Wednesday-Sunday, February 6-10

I'm back again after 5 days of traveling, visiting, eating, shopping and big-time FUN!  

  Here's a brief recap....

 

Wednesday....exercised and then off at 8 AM for Venice where we met friends Carol, Bob, Barbara and Mark.   We all boated together and were on the same dock in Racine for many years.    Enjoyed a boat ride on Bob and Carol's deck boat around the intracoastal and then delicious lunch at

The Crow's Nest. 

 

Mark and Barbara

Bob and Carol

 

   Nice surprise to see 2 couples from back home there also having lunch.  Mark and I left then for Lakeland and 2 days of fun with my brothers and wives starting with great dinner at Harry's.

 

Thursday - The 6 of us took off to Tarpon Springs for a fun day of shopping, eating great Greek food at Hella's and then bringing back awesome delectable treats for later.     Had appetizers and our desserts and then a good night's rest.

 

Friday - After breakfast, we gals took off for the Lakeland mall - found the most beautiful baby shop (Baby Avenue).....met the guys at Crisper's for lunch and then Mark and I said our good-byes and we headed back to Fort Myers Beach. 

 

Bob, Linda, Vicki, Ron, Pat

 

  We were home about 1.5 hours and then off to pick up Paul and Kathy and onto Naples where we met Barb and Roger for wonderful dinner at Tommy Bahamas.    Downtown Naples at night is a beautiful sight with all the tiny lights on the palm trees and sitting outdoors on this spectacular evening made it extra special.

 

Mark, Kathy, Paul, Roger, Barb, Pat

 

Saturday - Got some things done around Catrina in the morning and then Paul, Kathy, Mike, Claire and Paul and Margie arrived for a Catrina outing on the Back Bay - another gorgeous day.     Later we had some treats - Margie and Paul left as she wasn't feeling well!   

 

Paul, Margie, Pat, Mark

 

 Rest of us went to Parrot Key for dinner and listened to Frank Turino for 1 hour and then to Big Game to hear Gatlin - boy, talk about entertaining.....Darryl Gatlin and Andrea.   Big crowd and everyone having so much fun!

 

Paul, Mark, Mike, Claire, Pat, Kathy

 

Sunday - Patrick did face time with us watching Liam as goalie at the Coliseum....how neat was that - gotta love this technology    Liam had just 7 goals scored against him!!!   Left the boat at 8:30 and had delicious breakfast at Skillets (thanks for this great tip, Allie) and then to 11:00 mass at St. Ann in Naples.    I shopped 3rd Street and 5th Avenue....Mark went to the City Docks for ice cream and saw Sharon and Harry from back home!!!    Surprise.....and then I saw them on the street browsing the shops.   LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Naples!!!

 

We are back on Catrina and feels good - ready for a relaxing evening before I'm off again tomorrow with Sue, Claire and Kathy!

 

Despite all this fun...was a real downer week hearing about FIVE new cancer diagnoses.    It all started Wednesday when we heard that Mark's Mom has melanoma.....whew....major shock.   Then 4 more (all men) we know from home who have this dreadful disease.    Lots of prayers ongoing.    Mark's Mom has already been to the University of Iowa for first consultation and hopes to hear soon when her surgery is scheduled.

This afternoon we talked to Philip and Ryan and then tonight we did face time with Michael, Brooke and boys and then a long phone chat with Anne.

 

Have a great week!!!