Very early tomorrow morning, I will be on my way to Colorado for a family reunion. I'm flying to Albuquerque where I'll meet up with Erik, Kadin and Gracie. Monday thru Thursday, we'll be at Valhalla Resort in Estes Park, just outside Rocky Mountain National Park. Both my sisters, their children and grandchildren, as well as my other children and grandchildren, will be there. Some of our Colorado relatives will be joining us for lunch on Tuesday.
Friday and Saturday night, I will be in Denver with Lisa, Erik, Aaron and grandkids as we will spend the Fourth at the former Elitch Gardens, now a Six Flags amusement park. I will fly back to Orlando from Denver on July 5.
Since I'm not taking my computer, I probably won't be blogging for 8-10 days. I wish everyone a safe and fun Fourth of July. God Bless America!!!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Moving In
On Friday, we arrived at the house shortly before 8 AM and it wasn't long before the Graebel truck pulled up and the unloading began. It was hot and VERY humid so those poor guys were soaking wet within a short time. They were finished unloading around 1:30 and we could then shut the doors and keep the AC inside the house. They spent the next hour putting items back together. They were great to work with and we highly recommend Graebel Van Lines, especially if you get Barry as your driver.
As boxes came off the truck, we marked them off the inventory sheet.
Piano makes it safely off the truck...
and is now in it's new location.
Dining room became a staging area for items.
Our new office
We've had a shower every afternoon. This one was a downpour, with thunder which made Arne happy. We spotted a need for another gutter. They only put them on the front around entryway. This one is over the Lanai and we want to expand the screening to cover the patio. Any furniture there would get a drenching.
After opening 6 boxes, I had enough dishes and tableware to serve our first dinner. Note the Christmas cup being used as a wine glass. Hey, whatever works!
We've had a shower every afternoon. This one was a downpour, with thunder which made Arne happy. We spotted a need for another gutter. They only put them on the front around entryway. This one is over the Lanai and we want to expand the screening to cover the patio. Any furniture there would get a drenching.
After opening 6 boxes, I had enough dishes and tableware to serve our first dinner. Note the Christmas cup being used as a wine glass. Hey, whatever works!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Happy Day...Sad Day
Happy day...we closed on our new home in Florida. The house is beautiful. The moving van comes tomorrow and the work begins again.
Sad day...Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett both died a premature death. Michael was SO TALENTED but had such a tumultuous life. I heard a reporter referring to him as the greatest musical icon of all time. I say he was ONE of TWO...Elvis is still King of Rock N Roll. The reporter can be forgiven as he looked like he was born after Elvis died.
Sad day...Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett both died a premature death. Michael was SO TALENTED but had such a tumultuous life. I heard a reporter referring to him as the greatest musical icon of all time. I say he was ONE of TWO...Elvis is still King of Rock N Roll. The reporter can be forgiven as he looked like he was born after Elvis died.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
We're in The Villages!
On our way down from Gainesville, we drove through Ocala National Forest, stopped at a visitor center and got lots of good information about the hiking trails. Arne also picked up information on fishing in Florida. We checked into the Holiday Inn Express in the older part of The Villages, near Spanish Springs Market Place.
We renewed our Sam's Club membership. I had a slice of their pizza and it doesn't come close to Costco. I don't think we'll be spending as much money at Sam's as we did over the years with Costco. I will do a search for a Costco which doesn't require a trip to Orlando. We spent a few hours "shopping" for washer and dryer at Home Depot and Best Buy. Now I'm going to do some research on what I saw, starting with Consumer Reports.
Our driver called today to say he's in the area but won't be delivering our furniture until Friday. Says he "has some things to take care of." Wonder what that's all about??? So, we will be spending 3 nights in this hotel rather than sleep on the floor of our new home on Thursday night.
Tomorrow we'll try to get our drivers' license, car registration, etc. In the evening we're going to see Angels and Demons, so no report tomorrow night.
We renewed our Sam's Club membership. I had a slice of their pizza and it doesn't come close to Costco. I don't think we'll be spending as much money at Sam's as we did over the years with Costco. I will do a search for a Costco which doesn't require a trip to Orlando. We spent a few hours "shopping" for washer and dryer at Home Depot and Best Buy. Now I'm going to do some research on what I saw, starting with Consumer Reports.
