January 25 - 31, 2015
How perceptive my friend Barb Bergstrand is! Barb wrote
in her last email to me: "You are like the old pioneer women to whom just
the tasks of every day life were all-consuming. It's a good way to live,
but I can see that you would miss the down time." Thanks, Barb, for being so
understanding of this lifestyle of mine. (And,
to think, when I was anticipating this adventure, that I was worried there
would be nothing to do!) By the way, I love getting replies to my emails,
staying in touch with friends, hearing about your lives as you're hearing about
mine! Feel free to call or email anytime. If your call is untimely, I will
simply call you back later.
And
now for the details of SaSea Sally as January comes to a close. Read on...
Sunday,
the 25th brought our good Looper friends Tom and Melissa Goodman (Journey)
knocking on our door to offer a Sams and Wal-Mart run early afternoon. Having
accomplished some early morning housekeeping chores, Clay and I were organized
for a shopping opportunity. Tom is an excellent cook whose lead at Sams had us
purchasing a big slab of salmon and likewise a plentiful supply of lamb chops.
Yum! Our late lunch following our return resulted in an equally late dinner at
downtown Capones, with offerings of salads, pasta and brick-oven pizzas in a
roaring 20's-style atmosphere.
The
wind blew us home from Capones Sunday evening and continued howling all day
Monday. The weather conditions of this first day of the work week had all of us
boaters hunkering down, playing house. It was a great opportunity to clean up,
clean out, organize and rearrange...for me, anyway. Not sure what Clay did, but
I kept busy.
Tuesday,
after preparing crockpot balsamic chicken for the evening's Looper carry-in and
pressing 'go,' I set out on foot for the short twelve-minute walk through
downtown Ft. Myers to poke around the Goodwill Thrift Shop I'd remembered from
our previous visit. I cite the word 'classy' in reference to this thrift shop
as merchandise was organized according to labels: Chico's, Talbots, Ann Taylor,
etc; and the prices reflected the gently-worn, more expensive labels.
Following
my return, again a twelve-minute walk, I encouraged Clay to dress warmly for
the evening's carry-in; we both dressed in layers to fend off the chill we
expected at the outdoor tiki hut location. Lotsa food! Lotsa folks! Lotsa wind
and chill! Nice friends...short evening due to weather. Brrr, it was quite
nippy!
Wednesday
brought friends Chuck and Linda Johns for a chat aboard then lunch downtown.
Back to the boat following lunch, it was time for a much-needed pumpout...a
do-it-yourself job which Clay and I accommodated quite nicely (after learning
the procedure from neighbor boaters). Woopee! Done deal! Movin' on! Our dining
plans for another mojo roasted chicken from Publix were detoured when Clay
spied a Chinese take-out restaurant housed in the grocery store complex and
coerced me into a happy family dinner. Wish we'd stayed there to eat it rather
than toting it home for Sally to clean up afterwards.
We
eagerly looked forward to Thursday when friends Bruce and Nancy Werbach were
due to arrive for a boat tour and afternoon with us. It was such fun sharing
details of each others' lives since last we met...and recalling memories of
days gone by. Afternoon hours extended into evening when both couples walked to
the adjacent Joe's Crab Shack for dinner and more conversation. Such an
enjoyable day we spent! Not sure Joe's would garner a high rating on
Urbanspoon, nor from us four, but the location was sure convenient; and it sure
beat an unanticipated dinner prep for me.
Clay
and I walked in 44 degrees and more wind Friday morning, then tackled office
work until the sun warmed the temps enough for me to wander to the pool to test
the waters. Not gonna happen today with the swimming hole registering a chilly
68 degrees. I've never been interested in any polar bear plunge and certainly
not in Florida!
Some
Looper couple had organized Docktails for this Friday evening prior to dinner.
Joining in, Clay and I found many of our friends gathered on the patio outside
the Legacy two-story condo complex and learned of the various departure plans
of these friends of ours. Bon Voyage would become the frequent call over the
next week as some headed north along the Gulf, some south toward the Keys, and
still more east across Lake Okeechobee. We were lucky to call Legacy home for
another week as we prepped for a road trip across the state to Ft. Lauderdale
to visit Uncle Woody in Plantation.
Saturday
was a day to cycle a big load of laundry, to enjoy the antique boat display at
nearby Pincher's (restaurant) parking lot, to process our email scans of the
week, and to pack in preparation for tomorrow's departure to Ft. Lauderdale.
Looper friends Allan and Debbie Finger were due for wine late afternoon
followed by dinner at Ford's Garage in downtown Ft. Myers. We were charmed by
the decor of this restaurant where gas pump handles served as door handles to
the entrance of the establishment as well as to the entrances to the restrooms;
where a Model T with rotating wheels was suspended from the ceiling over the
bar area; where our napkins were grease rags with hose clamps for napkin rings;
and where, periodically, we'd hear an ah-oo-ga horn blast followed by a hiss of
exhaust from the suspended car's tail pipe.
Ford's
Garage was known for their burgers; and a featured menu item was 'Henry Ford's
Hub Cap' which boasted "ten pounds of Black Angus beef pattied to the size
of a Model T wheel, sandwiched between a bun the size of a seat cushion."
To this was added American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickle planks
and also a five-pound order of fresh cut French fries, all designed to serve up
to fifteen guests. Further billing: "Serious eaters only, must call
twenty-four hours in advance to order, $125, and finish one in two hours by
yourself and it's free." Wonder how many of those they sell?
Clay
and I returned for a good night's sleep (Note: we didn't order Henry Ford's Hub
Cap) before our Sunday departure toward Ft. Lauderdale and a visit with Uncle
Woody. So, until we return to SaSea Sally in Ft. Myers, I bid you another fond
farewell and wishes for a good week ahead as January, 2015, comes to a close,
and we welcome February.
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