2004 started off in a strange way with the fun of my Leap Year birthday, the birds
and my getting a larger bedroom apartment but--and there always seems
to be a but--after 23 years of owning and really enjoying my 1974 Chevy
Caprice convertible I had to sell it. There were a couple of things
involved with the main one being that because of my bankruptcies my car
insurance rates tripled! Yes folks your insurance rates take into
consideration your financial ratings in spite of the fact that I had
never been late with my payments or did I ever go without insurance!
Also there was the fact that I didn't have the cash--see I was
learning-- didn't use credit cards even though the companies were still
sending me them!--to reupholster and repaint the car as I did every 3
years. Along with that it was starting to fall apart and I didn't have
the money for repairs. I needed new window motors, it was either use the
cigarette lighter (Iwas still smoking) or listen to the radio but I
couldn't do both and the top frame was rusting out. I became a bus rider a
couple of months before I finally was able to sell it. As much as I
missed and wanted it I immediately felt the financial advantage of not
having a car--the bus wasn't the perfect answer but it worked. The car
wouldn't be sold until June 29 but I hadn't used it since February.

Without
too much ado Anita became part of the movie, theatre, going out to it
group which consisted mainly of Gino, Robert, James and me. Once in
awhile Gino's brother would join us or when Robert Igizi came down from
New Jersey or someone else we knew. From The Cheesecake Factory to
Kilwin's across the street and, for the first time since I had retired
two years previously, back to Big Louie's. We went to the Arts Center to
see "The Full Monty" and to the 26th Street theatre to see "Iago" based
on the Olivier, Leigh and Finch affair.  Of course there were the
movies like "Laws of Attraction", the long and boring "Touching the
Void" not to forget "Connie and Carla" which I have forgotten!

We
were still going to the Florida Stage Theatre, which would go out of
business in a few years and reopen in 2012 as The Plaza theatre just in
time for my Leap Year birthday with the opening attraction being 'my
Cassie' Donna McKechnie in her one woman show. Yes I went and I met her
and Allen took a picture of her and me together! In 2004 and 2012 I had
dinner, with the group back then and Allen the last time , at the Key
Lime Seafood House one of the oldest restaurants in Florida, plus being
very good and still open !

In
May I bought the 2 finches which I named Sugar and cream and on June 12
Jill bought me my first  cockatiel. I was having a lot of fun with the
birds. Sadly both finches died by the end of August. It wasn't until the
end of October that I bought 3 finches and a mixed breed and before I
knew it I had 21 finches!!!

Anita,
Jill, Robert, James and I went to the Mosaic Theatre to see "Amadeus"
and to Sweet Tomatoes afterwards and the next day I heard Byron had a
stroke and I have never seen him since nor do I know if he is still
alive. He had been at my Leap Year luncheon and had become a good friend
of mine over the past few years. In November both Robert Igizi from New
Jersey and Chuck from Memphis came down for a visit. We went gambling
on the Sea Escape ship and out at the Hard Rock, went to the movies to
see "Kinsey" and "The Polar Express" at the IMAX theatre. Chuck, Gino
and I went to The Red Star Tavern where they served a huge slice of good
carrot cake but they were out of it that evening plus adding injury to
insult the  food took so long in coming the manager picked up the check!
Oh yes, that place is closed now replaced by Seasons 52 which is doing a
good business!
Life
was going good--at the end of 2004 I got 4 out of 6 numbers in Lotto
(no big deal--I won $80 BUT I WON!) I, also, had my favorite book "The
Free Prisoner" published. I was ready for 2005.