Saturday, January 18, 2025

No weight as SIL and I are at a hotel in my former Florida town.

We made the 3 hour boring trek across Florida yesterday afternoon. We are staying in a new resort on the water built by Allegiant Air after I sold my house 3 years ago. Nice view over the water but no balcony which makes me sad. Last night we met 2 friends for dinner nearby. Great visit though the food was just mediocre so I didn't eat much. SIL is quite sore with her fractured rib but seemed to be able to get comfortable in the car and seemed to sleep quietly last night. She is still asleep so I haven't made my coffee yet. Hopefully she will be awake soon.

Today we will explore the hotel. Maybe sit by the pool if it is warm enough (it is supposed to be a warmer day today). Possibly we will take a ride to some areas we used to frequent but the beaches are still not open after the damage from hurricane Milton and Helene. Speaking of which, we were looking for one of our favorite restaurants last night - it was at an old hotel on the water. The lot is completely bare! There was so much damage to the building that they had to take it down.

We go to our friend's 80th birthday party at 5. Should be fun with lots of old friends there (they are the people we knew from my former neighborhood).

Have a serene Saturday!

I always want a balcony too. It doesn't have to be big, just enough to sit outside, maybe feel the sun on my face.

Sunny today, but if I have any sun on my face, it will be from inside, me by a window. It is 5 degrees right now, and is forecasted to take another dip. Subzero temps are on their way. I think it's going to be a cozy, stay home kind of weekend.

The play we saw last night was amazing. The Heart Sellers is about 2 immigrant women who moved from the Philippines and Korea because of their husbands medical residencies. They share their stories about the strangeness and loneliness of their new existence. One poignant line: the rain does not smell right. It was funny and so sad at the same time, and brought tears to my eyes. It gave me a different perspective about what people give up when they leave home, even when home is no longer safe.

I think we will brave the cold today for one thing: to go have our coffee :)

We are thinking of visiting Memphis over spring break. Anyone in our tribe have experience with this city?

That play sounds like a great story. DH's son and daughter-in-law have been living in Poland for the last 8 months for his job. *****esn't speak polish and had no job (though she is starting one at the US embassy this month). She was very isolated with no friends and no confidence to wander around and explore. Must have been similar to the characters in that play.

Our bodies only heal while they are sleeping. So sleep is good!

Greetings all

It is quite foggy today. No clue if it will clear up. We have the funeral in a couple of hours so I am lounging about thinking about what to wear. Of course it is too late to get anything new so I will be scraping the bottom of the closet soon.

Liz must be strange to be back where you used to live and see the changes. Glad your SIL can rest up. CC is right - rest to heal. Hope you have some quiet fun and good eats.

DD sounds like a great play. Yes it would be very hard to go live in a foreign country without language or family. My SIL and her family lived in graduate student apartments while she worked on her PHD years ago. Many foreign students. I remember going into that building and there were the most wonderful smells coming from various apartments. That must have been very important to their families. Imagine being dropped in a completely remote foreign place and then smelling McDonald's. Anyway, glad the show was good.

Probably no waddling today. So be it. Tomorrow for sure.

While I look for something to wear to this event I will try to pick up in our bedroom. It looks like a thrift shop exploded in there. So much unfolded laundry, half full bags of stuff to toss, piles of undetermined papers and on and on. Needs bye bye.

CC I am picturing Kirby in his new HVAC career. He needs a little tool belt and headlamp. And clunky boots.

Cheers all. Diane S

LOL on the image of Kirby in his gear!

DS lives in a building with many families from other countries. The cooking smells in the hall are amazing!

Hahaha, how cute would that be?!

Ventured to Paia town today which is Maui's hippy dippy community. Had lunch at a wood fired pizza place that we've been to many times before. Always good!

Went to North shore beach today! Very big waves 20-30 feet and I guess they can get up to 60 - 80 feet. The surfers already looked like little ants against the waves!

The remainder of the day will be spent poolside and we will have shrimp and veggies and rice at the condo for dinner.