"He that wants money, means, and content is without three good friends." (AYLI)

Wonder of wonders! Unexpectedly today--primarily because I never got one before--I received my first ever royalty check for the sale of my books from my publisher, LULU!! I won't deny that it was a truly great feeling. I didn't know whether or not to laugh or cry; so since I didn't know, I didn't do either. I would ordinarily frame the check, but I simply can't afford to do that. Besides, it would be a little too self-serving, don't you think? I now have moved up Lulu's book sale list to 16,000 something. Well it's a lot better than being down to 25, 000. I'm not Ernest Hemingway, you know. And speaking of Hemingway, Rhoda and I are planning a drive to Key West toward the end of this month--depending on the weather of course. Both of us have been to Key West before. I was there in 1942 and we both were there on excursions off our cruise ships. However, neither of us has ever taken the drive down there, and it should be a lot of fun--Atlantic Ocean on one side; Gulf of Mexico on the other. Although Key West is not the same as Maine where you can have lobster, there are stone crabs and conch soup--and coconuts.

Rhoda and I have thankfully recovered from our recent illnesses--she with pneumonia, and I with Restroom Runs. Not fully recovered, mind you, but about 90%. We do need a little vacation time. Maybe I'll even get my tattoo refurbished down there--although a fresh tattoo on an old arm might not look so good. Speaking of lobsters, Rhoda and several women from our building have gone out tonight to La Luna for dinner--buy one lobster, get one free. Trust women to find a bargain. So where does that leave me? It leaves me trying to decide what I'm going to do for dinner. Perhaps some spaghetti and butter or to Flakowitz for cheese blintzes--or to Massimo's for lasagna. Why not all three! Robin and all my other kids are currently on a cruise through the waters of Eastern Canada and she just sent a picture of them all sitting at a table having their desserts--baked Alaska and strawberry frostees. Well, so I'm alone. I'm good company. And besides, I can cash my royalty check. Wish someone was around to take my picture.