On Friday, I came to, shook off the cobwebs and toted one of my green rafts to Xtabi, where I camped out for the morning. It was nice to be back there, as Xtabi is among my favorite places to hang in Negril. I floated around and enjoyed the shade of the Cliffs in the morning. I toweled off and had breakfast, then later in the morning I made my way to Westender Inn and said hi to some of the workers there whom I've come to know through the years, specifically Kelvin and Jermaine (great guys).

After returning to Seastar Inn for a bit, I picked up a long-time friend, Nicky, and together we headed to Blue Cave Castle, where I bumped into fellow boardie Vinny Bogan, who is an excellent writer and publisher of Negril Notes, a fun Blog about Negril. Blue Cave Castle cook Teddy showed his face, and Nicky and I enjoyed a meal overlooking the ocean.

I was so blown away with the good food and great scenery that, in a daze, I forgot to pay the bill! Never did that one before!!!

I was all the way up the hill at Seastar by the time I realized it, so I nervously called to apologize and to let them know I'd be back soon to pay the bill and to please don't call the police! It was a fax machine or no answer in the office for a bit, and that got me more nervous, but eventually Petrona, Blue Cave's well-liked manager, picked up the phone and gave me a soothing "no problem, mon."

Another boardie, Seveen, was visiting Seastar at the time and was smiling at my dilemma when I explained what was happening.

Anyway, I did soon return and paid Teddy with a good tip as an apology, then the busy day found me back all the way up the hill, first to visit Banton's, a little bar near Moondance Cliffs, and then back to Westender Inn, my home away from home away from home. I had a smoothie and enjoyed the rock pool, then went back to Seastar Inn for lobster and to tip the maids 1000j to wash my beach towel for me and to compensate for the big mess in Room 19 every day so far including the following mishaps -- broken glass with rum punch in it, big spill in the fridge, seeds and stems all over the floor, etc.

Today is Friday, and I'm excited. Brasi, my bestest boardie friend, is arriving this afternoon with his two kids, 17 and 18. I was eager to see the stocky New Yorker again and to meet his adolescent offspring.