Christmas is getting closer!  Time continues to fly by.  We have had a great week.    Time with good friends and relaxing.   I had a head start last week,  one night I went to a whiskey tasting.  Fratello’s restaurant sponsered Fred Noe,  great great great grandson of Jim Beam to come in.  6 courses of food and 6 Jim Beam whiskey’s.  The food was great, the story telling was wonderful, and the bourbon’s were enjoyable.  Did you know bourbon has to be made with 51% corn, made in America and be aged in new American oak barrels?  It can be made anywhere but there happens to be a lot in Kentucky.  A nice way to spend an evening.

Last Wednesday night we headed down to Milwaukee to spend the evening with Mom.  And Thursday morning we flew off to Fort Lauderdale.  We booked some direct flights from Milwaukee to Fort Lauderdale, the way flights are over booked and few flight choices it takes out some stress!  We landed on a rainy day in south Florida and a little cool.   But that gave us time to open up the condo and do some cleaning.  I even took Chris to the cigar store and she learned how to play domino’s!  Friday started off sunny and getting warmer fast.   Now that is south Florida weather.    We had been planning some new cabinets for the dining room and spent some time at Lowes in the morning.  We ordered some cabinets and got some other shopping in.   And in the afternoon Noel, Jo Ann and Al Miller arrived from Fort Meyers.  Friday night was the Boynton boat parade on the intercoastal, and we always enjoy seeing them.   So we had planned our trip around Friday night.  Jo Ann brought the steaks and we got down the pool early to grill out and start the evening.  And Al and Viv, our neighbors from New Jersey joined us.  We had a fun night, much warmer than last year.  The boats were fun as usual.   On the album page I have some pictures.  You can click on them to see them larger also.  I was playing with my new camera and different settings, but still hard to get  a solid picture of a moving boat at night.  But you get the idea.

Saturday was even a nicer day.  We had a little walking and a lot of relaxing.   And probably too much eating and drinking – hold it how can there be too much of that?  We had a fun lunch with Al and Viv also at hurricane alley.  One of my favorite places.   We sat outside and enjoyed the sun and warm air.   Had lots of raw oysters and good food.  It was nice to spend time with our friends and just relax.  And the warm weather adds to it.  Sunday we went to church and then to 2 Georges to watch the Packer game.   The boys got there early to make sure we were in front of the Packer TV.   They have all the games on here.  We were there early enough to talk to the bartender into having the Packer game on the main TV.   2 Georges in on the intercoastal, and the bar is a deck built over the water.  And Sunday was the warmest day of the weekend, in the upper 70’s.  so the game was not what we wanted,  but we still had fun.   After the game back to the condo and we even made it for a swim in the pool.  So  much fun!

Monday brought some cooler weather, and the fact we needed to come home.  Enders stayed over and offered to take us to the airport in Fort Lauderdale.   So that saved us some trouble renting a car for the ride there.  Thanks Noel and Jo Ann.   Allen flew home with us.  He had driven down with the Enders a couple of weeks ago.  Spent some time with his daughter in family in Tampa, and to Fort Meyers and then the days with us.  Of course you may have heard Wisconsin had some snow and cold come in.   we were not looking forward to coming home.  The flight was good.  Standing outside waiting for the shuttle to the car was not.   The good news was Milwaukee had very little snow and the car did not need to get dug out and scraped,  and we were on our way quickly.  We dropped off Al and were on our way to Oshkosh.  There was certainly more snow as we drove north, and was dropping the temperature.   I was hoping to put the Trailblazer in 4 wheel and get in the garage when we got home.  but the size of the drifts in front of the garages changed that plan.   So Chris got a fire going in the fireplace, and I spent the evening having fun in the driveway.   I know Florida is having a couple of cold days,  but it doesn’t match up!  They will be 30 degrees warmer in a couple of days,  we will be 3 degrees warmer.

1 degree temp right now.  The roads and parking lots are iced up from being driven on, and too cold to melt even though we had sun today.  Tonight will be colder!   The best thought is we will be back in Florida in a couple of weeks!  How long does winter last?  So once I get over the cold weather,  I will try to get into the holiday mood!     Take care.

