Are they really leaving

You hear daily how people are leaving Miami in droves. Moving to Western Florida, Cape Coral, Fort Myers. Others are hitting the Gainesville/Ocala area. Radio has those dumb commercials for houses in Ocala for mid 100s. Other friends are more daring. North Carolina, Georgia or Tennessee.

The hell with that...if I go I am doing something drastic. Wyoming or Montana. Sell my 600k home, take the 500k in equity and buy some nice ranch. Maybe couple hundred acres on some river near Cheyenne. Insurance for Home & Auto under 500 bucks. No Hurricanes. Snow but nothing a 4x4 cant handle.

So what if its in the Boonies. Here are some reasons why its not that big a deal...

FedEx still delivers anything you would ever need.
Shopping by Catalog is Fun.
WalMart will only be half hour away tops.
DirectTV...what else can I say
Internet by Satellite.

Close yet so far away!!

Back for More

Its been a while since I have posted. Lots of other things which have overwhelmed me over the past few months like work and family.

This afternoon though was one of those lunch hours that make people want to leave Miami for good. Everywhere I went there were lines and more lines. Lines at the drive through at the fast food place. A Line at JiffyLube to get your oil changed. Lines to get into Shopping Centers. Maybe it is time to cash out and split town for North Florida or somewhere in the Southeast US.

Politics and Versailles..Good Luck to Mr. Pete Monroe

I drove by the quinessential political hangout this morning on my way back to the office only to find a huge rental RV with an enormous sign painted on its side about Pete Monroe for US Senate waiting to head East on Calle Ocho.

Who is this guy I thought? I am pretty much in tune with local and state politics. Turns out Mr. Monroe from Safety Harbor (Somewhere near Tampa) is probably trying to get some free pub with the old school Miami Exile community. Wonder if he likes his cortadito claro o oscuro? Bet he practiced his Spanish...

Truth be told, the guy is probably one hell of a nice guy and the fact that he served on Reagan's staff in D.C. only helps things for him since every old Cuban loves Reagan even though the guy never accomplished anything as far as Cuba was concerned.

You could throw a veteran experienced Democrat with impeccable credentials and a anti-castro voting record against a 22yo Publix BagBoy who runs as a Republican. The Cubans (including mis abuelos (may they rest in peace)) would vote straight party line for El Republicano without looking at one issue. Its just the way they think..

Only in Miami!!

Summer is Officially Over

School is back in session. You wanna see how diverse this town is...just head down to the local elementary school. Traffic is back with a vengeance. Buses and cards carrying kids to school all over town. Add a good 20% to your commute at least.

Great Publicity for Miami

Front page of the CNN website yesterday morning had a Metro-Dade Cop with an automatic rifle at MIA. Just the type of welcome that keeps the tourists coming back.

No News...

Here we are a week later and the natives are quiet here in the magic city. No longer are the people in the streets of Little Havana. However some old man is making a fortune selling small Cuban flags next to Versailles Restaurant out of the back of his car. Driving round town I have been seeing more of those car flags with the Cuban Flag instead of the regular college or professional sports team on them. Given the recent news, I would be surprised if the local stations already have obituary pieces, photo montages and other special video ready to roll. The Herald has to have a list of headlines ready to choose from. Here are some of my favorites:

CASTRO DEAD..MIAMI CELEBRATES

CASTRO DEAD...CUBANS CELEBRATE

LIBERTAD AT LAST...CASTRO DEAD

CASTRO DEAD...CUBA & MIAMI EXILES IN STREETS

(Feel free to add your own)


Along with any of those, I would guess one picture of beardycakes alive and then a pic of the celebration in the streets. If I were Editor, that would be my choice.

Miami...Post Castro

This is the 20 Million Dollar Question. Miamians heading back? Cubans heading over? The last of the Gringos cashing out and leaving for Charlotte or Atlanta or Ocala?

I have a theory..one which alot of friends laugh at. I believe that the new Cubans those who came after Mariel either by raft or through 3rd countries will split and head back home. With that, they will sell what they have here and bail Miami to try to start over in Cuba.

