Thursday - March 19

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y,   D A V I S

Davis is 18....sweet, funny, smart, cute, athletic and all-around neat guy we are proud to call our grandson!!!

More depressing news this morning with numbers rising for the coronavirus.    Our Florida governor and senator said "The party's over"!!!   "Get off the Beach"!
Where will all these kids go and congregate (in groups of 10 or less)?    And bars, shops, some restaurants closed?   If you are found walking FMB, there could be a $5,000 fine!

Not all the beaches have closed though....
  Englewood and Clearwater had huge crowds today?????

Forgot to mention that Ryan is in Salt Lake City and was there yesterday when the 5.7 earthquake hit.    He definitely felt it!

Today is the feast of St. Joseph and Pope Francis has asked the world to join in unison to pray the rosary (or however you pray) for the coronavirus pandemic.    We were going to our meditation park here at Cypress Trail - so pretty and peaceful, but it's soo hot, decided to stay inside Flo and pray.

Our neighbors to the north, Dick and Rita wanted to get together for wine and snacks on our patio one last time.    We kept our distance with no hand shakes or hugs.    Great visit and we will miss them.....

Tomorrow, neighbors to the south, Rog and Martin are heading home to Missouri.    

Our AC is having an issue.    Working fine, but when the fan is on, makes a funny noise.    Rick, the RV repairman in the park came tonight.    He's going to check on ordering part (hopefully not take too long) and get back to us!

432 cases in Florida - 9 deaths

Beautiful view tonight across the street

WELCOME  SPRING!  

  

Wednesday - March 18

I walked, Mark lifted weights and then we  ran a few errands - quick ins and outs.    Publix was not too busy and surprised that there was no bread?    Thought those are a daily delivery?    Of course, TP shelves were still bare.    We picked up a few things and on home.

Did some laundry and just stayed inside Flo.   Later this afternoon we walked to Jim and Lydia's and enjoyed 3 games of euchre under their gazebo.    The guys won 2 of 3 - good time as always and a nice diversion from all the virus talk.

Today we got an e-mail thanking us for cruising with JC Cruises yesterday and hope we enjoyed our trip?   They asked us to please review on Yelp, Trip Advisor, Twitter, Instagram, etc., etc.    WELL....since we did not go cruising yesterday, I wrote back and said we were really disappointed that the cruise did happen when we are supposed to limit contact with 10 or fewer people and in light of all that's going on, they would continue this trip, keeping our $ (no refunds) and not thinking of their passengers' health?   

I heard promptly back they they would be issuing a voucher for a future cruise with no deadline!    Wow....that works for us and we are happy campers.   Wonder how many people actually went, how many backed out?    But we are very happy they are doing this.

Fort Myers Beach finally closing tomorrow......now where will all those kiddos go?    Bars are closed, too!

 We watched an oldie movie (1992) "A League of their Own" - enjoyed it and again, a nice break from our phones, TV and internet!!!

So excited to hear that our niece Katy and Mike are expecting a baby girl in September!    Need more happy news like this!

Till tomorrow....

Tuesday - March 17

Hope you all had a nice St. Paddy's Day despite all the restrictions and precautions!

Wearin' of the Green

A leisurely day - walked around the park noticing more and more RVers are leaving.    It was hot and sunny.    Mark took Big Red out and filled with fuel.   Also on our agenda today was pack up some bins in Big Red, work in she shed organizing clothes in bins and a little 

power nap.

We just don't know our travel plans and will wait till the weekend and see where things stand.   I was to fly to Bloomington on the 28th for eye measurement and pre testing (physical, EKG) before cataract surgery (April 13 and 27), but that's up in the air and not sure I want to fly.   Wait and see for now.    

So after watching so much news, tonight was a real treat and diversion as we watched the Downton Abbey movie.    Oh my....loved being reunited with all these beloved characters and Mark really enjoyed it, too   He had not watched the series.     I heard that there is another movie in the works continuing on with this dynamo family and their servants.

Monday - March 16

We were off early for mass at St. Francis (crowds are very small during the week).    But when we got there, church was dark and security guy told us "no mass today."    For some reason, cancelled Monday a week ago and we had not checked the bulletin.    So, we'll try another day.....went to Java Coffee House and got pastries and coffees to go.

Then to the carpet place to make some decisions - had the whole store to ourselves so took our time and chose 3 different designs to get back to Marianne in NY and make sure one of these is available.

