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 We left Elizabethtown about 8:30 after a nice breakfast of waffles.  There were not a lot of people in the hotel and it made for a nice, quiet breakfast.

It was clear sailing for most of the trip.  We stopped at a Love's for gas and they had a Hardee's Restaurant so we had chicken sandwiches there.

We stopped at a McDonald's for a break and when we got back into the car we were rerouted over to the Calumet Expressway into I 294, because of lane closures on 80-94.  It was an interesting ride into Will County and then on I 294, which is still under construction.

Dropped Terry off and then Marilyn came home to a light drizzle, but parked in the driveway so the suitcases could be taken out of the car without any rain affecting them.

On the road - Day 2

The beds were comfortable at the Hyatt Place in Smyrna,  GA, however the room configuration was not to our liking.  They made changes to the room that we disliked.  The interior designer should be shot at dawn.  The mirror over the sink where the bar area was is missing., as is the sink  The desk used to be spacious - now it is a mini desk. The area is now a mirror, a lot of wasted space, a two drawer dresser which is inaccessible, and hooks above for ????  No door on the closet either.

We then went down for breakfast = there were only a few tables and they were occupied.  Also, they had run out of plates and there were a lot of people waiting.  We each finally got a plate, grabbed a bagel and some peanut butter and jelly and took it up to our room.  What had been our favorite chain is no longer our favorite.  I complained that when I made the reservation they did not mention that they were under construction.  The clerk who checked us out, gave me 2000 Hyatt points - but no change to the rate.  We may try the Holiday Inn Express across the way next time.

We went to a I-Hop for lunch and came just in time to beat the crowd.  

Traffic was moving steady throughout the day.  Except early in the trip, just outside of Atlanta, I had to swerve to miss a bicycle on the roadway.  Scared Terry as she was looking down and did not see what I had swerved to miss.  We saw a car over on the shoulder that had one bike on it, which probably lost the one on the roadway.  Hope there was no accident because of it.

We got to the La Quinta Hotel, in Elizabethtown, and have a room with two sinks outside of the toilet and shower, a sofa and two TV's.  A refrigerator and microwave are also in the room.

We had dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  Great dinner - too bad we are traveling would have loved to have taken the leftovers home.

Throughout the trip, Terry has admired these purple flowers.  Since we were moving, she took this photo which really did not show them off.

On the Road

 We left the house at 8:15 a.m.  Fortunately, it did not rain so we were able to get Terry's suitcase into the back seat after moving the car onto the driveway.  The garage is too narrow to open her side backdoor.

We left the towels and sheets on the washing machine and texted Shirley to let her knew that we had left.

Stacy will be upset, because we had lunch at McDonalds.  It took two of us to order using the kiosk.

We had a little rain early, but then it cleared up.

Our GPS took us out of traffic, which we appreciated.

We got to the Hyatt Place Hotel in Smyrna, GA to find that the front door was closed as they are under construction.  We did find the correct door for entry.  As we arrived so did the police.  There was an altercation and the front desk called them.

We came upstairs and rested for a little while, and then walked over to Carrabba's for dinner.  We shared a chicken parm and Terry had a salad and Marilyn had a soup.

We came back to the hotel and sat on the couch and both promptly feel asleep - nice nap!

Packing and Tossing Out

 We both did laundry and then spent the morning packing and loading the car.

Even a 500 pound person would not have helped close suitcases- just too much stuff from our three-month stay and marathon shopping.  Not everything fit into our suitcases, so extra bags of stuff are piled into the car.  Do cars have to be weighed - or only trucks?

We are eating the last vestiges of food and will be ready to leave in the morning.

Tomorrow our computers and our hotel suitcases will go into the car.

We plan to go onto our Temple's service tonight.  Our only excitement of the day!

Politics, Packing Up, Diane and Tom, Animals

Happy 116th birthday to our Dad, in heaven.

After breakfast, we both went on the Zoom with Sally to discuss politics.  Marilyn in the lanai and Terry in the "office."

We finished packing the box that we leave at Diane and Tom's and have a list of things that we will leave in the house.

We went to the postal station for our last time this trip and then went to The Resale Shoppe to donate some "hats" that we bought and did not wear to the Chicagoland  Ladies Tea.

We then recycled our newspapers at St. Tim's Catholic Church.

We came home to relax and then went to Diane and Tom's with our box and then all went to R.J. Gators for dinner.  We ate inside as it was too long of a wait for an outside table.  IT WAS COLD in the restaurant but the food was good.

Tom and Terry walked to get the car while Diane and Marilyn waited - listening to the music at Sumter Square and talking.

When we left the restaurant there was a man with two parrots - Terry only got a good photo of the one bird.

