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!!!

Tuesday - February 5

Getting warmer each day down here in sunny FL and today was a beauty with a high of 79.    Mark ran a bunch of errands this morning, I did some computer stuff and after lunch, we went on a long bike ride.    Found a really nice RV park not too far away that is a good possibility for next year?

 

Got our mail today....writing thank you notes this afternoon and listening to the live music coming from Big Game.

 

Joe and Bonnie came over at 5:30 - sat on Catrina's bridge and visited and then to Parrot Key for dinner and listen to and thoroughly enjoy "Gatlin" - they are oh-so-entertaining.    Darryl and Andrea can sing it all and ended their show with that beautiful song from Phantom of the Opera

"All I Ask of You"

 

 

Andrea and Darryl

 

Joe and Bonnie

 

We are going on a little jaunt out of town tomorrow - first to Venice to visit friends (2 couples) that we knew from E-12 in Racine for many years and then to Lakeland to spend 2 days with my brothers and the girls!    We'll be back Friday....

Monday - February 4

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LIAM........

8 years old today!!!!!    And he's excited that now he no longer has to use a booster seat in the car!    Now, that's a BIG boy!!!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie

Leaning against the BIG bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum last summer!

I celebrated my birthday today, too....a tad early with Kathy and Claire.   We shopped and had a delicious lunch at Bistro 41.    Gorgeous day to be out with friends and had so much FUN!!!!

Kathy, Pat and Claire

shopping at Talbot's

 

So happy to hear that my cousin, Karen is doing much better.    She returned from CA to FL but had a big setback and was back in ICU.    She is home now and waiting to start treatment.

 

Barb and Roger stopped by with their computer which stopped working.   Mark was able to get it up and going again.   We all went to Big Game for a late supper!

 

 

Sunday - February 3

Fun weekend starting with Saturday morning exercise routine and then bike ride scouting out RV parks for next winter.Then we got in truck and checked some more out a bit further away, stop at Publix and on back to boat.    Friends (Paul, Kathy, Barb, Roger, Carol and Roger) came onboard for drinks, snacks and then we all walked to Parrot Key for delicious Caribbean dinner followed by 3 hours of entertainment by Frank Turino!!!   Great to be together and visit, sing along with Frank and dance!

 

Went to First Watch for breakfast (my cranberry nut pancake was so yummy) and then to 10:30 Mass at Resurrection of Our Lord.    Back to Catrina for a nap, reading and computer stuff.

 

We did Face Time with Liam and family this afternoon and watched him open his birthday gifts - tomorrow is the big day - EIGHT years old!    My oh my....growing up much too fast!

Liam and his new hockey gear

 

This Salty Sam Marina is such a bustling place - while they've always had pontoon and fishing boat rentals and the big "Pieces of Eight" pirate ship for cruising, they've added so much more with catamarans and other sightseeing/sunset cruises, a large houseboat for excursions, the Indian Princess and a fun, funky little yellow boat to rent!   The Fort Myers Beach tourists sure do take advantage of all these fun modes of transportation on the water.

 

Went for a nippy bike ride and met Joe and Bonnie on their bikes from Michigan along the way.    They are in the Ebb Tide RV Park across from Salty Sam's and so good to see them.   Mark first met them a few years ago in Charleston, SC (I was shopping).  Unfortunately, while we were standing along the road visiting, a bicyclist was hit and injured with rescue vehicles coming to help.   Boy, that sent shivers and deja'vu from almost 3 years ago.    We've heard there have been several pedestrians hit here in FMB this winter.....everyone in too much of a hurry and not paying attention - very scary!

 

Made a plan to meet Tuesday night with Bonnie and Joe for dinner and enjoy Gatlin!

 

We ordered a pizza from Big Game and brought to Catrina to watch the "big game"!

 

 

Friday - February 1

Had a good day on FMB.....chilly start, but nice warm-up with those clear blue skies and gentle breeze.    We took our rental car back to Enterprise, Mark got a haircut, I got a manicure/pedicure and shopped at The Sandy Butler (gourmet food shop/restaurant)!

 

Nice surprise this afternoon to have Jane, Joe, and nephew, Jared stop by for a visit.    Jane and Joe left Marathon this morning and stopped to see Jared who lives in FMB.     Soooo good to see them and meet Jared.   

 

Joe, Jane and Jared 

Joe was too much in the shade...sorry!
 

Mark and I did 3 loads of laundry.....and later this afternoon went to Parrot Key for drinks and seafood nachos - yummy.    Now enjoying Darryl Gatlin and his fiancee' Andrea (related to the Gatlin Brothers) who are entertaining here at Big Game!