Busy

In the world of retirement a person could have visions "what should I do today"?  That is not the world of retirement that Terry and I live in.  It seems, I am not complaining in any way, that in our real world it is thinking of a list of things that need to get done and wondering in the morning what on that list can be done today.  Slowly, very slowly, we are checking things off and getting things that need to be taken care of before we head north.  We received our Visas in the mail last Saturday.  I was a bit on edge as we had to send our passports in for that and not only did we need to get them back in time but we there is always the thought of them getting lost.  We are in the middle of getting some work done on the pool.  We are not doing that work but it needed to be done this spring.  A guy came yesterday and put a pump in the pool to drain it.  He then left and did not come back all day!!  Sort of makes me worried about the kind of work they do. 
We enjoyed having Jerry and Susan here for two nights.  They took in one of my tennis matches so here was my chance to show the world my tennis skills and I fell flat on my face!  Not literally but figuratively!  Follow through Carmen, follow through Carmen, follow through Carmen. I still remain on the bottom of the sub list so the matches are few and far between.  Still not sure what I need to do for next fall.  Neither of us have played much tennis the last couple of weeks as it has been busy but Terry will be on the court three times this week.
We had an eye opener on our supplemental health insurance.  We did not investigate it enough last year and took a plan that we were told was the best.  We found out that in the world of Medicare and supplemental  plans-- all "F" plans are the same!!  So yesterday we went and changed to a plan that covers the same as ours but for the two of us will save us about $65 a month!  I guess the thing to do is live, learn and then save money--and hope that you save money before all yours is spent!!
We are looking at camping in the Washington DC area for a couple of nights.  It looks like that may be a challenge.  We do have a place to stay if we want to go that route but will see.  Friends, Bruce and Anita, have offered to have us stay with them.  Bruce said it would be easy to travel by train to the the sights rather than try to drive.  He said rush hour traffic in DC is from 6-10 and 4-8!!  We will see.
No, the FP is gone and things need to get done around here.

Home Again





Mom & Dad 41
Ronald 16, Janet 14, Joan 10
Dave 8, Carmen 5, Helen 2




Sorry I did not get a smile on you Helen



Helen and Mike on their wedding 21 years ago
I think Helen may have just arrived from Hollywood!!

 We spent the last four days driving the back roads of AR and spending the time with Helen as she and friends celebrated Mike's life.  Each time I drive those AR back roads I think about how fun it would be to drive them on a cycle.  I don't think I have ever driven anyplace where it is more up and down and around.  Mike's daughter Melissa and her family were there as well as many friends.  The last night we were there Helen's son in law, Alan, got a call from his sister that their Dad had died.  Mike had come to Helen's from Houston where his parents lived.  So grandchildren Austin and Allison lost Grandpa Mike and Grandpa Epler in the span of a few weeks. There was wonderful food, good conversation, a great picture program of Mike and lots of laughs.  Helen is dong well as she deals with losing Mike and handling all the things one must do in that situation.  We arrived home yesterday in time for Terry to get in a PT session and then unpack at home.
We will have Jerry and Susan W with us for the next two nights.  We have had very little out of town company this winter but of course have entertained several times with parties and dinners at home.
Starting Thursday we HAVE to get in gear for travel, camping and heading north.  There is so much to do before we leave it is difficult to get our minds around how to attack it. 
I was asked to play in another tennis league match this week.  I lost my first two times so am hoping this is the win!  Of course winning is not the most important thing at my age but I have to admit it would be nice to win one before we head out for the season.  I still don't know what I will do next year as for now I am the low low person on the sub list so I have not played much.  There are so many guys on each team and some have been on the team since the beginning of time.  So of courrse when the new guy comes along even though he is so good, :) :) :) , it is difficult to get playing time.  It would be nice to play once a week next year.
It is time to enjoy the last few drops of FP and do something productive with the day.

