Friday

It drizzled off and on all day today.  I didn't do much today,  but I'm definitely feeling much better.  I've still got quite a cough.  I did go get some groceries...and  Subways for lunch!  That was good!  I only ate half of mine!

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Thursday

I stayed home again today.  I am feeling better, but my sinuses still hurt and I've got a cough!  Late this afternoon, though, Dave and I walked a shortened version  of our walk.  It felt good to get out and get some fresh air!  The cough syrup and the Tylenol worked wonders.  I slept very well last night.  I'll be doing the same tonight. 

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Wednesday

I didn't sleep much last night.  I fell asleep about 11:15 or so and awoke around 1:45.  That was it.  No more.  I tried and tried, but couldn't fall asleep.  Even tried to take a nap around noon - that didn't work either!  My sinuses are killing me!

Needless to say, I didn't do much today.  Tonight I'm taking 2 extra strength Tylenol and some cough syrup with codeine!  Hope I'm better tomorrow!

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Bowling Day

We had 12 of us at bowling today.  It was a fun time!  After bowling, we had lunch at Roosterfish Grill.  Good food!!

When we got home, Dave said it was nap-thirty, but that didn't work.  I read instead.  Then about 5:00 I felt like I was getting a cold.  I went to bed and woke up about 6:30.  I sure hope I sleep tonight!  My gums are still pretty raw...I think that's messing with me!  Hopefully they'll be better tomorrow.

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Sunday and Monday

I didn't realize that I didn't post last night.  Sorry.  Next month there'll be several times I don't post because we're having company!!  I hate to be on the computer when we have people staying with us! 

Yesterday we went to church, of course.  Then to Sam's for  some shopping. We had to get home, though, because we were having a ladder golf tournament at 1:00.  Dave played in the tourney and I was an official scorekeeper!  About 3:30 or so we crowned our champion - our friend, Gayle!  She did an awesome job!  Lunch was hot dogs, chips, salad and desserts - $1.00! 

This morning we had shuffleboard.  After I shuffled, I went to have a pedicure...I was due! 

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Saturday

Dave and I both slept in this morning!  Felt good not to have anything we had to do today!  After showers and breakfast, we went to Largo Nature Park to do our walking.  It was a good day - saw 3 yellow crowned night herons, a little blue heron, and a pair of limpkins.  Then we were entertained by anhingas fishing for food.  We're easily entertained!!

This afternoon I went to Walmart for groceries while Dave washed part of the lanai windows.  Then one of his workmates from DuPont and his wife stopped by.  Hadn't seen him for about 14 years!  Good visit!

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Friday

I went to WW to weigh in this morning.  I was ok by .4 of a pound - whew!!  I need to be more careful next month!!

After we got back from WW, John, Gayle, Dave and I went to see the manatees in Apollo Beach.  There were about 700 manatees in there today.  You could see them pretty well today!  Since there were so many of them, they were close to the surface.  We also saw flying sting rays!  They would just leap out of the water almost straight up.  Quite a sight. 

After we got our fill of the manatees, we went to lunch at Circles in Apollo Beach.  Wonderful food!!  Good scenery, too!

This is a papaya tree...so pretty!

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Thursday

I love prunes!  Don't know if you know that about me, but even as a child I loved prunes!  So this morning for breakfast I bit into one...that had a pit in it...grrr!  Unfortunately it popped one of my crowns off.  Finished eating breakfast and called the dentist's office.  I already had an appointment for a new crown on the tooth directly behind the one with the missing crown.  I could get in to see Dr Millan at 1:50. 

We went to Largo Nature Park and took our new neighbors.  Saw some birds, but no alligators.  Got a nice walk in, though.  Then back home to await my 1:30 departure for the dentist's office.  I got there and she told me that I really needed a new crown instead of her replacing the old one.  Great...just great!  One bright ray of sunshine. Since she already had me numbed up, she did both crown preps and now I don't have to go back on Wednesday.  I'm already done!  Yay!!  Unfortunately it cost me double!! 

I didn't get home until about 4:30.  My mouth is no longer numb and doesn't hurt at least. 

