirates was arrested after allegedly ripping down a pirate flag from a pole outside the Mel Fisher Museum.  Officers found the man matching the description given by a witness and asked him if he took down the flag. "Of course I did! I don't like pirates ... I was going to throw the flag in the trash, where it belongs," he allegedly said.  He was handcuffed and taken to the Monroe County jail, where he was charged with theft.

• Sail On, Captain Outrageous  KEY WEST — He colored outside the lines.  Captain Outrageous painted his own version of the world on everything but canvas, and said in 2002 that his art likely would change in the next 10 years, but now the world will never know.  The Island artist and one-time political candidate Capt. Outrageous passed away Saturday at the age of 67.  Outrageous, who officially changed his name during a 1999 bid for Key West mayor, collapsed of a brain hemorrhage in his Caroline Street art gallery about 6 p.m. Thursday. He was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center and then flown to Miami.  Outrageous is best known for his colorful and prolific caricature paintings that adorn cars, bicycles, telephones and furniture all over Key West.

• Hot, Hot, Hot  Mexican Seeks World Chili Eating Record  The Associated Press  By IOAN GRILLO
  There is nothing wrong with me. Eating chilies makes me feel great.  For most people, even the smallest bite of a raw chili pepper means a flushed face and a rush for a gulp of water. But Manuel Quiroz can guzzle down dozens of Mexico's spiciest chilies, rub them on his skin and even squeeze their juice into his eyes without so much as blinking. The 54-year-old Mexico City taxi driver said Saturday that he has made thousands of dollars with his talent and wants to become the world champion chili eater. But first he needs to find an organization that can crown him with that title.  'Chilies don't sting me. They don't affect me. It's just like eating fruit,' Quiroz said at a market in the Mexican capital. Shoppers stared in amazement as he crunched on a habanera, the hottest chili pepper in a country that likes its food spicy. Quiroz said he discovered his talent when he was 7 and grew up betting people that he could eat more chilies than they could. He never lost. 'I'm the best. No one can rival me,' he said.  His biggest windfall came when he entered a competition organized by a local television station and took home the $2,000 purse. Quiroz said he plans to try to get his abilities recognized by Guinness World Records. To his knowledge, no one in the world can swallow more chilies.  'Chilies are the pride of Mexico,' Quiroz said. 'The world chili-eating champion has got to be here.'  Quiroz said he has never been examined by a doctor to find out if there is a medical explanation for his extraordinary endurance to the spice.  'Why would I go and see a doctor?' he said. 'There is nothing wrong with me. Eating chilies makes me feel great.'

• TEQUILA WARS  MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -
  Mexico's national pride, bruised time and again by a steady invasion of U.S. investors and culture, took another blow Monday when one of its finest tequila makers was swallowed up by an American company. The $876 million buyout of Casa Herradura by Brown-Forman Corp. left a bitter taste with some regulars at cantinas in Mexico City. "Nothing is sacred. Look, now Herradura tequila has gone," said Heriberto Zuniga, slugging back an aged Herradura tequila in Ardalio, a classic no-frills cantina in Mexico City's Escandon neighborhood. The 26-year-old plumber said he'd boycott the drink if only he had the willpower. "I'd like to say this is my last Herradura, but it won't be, I like it too much." Guillermo Martinez, Ardalio's head waiter, said he thought other drinkers would switch loyalties, however.   "People are going to be annoyed with the news," he said. "Just wait and see, there will be a drop in sales of this brand." Casa Herradura is 136 years old, family owned and makes El Jimador and Herradura, ranked 3rd and 10th among the world's top tequila brands. Made from distilled agave cactus plants, tequila is Mexico's national drink. But in recent years, a shortage of plants has sent prices soaring. One shot of Herradura sells at 60 pesos ($5.50) at the Ardalio cantina, almost double the price of all rums, less than all vodkas and at the same price as whiskies, including Brown-Forman's Jack Daniel's brand. "Tequila? That's too expensive for me," said Arturo Solis, a rum-drinking history teacher at the more elegant La Colonial cantina nearby. Mexico has long had a love-hate relationship with the United States. While immigration and free trade have pulled the two neighbors closer together, many here still resent the U.S. victory in the mid-19th century war that took away half of Mexico's territory.  In recent years, major U.S. companies have led a commercial invasion. Wal-Mart's local unit dominates Mexico's retail sector, Citigroup bought major local bank Banamex for $12.5 billion and U.S. fast food restaurants are hugely popular, upsetting some traditionalists.  Louisville, Kentucky-based Brown-Forman's most famous drinks are Jack Daniel's and Southern Comfort but it also makes wines and already owns two smaller premium tequilas, Pepe Lopez and Don Eduardo. While some tequila lovers were upset by the new acquisition, others said the knee-jerk reaction would quickly pass and that prices of the agave drink might come down in the long run. "It doesn't bother me. The Americans generally do business better and that could lead to lower tequila prices," said Juan Camacho, a newspaper kiosk owner. "How many tequila drinkers are going to complain?"