Another theory...all that pricey real estate on Brickell and Miami Beach...all them condos..they will continue to fall in price as the foreign money that is keeping that biz afloat will be invested in a new Cuba. No longer will the Columbians, Venezuelans or Brazilians invest here when they can be part of something me in Cuba. Why speculate here after the boom when you can go in on the ground floor. I am holding out so I can buy me that Oceanfront Condo in Hallendale or North Miami Beach for under $135k. It will be just me and the Canadians

Things to go on the backburner....

Now that this Fidel thing is brewing in Miami, let me just think of a few things that will be forgotten about or placed on the backburner with all this Castro/Cuba Stuff talking over the Miami News Cycle.

What ever happened to that Marlins Stadium in Hialeah?
What about the Housing Agency Scandal?
Lets not forget that Real Estate Boom...wanna buy a cheap condo?
Reaction to the Mideast Crisis in the Aventura/Miami Beach Area?
Ricky Williams.. (Just kidding)

Tropical Storm Chris will take out Fidel Castro

El weekend is here and gracias a Dios there is no storm. Looks like TS/TD Chris going to skirt along the northern coast of Cuba. Miami will remain outside the real cone of concern long enough to sit patiently and wait for the next move. Seems like the crowds are lighter and the hoopla has subsided enough that even folks in Little Havana and Hialeah has returned to normalcy. Seems like they needed all those pans back to cook picadillo and frijoles. Those of us outside the beltway (west of 826 & south of la calle ocho) never really were affected but nonetheless stayed away from the hysteria that never came.

We are fine over here..we love it!!

Some Cubans enjoy comforts of communism
VANESSA ARRINGTON
Associated Press

HAVANA - Park cleaner Froilan Mezquia sleeps in the shed where he stores his supplies and hasn't had a real meal in three days. The 62-year-old also received years of free medical treatment for throat cancer.

In Cuba's communist society, where every day is a struggle but survival is practically guaranteed, Mezquia's story helps explain why people didn't flood the streets clamoring for change when Fidel Castro stepped down for surgery this week.

The reasons Cubans took the events in such stride are complex. Castro supporters say it's because of Cubans' deep belief in socialist ideals; detractors say it's all about fear. Conviction and dread aside, many Cubans find genuine comfort in the communist system, and reject U.S.-style democracy and values.

"I could go to the United States, or I could go to Mexico," said the slight Mezquia, smoking a cigarette on gazebo steps next to his garbage-collecting cart. "But I was born here, and here is where I'll die."

Mezquia's former wife and four children live in Mexico, and from what he hears, capitalist countries are filled with cruelty, hardship - and certainly no free health care.

"They pay you more, but you must spend so much more just to live," he said.

Cubans who have left the island come back to visit relatives laden with gifts and goods, symbols of the material wealth to be found beyond Cuba's borders. But they also speak of people working multiple jobs just to get by and of people who don't know their neighbors - foreign concepts in Cuba.

When outsiders think of Cuba, it's often the lack of political freedoms and economic power that comes to mind. Cubans who have chosen to stay on the island, however, are quick to point out the positives: safe streets, a rich and accessible cultural life, a leisurely lifestyle to enjoy with family and friends.

There are, of course, hundreds of dissidents and political prisoners on the island of 11 million who abhor the system and feel a desperate need for rapid change. But most Cubans would not list political repression among their most immediate concerns.

For all its flaws, life in Castro's Cuba has its comforts, and unknown alternatives are not automatically more attractive. The idea of Cuba without "El Comandante," who has been in power for nearly five decades, provokes alarm and uncertainty - and a tremendous fear they could lose their way of life.

"For me, this is very painful," Mezquia said of this week's events. The 79-year-old Castro temporarily ceded power to his brother Raul on Monday night after surgery to repair internal bleeding. Details were not made public, but Cuba's health minister said Friday that Castro was "recovering satisfactorily."

Drew Blakeney, spokesman for the U.S. mission in Havana, acknowledged that Cubans are fearful of change.

