VETERAN'S RUN

This week, we had a ninety-two-year-old veteran finish his cross country run here on the island. He started October 7, 2013, in San Diego by touching the Pacific Ocean. He finishes today, August 20, 2016, on our island's East Beach when he touches the Atlantic Ocean. Oh, and yesterday was his birthday, so he's actually ninety-three!

Ernie Andrus is running to raise money to benefit the last operational landing ship used in World War II to land on the Normandy beaches. He and fellow veterans brought the ship back from Crete in 2000 (the History Channel had a documentary on their effort: The Return of LSD 325). Ernie was part of the crew on that voyage. They were going to take LSD 325 back across the sea in 2014 to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of the landing but couldn't raise enough funds. Ernie originally intended the money he raises on this ocean-to-ocean run to be used to take it back in 2019 for the seventy-fifth anniversary. Unfortunately, the funds have not come in as he'd hoped.

But he's happy just to break even, he says. He looks on this trip as his last hurrah. And what an amazing hurrah it is!

And on a somber note, the restaurant who volunteered to cater a free lunch for Ernie and his supporters Saturday is based in Lousiana. Because of the flooding, they had to cancel. So our local restaurants, Halyards and Southern Soul, stepped up to help. Great people and great food! Almost makes me want to brave the crowds and go out Saturday for the party. Almost.

You go, Ernie Andrus!!!

SOUTHERN SOUL

We just finished up Brunswick stew and barbecue from Southern Soul. For those who have no clue, Southern Soul is THE barbecue place on our island. It was even featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (The Food Network).

As you might guess, it is a dive.

The original was in a former gas station. When it burned, the owner rebuilt on the same spot, a tiny lot on the roundabout with barely enough parking for 5-6 cars. Now it looks like -- a former gas station. Picnic tables line where the gas pumps used to be with barely room inside for a counter and a couple more tables.

Everyday when we go by, we smell the outside cooker cooking away. Ummm. We try not to succumb too often but this week, it got to be too much. Coming home Wednesday, I took a daring detour off the roundabout to get to it (it's very inconvenient to get in and out of), bought my pork barbecue and stew, and went out the back way.

Hard not to tear into it right in the car but I restrained myself. So now it's gone for another few months.

And the pound I lost last week is back.

WEATHER

The weather channel shows it all today! Snow, ice, you name it! So much for the sunny south.

It's cold here, and raining. My poor guy took off in the mess to make necessary rounds - the post office, the bank, and Southern Soul to pick up stew and barbecue, yay!!!!

The weather may be bad but we'll feast tonight!