Friday - March 6

 Hot 'n sunny 'n breezy reaching 89 today!   We went to 9:00 Mass at St. Vincent de Paul and then to Dollar Tree and Publix.   On home to put our stuff away.

Did some laundry and this afternoon we got a text from Chris (boat sister) that her father-in-law had passed away today.    Our sympathy to Michael, Chris and their family.  

 RIP Mr. Hosford

I went downtown in the afternoon for a manicure with Alisa.    Some of the streets were closed off for the big Music Walk tonight which always draws a huge crowd!

Keep hearing about more and more people sick with flu-like symptoms including nausea (new one)!

Have a fun, cool, healthy weekend!

Thursday - March 5

 I walked to Kathy and Kevin's lot for the rosary at 7:45.    There were 7 of us today and missing Kathy who is ill and stayed inside her RV.   We prayed for all our CT residents who have fallen to the crud going around.....keep hearing about more and more cases (outside the park, too).    Some have said "I've never been so sick" and some are running a fever of 101-103 for a few days!   Yikes....

I went downtown later and had coffee at Peter's and sat in the courtyard till my sisters arrived and we met at Ella Mae's for breakfast/lunch.    We sat outside on the covered patio and enjoyed our meals, the nice weather and non-stop chatter.    Walked around later by the water and then sat in the lobby with more visiting, until it was time to say good bye and they were heading to the airport for their flight to Columbus, OH.   Oh what fun we had....so many games of euchre and RummiKub, so many good meals (and calories), the Gatlin show and on and in with bunches of laughter!!!    Praying for Chris's father-in-law who is in his final days having entered hospice yesterday.    Big hugs and they were off.    We'll be together in mid May in Port Clinton .    

Donna, Chris, Pat, Teri

Luminary Hotel where we had 2 great breakfasts at Ella Mae's Diner and last night

at the Beacon Drinkery Social (rooftop)

I came home and Mark and I had a quiet afternoon - at 4:00, we got some rain but not near enough!   At 5, a little more rain...

So something interesting I learned from the Boat Sisters......Port Clinton hosts the "Burning Man" festival on the last Saturday of February on the beach near Doc's Beach House (favorite).    Apparently it's an all-day adults-only party where 21 and over can ride shuttles all around bar hopping, lots of food, music, etc.   But the grand finale comes at 10 PM (on the beach) when the big 25' snowman (made with wire)  has been wrapped around and around with paper.    And then he's set on fire (takes 7 minutes to burn) and the crowd cheers "Good-bye to Winter" (or so they hope)😉    There was probably lots of celebrating this year as their winter was very cold and snowy!

My sisters do not participate in this all-day event, but have been to the actual "burning man"  activity on the beach!                                          

                                                                                                         

 So tonight north of here the radar was very red and yellow.....just saw that Punta Gorda got between 4-5".    WOW.....we only got 0.25"  

                                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday - March 4

 My last full day with the sisters.....Mark and i walked over to visit Jim and Lydia and catch up on their closing and upcoming move to Shell Point.    My sisters came and we were off to Belk for old times sake for Teri.    She remembers growing up in South Carolina and shopping for her back-to-school clothes at Belk, so wanted to check it out.    Our Belk is at Gulf Coast Mall.....we browsed around the store with just Chris making a few purchases.   Then we were off to Blossom and Brie.    They loved this place - we walked around looking at all the animals and then enjoyed another delicious lunch.    Afterwards, we met Rodney the owner who took us on a tour of the container with all the hydroponic plants.   

Pat, Chris, Donna, Teri

After lunch we came back to CT and played some games - Teri and Donna won at euchre and I won RummiKub.    The girls checked in with Southwest to get their boarding passes for tomorrow.

Late afternoon we drove downtown to the Luminary and went up to the top (12 floor) - Beacon Drinkery Social for drinks and appetizers (4) - all so good.   

Pat, Chris, Donna, Teri

On home - another very fun day!

I'm tired!    We all are!

They set the date for their 2027 visit!

So the word is out that here at CT, that there's lots of sickness, including Influenza A and terrible coughs.   

Planning to avoid big group activities.

Tuesday - March 3

 Today would've been Mark's Mother's 100th birthday!!!    Congratulations on this milestone "Heavenly" day.

And today marks 16 years since our accident in St. Pete, FL when we were hit by a car crossing Pasadena Boulevard - lots has happened since that scary day!

I walked to Kevin and Kathy Connors to pray the rosary.   There were 8 of us and so pleasant sitting under their tiki and Kathy even provides blankets (didn't need them today).   The birds are singing, the sun is shining and no wind - beautiful day in Fort Myers.

Mark and I met the "sisters" at Buckingham Farms for breakfast.    Sooo good and we walked around the farm and saw "Booger" who did not want to come out of his little shed.

Mark with the sisters

We girls played euchre (Donna and I won both games) and RummiKub won by me.

We left around 3:45 for Salty Sam Marina with Chris driving - the "sisters" loved looking at the big yachts (4 of them were ginormous).    And then we all enjoyed our dinner and the Gatlin Show.    They put on a fantastic show and Donna, Teri and Chris were singing along and whoopin' and lovin' all the great music.

                                                                     Sister fun at Gatlin

We went back to their Air B 'n B and Mark met us there and we are back home!

Another really fun day!   Nighty night

Monday - March 2

 Another fun day starting with good bye hugs (this was sad and teary-eyed) for Buddy and JoAnn across the street who are headed home to Asheville, NC after a 3-day stop at Disney (JoAnn LOVES roller coasters)!

Pat and JoAnn

Buddy and JoAnn

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Buddy, Pat, Mark

Normally we would see them later this spring, but when we're in NC, they'll be in Alaska.

Another fun day with my crazy boat sisters!    Mark and I were off to downtown - Peter's for coffee and shared a chocolate muffin; Mark got his hair cut with Jose and I sat in Peter's courtyard with my Ipad.     Mark went on home and I walked to Ella Mae's Diner and met Donna, Teri and Chris for late breakfast.    We sat outside and and enjoyed our yummy meals.

Walked around downtown

Chris modeling pretty scarf she eventually bought

Teri, Chris, Pat, Donna

 and then back to CT for games - Teri and Chris won 2 of 3 games of euchre from Donna and me.      And then I won at RummiKub.

Rousing game of RummiKub (a favorite for all)

Time to eat again....so off to Connor's (Mark is enjoying all leftovers from past few days.)    This is a favorite steak/seafood place - Patty was our server and another wonderful meal (with more leftovers).  

Teri and Pat

Chris and Donna

  Mark met us at the 7 Eleven and they went back to their Air BnB and we came home,

Sooo many laughs today!!!