'Twas the Saturday Before Christmas

I took a walk to the downtown Saturday Market. On the way I received a call from the insurance agency total loss representative. We went over the next steps to be taken. On Monday afternoon I need to go and get my personal belongings from the Jeep. I plan on taking the spare tire wheel cover when I go. The insurance company will cut me a check. I have to send them my title. On Wednesday afternoon I need to return the rental car.

I think this boat is like this to scrape off the barnacles. Or maybe not.

Here are some random shots from my outing this morning. I also discovered another smaller open market, an arts and crafts one in Williams Park. After checking out the booths there, I stopped by the hotel where I stayed in July when I was checking out the area. I wanted to say hello to the couple who run the hotel. They were so helpful and friendly when I stayed there and in the spirit of the season, I wanted to say hello and wish them happy holidays. There was a big tree set up in the living room / lobby.

This shot is looking towards Tampa Bay. I liked the way the palm tree beyond the Christmas tree seemed to be like a star atop the tree.

This is The Moon Under Water where the girls and I ate dinner on our "Christmas Eve" last weekend.

Of course I had to stop for some gelato and espresso.

The doggie canteen was at the Saturday Market.

R. I. P.

A Little Thai Tonight

Work has been going well. Today wasn't super busy, so it was a nice relaxing pace. Only problem is that everytime I pass a box of candy or a dish of cookies, I have to take one. "When the schmecken beckons!"

I have my rental car while the Jeep is in the shop. I was picked up after work on Wednesday and brought over to get the car. So far, no estimate yet. Maybe tomorrow.

I was feeling a bit down when I got home, maybe from the stress of what has been going on this week. Otto called and wanted to know if I wanted to join him and his friend Bill for some Thai food at Chiang Mai. I wasn't really hungry for a big meal so decided on a cucumber salad with peanut sauce, and a sampler appetizer platter. It was DELICIOUS! Turned my mood around a little. That's a radish that looks like a lotus blossom, and a carrot leaf on the right.

I went to do a little shopping afterwards. I ended up driving thru a neighborhood I had never been in. There were a lot of nice homes all decorated with lights. When I see all the homes decorated, I think that my father would have loved to drive or walk around to see all of the lights. I like to think that he's seeing them thru my eyes.

New Exercise Program

Well, today after work, I walked home. It's a mile and a half, and I did it semi-leisurely, so it took me a little under a half hour. I got warm enought to shed my jacket.

I hadn't really planned on starting this exercise program, but was sort of forced into it by my own stupidity and recklessness. On the block in front of my workplace, I was in an accident. I had stopped at a mailbox to drop off some mail and took a different path back to work. I attempted to cross MLK (9th St N) at 27th Ave N and POW!!! An onlooker called 911 and within minutes rescue vehicles and the police were there. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Both cars needed to be towed. The car that I ran into was driven by a woman who was on her way home from her volunteer work at a local hospital. Boy, do I sound like a meany! Her husband came from their house, which was a minute away. They moved down here from Buffalo 12 years ago. A very nice couple. I felt terrible.

My manager from work came over to see how I was holding up. All of my coworkers were really nice to me, offering me rides and extending sympathy and conern. We were short staffed and it was really busy because everyone is getting money to spend, spend, spend for the holiday. The afternoon offered me little time to think about what had happened, but I was shaking inside. My walk home gave me time to think. I am extremely happy that no one was hurt.

Now, I'm without my Jeep. I spoke with an insurance agent when I got home. He called me before I even got a chance to call them! I'm getting a rental tomorrow, and the wheels of motion have begun to turn. I'll update my experience with this new insurance carrier as things progress. Maybe I'll write a glowing testimonial, if all works out well. But anyway I look at it I see $$$ flying away.

I Feel Your Pain

The temperature here in St Pete plunged to a nippy 40s something. It was the first time I wore a jacket. Eat your heart out brothers and sisters up there in Albany. And to think, just yesterday we had the windows open here! My bad?

