It was the Leap Year of Leap Years. It started with Gino and I going to the Curtain Up Awards--the local theatre award
show--on February 23, 2004.  Two days later Chuck came in from Memphis
and we went to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch, afterwards the movies
to see "Monster" (and I still think Charlize Theron gave the best performance ever by a female in that film) and then a bite to eat at Hamburger Mary's. On the 26th Bob, Jim, Gino, Chuck and I had dinner at The Old Florida Seafood House
and then went to an excellent local theatre presentation of "West Side
Story"--I wouldn't see the show again until February 15, 2011.

The next day, February 27, Gino, Bob, Jim, Chuck and I went to play Jai Alia in Dania where we also had dinner. I lost $181 but I knew I was a
winner and the winning streak would continue for the whole week. The
next day Javier, Chuck, Gino and I went to Tropics, Lotus and Storks.

The big day, February 29, 2004, when I celebrated my 17th Leap Year birthday, started with a brunch for 22 people on the waterfront in the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Hotel and Marina at 11:30 AM. A few of the people were from
Gateway and they are still talking about it 8 years later. I, literally,
have hundreds of pictures from that brunch but I thought you would
appreciate one of what I ate LOL Yes, I started with a plate of desserts, including carrot cake!

The climax of the Leap Year birthday week was Gino, Chuck and I going to see Bette Midler's concert , "Kiss My Brass". I almost didn't go because I had invited her
to my party--I really did--but not only didn't she come but she never
answered and, to top it off, she didn't sing "Happy Birthday" to me!!!
All was forgiven though because she put on one hell of a show as she
always does and expands more energy and love on stage than most
performers!

After
the show we went to Lester's Diner where I had a piece of their carrot
cake. Chuck would leave a few hours later and so my 17th Leap Year
birthday came to end.

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