Super Sunday

After a wonderful church service, we met Sudi and Howard at Europa for breakfast/brunch.  It was good to see them again.  We're going to miss them until we see them again in the fall.  Good friends, good food, good visit!!

I cleaned house this afternoon. We washed sheets, etc. and I even got a bit of a nap.  Dave's got the lanai furniture in the house and we put the insulated boards in the windows and all of the awnings but the front one down.  It's really going to be good sleeping tonight - it'll be really dark in the bedroom. We're getting there!

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HOT, WINDY Saturday

Batten down the hatches - it was definitely windy today.  It's probably a good thing it was windy, though, because it was a hot one!  Dave took the car to Dimmitt Cadillac to have the oil changed and while he was there, they suggested we get new tires.  We had planned to get tires when we get back to Iowa, but we decided that it was pretty silly to drive 1400 miles on tires that need replaced.  So, he priced tires at Dimmitt and at Goodyear and Goodyear won out.  Our SRX now has new "shoes"!

We went to Woody's for lunch.  Pat & Milt are in Florida for a couple of weeks so we met them there.  Other than it being very windy,  it was a nice lunch.  It's always good to see Dave's family.  We'll see them again around the 10th of June...in Indiana.

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Friday

Dave took the car to Dimmitt Cadillac to have the oil changed first thing this morning.  Then since it's our last Friday here for the season, we decided to go to The Legion.  It was a hot one there today.  Thank goodness we were able to have the umbrellas up today.  We sat with Bobbi, Alan, Chris and Wolfy.  Sandy and Rich came a little later. 

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Thursday

Dave had a doctor's appointment this morning.  While he was gone, I went to the pool for the first time this season.  I'm not much of a pool person, but I had the pool all to myself this morning!  I thought the water was way too cold!

When Dave got home, we ran to Walmart for a couple of things and we picked up lunch at Subway.  You see, old Mother Hubbard's cupboard is pretty bare!  We've got some noodles, a can of chili beans, some canned chicken, and a can of green beans left...but we packed them yesterday.  This weekend we're going to have to unpack them!  All of the stuff in our freezer is gone except for some ice cream...so we've got dessert!  Tonight we used our one large potato to make hash browns and we used our last eggs to make scrambled eggs for supper.  That was good! 

I had a pedicure today.  I was past-due needing it.  Something that makes me ponder is when I have my brows waxed, I always start coughing.  What do you suppose causes that?  Unfortunately tonight I'm still coughing and feel like my bronchitis is back.  I just used my inhaler and I'm going to take some cough syrup before I go to bed.  If I still feel like this in the morning, I'll go visit my doctor for some more antibiotics.  Yuck! 

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Wednesday

Today is likely our last Wednesday morning coffee until this fall.  :(  It's sad, but we're ready to go back to Iowa for a few months.  We need some Aidan/Bryan time. 

Dave and I both had dental cleaning this morning.  Then Dave suggested that we go to the water to eat lunch.  I suggested Columbia, and that was where he was thinking.  It was a beautiful day to eat outside. 

This afternoon we started packing some of our food stuff. 

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Tuesday

We're back home in Clearwater...and now the busy begins.  I think we're going to leave on Tuesday if the weather up north cooperates.  So we've got a week to get in our dentist appointments, pack, clean, etc.  Sounds like fun!!

Monday

Everyone of the family went back  to work/school today, so we were on our own.  We started our day at Lester's Diner for breakfast/lunch.  Mmmm good!  Eggs, bacon, hash browns, pancakes...great food.  Then we drove down A1A to see the pretty beaches.  It was so calm today that there wasn't even a breaker in sight.  Beautiful sights!

After a short nap, we went to Jami's for Dave's final daddy-do jobs and dinner.  It's always sad to say goodbye to Jami and her family.  :(  We'll see them again in November!

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Sat & Sun

We've had a couple of good but busy days and nights.  Yesterday we were at Jami's all day.  Dave and Jami did daddy-do things while the kids entertained me.  We came home about 8:00.  Not home, but back to our timeshare.  Then today didn't start until about noon, but it was more of the same.  Dave & Jami working, Megan & Danny in the pool (even though it was pouring down rain!), Kelly was working on community service hours, and Grandma was reading!  Since today was Tom's birthday, we went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner.  Fun times!

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Friday

It was a beautiful day for a drive across the state of Florida.  It was hot and windy, though, so didn't see much wildlife.  We saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes and their 2 colts and numerous vultures...but that's it.  It was so windy that even the grackles were having a hard time staying upright!  They walked around with their tails out at an angle for balance.

Our first evening ritual here is to go to Sweet Tomatoes for supper.  Tom & Jami's friend, Monsignor Tom joined us too.  It's always good to see him.

