Christmas in Florida!

We arrived in Florida late the 22nd and started right in getting ready for Christmas.  We were hosting a little dinner party for our friends here and had lots to do.  Like get some food!  We really didn't do much in the way of holiday decorating, but we did want to get our new furniture delivered before the party.  It turned out that the delivery men told us that if we wanted them to haul away the old stuff, they would for free and if no one at the warehouse was interested in it, they would donate it to charity.  Sounded like a good deal to us!  We were planning to have a re-sale place come and get it, but trying to get into the holiday spirit, giving it away just felt right.

So, here is our new furniture!  Soooo much better than what we had before!

And then we had to get the tree ready.....

Once we had the food and booze taken care of, the new furniture delivered and presents under the tree, we figured we were as ready as we were going to get.  It turned out to be a really enjoyable time for all.  Along with our good friends, Frank and Jimm, some new friends, Peter and Ed and their friend Gerry came over too.  Gerry even brought along a standing rib roast to add to the pile of food we already had, so as usual when people visit me and Brian, no one left hungry!  Lots of food, cocktails, laughing and great conversation.  A Merry Christmas for sure!

On the road again....

The drive to Florida was.... well, the drive to Florida.  We have done it so often now that any excitement it might have held is gone.  It is a long and boring ride made even less enjoyable this time by crappy weather.  It was snowing lightly when we left on the 21st of December and by the time we got to southern Illinois, it turned to fog and light rain.  Made driving very tiring and it stayed that way pretty much until we were out of Georgia!  Long ride this time.  But better than the weather that has been pounding the US since we left, so no complaints about our timing.  Max did well, as he always does.  He just curls up and goes to sleep.

This trip was a bit of a new adventure for us.  This is the first year we have been in Florida for Christmas.  We have wanted to do that ever since we started coming to Florida in the winter.  I have to admit that it was a bit strange for me though.  Only my second Christmas that I didn't spend with my family.  The other was the Christmas we spent in the hospital two years ago when Brian had his heart surgery.

Although it has been a bit on the cool side, I have to say that it was odd to see a snowman or Christmas tree or other ornaments sitting on green grass next to a palm tree...  Don't get me wrong!  I don't miss the snow! It just seems a bit odd since for me, Christmas has always been, well, cold!

Back Again!

I must apologize for the big lag in posting.  And it's not because Brian hasn't reminded, believe me!  So, we will have to play catch up a bit......

Before leaving for Florida, we went to the Council for the Performing Arts sponsored show, "Christmas with The Lettermen".  It turned out to be a very popular and enjoyable show.  Once again, I was expecting to enjoy the show, but not expecting to enjoy it as much as we did.  They may not be spring chickens, but they put on a really good show.  Christmas music mixed in with their oldies and even some new music.  They were great with the audience too.  Really getting everyone involved.  It was a nice send off to the long drive to Florida.

Sicksgiving

Thanksgiving is approaching and so me and Brian are enjoying what seems to have become a little tradition for us at this time of year....  We're sick!  Again!

I don't know if somewhere along the line we were cruel to a turkey or whatever Holiday god controls this stuff, but once again, we are sick.  I started it off (thanks Candy!) 12 days ago and this weekend Brian started to show symptoms.  I think it's some new half-breed germ or bug that lets you enjoy a combination head and chest cold.  Sore throat leads to a cranium splitting headache which then transforms into head and chest congestion.  Fun, Fun.  

Takes a lot of the fun out of looking forward to the long weekend and then we have to decide between seeing family on the holiday and possibly spreading this thing, or staying home alone.  I hope we are better before Christmas and I have already gotten the rope and bubble wrap to lock Brian down with so he doesn't hurt himself again this year!  :-)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Bad Blogger! Bad Blogger Man!

I have been repeatedly chastised for not keeping up with this little old blog.  Not unfairly I have to admit.  I had a feeling that when I started this, that this might be a problem.  I should probably turn the reins over to Brian who is much better at managing his time!

So.....  it's catch up time!

We are back from Florida and things have been busy since then.  But before we left the land of sunshine and strong drinks, we did get a very good start on fixing up the guest room in the house.  Back to being a bad blogger, I did not get enough pictures taken of the room before we left so I will instead give you a teaser shot and then post an update with some better pictures next time we head back down there.

Once we were back in Wisconsin we had a lot to do.  Along with catching up at work, the CPA (Council For The Performing Arts) presentation of AMY GRANT was just around the corner.  I am not sure if everyone knows that Brian and I are on the board of directors for the CPA but we, along with all the other members of the board and our director Sandy were all looking forward to the concert.  We had worked long and hard getting it put together and I think it is safe to say that it went over better than any of us thought it would.  

