On the Road Again

 We left the rental about 8:20.

We thought we would listen to the book that I got at the second hand bookstore.  I thought it would be funny - by Amy Schumer.  OMG - it was all about sex!!!  We are not prudes, but really???  Terry tossed it into a garbage bin at a rest area!

We stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch.  Service left something to be desired.  Getting napkins was a challenge.  

We then continued on  I-75 until there was a tie up and the GPS took us off of I-75 and we saw more of McDonagh, GA that we ever wanted to see.

We are at the Hyatt Place in Smyrna, Ga and had dinner at Carrabas.

We watched Barry Bradford's end of  month recap of the top stories.

Night Night

Terry Issued a Challenge

 We took our box over to Diane and Tom's and left it on the front porch, along with a bag of stuff they may be able to use.

We then rode by the house we used to rent - 1094 Napier Court.  They took the wreath off of the garage and it looks as if they painted the outside.

We thought we would go to Sumter Landing and sit by the water, but it was very crowded and there was no parking.  

Plan B was to pack the car and then take a nap - Plan B was the winner.

Terry said I should write the blog today without mentioning that we needed a 300 lb man to close our suitcases (too late used that yesterday).

She did not want me to mention that everything fit in the trunk - it did.

Guess I flunked the challenge.

Need a 300 lb Man to Sit on our Suitcases

 We started packing and it is amazing how much we brought and how much we bought. We need a car extender!

As we were eating lunch, we got a text from Mindy asking us, and Stacy, if it was a good time to talk.  We all said yes.  Miranda was on the phone telling us that she passed her test and is an official RN!!!!!  We are so excited for her.  We did not doubt for a minute that she would pass on the first try.  We thought she'd have to wait longer to know that she passed.  We mailed our congratulations cards today!

She is with Zach, at his school, so I'm sure they are celebrating.

We went out to get gas, recycle newspapers at the Temple, and then stop at Publix for some chicken and sweet potatoes.

When we got home, Terry got a message that Oksana called and she is in Chicago!  Oksana was our mother's caregiver and we've stayed in touch.  Her husband stayed in the Ukraine to watch the dog. We plan to see her when we return to Chicago.  It's been 15 years since she left the U.S.

Patchouli

 After breakfast, we headed to the Clay Arts Show, where we each bought some earrings, and I bought a necklace from the lady I've bought a number of items from.

From there we went to the Yalaha Bakery to hear Patchouli.  Diane and Tom came after golf, and Gloria, Lynn and Gloria's daughter, Patty, came too.

Gloria, Lynn, Patty

Diane and Tom

Before the second set, Julie and Bruce decided to take a photo with all those wearing Patchouli shirts.

Then two ladies decided they wanted to be in the photo too and bought shirts.

I bought one of Bruce's paintings.

There is a lot of symbolism within the painting.  

After resting and eating our Chinese leftovers, we changed clothes and headed to Mulberry Recreation Center for a De la Vista Neighbors night of entertainment.  

Impersonator & Comedian, Mark Verselli

Projects and Chinese

 We spent the morning working on flights to Washington, D. C. 

Marilyn also registered for Illinois REALTORS Capitol Conference, and made a hotel reservation for one night in Springfield, at the end of April.

We finally got out of the house after lunch, and went to the Post Office, to do a change of address in case any mail wanders in this direction.

Since we were so close to the Hospital Resale Shop, we heard it calling to us, so had to stop there.  Terry bought two tops and Marilyn bought two tops and two pairs of slacks.

We came home to drop off our packages and then went to Cheng's for a Chinese dinner with Ethel and Steve.  We have leftovers.

We were on Zoom for our Temple's Shabbat Service.

Rabbi Philip Sherman and Cantor Jennifer Frost

This is the letter we received from Temple earlier this week.  Some groups have declared tomorrow as a Day of Hate.  Can you imagine such a day?

