Rylee and Scott got here Wednesday. Thursday, we rented efoil boards. Totally cool it’s amazing propelling and hovering 2+ feet over the water
On Friday, I worked til noon and we met up with some friends for drinks had a yummy roof top dinner.
Saturday we rented a deck boat and cruised to the sandbar.
Then had dinner at the Ugly Grouper
The Bahama tiki beach bar I interviewed at last month, reached out yesterday. I told them I’ve found a place to learn the industry and live, but appreciated the contact.
Glenn and Justin are my wingmen of Bradenton. Sounds like a TV show! Really fun guys. I met them at Margaritaville hotel that I was staying in when I first found this place. Glenn has a condo in the development and has access to hotel Amenities. The hotel had a parrothead pool party with a jimmy buffet cover band.
Chef Marcei, manager sue, cook Ernie, coworker Cindy, Me, Rover Dave and bartender Kirk
For years…I’m gonna say 25+ years, my parents, siblings, their immediate families and my children enjoy camping. Friends would join us as well. So…in a campground with 10 RV’s In Your circle, and the rest of the camp goers…when a champagne cork is popped for mimosas in the mornings, if you belonged to our group, every person would yell WOOOO HOOOO as loud as they could. This would ignite the whole campground. Now my children have been raised by this tradition, and have sometimes yelled woooo hooo! In maybe an inappropriate time.
I love that I finally am developing a circle of friends. The first guy I met here, Before I secured housing, rode his bike to my work a few days ago. It was weird to look up from the bar and have someone say “hey Stace!”
Then, these girls are totally cool, they know everyone so that helps me get to know people too.
My daughter Rylee and her boyfriend booked their flights and will be here next week! Since the snowbirds left, I didn’t think accommodations would be scarce. But my gosh! Every site I went to…SOLD OUT. SOLD OUT. Such a huge tourist attraction. It’s beautiful, but on vacation, one can only go to the beach so many days in a row!
I’ve started looking at fun things to do. There is a sunset, comedy cruise, I’m going to book, sea do rentals and 95% chance of dolphin encounter off the coast. Paddle boarding through Robinsons preserve. A guy I work with has been trying to get me to come to the Elks, for day drinking by the pool then bingo at night. Maybe we’ll do that. Definitely a beach day at my work. I’m so happy I get to see them!!’
About a week ago, my ex yacht boss text me asking for the girls info that I had interviewed before I left. I shared her info, then she text me saying “he text me out of the blue and wants to leave for the Bahamas tomorrow. Is this the spur of the moment things you spoke of?”
Went in to work yesterday. Supposed to rain, so we moved shelves and deep cleaned everything for a few hours and came home. This morning, I was just about ready to walk out the door and I got the call that we weren’t going to open again today.
This presents a problem when you go from making 1600 a week in California, to 1000 a week as a deckhand (with no living expenses) to 800 a week as a beach bar worker. (with all living expenses)
The owner of my work establishment, I’ve seen twice and met briefly once..as I was busy and couldn’t chat.
He has been chatting with my manager about me, and I feel like I’m being groomed for something harder because they can’t find people who work like I do.
Settling in at work. Proven myself and my work ethic, so I’m greatly appreciated. My manager thanks me everyday, sometimes twice a day. Slowly meeting local people that I can reconnect with on my days off.
A few days ago, a little girl, around 10 stopped me on the sand as I was delivering food. She said, you work so hard, can I give you this shell I found on the beach?
And there my little shell sits from the cute little girl
Today, I pampered my true partner. Jeeper, rust detail etc. Then headed out in search of live music. Ended up having lunch at the kokonut tiki bar. Met two lovely fun ladies who do crazy stuff like me. We exchanged numbers and I’ll be included in their future adventures. Then went to the Island bar. One man band. Beautiful evening out, but work in the morning so I’m home relaxing watching movies.
Sorry for the boring posts. Something exciting is BOUND to happen!
Obviously this job has to sustain my cost of living. On paper, with an average tip day, it does. But unknowingly, we must factor in storm days, when we close. Snowbirds leaving, which means no tourists, which means less beach goers and less tips.
Showed up to work, no one was there yet. The storm last night blew tables, Chairs and umbrellas all over the place, and we are expecting another storm today.