In the neighborhood, there is this "puppy" who gets decorated and he is ready for Easter.

Packing Up, Book Club, Downloading Forms, RAC Program

What would Wednesday morning be without some Des Plaines Post Office drama?  For the first time since we have been in Florida, Terry got a text with a tracking number for a premium forwarding package from her post office.  ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT NO PACKAGE WAS TO BE SENT AND HER MAIL WAS TO BE HELD.

It took multiple tries to get in touch with the post office and they found the package, fortunately, it had not gone out as yet, and will be held!  At least, we hope that is the case.

We spent some of the morning packing up the box that we leave at Diane and Tom's and also left some things in the house.

We went on the Sisterhood Book Club, that Janet Levine conducted as Hedda Schless just got out of the hospital after some surgery.  Hedda was on the Zoom!

After lunch, we ran over to Laurel Manor and Terry was able to download the program she needs for doing personal taxes.

We also stopped for gas and the prices went up again.

Shortly after Jeopardy ended, we listened to the RAC's Program 

Every Voice, Every Vote: Take Action

Book Interview, Barry Bradford 1974, and Cousins

Before breakfast, Marilyn listened to last night's Skokie Board Meeting.

Marilyn went on the Streicher Center Women on the Move book interview. Cathleen Schine was the guest.

Her  book is about a grandson and grandmother who spend Covid together and the grandson learns about how she left Europe before the war.

We both listened to Barry Bradford's program about 1974 and what the news was then.

At 4:30 our time, we had a Zoom with our Sachsel cousins.

Top Row:  Terry, Marilyn,  and Harriet

Bottom row: Linda and Julie

We plan to watch Jeopardy and then Finding Your Roots.

Pedicure and John Della Volpe and Working at our computers

 The morning started out rainy, but cleared up as the day progressed.

We had a quick breakfast and then went to Angela's Nails to get pedicures.  For the second month, Moi did Marilyn's pedicure and Abagail did Terry's pedicure.

We came home and stayed in for the day.

After dinner we went on a special program that Sally  Sachar put together for a combination of her groups.  Pollster and Harvard Professor John Della Volpe was the speaker.  He spoke about young people and voting.

John Della Volpe is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, and the author of Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America

Sunday, March 17 - St Patrick's Day - FORGOT TO WRITE THE BLOG

 

It was hot and humid (not Marilyn's weather - Terry was happy as a clam).

We got a late start, after writing Mitch and Marty about Betty (she died three years ago today).  We miss her and her sense of humor.  She always saw the bright side even when things were bad.

Marty, Betty and Mitch

We headed to Seabreeze Recreation Center for a  Glass Fusion Show.  We did not buy anything.

We then went over to Dollar Tree - Terry was searching for an insulated case, but did not find what she wanted.

We then had a trip over to Anthony's (25% off sale) but we did not buy anything.

Next was our final Beall's Outlet run and Terry found a cute top - they almost paid her to take it home, as we had a $5 credit.

Terry ran into Publix for a few things (all in one bag) just to fill in for the rest of the week.

In Sunday's Daily Sun Newspaper about The Villages:

2024 Villages statistics

#1 In Senior Living - the average median age is 68.3 years.  Punto Gorda is 2nd at 59.9 years

#1 in Recreation  -747 holes of golf, 253 pickleball courts, 30 platform tennis courts (most in the U.S), 164 approximate miles of multi-modal paths, 8 dog parks

#1 in Public Safety The Villages leads the state in bystander CRP rate of 65% (including more than 6,000 residents trained in CPR and automated external defibrillator use with the Neighbors Saving Neighbors Program.  The community boasts nearly 1,300 AEDs, including 864 in the neighborhood program.

#1 in Veterans One in seven residents served in the U.S. armed forces

#1 in Income Growth.  Per capita income grew by 37.8%

#1 in Giving - Volunteers lead and assisted in more than 5,600 resident lifestyle and sports groups  through The Villages Recreation and Parks Department.  More than 700 volunteers at UF Health The Villages Hospital Auxiliary Foundation

#1 in Voting - About 76% of registered voters in Sumter County cast a ballot in 2022 general election

#1 in New Residents - growing by 16.8% in Sumter County, 10.5% in Lake County, 9.1% Marion County

Elyse and Mark Smith

 After breakfast and doing some work on our computers, we left to go to the Brandon Mall, and this time to the Cheesecake Factory to meet Elyse and Mark Smith.  Elyse is Betty's step daughter.

We had a delightful lunch.  Terry and I both finished our lunch and shared a piece of cheesecake.

Carmel Turtle Cheesecake

Elyse and Mark had leftovers including their piece of cheesecake.

