Post #205504 by thejab on Tue, Jan 3, 2006 3:28 PM

Thanks to all who joined me on Friday night. Your host got a little blasted by the time dinner was served (a Rum Barrel at Kick_the_reverb's and 3 manhattans got the better of me). Good thing I had a motel room right behind Albie's! I hope you all had a good time.

It was a dream come true to see Bosko's place on Saturday, and Ona Tiki and Moki's place was beautiful. The rain added to the tropical atmosphere. The Bali Hai was loads of fun. I spent much of the night upstairs at the bar drinking Goof Punches out of a Mr. Bali Hai mug. I got a pretty good look at the bartender making it, and was pleasantly surprised that Coruba and Lemon Hart rums went into the drink, along with some Ronrico light rum, passion fruit syrup, and I what I think was pineapple juice and OJ. I still like the Goof Punch better then the Bali Hai Mai Tai, but it really depends on who is pouring.

Just before midnight I lost my vintage tiki cufflink. It was like the last gasp of a pretty crappy year for many folks, but I think 2006 promises to be a better year because I found the cufflink after midnight! Roxanne and Tigerlily poured me a glass of Veuve Clicquot and we all watched the fireworks over the San Diego harbor. A lovely way to ring in the new year.

The Sunday brunch at the Islands was way better then I expected it to be. Mmmm, tasty lamb and prime rib. Then me and Unga Bunga had a couple beers at Lancer's Cocktail Lounge, made a revisit to Ona Tiki's house to see it after dark, and then to Pacific Shores, an underwater-themed bar from the 40s in Ocean Beach, followed by last call at the Lounge at the Half Moon Inn, and a small party in our room to split a bottle of champagne that Piphiro provided.

On Monday I tried to drive all the way home in the nasty storm, but had a front tire blowout on a wet stretch of highway 101 last night. It was hair raising, but I managed to pull over without getting struck. It was way too dangerous to change the tire in the dark as it was on the driver side next to oncoming traffic. I was relieved that I have AAA and a cell phone, but I had to talk to 2 seperate people at AAA because they couldn't find the towns I was near on their stupid computer system. I even suggested they look at the same paper AAA map I was using that had the towns clearly marked but they were clueless! After about an hour a highway patrolman arrived and got a hold of the AAA driver so he could locate my car. I ended up staying the night in Arroyo Grande so I could buy a new tire. Note to self: buy some new flares that work.

Mahalo Bosko and Truus, OnaTiki and Moki, Kick-the-reverb and his lovely wife, and most of all to Monkeyman for a great time.

I didn't take enough pics but here's a few:

The brief sunny spell on Sunday morning at the Half Moon Inn:

OnaTiki and me

A wee bit of OnaTiki's bar:

Sunday night at Pacific Shores, from left: roxy, unga bunga, Matt Reese, piphiro, me, and tigerlily

The glorious facade of Pacific Shores: