Urgent Care

My right knee has been painful and I decided it should be looked at.  So, Terry and I went over to our local Urgent Care facility.

I was thinking- fluid on the knee, which I had experienced a number of years ago.

However, not that simple,  the doctor said a possible torn meniscus.  After a wait, I was seen by the doctor, received a diagnosis, a shot in the butt for pain and given two prescriptions.

When we left the facility we were famished.  We went to Bonefish for lunch.  They are experimenting with being open for lunch.  Hope they are experimenting at home too. My bang-bang shrimp and corn chowder soup were yummy.  Terry had cocoanut shrimp and a salad.

Walmart, near the house, would not have either prescription until Tuesday.  Walmart on 441/27 did have one prescription,the steroid, which I am to take for 12 days.

Walgreens has the Celebrex, I ordered it and went to pick it up and they were closed.

So, tomorrow we will start both medications.

In two weeks if not better the doctor recommends an MRI.  Surgery, if MRI indicates it has not healed on its own.

I'll wait until I'm home for all of that.

Wear tie shoes - so much for my pretty sandals for the next few weeks.

We are reading after a full medical day.

Nurse Terry is taking good care of me and kids have been in touch.

Quiet Day

Terry and I both worked all morning.

After lunch Terry said she needed retail therapy!  I'm not sure who she is or what she has done with my sister.

But, I did go shopping with this imposter.

We went to Walmart for a few things on our list and then to Beall's Outlet.  Nothing too exciting to report.

We recycled our newspapers at the Temple.  The papers really pile up fast.

Went to the postal station.  Terry's mail was in our box but mine was in a box only reachable by the jolly green giant.

A giant appeared and Terry recruited him.  His wife was in a golf cart, probably wondering who is this woman propositioning my husband in broad day light.

We came home and finished the salmon, potatoes, cranberry (Ethel, your reminder duties have ended- thanks for your service) and also finished the key lime pie.

We need to only have pine floats for a few days.  For those of you who are too young to know what is a pine float - here's the definition - a glass of water with a toothpick in it.

We both opened mail and Terry (or the person pretending to be Terry) is watching Shark Tank.

I don't see a support group for those recovering from the Shark Tank addiction.   

I don't see a support group for family either.  Maybe I'll have to start one.

Nice Day With Cousins

We picked up Betty and Bill at the Holiday Inn Express and drove to the Eisenhower Regional Center so they could see the amazing military exhibits there. 

We were lucky as not much was going on there and they were able to go into each room.

From there we drove to Brownwood Town Square and ate at McAllisters Deli which just opened.  You stand in line and order and then get a number to put on your table and they bring you your food.

We walked around so they could see the new things at Brownwood since they were here two years ago.

We took them to the original area of the Villages.  That area is now called the historic area.  We then took them back to their hotel so Betty could rest.  We went home and rested too and read.

We picked them up again at 5:30 and headed to Dinner at Ruby Thai.  We all enjoyed our meals.  We then walked around admiring the wares of the vendors at Sumter.  I bought a small purse organizer for the purse I'm using here.  We then hit the stores.  Bill did well at Van Husen and Betty got her telephone fixed at the ATT store.

We went to Hallmark as Terry's boss asked her to buy some cards for some staff members and send them to her.  The boss, is Mindy!  She's too busy to shop for cards, especially since Miranda was home from school AGAIN and this is a very busy time for their company.

In fact, Terry is working as I write this.

I'm behind in reading the newspaper so will try to catch up before going back to my book.

Cousins from Philly

We worked most of the morning on our respective businesses and then did some mutual legal work.

After eating our Chinese left overs for lunch, we headed to Publix for dinner makings.

I participated in a NSBAR contract committee meeting by telephone.

Ethel (minus Steve who went home for a few days) and our Philly cousins Betty and Bill came for dinner.

Terry made an excellent salmon dinner.  I generally don't eat fish but the bourbon salmon was excellent.

Betty's great grandmother and our maternal grandfather were sister and brother.

Betty is making bracelets and gave us each one.  She hopes to sell them for a charity for Multiple System Atrophy.  She has a friend who is suffering from this.

Here's the one I selected.