We came home and stopped at the Postal Station for Terry's package.

Marilyn sat down to read and fell asleep in a food coma!!!!  

Terry was busy opening her mail

Orlando - Kissimmee

 After breakfast, we left for our ride to Kissimmee to visit Joan Schor and her friend Roz Argest at a Holiday Inn Time Share, where Roz is on the Board.

We actually met at the Lazy Dog Restaurant.  Reva Felder drove up from Boca Raton to meet the group.  She'll stay overnight with Joan and Roz.

Terry, Reva, Roz, Joan and Marilyn

We went back to their apartment for dessert.  When we left we put our address in the GPS and it did not take us back on the Turnpike but on Highway 27.  Easy ride.

We went to the Postal Station to pick up Marilyn's package from Skokie.

Here's Terry getting the mail and the key to the box with Marilyn's box.  As you can see it is on the top row.  Marilyn CANNOT reach the box.

We went on Temple services at 7 p.m. here.

Rabbi Goldstein, Rabbi Sherman, Cantor Frost, Cantor Kurland

Largo Ladies

After breakfast, Marilyn went on a meeting with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Right after Marilyn got off the meeting, we left for the Largo Ladies Luncheon.  We brought our own lunch and met Diane, Cher, and Sandy there.  Unfortunately, Joyce had her chemo at the same time.

The entertainer was Todd Bogue, a comedian and magician.  He was a hoot.

Cher and Diane

Sandy and Marilyn

                                                                        Todd Bogue

Beauty Shop

 Today, Terry continued to work on taxes.

Marilyn's post office gave her a tracking number.  

After numerous tries, someone at Des Plaines Post Office answered Terry's call and said the person in charge would call her back as he was on lunch.  Did you hear from him - we did not.

After lunch, we left to go to the Beauty Shop and have Vanessa work what miracles she could!

Reading and Jeopardy are the excitement for the evening.

Working, Chase, Post Office and Joyce's House

We both got up at the crack of dawn, and started working on our computers.

Federal Express delivered the package from our cousin Rick's estate for Marilyn.

Terry finished and printed out Marilyn's corporate taxes, and also dealt with the new water heater we had to put in the rental we own.

Marilyn listened to a book interview about a holocaust book with author Lauren Grodstein, sponsored  by Temple Emanu-el.

We both went on a Barry Bradford program about 1949, which was very interesting.  We ate our lunch listening to the program.

Marilyn ran to Chase Bank, and the post office, in Oxford, while Terry continued to work at her desk.

At 5:30, we went to Joyce's for dinner.  We forgot to take a photo.  But, Diane, Tom, Cher, Sandy and Ron were also there.  It was a nice evening of good food and conversation.

Plaza Cadillac and Joy

We left the house around 9 am. for a 10 a.m. appointment at Plaza Cadillac for an oil and lube, etc. and a road check before we head back to Chicagoland.

We stopped at the post office to mail some mail, and than at Publix for a few things and when we started the car up the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT went on.

We drove home and Marilyn called Cadillac Service and  said she was driving it back to them.  We had our leftovers for lunch, and then Marilyn drove back to Leesburg. Terry was working on taxes so she stayed behind.  When Marilyn got to Cadillac they checked the car and a wire had not been reconnected!  The service man said he would give me 20 hours of free service hours  in the future for the inconvenience.  Each trip to Cadillac is a 20 mile round trip.

Marilyn stopped for gas and then came home to rest before Joy got here for dinner.

Joy arrived at 5:30 and we had a pleasant dinner.  Of course, we forgot to take a photo.

Here's an old, not too good photo, of Joy and Bob (of blessed memory, who just passed away last month).

After Joy left and we cleaned up the dishes, we went on a Zoom with the group that supports the family from the Ukraine.  Olga needs a job and has been unsuccessful in finding one.

Taxes and Barb, Bernie and Sue

 After lunch, we drove over to Laurel Manor Recreation Center.  We took one of the card tables in the back and Terry worked on Marilyn's corporation taxes.  She has added a VPN to her computer, so had private internet. to use to download the forms that came with the tax program, (which she could not do on our slow internet), and she worked on Marilyn's taxes.

While we were there, people were coming through working on a scavenger hunt.  One of the things on their hunt was to count the number of chandeliers in the building.  Each group had a different number.

We later met Barb, Bernie and Sue Lindquist at Carrabba's for dinner.  Food was good and we have leftovers.

We then went back to Barb and Bernie's for dessert, but Sue decided to go home as she was very tired.

Crafts and Mini Kelvyn Park High School Reunion

 We went over to Laurel Manor for a craft fair - we did not buy anything.

