2017
It is a new year and we have once again driven our RV to Florida for a few weeks. Six - to be exact. I fear that this will be Buddy's last year with us on a winter vacation. He is very old now, and almost blind, very deaf, and having trouble with his legs. The steps are very difficult for him and his back legs often give out. He has to be boosted up into the car and onto our bed. On the positive side, though, he still enjoys his walks, his treats, eating and sleeping on his comfy bed or our comfy bed. We are dreading losing him.
This year we towed a dingy...our little Ford Fiesta. It was scary, but now that we are here it's wonderful. We have already gone into Bradenton for lunch at Pier 22, where we sat on the water, and also shopping several times. A car gives us a lot of freedom.
The RV camp is a mixed bag. Lots of permanent trailer/houses...some very large...some right on the river with gorgeous views. Also lots of campers like us. It is a 55+community and most of the residents are far past 55! As are we. The heated pool is filled with eighty somethings. Lots of flowers around and the houses are often surrounded by beautiful landscaping. And not. Some are tasteful. Some not. One gnome, two gnomes three gnomes. Are two pink flamingoes better than just one? Are five stone statues of squirrels etc. enough or should a few colorful elves be added? A mixed bag indeed!
There are a large number of Canadians here from Ontario and Quebec. Also many mid-westerners from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. We learned that about 100 residents live here full time. They are in houses with front porches, screened porches and good sized lots.
The absolute best part of this RV camp is the private island situated in the Braden River. We can walk across a wide bridge to access the island. Once there, we have trails, a large community building for picnics, tables, grills and a bench on the river to view the sunset. There is a fishing pier and also a long pier leading to a dock for boats. It is all a good walk from here...many people use their golf carts or bike it. Unfortunately, we did not bring our bikes, so we walk which, I suppose, is better for us anyway. See some pictures below of the island and of our lunch in Bradenton.
,Wednesday, February 15
Today marks one week since our arrival here at Horseshoe Cove. It has been, for the most part, enjoyable. We have fallen into the rhythm of lazy days, lots of walks and for me, the exercise room where I lift weights. Friday morning a yoga class meets and I intend to go again this Friday.
Yesterday, we drove all the way to Naples to see Sander's brother, who is a pain specialist. Joe got an epidural, and it seems to be helping. Steven (Dr. Friedman) said to give it a few days to see how well it will work. Apparently, Joe has a lot of arthritis, bone spurs, a little fusion etc. The nerve is being pinched, so the meds will shrink the nerve a bit. It would be so great if Joe can be without pain for a while!
We were gone most of the day, so we took Buddy with us. He was, as usual, disgruntled. Buddy in old age is even more opinionated, stubborn and quick to express his displeasure. He wants us to stay inside the RV, so he can sleep on the sofa with us nearby. If we go to sit on the patio, he becomes aggrieved, insists on coming outside too and then lies down with a frowny face. When he is ready to retire at night, he starts asking us to go to bed, so he can get up on our bed for the night. And we love him to pieces!
Friday, February 17th
Yesterday, we drove to Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key to sightsee. We stopped at Cortez Beach...just beautiful. Also a nice sidewalk winding along the beach near the road and everything pretty and clean. The wind was up so the waves were crashing and gorgeous. Buddy was with us and I could almost hear him thinking, "Oh, no, another beach! Why don't my people realize that I hate the beach!?" After some more driving and exploring, we went back across the bridge and ate at the Seafood Shack on the water. As we were having lunch, the drawbridge went up to allow a sailboat through. Buddy got some left over French fries when we went back to the car, which is expected. We never get anything for lunch that can't be wrapped in a napkin and taken to the car where Bud is waiting, his nose working overtime. He has us well trained.
