Ava Enjoys Her Visit

Last Friday Nate and Krystal headed for Virginia to spend some time with Nate's family. They tried to head out of town without letting us know, but we cornered them alog the road on Thursday only to learn that Ava was not going with them.........and because they did not want to ask us to take her for a couple of weeks had made other plans for her. But we assured them that Ava was welcome and we'd love for her to stay with us.

She is making herself right at home.

OK Uncle Rich........I'm ready for a little play time.............

You are starting to tire me out!  And I know I'll get a treat real soon if I continue to amuse you!

OK Uncle Rich - times up.  I'm coming up there...... One stop on the belly and then on up to the back.  You're having way too much fun!

Finally - a little peace and quite...........  Thanks uncle Rich.

Let me rest.......then I'll get Aunt Donna to take me for a  little walk along the nature trail!  Life is Good

Tournaments and Parties!

On Saturday there was a couple of pickleball tournaments going on; one in Punta Gorda and the other over in Sebring.   Rich and I did not go - but want to extend a big CONGRATS to all of our RV friends who were winners!   I'm sure I will forget someone, but Way TO GO to:   Rich, Dean, Rene, Buddy, John, Mark, Jack,  Dee, Carla, Diane, Marlene, Carol, Nell, Donna, Marie and Chris.

There were several others who played, had fun, but did not come home with a medal.

We had Baxter, while Travis was playing in Sebring.

Here is where Mr. B (Baxter) spent most of the day; watching for the squirrels.

We never pass up an opportunity to open our RV to our canine friends!

At noon the park was putting on it's end of season party for those of us left in the park.  Hat's off to the staff who did an excellent job!  The park provided a  "free" lunch  and great music for everyone.  Lunch was 2 hot dogs, beans, chips and dessert ( cream puffs or cheese cake) with your choice of beer or soda.    Most people brought their folding chairs, but several tables were also set up.  Each person attending also got 3 tickets that they could use for the raffle of several very nice prizes including daily, weekly and monthly stays at various RV parks, 3 beautiful wine baskets, a pooch basket, and a key lime cake.
Congrats to Ray and Betty who went home with TWO wine baskets!

The only thing that ruined that day was that the manager ( who usually is nowhere to be found on the weekend) showed up and got everyone confused when she started to talk!  Annuals in the park will have their own drawing, yes annuals can be included in the drawing today, no we won't draw the winners today, yes we will draw the winners today!!  It was when she made her way to the dance area an embarrassed most of us who were there with her most unprofessional, un-manager like tacky dancing.  Definitely time to leave!!

Harley - who was the DJ, singer/entertainer at the party played well into the afternoon, which was great.  As a friend of Nick and Tonyia he came down to their site later in the day and set up his equipment.  He entertained us with his guitar, singing and also playing the Electric Slide, the Chicken Dance and the Cupid Shuffle - as we all danced around the campfire.   Nick and Tonyia made sure that the music was not disruptive to others in the park, and the only noise anyone may have heard was our applause after a great song or a fun dance!   Even one of the park rangers, making his rounds stopped for a minute.  We wanted to make sure we were OK with the music and he told us that Quiet Time is 11:00 PM - so "party on!"    Anyone walking by was welcome to stop and many did......at one point I think we had about 26 people there. 

 

But about 8:00 PM - the park manager ( and she wasn't even in her pajamas this time) stopped by tell us we were making too much noise and we had to shut down.  Not even a guitar!  When everyone complained - she allowed Harley to play the guitar and sing.    What was the most surprising was that about 30 minutes after she shut us down, one person made a call to the office to see if it was alright to have music at their site, etc. etc.  They were told that "quiet time is 11:00 pm, so there is no problem.  Would be nice if the manager shared her "new rules" with her staff, don't you think?   

Now can you imagine how many of us would have been at the happy hour if all of our pickleball players were not at the tournament?  We were all a little confused as to why the party was shut down so on Monday Nick went up to the office to talk with Lee.  Don't know anything about that conversation, but he did say he  spoke to Sheila (Lee's boss)  after he got back home from meeting with Lee.  Sheila informed him that 26 people on his site was UNACCEPTABLE!  He said he asked Sheila what would be acceptable and she declined to say. 

