We Are Home

A few students needed me this morning.

We did eat the left-over Chinese for breakfast.  Actually, quite good.  We did not want to eat the hotel buffet breakfast where everyone touches everything.

We stopped at some Rest Areas and also at some gas stations where we bought gas, went to the washroom and made some purchases.  At one gas station, we found bread, so bought that.

At another gas station we found eggs.  (Mindy thought she had purchased two dozen - one for each of us - but, when she unpacked them she only had one dozen).  Even though I had orange juice in the freezer, I bought some more at the same gas station, as it was a very small juice that I had tossed into the freezer before we left for Florida.

We stopped at my house to drop everything off there.  And I do mean drop.  Here's a photo of my entry hall when I got back from dropping off Terry's stuff and getting my groceries that Mindy bought for me.

Terry's hallway looked similar.  We do take a lot of stuff!!!  And, this year we bought a lot of stuff!

That's my mah jongg set to the left of the door.  Four suitcases of various sizes (two are office types of things).  A "hotel" suitcase and a jammed packed suitcase that was in the trunk (or whatever you call the back part of the "car"  Two bags of clothes that did not fit into the suitcase, coats/sweaters, and clothes for each morning on the road, since they did not fit into the "hotel" suitcase.

Day Two - On to Elizabethtown, KY

Checked student questions and then we had dry cereal in our room and left a little before 9 a.m.

Terry drove until we got near the "mountains."   I drove the "mountains" and had a lot of fog.  So much fog that I put our flashing lights on so other cars could see us.  Used the white lines to guide my driving.

Here's a photo Terry took of the fog as we approached the mountains.

We did our usual stops for gas and potty breaks and then drive through McDonalds-double cheeseburgers and french fries!!  Oh, yes, we had fries!!!

At the Baymont Hotel in Elizabethtown, KY.

Terry ordered take out from a local Chinese restaurant - cashew chicken, rice and egg foo young.  We might have it again for breakfast,,,,or not.

In constant touch with Mindy and Stacy.  Mindy grocery shopped for us and Face Timed with Terry over some frozen dinners.  Stacy did some shopping too.  Great kids!!!!!

Glenn has gone through Customs in Miami and will be back home later tonight.  His office has ordered everyone to work from home.

Illinois Governor Pritzker has ordered all bars and restaurants closed except for carry out and delivery starting tomorrow night.

On The Way Home

I answered student questions, we did bed linens, and towels.  We had breakfast and then left by 9 a.m.

We stopped at a Rest Stop and it was very crowded with people going home because Disney was closed.

Some pockets of traffic but not too bad.

We stopped at a second rest area, changed drivers, and ate peanut butter sandwiches in the car.

Stopped for gas and make our way to Smyrna, GA and Hyatt Place Hotel.

Walked over to Carrabbas for dinner.  We shared a dinner and I had a salad and Terry had the soup.

Talked to cousin Judy, as Brian told her we were on our way home.  Brian had texted yesterday asking where to send our wedding invitation to his and Rori's wedding - did we want it sent to Florida or to our homes?

We are watching SAY YES TO THE DRESS.  Cannot watch the news and the person in the White House.

Diane texted that they decided NOT to go to the Lori Gill Show.  Probably a good move.














































































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Plan B or is it Plan C

We were waiting to see if my weekly box from the Skokie Post Office, something we ordered online, and a check from the insurance company to settle the claim with my neighbor, were all in the Postal Box.  YEA everything was in the box.

We were waiting to see if we were going to Plan C, which is to leave tomorrow rather than wait until Sunday. WE ARE GOING WITH PLAN C and leave tomorrow.  Changed hotel reservations AGAIN, and, hopefully, will be home on Monday.

Left a note in the Postal Box to forward our mail if any comes to that box.  Informed the Skokie  Post Office to start holding my mail and to deliver it on Wednesday to my house and not to send the next box.

Terry cleaned out the kitchen, reserved a little food for us in the morning, and for during the trip, and we brought the rest over to Diane and Tom.

We thought we would have to go to the Pack and Ship and send some things home via mail.  But, we have it all stuffed into the car, except for the last-minute things that will go onto the back seat.  We both  brought and bought way too much stuff!!!!

Yes, we have left some toilet paper and paper towels for the next people, but are taking some of it home.

Joyce and a friend are going to be using our tickets for the Lori Gill Show unless it gets cancelled.  Left our tickets for Grease with Diane in case someone wants to use them.

All entertainment in the squares has been cancelled also all entertainment at three of the entertainment venues owned by The Villages.  Trisha Yearwood was to be here too, and it was sold out - but it is cancelled.  A craft fair that was to be at three of the Regional Recreation Centers was also cancelled.

Just checked Patchouli's calendar and a number of their gigs have been cancelled.

