Golfing Hazard

Recognize this sexy leg? Dale, Jay, George and Roger played golf at Mission Hills yesterday while us girls went shopping. George emailed this picture to Sue and said "you'll have to hear the whole story at happy hour!" Well....on the second hole Roger thought his ball went over the green into this muddy ditch - actually it was in the sand trap! God forbid he should take a penalty shot or loose a ball so he stepped into a little water and grass and sunk down to his knee in what he later described as "alligator poop!" He was using 2 clubs trying to pry himself out, without leaving his shoe behind, when George came to his rescue and pulled him out!!! George lost concentration because he was laughing so hard for the next few holes and Roger's golf karma was totally lost by the time he cleaned mud off his leg, shoe and clubs! He "squished" around the remaining 16 holes and owed them all money by the time they were done! Roger felt they should have paid him for the entertainment!

Happy Hour

The "gang" at George and Sue's rented house - the only place where we all fit! - for happy hour and pizza!
Gotta' get out of Florida soon - our waistlines and livers can't take much more!!!

Jay and Kim have been here this week visiting Dale and Kay. We've been busy every day - golfing and shopping. We took them to The Villages last night - what a "happening" place! They are on their way home today - had to rest up before going back to work! Fun seeing them!

Mardi Gras

Art (90) and Betty (89) - from Michigan - were our Mardi Gras "King and Queen" by a unanimous vote. He is a WWII vet and she teaches line dancing every Tuesday morning at the clubhouse. Such a cute couple! Hope Roger and I live to be cute 90 year olds!!

Roger was in San Antonio all last week for work. What a time he had getting "home" Friday night! His flight from SA was late due to bad weather and then delayed again in Houston because of weather and waiting for other incoming planes. When they finally got ready to leave the pilot made an announcement that they were too heavy and had to "off  load" some fuel. Forty-five minutes later they took off for a bumpy ride to Orlando. Not a good start and it went downhill from there! Normally this flight arrives at 11:40pm and Roger has a limo service bring him home so I don't have to drive alone so late at night to pick him up. He got to the baggage area and there was no one there with a "HEWLETT" sign - but, she called and said she was running late because her last pick up was late too and she would be there soon. She finally arrived, Roger settled in the back seat and laid his head back to relax during the 45 minute ride home. When he next opened his eyes it was totally black outside with little traffic - the ride from Orlando airport to Clermont is through an urban area with lots of lights and activity - he immediately knew something was wrong! He got out his IPhone, checked his mapping application and saw they were going the wrong way on the Florida Turnpike - on their way to Miami!! When he questioned Mary, the driver/owner of the business, she was sure she took the correct exit but, couldn't answer why her compass said "SE" when they should have been going "NW." They drove another 30 miles before finding an exit with a turn around! At that point, Roger checked his phone again - "98 miles to Clermont" and the RV park is on the other side of Clermont!! By now it's 2am and he calls me to tell me "it's a long story, but I'll be there in about an hour." As they approach Clermont, Mary says "do you know about how much longer to the exit, I'm a little worried about gas." Roger notices her gas gauge on "E." The towncar has a gauge that tells how many miles before it is totally out of gas and he sees that it is rapidly descending to zero! They make it to the RV park on fumes! He comes in at 3am and says "the driver is almost out of gas and I can't let her drive alone to find a station that is open - so, I'm going to follow her." Within about a quarter mile she runs out and coasts to a stop along the side of the road. Now Roger, who has paid $90 for a ride home, is the driver and Mary is the passenger! The first gas station does not have any gas cans but the second one does - Roger fills it and takes her back to her car and gets it started then follows her to the station. Once he knows she'll be OK he finally heads - the right direction! - for home! Arrives at 3:45am!!! The limo service is owned by a husband and wife team - at least they didn't charge him - but, I thought the husband would have called and said "thanks for taking care of my wife!" But.........

One more golf lesson scheduled. We've been playing more often and I had a 48 for 9 holes last Saturday. My best score yet! I'll never be great - just want to be good enough to not totally embarass myself! Roger is doing very well - got a new putter that is guaranteed to take strokes off his game!

I went to lunch with some of Roger's cousins last Friday that are in the area for the winter. Too bad he was in SA. They are all children of his mother's sisters. Barbara, Betty Lou and her huband, Everett, and Sharon and her husband Mike. Good to see them all doing well.

