You thought I was kidding, didn't you?
But no. Yesterday, while out with Dave and my brother, I really did see a dog wearing sunglasses. A guy walked him in front of our car as we waited at a stoplight, and when he tied up the dog and went into the Moonshine convenience store, I immediately pulled into the parking lot to grab some pictures. The dog was super-friendly and waggy, but I never talked to the owner so I have no idea what his name is. Feel free to make one up. (I'm going with "Stevie.")
The weird thing is, it wasn't even a particularly sunny day!
It was busy, though! Dave and I met my mom for breakfast, and we went to a biscuit restaurant. When we placed our orders, the cashier asked me, "What is your favorite Christmas memory?" I was perplexed until she explained that the restaurant always has a "Question of the Month." The customers' answers are then called out by the staff to indicate that the order is ready.
So I had to come up with a Christmas memory that was both brief and inoffensive enough to be called out in a public place. The best I could do on such short notice: "Setting up my grandma's little artificial Christmas tree." (For the record, my grandmother, who was somewhat formal, was always "Grandmother" and never "Grandma." That was a transcription error on the cashier's part.) Sure enough, that's what they called out when our biscuits and gravy were ready. As we ate I heard an even more succinct memory from another customer: "Surviving it!"
Afterwards Dave and I visited my Mom's retirement community, where we took a walk and admired the groovy mosaics from 1964 that adorn some of the exterior walls (above). We spent the morning with her and then got back in the car to go downtown and meet up with my brother for lunch.
We picked him up and went to Cleo's, which I photographed when he and I tried to visit this summer. We missed out then because it was closed. This time I got to sample the best taco salad in town, which is, as I suspected, pretty average -- but the atmosphere can't be beat. It's like eating on someone's shady back porch. I loved Cleo's.
We took a drive through north Jacksonville, where the aforementioned dog incident occurred. Then we dropped my brother back at work, and Dave and I came back to our hotel via San Marco, where the lions on the famous fountain were decorated in gauzy frocks -- or collars, I suppose. Must be a holiday thing!
I've never seen camp lions before
ReplyDeleteI would call the dog Roy - after Roy Orbison. Will you be taking some sunglasses back to London for darling Olga who is now no doubt whining and pining for her cruel master? Banana yellow would suit her best in my estimation.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the dog just likes to wear sunglasses!
ReplyDeleteOh yes. You are definitely back in Florida.
Cleo's looks wonderful. It reminds me so much of a restaurant down near Weeki Watchee where I ate breakfast once.
I can't believe the dog hadn't shook them off. I'd be hard pressed to come up with a favorite christmas memory as christmas at my house from my teenage years forward were not particularly joyful, rather a forced show of sappy familial love, none of which we felt. my mother who always got at least twice as many presents as any of the rest of us was always depressed because she never got the one thing she wanted no matter how much thought you put into her gift. I can't imagine having a restaurant worker shout that out.
ReplyDeletethose lions look like they are wearing the tutus of ballet dancers they had for lunch.
"Stevie" is a perfect name for that dog. Was he swaying back and forth a little?
ReplyDeleteThose decorations on the lions are very different. It looks like they have tutus around their necks.
Delightful! What a cool pooch! The lions look grand, maybe a bit confused, but pleased with their collars! The mosaic - lovely! I thought that I would miss you being in London this time of year, but, no, you have stepped up...once again! Wishing you the best!
ReplyDeleteEven though I suspect that's just another wacky Florida dog owner, I did have a conversation recently with someone whose dog developed eye issues and required sunglasses as a result.
ReplyDeleteWhen does the cruise begin? :)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same as Marty, maybe the dog needed eye protection. It doesn't take anything away from the awesomeness that a dog in sunglasses has brought to my day :)
ReplyDeleteI rarely read about a restaurant that makes me wish I could eat there, but the biscuit restaurant's website has snared me in. Salad, side of protein, and a biscuit sounds like heaven to me. And believe me, you can't get that here.
Hmmm, my favorite Christmas memory... The year I knocked over the tree? The year I got a Barbie Camper? Tough call!
ReplyDeleteWell, some poor dogs have to suffer indignities. It's cute but there has to be a very understanding and obedient dog! There, that's my grouch for the day.
ReplyDeleteOleg the Floridawg, wearing sunglasses and a big grin and loving his dog's life. The lions are hilarious.
ReplyDeleteAlphie