Friday - November 6

 Hot and sunny....we were off to Peter's for coffee/pastries.    Marika and Stefan were there today, so our 1st time to see these dear baristas!!!    We sat in the courtyard with our goodies and I-pads and then took off - Mark for a haircut with Jose and a manicure with Alisa for me.    We got done at the same time and on home.

Productive rest of the morning organizing our stuff and starting to gather what we want to take to NC (2 weeks from today).    Mark was busy making dinner reservations for the specialty restaurants for next January's cruise.   His brother Jim and our friend Kathy (both big-time cruisers) have been a very big help as we are newbies to all this cruise stuff!!!

Walked late afternoon and then settled in for the night!

Enjoy your weekend...

Thursday - November 5

 Walked and noticed more folks are arriving at CT as lots are getting spruced up with pavers washed and cleaned, landscaping trimmed, new thatching on tiki's, RV's getting washed, etc.

We left for Punta Gorda around 11:15 and met Allie and Owen at The Riviera Bar and Grill (a new place for all of us but been there for a long time - oldest waterfront restaurant in Punta Gorda).    Our friends Rog and Martin recommended it and we all enjoyed - large tiki and big inside dining with nice views of the boats coming and going.   Food was great and of course, visit was fun as always.    The Riviera is definitely a return place.

Allie, Mark, Pat, Owen

We stopped at Pottery Express and Bamboo in rural Punta Gorda and I got a new pretty pot for flowers (will fill the pots after Thanksgiving).    This place is unbelievable with so much to choose from and beautiful pottery in every shape, size and color!

Ruby's temp hit 90 on our way home.   Naptime...

Wednesday - November 4

 A nice sunny, warm day after all the rain.    We walked and then left for my dermatologist appt. with Dr. Kagen.    He was checking my legs and the skin condition he's treating "Porokeratosis".    He was pleased with how my legs looked (very red but that means the latest medicine is working).    Now I'm to use aquaphor and see him in 6 weeks.

Next stop was lunch for Mark (3 Pepper Burrito Co.) and a Starbucks iced coffee for me. 

  I had my 1st of 6 appts. today with Dr. Lee starting the 3 root canals.    Wasn't too bad.   He said I have a very healthy mouth, but no reason why these things happen that I should get 3 all at once.    He said I was the 3rd patient today who had never had a root canal - very unusual as most people have at least one or many!!!

While I was in the dental chair, Mark was running errands, walking at the mall, etc.

Had a nice chat with my Aunt Marian who is 98 today - what an inspiration she is!!!

Another fun evening playing Lucky 13 and I was a winner!    Smaller group tonight of just 5 tables.

Tuesday - November 3

 Boy these mornings are crazy humid and getting plenty of rain, but nothing like Brevard County, Melbourne, Cocoa Beach (where my cousin lives - 12-15").  So much flooding.

Got our walks in and then enjoyed the AC catching up on stuff and did some online Christmas shopping along with 2 loads of laundry.

Around 2:30, the heavens opened up BIG time....it poured cats and dogs, buckets, a real gully washer coming straight down!   WOW...along with some loud booms of thunder.  

We left at 4:30 to meet Jim, Lydia, John and Beth at Courtney's - 1 hour trip for us - rained most of the way and rush-hour traffic.    But all worth it to hang out with these folks and enjoy a great meal and lively conversation (health issues, the main topic, of course)!    Very enjoyable evening.

Beth, Lydia, Jim, Mark, John, Pat

We were only home about 10 minutes and the rain started again....

 

Monday - November 2

 96% humidity this morning - whew, a very drippy walk....most of the rain all went north big time.   We did get a shower around 9:15.

I played canasta and lost again...........Vicki, Lisa and Becky beat Betty Jo, Becky and me by a LOT!    But still fun and imagine that 4 of us (Vicki, Becky, Lisa and I all have a "Mark" in our life as in our hubbies)  

I won't be able to play rest of this week; Euchre and Rummikube will start in January.

We left soon as I got home and stopped at Culver's for a small ice cream cup (pumpkin pecan for me; chocolate for Mark) to tide us over.   Then to the eye Dr. for Mark's exam with Dr. Alessi.    All good for another year.

Then to Dollar Tree and Mark thought Chinese sounded good, so...China Dragon was next stop - ok but not returning anytime soon.   Last stop was meeting with our financial advisor and finally home at 5 just before the next batch of rain started.  

We bought some cranberry white chocolate bread at Publix yesterday - oh my.......especially toasted!