Welcome March

I am not sure if March came in like a lion or a lamb.  For sure we are having a cool spell in Naples.  Not anything to complain about as it has been in the high 60s and low 70s but cool compared to what it has been.
We are looking a a busy week ahead.  There will be not much tennis, some meetings, and Terry's PT and then early Friday morning we will fly out to Holiday Island AR to spend a small amount of time with my sister Helen.  She lost her beloved Mike about a month ago and next Saturday Helen will honor his desire to have a party in his name to celebrate his life.  It sounds like I will be the only family as Joan spent 10 days with her in February and Dave is not in a travel mode now with his health.  I am sure there will be plenty of friends as Helen seems to be kind of a magnet for fun people!  We fly out at 7 am on Friday and return Monday afternoon.  Jerry and Susan W will be here the day after we arrive home and am looking forward to that.  They will be on a "couple" vacation as Susan's dad winters in Lakeland FL and his birthday is March 14th.  I think he turns 99!  That sounds kind of old to me as my age now is those two numbers upside down! I still think of myself as 65 so maybe there is a barrier to being closer to 70 than 60.  As I have been playing tennis lately I sometimes feel closer to 80, not really.
I got this new racket from Terry for Valentine's Day and played with it for the first time last Monday.  Kind of a disaster but fun just the same.  I then played again on Wednesday and played quite well so I guess as with all new things there is a learning curve.
We have kind of a busy weekend here.  Tonight we will entertain two couples for dinner and then tomorrow early afternoon we will have 15-20 tennis players over for bagels and coffee.  We have not done anything like that before so should be fun.
There is very little time left here before we head north for the summer.  There is really much to do before we head north on I75 towards Washington D C, then to China, then to New York City, maybe to the New England States and then west to Minnesota.  We will start thinking and preparing in earnest this week.
FP is gone and so is my news.

A Fun Day--Up Close



I wonder if their 45,000,000 dollar upgrade will improve the sign!!



Terry and Jeanne at spring training



Mark Rosen from channel 4 taking notes





Alex Burnett, he gave Leo a ball last year



Old timers come to help, Rod Carew



Tony Oliva



Gardy wants you



Here is what a 20+ million dollar man is-Mauer

 Terry and I met Dick and Jeanne Larkin Wednesday for a fun time at Twins spring training, a nice lunch and dessert at their place.  I am not a huge fan of things like games or events where million dollar boys play but this was a fun time.  I wanted to be like Leo and get a ball so I went way off my  myself and waiting until a ball from batting practice came a short way from me on the ground.  I then slipped through an exit that was for emergencies only and snatched the ball up before hurrying away!!  When I rejoined everyone I had it in my back pocket just like Mauer did on the field!!!!
We continue to experience perfect weather, sunny and in the low 80's.  Perfect for tennis and Terry played four times each of the last two weeks and has three times scheduled for next week.  I need to get into the swing of things again.  For most of last week and this week I have been only a cheerleader for Terry.
We are looking forward to Terry's sister and husband coming tomorrow and staying for two nights. They are in the market for a warm place for the winter.  They live just outside of Chicago.
Time is winding down for the winter.  It seems like a short time ago that we arrived in Naples and here we only have about 35 days before we head out. 
Our plans are to head out about March 29 and take in a couple of places on our way to Washington D C.  Then April 6 we will fly out of Washington for a 10 day trip to China.  When we arrive back in D C we will head to New York City for lunch at Katz Deli and a couple of days in New York.  Then maybe we will spend some time in the New England States before heading to St. Paul.  We are trying to plan how to work in woodworking, a trip out West and two weddings this summer.  Like I say, this retirement is difficult, never a day off!
No more FP coffee left and work to do before company tomorrow.