We caught a little of the service from our Temple tonight.  The B'nai Mitzvah families were there, not sure who else was there.  No oneg shabbat planned.  The B'nai Mitzvahs will take place tomorrow as scheduled.

Cadillac

We spent most of the morning, early afternoon, at Cadillac.  We had that appointment for some time.  The car needed some brake fluid and some other fluids, oil and lube, tire rotation, etc.  Everything looked good!  Service Manager gave me a $50 discount for waiting and I had a $100 credit from Cadillac, so my bill was not as awful as it could have been.

We are leaving on Sunday, instead of the 30th.  Our landlord has the house rented for April or we would have considered staying.  But, I'm eager to get home - Terry not so much.

The virus has started to cancel things here too. Trisha Yearwood just cancelled.  We did not have tickets for her, but she was sold out.

We had tickets for Lori Gill on Saturday and Grease on the 24th, we are giving our tickets away.  Though they may be cancelled too.  We had hoped to see polo this weekend, but that won't happen either.

We stopped at the Dollar Tree for a few items to take on the road with us for breakfast and possibly for lunch.

We have started packing up the box that we leave at Diane and Tom's and a box we will ship to Mindy.

Got gas for $1.88 (a steal).  The gas station was jumping!!!

Talked to Mindy and Miranda's evening class tonight just got cancelled, so Mindy was on her way to Milwaukee to pick her up for a couple of weeks and then classes will be online.

Terry and I work from home. Mindy works from home and Stacy can work from home if necessary.  Glenn is out of town helping a friend.  Jessica was supposed to go to Mexico with some friends and the friends' mother, but I don't think that is going to happen.

Not sure about Ashley's school or Jeremy's work.

Pretty Day, But Nothing Too Exciting

Terry was feeling like she was getting a cold (or allergy), so cancelled our dinner with Barb and Bernie.  Barb was having stomach problems and was going to call us to cancel.

I worked most of the morning and went outside to read for awhile, and then went on a call with the REALTOR Board's Diversity Committee.

My big venture outside was to the Postal Station and there were only two pieces of junk mail in there.

After the call, Terry and I both went outside to read until it got too cool.

We had chicken for dinner and are just reading and checking Facebook and emails.

Talked to our landlord about next year and he should be sending something via email.

I think Terry is feeling fine now.

Tea with the Queen

Morning was spent working, including depositing some checks with Chase Bank through their app (Mindy, you would be so proud)!

We got dressed to go to Spanish Springs and High Tea/or Low Tea (what's the difference???) with Queen Elizabeth.

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Joyce got the hat memo - we did not

On Left: Lady in yellow lost her husband this week, she did not seem to be in mourning. Karen, Terry

On the Right: Joyce and Gloria in the back (other two ladies - names escape me)

Terry and Marilyn

On the way home, we stopped at Publix for a few things.  Terry bought some fried chicken, which was a great dinner.

We changed clothes and sat outside but it was too sunny.  We fell asleep in the living room and never got back outside.

Miranda's school will be on spring break and then move to online until the virus is over.

Sorry, Officer

We left the house after working in the morning and went to the Temple to recycle our newspapers.

From there, we went to the Fruitland Park Public Library.  It's a new building and they now have a cafe on the premises.

For some time we were the only patrons in the cafe.  Terry had a chicken salad sandwich and I had a chef's salad.  Another couple wandered in just before closing.

We sat in a room filled with books on sale through the Friends of the Library.

Waiting for Lunch

Lunch has arrived

Building had been The Casino

Windmill on the Premises

Dedication Sign

Marilyn - with booklet in hand (see rest of the story)

As we left the library, I thought it would be fun to follow the booklet (in the photo above) and take a driving tour of the properties of note in the area.  We started following the booklet and promptly got lost and found ourselves on a street and in a school pick-up line of cars. 

To our left was the City Hall and a parking lot leading into another street.  It had three cones blocking off the City Hall Lot, but I moved one of the cones and proceeded to the parking lot and then got out of the car again to replace the cone I had moved.  A local policeman drove up and admonished me for moving "one of our cones."  I told him we had been at the library and got lost and apologized. He told me not to do it again and left me go!!!

From there, we went to Pier 1 to get two more of the balls in dark shades of blue.  There were only two balls left so I'm glad that we stopped.  I have enough of the balls now.

The more I am reading about Type 1 Diabetics and this new virus, and people over 60 and the virus, the crazier I am getting. Have cancelled Miranda's trip (again). If she got the virus going through two International Airports, I would never forgive myself. I'm  also discussing with Terry leaving early to go home.  Stay tuned.  Yes, I know I am over reacting, but sometimes you have to listen to your gut.

The stock market is in free fall again - they had to stop trading for a time today.  Trump said "any President who had a loss of over 1000 points in a day should be shot through a cannon."  Anyone want to contribute to that cannon ride for him?