So a warning to all of our pickleball friends who have SEVERAL parties during  season with 30 or 40 or more people at their site, with singing and Guitar playing.... remember that while we don't know what the acceptable number is - you can NOT have 26 people at your site to have a fun happy hour.   What is even more interesting is the number of times THIS SEASON and LAST SEASON  that our park manager attended these happy hours where there were far more than 26 people, and never indicated it was unacceptable. 

I do know that there are a couple more happy hours scheduled over the next couple of weeks.   You better believe that I will be there - if not as an invited guest - to count the number of people on the site. 

And I though LAST SEASON was bad!!!

Happy Birthday - Judy

Rich and I have both been down with the bug/flu or whatever is going around. I got it first and passed it along to Rich........ Actually, Friday evening was the first time in two weeks that I've been out and visiting with friends.

Friday was Judy's birthday, so we both headed over to help her celebrate.  It was a very pleasant evening - just right for celebrating.   Here's the birthday girl!

 A few pictures of the crowd.   Lots of sunshine to start of the evening.  And the food tonight was an Italian Feast... baked ziti, lasagna, stuffed shells, speghetti, meatballs, sausage, salad and garlic bread........     and a birthday cake for dessert.    We both love Italian food - but the virus we've both been fighting didn't allow us to enjoy as much as we'd like.  I had a couple of stuffed shells, with a teaspoon of sauce  and called it a night.  Rich, didn't indulge like he usually does - but managed a little bite of just about everything!    

After the sun went down Jim lit the fire and some of us took to the Wii Fit and Wii Sports.  Below Tonyia and Rosa compete on the iceberg catching fish.... Justin joins Rosa for a game of soccer....and  I joined a few of the guys ( that's Larry below) in a game of bowling!  

 

  Happy Birthday, Judy!  We really enjoyed the evening of great food and fun!

Happy Birthday Son

 Just a few memories from the past 44 years, SON................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENNIS.........WE LOVE YOU.

An evening with Todd Hallawell and Garth Matthews

There is a lot of entertainment here at the park - some that is OK, some that is quite good and some, like last Saturday evening that is absolutely excellent.

Todd Hallawell is an acoustic guitarist who is the recipient of numerous musical awards including the National Fingerstyle Guitar Cahmpionship....   You can read more about his music and accomplishments on his website:  http://www.toddhallawell.com/

I tried taking pictures - but I seldom can get good pictures inside the meeting house.......so these are a few pictures that Judy, the Peace River Recreation Director took and posted on the Peace River facebook page.


The room was absolutely packed - standing room only for this show...........

Joining Todd on stage was his wife and our good friend and fellow pickleball player from Canada - Garth  Matthews.  Garth has been down with a bad cold prior to this performance - but you would never have known.  He and his wife Rosemary are both excellent singers and entertainers.

While Todd can certainly make that guitar sing and both he and Garth can belt out some great tunes..............the Hallawell canine could not let the evening pass without sharing his talent.........

What a great companion and lover of music this one is.  And whenever he hears the song " Happy Trails to you............he lends his voice............and belts out some great howls....................And he did just that for the audience tonight!

Dinner at the Hotel Jacaranda - Avon Park

Last Friday Nick and Tonyia joined us for dinner at the historic Hotel Jacaranda in Avon Park, FL

According to  http://www.hoteljac.com/.....

As a true example of living history, The Hotel Jacaranda is one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in Highlands County. When the Jac opened in 1926, it took its name from a 150-year-old jacaranda tree that had been removed to make way for the hotel. Among its first guests were members of the St. Louis Cardinals, who came to Avon Park for spring training from 1927 to 1929. Photos of its famous guests, from Babe Ruth to Hollywood celebrities George Burns and Gracie Allen, adorn its dining room. During World War II, the grand hotel played a hand in the war effort by housing hundreds of servicemen who had come to the area to train as military pilots.

Below are some pictures of the hotel as it looks today...

Nick and Tonya in the foyer......

Below is the four of us after  dinner.  The hotel features a buffet, Monday through Friday, with each day's menu different.  Being Friday it was the seafood buffet, but still provided some excellent fried chicken for those who don't do fish.  Excellent clam chowder,  salad bar and tons of desserts.  The music, a piano player, make the atmosphere just perfect.