"This is something totally new and disorienting for them," he said. "There seems to be a lot of fear, and a lot of worry, after 47 years of constant rule by one person."

Indeed, though Mezquia believes Raul Castro will follow the same political line as his brother, he fears things will never be the same if Fidel fails to return to power.

"There is only one Fidel Castro," he said. "He is the one who was born with the ideals that made Cuba."

Many foreigners consider it propaganda when Castro's government enumerates its accomplishments, but many Cubans take pride in their free education system, high literacy rates and top-notch doctors. Ardent Castro supporters say life in the United States, in contrast, seems selfish, superficial, and - despite its riches - ultimately unsatisfying.

"Socialism is superior to capitalism. It's much more humane," said retiree Luis Poey, 66, whose last job was delivering food to workers in Old Havana.

These Cubans even defend their system as a democracy in which the National Assembly and provincial and city leaders are directly elected. Assembly members then elect one of their own to be president of the country - Castro, a representative from the eastern city of Santiago, has repeatedly won out.

Castro's critics say the notion that Cuba is democratic is a farce - that tight state control, a heavy police presence and neighborhood-watch groups reporting on "anti-revolutionary" conduct prevent any real political freedom.

Some Cubans retort that a system allowing President Bush to "steal" elections and wage wars without the people's support is certainly more flawed than their own.

Even the dissidents have seemed a bit bewildered this week, saying they need to "wait and see" what Fidel Castro's temporary exit means.

Meanwhile, both Castros have been out of sight, with a continued focus by state-run news media on Fidel's recovery, rather than Raul's stewardship.

For Mezquia, Fidel Castro is Cuba, a link that won't be easily erased.

"Raul Castro will give no speeches until Fidel Castro decides it's time," Mezquia said. "I think even after he dies, Fidel Castro will still be in charge."

This article is mindboggling. Makes cubans on the island look lazy, lacking desire/direction and frankly stupid. Why dont they realize that the streets are "safe" since the military will round up anyone causing trouble. That rich cultural life is fine so long as they dont leave the country where someone always seems to defect. Leisurely lifestyle means they dont have a pot to piss in so they are stuck staying at home instead of being able to go out for a movie or dinner or whatever.

Raul is on the local milk carton

Tienes Leche??
Got Milk??

#1 Movie Rental at "El Blocbuster"

Latest Rumor on Beardycakes

Heard a rumor this morning from someone who knows a local policeman here in Miami. Apparently policemen have been advised to not take vacations etc because something is imminent. The ongoing rumor has Fidel Dead, Raul in Exile somewhere and Cuba without any real government. Take that rumor for what its worth.

I have my wife packing a bag just in case I have to get her and the kids out of Dodge City in a hurry. I will stay back with the heavy artillery to preserve protect and defend the homestead.

Travel Ban and other stuff to ponder

Just read an interesting LA Times editorial talking about the travel ban as an "unjustifiable restraint on the freedom of U.S. citizens". I would have to agree with that. Why fly 2 or 3 hours to San Juan, the Virgin or Leeward Islands when you can be in Varadero in less than an hour and spend less than you would elsewhere.

With the aging exile community still running this town, how long must the long list of 1st generation US born cuban-americans here in Miami have to wait before we can start making our own decisions without the old timers input. Oops..better be careful what I say before I get labeled a commie. If you'd poll the children of exiles who came to this country form 1959 up to before Mariel, I think the overwhelming number of them would say the embargo is a joke and lets try something else. The only problem with that is that they would feel bad telling their folks what they really feel which in turn could hurt their parents feelings as well.

Hurricane Hysteria/Fidel Castro Dead?=The Perfect Storm

Its August here in the magic city. That mean Hurricanes. After lightly soaking the Leeward Islands, its heading right at us. At least that is what the media would have you think. Even with all this Castro stuff, you'd think they would want to relax for a while before the guy dies and miami is at a stand still for 4 days. I am getting off point here.