Was catching up on the new JUF News and saw my cousin Samantha's photo in there.

Samantha is on the right

Warming Up But Windy

It was a little warmer today, but a little windy.

I worked in the morning and Terry worked pretty much all day.

She never left the house, while I ran some errands

Harry called again tonight to update us - Carol is back home.  He just was not comfortable with the memory-care place for Carol.  He is feeling better and his blood pressure is more under control.

Julie has another job and they are bringing someone in for part of the day to help him when Carol is not at a day-care program.

Talked with Mindy and Miranda and Miranda, hopefully, is still coming to visit us.  Terry and Mindy were on the telephone for awhile finishing their corporate taxes.

Talked with Ashley and Jeremy today too.  Terry talked with Stacy, so the family has checked in.

BTW:  My box, sent to Mindy's house from Pier 1, arrived in one piece.  Mindy and Miranda said they look like Bocci Balls to them.  Never playing that game, I have no idea, but I like them and they will look good in the crystal bowl.

Still working on catching up with some reading.

Cool Day

Today was a little cool, so it was a jeans and sweat shirt day.  Terry has her bargain shirt on as it was a perfect day for it.

In Terry's words: "The other day when we were in Bealls outlet one of the workers was working on a movable rack near the Clearance rack and stopped me. She was holding up a shirt and said “This would be great on you and was just marked down to $0.65. I tried it on and liked it...it has zippers on the sides!  My biggest bargain yet!"  

  
After working for a bit in the morning, we left to go to the Markets Of Marion as there were a few things we wanted to get there.

We then were hungry and stopped at Cheng's for their lunch special (we had a coupon too)!Lunch includes soup, egg roll, rice, and entree!  We both have left overs.

We stopped into Walmart too and bought some food to fill in.  Wanted to get Barry's Twists, but they did not have them and Publix does not seem to have them either (we stopped there too).

Still trying to catch up on reading.

We changed our clocks for the new time - we sprang ahead (losing an hour).

Atlantic City Boys

We both worked in the morning, and Terry worked on taxes into the afternoon.

Bless her heart, she completed my corporate taxes and I took them to the post office to go out certified mail.

I then went to the Dollar Tree to see if I could get some hand sanitizer,  but they were out.  Fortunately, Terry found some under her bathroom sink (she thinks she left it here last year), so we are good for now.

I then went to the Postal Station and got my box from the Skokie Post Office and spent some of the late afternoon opening the mail.

In listening to the news, we found out that two people, who were at AIPAC, in Washington, D.C., have the Corona Virus.  AIPAC is a Jewish organization and many members of Congress were at that meeting, as were members of our Temple - including our senior Rabbi.  Eager to hear how our group is and if they will be quarantined.  All probably have flown home and potentially have infected people on the planes that they took home.

We had dinner and changed clothes to go to the Summerhill Campus of New Covenant United Methodist Church (which is right as you enter our village).  We met Joyce and her friends Sandy and Ron there.  Sandy and Ron were using Diane and Tom's tickets.

Diane and Tom drove to Chicago for his brother's memorial service on Sunday.

The group is great and they have excellent voices and it was a high energy show and lots of audience participation.

Dorothy

At 3 a.m., the cable box in my bedroom started flashing a white light and woke me up.

After working and a little breakfast, we headed out to Brandon, FL and the Westfield Mall.

We met Dorothy Stewart (Terry's former summer girl) at Bahama Breeze for lunch.  She lives in Venice, FL.  Her husband, Steve, was back in Missouri finishing up his job as a hospital administrator.

Terry really needed to have sunglasses on for the photo.

Hard to believe that Dorothy is a grandmother and that her boys are living in three different states.

We had thought that we might stop at Costco, but really did not need anything, so just headed back to The Villages.

We bought gas again and the price was $2.03!!!!!

Came home to check emails, etc.  Found out that the National Association of REALTORS has suspended all travel for staff and volunteers.  Two conferences that were to take place in California,  in the next two weeks, were cancelled..  California is now under a state of emergency.

Stacy's company and Glenn's company have also suspended all travel for staff.

Talked to Harry and we will not be meeting with him and Carol this weekend.  He has put Carol into memory care, and is himself in the hospital with high blood pressure from stress.  He's not sure he has done the right thing and Carol's kids are not happy with his decision.  But, he felt he had to do this for the sake of both of them.

After doing some Internet investigating on the cable box and it's flashing light, I told Terry that someone had recommended covering the box's light.  She came into my bedroom with a bandage and covered the box's light!

Beautiful Day

I had so many needy students this morning! Was there a full moon last night????

Terry was busy this morning too.

We got dressed and drove over to Weight Watchers, where Terry weighed in.  She's under goal!!!  Yea, Terry!!!!

