A Drive to the Beach . . .

Well, I had good intentions when I got up this morning. Go to motor vehicles and get my new driver's license and Florida tags. Well, I couldn't find my Jeep Title, so I'll have to get another copy before the Jeep can be a Florida Jeep. But, I did get my new license!

So, once again, my tasks at the motor vehicles department went incomplete . . . and I was so close to the beaches . . . So, I drove to the beach for the first time as a Florida driver! Woo! Hoo!







I stopped at a Walgreen's right on Gulf Blvd. And now I have my beach set up!









Some people on the beach saw me taking the picture and offered to take one with me in the chair! So, brace yerselves!






It was a gorgeous day there. Nice breeze. The water was refreshing. Gentle waves.





But . . . still no response to interviews . . .

Coffee Pot Bayou

The other night I had planned on going to the supermarket, a Publix, located a couple minutes from me. I decided to take a new route....heading about 6 blocks due north, to an area along the Coffee Pot Bayou. I was taken with how beautiful it is. I'm thinking that when I start jogging again....there's where I'm going to jog! There's a sidewalk that runs along Coffee Pot Boulevard, right on the Bayou.

I had a job interview in Tampa this afternoon, so I thought that I would take some time this morning to visit the bayou area again and take some shots. There are a lot of For Sale signs up. Any takers?

My Jeep was waiting for me on a side street. That's a circle with a big urn ("One Grecian Urn") in the background.

I'll talk about my job interview in a future post. I guess...depending on how it turns out!

I couldn't pass this shot up!

Sunday in St Pete

This is the view from my kitchen window this morning. I wonder what it will look like this winter without snow?


I tried to do a panorama of Sunset Beach from the water. This is the best I could do!

5 Days in Florida!

It's hard to believe that I'm now a Floridian. Well, maybe not officially, since I haven't gotten my Florida driver's license yet. But then again...I did receive U.S. Mail here...a postcard from Adele. So, if it's bonafide enough for Kris Kringle, then I guess it means I'm a bonafide Floridian!

Things have been going relatively smoothly. I arrived Friday night and picked up my key. Slept on an inflatable mattress on Friday night, and on Saturday at 8:00 am sharp, the movers were here with my stuff! I couldn't believe how the boxes just kept coming and coming! The living room was full! I took some pictures of the piles of boxes, but decided to present an après boxes view.

So, here are some shots of my new Florida abode:



I think my Jeep is going to like it here!


This is the back entrance. Going thru the locked gate, up about 6 steps into the back door, my apartment front door is just to the left inside. The door on the balcony leads into the laundry room. Two washers and two dryers and no coin slots!



I've got a lot done in the living room, but still have a ways to go. I'm sure I'll be moving things around for a while. Gotta keep space for a sofa and another chair!


I'm going to use this corner of the living room as my "dining room".



You can see the grandfather clock in the hallway.


This is the view looking out of the kitchen windows. Lots of palms for my viewing pleasure! At least now I don't have a spotlight shining all night into my kitchen window!



This is looking from my kitchen door down the hallway towards the bathroom. The 'walkthru' closet leading to the bathroom has tons of storage on both sides. The door to the living room is to the right of the bathroom door. The doorway on the right leads into my bedroom.

The bedroom is about twice the size of my old one. Here I can fit the chest of drawers and my Grandmother's cedar chest with all the other stuff! There are two closets in this room; one with the A/C exchange and some shelves and open areas, plus a window, and the other one for my clothes also has some cubby holes built in.

The Big Day

Well, the day has arrived! My apartment here in Albany is empty. All my belongings are sitting in a truck somewhere in Pinellas County. The only things left are a sofa and a chair...which will most likely end up at the curb and eventually in some college student's apartment. Two bags to check in and two carry ons. I'm all set!

Yesterday was my last full day in Albany, and it was a full day. I met my friend Don for coffee in the morning and we sat and talked for a couple hours. Just before noon, Craig came over to pick up the things that were being donated to the Treasure Chest store, part of the Damian Center in Albany. We loaded his car and then dropped the stuff off and went to Panera for lunch. On the way out Craig noticed the German Chocolate pastries and we had to get them and sit at another table to scarf them down. Well, anyway, I scarfed mine down!

Back to my apartment, I spent some time cleaning the bathroom and the kitchen sink and the refrigerator. I want to leave my apartment in as clean a state as when I moved in. It's so easy to clean and vacuum when there's nothing there in the way! Hmmmmm? Minimalist? I like that!

My brother Ray picked me up around 4:30 pm and we loaded the things and food I had left in his car. I had a nice dinner with Ray and Iz and Linda and Louie and Mike and Katie. It was a strange feeling, having a family meal and knowing that I wasn't just going away for a short trip, but for a move away.

I slept well on the sofa for one last time. Although this sofa is dilapidated, it goes back a long way. I can still see Joey and Nana sitting on it and playing that fishing game with the little fishing pole and the magnet. I can see all of our Christmas stockings, filled to the brim, lined up across the cushions. Sitting on it, roasting in front of the fire. It has served us well!