Christmas Celebration With the Girls

My first Christmas in Florida. The girls arrived late Saturday afternoon. After getting their things in the apartment we headed to downtown to The Moon Under Water Bar and Grill. We each chose a curry dish and all of us enjoyed our selections. After we got back to the apartment, Mia took a cat nap while Adele, Gina and I took a short walk around the neighborhood to see some of the holiday light decorations. It was a beautiful night, still a bit humid. When we got back we opened one gift before bed.

After the girls got back from church, we opened our gifts to each other. Here are the girls with their "purse" banks.

Gina gave me a framed picture of her and me taken when we went to the Magic Kingdom Halloween Party last October when I visited them.

For our "Christmas" dinner we went to the Renaissance Vinoy Resort hotel. We had a half hour wait for the Mediterranean buffet so we walked around the hotel and grounds for a while and sat by a pool on an upper level.

There was a candy sculpture in this case in the main hallway.

We each got fruit smoothies made to order. We all enjoyed the fresh fruit. There were stations located around the center of the hall; fresh sea food (Adele went to town on the shrimp and crab), breakfast station, fruit and cheeses, tapas, meat station, and desserts. You could get as much champagne as you wanted (not that the girls drank any), and Adele and Mia tried some caviar. The desserts, however, put us over the edge.

I didn't take another picture of the other desserts . . . don't want to make us look too piggy. There was a chocolate fountain where you could dip all sorts of things, and a cookie table where you could decorate a sugar cookie.

This wreathe was on one of the pillars in the main hallway.




We had fun in this garden area where Mia did her Marilyn Monroe impression as the wind was whipping up her skirt.

This is the cannoli cake I bought Saturday at Mazzaro's. We had a small piece later in the evening. I think we all had enough sweets for the weekend!

Christmas Prelude

My three daughters are coming to visit me! I stopped at Mazzaro's this morning to get some goodies to have while they are here. Saturday morning, 80 degrees or so....typical Christmas season weather. The place was packed, but most of the people there seemed in a festive mood. I saw this cute little car parked in back. Watch this space for the Cannoli Cake!

Charlie Chaplan The Bank Teller

This week at Grow Financial has been designated as "Smile Week". Each day has a different theme. Today was dress like your favorite celebrity or famous person. Well, we got this good deal on bowler hats, so we all dressed as Charlie Chaplin. As I was getting ready to go to work, I thought for a split second, "should I shave my moustache to look like Charlie's?" Nah! Most of my co-workers (all females) used eye brow pencil to paint on a moustache. It was a fun day. Almost all of the members did end up smiling! One even said..."Why are you all dressed up as Charlie Chan?" Duh!

Tomorrow is "Green Acres Day" I'm trying to find some wheat grass to chew on.

On another note: on my way home I passed a house with the front door open. It was interesting to see the lighted tree thru the screen door, and the ceiling fan on. Reminded me of others not so fortunate. So Here's a shout out to my brothers freezing their butts off up in Albany.

St Pete Christmas Boat Parade

I love Christmas in July! Saturday night there were lots of activities going on at the Pier in downtown St Pete. I walked from my apartment to Tampa Bay, and down along the Bay, the same route I take on my walks. There were folks sitting on lawn chairs and gathered all along the park down to the Pier. Reminded me of summer nights at Park Playhouse in Washington Park in Albany.

As I was walking down towards the Pier, I snapped this shot of the twilight sky.

The boat parade came around the Pier from the southside and went along the northside. I snapped these pictures from Vinoy Park.

These pictures were taken in the park downtown. Not quite Rockefeller Plaza, but "ice" rink, nonethe less!

This is the tree in the Vinoy Resort, taken from the outside.
Seems like there was some big shindig going on inside.

More balconies are draped with the icycle lights.

This is a bed and breakfast on Beach Drive. The lights on the palm trees kept blinking on and off. Took me a few shots to catch them on!

Snapped a few pictures of more homes on my way back to my apartment.

This home was part of the candlelight tour this year.