Here's the one that Terry selected.

Ethel's looks similar to mine and she made a nice donation to the charity. 

Yakov Smirnoff

Today was in the 60's and Terry and I were both working on our computers.

Terry was still at it when I left to get a pedicure.

When I got back we had lunch and watched the weather out east.  Looks as if storm Juno did not do much in Philly or New York City.  We are hoping that our cousins will get out of Philly tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

We napped and I really slept for a couple of hours.

It was then time to change clothes and go to Savannah Center to see Yakov Sminorff at the 5 pm performance.

He was on the stage alone and used a Power Point every once in a while.  Wish I could remember some of his jokes.

We then went to Cheng's for dinner.  We thought we'd go to Bonefish but there wasn't any parking in their lot.

Terry is watching TV In the den.  I don't have to tell you what she is watching!

Windy Day

We never left the house as we were both working a good part of the day and there was a wind advisory.

Talked to some Sisterhood friends who have been ill to check up on them.  They both appear to be doing better.

Ate lunch listening to New York City's Mayor as the city prepared for a major storm.

Our cousins are supposed to be flying out of Philly Wednesday to come to Florida.  Hopefully, that will happen.

Ethel and Steve came over for leftovers.  And, for you following the cranberry story, yes, we remembered to serve them tonight.  

Steve leaves to go back to Chicago for a few days.  Hope storms out East do not affect his travel.

We had an early dinner since Ethel had a conference call with Sisterhood's Nominating Committee and I had a Township meeting that I attended via Google Hangout.

Terry watched Shark Tank while I was in my meeting.  Ok, admit it, that was not a surprise.

I finally had time to read the newspaper.   What little reading time I've had, Is spent reading Noon at Tiffany.  I'm really enjoying the book on my Nook app on my I-Pad and I-phone.

Cousins and Friends

We were up early in order to leave for Orlando to meet our cousin Steve and his girlfriend Christine.  They were on their way home from a cruise.

We met them at the Avis return, at the airport, and put their bags in our car.

We thought we'd go to Cracker Barrel, but it was too crowded so we went to Panera.  Even though it was a Sunday, they had my favorite soup-chicken and wild rice!

I should have taken off my coat for the photo.

We dropped them off at the airport and drove home.

Reading the book about Tiffany that our friend Diane recommended.  Really enjoying it.

We then went to Wildwood and a newer Italian restaurant, Chefs of Napoli.  We met friends, Barb and Bernie, for dinner. Food was good.  Busy place in a strip center on Hwy 301.

Going to try to finish the Sunday paper before calling it a night.

Saturday- Cool Day

Forgot to write the blog last night!  Too much wine!

We both worked all morning and then went out to run some errands.

Went to Chase Bank for some money (no samples) had to take the money out of my account.

Got gas (barely $2) and a few things at the grocery store.

Our friends Diane and Tom and Joyce and Jim came over for dinner.  Terry made chicken roll ups and they were delicious.  She forgot to serve the cranberry along side it.

We celebrated Diane and Tom's 53rd anniversary!  They claim the second 50 is the hardest.

Played the card game Golf.  I lost big time.  Terry won - Jim had been ahead until the last game when Terry squeaked ahead by one point.

Called Ethel and Steve and they will come for leftovers on Monday.  Ethel has an 8 pm conference call with Sisterhood's Nominating Committee and I have two conference calls with Township starting at 7:30.

Ethel if you are reading this - its your job on Monday to remind us to serve the cranberries,

Marilyn Gets Beautiful

I went to the beauty shop while Terry did some work.  I don't know about the beautiful part - she did the best she could with what she had to work with!

I brought home Five Guys cheeseburgers and fries.  I put the bag on the passenger seat and turned on the heated seat to keep it warm.

We ate our lunch and rested.  I got an email from the post office that my mail was delivered.  Terry was still trying to get a tracking number from the Des Plaines Post Office.  When I went to the mailbox,  there was a key for one of the larger boxes and BOTH of us had priority mail in the box.  Terry's last name was misspelled on her package!

We both opened mail and worked.  Had some crackers and cheese, changed clothes and went to a play put on by Village residents.  Some of the actors have professional experience.

