Thursday
First day of
fall and we were up and ready for the 5:15 shuttle. I flew to Atlanta (was able to get an
earlier flight (6:30) and Mark flew to Newark and then Norfolk.
I arrived in
Atlanta, had some breakfast and then flew onto Fort Myers. Flights were uneventful and also getting the
rental car – little red focus with California plates. Drove to Claire’s condo on the beach,
unpacked and settled in. Claire fixed
some yummy salads and after lunch we went to Charisma for manicures and toe-color
change. It was so good to be back
with Jay (owner) and Mimi (her sister).
They are such neat, fun gals and I missed them last year since we were
in Okeechobee.
Claire and I
then drove with pretty nails and toes to the airport and met Kathy. Got her bag and off we went to downtown Fort
Myers and the Firestone Grill. We had
drinks upstairs at the Skybar (love this place).
Drinks with my good friends at the Skybar on the first day of fall and it was very HOT!
It was so fun to be together and yak
away. We then had wonderful dinner
downstairs. Drove thru heavy rain on
our way back to the beach. Good to be
“home” and settled in! We girls
stayed up til 11:30 chatting.
Mark arrived
in Norfolk and taken to the airport by Don Hammer (he and Joan have been
keeping Toad for 2 weeks). Mark
returned his rental and left in Toad for the long trip back to Catrina. He spent the night in Wilmington NC.
Friday
Mike and Claire walked the beach; Kathy and I came along a bit later. It was already sticky and humid. Came back for breakfast and what a treat to
have a good ole kringle from Racine (pumpkin caramel) and fresh fruit. We gals took off and picked up Beth (our friend
Mark and I met in Marathon – she and John are former PDQ owners). Sooo fun to see Beth and John again. Claire and Kathy got the grand tour of
their lovely condo and then we took Beth with us to Bell Tower shops where we
had lunch at Bistro 41 – awesome and then shopped.
Beth and Pat
We got back to the car shortly before the
heavens opened up big time…..went thru Starbucks drive-thru and it was pouring
with some amazing cracks of thunder.
Sat in the car for quite a long while as it just poured…..probably lost
a good 45-minutes to 1 hour of shopping!!! Did a bit more shopping, sun was
shining again, took Beth home and then we arrived back at the beach. Sat on the lanai enjoying some very cold
wine! Then the 4 of us (Mike, Claire,
Kathy and I) drove to the Sunset Beach Grille for dinner – fun sitting outdoors
and listening to live entertainment.
Fort Myers Beach Sunset
My Maeve fix for the day
Mark stopped
in Georgetown, SC (favorite from on the boat and when Linda, Vicki and I
shopped, ate and stayed here 3 years ago almost to the day). Love this little town that had a horrific
fire sweep thru their historic downtown just a few days after we girls had been
here. Nothing has been done with
rebuilding, (6-8 businesses were lost), but Doodlebugs (darling children’s
shop) has moved to a different location.
I was hoping Mark would check it out and perhaps do little shopping for his granddaughters,
but…..didn’t happen, plus 20 minutes till store opened for the day!
He’s happy to have 1 ½ days to whittle down his
job list!
Liam and friends helping with the groundbreaking for new junior high at Corpus Christi.
Saturday
Started the day with a wonderful
breakfast (all 4 of us) at Flipper’s.
Mike left and we gals found a
prompt care. Kathy had surgery on her arm 2 weeks ago and
wanted to make sure it was healing ok.
Nurse practitioner gave her a new antibiotic and we were good to
go. And let the shopping begin – 1st
to Victoria (hand painted clothing) then Santini Plaza. Had some excellent ice cream for a nice late
afternoon treat at Truly Scrumptious.
Met Mike at church of the Ascension for 4:30 Mass.
Back to the
condo for wine and visiting before a delicious dinner of cedar-plank salmon which
Mike prepared on the grill, fresh asparagus, cole slaw and sweet potato
fries. Then onto euchre with Mike and
Claire beating Kathy and me 2 out of 2.
But a lot of fun and laughs!
Although it
is very hot and humid here in Fort Myers, the traffic (or lack of) is
wonderful! Enjoying this reprieve
before the Snowbirds are back….
Liam and friends, Will, Blaise and Rem at the Notre Dame game
They had a great time, despite the 38-35 loss to Duke
Mark spent the night in Darien, GA. We were in this neat little town with Catrina a few years ago.
Sunday
Sunny, hot and humid! After breakfast, Claire, Kathy and I left
for Punta Gorda airport to return rental car.
Met Annette’s parents at the Skyview Café for breakfast/lunch and nice
visit. They drove Philip’s car over
from Lake Worth and then flew back to Rockford. We gals drove back to the beach in Philip’s
car.
Paul and Kathy Carapella who used to live in Bloomington and
now full timers in FL came for drinks at 4:30. Fun visiting and catching up but the
heavens opened up big time and it poured and blew and poured some more! We left for the Prawnbroker at 6:10 and the rain lightened up a bit. We had a wonderful
dinner with more good visiting. Said
our good byes to Paul and Kathy and we came back to the condo.
Our wonderful host and hostess
Claire and Mike
Kathy - Claire - Pat
Mark arrived
at Philip and Annette’s around at 1:15.
Monday – Up early and my dear friends
(Kathy, Claire and Mike) were all up to say
good bye! What a fun weekend on Fort
Myers Beach! Kathy flew back to
Texas this afternoon. I left in Philip’s
car for Lake Worth (161 miles). Trip went well and so good to be back here with Mark, the kids and our little darlins’. Maeve has really changed (been almost 3 weeks – she has chunky
little arms and legs, her face is fuller AND she is just full of sweet little
smiles and coos.) We had quite a little
chat after I got here with Maeve doing most of the “chatting”.
Philip,
Annette and their friends, Jeff and Jessica left for Miami and then a cruise to
Nassau, some other islands and Key West celebrating Philip's 40th.
They will be back Friday and Grandpa and I will hold down the fort!
The Cruisers...
Annette, Philip, Jessica and Jeff
Chatting with Grandma
A little cuddling and catnap with Grandpa
