Hello again!

Haven't "blogged" since Monday! We finished out our stay on Singer Island in Palm Beach on Wednesday. We had to attend a presentation on buying a Marriott timeshare on Tuesday - they showed us their beautiful new unit which you could by into for about $70,000. for the privilege of having 2 weeks a year! Not really a good deal for us. Not too fond of the east coast of Florida anyway.

Left early Wednesday morning for Bonita and our condo at Copperleaf. Came across Alligator Alley and saw lots of gators sunning themselves along the waterway on the side of the expressway. There is a fence all along the highway so they can't get onto the road. They are really rather ugly critters!

The condo at Copperleaf is really nice - so nice to be in a bigger space compared to what we had been staying in. Felt like we were in a mansion! Have decided that this is the area that we like the best. Got settled in and Doug and Pat came over to help celebrate our arrival! Had a fun evening! The weather is a huge topic of concern with everyone down here. You can tell the natives because they are all bundled up while the snowbirds have shorts and flipflops on trying to make like it's not all that chilly. I saw one guy wearing gloves when I was out walking yesterday morning. It definitely is cold in the mornings - only in the 40's, but it has warmed up to the mid-60's by noon and is still nice by the pool except for the wind. Still a little too cold to go to the beach - I'm sure it would be way to cold there.

Yesterday we hung out around the pool, went to the outlets which are so close, and to Panera to do some emailing, etc. Had a homecooked meal of spaghetti and green beans - I have been starved for some vegetables and healthy food. Eating on the road definitely gets tiring after awhile.

HT#1 is currently out checking out some nurseries while I am at Panera enjoying yet another cup of coffee! Yesterday morning and today I walked a mile around the complex. Feels good to do some exercising again. I have to keep it up once I get back home. Today we will probably go to Costco and meet the Huhns for dinner. I need to buy a book at Costco because I think I can actually find the time to sit and read - at least until Amy and Gav come! It is supposed to warm up into the 70's by the time they get here - I hope so!

Until next time.....

March 1

Can't sleep so it is 5:20 am and only thing I can do right now is get on the computer until daybreak comes! Yesterday was sunny and mid 60's so finally feeling a bit more like it should in Florida. Went to City Center in West Palm with Braglias. Really nice shopping area. There was an entire store of Maine Cottage furniture! The colors and fabrics are fabulous. It is my absolute favorite stuff! But so expensive - guess only for the super rich! Just had a thought - maybe I'll have to start checking craigslist for it!

Until next time....

Day 5 and 6

Day 5 -

Traveled from Tallahassee to next destination - St. Augustine. Nice place - did some sightseeing around town for about 3 hours and then decided to continue on and stay in Boca Raton so that we'd be close to the Marriott where we will be staying for the next 4 nights! Wow, 4 nights in one place - that should be nice!

Day 6

Headed up to the Marriott by Route A1A - the scenic route. So many beautiful "mc mansions" along the way. Passed Trump's place. Weather not so good - cloudy but warmer today. Checked into the Marriott and go settled. HT#1 was able to do some much overdue organizing of her "stuff". Made a trip to Publix and got a few things for entertaining Braglia's tonight. Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces once again! A light rain began mid-afternoon so just hung out in the room and "relaxing" and hoping for better weather tomorrow!

Until then...

Day 4 of Road Trip - February 25 Thursday

Time to hit the road again, but not before checking out the Garden District. Spent the morning hanging out there - beautiful, sunny morning, but still a chill in the air. Pretty area - not too much blooming right now though. Saw some magnolias coming out. After coffee ( yes, more coffee) and a bagel, it was time to get going.

The Tom Tom is great - just put in the destination and it shows how much longer in hours and miles, the speed limit vs. your own speed, etc. It was well worth the money!

Drove about 8 hours (I think) to Tallahassee - just in time to go to Taco Bell and get settled in for Idol. Passed through states we had never been in before - Mississippi, Alabama, and the Panhandle of Florida.