On home and talking to our neighbors, Rog and Martin, they are leaving Friday.....several in the park are packing it up and outta here.    Although many RV parks up north are not open yet, guess folks just want to be home and ride this out closer to doctors, etc.    Scary times...

Can't say enough about our Cypress Trail community and the incredible job they've done in keeping us informed, what precautions they are taking and what we as residents should/should not be doing.

Rode bikes and mainly just hunkered down this hot, sunny afternoon.   Watching TV, reading the internet and phones can make us crazy - sooo much stuff to absorb some of which makes us laugh (toilet paper fiasco) but other articles, very sobering! 

Michael and family are vacationing in Cabo this week....crowds are down and probably a good place to be as very few cases reported in Mexico (none close to them)!

 It just infuriates us to hear people with such lackadaisical attitude about this virus - kind of ho hum and one person so upset that gaming and casinos have shut down when this is her "fun" thing where she can go have a drink, play some games and now whatever will she do?    UGH!!!!

On January 19, Mark and I booked a luncheon/paddle boat cruise from downtown Fort Myers for St. Patrick's Day.    The boat holds 500, they were serving corned beef and cabbage, full bar, music, dancing, etc.     Well, with all that's happening, we decided a few days that we would not be going (fine print told us "no refunds").    Since large events all over are canceled, we thought maybe this would be, too....especially hearing today the latest gathering should not be more than 10 people.   I called JC Cruises this morning asking if they were still on for tomorrow and gal said "Yes".   She said "we have 3 decks so people can spread out".    I asked how many passengers they had scheduled and she said "around 100".    I told her we would not be coming and she said if anything changes, we'll send an e-mail immediately.   

We did get an e-mail this afternoon but all about our big day coming tomorrow, where to park, when to arrive on boat, etc.    Guess, they have our $, so they will be ready to take off with however many choose to come aboard!!!

Went for a walk tonight and there was the Schwan Ice Cream man down the street.    We were big customers of "The Schwan Man" back in the day when our kids were growing up.    Mark loves their vanilla ice cream and a treat when we are at Anne's as the Schwan Man comes there regularly (now she can order online and have it delivered when she's not even home",)   They leave it in insulated bags.    We bought 1/2 gallon of vanilla and Mark was a happy camper (Jim and Lydia are sharing some fresh peach pie with us)!!!    You can't beat family!   😀

Should be playing Lucky 13 bingo tonight, but not happening along with euchre tomorrow night, yoga, etc., etc. and on and on it goes!    Hang in there.....we will beat this and get back to our normal.   Prayer, patience, good habits and perseverance will get us thru this!     Say the Our Father (Lord's Prayer) while washing your friends....the time (22 seconds) is what they request and of course, can't do enough praying!   It's a win win!!!

We are back on Flo (9:45) after a trip to the airport to pick up Mike, our friends Jerry and Sue's son.    Mike flew in from Dallas to help get his parents back to Bloomington.    Jerry was to have surgery Thursday for compression fracture in his back.    With all that's going on with the virus and other health concerns, they decided to postpone the the surgery here and head for home with Sue and Mike driving non-stop leaving Wednesday!    LONG trip and we sure wish them the best and hope Jerry can be as comfortable as possible (Mark strongly suggests stopping every 2 hours for Jerry to walk a bit).   

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY...

 

Sunday - March 15

Hot 'n steamy today....strange not to go to mass today, but wise to stay home and here in our Venice Diocese, they are giving the dispensation making it not obligatory to attend Mass till further notice.    Back in Bloomington and the Peoria Diocese, churches are closed and no masses or activities till further notice.

We went for a walk, had a big breakfast and then caught up on paper work, e-mails, etc.    Mark worked in the shed on some projects.   I chatted with Jim and Lydia about all the news.....everyone has a story to share about their particular circumstances of travel, upcoming trips, being out and about, etc., etc.    Right now, it's just nuts how the people are buying everything off the shelves!

We drove to River Forest Yacht Center out in the country near Moore Haven where Doug and Charlotte will be ending their boating season and storing Abbottsford III.    We had such a good time and good to be back on a PDQ (Catrina's twin).....we had a good visit over wine and snacks and then delicious rotisserie chicken, macaroni salad, potato salad, chips and topped off with Sea Salt Caramel Heath Bar Cake.    Looking forward to seeing these dear friends who will be headed home to Annapolis after Wednesday when they return to Fort Myers this fall.

Charlotte and Doug

+ yummy dessert 

Unique sky coming home tonight

Have a good, healthy week!