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Feb 4, 14th Voyage
(3rd Voyage of the Second Year at Sea)
submitted by Patrick cbjngl@msn.com

AHOY MATES!  Wow Mon!  Things are always hopping on our tiny little island.  We have tales of our good deeds to report, plenty of upcoming events, and another great tale of the sea from that Piratical Scoundrel, Doug Hendrix.  So before you freeze your coconuts off, curl up by the warm glow of your monitor and enjoy our latest voyage – I sure hope that Pennsylvania Ground hog was right!!  “You can hear it on the Coconut telegraph saying who did Dis N’ Dat”

• Where’s Jimmy? And Who Did He Pick In The Super Bowl?  Despite the usual rumors to the contrary, the Head Parrot did not make an appearance at the Margaritaville sponsored St. Paul Winter Carnival.  He’s either too smart or too busy to deal with the sub-zero temps.  So where was Jimmy, and where’s he headed to?  Here’s a glimpse.  From the Peoria Journal Star: "Jimmy Buffett is playing Saturday night at the Clevelander, down on South Beach," the fellow said. "I heard it's like $500 to get in, but you'll be able to stand out on the beach and hear him." From Sports Illustrated - A quote from Jimmy Buffett: "I'm picking the Colts because Peyton Manning is the quarterback and the son of Archie, who did a more than honorable turn as the Saints quarterback. I am and have been a Saints fan forever and wish they were in the game. But since the Bears beat them, I would like for Peyton to avenge my loss."
  
  According to StubHub, The Rolling Stones "A Bigger Bang" tour was the biggest selling tour of 2006 in terms of gross dollars, but - Jimmy Buffett's "Party at the End of the World" tour sold the most actual tickets for a concert series.  

 

• Time On The Water Maybe this will be a good development.  Here’s hoping Jimmy starts spending more time on the sailboat instead of the private jet.  Maybe he’ll rediscover some of his old songwriting magic on the water.  The Lectronic Latitude reports that Jimmy took delivery of a new boat called "Groovy" in St Barts (see the articles from January 29th and January 31st). The boat is reported to be a Tofinou 9.5 m designed by Michel Joubert.   From Lectronic Latitude -There was a humorous hiccup to launch, as the boat somehow became stuck to the cradle and couldn't be lifted off.   After some prying, she was released.  Once that was done, Buffett and friends, including 83-year-old Marius Stackelbough of Le Select, enjoyed a brief christening, then he went out for an afternoon.

• Who Says Its Cold in St MinneSomePlace?  I would like to pass along A few words from Rob Winters on the outstanding job our club did supporting this year’s St Paul Winter Carnival.  Although we’d all rather go where it’s warm, many of our Phlock turned out to help the official sponsor, Margaritaville, make this a huge success. – Capt Patrick 

  “Here is the evidence of another successful St. MinneSomePlace outing.  During the course of the event we managed to raise over $230 for The Neighborhood House who was Margaritaville's charity of choice for this event.  Over the two evenings we participated, we also donated over 188 volunteer hours! See?  We are able to do more than just write checks!   And even after a few mishaps, we were thanked pretty heavily from the people of Margaritaville and even received some donations to the club for upcoming events. – Rob Winters

• History Lessons The January 25th Key West Citizen Newspaper has a mention of Buffett in the "This Day in History" section:  On this day in 1988, Jimmy Buffett, local resident and nationally known singer, presented Mayor Richard Heyman with a check for $15,000 toward the purchase of the Salt Ponds and a check of $2,700 for use of Wickers Field, where the Salt Ponds benefit concert was held.  This Month will mark the 30th Anniversary of the release of Jimmy Buffett’s  LP Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.  Talk about history- remember LPs?  Next Summer Margaritaville opens in Phoenix.

• They Don’t Dance Like Carmen No More  KEY WEST — A 44-year-old man from Maine reported that he brought a dancer from a strip club to his hotel room last weekend, and lost his wallet a short time later. According to reports, the man reported that his wallet was missing, and he believed that when the woman left, she took it with her, he told officers. The wallet was black and contained an expired American Express Gold card, along with numerous other credit cards, $25 in cash, and four checks totaling $2,700. He also said that several photos of his children and grandchildren were inside. He was given a victim's rights brochure and a case number.