Another week flew by!   Well, the weekend for sure.   Work has been going OK,  keeping very busy and out of trouble.   Last week I had the homebrew club executive board over one night to plan this months meeting.  And that is coming together well.  And it is also a good chance to share some great beers!  And Friday night Chris and I went to a local bar that had the Dave Steffen band.  Dave plays a mean guitar and it was a fun evening.

Saturday I made some chili for a food day coming up at work.  And did some organizing down in the boat house.  We went to church on Saturday and then stopped for a sandwich after church.  We had tickets for the Grand Opera House and a sandwich fit in very well.   Janet Planet usually has a concert around Christmas, and this year it was with the Oshkosh Symphony.  It was great!  Janet has just an amazing voice.  I was the first time we had seen the Oshkosh Symphony and they did an impressive job.  I wish they would have recorded the concert,  we both enjoyed it so much.   We stopped for a drink after the concert and caught some more music.  Another local musician who played acoustic guitar and was very talented.  We enjoyed that also.   So it was an enjoyable musical weekend.

Sunday morning we went to brunch Harlan/Barb and Sam/Sarah.   And that was a great way to start the day.  We don’t talk to the neighbors enough, especially once it gets cold!  So we had great company and great food at the Roxy.  Then it was home to watch the Packer Game.  And that was good!  And Chris cleaned out a cabinet that had our china in it.  The weight of the china put a dangerous bow in the shelf particle board.  Which I expected to break soon!   So I deconstructed the shelf and manufactured a new 26 x 38 shelf.  As good as when it left Lou and Jeanne’s house!  And that was a number of years ago and moved twice.

So now back to one of my favorite Mondays.  Actually they have not been bad lately.  No major issues today and accomplished a few things.  And tonight we had an appointment at Lowes with a kitchen designer.   We have been thinking through adding some cabinets to the dining room in Florida and sat down to plan it out.  That went well, and we get to Florida we will sit with a Lowes designer there to finish the plan.   We hope to add the cabinet space and can then start some kitchen remodeling work.

And we get to think about that this week!  Wednesday night we drive to Milwaukee, spend the night with Mom, and then fly out Thursday morning to Fort Lauderdale.  Can’t wait!  They are having a cold snap in Florida this week of course,  but it will be warming up for the weekend.  Friday night is the Christmas boat parade which we enjoy seeing.  Noel and Jo Ann and Al Miller will be joining us.  We had a lot of fun last year, and there will be more this year!  We will be there until Monday.

And we will be thinking and praying for Chris’s sister Marie.  While her biopsy came back negative for cancer she still has some major surgery coming to remove the growth, and will spend several days in the hospital.  And she takes such wonderful care of John she is worried about him more than herself.  Things will work out Marie, we are all praying for both of you.

So have a good week.  Temperature says it is 19, but it feels colder.   I will try to update this weekend.

Oh and I wanted to Post some of Chris’s handiwork.   Each year she has made hats for Mary Jane’s third grade class.  And this year she did it again.   Every kid gets to choose stocking cap and Mary Jane adds some gloves.   Most of her kids don’t have much to dress for the cold weather.

We hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving.  The weather could have been more hospitable,  but we dealt with it.   Chris and I from Oshkosh, Denise from Kenosha,  Skip and Claire from Brookfield, and John and Mary Jane from Detroit traveled to Saugatuck Michigan for the Thanksgiving weekend.   We rented a home a couple of years ago and all decided that was a good way to go.   So we found a ‘cabin in the woods’ this year.  Actually a condo in the woods.  A condo association that a number of owners rent out the houses.   Less than 5 years old and nicely done.   Not as roomy as the last house but it suited us.   It allowed us to make Thanksgiving dinner together and play some games and cards,  build a fire in the fireplace each evening.  It worked out very well.   More pictures on the Album page link.   And we spent time walking through Saugatuck’s shops.  Think Door County.   Lot’s of interesting things; many types of gift stores, clothes that change color in the sun light, old fashioned drug store, a spice shop, fudge shop, and many more.  Even 2 winery stores,  of course with tastings.    And a good choice of restaurants and bars to stop at.  We also made it to Saugatuck Brewing one day,  the beer was good but the food not as good as last year.   Wally’s the food was very good, and a friendly bartender knew lot’s of shots to mix and pour. And had a walk through near by Douglas and its’ downtown.  Smaller but we made some purchases!   And I have to work on losing a few of the pounds put on with breakfasts, late lunches, and plenty of snacks and cheese during sheepshead games.  Fun was had,  and we all left together on Sunday morning for the drives home. The drives went well,  Illinois is better with an I-Pass.