Linda is picking me up around noon and we'll be going to lunch and then the airport. Iz will be joining us for the trip to the airport.

One step at a time. Tonight, trying to relax. Tomorrow, starting to unpack all those boxes! I'll keep you posted!

So Far, So Good

Been trying to tie up loose ends and bidding farewells this week. Went to the dentist on Monday. Movers took my belongings on Monday morning. I got a call from the mover this morning...all my stuff is in Florida awaiting my arrival. I pick up my apartment key on Friday night after I arrive and the movers are delivering at 8:00 am on Saturday. I scheduled my electricity to be turned on Saturday and am scheduled for cable hookup on Tuesday.

Russ let me borrow his car for the day and I ran some errands. I met Rick, a former co-worker and movie buddy for coffee in the AM. I had made an appointment with my doctor for an annual physical (OK, so it's been a bit more than a year) before I realized I wouldn't have my car. After all this packing and stuff, I found I really hadn't stressed that much, but decided I didn't want to take any chances on my blood pressure being sky high, so I scheduled a massage in the morning. Every checked out excellent, blood pressure, resting pulse, EKG, urine. Now to await blood tests, especially that PSA.

Before I brought Russ's car back to him at work, I stopped at my apartment to get two of the floor plants I have, to bring into the office. It was fun seeing my former co-workers and not have to do any work. But Russ gave me some work to do!

We went to Grandma's Pie Shop for dinner. That was a nostalgic trip for me. We used to go there a lot when Joe was little. So much that our favorite waitress bought him a Christmas gift! I remember going there with Adele after I had picked her up after her first time ever away from home when she went to Girl Scout Camp. Sometimes after picking up Mia and Gina at the airport, we'd go to Grandma's Pie Shop. It's like home.

It was difficult saying good-bye to Russ. We saw each other every day at work and had lunch together every day. Almost like being in first grade again!

Tonight Sean and Jeffrey picked me up and we went out for a bit. They gave me a CD that they had made, entitled "Friends Forever". It contains songs with a friendship theme. One of them is "It's Time For Saying Goodbye" from a Muppets movie.

Saying goodbye, going away
Seems like goodbye's such a hard thing to say
Touching a hand, wondering why
It's time for saying goodbye

Saying goodbye, Why is it sad?
Makes us remember the good times we've had
Much more to say, foolish to try
It's time for saying goodbye

Dont want to leave, but we both know
Sometimes it's better to go
Somehow I know we'll meet again
Not sure quite where, and I dont know just when
You're in my heart, so until then
Wanna smile, wanna cry
Saying goodbye

La la la la la la la la
It's time for saying goodbye

I've Been Robbed!!!

I had a dentist appointment this morning. Such a beautiful day out there. But . . . when I came home all of my things were gone! Well, almost gone. The movers were just about finished. Last thing was watching my Jeep disappear into the auto trailor. I guess I missed that photo op.



It's a bit spooky with all those boxes gone. I was beginning to put up street signs so that I wouldn't loose my way navigating around and thru the piles of boxes. I miss them...they became my friends. Maybe it's just the novacaine talking. But, anyhow. Bill, the mover, said that he's going to see about getting it all delivered on Saturday, September 1. Earlier than I had anticipated, but it works great for me!!!


It's funny how life cycles around. I'm back to sleeping on the sofa until I take off on Friday. Reminds me of when I moved into this apartment almost 2 1/2 years ago.

The Vault is Closed

Yesterday was my last day working at the Operations Center of the credit union. Fortunately, there were no problems with any of the projects I work on during my normal routine and all went smoothly. WHEW! It was a busy day . . . with a break for cake and farewells in mid-afternoon. As I handed over my keys, it hit me again, that another chapter had ended.

Afterwards, I met up with the group that I worked with at the Albany branch of the credit union. They wanted to say their good-byes and took me to dinner. Because the wait at Chili's was so long, we headed up Wolf Road to Firkin & Fox Pub. Another first for me. A delicious reuben, but no fresh mint for a mojito. I had a lot of fun working with this crew. Lots of laughs, great hours and a sweet 8 minute commute.

A quick stop at BJs to buy more packing tape, then off to a final Friday night of hanging out with buddies. These are friends I sure will miss. But, onward. My bags are almost all packed.

A Dad's Bragging Rights

I've added a new link to my blog. It's on the left side under my profile. I'm very proud of all of my children. My son Joe went to film school at the Tisch school at NYU. He worked at NBC in NYC for about 5 years before going freelance. And, today being Joe's birthday, I thought it appropriate to add this today! The link posted will bring you to his 'reel' which, in itself, is a work in progress. I hope you enjoy it even half as much as I do!

See Ya Later!

Work, packing, phone calls to update accounts, tying up loose strings, "getting together before you go" get togethers. My head is spinning. Although the bulk of my packing is done, there are a lot of odds and ends to either pack or leave behind. Going through some of this stuff that I didn't really take a good look at two years ago when I moved in here, brings up a lot of memories, both good and bad. As I was going through some of the things, I was laughing and crying. Life goes way too fast. I'm trying to lessen the load that I'm bringing with me to Florida, both figuratively and literally. But, some things manage to find their way into the packing boxes.

