Crab Claw Festival 2010

What can I say…..? From what I heard….it was nothing short of “FANTASTIC”

With Great Weather and Great Friends…How can you go wrong...everyone had the time of their life…. A memory
Made in Paradise…. For all to remember.

Let’s get started… at the Raw Bar we had “Chef” Kevin Earle cooking grilled oysters with his side kick “Master Shucker” Nick Simone with his side kick “el presidente’” Todd Welle as they were shucking oysters & clams until their heart’s content.

Now let’s go to the appetizers where we saw highlights like Sandy Cannings, Stuffed Mushrooms, Ham Rolls with Asparagus, and somebody’s meatballs that were just delicious.

Continuing with the seafood buffet we visited the salads and sides like Italian Bread salad, a veggie salad (which by the time I got it there, there were only 2 veggies left…It must have been good).  Next we were met up with the sides, with likes of Jerri Ritz’s Low Country Boil Potatoes, Linda Smith’s Velvet Scalloped Potatoes, (um UM Good), finishing up with “Chef Kevin’s” Jambalaya.

Now for the “Piece De Resistance”, we indulged into, steamed clams, fresh Stone Crabs (from our very own boat “Master Bob”, Bob Sofranko), Gulf Shrimp, and Snow Crabs (from our very own “Master of the Gulf”, “Somewhere out West”, Rich Johnson). As we were, finishing with corn on the cob, we were greeted with freshly tossed salad, by our very own “Presidential Diva” First Lady, Bianca Ryder and Diva Dawn Steedman.

Serving in Caloosa Dive Club Tradition….we save the best for last and that’s “Desserts”…… desserts like Mini Cheese cakes from Dawn Steedman, Gluten Free Chocolate Cake by our very own doctor, Dr. Peer, and as rumor had it, it was delicicious….only to be out done by the…for the second year in a row…..“Jim and Margie Elkins’s”….Chocolate Covered Strawberries”

As we were eating dinner we had been blessed to have 2 celebrities in the crowd, the first was a friend of Lew and Fay. Their friend Laura, was celebrating her 80 something (when you get that far who counts any more :  ) Birthday.

Another fine celebrity, in our mitts on this day was out and about from her Mansion (Which at this point, she probably thinks of as a Dungeon…..after being cooped up all this time) from downtown Cape Coral….. Our very own Lynne Kemper. Lynne it was great to see you out and about. You look Great.

Now that we’re done with Dining (the first D in the 3-d Club)….it was time for us to go out Diving (the second D in the 3-D Club) and in this case Playing.

We we’re astonished to see the number of members and guest having a great time outside playing, Corn Hole, Bocce Ball, throwing a Frisbee or even tossing a football 3-way, while others enjoyed the sun, sitting in their lounge chair, just soaking up the rays.

But…… the ones that looked like they were having the most fun were the Kids (Big and Little) flying Kites in the afternoon sun. As I was watching the kite flying I think I saw an Eagle as well some other quite creative looking kites, I even think I saw “Air Force One being flown by our very own president….But I must have been mistaken, because Air Force One would have never crash landed like this one.… (I liked to Thank Kay Arcuni with all her help with the games).

For others who kept their feet on the ground, found other ways to move their body…and yes those were the ones throwing their hips or in this case throwing out their hips, were playing Hula Hoops, which were being demonstrated by our very own “Hipster” herself….The Diva’s of Diva’s….Bianca Ryder.

By now it was my turn to take part in the games. So I grabbed my wife, picked up a ball and in this case a Beach Ball Volley Ball and went to the courts. Soon after others joined in and before we knew it the volley ball game was on and the war began……..As the teams fought feverishly back and forth for each point…It was hard to determine who the real winners were…but, it didn’t matter…..because in this case I think we all won with the great time we had with each other this day….. 

They say no crime goes unpunished but in this case no deed goes without saying thank you.

Because there are so many of you and too many to list, to be thanked and I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out, I would just like to say

“Thank You” to all those that helped and to all those who brought that great tasting food!!!!......you know who you are…….

Ps. a special Thanks to Barry 2.0 for keeping the cooks fed with those appetizers. (You know what they say about keeping the cooks Happy). Speaking of cooks, Thanks to all those who helped cook, Gene Dold, Joe Arcuni, Kevin Kenny and Ron Anderson. (If I missed anyone Thank You Too)

This is the kind of event that takes more than one person to make it such a “Great Success” and everyone that helped out should be Thanked…So the next time you see your fellow club member you too can thank them for having a great time.

 Until next Year………..Enjoy the pictures from Ron and Dawn.