Almost 2017

Happy New Year

Hard to believe that we are on the eve of another year!

Ran errands:

Flea Market at Marion (bought a Pyrex dish in a basket) Wrap around sun glasses for me.

Gas

Beall's Outlet (we each bought a top and Terry got a pair of shoes)

Walgreens

Postal station-Our Mail Was There!  A miracle!

Read and sorted our mail!

Terry made us a great steak dinner and we toasted 2017 with champagne.

Doubt that we will stay up to midnight!

The life in the fast lane!😉

Gastric Problem

Had sleepless night due to gastric problem.

Terry took great care of me.  She even went to Walmart in my "big" car!

My gourmet dinner - thanks, Terry!

Busy Day

Terry weighed in, doesn't seem too happy.

Went to Darnell's for breakfast in same shopping center.

I then took my dirty car for a car wash while Terry started grocery shopping at Publix.

We took the groceries home and went to Dollar Tree (addiction was in high gear).  Bags of stuff came back with us!

Terry and Mindy had a conference call while I did some work.

We then left again, heading to Walmart, but it started to rain so we headed back home- wimps that we are!

I'm going to heat up some dinner for us and show off my culinary talents with the microwave!

Terry's doing laundry and then we will have a quiet evening.

The Villages

Left Atlanta at 8:30 am, which is early for us.

Lunch at a McDonalds (gourmet dining).

A stop at Florida welcome Center to get brochures for things to do in the area.

Caretaker met us at the house.  We started unpacking and worked with Comcast to get Internet - got it on all except my IPad, have to call again tomorrow.

Dinner at Olive Garden and back to unpacking and laundry.

Shopping tomorrow!

Atlanta

Cool morning, but day got warmer as we headed south.  In the 60's in Atlanta.

Lunch at Cracker Barrel just before getting on to I-24.  There was a Dollar Tree there - the addiction continues!

On I-75 we had a 1/2 hour standstill due to an accident, about 60 miles out of Atlanta.

Staying at Hyatt Place at Smyrna,GA.

Walked to Carrabba's for dinner and a drink.

Participated in the Township meeting.  Thanks to Tony for moderating the meeting.

Another addiction - watching Shark Tank!

Rainy Day

Rainy Day on and off.

Lunch and gas at a Denny's somewhere in Indiana.

At Baymont Hotel in Elizabethtown.  Warm but windy walk over to Texas Steak restaurant.

In jammies and watching TV.

Christmas

We are enjoying Christmas at Stacy's!

Interlochen to Home

Started out at 8:30 am and went for breakfast at a little place on the road toward Behula.  Don't remember the name - it starts with an "S"

Took Hwy 115 to get on Expressway.  Nice ride!

Made good time for a few hours. After a stop at a rest stop, Terry started to drive. All was going well for awhile, we saw dark smoke in the distance and traffic was stopped.  We were at a stop for close to an hour!  Once we got up to where the accident was, after the hour, there was a burned-out semi truck.  We don't know the whole story but the truck was completely destroyed.

We stopped to get a bite at McDonalds.  Our plan to have lunch with Laura and Joe went up in "smoke."

Marilyn started to drive and things were going well until we got off for gas, seeing another tie up ahead.  The gal at the gas station said the tie up was in Illinois and a multiple car accident. We got back in the car and Terry programmed the GPS to find a detour.  The detour got us to I-90 and it was smooth sailing until we got near downtown Chicago.  Traffic was slow until we got onto the Edens Expressway.

We FINALLY got to Marilyn's home!

Interlochen - Day 4

Breakfast at remodeled cafeteria.  Food not great.  Waffle sticks were like hockey pucks.

Listened to rehearsals when Martha texted that she arrived.  We met her and sat and talked before going to Rico's for lunch.

This flag at Information Booth.  Martha is going to order it for her flag collection.

Concert in the Bowl with large choir, orchestra and 4 opera singers.

Ida and Martha went to a organ program while Terry and I napped.

We met for dinner, from the tent on campus, another excellent meal.  They should give lessons to the cafeteria.

Young pianist was the evening performer- he was marvelous!  Great program.

Interlochen Day 3

Bagels, lox and cream cheese at L'Chaim in Behula.

Everyone doing their own thing.  Marilyn at Bowl, listening to a rehearsal.

Behind the Bowl - Jay Leno's transport???

Lunch at Moomers for hot fudge sundaes.

Here we are eating again out in the camp center.  Cheeseburgers!

Tuning up at Corson - World Youth winds.

Sitting on benches out in the center of camp listening to Lindsey Starling, we've never heard of her - but, big crowd!

Interlochen Day 2

We met at 9 o'clock to go have breakfast at the omelette shoppe.

Walked over to Cherry Republic and made a few purchases of then walked around downtown Traverse City.