Dear BJBE Community, As this week turns towards Shabbat, we feel so grateful to be a part of this extraordinary community. We look forward to sharing in the fullness of our community over the next few days, at Matzah Ball Shabbat on Friday night and Shabbat morning, and through learning and exploration in our JLC and Chai School on Sunday. This weekend is an incredible example of the vibrancy of our community. As we prepare for a full weekend ahead, we are aware of the emails circulating in our greater Chicagoland community from area law enforcement agencies, including the Chicago Police Department, as well as JUF’s Security team and Secure Community Network, who are aware of and tracking information of proposed antisemitic actions in the greater community. These communications suggest being alert for those who might drop banners, place stickers and flyers, and vandalize by way of graffiti.  At this time there is no specific threat to BJBE. We have been in communication with the Deerfield Police Department and are in close contact with our private security company, which has been made aware of these online communications. Out of an abundance of caution, both are extending extra attention and alertness to our building site.  The safety and security of our community is always our top priority. A tenet of best practices entails that we do not share the specific security measures in place at BJBE. We will continue to work closely with our security partners to ensure we are taking the best steps to protect the people in our sacred spaces, while upholding our value of being a caring and welcoming community. Thank you for your commitment to BJBE and sharing in the sacred home we all love so much. Wishing you a peaceful week and we look forward to seeing you soon. L’Shalom, Arlene Mayzel, Acting Executive Director Rabbi Philip Sherman, Senior Rabbi Mark Brodson, Board President

Genealogy

 At breakfast, we listened to a podcast of a political speech by Brandon Presley, who is running for Governor of Mississippi.

Our political group discussed the podcast and then current issues in the United States, Ukraine, and Israel.

After lunch we went over to Diane's to see what she has done with old photographs of her family and Tom's family.  Since we knew a lot of her family, and some of Tom's, it was fun to look at the old photographs. She got them in scrapbooks and labeled a lot of the photos.  A LOT OF WORK!

We stopped and got gas, as we were below a half a tank from our run to Brandon.

Tomorrow Miranda is taking her Boards. (NCLEX-RN Exam)  We were asked not to call to wish her luck, or to call after to see how it went!  OKAY, THEN!  I guess we will know how it went when she is ready to tell us.

We met Diane, Tom and Joyce at the Studio Theatre for La Cage Aux Folles, the movie was The Birdcage.

The singers were very talented and the audience very receptive.

No sure that Diane and Tom enjoyed it (they did not know the story and had not seen the movie).

Beauty Shop

 We both worked on paying bills this morning after breakfast.

Had a quick lunch and left to go to get our hair done by Vanessa.  

We got a little delayed as Terry got a call from Steve, the property manager, who wanted us to leave the garage open for someone to fix one of the sprinkler heads.  We were already running late, and said we would not leave the garage open since the door to the house (from the garage) was unlocked. (we don't have any keys).  If he was coming in with them, he could give them access and supervise.  We closed the garage door as we left.

The traffic was awful, and Terry texted Vanessa to say we would be a little late.  Terry keeps asking Steve to give us a heads up when he needs access, instead of letting us know at the last minute.

After the beauty shop, we stopped at the Postal Trailer to mail the bills we had worked on earlier in the day.

We got home and I changed my top, put on some makeup, and earrings, and went on Zoom, with Andrew, at the North Shore-Barrington Assoc. of REALTORS, to do a video via Zoom.

Terry made us some dinner and we watched David Silver's funeral during dinner.  May his memory be for a blessing.

Tried to see if there was a recording of Philip Cowan's funeral (Laura Fine's Dad), but did not find it.  May his memory be for a blessing.

At 8 p.m. we went onto Zoom for our Sisterhood's Board Meeting.  It was a quick meeting, so we are now trying to catch up on newspapers.

Zoom Addicts

 We never left the house - though it was beautiful outside!

After breakfast, Terry went on our Temple's Symposium, with Cantor Frost.

I went on The Streicher Center and an interview with author Ann Leary.

After lunch, we both went on Barry Bradford who was doing  a program about Robin Williams, for a library in New York State.

Then we went on Moment Magazine's presentation of The Real Jews of Hogan's Hero's.

While eating our dinner, we went on the Streicher Center and Eugene Levy and The Reluctant Traveler.

Cheesecake Factory

We left the house fairly early to drive to Brandon and the Cheesecake Factory, where we met Elyse and Mark, who drove up from Cape Coral.

We were going to take a photo after lunch, but Elyse and Mark had a communication problem and he didn't just put their food into their cooler in the car and then come back, he pulled up in the car.  Elyse had planned to do some shopping - oh, well!

On the way home, Terry checked her email and we found out that a Temple friend's husband  (David Silver) died.  Yesterday, we found out that Laura Fine's dad (Philip Cowan) died suddenly after a fall. We won't be back in town in time for either of the funerals.

We had leftovers and also a piece of cheesecake to take home. We had our leftovers for dinner, and we shared the cheesecake and ate it for dessert.  Yummy!

Before we had dinner, Tom came over and got the lamp they lent us, since there is new lighting in the living room we didn't need it any longer.

Lazy Day and Fake Paczki

 We were lazy for most of the morning and early afternoon.

After lunch, we got showered and dressed and left the house to go to recycle newspapers at the Temple and go to Walmart for grocery shopping.

