Wrote a note said be back in a minute Bought a boat and sailed off in it Don't think anybody gonna miss me anyway Last Friday night the city of Fort Myers was Knee Deep with Zac Brown Band fever. Once I heard that ZBB was coming to Southwest Florida, I quickly thought back to seeing him last March in Tampa when the band was touring with Kenny Chesney and the Goin' Coastal tour. The difference … [Read more...]

Life is close to perfect if you're out on the water, friends in tow and you have a cold beer in hand. The water doesn't have to be the Caribbean or even the Gulf of Mexico, it can be a lake or river close by. As long as you are having fun on a boat and escaping the grind, then you're doing it right. I know it's not boating season for most of you, more like sit by the fire with a sweater season. … [Read more...]

If you're stuck in a Midwest snowdrift or freezing your ass off in the gloomy North, then I'm sure you're thinking it might be time for a change. 24 years was long enough for this pirate. I pointed my old Thunderbird South and set sail for sunny Florida. It was time for a change indeed. Jake Thomas, a trop-rocker in the group Jaked and the Half Conched Band, sent me his CD, "Salt in My Veins" … [Read more...]

I'm starting to think the big man up north is getting sick of the snow and frostbite. I was listening to Radio Margaritaville today and heard a great song called "Santa's Going South," sung by country star Toby Keith and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar. “Ain’t gonna be no white Christmas / Ain’t gonna be no reindeer / Ain’t gonna be no sleigh bells ringing / Not around here,” … [Read more...]

Music set the mood, and few beats can set the mood better than reggae. I was perusing the pages of one of my favorite blogs out of the Bahamas called the Sandy Slipper, and found a recent post about a reggae band called Willis and the Illest. Based out of Nassau this band is ready to get their music out to the rest of the Caribbean and reggae lovers around the world. Mr. Sandy Slipper says … [Read more...]

I wrote a little post last holiday season about Christmas in the Tropics, being from the Midwest where it gets cold as hell and likes to snow, seeing people in south Florida decorate palm trees and drive around with wreaths hanging from their open convertible cars takes a little getting use to. People celebrate Christmas down here, just in a pair of shorts and flip flops. Just the way Santa wanted … [Read more...]

Every journey needs a good soundtrack. The right song, the right band can stir emotions and create a special moment for the traveler who is already on a high from experiencing something new, especially if that traveler is in the islands. This weekend I spent some time creating a new playlist on the old iPod for next week's journey to Grenada and the Grenadines. I read that the Diamant has a … [Read more...]

Red Solo Cup I fill you up Let's have a party Let's have a party What happens when you make a video with dozens of attractive women, a college house party, lots of red drink cups and a country music star? You get an instant cult classic hit. Toby Keith's new album drops tomorrow, and on it a fun song about the unassuming life of the party, the red solo cup. A song about a cup? Yes, watch … [Read more...]

NiyoRah is an up-and-coming Dominican-born, St. Thomas-raised artist who you may have heard as part of the Star Lion Family (heard on the compilation Talkin' Roots Volume 1, amongst other albums). I stumbled on to his video over the weekend and it instantly caught my eye. It has a great message about peace, love and self improvement. Doesn't most reggae convey those ideas? Niyorah stands out … [Read more...]