Another Week Gone By

Perhaps I have said this a thousand times but I will say it again, "Oh my how times flies!"
I really do not know what happened this last week as it seems like I blogged yesterday but the blog says February 10, 2013.
So often people will ask me what I do now that I am retired and have few obligations.  I am not sure what I say most of the time but I know that time goes fast and I seem to keep busy.
Some of the things that happened this last week:

• We had two couples over last Sunday PM for a nice turkey dinner.  It was a fun time.  One of the guys was one of five superintendents of schools in New York City when he retired and it was fun to talk education.  Most of the people down here are from the world of business as I think that is more conductive to retiring in FL!!   Anyway it was really fun talking education for a change.  As always Terry did a super job of setting up the dinner. 
• I had two sessions with physical therapy.  This place I go really is great.  We had a couple over Wednesday afternoon for snacks and a drink.  We made up a gag gift for them and then we wanted to show them our camper as the lady had asked Terry some time ago if we lived in our camper during the summer??   Anyway, Steve said he dealt with tennis elbow some time ago and was unable to do anything for 10 months.  Terry once dealt with it for two years.  My point is I have dealt with it for about a month and was on the court yesterday for a doubles match. Now my tennis yesterday was one of those days where you want to throw the racket and stomp on it for a minute (I did not do that) but my game reflected my lack of skill after a long lay off and did not reflect any hurt in the elbow!  Another day and maybe another level, perhaps!!!  
• We downloaded our first book on our mini-i pad so now we can read off of that.  A new thing for us.  We will see how we like it. 
• Terry played tennis four times last week and has tennis scheduled four times this week as well.  I think I will have to have her show me how to play again.
• Terry had several appt this past week and now is scheduled for a few PT sessions on her neck and back.  We are hopeful that helps.
• We have several appt this coming week too.  I also will try to get on someones tennis radar again.  Once a person is off it can be difficult to get on as people tend to play and then ask the same people if they are open to play next time. 
• We actually had two days of really nice rain.  I think we received about 2-3 inches on Thursday and Friday. 
• We enjoyed a nice Valentine dinner on Thursday.  We have gone to the same place and actually sat in the same booth for the last three years.
• I finished my writing class on Thursday.  A fun time and very helpful.  Now it is time to get serious about editing the writing I have done.  I think I will have to put a time aside each day or it will be put in the often time used time slot of "some day".
• We almost have our taxes ready to go in. 

I finished my FP coffee hours ago so can not say I am at the bottom of the cup but regardless I am finished.

Ice-Tens machine-Again and Again and NO tennis

Here we go again.  Last year it was the muscle (yes men my age still have some!) on the underside of my right arm, this year it is on top.  I am hoping PT twice a week, ice and Tens on the arm 2 or 3 times a day will get me back on the court by Saturday, February 16!
More books this week and more sunny weather, what else can I say. 
Actually the highlight of the week was a 3 hour boat ride with a great lunch at the turn around point.  We took some pictures for a couple down the street and in turn they treated us to a boat ride on Friday.  We got out into the gulf and it felt like Paul B, from up north in MN, was pounding on the underside of the boat so we turned around and spent the next couple of hours on the back waters.  We saw several dolphins which was fun but the most fun was just seeing the landscape around the backwaters. 
I guess another highlight was our purchase of a mini-i pad but have not used it much yet.  We decided on the mini and will see what we like.  Would be nice to take books on it when we travel so one can carry this tiny little thing with a dozen or so books in stead of carrying all the real books with us. 
We will be having dinner guests tonight so will fire up the grill this afternoon and put a turkey on. 
Not much else.  The weather has been perfect with temps in the low 80's and it has gotten to the point that it is difficult to imagine the wintry weather in the NE.
FP, it is all gone.

Two Days late

Two days late but happy 3rd birthday Ruby!!  You are the only family member with a February birthday but you make the entire month special.
Not a lot of Naples news.  We spent half a day on Thursday with a friend from Highland Park School.  She lives in Wisconsin but has family here.  We drove to Fort Meyers where a long long ago fellow worker is the principal at an elementary school.  Visited for a short time but it was fun.
I have been dealing with a bit of tennis elbow so have not played for almost two weeks.  I went to Urgent Care last Tuesday to get a referral for physical therapy and ended up with a cortisone shot.  I know that does not cure the elbow but it reduces the inflammation and takes the pain away so now I can take it easy and get back on the court again.
We are on our way to a Super Bowl party.  Not really our cup of tea but then at times it is nice to be social.
We both continue to read books in between walks.  There is work to be done but it is difficult to find the time to get to it!!!!!
No, time to go.