We then went to an AT&T store to get a charger plug as one of Marilyn's was not working.

Back on campus everyone did their own thing and we met up for dinner out in the center of campus.  Finished dinner with a soft ice cream cone.

The bear in front of Corsen Auditorium.

Ida with her shirt with the map of Interlochen.

Stage set up for Jay Leno - funny funny show.

Interlochen

Typical of this group we stopped for donuts before getting on the Edens Expressway heading to Michigan.

Ida, Terry and I got a little lost on the detour to get to 94 in Indiana but our GPS found us the right way and we were back on the road without much delay.

Found parking in Saugatuck after going around the block a few times. Good lunch at Coral Gables, no shopping this time.

Took I 96 through the middle of the state toward Interlochen.  Again the GPS wanted to send us down a dirt road but we persevered and didn't fall for it this time, followed our MapQuest and found Interlochen without delay.

New security gate as we enter the campus, new entrance to the cafeteria and air-conditioning now in the lobby of Stone Center.

Dinner at Boone's, very noisy, but good dinner.

Now listening to the final night of the Democratic convention. 

A little rain after we got back to Stone Center.

Home and Grieving

We left Elizabethtown, KY at 9 am.  Beautiful day.  Got back home: We dropped my things in my hallway.  Went to Terry's and did the same thing with her things.

Ran over to Rainbow Hospice Ark to see Fran.  Held her hand and talked with her.

We all left the room and then Sandi went in and said she thought it was the end.  We all went back in and held one another while the nurse confirmed that Fran was gone.

A lot of Kleenex used.

Carol, Harry, Julie, Laurie, Bevi, Sandi, Terry and I were together.

Ron came and took Bevi home.  Terry, Laurie, Sandi and I left so the family could have some private time and we went to Andrews for dinner.

Sad.

December Fran was fine when we took this photo with Ida- Fran is on the right.

Our last trip together, in October.

Getting Colder

We ran into and out of rain for our entire ride.  Sun for most of the mountains!

Lunch at Cracker Barrell.  Did a little gift shopping there too.

Arrived at Baymont Inn in Elizabethtown, KY to strong winds and colder!

Dinner with Ethel and Steve at Outlaw Steak.  Our last joint dinner for awhile!

They are at the Fairfield Inn, which is just on the opposite side of the restaurant.  We could all walk to dinner.

No change in Fran's condition.  Glad we'll be home tomorrow.  Carol and Harry also arrive tomorrow.

Decadent

We left this morning around 9, after checking out with Jennie and Clem.

Beautiful day, in the 70's all along the route.

Stopped at Subway for lunch and gas.

Some construction around Atlanta, but, otherwise smooth sailing.

We are at the Hyatt Place, Smyrna, GA.

Dinner at Carrabba's at the end of the hotel's driveway.  Nice not having to get back in the car.

Here's our dessert- thought to take photo after half gone.  Terry and I split the dessert!

Brownie, chocolate mousse, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.  OMG. Right to the hips, I'm sure!

Resting on the couch watching TV!  Love Hyatt Place Hotels, so comfortable.

Cinderella

Here is how most of the day went:

Here's a photo of the car packed up last year.  Not too different this year- packed to the gills and my car is now black.  We just have to put our overnight bags, computers, and coats in the car.

It was a beautiful day and we had cabin fever, so headed for Spanish Springs Town Center to walk, listen to the music, and watch the line dancing.

Terry took this photo looking toward the pavilion.

We are watching the Oscars but don't know too many people and have not seen the nominated movies.

Fran was moved to Rainbow Hospice Ark. Resting comfortably, but not aware.

Frustration

After breakfast, we went to the Target parking lot thinking we'd participate in the free shredding event there.  It was a zoo and people were lined up for blocks.

We went to the post office thinking we'd fill out a "moved" card.  Long line so we left.  We put a note in the landlord's mailbox.

We still had Terry's client stuff to shred.  She called Staples, and they said they shred.  However, they were in the same shopping center with the free shredding and I did not want to get into that mess again.

So we drove to Office Depot, where Terry had shred in the past.  There was one shred machine and a man with boxes of shredding.  Scratch that.

Home for lunch.

Terry wanted to get her eye glasses adjusted again at Peepers.  Since that was at Colony Plaza, I took the book I wanted to sell back to them.

We agreed to meet at Beall's Outlet when we were each done with our respective errands.

When I got to Beall's Outlet, Terry was already there.  It seems that Peeper's is NOT open on Saturday!!!

We went down to Anthony's also.  Bought nothing at either place.

Terry started shredding with her shredding scissors.

We picked up Arlene and Joan and met Ethel and Steve at Giovanni's at 4:30 for dinner.  Ethel commandeered a table for six and we had a great Italian dinner.  Including tax and tip dinner was about $11 each for salad, roll and an entree.