I went to yoga this morning and then to the pool for a few hours this afternoon. The pool water is heated, you just slip into it like a warm bath. The pool is semi-filled with old people, floating with the aid of brightly colored foam noodles. They bob about, usually in shallow water, talking away. I have noticed that it tends to be the same people who come to the pool. Also the same group of men who spend time in the hot tub....which is really hot. Mostly seventies and eighties, I would guess. The men at the pool are relatively trim; not so the ladies! But everyone is happy with themselves...age has its perks. No one is holding in their stomach, everyone is tan and healthy looking. Some are just a little overweight, others much more so. The accents tend to be Canadian or Midwestern. They all seem to be good, solid people. smiling and waving when you go by. Not very many tattoos and/or gold chains....although there are a few. There are many clubs here for sewing, horseshoes, bridge, etc. I think everyone has an involvement in something. Amazingly, there are several women who wear two piece bathing suits. I saw one gal today, probably late sixties, chubby brown body overflowing her immodest suit. She did not look that bad...a little weight tends to smooth out the wrinkles! The other woman I have noticed is very well endowed and looks good if you can't see her large stomach. But both of them seem to be happy with their bodies...a la European and Russian women who never give up the bikini! I have noticed that some of the men wear their jockey briefs under their swimsuits...the elastic band shows if their suit slips down a tad. Lest you think I do nothing but ogle the bodies, I must tell you that I do read too.
Wednesday, February 22nd
Last night, we drove to Tampa to visit grandson Luke and his wife, Brienna. We arrived at their apartment house while Brie was at work, so Luke gave us the grand tour of the buildings' amenities. Two pools, outdoor fireplaces and kitchens...granite topped of course .. even hammocks located on fake green grass. Lots of comfy sitting areas, tables and chairs. A huge chess game. Hot tub. Once back inside, we visited the spin room, the yoga room and the exercise room, which had abundant machines. There is a TV room, a chef's kitchen, a massage room, a wine storage room and a dog washing room...with stainless tub. The large dog park is right outside their apartment. Wow, it's like a small city. Oh, forgot the spa room...inside hot tubs in a warm room and a plunge pool with a current. Joe and I are tempted to move in,
After our two grand dogs had been taken for a romp in the dog park, we went to Brie`s workplace...Cigar City Brewing. We sampled some wine at their bar...I chose the raspberry ale...before we went to a restaurant for dinner. After some very tasty appetizers and a good dinner, we drove back to the apartment, got our car and headed home. A lovely evening, unmarred by the knowledge of what was awaiting us back in the campsite.
By the time we arrived home, Buddy had been alone for 7 hours. He had food and water and we had not meant to be gone so long. Unfortunately, he pooped all over the floor and then stepped in it in the dark...he also doesn't see well...and dirtied the rest of the floor. When we turned on the lights, he was hiding, obviously disoriented and unhappy. I was even more unhappy. Some time later, we had a clean dog and a very clean floor. The next day, I washed everything again, just for good measure. We will not leave him again for more than a little bit. I think when it got dark and we were not there he became afraid and confused. The only good news is that he couldn't get on the bed or chairs.
We are giving Buddy a pill for his arthritis and it is helping him a lot. He can navigate the steps better and is happy to walk further. We think the pill cuts down his pain significantly. It is hard to be sure because he never complains or whines or even yelps if something hurts him. We are just noticing that his movements seem to be easier.
Hopefully, I will have some more pictures to post soon!
Wednesday, February 22nd
Last night, we drove to Tampa to visit grandson Luke and his wife, Brienna. We arrived at their apartment house while Brie was at work, so Luke gave us the grand tour of the buildings' amenities. Two pools, outdoor fireplaces and kitchens...granite topped of course .. even hammocks located on fake green grass. Lots of comfy sitting areas, tables and chairs. A huge chess game. Hot tub. Once back inside, we visited the spin room, the yoga room and the exercise room, which had abundant machines. There is a TV room, a chef's kitchen, a massage room, a wine storage room and a dog washing room...with stainless tub. The large dog park is right outside their apartment. Wow, it's like a small city. Oh, forgot the spa room...inside hot tubs in a warm room and a plunge pool with a current. Joe and I are tempted to move in,
After our two grand dogs had been taken for a romp in the dog park, we went to Brie`s workplace...Cigar City Brewing. We sampled some wine at their bar...I chose the raspberry ale...before we went to a restaurant for dinner. After some very tasty appetizers and a good dinner, we drove back to the apartment, got our car and headed home. A lovely evening, unmarred by the knowledge of what was awaiting us back in the campsite.