We ran into the recreation center in the rain.  We enjoyed the evening.

The set is a tea room.

Terry gets beautiful

Terry went to the beauty shop today, while I ran some errands.  I go tomorrow. 

 Generally, we go together, but some misinformed receptionist told Terry that my stylist only works on Friday.  In fact my stylist works three days a week.

Before she was done, I sat outside on a bench outside of Kohl's talking with one of my on-line students.  Not everyone should take an on-line course.

Terry and I met at The Brooklyn Water Bagel restaurant for an egg-salad sandwich.

Sat outside to eat and it was beautiful!

Went to Aldi and Walmart for some things for our company on Saturday night.

Came home and Terry was working. I was testing our Google Hangout with the Township on both my laptop and tablet.

We still cannot get the sound right on either.  So, I'll call in and we'll use just the video on Google Hangout

Did some reading and Terry watched some Shark Tank.

Pancakes and Shoes

We both worked in the morning.  I was on a conference call with the AIREE Board of Directors into early afternoon.

We were both hungry and decided to go to IHOP for all you can eat pancakes, which they have been advertising and we had a little money left on a gift card.

The all you can eat pancakes consists of five nice sized pancakes.

Terry ordered a side of bacon with her pancakes.  As we were finishing, the waitress asked if we wanted more pancakes.  One of us said yes and got two more pancakes.  I won't say which of us ordered more, but the initials are TGS.

I had drafted a legal document in connection with a mortgage that Terry and I had funded.  The attorney just wanted us to add notarization to the document, so we went back to the house so I could do that.  We then went to Bank of America to get our signatures notarized.  We then wanted to overnight it.  Too late for that at the post office closest to us.  Went over to the main post office in Lady Lake and got it sent.

The on-going gym shoe story.  Remember how happy I was yesterday?  Well today, I put on the socks I normally wear with gym shoes and the shoes were not comfortable as I walked around.  OK, they did have another style- we'll just get those.  Back we went to the story.  The other pair had been sent back to their sister store.  Their sister store is a few blocks away.

This time I brought the socks with me.  Tried on the other pair - ouch!  Tried on some other shoes in different sizes - nothing.

Looked at Kohl's - nothing!  Went to Payless and really nothing in my size.  Until Terry said "try on children's shoes in 4 or 4 1/2."  What do you know, I found a pair with some arch support that fit.

I'll walk around in them tomorrow at home.  Stay tuned,

We talked to our landlord about next year and are sending him a deposit.

I'm working and Terry is in the den.  Guess what she is watching.

Skokie South

Had a nice lunch with Skokie friends - Bobbi and Herb.  We went to Amelia's at the Waterfront Hotel for lunch and had a photo taken to send to our mutual friend Marlene.

During our time here, I bought two pairs of gym shoes and was not happy with either pair.

One pair fit Terry perfectly so she's a happy camper.  The other pair awaits a new owner. 

So, we went shopping.  Our friend Ethel told us where she went for new shoes so we ran over there.

When I told them my foot size they did not say sorry, but, they had shoes for me to try. I bought a pair of 5 1/2 WW!  YEA.

Went to Belk's to order my makeup for The Gift on February 2nd.  Terry bought a pair of jeans that were a perfect fit.

Right now, I'm watching the State of the Union Address.  Terry is barely listening - cannot believe that we are related. 

Wonder what our friend Ethel is watching.  A few years ago, she selected the Westminster Dog Show over the State of the Union Address.

It got to 70 today and the sun was shinning.

Mah Jongg

We played Mah jongg again.  Joy was not available to play but Diane was our fifth.  She's just learned to play and is doing very well.  I did not Mah jongg even once.

The jokers did not like me at all.

Diane recommended a book about Louis Comfort Tiffany.  Since we had been to the museum that features him (The Morse Museum) we were interested in the book.  She was going to lend us her Kindle, but that would have been too much pressure to read it.  So, I ordered it from Barnes and Noble using  a gift card. Or so I thought - my Visa was changed.

I was on chat on my computer, with Customer Service.  Never did get it straightened out. So, I still have the gift card!

We had dinner with the TV on because Shark Tank was on early.