Our timeshare is beautiful and very quiet.  We're in an end unit which cuts down on hall noise!

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Fun Day

Since it was Thursday, I got to sleep in this morning...until 7:15.  But the most fun is that I don't have to get dressed for the day until 10 or so!  I love that! 

We had a Red Hat lunch today...at The Legion for Taco Thursday.  Their tacos are good...they're not really Mexican tasting, but good anyway.  You get 3 of them with a helping of yellow rice for $7.00.  It was a gorgeous day to sit out by the water and enjoy good conversation with a dozen ladies sporting red hats and purple and red clothing! 

This afternoon, I took a little nap and finished a book...in reverse order!  Then this evening, we're packing to go to Ft Lauderdale.  We'll leave in the morning and be back home on Tuesday.  It'll be good to see Jami and the kids one more time before we leave for the summer.

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Whew it's hot!

It was a hot, sticky one here today.  I'm pretty sure the feels like temperature was at least 90.  It didn't stop us, though.  We just powered through!

We went up to the clubhouse to help move out some "stuff" first thing.  After we got that all cleaned up, we went shopping at Bealls and ran some errands.  I wonder when Bealls is going to get their shorts/summer clothes in!  Seems to me that it's time.  I'm also wondering why Dept 222 clothes are so see-through.  I love some of their clothes, but I'm not going to wear a camisole or something to that effect under the shirts just to keep them from being so see-through.  Therefore, I didn't buy any of their brand.  Too bad for them.

This afternoon was even more purging at the clubhouse.  We threw out "stuff" that had expiration dates of 2012!!  Why would people keep that stuff so long?

Bingo tonight was rather chaotic.  I won $14, but I'm having trouble with everyone talking constantly and the caller yelling into the microphone!  I have to come home to unwind before it's bedtime!  Grrr..........

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Manic Monday

First of all, what in the heck is happening to our Cubs?  Where is this team that was together in the pre-season?  That's my first maniacal thought.  My second maniacal thought is why did I ever go to play cards tonight.  I could swear there was a full moon or something.  If I were a drinking person, I'd be hitting the bottle pretty darn hard about now.  There were 10 of us and I played at the same table with Chris, Debbie, and Millie.  We only got 3 games in...it took forever!  Way too much down time for me - talking, trying to figure out what to play, etc.  Grrr...........  I love playing cards, but not like that.  I'm pretty much wound up tighter than a drum.  Hope I calm down before bedtime.

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Easter Sunday

Fabulous service this morning at church!!  Then we joined about 35 friends at Sand Key for Easter dinner and communing with nature.  It was hot, but breezy, so it was good sitting out!  Great day, great food, and great friends!

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Saturday before Easter

It was another gorgeous day here and must have been a nice one in Iowa too.  Kyle put a video on facebook showing Blaise jumping in puddles in shorts no less. 

We didn't do much today.   Dave took a long nap, but I didn't take one at all.  I actually slept really well last night.  This evening we had our last massages of the season.  The next ones we have will be in Waterloo.  When we got home, Dave helped me make up a hash brown casserole to take to the beach tomorrow for Easter on the Beach.  We'll go to regular church and use the oven's time bake feature to cook the potatoes while we're gone.  Then when church is over, we'll come home, change clothes and head to Sand Key for fun in the sun with our friends and neighbors!

More later..

PS:  That darn baby giraffe finally got here this morning.  He's a cutie!

Friday

Another beautiful day here!  We decided we'd better go to Sawgrass to see the anhinga chicks before they fledged and left their nests.  We had a great day seeing them.  The biggest ones numbered 4.  As you can see they're big, but their wings are just little bitty.  I think it'll be a little while before they can fly.  When they get ready, they want to be good, because there's usually a rather large alligator under their nest. 

The nest on the other side has 3 much smaller chicks...anyway that's what I counted.  We can't see them as well.

Fun Friday.  My team even won at cards tonight - by 7,000 points!

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Dave's birthday

Dave did his thing with the lawn crew at church today...from about 6:30 until 10:30.  Then we got ready for the rest of his special day.  After we did a little shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond, we headed out to John's Pass to meet Sudi & Howard for lunch.  We sat outside near the water and we got entertained!  There was a manatee and numerous dolphins, and LOTS of boats!  Plus then entertainment at Gators was really good...but a bit loud! 

We came home and took short naps, then picked up Don & Pat to go to Maundy Thursday services at church.  It was a very beautiful, solemn service with communion.  They had a 45 member choir and a 17 member orchestra, plus 2 pastors.  True meaning of the Holy Season.

