It is with great sadness, that I say farewell to an old friend....I met Peter "DOC" Beauvais in 2000, shortly after I started diving.....
I was into spearfishing and thought I might have some interest in fishing, so stopped by a bait and tackle store(7 Seas) in Boca Raton, while out goofing off one day....
"Doc" was at the counter, and asked if he could help me....I suggested that I might be "beyond help"....We traded phone numbers that day, and that evening, around 6pm,he called me to invite me to dinner....I accepted, and a wonderful friendship developed.
I came to realize, quickly, that Doc was personable, and fun....everyone who knew him, loved him....
I also came to realize that he was a lost soul, searching for something he wouldn't be able to find in this life....
We had great adventures together....Fishing and kayaking trips to the keys, hanging out on the beach together, going to the gun range and shooting....
He took care of me after I was severely injured at one point....something most wouldn't have done....

Doc,

I will always fondly remember the wonderful times that we had together, whether sitting at Flanigan's or Baja's, or walking on the beach at midnight....
I will always fondly remember your sense of humor, your playful attempts to get me to laugh....Or the time you convinced me to eat shrimp....I hate shell fish....
I will always laugh when I think of the conversation with your dad, one night, where he compared me to your brother Patrick, because I could "hunt, kill the prey, skin it, and cook it...", and you said "No, Dad, she has tits".....

I will always love you and miss you....May you find, in the next life, the peace that you were so desperately seeking in this life....Until we meet again......

http://www.monroenews.com/news/2012/may/21/peter-m-beauvais/?obits

Ok, so here are some brief videos that I took yesterday, and then some pics.  I am a whooped puppy today....It has been cold and rainy....Will post more later!

Good Morning everyone....It's 7am here.....Kinda homesick....mainly to see David and for a good workout and maybe some prime rib at Flanigans...>Grin....Not that I don't love the rest of you, but...you know how it is...

So, I have lost about 10lbs since I have been here.  Last time I was on the scale, I weighed in at 116lbs....I don't look bad, I don't think....Just not hungry and walking alot....I think part of it is the food here is better for you?  Nothing tastes the same....Even iceberg lettuce tastes a bit different....Not sure why...

I have the day off from the airline today....Yesterday I went to their offices and plopped my skinny butt down on a chair and fell asleep....Largo and I were snoring up a storm....Since people come in/out to purchase tickets, I am relatively sure that isn't the image that they want to present....Grin.....Anyway....

Seems the boss started questioning why I was there....I questioned why he didn't know about the problem last week?  Hmmmm.....I think he did as well.  Anyway, he started working on it.  Called the USA(Something the woman Marzia wouldn't do?  She was "sending emails"....Gee, try picking up a phone)  Anyway, seems the manager there was on vacation(3 week vacation?  Darn, wish I had that job, don't you?)....Anyway.....he said he would 'have an answer within 24 hours' and could I come back/call on Wednesday?

I agreed. 

SO, today, I am off to see catacombs and putz around....I really need to give Largo a bath and do some laundry, but deciding what order to do things in.....Anyway....Will try to post some pictures tonight!!!

Later!!!

Where in the world is Karla Brewster?
Well, right now, I am sitting at my hostel(Ding Hostel---not great ratings, but hey, for 12.00 a night, what did you expect?  The Hilton?  Come on, people!)
Anyway, I have been online this am, attempting to force TAP Airlines to pay up for the missing items out of the luggage that I finally got.  I am still missing a bag!  Sigh...Saved for a long time to take this trip....Needed the sabbatical, and now, may have to cut it short because of incompetence....Sigh....

All that said, the actual flight crew was awesome! 

Anyway, back to my plans after posting all over FACEBOOK and TWEETing about the lost luggage...I think I will try for the catacombs today!

Wish me luck!

Well, we didn't get alot of sleep last night...>Seems a new crew of kids came in and they were rather noisy, to say the least.....
But, we were up and about this AM, went to mass, and then around to sight see for a time...>But, we are back home, both whooped, and resting....Will go out later for a bite to eat!

So about a week ago(a week ago, tomorrow, to be exact...), I drifted over to a little town called Polozzi....It means "Port" in Italian.  Below are some of the pictures that I took of the town...

Due to some very huge differences in opinion....1)  Being payment....The offered salary was not nearly enough for the work involved....2)  Some differences of opinion in grooming of the dogs in question....I decided that it was too late in life to deal with differences that would cause me stress...
Then to boot, there is the issue of the still missing luggage, the items missing out of the returned luggage, and the damaged dog crate(box)....well,,,,just suffice it to say, I will have to park myself on the doorstep of the office of TAP Portugal here in Rome...


Which brings me to the next topic...Guess where I am??????  My favorite city in the whole wide world! 

I got into Rome two days ago, settled into a "HOSTEL"....Not the nicest place in the world, but convenient
 and very very cheap....I could and may easily stay here for a couple of months and manage just fine (considering the airline compensates me for my missing items in short order!)

And, Largo is very very welcome here....So that helps!

Anyway, Today was our first day to really be able to get out and about and do some "sight seeing"....

Attached is links to video, and pictures of our adventures....