Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Week Three

Vacation days tend to merge into each other.  We have eaten well and had our share of adventures.  Grouper tacos at Silas Dent, lobster roll at Pirate Pub and Grub, chicken marsala at Palm Court Restaurant, shrimp and corn chowder at Brass Monkey--all were wonderful.  I had called Palm Court to see when the chef would be making sea food risotto again because Sue said it was her favorite and I had said it was wonderful when I had it there two weeks ago.   The chef offered to make it especially for them and he did and they loved it!


Our Thursday adventure on a cold and windy day was a trip to the Chiluly Collection in St Petersburg. The real hit was the glass blowing demonstration across the street--a part of our admittance fee.  We watched a piece made from the beginning to the end with continual narration.

Our Friday trip was to St. John's Pass where we ate outside on the fishing pier and did some shopping.  On Saturday the Corey Street Art Show was fine but not compelling.  We shopped at Annabelle's Boutique on the same street.  In the afternoon we went to the East West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field.  We thought it would be fun to see the arena and the football players, NFL scouts and Shriners were all housed at Tradewinds right across the street from us.  We were given tickets as we walked up to buy some.  That was good because the game was very boring and we left before half time.


Sunday was the best weather of the week.  I went to mass and didn't do much else.  Sue and Esther spent  time on the beach.  We ate on the balcony on the bay side after watching a sunset we rated ten from the deck.

Monday turned out much better than predicted.   It may have reached 74 degrees.  We ate lunch at The Brass Monkey in Pass a Grille.   The shrimp-corn-crab chowder was wonderful.  The weather changed abruptly around 4:15 but we followed through with our plans for drinks at the Tiki Bar on the beach at Tradewinds Resort.

Tuesday began with a thick fog which cleared later in the morning.  The forecast again was not good but it was so wrong!  The day was lovely and warm with occasional threats of rain.  Sue and Esther enjoyed sitting on the beach with their Kindles.  I joined them for a mango margarita at the Tiki Bar.  Our last fling was a dinner at the Spinners, a revolving restaurant on the 12th floor of the Grand Beach Hotel.  We watched a spectacular sunset over the Gulf and got a good look at just how much water surrounded us on the bay side and then watched the lights come on over the town.

Sue and Esther were picked up by a car at 5 am for their 7 am flight.  I have a late check-out at 12:30 and then will get a Lyft to the airport.  It's a long day for me after a very early waking up.  I hope and pray it goes smoothly and I am with Jim again by suppertime.
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The Lyft driver was there in three minutes, the plane left early, and we arrived in South Bend at least 20 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. However, the child in the seat behind me grabbed my hair and pulled it hard and the child in the seat in front of me reached around and tried to snatch my pinot grigio!


Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Transitions

January 17- Jim flies home today and Sue VanEngen and her sister Esther fly in.  If all goes well, I should be able to time the drop-off and pick-up perfectly.  The weather here is great and so far the flights are scheduled to be on time.  We know from experience that it can go quite differently.  The east coast and Texas are having terrible storms.

I woke up very early and so did Jim.  We were both restless during the night.  I am a bit apprehensive about taking over the rental car driving.  I am also sad to say good-bye to Jim.  At the same time, I am eager to share this beautiful place with friends.

Jim and I have a comfortable routine.  Sue and I have traveled together before on a memorable trip years ago to Scotland to see Lucie and George Marsden and did very well.  In spite of some uneasiness, I am happy to stay another week in this lovely place and warmer weather.  Jim is ready to go back to his research and office and at least two job talks for replacements for him at Notre Dame.


The past three days have been quiet ones.  On Sunday we found the aquarium at Guy Harvey Resort and enjoyed watching the 131 fish and a father and two sons swimming with them.  Jim watched  NFL playoffs and I joined him for some sports time.

 On Monday we ventured to Tyrone Mall where I bought a cute top at Loft for 60% off the sale price--and then struggled trying to find underwear to supplement what I brought along.  I would not pay Dillard's prices, waited in a long line at Penney's to find I had misunderstood the price, and then ended up at Marshall's down the road.  I was foolishly stubborn about what I was willing to pay!  We enjoyed browsing at a 3-2-1 Bookstore but didn't buy anything.

Yesterday we took an hour long walk on the beach in warm weather.  Our sweaters came off!  We had supper in Pass a Grille at the Brass Monkey on the deck watching a long-lasting and spread out sunset.  At that point our winter jackets felt good.  When we got back to the condo, we suffered along with all Irish fans in a double overtime loss to Louisville.

