It wasn't Disney World...

leaving from the Sebastian Inlet boat ramps

As I mentioned in the last post...my wacky schedule wound up giving me a 4 day weekend. I had hoped to maybe go to Disney World (it's slower this time of year) or do something  exciting....but none of the plans I/we came up with seemed to work out. In spite of that...it was a nice relaxing weekend...the weather was great and other opportunities presented themselves. We went to dinner and a show on Friday night, Saturday we watched the GATORS BEAT TENNESSEE!!!! Winning always makes watching your team more fun..haha
And then... John decided now was the time to take me offshore on the boat...since I've never gone out on our boat. He told me he'd make sure the conditions were going to be good and he had invited Charlie and Gayle to go along with us. I was nervous...but decided to give it a try.

can you see all the little bait fish?

 It was a really calm day...no wind and it was like a lake.
 We went out to the buoy to catch some "livies"

watching the clouds as we rode along

we got about 30-35 fish at the buoy...bait fish that is...haha

 These conditions were about as good as it gets for a nervous passenger like me...we saw assorted 
 sea  turtles, dolphins, a shark, lots of flying fish...but we never found any FISH to catch!

these birds know there will be fish near by the buoy

we also happened upon some friends also out looking for bait.

 

                     We stayed out for about 5 hours....maybe more...spotted some birds...but never found any fish to catch. I didn't really mind. Towards the end of the day...we were running south for one more look...when I started getting nervous as I watched the storm clouds building in the west. I don't mind rain...but I did not want to be out in the ocean on that boat in the middle of a thunderstorm! John agreed...and he had promised me he'd get me in before any storms started up...so he turned around and headed in.

We got back safe and sound...only a few drops of rain along the way. I started feeling a bit like I had worried for no reason...until about 1 hour later when the big storms hit. Thunder (never saw lightening...at least here.)..and the power flickered a few times. Some areas had flood watches in effect...because there were spots that got 2 inches of rain in 1 hour....so it's a good thing we came back when we did. John was happy...he finally got me out on the ocean in his boat...and even though we came home empty handed...it was a nice day.

I'm back

 I haven't been posting anything lately...just haven't had much excitement around here.......and I just couldn't seem to get motivated ....and decided not to bore you with any more rants...hahha Life has been moving along as usual. Work is steady for John...some fishing but not quite as much. Glad football is back in season; it gives us something to watch a few days a week! Fall is definitely in the air...even if it's just a hint. This morning was so nice. A little bit of a cool breeze from the north. It got hot as the day progressed, but at least for an hour or two...it felt nice. I took a bike ride...ventured down to Karen's favorite spot down by the river.

 Sat on the swing and just enjoyed the nice view and the fresh air. A few dolphins were swimming around out in the river.

No one else was around...except a guy trimming palm fronds at the church....So the swing was all mine! I love this time of year...but it doesn't always like me. Lots of early morning headaches. I try to refrain from taking anything...until I get up and get going. Usually a cup of coffee or two and just getting UP does the trick. I wake up around 4am...I'm fine...but my sinuses don't seem to like the last hour or two (more like 3) that I want to stay in bed! Oh well...for a day like today it's worth it. And once I got up, got going and then took a bike ride today...I was fine. When that doesn't work Excedrin does wonders. When it was off the market for a while...I was really anxious for it to come back. Had my two bottles that I did NOT turn in...and hoarded them! hahah Since my migraine medicine  costs $50.00 a pill...till I switch back to Imitrex...I'll take one Excedrin...maybe two...and nine times out of ten it does the trick.. Sometimes I do seem to get the kind  of headache that just won't go away...a 2-3 day thing. It doesn't knock me out...but it's just there...lurking in the background. (usually when a front is coming through.) Anyway.... today was a good day.
Beautiful all day...and then a nice evening too. John and I went to the Chart House...missed Happy Hour by 10 minutes...but managed to find some tasty options anyway. We had a couple of appetizers and I ordered Chicken Romano. It was great! After dinner John took me to see
 Special EFX a "Smooth" Jazz group performing at the Henegar Center. Tickets were reasonable...and some good seats were still available when we made our last minute plans.


