Local golfer Tiger Woods resurrected memories of his glory days with his convincing win at The Doral Open golf championship in Miami over the weekend

After a rough couple of years, Tiger seems to have moved past the temptation of busty blonde bimbos and put himself in a good spot, personally and professionally . . There are rumors of a relationship with downhill skier Lindsay Vonn or a possible reconciliation with former wife Elin Nordegren, and a general reassessment of his professional and personal relationships with friends, neighbors, sponsors and competitors . . . Perhaps this very talented man is achieving a level of maturity and reflection unavailable to him before now

You can’t live in South Florida and not bounce up against a golf nut or two…the passion for the sport is deep in the drinking water down here. . . So we all feel connected to our local resident Pros, Nicklaus and Norman, Woods and McIlroy and all the other recognizable names…and we want to root for the hometown boys, especially when it feels like they are bringing some credit and honor to their craft, their sport and their community

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Our former Florida Governor and supposedly the smartest Bush in the bunch has just made the rounds of Sunday talk shows promoting his new book Immigration Wars

Jeb, or “Jebbie” as his mother, and only his mother can call him, has been AWOL for much of the last six years on the political scene…after he retired from the Governorship here in Florida, he quickly skedaddled out of Tallahassee to resume a life of business, investment and high class schmoozing with the elites in Miami’s two worlds . . The Gringos and the Latinos . . . And in these years, out of view and under the radar, he has used his political connections to build a bank account to last the rest of his years

So now, with enough dough and real estate to satisfy, Jeb is re-entering the political field with his insights into the immigration debate currently roiling the Republican Party…I’m thinking the Bush book isn’t going to burn up the Amazon chart toppers, and after the required purchases by libraries and all the extended Bush clan, Jeb will be lucky to sell a couple dozen copies of this snoozefest

Considered the brightest of the Bush kids, it was always assumed he would be the second Bush President, but he couldn’t quite fire up the gumption to put his wife and rather fragile family life through the political fires . . . The times may be a changing and with it a change of heart, but frankly I’m thinking Jeb is old news, his “radical” views on education and immigration are already out of date, and a whole new crop of candidates are just itching to assume the mantle of leadership in the Republican Party

Jeb may just grow old wondering what if? . . ” I coulda, I shoulda, I woulda” . . . Oh well Jeb, there’s always your son George the Third, who’s already setting up his own political fiefdom back in the home country,Texas

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While the aforementioned politicians and grand Republican poobahs were standing round the swimming pool in Palm Beach making small talk and quaffing white wine, I was having a great dinner at local hole in the wall Thai Restaurant, MALAKOR

Located two blocks north of the strip of shops and restaurants in the old Northwood Neighborhood of West Palm Beach, MALAKOR was doing a hopping business with locals in the know

I’d never heard of the Cafe before this week, so I didn’t know what to expect . . . And every expectation I might have had was exceeded ten fold, from the charming happy decor, to the attractive and attentive wait staff, to the extensive menu and then of course, the delicious food on offer

I’m not a restaurant critic, so I won’t try to sound pretentious and tell you all about the Northern Thai cuisine, it’s spices and flavors. . it’s enough to say that I had Crispy Duck and my dining companion ordered Coconut Shrimp . . Both dishes were excellent and my pal kept on digging into my duck with her fork after she finished her Shrimp!

I thought I had stumbled onto a real secret find, but almost everyone I’ve told about the restaurant has waved me off with “I’ve been there and it’s one of my favorite spots”!

So I guess I’m late to the MALAKOR world, but you can be sure it’s going to work itself into my regular rotation for dining

By the way, the spot is casual and homey and there is an outdoor cafe in the back which gives you a sense of dining on the beach in Thailand . . . With its own secure parking lot just adjacent, this is a must go-to restaurant if you like great food

And one last thing . . . MALAKOR has a great Sushi Menu as well . . sushi isn’t my thing, so I can’t tell you how good it is, but adjoining diners were ordering Sushi plates by the dozens, so it must be great!

