Catching Up on the Last Week !

It's been a while since we updated our blog. Why? Well, about nine days ago, I turned on the computer only to find that .......something was wrong The screen kept going blank. Took the computer to a local repair shop where we learned that the screen needed to be replaced. The cost of the screen and labor would run us near $300, and the computer would still need to be replaced within the next 6 months or so. So......we headed for Sebring to find a computer. Checking several places - none had any of the computers in stock that we wanted, so we had to settle for 1-3 day shipping. This was on a Saturday - and to make a long story short the three day deliverylasted for SIX DAYS!

During that time, I,(Donna) came down with the bug which lasted for about 3 or 4 days. In the meantime Rich did another Pickleball Skills Clinic for the players here at Peace River. Only about 7 or 8 people had signed up, but 14 showed up for the class and several others came to watch. Unfortunately that was one of my "sick" days so the photographer never showed up. But at the courts the next day, everyone was very complimentary of what they had learned.

Moday is always bowling day. RV'ers from Peace River and Torrey Oaks meet at the local bowling lanes in Wauchula at 1:30 each week. Rich decided it was time to try his hand again on the lanes. It's been 42 years since Rich has bowled.........but he rented a pair of shoes and found a ball that (almost) fit his very large hands and took to the lanes.

Click on picture to enlarge - use back arrow to return to this page: Stan, Frank, Ken, Arlene and Faye from Torrey Oaks played on the two lanes with Rich. The pictures above were taken after the players threw a STRIKE! Yes - Rich had more than just one. While the scores were not where Rich thought they should be - everyone, including me thought he looked pretty good out there - and he certainly should do it again. A nice group shows up every week.

Click on picture to enlarge - use back arrow to return to this page: On Wednesday, Rich and I along with John and Carla headed over to Torrey Oaks to meet up with Stan and Sally and Richard to play on their courts. Carla and Sally and I only got to play a couple of games. While Sally took Carla on a tour of the park the guys played three or four games. That's John and Richard playing against Rich and Stan. Rich and Stan are practicing together, since they will be partnering for the Heartland Senior Games the first week in March.

This is Carla and John Foard. Wished we had more time to get to know them better, but we enjoyed the time we were able to spend with them. We have mutual friends, Dave and Nancy Jordan out in AZ. These two are both very good pickleball players and super nice people - hope our paths cross again soon. John and Carla were leaving on Thursday, had a lot of work to do to be ready to leave so were not able to join us for lunch. We took Stan and Sally out for lunch at the Chinese Buffett to celebrate the purchase of their new site at Torrey Oaks. Their site looks great and they are settling in very nicely.

Faye and Sally invited me over to Torrey Oaks for line dancing on Thursday while Rich took off for Sebring to get some practice in with his mixed doubles pickleball partner. Since his plans were cancelled I headed up to the meeting house for line dancing here at Peace River and it was a Lot Of Fun . Karen was filling in that morning and did a great job. So we danced from 9:30 until 11:00 and then I headed over to the pickleball courts where I met up with Rich - who was already playing. There were some new people who wanted to learn how to play so we had made plans to meet at the courts around 11:00 or 11:30 for some "newbie" training.

Here are four of our newest pickleball players. That's Dwayne, Heidi, Ken and Sylvia. (Ken and Sylvia - were also at the line dancing that morning). Ken picked up realy quickly and will probably be out in the mornings playing with the group very soon. The next day while Rich was packing up the RV - I went back down and taught two more new people Gerry and Donnalee. One of the regular players was training two other people a few days earlier- so in just a few days eight new people were introduced to the game.