January 27, 2014

Englewood, FL

We had a very pleasant day that included a stop at Sports Authority on the way to my parents’ house.  Monte hung out with Dad while Mom and I did some girl talking and shopping.   It was warm enough to sit outside on the lanai to eat a delicious dinner of pork medallions and rice pilaf. 

January 26, 2014

Pot luck dinner and music trivia debacle in Englewood, FL

I signed us, along with my parents, up for the pot luck music trivia dinner at the clubhouse.

 

 

We had only sat down for a minute when we noticed people making a mad dash for the dessert table. 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been to quite a few pot luck dinners and have never seen the meal begin with dessert.  My Dad and Monte appeared to like the idea as they sampled a few items.

 

 

 

There was an assortment of hot and cold dishes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made the comment that if anyone leaves the dinner still hungry it is their own fault. 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course that was before the tables were called up and our table ended up being the next to last table called.   

 

 

 

 

 

All kidding aside, there really was plenty of food. 

Mom ate some Jello and said it tasted different-

I said, congratulations, you just had your first jello shot. 

My beautiful parents 

After dinner, rules for the music trivia were announced.  Quite a few people left after they ate so a request was made for everyone to fill in the empty places at the tables closer to the front. 

When we moved we ended up with only three other people at the table and, just like us, knew pretty much NOTHING about music.   

One table dominated the game, answering most of the questions.  I made myself feel better about that by noting that they had over twenty people crowded together at their table.

We had a great time.

Still feeling full, after my parents departed, Monte and I took a walk around the park enjoying the balmy weather.

January 25, 2014

A little pizza, a little wine and a Nerf gunfight in Pinellas Park, FL

Monte’s daughter, Jenny, and his two grandsons life in Pinellas Park just an hour and a half drive away but between her moving into a new house and our busy schedules we hadn’t visited with them yet.  So, finally, we set a firm date for us to drive to Jenny’s new house to visit with her and the boys.

Our route took us over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.  We stopped to stretch our legs at the rest area just before the bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

After taking a few pictures, taking time to enjoy the warmer temps, we continued on across the bridge.

We stopped at Walmart for a plant for Jenny

and a bottle of wine.

We had told Jenny we would pick up dinner so our next stop was at Little Caesars for the “not so” ready $5 pizzas. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten minutes later we were on our way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hadn’t seen the boys in a year and a half-my how they have grown.

Bobby, who will be turning 11 years old in March, showed off his game skills,

 

 

 

 

  

  

 

while the little cutie pie Nicholas, who just turned 5 earlier this month, posed for a picture. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He is so cute-every time I aimed the camera at him, he stopped what he was doing, smiled and then said, “Let me see the picture.”

After we had our fill of pizza, the boys (Bobby, Nicholas AND Grandpa) had a Nerf gun battle. 

 

 

Nicholas and I played a game in which every time he went sat next to the plant in the corner, I pretended I couldn’t see him because he was invisible. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenny and Monte 

Jenny, Monte, Bobby & Nicholas 

Three goof balls 

Grandpa and the boys

It had been a wonderful visit but all good things must come to an end and it was time for hugs and goodbye kisses.  See you soon.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

 

January 24, 2014

Englewood, FL

It was another chilly day.  We only ventured out to Walmart to pick up groceries and a couple of gifts to bring with us to Pinellas Park tomorrow when we visit Monte’s daughter and grandsons. 

 

 

  

 

In the afternoon, it had warmed up enough for me to sit outside (bundled up) reading while Monte took apart a dish one of the residents gave him for parts.

In the evening we watched, The Ultimate Life, a sequel to the movie, The Ultimate Gift.  Both movies are feel-good films leaving the viewer smiling.

January 24^th has significance to me because it is my daughter Renee’s birthday.  35 years ago today I welcomed into the world one of the best persons I have ever known.  Now I know I may be a little biased because she is my daughter, but anyone who has met Renee and knows her would agree.  One of her very best qualities is her big heart and her capacity to love unconditionally. 

Renee had a rough start in life being born 6 weeks premature.  Because the hospital she was born in did not have the equipment to handle premature babies, she was transferred to a nearby County Hospital that had an outstanding Neo-natal wing.  The first 48 hours were touch and go and I was told by her doctor that it was literally in Gods’ hand.

 I had to stay in the hospital where I had given birth so I didn’t get to hold my baby.   When I was discharged two days later I went to the hospital where Renee was and was shocked to see how small she was.  The prognosis was not good.  BUT very shortly after I put my hand through the opening in the isolette and took her tiny little hand in mine, her color changed from a pasty grey to pink.   Even though it took a month for her to be well enough to come home, that moment had been the turning point.   Was it timing or miracle? 

Because she had been born early, her lungs had not been fully mature, and as a consequence, she is an asthmatic.  I remember many, many trips to the ER in the middle of the night because she couldn’t breathe and years of driving to the doctor’s office for weekly allergy shots.  But that didn’t stop her from participating in different activities including baseball, soccer, Girl Scouts, dance and ROTC. 

Renee was an absolute sweetie pie as a baby, then a toddler and as a young girl.  We had some typical Mother/Daughter drama when she was a teenager but we got through it. 

My daughter has given me so much joy over the years and eight years ago she doubled that joy by giving me twin granddaughters.  I LOVE YOU RENEE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Picture taken on Renee's Birthday one year ago.

 

 January 23, 2014

Beer, beer and more beer

Englewood, Fl.

We were invited to my parent’s house for dinner.  On the way there we stopped off at Dollar General to pick up a few cases of beer (on sale) for my mom and dad.

 

 

 

We also picked up a few items at Sam’s Club.  When we got back to the car I wondered how we were going to fit everything as we already had two laundry baskets of dirty wash in the back seat, but I shouldn’t have worried because Monte is really good at packing. 

 

 

Ah, the essentials-Mountain Dew

 

 and toilet paper. 

After a delicious dinner of pork stew and buttered noodles, Monte helped Dad with some computer issues he was having while I spent time with Mom.  I sure am going to miss these little impromptu get-togethers when we leave.

January 22, 2014

One persons’ junk is another persons’ treasure.

Englewood, FL

Another cold, but sunny day, in Florida-I stayed in my flannel PJs most of the day but, in the late afternoon when I began feeling like a slug, I got dressed and went for a walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I encountered a few people, some wearing shorts and a tee-shirt---WHAT-it is 50 degrees people!

When I returned home, still feeling like a slug, I dragged Monte with me for a bike ride.  We planned on staying in the park but on the spur of the moment we crossed the busy highway and rode around a small development.  

At the end of the driveway of one of the houses we noticed a trio of tables sitting with the recycling bins. 

We returned later on with the car to retrieve them. 

SCORE.

We also stopped in at the thrift store located next to Big Lots.  Monte bought this device.  We think the original intent is for assistance for someone with a hip injury. 

 

 

Monte will cannibalize it for parts.  He is very good at repurposing things. 

After dinner we settled in, cozily tucked under our lounging blankets in the living room, and watched, Life of Pi.   The website IMDb, describes the movie as, " A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery.  While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger."

 If I were asked to decide whether or not to watch the movie just based on that synopsis, I probably would have chosen not to watch the movie.   And I would have missed out on a beautiful movie with stunning scenes filled with vivid colors.