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The Island was crowded with Black Escalades this weekend as Republican Party politicians came to town with their $$$ vacuum cleaners in hand

First up it was New Jersey Governor Chris Christie making an appearance at a cocktail party to raise money for his upcoming re-election campaign. . . Party swells and big check writers gathered round the round Governor, enjoying his quips and barbs as they handed over five figure checks to help the cause…South Ocean Boulevard was chock a block full of blue and white police cars protecting the Governor and his new friends as the moon rose over the Ocean

As soon as Governor Christie swooped back over the Southern Bridge, Florida Senator Marco Rubio dropped into town to do the cocktail party thing at a palatial mansion on South Ocean Boulevard, followed by a more intimate dinner at the Estate Section home of our local Sugar Baron…wink wink, nod nod, the money collected Friday evening is just for the Senator’s re-election fund, not to be confused with a Presidential Campaign in 2016

I’ve got nothing against Governor Christie or Senator Rubio . . . Hell, I might even vote for one or the other if I ever have the chance. . . But something tells me that if these guys didn’t have their professional titles, then both would have had to use the tradesmen entrance at the grand homes they visited this weekend since neither were “to the manor born” . . . But from all outward appearances both are getting pretty comfortable with the ways of the big money crowd!

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I don’t know about you, but The Academy Awards last evening was pretty much a snoozefest in my humble estimation

I saw most of the nominated films this year and I pretty much expected the results as announced, so there wasn’t any sitting at the edge of the sofa in my household

The clusterf**k of the Red Carpet has gotten pretty annoying as its just become a parading fashion show for dress designers and jewelery firms with a rather pathetic rope line of ass kissing interviewers putting on their best breathless pose

I’m willing to put up with all the tomfoolery because our movie business is a huge export to countries around the world and the industry employs tens of thousands of talented craftspeople and has a spillover effect onto many businesses, large and small

So Oscar it is and congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all those who came up empty handed . . Now we can all go back to our day jobs!

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I’m going to give a whinny and a neigh to frozen horse meatballs from Ikea

The horse meat controversy continues to raise its ugly head and swish its angry tail over food processors throughout the Eurozone . . The more we know, the worse it gets . . And it isn’t just the horse meat, which according to some is actually healthier than cow meat

The most serious allegations lodged against the food industry is that the food chain from producer to consumer is rife with false claims and over inflated profits, money laundering and mobster connections . . Porous borders in the EU zone have gutted proper healthful inspections and oversight regulations

Everyone involved in the whole sorry mess are pointing fingers and covering their collective ass . . . Beets, onions and potatoes look awfully good right about now!

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Local best-selling author James Patterson flew over to London to help The Duchess of Cornwall launch a literacy program in England . . Organized by Booktrust, a non profit for which Camilla is the royal Patron, the aim is to encourage more fathers to read aloud bedtime stories to their children . . Or rather to share pleasure reading any time of the day or night

Mr. Patterson read from one of my favorites, “where the wild things are” at yesterday’s photo op launch to a group of young children in a London area library . . . The Duchess mimed some of the dialogue with a hand puppet as well . . I trust she doesn’t entertain Prince Charles this way when they have their occasional evenings alone at St. James Palace!

Kudos to Mr. P for his participation in this worthwhile effort . . Even if the kids don’t grow up to become future readers of his Alex Cross detective novels!

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I’m an early bird most all the time but these days it’s especially nice to rise with the sun for its during the late winter/early spring that we get to hear the over wintered songbirds greet the morning warmth of the sun with thrilling heart felt soliloquies of full throated song

Each morning this week there has been a particular bird outside my bedroom window, singing his or her heart out . . This bird is the first to burst out in song and he/she is joined by a chorus of feathered friends in a symphony of sound . . . The concert only lasts for twenty minutes or so and then I guess the birds are off for breakfast. . . Worms, creepy crawlies and breadcrumbs are the usual fare although I do have a neighbor who offers a banquet of bird seed in three or four feeders

This cluster of birds will most certainly birth their young in these warmer climes before making the long journey north up the East Coast flyway

Thank you birds. . . You are a most welcome start to my day!

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I drove by the OFFICE DEPOT headquarters in Delray last week. . . I never realized that the firm had so much real estate in our part of the world . . . I wondered at that time what all the OFFICE DEPOT management staff do all day long . . Do they think up clever Post It note sayings and have in house competitions to name colors for magic marker ink?

This week’s announcement that OFFICE DEPOT and OFFICE MAX will merge isn’t surprising . . along with STAPLES and big box retailers like Wal Mart, there would seem to be a glut of stores shilling office supplies .. . . Unfortunately this is an industry that is heading into a death spiral . . . Everyone I know is using their IPad or other tablets to manage their office assignments, bypassing the need for staplers, rubber bands, folders and high lighters . . . When was the last time you needed scotch tape? . . Or even a pair of scissors?

We’re going to see a lot of familiar office products disappear from our work spaces and the stores that stock them will face a wave of consolidation . . . Don’t know about you, but I’ve always liked browsing through reams of papers and file folders . . It has always made me feel like I was on the verge of getting my life in order . . And we know where that is right about now!

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