Speaking of plans...we had all sorts of different plans this weekend...since for whatever  crazy schedule reason I ended up with Friday,Sat-Sun-Mon off. Every so often it works out that way...and I always feel like I should actually DO something...but so far my attempts to find someone who wants to go to Disney World have failed...haha. I have been dying to go...it's not as hot or as busy this time of year. Eventually I'll get there! (Megan I need you! hahaha)
Another option was to go down to The Keys...to Islamorada (sp?)..(not Islamabad like spell check wants me to change it to...haha) John did work for a friend and the house is done now. Part of the arrangement was that John could use the place a couple of times. He has been wanting to show me the place...more "Old Florida Keys"...versus the tacky (as far as I was concerned) Keys we visited last time we went. I did not really like Key West...just wanted to get out of there. A job he was working on this past week had a few hitches...and he wasn't able to finish up as quickly as he's hoped....so we decided to try another time.
Since my Disney plans didn't work out...and the Keys didn't come through...John was feeling badly...even though I tried to tell him not to worry about it...he just wanted to have A plan...so...came up with dinner and the concert. That was nice...I appreciated that.  For whatever reason I was a little out of sorts the last day or two...no particular reason...just feeling a little off. The bike ride helped and then a nice evening too...both helped.
I had a good day yesterday...nice group for Story time...this year I have been having  consistent numbers...unlike last year when I was wondering if I was going to get to keep having the program...because it seemed like hardly anyone was coming! This fall I've had lots of new kids and moms/dads/grandmas/babysitters. Some are little ones that have moved up from Dianne's Toddler Time...others just friends of friends...etc. The group is a little younger than I've had...but that's okay...just have to keep things moving. I have a few that have trouble sitting still...and it's a challenge when they get together...but yesterday...everyone was good! The one little girl who likes to get up and run around...didn't have anyone else that she could get interested...so she settled down too.  Everyone was interested and participating in the stories. If I asked a question...they all answered...and they were really cute! It was fun..
.So...again...don't know why I was a little off today....oh well...some days are like that. For the rest of the weekend I will watch the Gators tomorrow...we should be able to beat Tennessee.(I hope! haha). and then......who knows. John has plans to take me fishing Monday with Charlie and Gayle. I am trying to get used to the idea and not get too anxious thinking about it...because I think once I get out in the ocean I will enjoy it...I just can't think about that boat out i n all that water...with no land in sight...because that kind of makes me nervous!   We shall see.......:}

Birthday party surprise

Linda and John saying "SURPRISE!"

Last Sunday we went over to Orlando for our friend Karen's surprise birthday party.

she really had no idea anything was up...she thought her son Eric had made plans for Karen, Al and her mother to meet him for lunch.

Karen and her sister Linda have been helping their mother take care of their sister Laura for the last year and a half.

Her son decided after all she had been through......first helping with care of Laura...then negotiating with care givers, doctors, lawyers, social workers etc...to find a place that could take care of her when the job got to be too much for the family. Anyone who has been through this with a family member...knows the whole process can be exhausting. You get one person to do what they need to do (fill out forms, etc) then you have to make sure everyone else is also doing their part. They went back and forth with the social worker...and finally had to get a lawyer to help. It took months...all the while they were doing their best to take care of Laura. Finally in April (?) if I remember correctly, they managed to get all the pieces in place and they got Laura into a facility. It happens to be only 15 minutes from Karen's home in Casselberry...so it all worked out well.  After all of this...her son Eric decided he wanted to do something special for her.

Linda, Lisa, Linda,Karen, Anne and Jane- friends from over the last 4o some years.

Karen and the boys

He sent out a notice to family and friends...inviting us to come and surprise her. He had a cookout planned....and of course it had to include her favorite chocolate cake! (Linda made it...it was good!) As you can see there were actually several cakes...NO Problem!...hahah the more the better.
John and I rode over with Lisa...which was nice. we got to catch up on the way over and back...and with Lisa's GPS and John in charge of reading the directions...we only made one or two wrong turns... ;)
 It was a nice day...and a good surprise for Karen.