But weather has been cold, and signs of snow!  Today stinks!  Cold wind and snow showers.  But I guess a sign of things to come, for too many months to come!  It gives us a chance to burn some of our firewood.   There is ice on the water,  and the next 7 days promise to make it thicker.   I am betting there will be plenty of fishermen by Christmas.

So stay warm, take time to relax and enjoy the season.

Back up and running it looks like!   The Blog was down a few days,  as Craig’s server got hacked.   But he must be pretty good at this as he has things back up and running.     Too bad there are people out there with nothing better to do!  Thanks Craig.

So a good day when the Packers win, and even better when they beat Farve and the Vikings!   And beat them convincingly.  I will admit to being worried about going into Minnesota,  and the first quarter did not make me feel better.   But like a good team they took control and rolled    And congrats to UW for their win over Michigan.  Another tough place to go in and play.   But a dominating win, when you tell the other team you are going to run the ball, and just keep running it down their throats.  I guess we root for Penn State and Joe Pa next week to beat Michigan State and Wisconsin should go to the Rose Bowl.  Friday night we headed down to Milwaukee and went out to eat in Wind Lake with Dick and Carol.  Good Mexican food and good music with strolling musicians.  An enjoyable evening.  And spent some time with Mom.  She is doing well.

Got home mid afternoon and have spent time yesterday and today trying to fix some leaks downstairs leading into the shower.   I found the leak, and was able to get at it from underneath the stairs, barely.   I may be getting to old to contort under the stairs and reach up in between the studs to work on pipes.  But I did not want to cut open a wall, which a plumber would have done right away.     The first fitting blew open when I turned the pressure on.   I don’t think I put damaged  it when installing,  so it may have been defective.   Then I went to plastic pipe for part of it, which worked but part of the iron pipe was dripping after instalation.   So the third time should be a charm, except I still have a drip.   Where it was dripping from is fixed,  but where I thought it was dripping down the pipe,  well that fitting was leaking slightly also.   So that is it for today, it can drip  into a bucket for now.   Will need to crawl back in another night.   We are cleaning up under the stairs though!

And Chris has been busy, the tree is up and decorated.   The house is looking festive.

Good news last week from sister in law Marie.  They found some polyps and a growth.  But the biopsy came back negative.    Still a surgery to find out about but the news is getting better.  God Bless, Marie.

I still have my local guy looking for my deal on a car.   We have some pretty tight options and pricing we are looking for,  so will give it more time.

Work was pretty hectic last week.  But a short week to look forward to this week!  We will be heading to Michigan again for Thanksgiving.  We have a house rented in Saugatuck.  MJ and John will drive over from Detroit,  and Skip Claire and Denise will join us.   We are looking forward to a few relaxing days.   It is always fun to walk through the tourist towns and just spend time together.  The last time we did a house it worked out really well,  so are looking forward to doing it again.  The house we did in Holland last time was already booked so we are doing a different one.  This has a fireplace, which may be needed.   We had a couple of warm days,  but that is supposed to be changing on Tuesday.   Getting much colder, and of course good chance for snow on Thanksgiving.   So as long as travel is good on Thanksgiving, and coming home Sunday,  we can take some snow while we are there!   Southwest Michigan is known for lots of snow blowing off Lake Michigan.   So we will see!  Planning our Thanksgiving meal, and snacks and beverages.  And of course lot’s of clothes for whatever weather!

So if I don’t post again before Thursday,  we hope everyone has an enjoyable, and safe Thanksgiving.  Go ahead eat and drink too much, and enjoy the people you are with!

Another weekend is quickly going by.   Even though it is not the best of weather.  We stayed home this weekend,  our first full weekend at home in quite awhile.  So we are getting a few things done around the house that needed to get done, or we just wanted to get done!    The tree even went up yesterday!

And today I did some cleaning in the garage, while I brought the snow blower out.   Then the snow blower tires needed some air.  Then I may as well put some air in Chris’s Trailblazer tires.  Then I thought I should check the spare, which hangs on the back of the truck.  And of course it did not come down as it was supposed to.   So a couple of hours later,  or maybe 3,   I finally had enough pieces cut, trimmed, and the cable cut to get the tire off.    So now it is in the back of the truck and usable in case we need it.   And I will have to find out where we can get a replacement mechanism.

Even though I don’t like the cold,  this may be the worst time of year.  The fall is nice,  September and October.   But now we are in the cold and grey days.  And wet!   The garden is brown except some parsley that is still there.  The flowers are brown, the grass getting brown, and we are having light rain showers.   Here is where the snow becomes more welcome.  I am glad we missed the 10 inches from St Paul,  but at least in light snow I can accomplish some things outside without getting soaked through.   So we will see what the next weeks bring.   I won’t hunt this year, I did not get a permit for Fort McCoy opening weekend.  If the rest of the group was there I may have gone up on Monday which I can,  but none of us received permits.  But the hunters could use a light snow next weekend to make it easier to see and track in the woods.    And it is easier to sit in the snow than in the rain.   So I hope they get some snow by the weekend.   Sounds like mostly rain during the week.

So I expect another tough work week.   but then a short week to look forward to and time with family in Michigan for Thanksgiving.   We have a house rented, so another new experience in Saugatuck Michigan.  Always fun,   So take care, have the best week you can!

Welcome to the new time zone!.   Tomorrow leaving work will suck.  We will be in the ‘go to the work in the dark leave work in the dark’ mode.   Luckily I finished moving my wood pile today,   so everything is stacked for the winter.  Friday night I had a nice fire and it felt good.  Chris and I are both fighting colds,  hopefully we are over the hump on those,  but I am not so sure.

We had a good week, somewhat quiet.  The colds kept our evenings quiet.   And I had a hard time trying to get caught up at work,  I think the cold made me feel like my thoughts were a step behind.   But on Friday I finally got close to being caught up.  Hopefully I can continue that in the week ahead.

Saturday I did some moving or firewood early, and in the afternoon we headed to Milwaukee.  Spent some time with Mom and did some shopping for her.  She is doing very well.    And then we headed for 5 o’clock mass at St Pius, to be followed by their annual auction.   It is always a fun evening with our friends, and we usually spend too much money.  We were disapointed to miss out a on a couple of usual buys.  but still had a great time.  And a good meal to boot!

And today went to brunch with Mom,  which was very good and an enjoyable start to the day.   Then the drive home and I finished the wood pile.  So now it is working on the homebrew club newsletter while I wait for the Packer Game to start.  Another night hoping the Pack can play up to their potential.   The offense has been struggling some,  but they have managed to find a way to win.   A shut out of the Jets,  in New York,  with so many injuries on the defense.  That was pretty impressive.

We have our plans set for Thanksgiving,  will try out renting another house this year in Southwest Michigan.  We will be looking forward to those few days with family.  So have a good week.  enjoy life

If you missed the trip you can check the last few posts!   Made it back home tonight.   Flights were good thanks to good weather.  A slight delay in Atlanta waiting for them to come up with a stewardess.  But they made up the time on flight.

The morning started off going to the West Palm Beach tax collectors branch office,  the tax collector does all the car registration and licensing also.   They open up at 8:15 and when I got there around 8 the line was around the building already.   I almost left at the point.   but stuck it out.  They actually have a pretty good system and they quickly started moving people in.  they bring people out to start sorting through the line and separating out the different needs and who had what was needed to even go in.

So I got in fairly quickly, got my number and took a seat.   We had printed out the list of everything we needed and thought we had it covered.  We did pretty well,  but they did not tell us that because we were licensing it in both names we needed both drivers licenses.   My attendent was helpful and patient as we worked through Chris trying to get a copy faxed in.  And we made it,  the title is processed and plate transferred.   And made it to the insurance agent for an inspection and insurance is in place.   Not much time after that to  do much.  Back to the condo, clean up a few things and finish packing, and get the condo shut down.  Friend Jose gave me a ride to the airport and a couple of cigars – I did not have time to get to the cigar store.  Adn off on flights.

