Blog2Print and the Joys of Being Home

Since getting home, I have been aware of three folks who read my blog posts from Florida.  10 to 14 folks are usually recorded as readers but I have no idea of who these readers are.  I don't blog for my readers although I am happy to have readers!  I blog for Jim and me--as a record of our lives.  And then in January I make a Blog2Print book of the previous year.  We now have more than 10 years of these books and they are great for our memories.  We both keep journals and diaries but these books have photos.  

Life is back to normal.  Jeff has returned our plants.  We shopped for groceries and went to CVS for prescriptions on Friday which left Saturday strangely free.  It was rainy and cold yesterday so we did church via livestream again instead of having to walk from the municipal parking deck to the sanctuary. (Nassau Church has no parking lot.)

We do our NYT spelling bee in the morning until we get to genius--even if it takes many hints about initial letters for words.  We do a NYT crossword puzzle in the late afternoon, often going back into the archives to find ones we haven't done.  Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are days that we can do the puzzle of the day. Jim does Sunday from the magazine.  The puzzles earlier in the week are not usually challenging enough to do them together--although often plenty difficult enough for me to do alone.

We watch a lot of sports on TV and are happy to manage our own TV with minimal challenges. Yesterday it was two great NFL playoff games with surprising winners going into the Super Bowl next month. 

I miss looking out at the beautiful Boca Ciega Bay but we both really do like our spacious and comfortable apartment.  There is a requested book for me waiting at the Princeton Library and Jim has one to return to the University Library (which Susan checked out fof him.)  I have cooked meals for the last three nights and didn't find it so burdensome after a break from meal preparation. 

 I am contented enough to feel that maybe we should wait to pursue living at Stonebridge, the senior living community we had looked into.  But we have to remember that we need to commit to that while they are still willing to take us as "independent" seniors.  

Days 9, 10, 11, and 12

 

My sister said a friend of hers who comes to Florida every year said this was the coldest January in memory for her.  I would feel worse about that if I had any more energy for long walks or exploration. Walking has been difficult for me and I have been happy to take my husband's arm for support.  I have been quite content to sit in the condo and enjoy my books and enjoy sports on TV.  And to enjoy looking outside at the beauty of the bay at any time of day or night and checking out the pink sky over the Gulf at sunset.

We decided to enjoy a restaurant we have visited every year--Agave.  It is a very untouristy Mexican place with inexpensive margaritas and tasty meals.  It is noisy and crowded and it was great again.
 

The weather was a bit warmer today--and will get warmer each day with the warmest day this week the one in which we hope to be heading home.  

Our prayers this week have been with Laura who is struggling with pretty bad hip pain and has spent a lot of time in bed.  And for Susan's dad who had a heart attack and now has had complications from his treatment and is back in the hospital.  

Day 10  We made a quick trip to Publix and Dollar Tree before getting gas and returning the car to the Hertz kiosk across the street.  Jim put in a grand total of $2.64 worth of gas to fill the tank.  We had not gone far at all and the car was a hybrid.  

Today is the warmest day thus far.  I may even venture to the fishing deck on the bay and enjoy the sunshine.  I have just spent an hour perusing books on my "want to read" list on Goodreads and have downloaded a few of them.  We have some frozen lobster bisque for supper--I couldn't find any fresh servings which I knew they had last week.  Jim is always glad to have the rental car returned safely.  I always feel constrained without wheels.  But just one day and a half and we head home.  I checked the flight status and it is still a go on Thursday.  May that continue!

-------Day 11  

Yes,  that is Jim in shorts and sandals for the first time since we got here 11 days ago.  And we have just downloaded our boarding passes for tomorrow's flight at 12:14 pm.  It is a beautiful 76 degrees outside and we enjoyed sitting by the bay for a while.  We are having great weather just in time for us to leave!

On our last evening it was warm enough to enjoy drinks at the Tiki Bar across the street at Tradewinds.  A meal of jumbo hotdogs and french fries from the Food Truck next to it was perfect! 

I am so glad we have our boarding passes and am optimistic that things will go better heading home than they did getting here--with our delays of day after day.  I am eager to be home and yet feel a bit melancholy because I really do think we will not do this again.  Travel was difficult and stressful.  I am finding it hard to walk anywhere without taking Jim's arm.  Life gets to be more and more limited and I am thinking that is OK.  I like home and will be happy and I hope contented to be home soon.

------------And after listening to the news tonight, I am thinking that I am not going to fly anywhere again. There were too many air incidents. May we have safe travel tomorrow!  I am saying my prayers.  

------------Day 12  Home at 4:40 pm.  Our flight was uneventful and landed early in Newark. We had to wait to deplane because there was a medical emergency mid-flight and an ambulance was there to pick someone up.  Newark is a big airport and it was a long walk to ground transportation and lots of traffic where we were waiting for our Uber.  Six minutes away--now four minutes--now five minutes!  Four Uber rides for this vacation--and all went well.

So glad to be home!  Thankful for the beauty of St. Pete Beach and for the good eating and drinking we enjoyed.  But home is best!  