We went to Walmart specifically because we expected them to have paczki (punch keys), a dessert for Fat Tuesday (before lent).  They did not have paczki, so Terry bought Bavarian Cream and we each had one as an afternoon snack.

We also bought an inexpensive can opener - hopefully, it will open the can of tuna.

We also tried to figure out why Terry's photo does not show on a Zoom meeting when she doesn't want to be seen on screen.  We figured it out - her photo needed to be cropped.  We did a Zoom meeting to be sure it worked!

I've also been playing with changing my photo on Facebook, Zoom, and Google Chrome.  Terry's been helping with that.

We plan to have our leftover ribs for dinner and then continue the lazy streak.

Beautiful Day, but Cool

 We left the house around 10 a.m. to go to the Post Office so Terry could mail the mail that did not belong to her to those to whom it belongs.  Des Plaines Post Office will reimburse her.

From there we went to Laurel Manor Recreation Center and a Glass Fusion Show.  Terry bought a drop to go with a top she wore yesterday.  Unfortunately, no matching earrings.

We next went to Dollar Tree for some tape to use to pack up the box that we leave at Diane and Tom's.  They had no bubble paper.

We got gas, for barely under $3.00 a gallon.

We came home for lunch.  Terry was going to make tuna salad, however, there is no can opener!

We picked up Barb and Bernie to go to Oakwood Express for an early rib dinner.

Years ago they had introduced us to Oakwood, on Highway 27, but they had never been to Oakwood Express.  The girls all have leftovers, Bernie finished his slab!

We dropped our leftovers off at the house and then went back to Barb and Bernie's for dessert.  We played with their new recliner couches before dessert.  What fun!

Barb had a blouse that she bought that no longer fit her, as she's lost a lot of weight since her surgeries.  She gave Marilyn the top.

Barb also sent us home with two bottles of champagne that she cannot drink

Again, we forgot to take a photo of them!  We are so bad!  Here's one from their Facebook page.

Family

We were up and out fairly early to go meet our cousins, near Tampa.  It was nearly a two-hour drive.

Cousin Bill researched restaurants where we could eat outside, and that had food that cousin Betty and Adam's girlfriend, Jaclyn, could eat.  He did a masterful job.  We met at Acropolis Greek Taverna, in New Tampa.

Terry and I both had gyros wraps and they were delicious.  Cousin Carol had the same thing.

Cousin Betty had a whole fish and filet it herself.  Jaclyn had a Greek salad.  Everyone was happy.

On left cousin Carol Brown, Cousin Bill Shapiro, 

On right: Jaclyn, Cousin Adam Shapiro and Cousin Betty Shapiro

Same group with Terry and me, and no Bill, who was taking the photo.  Betty's fish is in the photo.

We had never seen anyone use a hookah before - the owner was using one and there appeared to be a lot of them for patrons who might wish to indulge.

We all left to go to Lutz, FL and the Premium Mall, and The Vera Bradley Outlet  Unfortunately, they did not have what Miranda wanted - it's not at the outlets as yet.

We came back to The Villages and went to the Postal Trailer and Terry got her envelope, which was huge.  Winds up that it had her mail and some other people's mail, who also were to get premium forwarded mail.  We will go to the post office tomorrow and mail them their mail.  This has happened before.

My mail, and Terry's new Discover Card, were at the front door.

We went on Temple Services and will click on the speaker for Repro Shabbat. about an hour after services.  Someone from Planned Parenthood was the speaker after a dinner at Temple.  Unfortunately, the room did not lend itself to Zoom and the voices were garbled.  I went off as it was a waste of time to listen and not know what they were saying.

Full Day But Never Left the House

 At breakfast we listened to a podcast about Eleanor Roosevelt in preparation for our Politics Group.

What a dynamic woman!

At 11:30 Florida Time, we went on Zoom with our Politics Group and discussed the podcast and also the shooting at Michigan State, and the need for more gun legislation.  Sandee's two grandsons go to school at Michigan State and their Dad brought them home for a few days for some TLC..

I went onto the back porch to participate in the Government Affairs Committee for the North Shore-Barrington Assoc. of REALTORS.  I did not see our resident gecko(s) while out there.

Terry learned that Beall's Outlet put through her charge from February 6th and it was not fraud against her Discover Card.  They are still sending her a new Discover Card - which should arrive tomorrow.

We are both tracking our premium forwarded packages from our post offices and our packages are both in Franklin Park.

After dinner, we went on the Cook Library Zoom with Barry Bradford who did a program on Rogers and Hammerstein.