Since we had some time to kill and had leftovers to refrigerate, we went back to our house.

Terry entertained and amused everyone showing them how her shredding scissors work.

From there we went to Temple Shalom for a Jerry Herman concert.

Some very talented people in The Villages.

We said good-bye to everyone.  Arlene and Joan leave on March 17.  We hope to have dinner with Ethel and Steve in Elizabethtown.

Flea Market

We both did some work in the morning, had a bite of lunch and went to the Markets at Marion.

We bought a few little things.  I was disappointed that the ice cream place was closed.  I had a taste for a waffle cone with butter pecan ice cream - feeling deprived!

Ran into Diane and Tom and said our good-byes AGAIN.

Than saw them again as they were driving out of the parking lot and we were walking to our car.

Stopped for gas, before heading home. I was driving on fumes!

We had a clean-out-the refrigerator type of dinner.

Have been texting information about hospice to Fran's niece as that's the next step.  She'll be moved on Sunday, I think.

Terry and I have both been very sad!

Eggs Benedict

Arlene and Joan heard that SonRise Cafe had good eggs Benedict.  They invited us to try it out with them, as a thank you for being their "tour leaders/social directors." How nice was that!

We came back to our house for mah jongg.  We played two tables, one with three players, one with four players.  Ethel, Joy  and Diane joined us too.

Joy had to leave early to finish her dental work.  We then decided to play with one table and two people rotated out after each hand.

Terry and I cleaned up the snacks and headed for Sumter Landing and market night.  It was cold and we did not stay too long.

We than dropped off Joy's mah jongg set.  We went to Colony Plaza, where I hoped to return a book.  They were closed.  I'll take the book home and either sell it or donate it.

We had a late dinner.

We've been in touch with Ida, and others, with news about Fran.  We are very sad as the news is not good.

Rain, Education, and Friends

Terry was busy a good part of the day putting together a chart of what the Des Plaines Post Office owes her.  She's shared the finished product with Jan Schakowsky's office.

After lunch, I was on an interesting webinar, with Township Officials of Illinois, about programming.

Today is the anniversary of Phil's death, and we called Betty to tell her that we were thinking about her.  She's had a cold for a week!

We spoke to Ida and she told us that Fran now has pneumonia and that they are "keeping her comfortable."  We are very sad.

It rained on and off for most of the day so we did not go out until it was time to go to Joyce and Jim's for dinner and cards.

Also there were Diane and Tom, Evy (who was a year ahead of us in high school), and Joyce and Jim's neighbor Sandy.

Sandy brought an appetizer of crab and shrimp salad in little shells.  That was good and not hard to make.

We had a yummy dinner of fruit, ham, baked beans and a mac and cheese dish.  We brought a chocolate cake that was very good for dessert.

We played Wizard, which is played with a special deck of cards. You have to say how many tricks you will take.  Everyone starts out with one card, the next round with two cards, until the last round where everyone is dealt six cards.  Lots of laughs.

Forgot to take photos!

Talked to Stacy on our way home - all is good with her and Jessica.

Strawberries and Lovely Evening

Today was the Brownwood Strawberry Festival.  For the past couple of years, rain cancelled or delayed it.  Today, rain was in the forecast, but we decided to brave it.  As we made our way down to Brownwood it started to rain, but by the time we got there the sun was shinning.

We bought some strawberries, after looking for parking for 15 minutes.  Walked around and left.  Lots of carnival food and games.  Strawberry shortcake booth had a line 12 deep.

We came back home to read and rest until it was time to pick up Arlene and Joan to go to Ethel and Steve's for dinner.

Shush......Ethel "cooked" a lovely chicken dinner.  I don't want her repution ruined.  Since Publix made the chicken and Ethel warmed it up, I think her status in the "we don't cook" club is safe.

We solved the world's problems and then came home.  It was after 10 pm and we made it home quickly on Hwy 301.

Oh So Pretty and Sad

We went to the beauty shop in the morning.  I don't know about the "Oh so pretty" caption, but, they did the best they could.

From there, we went to KiKi's for pancakes.

I ordered a small stack of three chocolate chip pancakes. Terry ordered the large stack of plain pancakes!

She took half home.

Walgreens had her prescription ready! Yea!

We talked with our friend Fran's friend Sandi, who told us "the end is near."  We are so depressed that we are so far away.  But, considered flying back if Fran would know we were there.  We are told that she would not know.  

Weather on our route home is not good for next day or two.  So, we will leave next Monday as scheduled, as the weather is predicted to be good.

Since the weather was nice, we headed to Spanish Springs to walk around Market Night.  Bought nothing.  

Stopped in at another Beall's Outlet, as we had a $5 off coupon, and we each bought a piece of jewelry that was already on sale.

Tonight, after dinner, I had a Township meeting via Google Hangout, and Terry had a AADMM conference call.

