Sunday, January 19, 2025

Still at the hotel so no weight. The hotel here is only a year old and has tons of restaurants and casual eating spots, 2 beautiful pools, and lovely rooms with wonderful water views (even if no balcony). But it has very low occupancy. It makes it easy to get service and find a chair at the pool but I don't see how this place is going to stay in business - it is in financial difficulties. It might be offering cheap deals to stay here? It is the Sunseeker Resort and was built by Allegiant. I did some googling and it looks like they are considering selling it.

The birthday party last night was so much fun. All ladies except for the birthday girl's family members. 90 people! I'm not sure I have ever had that many friends. She was so happy. Lots of dancing and hugging. This group were my closest "girlfriend" group over my lifetime. I didn't have that many close friends at any other point. We would walk together every morning and talk about everything in our lives, past and present. I forgot how much I missed them.

Today we are driving 1/2 hour north to have brunch with 2 couples who are old friends of deceased DH - the guys were his longest term, closest friends. One of them and his wife still live in the community where I lived and where the party was last night. Afterwards we will do the long, boring drive back to my house. Tonight I have a reservation for dinner at the Beach Club. It may not be the best night for that but it is the only night we could do it with SIL.

Hopefully that SIL is up a bit earlier than yesterday. I was up at 7 am both mornings but she slept until 9:30 yesterday. Definitely good for her healing as she slept well but I was dying for my coffee! Have a scintillating Sunday!

I'm in Kansas City this morning where it's 8 degrees outside and where the Chiefs won their first big playoff game last night. I'll jump up in a second, pack, and head back home. It's been a very good visit with DSD. I have really missed seeing her lately.

Quick catchup: I picked up our chairs yesterday (they're gorgeous!), but we have not bought that sexy RH sofa (are now thinking of recovering a loveseat we already have and putting it where the sexy Italian would have stold).

Nothing big to report. Just want to be careful driving home. I do like driving on Sundays--no highway construction and this time of year there's very little weekend traffic to battle. There's no precipitation here in Missouri today, so cold and windy, but no snow, sleet or ice.

In Kentucky it'll snow a couple of hours early this morning, but then no more precipitation (while I'm driving through Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky). However, the low in KY for the next 3 days is (gasp!) 5 degrees. I guess I'm headed back to cabin fever.

That's all for now. Everyone have a warm Sunday!

Drive carefully! You have a much longer drive than I do today.

Spectacular day whale watching from our lanai this morning! They were super active with lots of tail slaps and breeches! Hoping I got some good photos even though they were a ways out! Hanging out by the pool right now soaking up some rays. My cabana boy (DH) just brought me an ice cream sandwich .Tonight we will go to a very popular (and expensive) restaurant that's very popular on the island. I bought yet another Tommy Bahama dress and will wear that tonight.

Glad your party was fun Liz and that you got to visit with your close friends. Safe travels home!

Safe travels for you too Ann! You have been putting on the miles! Glad you had a great visit too.

I bet you will look beautiful in the dress

Paula, you're rocking y'all's Maui vacay! Hope your dinner is as wonderful as I imagine it must be.

P.S. I'm home--back in Louisville!

Hi Liz, I just checked rates for that resort for spring break, and they would be doable. Unfortunately the airfare to Fort Meyers from here is insane. Spring break. Sigh.

It sounds like the boring drive was worth the reunion with so many longtime friends. I always find so much ease with people I've known a long time. There's a shorthand in their understanding of who you are now, because they know where you've been.

Hoping Anne's drive is uneventful. Whatever you decide about the sofa will no doubt be fabulous.

Paula you picked the perfect time to get the heck out of here. As I said, I'm not even planning on going out into the garage. Monday's wind chill is predicted to be -35. Ugh.

I'm about half way through the New York Times, and on my 3rd cup of tea. DH is watching football playoffs while I read.

We have some plans (besides work) that will require me to leave the house in the coming week. Tuesday dinner with friends, Saturday dinner with DHs siblings and spouses. It will hopefully be warmer by then.

I do not envy your temps one bit!!! Try to stay warm!

Greetings all

Sun is out and it's nippy but nice. Not much going on. Finally got a small amount of junk moved out of the bedroom and making plans for more. Meanwhile I went to the gym and walked. One additional nice thing about this gym is that the handicapped parking spots are often used by people using walkers or other assistance. Guess thats another reason for the big elevator. Anyway it's good that people with limitations feel good about using the place. There is a chair lift at the pool for people who can't walk at all. So far no one has offered it to me - yay.

So we are watching football in the snow. I think it's so funny that they go ahead and play and scrape off the yard lines.

The funeral yesterday was well done. Lots of people in this rather dreary old small town funeral home. How do they get it to smell like dust and Pledge at the same time? Its was a non religious memorial with lots of shared memories. The last item was playing the song "Mamma Mia" by Abba. Might sound odd but this lady loved that movie and saw it 26 times! It was kind of how she lived. Afterwards there was a lunch thing at the small town Portuguese hall. Lovely old place and good company. It all managed to be kind of uplifting and was totally in the spirit of this person.

More yum yums tonight. Chili tomorrow for the college championships. CC who is your Dad rooting for?

Ann drive safely. Hope you have one of those cold weather kits in your car. Candles, matches, flashlight and whatever. Pic of the chairs sometime

Yay DD a whole day without leaving the house. Tea and the Times. What a trip!

Yep Paula agreed you chose the right travel time. Whales galore!! See any babies? Mama's Fish House?

Liz sounds like a great party and trip. Hope that resort does better as it sounds like a great place.

Diane S

Oh yeah - Paula, definitely Mamas Fish House!

Your friend's memorial sounds perfect and lovely. How cool that Mamma Mia was played. A wonderful tribute to her.