Days 6, 7, and 8

It is cold here in Florida.  And today it is rainy.  Yesterday our only outing was to get supplies at Dollar Tree and Publix--toilet paper, tissues, toothpaste, cookies for Jim and chocolate for me.  Plus more fruit and sandwich meat to make up a healthy supper that we could eat at our condo.

Today we ventured farther to John's Pass where we have our annual late lunch at the Pirate Grub and Hub.  We found the municipal lot and then ended up paying a whopping 23 dollars for parking because we couldn't seem to regulate the kiosk to do less.  It was drizzling so we ate inside but we enjoyed our beers and hot dogs in spite of the rain.

I got a phone call this morning from Jessie asking us if we wanted to reserve a place for next year.  I said that we did not want to commit to that.  I will have to remind myself next June or July that this really does need to be our last time here.  Once again, travel was so stressful--for far different reasons this year than last.  I find it difficult to walk any distance at all.  And the January weather is not great--even if we do appreciate being here when rates are less and restaurants are not busy.

But as always, the view of the bay is so lovely--early this am with big clouds over it--at dusk when it is all purple and the white buildings of St. Petersburg gleam in the distance--and then at night when the lights over the bay are twinkling.  

We did better with finding the TV sports Jim wanted last night--in the living room.  Jim is very patient with trial and error--and we enjoyed lots of NBA games and even one college game with Bronny James playing for USC.

 

Day 7  We walked across the street to the Gulf and sat on a bench that was coincidentally inscribed "Mary's happy place."  The sun was shining and it felt almost warm.  We took off our winter jackets!  

We left for an early dinner and drove to The Wharf in Pass-a-Grille.  We sat outside looking at the bay and ordered our tropical drinks and meals.  Jim was suddenly surprised by a sea gull tapping him on the shoulder and aiming for his bag of potato chips.  The waitress had given us a bottle of water to squirt at the menacing birds and Jim used it more than once during our dinner.  

Day 8  We enjoyed breakfast (55 and over menu) at IHOP--as we have done every year on a Saturday morning.  The sun is shining but it is a chilly 48 degrees.  Florida in January is not warm but it is not the blizzard like conditions folks are having in Indiana and Michigan and New Jersey. The plan for the rest of the day is another Publix trip and lots of playoff football.  

Days 3 and 4

 The view from our condo is lovely and for that I am grateful.  Because I have not left the premises since the first few hours after we arrived.  Yesterday I was just so glad to not have to walk through airports and today something disagreed with my digestive system and I stayed put.  So we didn't rent a car or make dinner plans.  Toast and cheese was good enough and Jim had another frozen Lean Cuisine.  He walked to Publix both days to get supplies. 

When I went out on the little porch I looked down at the green palms and noted the variety of green color from bottom to top--dark to light.  I had never noticed that before.  So it was my little bit of joy in an otherwise somewhat dreary day.  Plus the lovely orange and yellow buildings--colors we don't see in New Jersey!  

Of course, there is plenty of football--with wildcard games.  We could not get the living room TV to work but we succeeded with the bedroom TV so we have had happy hour and supper sitting in bed.  

I hope tomorrow is a day to rent a car and find some good seafood to enjoy.  

----------Tuesday: Jim rented a Corolla from the Hertz kiosk right across the street and we drove to Pass-a-Grille where we have eaten many times before.  We parked behind the Hurricane Restaurant and thus chose to go to Hurricane--eating inside because it is cold and windy.  I had a crab cake sandwich and Jim had a shrimp dinner--so we got our Florida seafood.  We ate early like the old folks that we are and came back to the condo for our daily Key Lime Pie dessert--our usual purchase from Publix.  

The news is about the Iowa caucases in which Trump won easily with Haley and DeSantis well behind and pretty much tied with each other.  I despair.  How can the Dutch Christian Reformed folk from our heritage in NW Iowa go for a man who is so unChristian in his life and actions and words?  

I am thankful to feel better today.  I wish the weather were warmer but it is not the blizzard conditions they are having in Michigan and the snowy condition in New Jersey.  I sat out on the deck and enjoyed a bit of sunshine and a warm breeze. 

We were frustrated trying to get sports on TV.  Someone came to help us use the living room TV but it was still difficult.  Jim was very patient and kept trying things--and finally got TNT so we can watch NBA tonight from the living room--not the bedroom.  Ah, there are many good things about home and our easy, comfortable life there!

We Made It to St. Pete Beach

 After two cancellations and reschedulings and much uncertainty, we traveled yesterday from Newark to Tampa on a Max9 plane that we trusted had been thoroughly inspected.  TSA in Newark was easy compared to the nightmare of last year.  The flight was smooth and arrived a bit early.  We found our Uber ride easily and successfully opened the lobby door and our 512  condo door with the new passcodes.  

We walked across the street to Tradewinds Resort and got our usual margaritas and chili nachos to share for supper at the Flying Bridge location.