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Wednesday

We had another cold day here.  It was very cold walking up to the clubhouse for coffee hour today.  It was warm in the clubhouse, though. 

We spent the day on the phone.  My dentist's office called to ask about my insurance since I'm doing a crown prep on Wednesday.  I told them I have Delta Dental, but they said they called them and I'm not enrolled.  So I spent over an hour on the phone with VIA Benefits (DuPont's benefits company) trying to speak to a DD rep.  I was assured that I do have coverage and they gave me a policy number different from the one I had.  In the meantime, the dentist's office called Dave's phone and left a message that they called DD again and I do have coverage.  So I spent an hour on the phone for nothing!

This afternoon, Dave and I had a video call with our financial advisor - another hour and a half on the phone with him!  At least we didn't have to hold the phone to our ears - video calls are pretty neat!

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Tuesday

Dang, it's cold here!  It was 50 with a strong north wind.  We are having wind chills in Florida!  Tonight may get down to freezing.  I sure hope not! 

Bowling was fun.  Bob bet me a quarter each frame that I wouldn't get a mark.  At the end  of 3 games, we ended up even...no one owed anyone a quarter.  Pretty amazing!!  The  group went to the Dugout for lunch.  That restaurant seems to be everyone's favorite.

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Monday

It was 47 this morning, so no shuffleboard at The Ranch.  We waited all day for the man who washes our mobiles to come do his thing.  He was to be here between 9:00 and 3:00.  He got here about 3:00!!  Dave and I did take time to do our walk while we were waiting!!  He was still working on our place when I went to bingo at 5:00.  Good thing he doesn't get paid by the hour!

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Sunday

We had a wonderful church service today where Pastor Richard talked about love.  He related that we were supposed to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves.  If all of that is true, and I believe it is and is the great commandment, then how do people not love people who are different from themselves?  People who are gay, who have a different color skin than they have, etc.??  Food for thought for those who condemn others.

After church we ran errands.  We went to the flea market, then to Sam's, and finally to Walmart.  Definitely got our walk in today!  This evening we watched Kansas City win their football game and San Francisco win theirs!!  Should be a fun Superbowl!

We also did a video chat with the little grandchildren.  Kaitlyn and Aidan were both excited to see us tonight!  Fun!!

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Saturday

Our house sure smelled good today.  I made vegetable kielbasa soup for tonight's soup and sandwich supper.  I used chicken broth, diced tomatoes with mild chilies, carrots, celery, onion, and kielbasa.  It turned out to be really good!  Can't wait to have another bowl tomorrow.  I think we had 18 or more soups to choose from tonight!  Fun times with 60+ friends!

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Friday

We took our walk today in the Botanical Gardens.  Beautiful day!!  When we got done there, we went to Sam's Club and then home.  When we got home, I got Dave to help cut up vegetables and I made soup for tomorrow night's soup and sandwich night.

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Thursday

Yay!  Dave went to church this morning to do lawn care, which meant I got to sleep in and take my time getting going!  I had a great morning!!

When he got home and after we ate lunch, we went to Largo Nature Park for our walk.  There weren't any otters today, darn it, but there was a limpkin that had been injured.  I sure hope it made it.  One of it's legs was bright red like it was bloody and it was limping a bit...a limping limpkin!  It's partner kept calling it, but it didn't try to fly while we were there.  Probably got caught by the alligator that hangs out there.

Tonight we went with John & Gayle to Treasure Island to Caddy's to eat dinner and watch the sunset.  It was beautiful.  We had such a good time!

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Wednesday

Pretty quiet day on the homefront.  After coffee this morning, I worked on paperwork.  Now that I've got part of it done, I need to file all of the paperwork...one of my least favorite jobs!  Always was, always will be.  Dave helped Bob again so I had to take my walk alone. 

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Tuesday

I went to the bank to change the HOA accounts this morning.  We were there over an hour before we got in to see a personal banker.  Then we were in her office over an hour getting everything updated!!  Needless to say, it wasn't the way I wanted to spend a morning! 

This afternoon I finished a book while Dave  helped Bob with a project.  Then tonight we had cake for a friend's 90th birthday.  She and 15 others of us played cards after.  Fun evening except my team got absolutely clobbered!!

