Chris' B-day Cruise August 21, 2009

I finally got Chris to consider a cruise. Okay, so it was a two hour dinner cruise, but a cruise nonetheless. We had a really nice dinner aboard the Marina Jack II while cruising Sarasota Bay during a spectacular sunset. Michael and Takako came along to help us celebrate with lively conversation and a narration of points of interest.







Dinner was buffet-style with the main course being baked salmon and prime rib. Yes, for my health minded readers, there was salad and veggies and stuff. We boarded about 6:30 P.M. and disembarked around 9:00 P.M. We were a bit concerned because it rained from about 1:30 P.M. until it was time to leave for the boat, but it all cleared up by the time we arrived.

Parasailing Aug 13, 2009

On Thursday, August 13, 2009 we went to Anna Maria Island to take Liddy and Zoha para sailing. It was Zoha's first time and Liddy's second. Both of them thoroughly enjoyed being harnessed in together, whisked off the boat into the air then being dipped in the Gulf before returning to the safety of the boat.

While the girls were out on the Gulf, Michael, Tako, Sean and I walked around the neighborhood, poking into tourist shops before finally settling in to the Bridge Tender Inn for a cold drink and some lunch. Afterwards, we all drove down to Coquina Beach for a swim in the warm Gulf waters. We left the beach around 5 P.M. returning home redder than we were before and happily exhausted. Click here for more pictures.

Mote Aquarium

Today was cloudy all day. Not a bit of rain, but the threat hung heavily in the air while clouds kept the sun at bay. Even now, I hear rumbles of thunder, but no rain. Not a good day for pool or beach. The aquarium seemed just the ticket, especially since we are members and our admission is covered for an entire year!
Check out http://mote.org/

Most of the exhibits are indoors so visiting Mote turned out to be an excellent idea. Visitors were scant perhaps because of it being a Friday afternoon rather than a full fledged weekend day. Liddy and I were able to take our time and look at those exhibits we liked without being accosted or annoyed by extra bodies.

As always St. Armand's Circle was rife with beautiful people and tourists. Traffic was light and the drive was pleasant. We stayed about an hour then headed home. A short nap was welcome.

A Day at the Beach

When I woke this morning, I thought that a trip to Siesta Key would be nice for today. Nice, but certainly not easy.

This morning we experienced torrential rains. It was something to watch. Florida is notrorious for its lightening, and this morning was no exception. Well defined bolts of lightening flashed through the heavily laden skies followed by fearsome thunder claps. Sheets of rain pummeled the ground like the angels grew tired of sprinkling the earth and tried to dump the entire bucket of water at once.

I watched comfortably from the safety of my lanai, unaware that we had lost power until I was speaking with Christine on the [cell] phone. During the hour that the electricity was out, I thought about all the things I could not do until power was restored. The obvious were watching TV, listening to the radio, and working on my computer. Florida is noted for having cloud burst in one area and clear, sunny skies a few miles away, and sometimes, just across the street, so I thought we would just drive over to the beach, afterall rainstorms do not last long in Florida. But, alas, garage door openers do not work without electricity!

When the weather abated, and power was restored, it was time to leave. Of course Liddy was not ready. I, on the other hand, was bursting with a pent-up desire to get out of the house and enjoy the beach. Liddy decided that she should have the opportunity to just lay in her bed all day. I prevailed, but I can't help but wonder, just when does this teenage obstinancy disappear?

Picture Day

Just thought I would post some pictures. However, I was only able to post a few of what I actually wanted to post today. I don't feel like getting too deeply into this, so other pictures will have to wait for another day.

Waiting for Service

A benign but boring day waiting for two service people. I could not get them both at the same time; you know, morning or afternoon. It was the kind of scheduling that makes you want to complain. One a ceiling fan to be installed on my lanai and the other a locksmith to get us keys to the doors in the house that defied entry from the outside.

I did discover that Goodwill Industries runs a descent second-hand bookstore not two miles from home. I know where I'll be spending my spare time -- and dollars.