Gotta Smile!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places

January 11 - 15, 2012

No, not me! Rest assured I have all of the 'hunk a hunk of burning love' I can handle with my man, Big B!

Downtown Sarasota landmark.

Our friend, Eileen, came

for a short visit from Minnesota. She has been a widow for seven years and would love to find a traveling companion. (Does that sound discrete?) I told her I'd put a post on my blog and see if anyone showed up. You know -- stranger things have happened! She has traveled to many exotic places around the world as well as interesting destinations in the United States. Email for the juicy details!

A short cruise to Sarasota begins with a pump-out.
100 gallons of sewage removed from our holding tank!
We really know how to show guests a good time....

Condos in Sarasota overlooking the bay.

Yowza!!! My 66th birthday.
Brian made dinner
and invited neighbors over for cake and ice cream.
It was quite the extravaganza!

Walking the beach and picking up shells on
Longboat Key

A day of shopping at St Armand's proved very
successful for both of us.

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Past Clients - New Friends

January 9, 2012

You know how sometimes you get together with someone and feel like you have known them forever? Well, that happened yesterday. Past clients from Afton, Minnesota, Dick and Kristi, came to Longboat for the day. This is there second winter in Pass-a-Grille. Kristi and I have been sporadically emailing one another for about a year. We have both noticed many parallels in our lives. However, we weren't sure how the guys would get along. (Isn't that always the challenge -- finding couples that both the husband AND wife are compatible with you and your spouse?) Well, no worries this time. Dick seems to love all things mechanical and understands the complexity of boat systems -- so right there we are over the hump. Kristi and I hardly came up for air as we jumped from topic to topic. It was such a fun reunion for me and a great visit for all of us. After lunch at Tommy Bahama's in St Armand's Circle, we agreed to spend another day with them soon and get an insider's tour of their cute town.

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

It Must Have Been A Premonition

January 8, 2012

Brian came home yesterday after getting rid of the bad dingy fuel (Second Rescue at Sea – December 5, 2011). He said it looked like there was a huge art festival going on in downtown Sarasota and asked if I wanted to go. I had just finished cleaning the interior of the boat and an afternoon of wondering through arts and crafts booths sounded like a good way to relax. We drove over to Sarasota and were lucky to find a parking spot -- the city was on overload. As we entered the festival area, we commented, quietly to each other, these don’t look like typical art festival attendees. Well, for good reason! This was Thunder By The Bay, Sarasota’s fourteenth annual motorcycle festival. If we thought there were a lot of vehicles parked in the lots, that was nothing. Probably eight city blocks were parked with motorcycles on each side of the street and also down the middle. The motorcycles were gorgeous. They ranged from a Hello Kitty motif to a paint job that looked like an undulating python. The crowd was polite, but obviously knew that we were out of our element. Still we wondered up and down the streets taking in all of the sights and believe me there were sights to be taken in! As we left, I asked a policeman how many were expected. Easily 20,000 he replied.

Do you see me?

Ok, so my last blog was titled ‘Evil Knievel on Training Wheels’. Today we wind up at a motorcycle festival. But, that’s not the best part. We met a couple in the marina, Nancy and Michael. They have rented a 60 foot boat for the winter. It’s too big for them to take out of the marina without a captain, but they are using it like a condo. We stopped by to say ‘Hi’ and they invited us onboard to see their accommodations. The boat is called Brat and they said that they were told that it had originally belonged to ------ Evil Knievel! I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.

Gotta smile – we’re lovin the ride!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Evil Knievel on Training Wheels

January 7, 2012

The picture may look blurred because
I'm going so fast.

Brian got the bikes off the upper deck today and we went for a little ride. I haven't been on my bike for two years. The last time we went for a bike ride we were in Fairhope, Alabama. We decided to ride from the marina into town. We didn't realize how hilly the terrain was. Everything went well in the beginning, but as the hills got more frequent and steeper, I began having trouble. At one point, Brian was running along next to me pushing my bike and steadying it just like you do with a five year old the first time he rides without training wheels. It was so very pathetic. Luckily, today's ride went much better. The terrain was flat and pedestrians jumped out of the way as I approached. Somehow they sensed some trepidation in my riding skills. (Another day I'll tell the tale of my encounter with Stuart in 4th grade -- he didn't move out of my way. It really was an accident!) Brian said I can't go out again without my helmet. He's probably right -- again.

Gotta Smile -- we're lovin the ride!

