2014-01-01 Happy New Year

We left Doug’s house on Friday after Christmas, drove back to Sumter Oaks, and Beverly drove back to Dayton. We all arrived home safely.  Bev had construction around Cincinnati, and we had heavy traffic from just before Ocala until we got south of the weigh station.

From Friday to Tuesday, we unpacked, Marilyn did wash, and we made more than one trip to Wal-Mart.

Wednesday afternoon, Marilyn and I joined 5 other couples to celebrate New Year’s Eve (Marge & Gordon Dembsey, the organizers of the evening; Don & Sue Paulson; Larry & Carolyn Jarvis; Frank & Maureen Halliday; and Dan & Kathy Smith).

Marge arranged for us to start the festivities in The Villages at TooJays  Restaurant.  I took the pictures as we were getting ready to order dinner.  Next on the agenda was the movie “Saving Mr. Banks”.  We had all wanted to see it, after seeing the commercials for the past weeks, and none of us were disappointed.  Then we all went back to Marge & Gordon’s screen room for coffee, cake, snacks, imbibing, and wishing everyone a wonderful 2014.

Merry Christmas - 2013-12-25

We hope that all of you are having a Very Merry Christmas with family wherever possible.

Before leaving Sumter Oaks, Wanda let us know that we are now number 2 on the list for long-term site rentals (ERPU as the program is called in Escapees language).  I did take another picture of the dash of our motorhome to show off Marilyn’s decorations.

We left Monday morning, and drove the Jeep to our son’s home in Columbus, GA, and Doug served pan seared rib eye steaks that were oven baked with a parmesan crust.  Our daughter, who lives in Dayton, OH, joined us on Christmas Eve.  Then we, joined by Doug’s friends Laila and Russ, all went out to Bonefish Grill for dinner.

Marilyn decorated Doug’s tree.   Doug tempted his and Laila’s dog Roman by making him lie down and not eat the treat on his paw until the command was given.

Christmas morning we enjoyed the presents under the tree. Then it was time for a delicious egg casserole, sausage, and Fo-mosa (orange juice and sparkling apple cider) for breakfast,

Type at you later.

Thursday, 2013-12-19

This has been another busy week. 

On Sunday, the 15th, we had a blast from last winter.  Jack and Dottie Barry came by to visit.   We drove to Coyote Rojo, in Bushnell, for another wonderful meal.  We all had the $12.99 special – beef and chicken fajita combo.  Marilyn and Dottie had some leftovers, but they were so good that Jack and I finished ours.

Monday, we had the house washed.  We thought the price was really good for here in FL – $100 for wash and $100 for hand wax.  It may not be as good as the $35 wash that Dennis got in Yuma, AZ, but they did polish the wheels.   Monday afternoon, Matrix delivered my new CPAP machine.  It has a higher setting than my old machine 15 instead of 6), but I guess I am getting used to it.  Monday was also Carolyn Jarvis birthday, so we went to Oakwood Smokehouse to celebrate hers, and three others including Sue Spahn’s (14th) and Maureen Haliday”s (19th). 

Tuesday, I went back to the dentist for my permanent crown, and impressions for a partial.  Next appointment is 1/13/14 for a fitting.  I stopped by Lone Oak Cemetery, Leesburg, to take a picture of the Veteran’s Wreath on her Father’s (the crypt includes Richard, her brother, N Douglas, her Father, and Lucia, her Mother) grave.

Wednesday there were a couple of trips to Wal-Mart, Marilyn made Christmas cookies, and I helped a little stirring the batter.

Of course, presents are getting wrapped so we can leave early Monday morning for Columbus, GA.

Type at you later.

Blog: 2012-12-14

The other day, Dennis Hill sent me an email reminder.  He said for me to Blog, that it had been over a month.  So, I will put something together.

Most of the past month has been about doctors, dentists, etc.  They started out as normal yearly checkups.  However the dentist wanted to replace a crown due to decay.  It required a root canal, then a temporary crown, next it will be a crown and a partial plate.

Our physicals went well, except Marilyn has a headache (me).  Sleep doctor wanted a new sleep study.  Now I will get a new CPAP machine.  In January, I will have carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand.

We had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving with Marilyn’s Cousin (Paul, 87) and family.

Marilyn has decorated the motorhome for Xmas.  We have done most of our shopping, and now have to wrap them before we go to our Son’s home in Columbus, GA for the 23rd to the 27th.

On the 12th, we, along with Larry & Carolyn Jarvis, went to Busch Gardens for two of the Christmas Shows.  We ate lunch at the Desert Grill so we could watch their Christmas show, but it was so active that the picture is blurry.    Then we went to the Christmas Ice Show. We had a minstrel entertain us before the show actually started.   This Christmas tree was taller than me.   While walking around, we saw these Pink Flamingos dancing around as a group.   Then, before heading for home, we took a train ride around the park, and we saw Giraffes, Rhinoceros, and deer like animas . 

We have also attended some of the Sumter Oaks RV Park activities (breakfasts, dinners, etc.)

2013-11-11

Today some of us from the Escapees’ Sumter Oaks RV Park attended the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Florida National Cemetery near Bushnell, FL.  Below are pictures from that event:  Phil Tobin, along with Marilyn and Teddy Pierson.

Next are Ralph and Bev Hosford. 

Mike and Jean Pertick follow: 

Larry & Carolyn Jarvis also joined us at the ceremony, 

 

We have Fran followed by general pictures of the us and the crowd. 

They band played, and patriotic songs were sung, Taps was played, and Amazing Grace was played on the bagpipes. 

Type at you later.

2013-11-10

Wednesday, the 5th, Marilyn started going to the activity center for exercise after our morning walk.  For dinner we went to Howie’s for all you can eat spaghetti with the Halliday’s and Larry Jarvis.  Thursday was the SKP lunch in Clermont at the Golden Corral.  Many of the approximately 40 were from Sumter Oaks, but we also got to see some new folks and several from the area we had not seen since last December.  Eye doctor visit at 2pm.  Marilyn doesn’t need new glasses, and mine are not a great change, but I will get new ones that are not scratched.  Friday Marilyn went for her m’gram and a stop at Publics.  We talked to Doug, and wished him a Happy Birthday.

Yesterday morning we went to the activity center at 8am for breakfast – scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and grits.  At 8:30, we drove to the Tampa airport to pick up Carolyn Jarvis.  Marilyn spent the afternoon making a delicious pea soup.  We had 8 of us for cocktails and dinner – Halliday’s, Jarvis’, Tobin’s, and ourselves.  In addition to the pea soup, we had salad, and a pasta casserole to welcome Carolyn back.

Type at you later.

2013-11-05

it doesn’t seem possible that as of tomorrow, we will have been here at Sumter Oaks for 20 days.  We have definitely been enjoying been enjoying our time with our friends.  Last Friday we took Carolyn Jarvis to the Tampa airport so she could fly to California to visit her brother.  Saturday we will pick her up as she returns. That evening my mew Microsoft Surface Pro 2 was delivered.  Since then I have been learning what it is capable of and not.  I am glad I have it. 

Yesterday, we started the doctor thing with a visit with our new primary care doctor in Bushnell.  Shorter drive, then up to Leesburg.  This morning was a Leesburg bone density test.  Then we stopped at our storage unit to start re-arranging it.

Type at you later.