Terry took me to KeKe's and we had a great brunch.  It was about 11 a.m. when we got there!  We were hungry!!!

From there, we went to Stein Mart and I returned two of the four things from yesterday's visit.

Our next stop was Beall's Outlet (I know - we've been there before - but, every day there are new things).  Terry found two pairs of shoes (tongs) that she has been wanting for most of the winter but they hadn't had her size until today!!!  She bought them and some tops. I bought a couple of tops also.

Neither of us shopped for clothes  all year, at home, waiting until we got down here to shop.

From Beall's Outlet, we went to Pier 1, and I saw what I wanted for my home. Blue & White Porcelain Decorative Balls.  These will go into the crystal bowl the Township gave me upon my retirement.  Rather than buy them in the store here and try to stuff them into the car, I ordered them online and am having them shipped to Mindy's house (thanks Mindy).

We came home for a few minutes, changed shoes and went to have manicures and pedicures at Angela's, a few blocks away.

Did some quick shopping at Publix, put the groceries away and sat outside enjoying our wine (in Terry's gift of wine "glasses" from Weight Watchers) along with nuts and cheese and crackers.

I had a mouth full when Terry snapped this photo.

We came inside and Terry made us hamburgers and three-bean salad for dinner.

At 8 p.m., she had a conference call with Mindy and their employees.

Tried to buy zinc tablets at Publix, but everyone else in The Villages must have read the same article about the new virus that I had read because there was no zinc on the shelves.  Just ordered them from Amazon (I'm a Prime Member so no shipping charges).  Arrival March 10-15.

Be safe - wash your hands!!!!!

Sidetracked by a Sale

We both worked all morning.  Terry reviewed my corporate tax return with me and I'm excited that I don't owe too much money!!!

After lunch we headed out toward Anthony's as Terry decided to only keep one of the tops that she purchased yesterday.  We were near the Dollar Tree at that end of The Villages and decided to stop there for a few items we had not been able to get at the Dollar Tree we visited on Sunday.

At Anthony's, Terry had no problem returning the items while I waited in the car.

We next went to Stein Mart and they had a SALE.  I did not think I needed anything, but got a little sidetracked by the sale and bought four items.  I'll try them on later for Terry and decide if I'm keeping them all.  Terry did not purchase anything.

I'm still on the hunt for a white sweater.

On the way home, we noticed that the two gas stations near us had gas for $2.06 - a bargain, so we got in line to fill up.

Terry made us baby lamb chops for dinner, they were yummy.  We have enough for another meal in the freezer.

I agreed to settle my claim with my neighbor so Ron can start to work on the needed repairs.

Remembering

This morning, Terry reminded me that our friend Fran Pelly passed away on this day in 2016.  We are remembering her with great fondness today.

We were both busy this morning, working.  Terry started working on my corporate taxes (bless her little heart).

After lunch, we were going to head out the door to run some errands, when Terry checked the tracking number on her car key that she sent to Glenn.  Long story - he had to jump her car and somehow as a result that key no longer worked.  Honda wanted $95 to reprogram it.  So, Terry sent her extra key via the U.S. Post Office.  Not her first choice, but less expensive. The tracking said CAN BE PICKED UP AT ARLINGTON HEIGHTS POST OFFICE.  Hello!  It is supposed to be delivered TODAY to Mindy and Glenn's house!

The post office HATES Terry!  Any how, Terry gets a nice lady on the telephone in the Arlington Hts. Post Office, and some mix up caused the package to be in the wrong carrier's delivery stuff and he returned it the Arlington Hts. Post Office with a pick up notification.

Within minutes of Terry's call to the Post Office, Mindy, who had been checking the tracking number also, called the post office and told them that she would pick up the package.

Speaking of the Post Office, when we finally got out of the house, Terry and I stopped at the postal station and guess what was in our box????  Her valentine from Mindy, which had been mailed at the end of January to Terry's home.  Mindy had wanted to see how long it would take to get to Terry!

One of the errands was that Terry wanted to have her second pair of bifocals adjusted by Peepers, as she had purchased them there.

Of course, I went into Beall's Outlet which is next door.  I did not buy anything.

We both went down to Anthony, and Terry came home with some tops from there.  She may, or may not, keep them all.

We both had a few things to purchase at Walgreens and then headed home.

Terry made a wonderful dinner of Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken! 

Patchouli

Worked until time to leave to go to the Bakery to hear Patchouli.  Not as nice, weather wise, as last week.

We had lunch and stayed for about an hour and a half and left when they took a break.  Just too cold and windy.

We made some stops on the way home Dollar Tree bought a few things. Big Lots and Beall's Outlet but bought nothing at either store.

Came home to reading and laundry.

Mindy and Miranda called and we are going to try having Miranda  come down to Florida, hopefully, nothing will interfere this time.