Terry's in the den watching more episodes.  I plan to be reading.

BTW: It was a sunny, but, cool day.

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Quiet Day

We both worked all morning.  Had a quick lunch and went to the sidewalk sale at Sumter Landing.  One purchase!

On to Anthony's and we each bought a top on sale.

Home for dinner and reading. I'm watching the movie Bridesmaids.

Sunshine!

Yea, a day of sunshine!

We went to The Blue Parrot Craft Fair.

Some new vendors were there and some old ones were not.  Just bought a few gifts.

Went to the Marion Flea Market and bought a few things and then treated ourselves to waffle cones for lunch.

Went to Beall's Outlet for a gift and then Ross and Dollar Tree!

Came home and had leftovers for dinner.

Great day to be out and about.

Quiet evening.  Terry doing laundry and I'm reading,

Good Bye and Hello

Naomi's visit ended with us leaving the house early for a drive to Winter Park and The Morse Museum.

This time we concentrated on the Tiffany aspects, especially his art work, the amazing chapel and the recreation of his home-Laurelton Hall.

We walked across the street to the Boca Restaurant for lunch.  Naomi and Terry's lunch came out promptly- but my grilled cheese was no where to be seen.  After calling over the manager it arrived with apologies - oven problem.  They did not give us a bill!  Naomi gave the waiter a tip because it was not his fault.

We next drove her to the home of the Mandells (Sonni and Lester), who are her grandson's mother-in-law's parents.  They have a floor on the 4th floor of what had been a hotel.  Stunning with interesting artwork.  Their son is Ambassador to Luxemberg.

From there we drove home to do laundry

and get ready for our dinner guests.  Elyse, Mark and Katya and Katya's friend Megan.  They were on their way to their time share in Orlando for the weekend and a day at Disney.

Rain, Rain Go Away

We had a leisurely morning.  Naomi did laundry and stuffed all of her new things into her suitcase.

It rained most of the day.

We went to The Glenview Country Club for lunch on the porch!  No one appeared to be golfing, but it was a pleasant view of the course.  We each had the $5.50 lunch of a bowl of soup and a sandwich- with the purchase of a beverage.

Terry went to Publix for dinner fixings for tomorrow's dinner with Elyse and her family.  Naomi and I went to another Beall's Outlet in the same complex.  No purchases made.

Came home and Terry and Naomi rested while I put out some fires at the Township.

We went to Spanish Springs to meet Diane and Tom for a Mexican dinner before going to hear Lorri Gill and the Notebenders at the American Legion Hall.  Different show than the Friday shows at The Orange Blossom Opry.

It was a jam with other entertainers performing.  It was 3 hours with an intermission.  Fun evening!

Terry is working at my computer - hers is giving her fits.

Mt Dora Twice!

After breakfast at home, we got dressed finally and drove to The Lakeside Inn for lunch overlooking the water.

Naomi insisted on paying for lunch and gave them her Visa card.  That fact will become important shortly!

We then went to the Beall's Outlet off of 441/27, in The Villages.  Naomi found a few things and went to pay for it with her Visa card.  

You see it coming, right?  No Visa!  Called the Lakeside Inn and they had the card- what a relief!

So we drove back to Mt Dora and Naomi's card is back in her purse!

Got home and had our leftover chicken AND wine for Naomi and me!

We are all relaxing.  Naomi is watching TV in her room.  Terry is watching...Shark Tank.  I'm listening to the Shark Tank program and working and then plan to read.

Out Early

I made a pot of coffee thinking we would have breakfast at home!  That was not to be,  Terry and Naomi decided that they wanted to go to the breakfast buffet at Orange Blossom Country Club. 

The club is in the historic district and had recently been remodeled.  We drove the area so Naomi could see how The Villages started.

From there we showed her Harmswood, the most expensive area.  

A stop at Mulberry Shopping Area and Beall's Outlet proved to be a shopping Mecca for Naomi!  She has a new summer wardrobe which she'll enjoy!

We went up to Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center with its wonderful collection of military items donated by Village residents.  Also drove into Brownwood so Naomi could see the cattle-drive bronzes that it was too rainy to see yesterday.