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Monday

Shuffleboard today - I won one and lost one today.  I had beaten Connie twice last week, and this week she clobbered me!  I let her get ahead too far early - she scored 3 of her 4 pucks in one frame...grrr!  Oh well, there's always another day!

After shuffling, Dave wanted to go to Largo Nature Park for our walk.  I'm so glad we did.  We finally saw river otters at the park!  Others have seen them and gotten pictures, but we'd never seen them at all.  There were 3 of them swimming in the stream.  One just stopped and looked at us as the other two went downstream.  Fun!!  Then when we were leaving the park, another one went running across the grass.  Unfortunately we didn't have a camera out to get him. 

I finally got to bingo tonight.  I won $23.  I hadn't won for 3 weeks, though, so I'm way behind!

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Sunday

You know how sometimes you go to church and you feel like the pastor is talking directly to you and to no one else?  Well, that happened to me today.  Our sermon was based on Matthew 16:18 which says something like, "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church..."  Pastor related a story which happened to him yesterday.  A bolt on his brand new chainsaw broke and he tried to get a replacement bolt from Home Depot.  He saw 7 different people in the course of his trying to get either a replacement bolt or a replacement chain saw.  Finally, on his last trip to Home Depot, he remembered this Bible verse and his sermon for today.  Since he was extremely frustrated with the situation, he could have acted like a horse's rear-end, but upon remembering that Jesus told Peter that he was the rock upon which he would build the church, Pastor changed his attitude to a loving, patient, Christian one and walked out with a new chainsaw.  I need to remember that we are "Peter" in this verse.  We may be the only face of a Christian anyone sees today or any day!!  Good sermon, Pastor Jack!

After church we met Sudi and Howard for lunch.  Good food and good friends - doesn't get any better than that!  Then off to Sam's Club and home.  This afternoon late, we took our walk.  Good day today!

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Saturday

Today we had our organizational meeting with the new board of directors.  I am President for 2020...joy, joy!  I'm not happy with the way the officers turned out, but I'll make do.  That didn't take us too long and then we adjourned until the next meeting in February. 

I was a slug for most of the afternoon.  I have been watching YouTube videos showing techniques for using alcohol ink, watercolor paints and  acrylic pours.  If you like art, color, or abstract shapes, you'd love these videos.  They all look like so much fun.  I'm going to have to try some of these ideas when I get back to Iowa.  I can use them as backgrounds for cards.  I won't get into the acrylic pours, although I'd love to try it sometime. 

I got tired of sitting around while Dave worked with Bob, so I grabbed my walking stick and went for my walk.  I didn't think I'd make it -- thought I'd stop early, but I kept on going and got my entire walk in.  Then I came back and baked cookies since Dave told me last night that his cookie container was empty!!

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Friday

It was an absolutely beautiful day here.  Pretty near to perfect in my opinion!  Dave had a crown removed this morning.  He has a temporary crown now, waiting for his new one to be made.  I have to have a new crown, but I've been putting it off.  Now that he's done, I'll get my appointment made.

This afternoon, we went to get a few groceries and when we returned we took our walk.  Tonight 14 of us played cards.  When I got home, I tried to get Dave to call Bryan so we could see Aidan and Kaitlyn.  He said we'd call tomorrow night.  Just then my phone rang and it was Bryan doing a video call.  When I answered, there was Kaitlyn just smiling and waving!  She kept blowing us kisses...I think she misses us!  Aidan just wants to play with the "faces" that are on the Messenger video chats!  So we make him talk to us first, then we "make faces" the rest of the time.

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Thursday

We went to Bradenton today to see Dave's sister and her hubby.  After meeting them at their condo and chatting for a while, we all went to lunch at Sandbar...a nice restaurant on Anna Maria Island.  What a lovely view!

We didn't get home until about 4:30 or so.  Tonight I watched Jeopardy again.  What minds those three gentlemen have!  I am just in awe. 

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Wednesday

Made it through today's events!  Today was our HOA  annual meeting, which I presided at.  We had 52 households represented...the most at a meeting since we've been here.  They voted on three new board members and they chose the ones I'd hoped to work with next year.  The problem is, one of the guys wasn't there to get installed...and by the time the meeting was over, the other guy was gone so we didn't get to vote for officers.  Plan to get that done this week.