Anyways, I will predict hourly tropical strom updates on TV within the next 24 to 26 hours. Norcross with break out the Etch a Sketch and start drawing little figures and diagrams for days before this thing gets within striking distance. Can anyone imagine the hysteria if this storm strikes at the same time Fidel's death is announced. Its a perfect storm type scenario. Will Channel 7 send their 15k/yr reporter to a rocky seawall in the Keys with their rubber raincoat and standard issue knee high boots to fight the winds and sea spray or will they send a non-hispanic reporter to Calle Ocho to interview a bunch of people speaking broken english and drinking 47 year old bottles of champagne.

You see every cuban exile home has a bottle of cheap champagne purchased soon after their arrival many decades ago. In our house it was stored above the Avocado Green Amana Refridgerator. Its purpose..to celebrate the day Fidel dies. I wonder why do this? Did they feel Miami would not have ample supplies of Cook's and Mum's? Unlike Dom or Cristal, does cheap champange get better with age?

Lots of Stuff on the Radar

Fidel...Dead or Alive
Tropical Storm Chris...coming or going
War in the Mideast...who cares
North Korea...you forgot about that one didn't you
MidTerm Elections...who the hell are these candidates

Spanish Radio

I've spent the day listening to am radio just for shits and giggles. I am usually a country fan but when the hot news story is a Castro bowel movement or whatever, I have found Miami's latin talk radio stations to be a hoot.

Just imagine 3 or 4 am talk stations on a cocktail of viagra and jolt cola. This is how I would best describe the action. Nonstop call after call. People telling stories and explaining theories, even conspiracies. One lady called and said that her relative was actually an employee at the hospital where Fidel was and that he saw Fidel actually take his last breath. Still waiting for the smoking gun website to have those pics. How about another one where some lady calls saying that her relative in Italy was advised that Castro was dead and that the government was waiting for the right time to tell the Exile Cuban community. Anyone who has been to Italy knows that those Italian Journalists are better than those Watergate reporters.

Cubans in general love to exaggerate. Add to that complete anonymity and you have the perfect story. Its a proven fact. We talk about how great things were before Fidel and how our grandparents in Cuba owned the equivalent of Rhode Island before it was taken away by the Communists. Guess the best part is that nobody can really verify any of it so its like getting a lie all you want card.

Off to downtown

Hope beardycakes doesn't die while I am there as I could be stuck there for hours. No metrorail today with the heat index at 100 degrees.

Cuba Si Castro No

Here we go.. The days millions of cubans have waited for. The day in which old beardycakes may have kicked the rusty old bucket. At around 9:15pm while watching a reruns the local CBS affiliate breaks in to announce that Castro had surgery and ceded power to his little brother.

Well all hell broke loose. Speculation started. People in the streets. You heard theories that he was already dead because he would never give up power and/or had never done so in the last 47 years. I laughed seeing all these "new cubans" in the streets. Seemed to me that anyone who has been here for over 30+ years was sitting at home instead of overreacting. Saw a few gringo political candidates there in front of versailles speaking broken spanish to the cameras and/or showing solidarity with the cuban voting bloc. Always nice to get some free pub.

Best part of the night was Channel 4 stating at like midnight that CBS sources confirm that Castro is Alive. Can they confirm Elvis and JFK are still alive and living in Cuba?

Time will tell...

Been a while...

Here I am back at the keyboard after an extended absence. Another installment of life in Miami.

Was on my way to downtown today on the city's main throughfare..highway 1...when low and behold the traffic came to a screeching halt. Lines of cars spewing thick emissions into the hazy hot humid air. It was our leader, Mr. President or affectionately called Dubya, as he made his was to a fundraiser in the magic city. Every cop in the city was doing something related to his visit. No chance of getting a ticket for speeding during this time so we sped on down.

Another Friday..

Week is ending and I am going out of town.
South Central Florida..
Real Wal-Marts...
No Traffic...
Cowboy Hats...
Dusty Dirt Roads..
Stars as far as the eye can see..
2 Traffic Light Towns..
24 hour bait shacks..
No beer on Sunday...
Best hotel in town is the Best Western..

Its great to get away!!