(THE VERY FIRST PICTURE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE OF ME OVER THE YEARS!)

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
Alai 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 9 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.
(And now as I write this I am starting to think of my 20th Leap Year birthday in 2016 and how I will celebrate it!)