One fun memory from The Honey Pot Ybor City. D. Stephen, one of the club owners had this beautiful Doberman Dog called Angel.  The club was huge even by Ybor standards. There were 3 floors with restrooms and storage areas. When the club was closed it felt like being back stage at a circus. Things were going on everywhere. Lighting, decorating, sound, rehearsals, restocking and much more.  The best part was Angel the Doberman. Growing up in the club Angel learned that empty water bottles were FUN!!! Angel would find the empty bottles and bring them to Stephen. A pat on the head and GOOD JOB Angel, and off Angel would go to find anougher one! Angel took good care of his club! Good Boy Angel.

Several weeks before Halloween the cast at Showbar Ybor were putting on a Disney Villains theme show. My work husband, April decided to dress up as a priest. That Sunday morning on the way to work she was on the off ramp from the highway. The car behind her didn’t stop in time and bumped her bumper. April jumped out of the car. The guy who hit her jumped out of his car too. Then with a surprised looks said “I am so sorry FATHER. I didn’t mean to hit your car.” LMAO April said REALLY? Dose your priest wear makeup?  You just can not make this up.

To be a small business owner you need to be a little crazy. To be a bar owner, even more crazy. One of the craziest bar owners I ever worked for was the Bank on Central in St. Pete. The owner was from some eastern European country and had never owned a bar before. He started Gay Night on Saturdays and hired a great local promoter. I could write a book just about this strange owner. One night before opening he brought in a box of donuts. He proudly opened the box and told us about the bakery he purchased them from. We all took one.  Then after we finished eating the donuts, he asked for $5 from each of us for the donuts!!! We all paid and thought WTF!!!! The next weekend he came in with another box of donuts. We all said No Thank You. He got very mad and slammed the box down. Then said before each of you leave you need to pay me $20 each for the privilege of working here. All of us were already were working there for free. The club closed shortly after that. I wonder why????

I was enjoying relaxing in a favorite Gay bar. A guy I kind of recognized, but didn’t know walks up to me. He was much older than me and a little cocktailed, smelled of cigarettes. Say to me…. “Hi Tea Cup, just so you know, 30 years ago I thought you were very HOT and I wants to have sex with you. “Me… OK? Thank You???” Then he goes on and spoke. “But now your way to old for me and walks away.” All I could think to say was Blees your heart!!! For those of you not from the south that is how we politely say F-U here. LMAO

In our home is an original staircase from the Hillsborough County Court House. We were told this was the back stairs that took the prisoners away after trial. In the wood work are upside down cross. The symbol has different meanings, from very good to very bad. Originally it was the Latin Cross of Saint Peter. Apostle Peter was also known as the first Pope.  In some Eastern European countries, the name for Peter is Simion. Here is where this all gets interesting. So, the symbol on our stairs is Pope Simion.  Carrie’s middle name is Pope. My middle name is Simion.  What a strange coincidence. You Just Can Not Make This Up

There was a Legendary Drag performer in Daytona Beach. Her name was Miss Billy Boots!!! She performed at the Hollywood/ Barn Door Complex for over 40+ years, with her male lead Michael Blake.  Late one night Billy had just finished performing “Meet Me in St. Louis”, a song performed by Judy Garland in the movie with the same name. This was one of Billy’s favorites. Back in the dressing room Billy was sitting at her makeup table. Billy said that she was vey thirsty and asked for a glass of water. When they returned with the water. Billy’s head was resting on the table. Billy had just died. 911 was called and the whole bar was in shock at what had just happened. The paramedics showed great respect and placed Billy on the stretcher in the sequined dress she was wearing, full makeup and her wig was on. As they took her out thru the bar the music was turned off. Everyone was standing in silence. When the body was outside the DJ announced “MISS BILLY BOATS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the club.  This was September 30, 2003. Watermark Magazine reported that Bill was 71 years of age. Her good friends just smiled and said more like 83 LOL. Shortly after her dead the club was sold and torn down.

Many people have told us that we have spirits in our home. We have had unexplainable things happen. Nothing bad, just strange. Once we had a big event at our home. It was after midnight and we were down to 6 or 8 people still here. The group was in the living room and enjoying the fireplace. We notice one person was missing.  He was sitting in a chair at the base of the stairs. Rocking with his hands on his head. Then started to speak perfect Spanish. His partner told us that his mother was a famous Psychic Medium in Cuba.  He was a Psychic too and only spoke Spanish when he was in a trance. Without knowing and details in advance what he saw was incredible. He saw many people walking up and down the stairs. Then he saw a man in a black coat who was in charge with anougher older man. The man in charge was talking with two women upstairs. One was kind and sick the other was beautiful and mean to the children. Then he said “Good People live here now” OMG WTF Our friend knew a judge had lived here but he did not know our stairs were from the Hillsborough County Court House. He didn’t know that the Judge had 2 wives. The 1^st did pass away and his second wife was mean. In the Judges books he described people as “Good People.” We can only hope he was talking about us.

Growing up in Minnesota I lived on what we called a hobby farm. My parents both had other jobs and fun farm. We actually had a ZOO!!!  LMAO with horses, cattle, sheep, all kinds of birds, barn cats and dog. As kids we were always rescuing & adopting wild animals too, like fox, rabbits, squirrels & frogs. One summer we rescued a pet racoon and called him Bandit. He loved to play and took up home under our patio deck. Later that summer he meets someone and was gone. Fast forward 30+ years later. One day my Dad called laughing. He said laughing, that he called to apologies to us kids. Remember all the times he yelled at us for losing his tools? He was building a new patio deck and picked up the old deck. There were dozens of tools. Looks like it was Bandit the Racoon had been saving Dads tools!!!

Carrie grew up on a very large Wisconsin Dairy Farm. The property was surrounded by Uncles and more family properties. There were beautiful pastures surrounding the home. Rolling meadows, trees and ponds. 20+ years ago his parents passed. The house was rented and later removed.  Recently the property was developed into 120+ homes, with more on the way. One of Carrie’s Sisters moved back to the old family homestead. Her unit faces the front road. Can you imagine the strange feeling to wake up and look outside?  There you see the tress that were in your front yard where you grew up. Across the road is your Uncle’s home.  Tons of great memories flooding in. Who say you can not go home again?