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Tuesday

Loser is my middle name!  My bowling wasn't very good today and my partner and I got beat in the last hand tonight at cards.  I guess someone has to lose, but why can't it be someone else every once in a while!?!

It was a pretty day here, though...a little chilly, but not too bad!

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Monday

Busy day today.  First we shuffled - there were 13 of us!  That was fun!  I played Connie both games...and I beat her both games.  Both games I was ahead, then she passed me, then I won in the last frame with two pretty spectacular shots (if I do say so myself!)  It was a pretty day here - thought it would be cold, but we were out of the wind shuffling, so it was nice.

After a quick bite of lunch, we had our January board meeting.  Then tonight bingo, where I'm the biggest loser again! 

Dave came in telling me that there was a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral that we might be able to see.  Sure enough - it was a pretty big red streak in the Eastern sky.  He took a couple of pictures with his phone, but they weren't clear.  We did see it, though.  Very cool!!

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Sunday

Chilly day today.  Church was great.  Pastor Jack talked about religion as opposed to church.  Very interesting.  After church we finally made it to Sam's Club. 

The rest of our day was pretty uneventful.  This week is going to be a bit chaotic, so it's a good thing we are rested up!

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Saturday

We went to the flea market this morning to do our walk and to get a couple of things we needed.  Thought we'd get there, do our thing, and leave before it started raining.  We almost made it.  It was sprinkling on us when we left.  By the time we got the two blocks out to Belcher, it was pouring!!  We were going to Sam's afterwards, but no way were we walking in that deluge!  So we came home.

This evening we picked Bob and Ann up from the airport and ate a late dinner with them at Cheddars.  Glad they're back!

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Another Day, Another Adventure

Today we packed a lunch and went on another adventure.  We went to Raymond Neri Nature Park for our walk.  It was not a very exciting walk.  I didn't feel very comfortable walking there.  It was a long trail, but we were pretty isolated and the area surrounding the park wasn't the nicest neighborhood.  The lake was surrounded with 6 foot high fence so it was hard to see anything.  We finally saw some Ibis on the fence and there were some birds near the water, but too far away to get any pictures.  We won't be going back there.  When we were done there, we went to Sawgrass where we felt comfortable having our picnic.  We walked out to the observation tower and back so today we got in 3 miles!!

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Fun Thursday

Dave didn't have to do church lawn care today so we went exploring instead.  We went to Hammock Park in Dunedin to do our walk.  It was a beautiful park, but nothing in the way of wildlife.  Regardless we got our walk in in a pretty setting. 

We weren't done exploring yet, though.  After our walk, we went to Whimzeyland in Safety Harbor.  It's been on my to-do list for several years!  It was very interesting, to say the least!  Lots of bowling balls and lots of art!!  Crazy place!

Fun place to see!

Now, we're searching for lunch so we head to the water in Safety Harbor.  We got a little waylaid because we walked out on the pier and watched some manatees frolicking nearby.  We saw dolphins, too, but didn't get any pictures of them!

We finally ate lunch at Bar Fly across from the Spa in Safety Harbor where the food was good, but we sat near a boor who spoke half Spanish and half English...and spoke it all loudly!!  We were pretty sick of him by the time we were done!!

It was a fun day adventure!!

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Happy New Year!!

Remember when Y2K was such a big deal?  We're already at 2020 - my goodness, time sure flies!  I read last night after we went to bed.  People everywhere were shooting off fireworks so I wasn't able to sleep, so I just read instead. 

This morning, we had our Red Hatters' Brunch at the clubhouse.  We had 44 or so people there...good crowd!  Great food.  The egg dishes were good, plus there was fresh fruit and lots of other goodies. 

Good job, ladies!

After we finished brunch and had cleaned up, several people stuck around to help empty out the kitchen.  We're supposed to be getting new cabinets starting tomorrow.  We'll see.  I'm not holding my breath!

Dave and I took our walk this afternoon and then 6 of us ladies played cards tonight.  Fun day!  Happy 2020!!

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