Been a really long time since we've seen fire escapes like this on buildings.  

 

A Birthday Celebration!

 On Wednesday evening it was once again time for a happy hour and this time it was Keith and Marie who were the generous host. . Like most happy hours these days, the table was chocked full with outstanding dishes.  RV'ers are great cooks and enjoy festive occassions.   The circle of friends keeps getting bigger and bigger

But tonight's happy hour was also a Birthday celebration.  Not sure why - but those people  born in February always seem to get this special treatment.  It's been the tradition here at Peace River for about 5 years. 

And here are a few of of friends who showed up for the birthday festivities. 

Margie and Dean, Travis, Tonyia and Nick, Diane and Buddy, Hedy and Art, Tom, and Karen,  Donna and Barry, Carol and Lou, Russ and Nell.

And here are the five that were celebrating their birthdays today!

Marie, Joy, Rich, Marie and Diane

My Last Day of Radiation Treatment

Wednesday February 13, 2013 was our grandson's 15th birthday and my very last day of radiation treatments.  The folks at the Sebring Cancer Center are some of the very best; and that's everyone from the receptionist to my Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Stephanie Rapke.    When I went for my treatment on Tuesday, I prepared them - telling them I was bringing my camera the next day!

Sebring Cancer Center has some of the  most advanced technologies available to treat cancer.  One of them is  the  Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) – a sophisticated type of external beam radiotherapy which allows delivery of precisely targeted radiation beams to tumors, while sparing the surrounding healthy organs.

Pictured below:  Top left, clockwise:  Sandy - the receptionist who greeted me every morning with a smile, just before 8:30 am.  On Wednesday she greeted me saying "Wow....today is your last day!"   With the exception of just ONE day - when there was a problem with the machine I was in the radiation room ready for treatment on or before my 8:30 appointment time.    Next picture is the IMRT as it was positioned when I arrived.  I would lay comfortably on the table with my arms in those little blue holders above my head.......Once positioned correctly the table would rise and the machine would do it's thing!

The next picture is of Tina - who often helped with my daily positioning or especially when they took the weekly photos........But it's Monday's that I remember best with Tina when I met with the Doctor after treatment.  "You can put on a blue robe..........I'll meet you at the scales!"

The picture at the bottom left is of Stephanie, who actually gave me my daily treatment.   With the exception of ONE day Stephanie was there to greet me every single day.  She was so professional, but so very nice - always making sure I was comfortable.  They don't come any better.  

And the last picture gives you an idea of how the IMRT machine moves/works. The table would be raised much higher.  The first 5 weeks that machine would start at the far left, move about 45 degrees for the next treatment and move it's way all the way to the right.  The last week or so was call the Boost - where the radiation was targeted to just the impacted area.

I left them a big box of chocolates for Valentines day. Seems insignificant now, after all they did for me.   God willing - I should be done, with the exception of regular check ups and regular mammograms.   Thank you all for your prayers.

HAPPY  15th BIRTHDAY GRANDSON

Just a few of the very special moments over the past 15 years!  We are so proud of you......We love You!

Our son (his dad) put it best on facebook today!

My Goodness 15? Really? Well yes a Very Happy Birthday to my most Incredible & Awesome Son!  My buddy lil D... Dalton Jordan Donald!
 I'm so Proud of you & all that you do & I Love You! Wishing & Praying for many many more!

Woman's Wine and Wii

On Tuesday afternoon Boonie invited several of us ladies over for a fun day of wine, snack and Wii Fit.    Everyone brought a snack to share and Bonnie made the afternoon full of laughter....   I have never done Wii Fit before, but didn't do too bad  being a penguin on an iceberg trying to catch fish.  Then it was the hoola-hoop - Loved it!   I think I had the second high score!  And you would thing that as a pickleball player  I could see a ball coming in my direction......but while I was not the worst - at soccer I managed to get hit by almost as many smelly sneakers as I did soccer balls!   Here are a few of the ladies enjoying the afternoon!

Pictured above : Bonnie getting the goodies ready, Tonyia (left) giving Hedy some pointers, ME, Bonne, helping Janet with the hoola-hoop, Rosa and Tonyia, hoola-hoop pros!