Mel & Ray

Roger was in San Antonio working all last week but got home in time for us to enjoy a fun week-end with Mel and Ray. They were only here for two days but, we made the most of them. We ate lunch outside on Saturday at the Tiki Bar - a fun little place on Lake Minneola; spent Saturday afternoon at the winery music festival; then drove to the Villages for dinner on Saturday night. There is entertainment every night at the gazebo in Spanish Springs - it was a duo playing and singing 60's music this week-end. Dick and Sally and Kay and Dale joined us - the eight of us had a fun evening.
We went to breakfast in Clermont on Sunday; browsed around the Farmer's Market and then rode our bikes into Winter Garden - it's about 5 miles each way. Everyone came over for dinner outside on Sunday evening - a nice ending to a great week-end! Wish we could spend more time with Mel and Ray but, they are youngsters - won't be retired for a while yet!
Roger is heading back to San Antonio on Wednesday for a presentation but, coming back to Florida on Thursday night. No time to install his new TV this week! He's finding out why they call it "work" and not "fun!"

Florida Living

Life is good!! We are really enjoying our time in Florida - our social calendar is full and it is so nice to spend time with friends. Don't get me wrong - I love Roger dearly - but, "girl time" is great! Kay, Sally and I rode our bikes into Clermont the other morning for coffee and sat outside a little cafe talking until after lunch!
The weather has been lovely for golf and biking and just being outside. We've even had two dinner parties on the patio!
I'm taking golf lessons once a week for 5 weeks - don't expect to excel but hopefully, to at least improve!

Roger has been busy installing our new HD-TV satellite dish on the roof. The new 32" (the biggest he can fit in the space!) flat screen TV is due tomorrow and he will be one happy guy to get it all hooked up. He deserves it - he's the one working for it! I took him to the airport this afternoon - he will be in San Antonio all week - returning on Friday.
Looking forward to Mel & Ray's visit this coming week-end. Hope the weather stays nice but I guess anything is better than the cold and snow they've been dealing with in Michigan!
Megan is busy going to school and working part-time at an Austin interior design company. They won't be able to join us here this winter but I'm looking forward to being in San Antonio next summer to spend more time with them.
Heather is in Bangkok shopping with girlfriends while Kyle is "Mr. Mom." Samantha and Emily called us on SKYPE last night and when I asked what her Daddy was doing, Samantha said "He's enjoying some peace and quiet while we talk with you!!"

Rolling Ridge

We arrived in Clermont last Monday and are settled in next to Dale and Kay. Dick and Sally arrive next week and other friends in February. It is nice to return and see people we know! We had two nights of hard freeze and since then it has been beautiful - in the high 70's. The park has changed because all of the lots are now privately owned and most have been improved with pavers, sheds and landscaping - so nice not to track in sand! The new homeowners association is busy getting organized and making improvements so we are looking forward to a fun winter.
Lakeridge Winery is just up the road and they have live music on Saturday afternoons. The four of us took our lawn chairs up yesterday and had a pleasant afternoon just sipping and talking and listening to the band.

We biked into Clermont this morning and had breakfast at a little cafe on the main street. They were having a Farmer's Market all along the block so we browsed at all the stalls. Roger was happy because I can't buy much if I have to carry it home on my bike!
We are going to the driving range this afternoon - Roger and Dale played golf last Thursday but, I haven't played in ages and we signed up for the golf league on Tuesdays. Gotta' get my groove back!!
Going to the flea market on Monday; golf on Tuesday; get my hair done on Wednesday; going to the Tampa RV Show on Thursday - such a full social schedule!!!

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for a 2012 blessed with health and happiness! 

We are in St. Augustine, Florida for the week-end and will drive to Clermont and our winter home tomorrow morning. St. Augustine is the oldest city in the states - founded in 1565 by a Spanish explorer named Menendez.
It was a beautiful Saturday, in the 70's, and we enjoyed a trolley tour of the historic downtown, lunch at an outdoor pub and walking along the cobblestone streets. We celebrated a great 2011 and toasted to an even better 2012 during dinner at a nice Italian restaurant and were in bed by 10:30pm!!!
We drove along the waterfront on Sunday, walked out on a long fishing pier, where they were catching blue fish, and stopped at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. We had lunch at the Conch House in the harbor and reflected on all our wonderful adventures during 2011 while we feasted on fried shrimp.