Delightful Day Mixed With Concern

We headed out, on this lovely day, for the Sumter Craft Fair.

We did not buy anything!  Lots of vendors but nothing we needed or wanted.

Then worked our way to Havana Country Club's Hemingway's Restaurant.  A photo of Ernest greets you as you enter.

Here's our view from the patio, where there was a gentle breeze and we could see people practicing their putting.

Since Hemingway's is related to Legacy's Nancy Lopez Country Club Restaurant, they honored the coupon we had for a free appetizer.  We had Lavosh - Havarti cheese on a crust served with salsa and guacamole. 

Terry had a Cuban sandwich that was okay.  I had a deli sandwich that was excellent.

We had leftovers and took them home to refrigerate and then went to Beall's Outlet.  I bought two tops and a pair of fancy flip flops as my old pair bit the dust.  I generally only wear them to get a pedicure.

While I was finishing my purchases, Terry got a few things at Publix.

A good part of the evening was spent communicating with friends of Fran's trying to get a handle on her condition.

Brought a mutual friend's daughter, in New York, up to date. Our mutual friend is deceased.

We are all very concerned.

Glorious Day

We picked up Diane and Tom to go to Yalaha Bakery to hear Patchouli.

The weather was ideal and it was crowded.  Other groupies were there - we all have the shirts to prove it.

After the Bakery, we all went to the Polo Grounds for a pretty lame craft fair.

We then went to Walgreens for Terry to pick up a prescription - she has to go back tomorrow.

I think people from the Des Plaines Post Office are now working at this Walgreens.

We had dinner and we were checking email.  Melanie sent photos from our Valentine's Day spent with her and the BJBE Villages group.

Post Office from Hell

We both worked all morning.  I did three loads of laundry.

After lunch, Terry discovered why the tracking number the Des Plaines Post Office gave her yesterday did not work.  Her package didn't go out on Wednesday, but, late on Thursday.  It did arrive later today.  However, someone else's mail,and their premium forwarding directions, were in Terry's box.  The woman is in Naples.  Terry called her.  She's supposed to get a premium forwarded box every week until the end of April.  So far, she's had two boxes (out of 5 weeks)!

Terry and I went to the post office in Lady Lake and Terry sent the woman's mail to her.  She also sent her forwarding instructions back to the Des Plaines Post Office.  Over $40 in postage!

The Des Plaines Post Office has caller ID and won't pick up if they see that Terry is calling.  So, I called and put Terry on the telephone.  The Postmaster is to call her. We are not holding our breath.

When I called the Skokie Post Office, yesterday, they could not give me a tracking number.  A new person did not record it.  Also, I had to call back three times and was put on hold for a total of 40 minutes.

Today, the package arrived and looked like it was in a war.

It's been a very frustrating winter.

After the post office and Dollar Tree we came home to pick up stuff to take to Diane and Tom's.

Dinner was a mystery dinner.  Everyone got a list of words that were clues as to what was for appetizers, salad, entree and dessert.  Some words were also silverware and beverages.  You had to use each clue at least once.  One clue was 90% of body (water).  You could put a clue in each category if you wished. Terry and I put 90% of body (water) for each course so it wasn't taken away when the course was cleared.

I think Terry had rice and beans with her dessert.

Jim wound up with dessert as his appetizer.  I only had a fork once - ate my entree with a knife and fingers.

 It was fun.  Joyce and Jim were there and two couples we had not met before.  Carol and Stan. Pat and Cary.

Terry takes the plunge

After working and having lunch, Terry and I went for pedicures!  It was Terry's FIRST pedicure!

Here she is looking a little nervous!  She survived!

We then changed clothes to go for dinner at Arlene and Joan's.  Joan put hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.  Terry had a big fat hot dog and said it was delicious.  I had a hamburger (which Arlene had handmade) and it was yummy.

Ethel and Steve were there too and the conversation flowed and it was time to leave before we knew it.

Car Gets Checked Out

We had a 10 am appointment to get the car checked out at Plaza Cadillac, in Leesburg, before we head home to Chicago. Anti freeze in the windshield washer fluid. How depressing is that?  Bought new wiper blades. Oil change was free!

Before we left the house, we got a text telling us that our friend, Fran, just went back into the hospital.  Our prayers are with her.

From there we went to the Hurricane, a restaurant on the water and had shrimp baskets.  A couple was just finishing eating and she asked if we wanted her to take our photo.  See below.  I asked if we could reciprocate.  She said "after 50 years of marriage,  we do not need a photo."  I said "that's a long time."  She said "not when you are married to a terrific guy."  How sweet is that?

Terry has her visor on.

On the water - sitting outside! Cannot get better than that.

We came home for a little while before walking around Spanish Springs and trolling the vendors at market night.

Just had salmon for dinner.  It's a fish day!