It Was a Magical Week!

Hey, all!

Golfer and I just returned from a week's vacation with Bikini, Brief, Boxer, and Bloomer in Orlando, Florida! There had been lots of advance planning for this trip. Bikini found a house we could rent for the week that gave us lots of room and a pool! I had to get permission from from my doctor and physical therapist to travel. Basically, I can try to do anything I feel like, but was told several times to NOT ride anything that was bumpy, jerky, twisty, etc. Well, that ruled most things out, but Golfer rented me an electric scooter each day so I could keep up and have a place to sit while I "people-watched" while everyone else was riding things.

In case you're wondering, it was school break week for the kids. Their school starts August 1st in Georgia. And I think they saw different friends almost every day!

We had park hopper tickets for four days at Disney parks and tickets for one day at Universal. There is way more to do there than a person can do. I especially recommend Epcot. The Planet Earth ride was great!

Golfer and I took one day and went to Kennedy Space Center. Great place! We took a bus tour around the site. Golfer rode the launch simulator. We saw the Star Trek exhibit, too! One of the bus drivers told us that it was a "high activity" time for the wildlife. The Space Center is a wildlife preserve. Said we should watch out for gators - did not see any! We did see a huge eagles' nest. They estimated the nest was about 800 pounds up in a tall tree! The driver said the pair of eagles had been back to the same nest for about ten years.

The main event at Universal was going to Harry Potter World! The Butter Beer was delicious! Golfer and I had lunch at "The Three Broomsticks". I did not get to ride anything there in Hogsmeade, but it was lovely. I did do a little shopping at the Owl Post. We saw a dance performance by the Beau Batons' ladies and the Durmstrang guys. Very good! Bikini caught the performance of the singing frogs and said it was good, also.

The weather was HOT and HUMID the whole time. And I mean take-a-step-outside-the-door-and-be-drippy-wet hot and humid. There were thunderstorms several times, but they really only caused us a problem on the first day. And we got absolutely soaked then! Had to go back to the house and dump the water out of our shoes!

And one other interesting note - it was love bug season there in Florida. Love bugs are long, little black bugs that "hook up" and then fly around together. They land on and in everything - you, your car, your food.... ick.

So now we're home and getting caught up and back to normal, if there really is any such state. The groceries are bought, the laundry is done, the mail has been read, and the house is cleaned. It was a magical time. And let me add that some days when you hear someone say to you "have a magical day" just one more time, you want to scream! That's the standard greeting at Disney.

Stay safe!

Still Plugging Away

Hey, all! I hope all is well with everyone. Golfer and I are doing okay. I'm still going to physical therapy three times a week. Some days are better than others. I see my doctor the last week of this month.

It's sunny and bright here right now, but the TV weatherman says a front is coming with wind gusts up to 35 -40 mph and thunderstorms later today. Then tomorrow it will be only in the 60's, a sign that Fall is coming. Although here in Virginia we often go straight from using the A/C to using the heat and vice versa. Golfer is out mowing the grass right now and cleaning up the yard before it gets wet.

I've started our Christmas shopping! Because of the issues I am having with my right lower leg and foot, any shopping trips are fairly short and so far are confined to places where I can go and park right in front of the store. But so far, so good!

Golfer and I saw "Contagion" this week. Very good movie, but sort of creepy. Just wanted to get home and take a shower after! But it does an excellent job of explaining how an epidemic gets started and spreads.

Nothing else going on right now. Stay safe!

Happy Friday!

There really isn't too much new going on here, but I want to get back into the habit of posting more than once every couple months! So --- HI!

I had physical therapy yesterday and had some increased pain last evening and during the night. I cannot shake the fear I have of the extreme pain coming back. Every time there's a new twinge and pain, I worry. This was not the first time it's happened after a PT session though, so I know there's a connection. The therapist is very good and very patient. Everyone there keeps reminding me that I'm a special case since I had two major things going on within a very short time and the therapy for each thing works against the other. So I have to be careful about what I'm doing. Things are better this morning though.

The golf course is open again after the hurricane, so Golfer is getting to play this morning. I'm happy about that.

I have some laundry running and got the bed changed. We did some cleaning yesterday so things are pretty well under control.

I actually just got home from my first solo shopping trip. I took a walk through Wal-Mart! I only go there early in the mornings when I do go because I don't like crowded places. It went well. I had a couple things to look for. When I replaced our dishes last year, I picked the simple, classic white Correlle line. Wal-Mart sells the major pieces individually. Good thing, too! They do not bounce when dropped on our tile floor! It was time to restock a few pieces. On the way home from there I went by the ATM and the mail drop box. So for me lately, I've had a busy morning.

Golfer did the yard work yesterday. Things are looking pretty good, but it's been a hard Summer for the grass. Too hot and either too little rain or too much. But it's green and neat and the new landscaping that happened around the time of my surgeries looks nice. McDonald Garden Center did a good job. Golfer has kept the geraniums out front watered and they look good. Usually they are still blooming past Thanksgiving around here.

It's getting cloudy and a little dark. I think it's supposed to rain later. I hope everyone has a nice long weekend! Stay safe!