Meeting Chip at Beauty and the Beast

Since I missed catching up with Chip a week ago  Friday, I met Adele again this past Friday to give it another go.  I wanted to leave St. Pete earlier this time so as to avoid the morning rush hour traffic through Tampa.  I hit it well and had smooth sailing all the way.  I arrived at Downtown Disney early, so had time to walk the length and relax over a cup of java before Adele arrived to meet me.

It was a beautiful morning . . .

We planned on me attending the 12:45 PM performance, in the VIP seating!  So I had time to pick up a FastPass for the Tower of Terror, and then headed over to the Rock 'n' Rolling Coaster to ride as a single rider.  It took about 20 minutes before I got on.

When I got out it was time to head next door to the Tower.  I ended up walking right on!  And, I got bold, figuring, wouldn't it be fun to record the ride! I thought of it part way thru, and most of the video is in the dark, but there was a lot of screaming!  And on exiting the ride, I saw the photo posted of our car . . . me sitting there with my camera in front of my face.  Silly me!

Then it was almost time to head over to the show.

What a blast it was when Chip walked out onto the stage!  Naturally, I couldn't stop snapping pictures and even did a little video! 

I enjoyed the show from my seat in the second row center.  I took a short break and had a snack . . . one of my favorite - coconut!  

After my snack, I headed back into the theater to watch part of the show from up in back.

I caught the battle scene where poor Chip was attacked!

I met up with Adele during one of her longer breaks and we had a light lunch.  

I took a boat from the Hollywood Studios over to EPCOT.  There were a couple of stops along the way.

Once I got over to EPCOT I took a quick tour around the world . . . visiting a few countries around the lagoon.  I spotted Chip and Mrs. Potts in France.

The grounds at EPCOT were being prepared for the upcoming Flower and Garden Show next week.

Drummers in Japan.

Italy

Germany

China

 

I think the Swan and the Dolphin hotels are absolutely ugly!

We ended the day at Sweet Tomatoes again!  Hard to resist!!!

Daily Walks

I am in my sixth week of total retirement.  I'm not focusing on a routine yet, thinking maybe over time, one will work itself out.  One thing I have been trying to do, is to take at least one walk every day.  So, I usually meet Dave at 9 AM each weekday morning and we walk for about an hour or more.  We try to mix it up, walking a different route each day.  This shot is on Coffee Pot Bayou.

There's always a picture of something that I would like to capture.  I haven't been taking my camera, relying on my dumb smart phone camera.  It's not that good, so I'm thinking about starting to bring my camera.  This is the bridge leading over to Snell Island.

This ship kept 'tooting' it's horn.  Looking out on Tampa Bay from just north of downtown St. Pete.

I use to take a lot of pictures of the area when I was out on my walks.  Now that I'm walking regularly again, I keep seeing shots that I would like to capture.  I'm thinking of doing some themed photo essays.  Why not?  I've got plenty of time now!

Here I am looking up from the park bench that I am sitting on, enjoying my iced coffee outside of Starbucks.

It's a strange season here now in Florida.  Sort of a combined spring and fall.  There are tons of flowers blooming all over the place, and at the same time, lots of dried leaves falling from trees and blowing around.  The temperature has been around 80 each day lately.  Nights in the upper 60s.  I have to keep reminded myself what month it is.  Huge difference now, what with Albany having it's first significant snowfall of the winter now.

Happy Feet

OK.  I did it.  About a month ago Wayne and I met this doctor who was wearing these funny shoes.  Not this model, but ones that looked crazy like these.  He swore by them, saying they were comfortable and he wore them to work every day.

When I was at Disney Studios last week, I saw a guy walking around with these funny shoes on too.  So after my walk this morning, I went online to do some research.  Most of the reviews were excellent.  I shopped different styles and when looking for what was available in my size, it cut the field down substantially.  It seemed a little tricky as to determining which size to order so I thought maybe I'd check to see if there was a nearby store that carries them.  So I next went to the manufacturers web site and did a search.  Lo, and behold, there is one within walking distance.  I went for an afternoon walk. I'm glad I did.  There were not a lot available in my size, but I did have several styles to select from.

I thought back to when I was a kid and the shoe salesman would ask if you wanted to wear the new shoes or have him put them back in the shoe box.  I  commented that I felt like a little kid and told him I would like to wear them on my walk back to my apartment.

After I left the store I walked a couple blocks over to Starbucks, got an iced coffee and sat outside and talked to my friend Ray on the phone.  He was huddled at home while it was snowing outside.  I hesitated to tell him that I was sitting outside in shorts and short sleeve polo, under a blue cloudless sky with the temperature somewhere around 80 degrees.  I hesitated, but I told him anyway!

A Foggy Morning in St. Pete Town

I am in my fifth week of "retirement" now.  I haven't developed any sort of routine yet, taking the time to let whatever will be, will be.  One thing that has been fairly well consistent, is a morning walk.  Dave meets me at 9 AM and we head off in a different direction depending on the whim of the day.

This morning there was a fog hanging over Tampa Bay and over downtown St. Pete.  As our walk progressed, the fog was lifting.

I still find it hard to believe that this is February and I'm living here.  So much of "winter" is a distant memory.  I forget what time of year it really is.

One of the things I am enjoying, is having time.  It sort of reminds me of when I was a child.  Especially thinking back on summer days when I was growing up.  I got up in the morning. Had breakfast.  Went out to play with my brother and sister, and/or cousins and/or neighborhood friends.  There was no set schedule.  We played until we were called in for lunch.  Then played some more until we were called in for dinner.  A clock wasn't necessary.  It's pretty much like that now.  Only my playtime is not quite the same, and no one prepares my meals and calls me in when they are ready.  (Shout out to Ma!)

Caught this school of fish under the dock on the way back.

I'm glad I live in a place that is perpetual "summer".  It always was my favorite time of year!

Left Center Right and Lasagna

I attended an "LCR Casino Party" on Saturday afternoon and evening.  It's a simple game which we played with nickels instead of chips.  Low stakes, but fun.  We had three tables of seven players each.  After a while it does become a bit 'tiring' so we doubled the stakes to two nickels per 'chip'.  Living life on the edge!

It was a beautiful afternoon to be outside!  I still have to remind myself that it's February!

John had set a beautiful table for our dinner.  Lasagna, salad and chocolate pudding and carrot cake for desserts.  It was a fun time!

I think 'Shut the Box' would lend itself to this party.  When we played on Thanksgiving the stakes were higher - $1 per round.  A little more incentive, I think!  Maybe next year?