After lunch, we went to the postal station for Terry's envelope.  It did not have her name on it.  It had an envelope from a friend, with a check, that looked as if someone took a bite out of it.  Her tenant's check was in the there too (it had been mailed on February 14th)!

Joyce, Diane and Tom and Patti and Sherry were our guests for dinner.  Joyce brought shrimp, and we had cheese and crackers for appetizers.

Terry made chicken, rice, green beans, and salad for dinner.  Patti and Sherry brought rolls.  Diane brought the strawberry pie and we had mini eclairs for dessert.

Joyce, Diane and Tom

Patti and Sherry

Patti, Marilyn, Joyce, Terry, and Diane

Friday, March 8 - FORGOT TO WRITE THE BLOG

We had a busy afternoon, running errands.

We started at AT&T where we thought we'd add hot spots to our telephones since the Internet here is not allowing Terry to do the corporate taxes. That option was not viable.

Beall's Outlet was next, where Terry bought a baby gift and a top and Marilyn bought another pair of her sandals (so thrilled) and two tops.

We next went to Dollar Tree, so Terry could get wrapping paper to use to wrap the gift and send it out.

Terry wrapped the gift in the car and then we went to the post office so she could mail the gift.

Last stop was Publix, where we filled in what we needed for our company on Saturday night.

After dinner, we went on our Temple's service.

We both read for the rest of the evening.

 

Mah Jongg

It was a beautiful day in The Villages.  

Diane and Joyce arrived at 12:30 to join us in a game of mah jongg.  

There were only the four of us, since Ethel had already left to go back home and Joy was expecting All Most Perfect to come to take some unwanted furniture from her home..

Everyone was a winner at least once.  Fun afternoon.

Since the weather is nice, we wanted to be able to open some windows.  Terry mentioned it to Shirley and she sent Bernie over.  He came with a neighbor of theirs, and initially he tried opening them as we had done, but then he found the secret to opening them which we can easily do ourselves.

We now have cross ventilation with the lanai.  And have fresh air in our bedrooms!

Terry spent a good part of the day dealing with our tenant who reported that she did not have hot water.  The plumber will be there on Tuesday to install a new hot-water heater.  That should be a fun bill.

After eating our Chinese leftovers, we watched Jeopardy.

We will be watching the State of the Union address.

Internet SOOOOO SLOW

After lunch, we went to Savannah Center.  Terry logged in as a resident, downloaded the H & R Block program and was good to go in 10 minutes!!!!!  Marilyn had brought a book and a crossword puzzle, she was ready for a long wait!

We went to Sam's Club to get some things for next weekend when we are having company.  We were in and out pretty quickly.

Went to the postal station and got our package of materials, which we had  apostilled, to send to Israel.  

Terry has scanned the documents and was having trouble sending the files to Marilyn to send copies to Israel.....because the Internet is soooooooo slow.

We finally went to Savannah Center AGAIN to download the files.  Jeff and Marilyn got the documents, but Israel did not.

Terry decided that she was going on strike and we went to Cheng's for dinner.  We have leftovers!!!

We never finished our shopping at Publix.  

On the way home, we called Julie Dates, our friend Fran's niece, and got the particulars on Harry's death.  Harry was her mother's (Fran's sister) significant other for close to 40 years.

We had signed up for a program on Hamantaschen but went in and out since you could not see what the speaker was doing.

Jessica, Ladies Tea and 100 Years Ago

 We saw a photo of Jessica, on Facebook, with a big fish she caught. Look at that smile! Cannot believe she is related to us - she got the outdoors gene (which we don't have).

Marilyn spent the morning discussing the misdirected envelope(s) with Rick's estate attorney's paralegal, Myrtle,  The envelope was sent to Skokie instead of to Florida.  

Diane picked us up about 10:45 a.m.  She then picked up Joyce and we were off to the Chicagoland Ladies Club's Tea at the Baker House.  This photo is from the package of post cards we each received.

Joyce looks as if she has a halo over her head - it was a lamp.  We did not take any photos of the food. We each got two little sandwiches, two scones (with choice of two jellies) and a little cake and a little tart.  Everything was delicious.

Diane is showing off some of the china she had donated to the Baker House, which they used at some of the tables.  Last year, she had a luncheon where we ate on those plates before she donated them.

After the tea, they took a photo of the whole group on the stairs, but Terry was in the ladies room (in an outside building and missed being in the photo).

Our group took a photo on the porch after the tea.

   

     Joyce, Marilyn, Terry, Nancy, Gloria, Diane, Karen

After dinner Marilyn watched Jeopardy.

Then we plugged into Barry Bradford's program about 1924 on our I-Pads.

Also, listened to the latest version of Prosecuting Donald Trump.