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.