Memorial Day First Weekend of Summer

It's seems funny to call the Memorial Day Weekend the "beginning" of summer, especially after moving to Florida!  It seems like it's been summer for months!  We started the weekend on Saturday afternoon with a pool party and cookout at Ron's up in Holiday.  Beautiful day!  There were eight of us, but food enough for two dozen I think!

 On Sunday afternoon we took a ride up to Dunedin to walk around the shops.

 This is the Pinellas Trail which runs through the center.  This trail runs the north/south length of Pinellas County.

This store was amazing.  Lots of stuff hanging all over the place.

Time for ice cream!

It was early evening, but we then took a ride up to Tarpon Springs.  Mostly everything was closed, and there was no one on the streets.

 Although the sun was still shining, we had a quick downpour.

Detail on door where we were waiting for the shower to stop.

Saw the Kennedys in one of the windows.

Caught a rainbow.

On Memorial Day I talked with Linda and Raymond on the phone to wish them a Happy Birthday.  Lots of memories of Memorial / Decoration Days past!  Spent a relaxing day in the pool at Wayne's house.

Pepperoni and onion sandwiches.  YUM!

Happy Birthday Linda and Ray!

Happy Birthday to my brother and sister!  We grew up close together and remain close together despite the long distance.  Memorial Day (or as Nana always said, "Decoration Day") usually began with a trip to "Pop's" grave at St. Agnes Cemetery.  That cemetery was so big, you could get lost driving around the hills and turns.  As Nana used to say, "keep heading 'up' ".  And then the cookout, usually at Linda's and Louie's.  So many memories of water fights and neighbor revving up his lawn mower.  Fun times!

Linda and Louie will be closer for a good chunk of the year when they spend the winter in their new condo in Bradenton.  Now to get Ray and Iz to do the same!  Love you both and miss you both! Enjoy your day!

A Cry for Help

Am I obsessed?  I'm trying to control myself.  I met Otto at Georgie's for dinner tonight.  Was going to watch what I ate.  Only had a big glass of ice water to drink, the tomato based veggie soup, and chicken satay (zesty grilled chicken skewers served with a spicy Thai peanut sauce).  On my way home I headed over to Publix because I needed to pick up some tings to bring to the buffet we're having at work tomorrow. Thursday marks a new week of sales and specials at Publix, so I figured I'd do some of my grocery shopping too.  I like to stock up on the buy one get one free items that I frequently use.  Well, after seeing the TV commercial a couple times, and what with Frito Lay potato chips one of the BOGO specials, I was hooked.

When I was a kid, I use to love chips way back then too.  I remember when I was in second grade, because of overcrowding, our elementary school held some classes in rented spaces in churches.  We were in the old wooden Pine Grove Methodist Church on Central Avenue in Colonie Village.  My second grade teacher was Miss Petrie (believe it or not, I just threw out a picture of her a couple weeks ago when I was going through all the old family photos!)  My father had told the janitor there that I loved potato chips.  When it was time for lunch, we would line up and head thru the adjacent first grade class to the kitchen area to get our lunch.  Every time potato chips were a side, the janitor would be standing there holding up a big potato chip and smiling at me, and he would put in on my plate.  He was feeding my addiction!

Tonight, I didn't buy a lot of stuff, but after getting back to my apartment and putting the groceries away, I poured myself a glass of diet A&W Cream soda and ripped open a bag.  Now I have only one and a half bags of the chips.  Oh my!

Oink! Oink!

Seems I've been eating too much this week.  Cookout at Pete's and Joe's on Saturday, dinner at Cafe Alma on Sunday night, pulled pork nachos at Flamingo movie night on Monday, book club dinner at Bamboozle Cafe on Tuesday, and lunch with two former coworkers at Mazzaro's today.  (I opted for a salad.)  Home cooked meal tonight.  Boca Bruschetta tomato basil parmesan veggie patties, crumbled grana padano cheese, griddled sauerkraut and chopped garlic. Better get back to that gym!

Priscilla at the Drive In (Well, Walk In)

Apparently, The Flamingo has Monday nights at the movies.  Tonight, shown on an outdoor screen poolside was "Priscilla Queen of the Desert".  Pete and Joe emailed me about checking it out, so off we went.

Hung out for a while.  Not many in attendance.  Had some pulled pork nachos and sat poolside watching the movie, backwards from the back side of the cloth screen.  They were all left handed, but still as funny!  We left while the credits were running so that we wouldn't get caught in the traffic leaving the Drive In.  NOT!

Already have my ticket to see Priscilla on Broadway when I go up to New York to meet my new granddaughter in October!

Sunday Evening

Pete and Joe invited me over for some sangria this afternoon.  Their friend  Tony is here visiting from Long Island, so the four of us with walked downtown to Cafe Alma for dinner.  I had the Parmesan Pistachio Tilapia and it was delicious!
[Parmesan Pistachio Tilapia 
topped with artichokes, basil, sun dried tomatoes, wilted spinach and roasted red pepper butter sauce]

Afterwards we walked over to the My Yogurt Cafe on Beach Drive. You pay by the ounce.  I had deep chocolate, island coconut and birthday cake.  A few more ounces than I figured on, but it was soooooo good!

On the way home we stopped at the Vinoy and sat on the veranda for a short while.  While we were there I talked with Mia on the phone.  Can't wait till she comes to visit in July!  

A beautiful evening out there tonight!

The Rapture

Pete and Joe doing the Rapture.

Timberrrrrrrrr!!!

These palms in front of my apartment building shed their fronds when least expected.  I always hesitate when parking  beneath them.  I always look up to see if it looks like one of the fronds is about ready to drop.  Since moving here in September 2007, I've yet to witness one of them actually falling to the ground.  That is, until today.  I was just pulling up to the curb, home for lunch.  I stopped the car, put it in park and was just about to shut off the engine when, "swisssshh, plop!"  I'm glad I stopped where I did!

I did witness this site one morning when I came out to get in my car to head to work.  This was actually a re-staging I did when I got back home.  If that green solid end should hit the car, it could do a mess load of damage!  I need to get in the habit of parking on the other side of the street!