You Just Never Know

January 6, 2011

Back in 1999 Brian and I went to a Trawlerfest. That is a convention for people that own a trawler, want to own a trawler or are thinking about trawlers. They have boats to walk on and look at, booths with stuff that you absolutely need, and classes. Brian took some classes on navigation and care of the engine -- wouldn't you expect that? I took a class for 'wives on board' that included first aid and galley basics. One of the things that they discussed in my class was burial at sea. Seems reasonable..... Out of the whole week-end that is the one item that is most remembered. Brian has lived in constant fear that someday he'll be my practice case for 'burial at sea'. Mostly he worries that he won't be dead when tossed overboard. Well, earlier this week I saw a car advertisement that just might be a new money maker for us if times get tough. Notice the last line. Apparently, my skills are now in demand. Who knew?

Yesterday we drove to Largo to visit Brian's stepmother, Fran, who is 96. She loved being on the water at their cabin in Michigan, at the beach in Florida and on boats when she was younger. She has always had a very inquisitive mind and been interested in most anything you want to talk about. (The perfect listener for Brian.) We took the iPad and gave her a short travelogue of our trip. I didn't mention my new business -- it seemed a bit insensitive.

On our way back to Longboat Key we drove through many beach communities and St. Petersburg. We're trying to acquaint ourselves with the area. Our friends Kristi and Dick live in a small town that I love. It's very funky. Lots of art galleries, small shops, near the beach -- Passe A Grille. One to definitely put on the possibility list for when we tire of life on the high seas. But for now....

Gotta smile -- we're lovin' the ride!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

No Bathing Suits, But No Snow Either

January 4, 2011

The weather reports were buzzing last night because there was a hard freeze predicted in the area. A hard freeze is when it gets to 32 degrees or lower and stays there for more than four hours. Their forecasts were correct and the temperatures in many areas did fall below 32. It is a big deal down here, as you can imagine. Plants need to be protected. However, for us who have endured very harsh winters in Minnesota it's a walk in the park. Which is what we just did. With only a fleece, we went for a walk and it was beautiful. The sun is still shining, the sky is still blue, there's no wind and the temperature is 41. On Friday it is supposed to be back in the 70's and next week it may hit 80. When we lived in Minnesota and saw the freeze warnings for Florida, I always imagined people wearing parkas and long underwear. I'm not gloating about the weather (well, maybe a little) I'm just explaining the difference between my perception and reality. Hey, even if it gets to 90, I won't be wearing a bathing suit on the beach. In college, my nickname was 'The Bod'......sadly the bod is not what it once was, but it will still be enjoying the weather!

Gotta Smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Over The River and Through the Woods

December 19 - 30, 2011

We can't believe it is Christmas! The last three months have gone so fast and now we are in Florida with blue skies and balmy temperatures. We must be crazy to head back to Minnesota in the middle of winter. We are crazy.... crazy to see our family!!! We take a flight on the 19th to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul). Steve picks us up and takes us to their new Afton home where we are greeted by hugs, kisses and "I love yous" from Addison and Niko. There is no snow and the temperatures are mild -- 30's and low 40's. Great news for the two of us, but disappointing to the rest of the group. Jennifer, Ian, Christopher and JAC are arriving on the 22nd. In the mean time there is lots to do. I have to get my hair cut and colored (critical), do some grocery shopping, stop at the office to say 'hi' to friends, have lunch with additional friends and pick up some last minute gifts. Brian and I both meet Barb and Sandy for lunch. He gets the Boxster out of storage and goes to Mayo for his five year cancer check. Great news -- he is clear of anything that resembles a cancer cell and doesn't have to return for additional check-ups for eighteen months! We are so thankful. Jennifer arrives with her children in the morning and Ian arrives that evening. Now, things are getting really festive (code for- crazy wild)! Christmas morning is pure unadalterated chaos. Wrapping paper flies off the gifts, shouts of pure joy, and lots of hugs. I know it sounds like a Hallmark card but, It was pretty much perfect. Early on the 28th Jennifer and her family left for the airport to return to Dallas while Brian and I hopped in the Boxster to drive to Florida. We had an incredible family Christmas with no fights or arguments and I didn't say anything inappropriate (that I remember). Maybe we are just becoming more tolerant of each other's idiosyncrasies? A special thanks to Erin for taking in all of her in-laws for a whole week and never looking like she wanted to kill us or herself!


Gotta Smile -- We're lovin the ride!