Our driver called today to say he's in the area but won't be delivering our furniture until Friday. Says he "has some things to take care of." Wonder what that's all about??? So, we will be spending 3 nights in this hotel rather than sleep on the floor of our new home on Thursday night.
Tomorrow we'll try to get our drivers' license, car registration, etc. In the evening we're going to see Angels and Demons, so no report tomorrow night.
Monday, June 22, 2009
46 Years Ago...
Today is our 46th wedding anniversary. After a week long honeymoon at Lake Okoboji, Iowa, then a week in Chicago, we drove to Pensacola, Florida. Arne was in the Marine Corps and they wanted him to train as a pilot. Pensacola Naval Air Station was home to the Blue Angels.
Today, we drove over 8 hours but only covered 400 miles. We decided to get off I-10 and travel along the Gulf coast. We stopped at the Fort Walton Beach visitor center as we wanted to go to an old fort we remembered from our time here. We were told that would be Fort Pickens and it's located near Pensacola, which we had passed an hour earlier. We both remembered it being in Ft. Walton. But then, that was 46 years ago!
Tonight we are in Gainesville, only 70 miles from The Villages, meaning we will arrive a day sooner than planned.
Today, we drove over 8 hours but only covered 400 miles. We decided to get off I-10 and travel along the Gulf coast. We stopped at the Fort Walton Beach visitor center as we wanted to go to an old fort we remembered from our time here. We were told that would be Fort Pickens and it's located near Pensacola, which we had passed an hour earlier. We both remembered it being in Ft. Walton. But then, that was 46 years ago!
Tonight we are in Gainesville, only 70 miles from The Villages, meaning we will arrive a day sooner than planned.
Side Trip to New Orleans
We got to New Orleans shortly after Noon. Our first stop was the information center which was most helpful. After parking the car, we walked around the French Quarter for a couple of hours. Yes, it's HUMID! I will be getting a new hairstyle.
While I can imagine New Orleans is a swinging place at night, I really have no desire to go back and am scratching it off my Bucket List. Guess I'm getting old. :-(
We spent the night in a brand new Comfort Suites, just east of Mobile, Alabama. After a nice dinner at Wintzell's Oyster Bar, where I did not have oysters but seafood au gratin, we went to see UP, the 3-D movie we had planned to see the night before. It's very cute, great animation once again from Pixar.
I'm the one with the umbrella. Sexy, huh?
Tax dollars at work. There were already two lanes each direction crossing this corner of Lake Ponchetrain. They're building identical bridges. Must be for Mardi Gras traffic. :-)
While I can imagine New Orleans is a swinging place at night, I really have no desire to go back and am scratching it off my Bucket List. Guess I'm getting old. :-(
We spent the night in a brand new Comfort Suites, just east of Mobile, Alabama. After a nice dinner at Wintzell's Oyster Bar, where I did not have oysters but seafood au gratin, we went to see UP, the 3-D movie we had planned to see the night before. It's very cute, great animation once again from Pixar.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Finally...we crossed Texas
Friday we drove 320 miles to San Antonio. I had made reservations at the Hyatt Regency as it was close to The Alamo and on the Riverwalk. We arrived around 2:30 so had plenty of time to tour The Alamo. We then went to the Riverwalk for dinner and a boat ride. I can now cross San Antonio off my Bucket List. Yes, it's humid!
I didn’t post last night because there was $11 charge to access the Internet. We already had a $30 charge for parking. While the room was nice, the Sleep Inn suite we stayed in Thursday night has this hotel beat all to...wherever, and it was $40 cheaper. As with houses, it’s all about location, location, location.
We're now in Lafayette, LA. We're going out for Cajun food and then plan to see UP in 3-D.
I didn’t post last night because there was $11 charge to access the Internet. We already had a $30 charge for parking. While the room was nice, the Sleep Inn suite we stayed in Thursday night has this hotel beat all to...wherever, and it was $40 cheaper. As with houses, it’s all about location, location, location.
We're now in Lafayette, LA. We're going out for Cajun food and then plan to see UP in 3-D.
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