Came home to drop off packages and rest a few minutes before going to dinner.

Had dinner at Sunny's - we all had ribs, sweet potato, and cole slaw.  yummy

Walked over to Sumter for market night and to hear Rocky and The Rollers.

Did not buy anything from the market-night vendors and found a bench to sit on to listen to the music before it got too cool.

Came home, where I worked, Naomi is watching CSI and Terry is watching - okay you guessed it- no special prize - Shark Tank.

House guest

We drove to Buena Vista to pick up our friend Naomi.  She came in from Colorado to play bridge at the hotel for a few days.

We got off the highway near Brownwood, the newest town square, and stopped for lunch at Ricciardi's a new Italian Restaurant.

In between rain, we went to Anthony's, a nice women's wear shop.  Naomi did very well,  as did I.  Terry did not buy anything.

We came home and Naomi unpacked and we all rested before our chicken dinner from Publix.

Terry and Naomi watched Shark Tank while I participated in the Township meeting via Google hangout.

Cloudy Day

We hit the road to go to Yalaha, FL, why you ask?  Because that is the home of the Yalaha Bakery!  A musical group that we see in Des Plaines, at Oakton College, at Empty Bowls, was performing there.

The bakery has a deli and we got sandwiches to take outside to eat while listening to Julie and Bruce sing.

We almost finished our dessert when Bruce announced their next song...Sun Shower and explained that there was an actual sun shower the day when they recorded the song and also when the albums were delivered to them.  About four bars into the song it started to rain!

We finished our dessert inside and then said our good byes and left!  I suggested that they not sing the song again in outside venues.

We went grocery shopping from there and it rained a little then too.

Just made up the bed in the den for our friend Naomi who is going to come tomorrow for a few days in the Villages.

She is in Orlando for a bridge tournament.

BJBE South

We watched the adult B'nai Mitzvah class get called to the Torah this morning, from our computers. as we sat on our recliners.

We are so proud of our friends in the class and of Phyllis Steiner who is the teacher of this year-long class.

In between we did laundry.

We then had an early dinner with friends who live down here - Joy and Bob-and friends down here (from Skokie) for the month - Bobbi and Herb.

We stopped at the postal station and Terry's mail was in the box!  Also stopped for a lottery ticket.  You cannot win if you don't play!

The weather is warming up and should be in the high 70's tomorrow.

Cool Day

We both worked in the morning and were tracking in-coming and out-going packages on the post offices' website.

I practiced our electronic- meeting technology with the Township.  We are using Google Hangout.   There is a delay but they could see me and I could see them.

We went to the Lil Bits restaurant which is a little neighborhood place near us for soup and a half sandwich.

Also went to look at the family subdivision that The Villages is constructing near us. Nice looking homes but not a typical Villages development.

Went into Ocala for a few things at K Mart. I found a sandal there.  There was a Belle's Outlet too-Terry found a pair of her favorite open shoe for little money.  We are happy campers.

Walgreens had the rest of Terry's prescription, so we stopped there.  She bought popcorn too!  It's been 2 weeks  since she had popcorn and she needed a fix!

Next was the postal box.  My package was too large for our box so they put a key to a larger box into our box.  Problem was I was too short, even on tiptoes, to get the key in the larger box!  I prevailed on a tall man, getting his own mail, to help me!  

I made dinner!  Don't get too excited, I did not strain myself.  Tossed frozen crab cakes into the oven and boiled up some frozen ravioli.

Guess what Terry is watching?  Right, Shark Tank.  We really need to get her into a program.

Baby It Is Cold Outside

Windchill in the 20's!  It was so cold that I put on my winter coat to go out on the driveway for the paper.  I don't remember it ever being this cold in Florida and we've been coming to Florida since we were kids.  We have no snow and the sun was out.

The house is comfy.  We had the air conditioning on two days ago!  

I have a Villages sweatshirt on and I'm glad I brought it!

Terry bought a pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and onion and cooked it a good part of the day.  Nice cold-day meal, even if she cooked it an hour longer than she intended.  She was looking at the oven temp -350 and thought it was the time! Too funny.

