A Long Overdue Update

Here it is almost the end of 2012 and we have not shared a post with our friends in over two weeks.  So, we best bring you all up to date.

We have now seen three movies and enjoyed all of them very much.  "Lincoln" was a very interesting take on that President's efforts to abolish slavery.  Very well acted.  Excellent story.  "Skyfall" was, in many ways, a typical James Bond movie but it was an intriguing story.  Lots of action, of course.  In fact, the opening action scene was quite exciting.  Wonder how they did the motorcycle chase on that very thin wall?  As much as I enjoyed all three, "Les Miserables" was the best - and the longest; though it did not seem long.  This was a very good way to spend a significant part, 3.5-plus hours (if you include driving to and from the movie theatre), of Christmas Day!  The singing was very good in most parts - though Hugh Jackman, in that regard, was a bit disappointing.  Good acting.  At many points a depressing story - I was not very familiar with it - but a totally enjoyable experience.

Health-wise, I am doing fine.  No further issues since December 4th.  I am endeavouring to behave and, though I regret I will not be doing any bicycling, I will prefer to look after my health and hope to bicycle when we get back to Canada.  Lots of walking.  Lots and lots of reading.  To-date, December 29th, I have read fifteen novels (varying from 51 to 600+ pages) and currently have two other novels on the go and a commentary on the gospel of Matthew.  For the year 2012, I have read slightly more than 22,000 pages.

We had a good Christmas!  It was different - as was expected - but nevertheless quite enjoyable.  And Santa found all three of us.  Imagine!  As well as being out for the movie, we went out for supper to a steak and seafood restaurant called Howards.  They had steak and seafood on the menu but they also had a turkey dinner which is what we ordered.  It was very good.  Lots and lots of turkey and dressing...and cranberry sauce.  The place was very busy.  We shared a half-carafe of a decent chablis, and also shared a shrimp cocktail.  Which was good because the dinner include a trip to the salad bar, rolls, and lots of main course.  We opted out of dessert although they sounded very good and may have to return for some another time - carrot cake, key lime pie, cheesecakes, and a chocolate dessert that would probably kill you on the spot!

Rob got a portable scanner for Christmas.  That came in handy to send my medical claim off to the insurance people.  I got a Wii and "we" are enjoying it.  We have done some of the sporting activities and watched some Netflix.

We have had a bit of an issue the last few days with internet, telephone, and TV service.  We think the internet is OK now.  A repair man is coming to see about the TV service (DirecTV) on Wednesday, January 2nd.  The landline telephone we will probably not bother about since we have a skype phone and a cell phone.

However, because of all this "upset," our landlady and her partner have asked us to be their guests out for dinner and the evening on New Years Eve.  We are going to an Asian restaurant in Venice for dinner and then to their daughter's place for a bit of the evening.

Well, this is getting to be long enough.  I will close this with some pics (and a short video) we took of the outside decorations of a nearby home.  In total, there are 21 of these "blow up" decorations in the front yard and across the street in the front of an empty lot.  Really lit up the space.  Trust you had a good Christmas and that 2013 unfolds peacefully and productively for you!

Rentals & Presidents

MONDAY, Dec 10

I biked in the morning, a short ride, we had so much to do.

At ~ 3 in the afternoon, we 3 drove to Punta Gorda to look at a possible rental for next year, about a 45 minute drive.  This was in a re-built trailer park, a storm had demolished everything about 5 years ago.  So the pre-built house was a tad small, a two bedroom, nice new appliances (including dishwasher), two bath.  It would be fine for the three of us, smallish when we had guests.  It was on the water, really nice views from the deck and screened lanai, a small bit of lawn (for Jack), and a boat dock.  There was a storage shed, which would be needful.  There were included community facilities, including a pool.  It is located on the Port Charlotte Harbour waterway, a few miles east of Punta Gorda.  Not much in the way of shopping close by, the nearby road appeared to have only light traffic.  Not sure that there would be much biking.  $1500 per month.

We drove back to Englewood, to have supper, and drop Jack off.

Then we drove back to Port Charlotte to see Spielberg's Lincoln.  The 2 1/2 hours passed quickly.  Mayhap this Lincoln offers hints for legislators trying to avoid an 'economic cliff'.

rg

Wonderful Weather, Blooming Gardens

Here is a bit of an update from Englewood and some pictures of the gardens in our back and front yards.  They are blooming very nicely and adding a lot of colour to the scenery.  Many more blooms than last year when we first arrived - a month later, of course.  Mind you, there are also a lot more plants!!

The first four pics are from our backyard.  The last two are from the front yard - in front of the landlords side of the duplex.  The red bottlebrush (2nd pic) and the purplish-pink bougainvillea (last pic) are even nicer in real life.

We have been fairly quiet in our first week here in Englewood, FL.  That was pretty much dictated by the fact that BJ had some health issues with bleeding probably related to his prostate surgery last September and aggravated by going bicycling and doing more than he should.  The matter is now under control though he does have a follow up visit with the urologist (who was confident the matter would correct itself) next Tuesday (Dec 11th).  Otherwise, we have been doing a lot of reading, walking - especially with Jack, Rob has been doing some bicycling (BJ probably will NOT until we get back home in April), and shopping (getting some groceries most days until we have all the basics). 

We were out for supper to Olive Garden in Port Charlotte last night.  They never disappoint.  The chain is currently having a 2 eat for $25 promo:  soup or salad (we both had soup - zuppa toscana), shared appetizer OR dessert (we chose mussels napoli - absolutely delicious and fresh), and then Rob had ravioli marinara and BJ had sausage and peppers with pasta.  It was all very good!

Enjoy the pics.  We will send more...along with further updates as our sojourn progresses.

First Full Day in Englewood

Our first full day in Englewood has been just that - full.  Rob spent a significant part of the morning getting the internet straightened out.  Peggy thought it was connected, but...  Rob was on the phone a long time talking to a very helpful fella who was also very patient.  We had internet by mid-morning.  In the meantime, Jack and I got our morning walk in and I did a load of laundry. 

After lunch, we went on a shopping trip.  We were looking for a dish for Jack (we left his in Princeton), a small pot, a veggie steamer, some resources for the bikes, and some groceries.  We went to Dollar Tree first thinking we would get most of the first few items.  Not!  So off to WalMart where Rob got the bicycle things he needed, a new TracFone, and I got the groceries.  Still no dish for Jack (he is currently eating out of a Wendy's plastic salad bowl!) or small pot or veggie steamer.  Tomorrow?

The TracFone took up a big part of the rest of the afternoon.  Rob tried to connect through the internet on his own but when that was not successful he called the toll free number.  Again, he talked at some length to a couple of helpful individuals and now we have an activated,  functioning TracFone.  Rob called cousin Nancy to make sure it was fully functional.

We had a most delicious supper - fried steak (very tender and tasty!) with fried onions, baked potatoes, and tossed salad.  All quite good and made at home.  Then the three of us went off for the evening dog walk.  We are doing some computing as I prepare this post, waiting for the time to come to watch the next episode of "Once Upon A Time."

Beautiful day here in Florida.  Forecast high of 26, feels like 31.  When we went out for our short shopping trip, the car thermometer said the outside temp was 27.  Thank goodness for air conditioning.  Peggy's gardens look very nice.  Lots of blossoms in the front and back yards.  They (Peggy and Bud) have done a lot of work on the yards since getting down here in September but have also been very busy getting another house ready for them to move in.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the same weather.  Plan to do some bicycling as well as Jack walks and whatever.