Pretty Toes and Kelvyn Park Classmate

 We left the house fairly early, for us, and went to get pedicures at Angela's Nails.

Afterward, we headed down to Havana Country Club to meet a classmate from Kelvyn Park High School.

Pat Prorock Moran.  Her daughter, Sherry, surprised us and joined us for lunch!!!

We had a delightful lunch, and then went to their home and sat on their new front patio.  It was so delightful that I hated to leave.

We got home and Terry got an alert that someone had used her Discover Card at Beall's Outlet.  She's getting a new card.

After dinner, we were on a Zoom with the Palisades Library and a talk by Mallory Mortillaro, about the discovery of a Rodin - a bust of Napoleon.  It was very interesting and involved a very wealthy woman, 

Chicagoland Ladies and Barry Bradford

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today, we packed a lunch (Terry made and packed the lunch) and headed to Truman Recreation Center and the Chicagoland Ladies monthly lunch meeting.

At our table in the black and white jacket Nancy (Diane and Tom's next door neighbor), Gloria, in the white sweater, a friend of Diane's from their Chicago RV Club.  Diane in the red top.  Unfortunately, Terry and I don't remember the name of the lady who joined us.

The presenter was Dee Collier as Anne Sullivan (Helen Keller's teacher)

We then went for gas, as we were at only a quarter of a tank!

We also went to Dollar Tree for some cards and miscellaneous stuff.

We went on Barry Bradford's program about LBJ, which was very interesting. The amount of legislation that he was able to pass that changed our lives was amazing.

Cadillac and Friends

 We were up at the crack of dawn to eat a quick breakfast and go to Cadillac in Leesburg to have the car checked out before driving home.

We thought that we would stop at Panera, in Spanish Springs, for lunch, but there was a long line to order and no tables.  We left.

We next went Publix for a few things and Terry bought us some salads for lunch today and tomorrow.  We  had cheese and crackers and some of the seafood salad for lunch.

We met Ethel and Steve at Bonefish and again a good evening of good food and good company.

The Markets of Marion

We went to the flea market for the first time during this trip.  Terry bought a new Apple Watch Band, and we each bought some plastic bags for earrings, and jewelry.

We then went to the Back Porch, a restaurant in Mulberry Plaza.  We each had quesadilla and have left overs.

We also shared a bread pudding, with ice cream, and caramel sauce.  We talked about the bread pudding we had in New Orleans and my friend Phil Leekley who rated bread puddings in New Orleans.

After lunch we went to Beall's Outlet ,at Mulberry, and I found the blue shoes I had been looking for in my size.  I also got another pair of jeans and retired two pairs I had brought with me!!

We will NOT be watching the Super Bowl.  

Craft Fairs

 We left the house fairly early to go to Laurel Manor for an art show.

Next was Eisenhower, where we both bought earrings.

A crafter’s fair is set for Saturday, Feb. 11 at Eisenhower Recreation Center.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It will feature wood creations, glass fusion, quilts and handmade cards. All crafts are made by residents of The Villages.

We went to Rohan Recreation Center, thinking there was a show there - there was not.

On the way back North we stopped at the postal trailer and Terry got her mail.

Spanish Springs craft fair was next.  I walked a little but the humidity was too high for me.  Terry continued on her own.

Home for lunch and a nap.

Lynnhaven Neighbors had Musical Bingo at Laurel Manor, with Ric Mitchell and his wife, Mary.  We sat with Diane, Tom, Joyce and Barbara and Garrett.

Cousins and Friends

 Today we left the house fairly early for us and went to meet cousins Sharlotte and Mark Franklin.  We met at JB Boondocks, on the water, in Howey in the Hills.  It was a few days after Mark's birthday (Terry is his god mother).

Sharlotte's husband, Ellis (Butch) was a cousin on the Sachsel side.  He died way too young of Agent Orange, from his stint in the military in Vietnam.

We had dinner at Diane and Tom's with Joyce, Sandy and Ron.  Played Golf and had a delicious and fun evening.

Mail Arrives

This was a multiple meeting day for Marilyn.

We both started out with the politics group, and a discussion of Eleanor Roosevelt, (we had listened to a podcast) and then we discussed the State of the Union Address.

We had a hurried lunch because Marilyn had a Women's Council of REALTORS Board Meeting.  But, just as she went to link on, she got a message that the meeting was cancelled.

We then went to the postal trailer as Terry got a message that her package (from last) week was delivered there.

After we came home, Marilyn went on an instructor meeting for the school for whom she teaches.

Terry is preparing dinner for our friends Ethel and Steve.  We had a delicious dinner and good conversation.