We both played catch up business wise. I also participated in the North Shore Board of Realtors Board of Directors meeting,  talked with the Township, and worked on the Township Meeting agenda for Monday.

We are also catching up on reading.

School days

This morning was part two of the AARP Driving  Course.  We had a chatty Kathy in the front row - she must have taken part one elsewhere.  Annoying!

The local newspaper sent a reporter to cover the class.  Must have been a slow news day.

Went to Bank of America for Terry to get something notarized.

Home for a bite of lunch.  Then Post Office for Terry to send a package.  Belks, Beall's, and Aldi's rounded out the afternoon's errands

Brought the groceries home and left again to recycle our newspapers at Temple Shalom.

On to Lake Minoa Recreation Center to pick up tickets for a play we will see at the end of the month.

Gas and an outside car wash finished off that round of errands.

Dinner at home and Terry is opening her mail. 

 Yes, they sent it express with a tracking number!  Terry signed up to receive texts updating the status of the package.  The last text said "package left on front porch."  Sure enough it was on the porch!  Yea!

Today another group of mail was to be sent to us by our respective post offices. Stay tuned to the on-going Mail saga!

Up at the crack of dawn

We got up early to go to Colony Cottage to take day one of a two-day AARP Safe Driving course.  Our insurance companies give us a discount for taking the course.  Fortunately no chatty southern belle was in the class this year.

After the class we went for lunch at Beef O'Grady's.  Good food, awful service.

Terry took her glasses to Peepers for another adjustment and we checked out Beall's Outlet and Anthony's but bought nothing.

Terry checked mailbox - no mail.  Called Des Plaines PO again!  Mail was on someone's desk not mailed until yesterday.  Sent Express with - wait for it- a tracking number!  Not in The Villages yet.  We are hopeful!

Another package due to be mailed tomorrow!

Stopped at Walgreens for a few things.  They only had 7 of Terry's prescription - back on Friday!

Ethel forgot to pay us for a concert we are going to so dropped it off today on their way to Walmart.

Working on our computers and Terry is watching Shark Tank.  Hope there is a 12 step program for her to enter!

One crack Two Bam

Started the day tracking my Premium Forwarded mail.  Fortunately we found it at the PO in Lady Lake.  Thanks to Skokie for the tracking number.  Des Plaines PO did not put tracking on Terry's package and it has not come as yet.

We got a few things at Dollar Tree and then Publix before our guests arrived.

We played mah jongg with Joy, Joyce and Ethel.

We each got mah jongg once!

Terry took the photo.

Craft Fair

We went to the Craft Fair at Spanish Springs.  Organized better this year with more walking room.

Just got one item.

In between vendors we stopped for lunch at Too Jays - yummy!

Also visited our favorite jewelry store- Picture You.

Got a card at Dollar Tree and then came home to read and relax!

Set up for mah jongg tomorrow!

Not too exciting but great day.

Flea Market

We went to the flea market and had our gourmet hot dog on buttered and toasted bun- yummy!

The hot dog was followed with a freshly made waffle cone filled with ice cream!  To die for!

We then stopped at Beall's Outlets.  Yes, more than one.

We were on a mission for something Terry thought their employees would enjoy.  Mindy did not like the idea- so mission was scrubbed! 

Not a total loss - I bought two pairs of shoes.  My gym shoes were worn out.  We had a funeral for them when we got home.

We also bought some extra spoons and washcloths for the house.

Then we went to Publix for a few things and came home to a quiet night of reading

Shabbat Shalom

We finally got Terry's computer on the Internet!

I ran some errands while Terry played catch up now that we got the Internet up and running on her laptop.

We moved the modem so it would be closer.  Grandson and Comcast all helped with suggestions.  Simple fix once we got a clue of what the problem was.

Had a good dinner at Cheng's Chinese with Ethel and Steve before going to Temple Shalom.

Services are similar to ours plus a great choir.

It's a Small World!

We were invited to Diane and Tom's for what has been their annual welcome back to The Villages New Year's Day Party.

A couple we had not met before were there.  A little Village geography and it turns out Judy and Jim are neighbors in New York with our FL landlord.

That meant a photo op, which was promptly sent to our landlords Patti and Jack!