By the time we arrived home, Buddy had been alone for 7 hours. He had food and water and we had not meant to be gone so long. Unfortunately, he pooped all over the floor and then stepped in it in the dark...he also doesn't see well...and dirtied the rest of the floor. When we turned on the lights, he was hiding, obviously disoriented and unhappy. I was even more unhappy. Some time later, we had a clean dog and a very clean floor. The next day, I washed everything again, just for good measure. We will not leave him again for more than a little bit. I think when it got dark and we were not there he became afraid and confused. The only good news is that he couldn't get on the bed or chairs.
We are giving Buddy a pill for his arthritis and it is helping him a lot. He can navigate the steps better and is happy to walk further. We think the pill cuts down his pain significantly. It is hard to be sure because he never complains or whines or even yelps if something hurts him. We are just noticing that his movements seem to be easier.
Hopefully, I will have some more pictures to post soon!
Monday, February 27th, 2017
I just returned from exercise class, and decided to add some pictures and text while I was recovering! The class is a good one: lots of aerobics and some stretching and balance. Gets the old heart rate up! I go to exercise on Mondays and Wednesdays, unfortunately at 8 am, and then on Friday, do yoga...same time slot. Feeling very virtuous, but still probably not losing any weight. About three times per week I go to the weight room and lift for 30 minutes or so. Still no weight loss. Discouraging, or as Trump might say, "Sad"!
There are lots of parties here to attend...or not. We did go to the "Oh Canada!" party. See picture above. Joe in foreground. Included for $12 per person was a nice chicken dinner and a small band. Dancing and dining! In the community center. Tonight there is a party on the Island...included for the same $12. Dinner is free; byob. We will walk over carrying our wine. I have noted before that there are many Canadians here.
Our neighbor has just started using his leaf blower...again. We have a large tree between us which drops an abundant amount of leaves all over. Raking or blowing them away is fairly futile, but our neighbor is persistent. And noisy. I will not miss him when we leave. Yesterday, at the pool, I noticed for the second time, a very old woman in a swimsuit and aqua socks wearing a shower cap. She enters the pool area, goes into the pool and happily paddles away for a time. When she has had enough pool time, she exits the pool and goes to the outdoor shower, where, still wearing her shower cap she washes off and then departs. Another old lady doing her own thing! Bless her!
Actually, yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. I spent the afternoon at the pool, reading a difficult (for me) article about Carl Sagan. Had trouble concentrating on it...maybe the environment. I did take a break to float in the pool. After many years of not being able to float on my back, I have acquired this talent....since I gained weight! I can relax in the pool on my back and float indefinitely. It is great for old achy bodies!
I plan to go back to the pool today, but my reading material will be light...Grisham's "Rogue Lawyer"....which I am enjoying. Our time here is dwindling down to a little more than a week....I will miss the warm pool, the island, and sitting outside in the sunshine.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
The crowd at the pool is fun to watch. I love the old gals in their flowered swimsuits who float away the afternoons, secure with their noodles, talking is small groups. Often they are talking about the next event being held here. Yesterday, my favorite pool hat was a traditional beach hat with a large parrot covering one side. The bird's long red tail hung down almost to the water. When his owner climbed out of the pool, I noticed that on the back of the hat was a little sign which read "A day not wasted is wasted." This Jimmy Buffett fan had to be in her mid eighties. I looked around for the two bearded gentlemen who sometimes sit together, but they weren't poolside. One has a very long, snow white beard. I wonder if he is a Christmas Santa. His friend also has a white beard, but it is not nearly as long. And he is a bit skinny for a Santa, although I guess he could wear a fat suit. Beard #2 also has bracelet tattoos on his upper right arm, but I'm sure the Santa suit would cover them.
