Monday, January 19, 2015

Back Home @ Legacy

Once back at Legacy it didn't take long to get back in the routine. What we did find upon our return was that we had new neighbors. Bru & Sandy aboard Coconut's!

Sandy & Pam strategizing how they're going to trick Bru & me into playing Dominoes.

Just a couple of days after our return Kurt & Tina stopped by for a visit and to check out the area.

The weather co-operated while we gave them a whirlwind tour of our winter home.
 
On another day I was washing the boat and about halfway through the job Bru asks if we want to go for a boat ride. Of course I said yes without even consulting Pam. Neither one of us had prepared for an outing but away we went. Naturally Pam looked much better then me!

Is that a Bloody Mary in your hand?

Our ride lasted longer than anticipated when the girls decided that we should head to Rumrunners for lunch. This worked out for Pam & me since neither one of us had brought our wallets!
The wall was full in front of the restaurant so we had to lock through the small lock and tie up at  Cape Harbor.

Cautiously sliding into the lock.

We had a great lunch and paid our hosts back once we returned to Legacy.

 
One of the mornings we spotted the Metlife blimp hovering over the marina. Must have been looking for mermaids?


Or maybe they were keeping an eye on this car stealing Heron.

For what seems to have been several years Pam has been wearing a certain pair of shoes that I just didn't like. Anytime she got her nails done out would come these shoes. Anytime she walked to the store, out would come the shoes. With all of the shoes Pam has it seemed like these would always end up on her feet when I thought certainly she had better.
Well that all changed with a recent visit to DSW. Finally she found a replacement pair that would allow her to break the bond with the old pair. Yes!

One last look at the uglies.

Last week Legacy hosted a Gold Looper event sponsored by the Americas Great Loop Cruisers Association. 127 people attended including Pam and me. It was a 2 day event  that centered around the relationships which had been formed by the people while traveling on the great loop. For most it was an event that was much anticipated. Two days to catch up and relive their time on the Loop. For 2 nights we listened to the attendees get up and tell about their Loop. Some were told with humor. Some were told with a slant towards their pets while travelling. Most were much too long.

The individual stories were followed by a meal each night that was good, but resembled a bit of a stampede as 127 of us tried to storm the food line.
For the two of us it was our first AGLCA sponsored event. I'm guessing it will be our last. Not because of any organizational glitches but more because we just don't do well in groups.
During our Loop year of 2011 we met only a very few people we wanted to travel with for more than a day  or two and unfortunately none of those were in attendance. Maybe It's because I'm an only child that I don't gravitate to crowds. Who knows? It's just the way it is. It's not a slam against those who like the camaraderie and security of travelling in a group. We're all different and all good people. It's just that the two of us like a smaller crowd.

All in all the event was a success and I understand that Legacy has been booked again for next years reunion. And it should be. The staff did a great job of making sure everything went off without a hitch while staying in the background.

The deck at Legacy was covered making for a nice venue to accommodate the event.


Monday, January 12, 2015

What Happened?

Our lives have been like a blur for the past few weeks. We flew home mid-December and promptly both Pam & I came down with the flu. Wicked is the best way to describe it. Of course Pam recovered quicker and was able to corral the whole Christmas preparation project that we had hoped to accomplish at a more relaxed pace. I finally came around and then had my back go out on me while watching a football game. Go figure!

One item we didn't get to was sending out any Christmas cards. We apologize to those of you on our traditional list but we felt it better to not send out a germ laden card just to spread the joy of Christmas. Thank you to those of you who sent us cards. We'll try again next year.

We did manage to get all of the holiday gatherings attended including the now traditional chicken sh__ dinner on Christmas eve at our house and the KFC lunch at my parents house on Christmas day. Yumm! Then back to our house for Pam's family get together.

We made it into the hinterlands of Iowa to see the progress on my sons house and had time to host a small New Years Eve gathering at our house with a delicious prime rib prepared by Mike & Nancy.

Of course we did get to spend time with the grandkids, although the flu limited that time and caused a complete no show on our part for Grandson Drew's gig in Cedar Rapids. Also the bug lingered around long enough for Ryan to catch it and take it back to Denver where he gave it to his girlfriend Ainsley.

And just to give us something to worry about Pam's dad became ill and made an emergency room visit before we headed back to Florida.

We got out of the Midwest just in time before the cold spell hit. We drove back skirting the cold front but hitting the slush and rain all the way from home to south Georgia. Traffic was heavy once we hit I-75 where we saw a couple of firsts for us. One was a Nissan burning along the side of the road and the other was a loud bang followed by rubber flying from a blown tire from a semi trailer just ahead of us. We dodged that and made it safely back to Ft. Myers where it was 83 degrees. Nice!

A few pics of our time at home.

Nothing says Christmas like KFC!

Double trouble!

Christmas at the parents.

Christmas at our house.

Making chocolate milk with a little help.

L to R. Me, Pam, Ryan, Addam, Angela, Drew, Mom, Dad, & Doug at Addam's new house.

Ellie & Franklin spent the night.

New Years Eve.

Mike carving the prime rib.

Thanks Mike & Nancy for the great prime!

Pam & I would like to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and hope that you have a great 2015!

Cheers! (alcohol may have been involved prior to taking this picture)