A Visit to San Antonio

Former co-worker and friend of over 20 years, Janet, moved to Florida from Indianapolis.  I went to visit her at her new home in San Antonio.  And that's Florida, not Texas!
She has a beautiful place located in a gated adult community on a golf course.

She has plenty of room for guests, so c'mon down!!!

Crazy Lulu got this gold cart thrown in with the deal.  Stay off the roads and sidewalks when she's out and about.  Just a word of warning . . . 

We had lunch at the clubhouse.  The meatball sub special.  

"I drove 40 miles to a place I heard had good marinara."  "How was it?"  "Pul-eeze!"

Actually it was pretty good!

 Nice big heated pool.

Bingo will never be the same at this place again!

If only this was in my backyard . . . Hey Ralph!

A New Backyard Pool? Watch this space . . .

I love my apartment . . . like the new pool the landlord put in?

A January Afternoon Walk

A nice afternoon for a walk.  Sunny, around 72 or so.  My first walk where all my photos were taken with my cell phone.

Headed up Locust to Coffee Pot Bayou.  Saw this 'flock' of pink flamingos on the corner of 21st Ave NE.

Where Locust meets the Bayou

The bridge over to Snell Island.

I had to stop and see what time it was.  This sundial is just below where Coffee Pot Bayou meets Tampa Bay.

 All on the way down to Vinoy Park.

This is around 5 PM, a shot of my favorite park bench in Vinoy Park, overlooking downtown St Pete.

A self portrait of the artist.  After this shot, I came home and cut my ear off.

And That Hair Just Keeps Growing!

I just cut his hair 2 days ago.  I think I've got a hippie on my hands!


I just couldn't wait.  Had to clip him!

O&A Book Club Meeting in Ybor City

Several months back I joined the book club within the Outings & Adventures organization.  This month we met at Streetcar Charlie's in Ybor City.  The selection for this month is The Farewell Symphony by Edmund White.  Fascinating read.  Once I got into the rhythm, it was difficult to put it down.  I've still got just over a hundred pages to read to finish it.  Going to read some of his other works too.  This is my favorite of all the books I've read since joining the club.
I took this picture as I was walking over to Streetcar Charlie's.  Full moon tomorrow night.

Ta Tee A Mum Mum Gets a Haircut

So I got this snowman head as a gift for Christmas, and it goes perfectly with my Christmas theme in my bathroom . . . that being snowmen.

And my new addition this year . . . a talking snowman . . . motion activating . . . can scare the **** out of you!  Things, such as "What cha doin'?  Never mind . . . I don't want to know."

So, anyhow, Ta Tee's hair has been growing briskly . . . 

His first haircut!  Neat and trimmed!  I'm glad I bought those electric shears!

Birthday Celebration With Gina

 

Gina turned 20 last Sunday and I headed to Orlando on Friday morning to spend the day with her and to celebrate. Joe and Pete were also going to be in Orlando for Pete's softball tournament in Altamonte Springs.  Joe rode over with me and kept me company on the trip over.  After I dropped Joe off at his hotel, I headed over to Gina's and we hung out for a short while before heading over to Four Rivers Smokehouse for lunch.

This place is a favorite with the locals.  When we got there just after 11:30 am, the line inside was just to the door.  The workers behind the counter have it all down to an efficient system.  We were thru the line and heading out to the patio with our lunches in no time!  By then the line was way out the door!

Gina ordered the "Messy Pig", pulled pork between two layers of cole slaw . . . delicious!  She had a side of BBQ beans and baked cheese grits.

The day was chilly enough to wear my hoodie!  I had a guy ask me where I got my Dogfish cap when we were leaving.  He's watched the Brew Masters show on Discovery Channel and loves it!  Said he drove all over to find the Bitches Brew.  Naturally, I had to brag and say my son gave it to me, and that he's the director of photography for the show.  

I had the "Burnt Ends", 1/2 brisket and 1/2 pulled pork.  My sides are sweet potato casserole and fried pickles.

After chowing down, we headed back to Gina's and watched Despicable Me. What a cute movie!  I loved it!

I loved the design and it had a lot of laughs.  After the movie was done, we made some "Frrrozen Hot Chocolate" from the Seredipity restaurant in NYC. Gina had gotten me a mix for Christmas (2009!).  Worth the wait!!! After Adele got home we headed over to the motel where I was staying in Altamonte Springs.  We met up with Pete and Joe at their hotel and had some hors d'oeurvres with them.  They were staying on the hoity toity top exclusive floor, so they wanted to share the wealth.


The five of us then headed over to Bahama Breeze, just up the street, for dinner.  Being a typical Friday, the place was packed.  We were told it was an hour and a half wait!  Pete and Joe decided to eat elsewhere, since Pete still had to head over to register for the tournament, so we parted ways.  It seems that within minutes the three of us remaining were seated!

We started off with virgin tropical drinks.  Except for the occasional brain freeze, they were delicious!

Pina colata and Mango icy

We love this place!

My tilapia with a mango butter sauce.

Adele's Cuba Libre Shrimp Salad

Gina's Chicken Cobb Salad

Skipping dessert at Bahama Breeze, we headed back to the "luxury floor" for cookies and hot cocoa.  This picture caught me just after letting out a very loud, rude burp after that scrumptious dinner.

More civilized here.  I then brought Adele and Gina back home and headed back to my hotel to get a good night's sleep.  My tummy was full!  Of course, I had to watch a couple of episodes of Family Guy before falling asleep!

After breakfast, I checked out and then went right up the street to the ball park where Pete was playing.  This is a shot of their second game (against a Boston team.)  The guys on the other team were all in short sleeves and shorts! That's Pete on second base.  He scored again right after this picture.  I left around 11:30 to head back to St. Petersburg. It was cloudy and too cold for me!