Tomorrow to St. Augustine which is about 3 hours from here.

Until then....

Day 3 of Road Trip February 24 Wednesday

Started the day at Cafe DuMonde - where else? --favorite spot in French Quarter! Weather kind of chilly and with light rain in the morning but cleared up by afternoon. Forgot to mention that yesterday we ran into some people from Sparta, NJ! HT#2 wanted to explore the antique shops in more depth today, so HT#1 decided to hang out in the room, relax, and spend time on the computer. Needed some down time! But before that, we had lunch at The Gumbo Shop. Good gumbo, salad and hot loaf of bread.

We decided to go to Preservation Hall this night for some traditional jazz music. It was a very neat experience. You have to wait in line to get in for about a half hour - it is first come, first served. It is held in an old building that has a few benches, pillows on the floor, and then it's standing room only. It is a place where you can still hear original New Orleans jazz music. Very entertaining group that night. See www.preservationhall.com if you want more info.

After that, strolled down Bourbon St. which was more active than last night - decided it was too early to go back to the hotel, so we went to the Royal Sonesta jazz lounge and found that they had really great jazz entertainment. Didn't realize that I could enjoy this music so much. Great gin and tonic and wasabi peanuts! Big travels tomorrow so better not stay out too late!

Day 2 of 2010 Road Trip

Day 2 of Road Trip - Tuesday, Feb. 23

Spent the day scoping out the French Quarter, browsing shops and seeing the sights. We had lunch at a place called the General Store and split a muffleleta sandwich at the lunch counter with all the other folks. Liked the sandwich much better this time - not as many olives on it. Of course, HT #2 ( Larry = Happy Traveler #2) was in heaven.

Went to one shop where we learned about a drink called Absinthe - supposedly gives you a "high" but a "clear headed high", whatever that means! Made up of 3 herbs mainly and the whole shop was devoted to the concoction - it's a complicated process to prepare it for drinking.

Had another load of beignets at the Cafe DuMonde - DELICIOUS! Have to be more careful not to get the XXX sugar all over my fleece. We just get one serving which is 3 of them and split it so that amounts to 1 and a half each. The cafe au lait is the best.

Convinced HT #2 to have a Pimm's Cup at the Napolean House - bar has lots of character - classy and very old. The bartender told us that the place was going to be closed tomorrow due to movie being made there with Whoopi Goldberg and Kate Hudson. He had lots of other interesting conversation too - mentioned that at least 100,000 people were taken to Houston after Katrina, and crime seems to be down in NOLA but has risen in Houston! Lots of bad types left the city I guess, and New Orleans is better for it.

Dinner was at the Acme for oysters, red beans and rice, and coleslaw. I was perfectly happy with sides while HT#2 was once again in food heaven with his fried oysters. Headed down Bourbon St. after that to check out the scene - kind of subdued probably due to the chill in the air, but nevertheless, a lot of weird characters. Turned in early to watch American Idol.

More later! Tonight I hope to get up to date and report on today....

NOLA or Bust!!!!!!!

Left Farmington, MI on Friday, February 19 with Gavin all tucked into his car seat and ready to be reunited with his Mom and Dad! Had an exciting weekend at the Farkasovsky home as they put in an offer on a new home. Thankfully, the offer was accepted!

Pulled out of 557 Blenheim, Columbus, Ohio at 8:00 am on February 22, 2010 heading south to good old New Orleans. This was the first leg a major road trip, our final destination being Bonita Springs, FL. Even though we've been on many road trips before, this is definitely the most ambitious one!

Drove about 12 hours this first day to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The time seemed to go by pretty quickly today, and when we got to our hotel at about 8:30 pm, we had a pleasant surprise - we didn't realize that there was a time change and it was actually 7:30!!! Great - now we had time to get some Popeye's Chicken before turning in for the night!

Too tired to write anymore tonight - to be continued tomorrow.....