Brian and I also hosted a little "meet and greet" party at our house before the concert.  Along with family and friends and those generous sponsors who helped us make the concert possible, we all enjoyed meeting Miss Grant prior to her very enjoyable concert.

I have not met very many "famous" people (okay, she was the first!) and really didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised to find her a truly nice and gracious person.  She immediately put everyone at ease and mingled with our little group, shaking hands, posing for pictures, sharing stories.  I think everyone there wished we would have had more time to visit with her because she was such a likable person.  No stuffy, pretentious celebrity shenanigans at all.

The concert was great too.  I had expected to enjoy it, but did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did.  My impression of her was more....  formal I guess, but she has a bit of the red-neck rocker girl in her!  She sang all of her hits plus a couple of new ones and brought the crowd to it's feet before the evening was over.

Steve, Amy & Brian

Sandy, Amy and a Guest I should know the name of....  sorry!

Still mixing and mingling....

All in all, a very enjoyable and successful
evening for the CPA!

* Special Thank You to our niece, Jodi Guttman, for being our wine hostess and for jumping in

at the last moment and being our photographer for the evening!  You rock Jodi!

The Villages Car Show

We had a fun day today.  We went up to Spanish Village for our first visit to The Villages monthly Classic Car Show.  There were over 200 vintage cars on display around the town square, along with food vendors and live music.  It was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed myself.  I say "I" because this was one of those times that Brian was a good sport since "old cars" as he calls them, really don't interest him like they do me!

I took way too many pictures to post here but I will share a few of the cars I liked best at the show.  The first one to really catch my eye was this 1958 Chevy Bel Aire Convertible.  According to the small sign by the front tire, it was found in a junk yard, the body was removed from the frame and then both were completely restored along with the engine. A beautiful car no doubt.  I am not up on all the terms for "Classic Cars" but I divide them up in three groups; Classic - meaning as close to original as possible, Street Rods - customized for the track with much less emphasis on historical accuracy, and The Weird - customized to an almost cartoonish degree.  I much prefer the Classic category.

So, the car I liked best at the show?  A 1965 Ford Thunderbird Retractable Convertible.  Absolutely beautiful car in near mint condition.  You can tell that whoever owns (or owned it) took great care in either keeping it in, or restoring it to, near factory original condition.  I am no expert but it did not look like it had any major body work or repainting done, but I do think that the interior had been re-upholstered.  It was definitely my favorite car shown.

Almost all the cars were fun to look at and I'm sure this one wouldn't be everyone's favorite but I have always liked the Thunderbirds from the 60's - that whole "Rat Pack" vibe I guess.  Along with this T-Bird there were a lot of others that I would love to have in my garage; several 64 - 67 Mustangs, 62 - 68 Corvettes, a 63 Buick Electra Convertible, two gorgeous 48 Lincoln Continentals (would have loved to have seen a few Continentals from the 60's) and one other that made me feel old.....

This is a 1977 Pontiac Gran Prix.  According to the documentation, it was purchased by a couple who "never let it see inclement weather" and is claimed to be completely original (except for tires) with no restoration work and 26,000 miles on the odometer.  

So what is so special about this car?  In 1977 when this car was new, I was a senior in High School!  It is now considered a "classic" so I guess I am too!  Oh how I lusted after this car.  At the time, Pontiac was on a roll and the Gran Prix was a hot seller all through out the 70's.  It's large and in charge and I still like it even after all these years.

All in all an enjoyable day.  That is The Villages... always something to do!

The Friendly Skies.....

I was leaving on a jet plane, and now I'm back again!  After a 5 day stay in Wisconsin I am back in Florida with Brian and Max.  It was a bit of a strange trip.  As everyone knows, Trina is in the hospital to have a large kidney stone removed from her left kidney.  Among the reasons I flew back, one was to host the Blackman's at our place before Trina's surgery and also to visit Trina in the hospital.  Unfortunately, things did not go completely as planned but we all hope Trina will be back on her feet soon.  Good luck Trina!

Of course while I was in Wisconsin I caught up on the goings on at Jefferson Bus and did the mid-month payroll.  Then it was off to Monday Night Bingo before heading back over to the hospital in Madison to keep Shelba company while we wait for Trina to heal.

All in all, it was sort of a an odd trip.  There seemed to be so much going on and a hectic schedule to keep that in certain ways, it didn't feel like a trip "home".  This was also a bit of a test for Brian.  Even after all the time we have spent in Florida, this trip was the first time that Brian was left on his own in Florida and I'm glad to report that he did fine.  At least that is what he told me!  But I like to think that he missed me!  :-)