• Buffett Nominated for CMT Awards Jimmy Buffett received a CMT Music Award nomination for the video "Bama Breeze". The awards show take place on Monday April 16th. More information is available at CMT.   Wide Open country video of the year nominees:
  Alison Krauss and Union Station - "If I Didn't Know Any Better"
  Jack Ingram - "Love You"
  Jimmy Buffett - "Bama Breeze"
  Johnny Cash - "God's Gonna Cut you Down"
  Pat Green - "Dixie Lullaby"
  Sheryl Crow and Sting - "Always On Your Side"
  Shooter Jennings - "Gone To Carolina"
  Willie Nelson - "You Don't Know Me"
  You can vote for Jimmy Buffett's Bama Breeze video at CMT.

• Henley says Eagles working on album  Don Henley dropped a bombshell during a private concert in Las Vegas on Saturday: The Eagles are working on their first album of all new music in 28 years.  "It's coming out in 60 to 90 days, if we don't kill each other first," Henley told a VIP crowd at the MGM Grand Garden ArenaIt would be the group's first such album since "The Long Run" in 1979, which included their last Billboard No. 1 hit, "Heartache Tonight."  Henley, one of the original members, later told the crowd of 10,000 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, "I'll see you this summer," hinting at an Eagles tour.  The Eagles disbanded in 1982 but reunited in 1994 with Henley, Glenn Frey, Don Felder, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit.  The band's last release was "Hell Freezes Over" in 1994, which included some new songs and past hits recorded for an MTV audience.

• When Castro dies, Miami will party like it's 1959 It’s certainly not like the old rascal has been a model citizen of the world or anything like that.  But somehow this just doesn’t seem right.  One thing for sure, things will get real interesting once he’s gone. – Capt Patrick     MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- The city of Miami is planning an official celebration at the Orange Bowl whenever Cuban president Fidel Castro dies. Discussions by a committee appointed earlier this month by the city commission to plan the event have even covered issues such as a theme to be printed on T-shirts, what musicians would perform, the cost and how long the celebration would last.  Such a gathering has long been part of the city's plan for Castro's death, but firming up the specifics has been more urgent since Castro became ill last summer and turned over power to his brother, Raul.  City Commissioner Tomas Regalado, a Cuban American, came up with the idea of using the Orange Bowl, noting the stadium was the site of a speech by President Kennedy in 1961 promising a free Cuba. (Castro seized power in 1959.)   In the 1980s the Orange Bowl served as a camp for refugees from the Mariel boatlift from Cuba, he added.  "Basically, the only thing we're trying to do is have a venue, a giant venue ready for people, if they wish, to speak to the media, to show their emotions. It's not that we're doing an official death party," Regalado said Monday.   Former state Rep. Luis Morse stressed the need for an uplifting theme for the party -- one not preoccupied with a human being's passing.  Critics have accused the city of dictating where people should party, with many preferring to celebrate on the streets of Little Havana. The city says the Orange Bowl celebration would not preclude that.  "This is not a mandatory site," Regalado said of the Orange Bowl. "Just a place for people to gather."  Ramon Saul Sanchez, leader of the Miami-based Democracy Movement organization, worries about how a party to celebrate a man's death would be perceived by people outside the Cuban exile community.  Sanchez also pointed out that, even after Castro dies, his communist government still will be in place.  "The notion of a big party, I think, should be removed from all this," Sanchez said.  "Although everybody will be very happy that the dictator cannot continue to oppress us himself," he added, "I think everybody is still very sad because there are still prisons full of prisoners, many people executed, and families divided."

• Cocktails At SunUp   Its Ten Below Zero….So it’s gotta be 5 O’Clock Somewhere!

  With the weather being unreasonably cold, even for Minnesota – I find my mind drifting to someplace better, like maybe Key West where the sun is warm and the green of the Gulf meets the blue of the Sea. Maybe this will help us all hang on until spring!

  Gulf Stream

  1oz Blue Curacao

  3 oz Champagne

  ½ oz light RUM

  ½ oz Brandy

  6 oz Lemonade

  1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

  
  Combine ingredients in a blender with ice and blend until smooth

  Pour into sugar rimmed glasses and garnish with a strawberry.  Drink and repeat as necessary.

  Bottoms Up!

• Pirate Doug?  What’s With Those Flags?  Fly your colors proudly, but which should you select?Let’s face it; seaside merchants and Disney World are never short of pirate flags. But let’s go beyond the traditional skull and crossbones and uncover the truth.  In the early 1700 the simplest way of catching your enemy was by flying false colors. It was hard to find an available cell phone to discover where that ship up ahead may be from. The only way at sea vessels could identify a passing craft was by the colors flying from the masthead or ensign staff.  Pirates had a tendency to fly many colors; in fac