I did strike up a conversation with a pleasant woman from Michigan who was riding her noodle like a child on a horsie, enabling her to sit up in the water. She was wearing a pretty blue hat with a blue rose....all the same cloth. I told her that I had yet to meet anyone from New Jersey and she assured that there were people here from the Garden State. I thought I might have heard just a hint of disapproval in her voice? Probably not. She and her husband are retired and spend time here in the winter. She worked for Heathkit for years and I immediately told her about the Heathkit stereo that Joe built way back in the sixties. Eventually, Heathkit was sold and resold and finally was no more.
I just returned from exercise class, and decided to add some pictures and text while I was recovering! The class is a good one: lots of aerobics and some stretching and balance. Gets the old heart rate up! I go to exercise on Mondays and Wednesdays, unfortunately at 8 am, and then on Friday, do yoga...same time slot. Feeling very virtuous, but still probably not losing any weight. About three times per week I go to the weight room and lift for 30 minutes or so. Still no weight loss. Discouraging, or as Trump might say, "Sad"!
There are lots of parties here to attend...or not. We did go to the "Oh Canada!" party. See picture above. Joe in foreground. Included for $12 per person was a nice chicken dinner and a small band. Dancing and dining! In the community center. Tonight there is a party on the Island...included for the same $12. Dinner is free; byob. We will walk over carrying our wine. I have noted before that there are many Canadians here.
Our neighbor has just started using his leaf blower...again. We have a large tree between us which drops an abundant amount of leaves all over. Raking or blowing them away is fairly futile, but our neighbor is persistent. And noisy. I will not miss him when we leave. Yesterday, at the pool, I noticed for the second time, a very old woman in a swimsuit and aqua socks wearing a shower cap. She enters the pool area, goes into the pool and happily paddles away for a time. When she has had enough pool time, she exits the pool and goes to the outdoor shower, where, still wearing her shower cap she washes off and then departs. Another old lady doing her own thing! Bless her!
Actually, yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. I spent the afternoon at the pool, reading a difficult (for me) article about Carl Sagan. Had trouble concentrating on it...maybe the environment. I did take a break to float in the pool. After many years of not being able to float on my back, I have acquired this talent....since I gained weight! I can relax in the pool on my back and float indefinitely. It is great for old achy bodies!
I plan to go back to the pool today, but my reading material will be light...Grisham's "Rogue Lawyer"....which I am enjoying. Our time here is dwindling down to a little more than a week....I will miss the warm pool, the island, and sitting outside in the sunshine.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
The crowd at the pool is fun to watch. I love the old gals in their flowered swimsuits who float away the afternoons, secure with their noodles, talking is small groups. Often they are talking about the next event being held here. Yesterday, my favorite pool hat was a traditional beach hat with a large parrot covering one side. The bird's long red tail hung down almost to the water. When his owner climbed out of the pool, I noticed that on the back of the hat was a little sign which read "A day not wasted is wasted." This Jimmy Buffett fan had to be in her mid eighties. I looked around for the two bearded gentlemen who sometimes sit together, but they weren't poolside. One has a very long, snow white beard. I wonder if he is a Christmas Santa. His friend also has a white beard, but it is not nearly as long. And he is a bit skinny for a Santa, although I guess he could wear a fat suit. Beard #2 also has bracelet tattoos on his upper right arm, but I'm sure the Santa suit would cover them.
I did strike up a conversation with a pleasant woman from Michigan who was riding her noodle like a child on a horsie, enabling her to sit up in the water. She was wearing a pretty blue hat with a blue rose....all the same cloth. I told her that I had yet to meet anyone from New Jersey and she assured that there were people here from the Garden State. I thought I might have heard just a hint of disapproval in her voice? Probably not. She and her husband are retired and spend time here in the winter. She worked for Heathkit for years and I immediately told her about the Heathkit stereo that Joe built way back in the sixties. Eventually, Heathkit was sold and resold and finally was no more.
SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017
I just spent some time reading previous blog posts and I saw what I wrote about the Island party a few days ago. Instead of byob and be served food, it was the exact opposite: free wine and beer but no food. There was a good dee jay and we danced a few times. So, after lugging two bottles of wine, which we did not drink, all the way over to the party, we were very happy when one of our neighbors offered us a ride home in his golf cart. I am beginning to wonder about myself!
Today we packed a picnic lunch which included potato salad, deviled eggs and sandwiches, plus beer and wine, put it all in my new little cooler bag on wheels and walked to the island to eat. We sat at a table by the river and enjoyed a nice meal. Buddy, who is in Joe's dog house, came along and actually agreed to walk the whole way. He often goes a block or so, turns around and heads home and no amount of coaxing will change his mind. Joe is not happy with Buddy today because he was unable to get the meds into the dog. He prides himself on being good at this and usually does a great job, using lunch meat. This morning, however, Buddy spit everything out and refused even lunch meat without the pills. The lunch meat fell on the floor and Joe slipped on a piece, almost fell down, and knocked his shin against the bench. I ended up going to Publix and buying gourmet dog food to disguise the pills, which I mashed. Buddy probably got about half of his medicine. He found anything that wasn't completely mashed and spit it out. We get to do this again tonight.
We are back in the RV now, Buddy passed out on the couch, Joe chatting with his sister on the phone and I tying away on my blog. We want to go to Sarasota on Monday to see the Ringling, which has been highly recommended. That will all depend on Joe's back....it is pretty good, but too long in the car tends to make it hurt a bit. We dread the long ride home, but have decided to stop at our favorite KOA in St. Mary's, just over the Florida state line off I95. They have pretty sites and best of all a free pancake breakfast with lots of gourmet syrups and Belgian waffles also offered. We usually order a homemade pizza when we arrive ($10) and have that for dinner. It will take us about 5 hours or so to get there if we do not stop too often. Here are some pictures from our picnic and the walk home.
I just spent some time reading previous blog posts and I saw what I wrote about the Island party a few days ago. Instead of byob and be served food, it was the exact opposite: free wine and beer but no food. There was a good dee jay and we danced a few times. So, after lugging two bottles of wine, which we did not drink, all the way over to the party, we were very happy when one of our neighbors offered us a ride home in his golf cart. I am beginning to wonder about myself!
Today we packed a picnic lunch which included potato salad, deviled eggs and sandwiches, plus beer and wine, put it all in my new little cooler bag on wheels and walked to the island to eat. We sat at a table by the river and enjoyed a nice meal. Buddy, who is in Joe's dog house, came along and actually agreed to walk the whole way. He often goes a block or so, turns around and heads home and no amount of coaxing will change his mind. Joe is not happy with Buddy today because he was unable to get the meds into the dog. He prides himself on being good at this and usually does a great job, using lunch meat. This morning, however, Buddy spit everything out and refused even lunch meat without the pills. The lunch meat fell on the floor and Joe slipped on a piece, almost fell down, and knocked his shin against the bench. I ended up going to Publix and buying gourmet dog food to disguise the pills, which I mashed. Buddy probably got about half of his medicine. He found anything that wasn't completely mashed and spit it out. We get to do this again tonight.
We are back in the RV now, Buddy passed out on the couch, Joe chatting with his sister on the phone and I tying away on my blog. We want to go to Sarasota on Monday to see the Ringling, which has been highly recommended. That will all depend on Joe's back....it is pretty good, but too long in the car tends to make it hurt a bit. We dread the long ride home, but have decided to stop at our favorite KOA in St. Mary's, just over the Florida state line off I95. They have pretty sites and best of all a free pancake breakfast with lots of gourmet syrups and Belgian waffles also offered. We usually order a homemade pizza when we arrive ($10) and have that for dinner. It will take us about 5 hours or so to get there if we do not stop too often. Here are some pictures from our picnic and the walk home.
