The Lazy Lobster

 We finished packing early, and since we couldn't get into our new home too soon we played one last game of cribbage before we left.  And, wouldn't you know it, she beat me to take the lead, 52 games to 51.

We arrived an hour and a half early at the Lazy Lobster and it was ready for us.

Not only cleaned and ready, but with beer in the fridge and a bottle of wine waiting.  We may like this place!

We went to dinner with Jill and Ron.  Then Mardi headed off to a card game (which she won) with Jill, while I vegged out.

Talk tomorrow.  Stay well.

Packing Day

 Tomorrow we move to Port Richey so today is packing day.

Some rain in the morning, but afterward we took time out for a walk, close to two miles this time.  There are thousands of dead shrubs following the extended freeze that will need to be replaced.  But the Azaleas are starting to open up and doing their best to make the place look better.

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Stay well

Winding Down at Orange Lake

 A threat of thunderstorm kept us from golf today, but we did get in a one mile walk.  We saw a lot of storks and a couple of herons along the way.

The water levels are still very low.

Hopefully, the thunderstorm and tomorrow's rain forecast will help with that issue, but it's going to take a hurricane deluge to fix the problem.

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Tonight we made our last visit for this year to Sakura Asian Fusion and our favourite waitress, special friend, Joy.

I ordered Singapore Sei Fun, a curried meal of chicken and shrimp.  But I liked the shrimp that Mardi ordered better - next time.

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Rain tomorrow so we'll concentrate on packing.  Sunday we head to Port Richey.

Stay well.

Ready For The Next Chapter

 Lori sent me pictures of our Putt Putt adventure last night, but they got caught up in the ether and I didn't get them until very late.  So here they are.

From the left: Teegan (I previously spelled his name incorrectly - sorry), me, Frank, Lori, Ted and Mardi.

Mardi,

and Frank.

Tonight we were invited to their place for a game of cards and dinner.  A fine way to end our Kissimmee time - we leave for Port Richey this weekend.

Stay well.

Weather and Why

 While the decision to come to Florida was difficult to make, it ultimately boiled down to "use it or eventually lose it".  And giving up 8 weeks of our ownership entitlement was an option we chose not to take.

But now, the incredibly extreme winter that the folks at home (and in P.E.I. apparently) have suffered through makes it a no brainer.  Mardi and I would have been shut-ins for most of the winter.  No telling what that would have done to our health.  We made the right decision.

And this year has been no different than any other year in terms of comfort and acceptance, as far as interpersonal relations go.  We have had no uncomfortable experiences and a couple of apologies from Americans after they see our Blue Jays shirts and confirm that we are Canadian.

I'm sure that there are some of those extreme Christian Nationalists around who want to void democracy and have their chosen dictator take over, but so far they haven't bothered us.

We miss the friends who previously joined us, but Frank and Lori and their friends have filled in that gap nicely.  

April is the month when we can book next January, and it needs to be done then in order to get consecutive weeks in the same unit.  Once again we will have eight weeks entitlement (for each of 2027 and 2028, after which it will go back to four or five for a few years) so, unless things unravel quickly we will do that.  And then we'll cross our fingers in the hope that our consciences will allow us to return.

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Having said that, we spent the day mostly indoors today because of the chilly weather.  We have a frost warning overnight.  But I'm betting that you don't have much sympathy for that.

Stay well.

Jays vs. Mets

 Yesterday slid into history with a whimper.  Heavy rain in the morning.......

.......followed by a chill that kept us inside for most of the day.

Today the chill continued with a high of 12C but we had tickets to the Blue Jays game against the Mets (with seats in the shade so the heat wouldn't affect us - smart move eh?).  It was darned cold and breezy.

We parked at the Legion ($20 a fair rate) as we always do, just across the street from the park.

Then we headed into the Legion for lunch.  They allow non members in on game days until 6 p.m.

Hot dogs or burgs, with chips for $7.  Also a good deal.  But the cost of beer?  Wow!

We met Jill and Ron at the Legion.  He's a Legion member back home, so he headed to the bar to get the member's price.  And came back with five beers for $8.  That's not $8 per beer, that's the total!  Buy four for $2 each and get a fifth free.

Looks like Legion membership will be a priority when we get back home!

Frank took our picture int the stands.  Front row, Lori, Ted and Keegan; back row, Ron Jill, Mardi and the old guy.

Considering the weather, Mardi's Blue Jays hat was a hit!  She was approached to see where she got it, and  overheard a lady ask in the Jays shop if they had any.

We made a new friend at the game.  Ace looks like he's admiring Mardi's hat too.

Vladdy came on to the field and prepared for the game.

He did fine, but Hazel Mae didn't look like she was enjoying the weather at all.

Jays lost, but that doesn't matter at this time of year.  More importantly, our new power hitting third baseman, Okamoto, hit a homer.  A good sign!

Stay well.

Hot and Humid

 The last two days we have had very hot (31C), humid, sunny weather with no breeze (sorry we have to complain folks) and we have spent most of our time indoors watching the Olympics.

This evening we ventured out for a round of Putt Putt.  Somehow I managed to get four holes in one, but I only beat Mardi by two strokes in the end.  It was a long hot, exhausting walk home 😥.

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Speaking of exhaustion, daughter Kathryn sent me some pictures of the last time I did the "silly old man" thing.

I think that I was only about 74 that time.  But it did take quite a bit out of me.

Later that year I discovered that I had three blocked arteries.  Silly old man indeed, but I haven't changed much.  Bring it on!

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Tomorrow morning we'll be cheering for the Canadian Men's Hockey Team.  Fingers crossed.

And we'll be watching for our owl friends.  This is their tree, and behind it our unit.

Stay well.