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Weds

Small group today at coffee, but a few more came for the meeting a bit later.  This was our last meeting of the season.  The Board doesn't meet from May until November (maybe October...I guess I'd better find that out!)

I felt better today.  My cough is back tonight, but it's time for some more of that wonderful cough syrup. 

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Tuesday

I went to the doctor today - I have bronchitis.  So I have prednisone, a z-pack, and cough syrup with codeine...fun, fun, fun.  I plan to be better even tomorrow.  Hope that works!

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Monday

My goodness...what a beautiful day we had today...and what a beautiful evening, too.  The moon is just gorgeous!  I'm watching the Cubs game which is being played in Chicago.  The fans are freezing.  They can see their breath!!  I'm not ready to go home yet.

I feel a little better today but still have that darn noisy cough.  Wish it would go away.

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Sunday

Church was good as usual.  Jeremy did the sermon today.  I like it better when Jack preaches, though.  We went to JDs for breakfast after church...yum.  This cold or allergies or whatever is starting to get me down, so I went to bed for a couple of hours.  I am not so tired now, but I may have to go to the doctor to get some medicine.  Maybe I'll feel all better in the morning. 

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Saturday

We took the day off.  Dave got up late.  Unfortunately I was up at 3:30.  I kept coughing and I didn't want to waken Dave.  So I came out to my chair where he wouldn't hear my cough so badly.  I tried to go back to bed around 7:30, but it didn't work.  Instead I took an hour nap this afternoon.  I've still got my cough so I'm afraid I'll be in my chair again tonight.

Bob's made it to Dyersburg, TN.  Said it took an extra hour from Montgomery to Birmingham.  I'd like to find a way around that area.  Wonder if I can??

Now we're watching the Cubs!

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Friday

Man, was it ever windy again today!  We went to Sawgrass to see if we could see the baby anhingas.  Mommas (or papas??) were on the nests and holding on for dear life!  I didn't get to check our pictures yet - too busy! 

After that, we went to the Legion for lunch.  We made sure that we could get at a table with Bobbi and her family.  There were even whitecaps on the intercoastal!

Then we went to John's Pass to see Dave's cousin, Mark.  Today is his birthday and they're leaving for Georgia tonight so it was fun to spend some time with them.  After Bob & Ann got home from golfing, we spent some time with them.  Ann and I played cards, then we told them goodbye.  They leave in the morning. 

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W & Th

Yesterday and today were both slow days.  Most of the activities are done for the year, except for bingo and 7s from Hell.  We will have another breakfast and Easter on the Beach, but that's it.  People are packing up to go home.  Bob's and Gary's leave Saturday morning, as does Toni across the street.  Others are leaving next week.  It'll be pretty quiet around here...a ghost park!

Dave and I are having allergy issues, and mine has turned into a big deep cough.  Last night I went to bed early, only to be awakened by a thunderstorm and lots of rain.  We needed it, big time.  Tonight I'm watching baseball - the Blue Jays at Tampa Bay.  The Rays are about to lose.  I got to watch a Cub win this afternoon, though.  Yay!

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Outing to the Zoo

Dave suggested we go to Tampa to the Lowry Park Zoo.  So after he did his exercises and we had our breakfast, we took off for the zoo.  It was a hot one, but we enjoyed our outing.  Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from today.

We took a lot of pictures and got some good ones!  There were lots of little screaming kids there today and I don't think the animals liked the screaming very well.  Some of them appeared to be agitated.

Tonight I was the big winner at bingo!  Yay!  I hadn't won for 7 weeks so I really needed to win!

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Monday

We had a leisurely morning around here.  Neither of us got up until close to 8.  Dave suggested we go to the Celery Fields and then to see Roberta before she heads back up North.  It was certainly hot at the Celery Fields - our car said it was 90.  They said that Clearwater set a new record high today at 91.  We saw very few birds, but we did see baby limpkins and that was a treat! 

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Sunday

Church was good this morning.  We had communion after a good sermon.  Then we went to the water to eat.  We ended up at The Hut...Scully's waterfront pub/grill.  It was nice, but the chairs are too low to see the water.  Until they get high tables and high chairs, we'll not be eating there.  Our waiter said they were working on that.  It was good food, though!

Now I'm watching the Cubs game.  I'm so glad that Cubs baseball is back! 

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April Fools Day!

I didn't sleep much last night.  Bob fell over his footstool and hit the concrete...with his face!  I was outside when he did it, so I went running over, barefoot and all.  He broke his glasses and scraped his face up pretty good, but he was able to get his glasses fixed today so he's feeling better.  Thank you, Lord!

Dave and I went to Sawgrass today.  We saw lots of critters and had a beautiful day.  We picked up Subways on the way home and ate on the lanai.  Then it was nap-thirty!! 

More later...