Wow, what a week it’s been. A short composite of the entire of 2020, this week saw the high’s, for me, with a World Series championship for my beloved Dodgers and the low’s (although maybe high) of the election. My comment on the election is not a Hurray or Nay for whomever wins or won ( I don’t know yet) and this blog is not a political one. The negative for me is all the negativity; in the end, we are of one country and we sink or swim together. There are things we can and should all agree on and divisiveness is no answer. So be the optimist even if all seems lost.

Bartender of the Week

This week’s Bartender of the Week, will be a popular choice. DOUSHZ. The service and hospitality industry is not an easy one, especially when dealing with the public. But ‘hospitable’ is the key phrase. I know no person more than Mikey Jerome who defines hospitable. Very few bartenders are revered quite like Mikey and even fewer are synonymous with a region. For years, when I lived in Venice and worked in Downtown LA, everywhere I went, eventually Baja Cantina came up as my hangout and always, people would say, “Oh, you know Big Mike.” Hermosa Beach and Hennessey’s is the same with Mikey Jerome. A true Pied Piper and gentleman, Mikey is a legend and beloved and it’s all well earned.

STATS: 6’3 (maybe 4) with the looks of a Soap Opera actor (maybe because he was and is one).

SUPERPOWERS: The ability to act friendly to everyone. I’ve seem him deal with people I’d toss out on their head and that right quick.

KRYPTONITE: A his driver or 3-wood.

NICKNAME: Doushz, I’ve never known anyone to have a catch phrase that doubles as his name. I’ve been in Santa Monica at a bar when someone asks where I’m from. When I say Hermosa area, invariably they’ll respond, “Ah Doushz.” It’s amazing.

FUN FACT: I bore witness to Doushz swim, underwater, the length of the Venetian pool to win a bet, not ONCE, but twice. I would put the length of the pool at Olympic-size plus.

Here’s to you Mikey, a true friend and one of the great ones. Please follow Mikey on MikeyJerome@youtube.com where you can find all of his folk singing and MikeyJeromethebartender videos.

A TIP OF THE CAP this week goes to all my firefighter friend’s who have struggled and worked so hard during this tough fire season. It feels like every year the fires get worse and worse and you men and women have to work harder and harder. Thank you for all you do!

A WAG OF THE FINGER to all of the political TV stations that have added acrimony to an acrimonious season. I understand the tenants of business and making a buck but the constant noise of these channels have added kerosene to a volatile time. Stop watching.

And that’s all of The Odds and The Ends this week. Thank you all for reading and remember my friends to take my advice; pull down your pants and slide on the ice.

Kevin R. Andrade