Then the trouble began when we could not get back into the lobby.  This time the code would not work.  We called the emergency number and communicated with difficulty.  I envisioned our sitting outside for the night--unless someone happened to leave the building and thus open the door to let us in!  Eventually we got a call  from Bonnie, who was on call and told us how to open a lock box next to the bike rack.  Sadly it was too dark to see the numbers--but iphone flaslights helped.   The numbers were still hard to read--but we opened the box to get the key to the stairwell.  We were given strict instructions to replace the key in the box for the next person who might need it.  We walked up the five flights of stairs.

And we were able to get into the condo again.  It was not a good night of sleep for me--just too wired from the day's journey and too full of nachos!  This morning Jim walked across the street to get us muffins and Starbucks coffee and will probably make a solo trip to Publix with a list because I am walking with difficulty. We did our Nassau Presbyterian Church via livestream and heard a pastor from Myanmar speak of the dire situation there and how churches can and need to help. 

It's a cloudy and cold day here and we have even put on the heat.  But it's colder in New Jersey and it's blizzard weather in Michigan.

Max 9 and Us

Home and a gas fire

Last week there was a terrible scare with a Max 9 aircraft when a door fell off in the air.  No one was lost but it was very frightening.  So all Max 9 aircraft needed to be inspected.  That meant our flight for today was cancelled.  I spent a lot of time yesterday rescheduling for tomorrow--time on my United app and on the phone. 

 We woke up this morning to another text message saying our flight for tomorrow was cancelled too.  Jim got on the phone this time working with someone who was trying for different airlines.  Their connection got cut off!  He tried again and now we are scheduled for Saturday afternoon arriving in Tampa in the evening.  

So we lose two days in Florida.  That is not so bad.  If that flight gets cancelled again, I may have to see if the travel insurance I bought covers the condo fees.  At some point, we would give up and get our money back on the flight at least.  

It is a direct flight--out of Newark--so that is good.  We are familiar with the area around the condo so we can figure out food when we arrive.  And drinks!  

I am stressed but am grateful to be home and not in an airport.  But now I am convinced this needs to be our last Florida trip! 

Getting Ready to Travel

 Last year, I said it was our last trip to St. Pete Beach.   I pulled my suitcase through Newark Airport on our return home thinking it was my last time of air travel.  But I thought differently as the year went along and we made reservations for Sunrise Resort again.  And United Airlines reservations again.  It can't be as bad as last year--I hope--when they were opening a new terminal and were not prepared.  The weather is not good today or tomorrow but looks better for Thursday morning.  We plan to get an Uber to the Newark Hilton tomorrow evening so it will be an easy shuttle ride to the terminal the next morning.

So today it is a long list of things to do and people to contact.  Jim just got cash for the trip.  I contacted Sunrise Resort who said they had sent us the access codes but we have not received them.  So they are trying again.  One year we had a problem opening a lock box--but they don't use them any more.  But where is the errant email?  I asked them to send it again to Jim's email and my alternate gmail account. (update--we have the codes--hooray!)  Along the same lines,  my UHC health card had to be reiussued and was still in the mail.  Jim found a way to access it online and print it up.  But my laptop has yet to be connected to our printer.  I found a way to make a pdf and sent it to Jim who printed it up.  Now, we hope we won't need it but we are ready!  For our offspring and their offspring, this may all seem easy--but to us old-timers, we are very glad when technology works!

I am doing loads of laundry but will not start to pack until tomorrow.  I have downloaded books to read although that can be done at any time and from any place.  I have contacted our downstairs neighbor to let him know we will be gone.  I have canceled the weekend NYT.  We have both made sure we have enough  meds and eye drops.  I will distribute mine tonight so that I don't have to pack seven bottles of pills--ah, far too many but they do keep me in good health!  We are trying to use up the food in the refrigerator--and I've checked to see that eggs can keep for weeks so they don't have to be thrown out or eaten.  

We plan to bring our plants to Jeff and Susan's for watering while we are gone. 

United Airlines has recalled Max 9 planes to be inspected after a horrendous incident a few days ago when a door fell off a plane.  Supposedly they found loose screws on a few they inspected.   I am telling myself we are safer now than before the incident because they have checked for problems.  Even still, I try to put that image of the opening in the aircraft out of my mind.  And I don't know if we are flying a Max 9 plane or not.

We are renting the same condo (#512) as last year and it was lovely.  The bay view is wonderful at sunrise, all day long, at dusk and after nightfall.   Looking the other way, we can see the sunset across the busy boulevard between the hotels on the Gulf but it is the Bay that is most beautiful.  I am remembering Publix's Key Lime Pie and margaritas enjoyed with views of the Gulf or Bay and crab cake sandwiches. I hope I can post soon with an account of an easy and safe arrival.

----------uptdate on January 10  Because of the Max9 incident, our flight was canceled for tomorrow.  I jsut spent a lot of time on my app and on the phone and think I have successfully changed our flight to Friday.  Too many confirmation numbers and passwords!  But I did talk to two live people and they were helpful.  Alternatives were flying stand-by at 6 am or transferring in Houston or Cleveland--not exactly on the way to Florida.