A few nights ago I went to dinner with Sean and Jeffrey. We met a little over a year ago and became immediate friends. We have had many good laughs together. Thanks to Gavin, they too have become bloggers. We went to dinner at El Mariachi on Hamilton Street in Albany. It was my first time there. I hadn't had stuffed peppers in ages, so that's what I ordered. It came stuffed with ground beef, almonds, plantain and raisins. It was delicious!!!

Sean and Jeffrey promised that they would come and visit me in St. Pete and gave me a "Friends" frame with a picture of them in it. I will keep this photo in view to remind me to send them postcards from the beach in the winter. :-)

End of a Chapter

Part of this odyssey involves saying Farewell (for now anyway) to good friends. I've been dreading the next couple of weeks for this reason. It brings back memories of the summer before I went away from home for the first time . . . preparing to go off to college. I remember a series of dinners and get togethers with my extended family and friends. It was an end of the 'childhood' portion of my life, if you will, and the advancing into 'adulthood' . . . off on my own for the first time. Now I realize this is another one of those transitions. These past couple of years have been difficult for me and for my family. But I do see a lot of good that has come from the ashes. For me, it has been a period when I have been fortunate to have forged some of the closest and strongest friendships of my life. We have supported each other and been there for each other thru a lot of rough times. I don't know where I'd be otherwise today. The support and love of these friends has given me the courage and confidence to know that I can do this. I have seen great changes over the past couple of years, both in myself and in others.

So, I look forward with eager anticipation of a new and exciting chapter in my life, recognizing that I am leaving great things behind. The picture above is of Gavin and me at the Spectrum Theatre in Albany. We met two years ago and immediately became good friends. We have shared lunches, dinners, movies and concerts over these two years. We always have things to talk about and I don't think we ever have two seconds of silence. Gavin encouraged and inspired me to begin a blog. I admire the creativity and variety that he puts into his blog Why Oh Why? Gavin is also a caregiver to his Mom. I admire his patience that comes across in the posts on his other blog Alzheimer's Moments. I will miss Gavin terribly, but we have promised to keep the communication channels open! Blog on!

Plunk Your Magic Twanger, Froggy!

I went for a walk last night to Stewart's to get some ice cream. On the way I met a woman that I know from the credit union when I was a teller there. She was out walking her dog Dylan, and she was eating an ice cream cone. We were chatting for a while and somehow, I don't know how, Froggy the Gremlin came up in the conversation. And we had a good laugh! I told her how my cousin had a Froggy 'doll' and we threw it out the window one day at her house. We were fun kids! So, today's theme is Froggy the Gremlin!

Midnight the Cat used to sit and rock in a rocking chair on top of the piano, I think, and purr, "Niiiiiiice!"

And there was Squeaky the Mouse. And that same front row of kids jumping out of their seats and laughing! I guess it didn't take much to entertain us back then!

Froggy's RADIO and TV HISTORY

RADIO:

The show premiered in 1944 and ran through April 11, 1953.

TV:

The show premiered on Saturday evening, 6:30pm, on NBC and ran from August 26, 1950 to May 19, 1951.

ABC took it from August 11, 1951 to April 11, 1953 and aired it at 10:30am.

NBC took it back and began broadcasting on August 22, 1953, same 10:30am time.

Another Day of Packing, with a fine Dinner Chaser

Some of my co-workers from the unit I work in at the credit union took me to dinner tonight. After a day of packing some more, taking a walk and turning in my E-ZPass tags, I was ready for it. And, for the first time, I didn't order Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp!!! I had a delicious pasta dish of angel hair with "grilled shrimp, fresh asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, oven roasted tomatoes and parmesan in a delicious garlic sauce" followed by Lemoncello Cream Torte, which consists of: "Layers of vanilla cake and lemon mascarpone cream topped with streusel and served with strawberries and whipped cream". Buuuuuurrrrrpppppp! I won't have to eat for the rest of the week!

And the beat goes on . . .

I'm getting there! Lots packed. Talked to the mover today. Pickup may be on Monday, August 27. Hopefully, delivery will still be around September 4 or 5. Hopefully, all will go well.

Guess What I'm Doing?

I took the afternoon off from work yesterday and picked up some empty boxes that one of the managers at the movie theater put aside for me. I also went to the U-Haul store to buy some boxes for those special things like dishes, lamps, electronics, and some bubble wrap. My last day at work is Friday, August 24 and the movers are coming to pick up my stuff on that weekend. Because some of my co-workers will be on vacation that week, I decided to work up to the 24th rather than to drive my supervisor to check herself into Four Winds. I worked it out that I would take some days off earlier this month to get as much packing done as possible. I've got a HUGE dent made in it already. Now to assess where I go from here as to additional packing supplies that I may need.

Yesterday was hot and humid, but today was sunny and cooler with a beautiful breeze.