This morning I have carried five bags of groceries to Unit 412.  Our suitcases and books, etc. are next.  The unit is smaller but may be even lovelier in its decor than this one.  Sunrise Resort is a winner!


Saturday, January 13, 2018

You're not in Indiana any more!

Of course, it is warmer here.  Not balmy but maybe 40 degrees warmer than South Bend.  We did wear our winter jackets again today.

The palm trees and tough grass and bright flowers and the water surrounding us are all so lovely.  It is more pleasant than slushy snow.

 The conversation in the elevators is of two themes--the weather and where are you from?  People are from Ohio, Toronto, and Cape May, New Jersey.  Everywhere there are retirees working part-time or maybe full-time--at the grocery store bagging, waiting on tables, driving for Uber or doing maintenance at the resort.

The local CVS had only a very short array of stationery supplies unlike our CVS near Notre Dame.   However, there was a long row of t-shirts and an endless supply of sunscreen.  There are dozens of restaurants and bars within a mile of us--mostly independent ones and mostly very good.  Only one disappointed us so far. 

We have done things we never or rarely do at home.  We have eaten breakfast out twice and had beer and BBQ for lunch once.  We had beach drinks while watching the sunset at a rooftop bar.  I have relished seafood risotto, stuffed grouper, and lobster.

We tried the paddleboats at Tradewinds across the street--where we have permission to use the amenities.  We were not experts.  A passer-by asked if he should call out the Coast Guard!  We watched a 5K and 10K race on Gulf Boulevard right in front of our condo.  We have enjoyed some sunsets and sunrises but also the fogged in mornings and silvery bay.

We went to a movie--The Post--with Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks--and it was excellent.  We felt like rubes not being familiar with buying tickets online, getting the ticket on my iphone, and then finding the right venue among the 20 possible at AMC Sundial 20!  As it turned out, no one even checked our tickets at 11:20 am.  We could have saved $20.

We walk to Publix almost daily and carry our groceries back to the condo.  We miss sports on our large high definition TV but Jim is coping.  We get a daily Tampa Times and read the New York Times on line.

It's a good life!

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

St. Pete Beach--Sunrise Resort

We have been here almost a week.  Today we rented a car from Hertz--right across the street.  Agent Nick asked us, "So you decided you needed a car?"  I had postponed our rental for four days saying that we were doing fine without a car.  We responded, "We do not need a car, but we want a car."  I'm sure Jim would have been fine without one, but I do get a bit restless.


We did not use the car for our daily trip for groceries at Publix about a 15 minute walk from Sunrise Resort.  We did take the car to Pass a Grille, the southernmost part of St. Pete Beach, where we walked on the beach walk with a great view of sea grass and the Gulf--not blocked by condos and resorts.  We treated ourselves to a pina colada and a margarita at the Hurricane Rooftop Bar and watched a quiet sunset.

Otherwise the week up to this point has been one of walking, eating, reading, and watching sports on TV.  We have spent a lot of time doing our 1000 piece puzzle, a gift from Susan and Jeff that pictures the beach at Ocean Grove.  Jim said at one point, "This is addictive."  It is amazing how fast 30 minutes can go looking for just the right pieces.  It is somewhat of a mindless activity, but still so satisfying when you find the piece that fits!

Our first few days here were cool.  In fact we had the furnace running and set at 71 or 72--just to keep warm with the poor insulation and lots of windows.  The last two days however we have shed our winter coats and turned the heat off and it has been lovely.

Thursday, January 4, 2018

-12 and Snow to 54 and Palm Trees

Yesterday it was -12 degrees at 7 am in South Bend.  That was the real temperature in degrees, not the wind chill.  We did not even venture out until noon when the temperature rose to 0 degrees.

Tonight we are in St. Pete's Beach where it is not warm but it is 60 degrees warmer than -12!  We are in a lovely 6th floor condo--Penthouse 3--at the Sunrise Resort.   We walked to Publix to get some groceries, had a happy hour in our condo, and then crossed the street to Tradewinds Resor's Palm Court for seafood risotto for me and gnocchi bolognese for Jim.  The full moon is beautiful over the harbor.
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And the sunrise was also spectacular over the harbor in the morning.

My first night here was not one of great sleep.  I wandered some and adjusted to unfamiliar sounds and hip pain.  But eventually, I found a place of peace and plugged in the heating pad and slept.

 I don't plan to blog daily.  This vacation should be one of routines of reading, walking, and eating!  I wish it were warmer (it was 39 degrees at 7 am) but it will get warmer this weekend.   At least we are away from snow--and for our kids, the "bombcyclone" in the Northeast.