Now back to work, at least it will be a short week.    Have to re cover the pontoon boat tomorrow (did I tell you the winds tore the tarps off?)   will cover before the rain comes.    And this weekend down to Milwaukee for the St Pius auction.

Get out and vote on Tuesday.

third installment.  Well I made it!    No problems.  Let Georgia a little after 7 am this morning.    Made it hear about 12:37 pm.   1493 miles according to my trip odometer.  I forget where it turned over 1000 and started over.  So a great day today.

I have the car unpacked,  not decided where to situate everything in the condo yet.  I brought tools along,  will find a place in the closet for them.  Some glassware and kitchen dishes,  we can rotate out some of the old bowls out of the cabinet.

So I made it to 2 Georges for some lunch and a little relaxing.  but the Jets/Packers are on the local channel,  so back to the condo to finish up the game.  Not looking great right now, even though the Pack is up 3-0.   Too close for a game at home for the Jets.  I will do some clean up and wash off the porch.  Lot’s of black sand or whatever that is on the porch from the summer.  So will pull up  a hose and do some clean up.    And then maybe a chance for a walk.

In the morning to the DMV to try and register the car and then to see the insurance agent.   And I leave around 3 pm tomorrow afternoon.

Have a great Sunday.  Go Pack

Long day traveling today, I must be getting older.   But not as old as most people traveling!  I swear half the people on the road are retiree’s on their way to Florida.  Michigan, Wis, Minn, Canada and lot’s of Florida plates.  Cars and trucks full of boxes,  5th wheels, class A’s.   All moving south.   From the cold states anyway!

Over 1100 miles in from home now.  Left Indiana hotel before 7 am.  Saw dawn coming up in Indianapolis.  A nice sunrise,  just enough clouds to get the reds and gold at sunrise.   A smooth trip.  Through Louisville, Nashville and Atlanta.   Lots of pretty country.  Of course I could have stopped a the Jim Beam, Dickel, or Jack Daniels distilleries with more time!   Some day we will stop in Kentucky and Tennessee and spend more time.

So Valdosta is getting close to the Florida State line.  Up early in the morning and should pull into Boynton Beach mid afternoon.

I pulled off I-75 not sure where I would stay.  But a Clarion at the bottom of the off ramp, with a steak house connected.  And the desk clerk says I can go into the full service lounge, see some of the college games playing, and order my food there if I want.  Great choice!  And just over $50 a night.

So I am tired and need to stretch,  and eat.   So a walk to the lounge is in order.   Weather was warm all day and won’t need a jacket to walk over to the lounge, a nice night and sun just set.

Hope all had a great Saturday, and a great Sunday!

On my way to Florida.   Taking my Ford Focus down to Boynton Beach to live out its last days on the beach.   And taking tools and misc  that don’t fly well with us!

So I wanted to get a good start on Friday night,  everything says 24 hours from home.   So things have gone well.  I am in West Lafayette Indiana.   Home of Purdue University.   Farther than I thought I would get tonight.  And not totally smooth at that.  The Edens going into downtown Chicago is under construction,  but that still went pretty well.  It was on the way downtown that my GPS said there would be a major traffic problem.  I ingnored it until it was stop and go.  Got off on Toughy, did Cicero to E-something  a long way south to Western, and then back on I-90.  Worked very well and probably saved me a half hour of traffic.   The Skyway in Indianna is under construction also but that went well.   And once on Hwy 65 in Indiana it is just straight and clean.

So now at a Super 8,  cheap room that will do for 6 or 7 hours.  I want to get an early start and catch all the daylight I can tomorrow.   I am guessing a good 12 hours will get me to Valdosta GA.  Not far from the Florida State line.   Then a good meal and nights sleep and then Sunday should be an easy ride home.  That’s the plan!

Monday morning will try to get the car registered and licensed in Florida, and Monday afternoon fly home.   So when we go back down in December a car will be waiting.

And if things go smoothly I will have time Monday to stop at my favorite cigar shop, but will see.  Time to pour a short drink and get some shut eye.

take care,