This Saturday (unlike last Saturday) was  anything but quiet. The road contractor has been working on neighborhood streets for the past few days.  Friday they had gotten to Laurelwood Drive and began scraping the layer of asphalt.   We thought they had finished Friday afternoon.  In fact they had finished the scraping portion.  At 7:00AM Saturday morning they began supposedly sweeping up the dust residue.  I say supposedly since they spread a lot of it on cars and into homes.  Dirk (who had stayed over night) and B got up early and after a quick breakfast we headed for Dave and Kathi's with an expected arrival of 10:30. David had already left for the nearby park so we followed Kathi to Lake Park.  Lake Park is unusual and not your run of the mill park. It does have the expected playground equipment but also has a BMX track, horseback riding it appears with shows and competitive shows and a wonderful track to run radio controlled cars, both gas and battery operated.  Can you imagine? A picnic in January? Apologies to all my Northern friends who are currently digging out.   Dave cooked brats on the charcoal grill.  The brats which had marinated in beer since Wednesday and then cooked outdoors were wonderful. A friend of Dave's brought some wings and another brought a piece of London Broil, which was also cooked over the charcoal. Accompanied by the usual picnic sides of potato and macaroni  salad  the food was delicious.  We arrived home about three which gave Mary time to prepare her shrimp and the baked onion ring recipe she and Kathi had tried last week.  We left in time to get to Kathi's about 6PM and from there left to go to Dave's dads house nearby for yet another party.  Dave's stepbrother is here with his wife and 2 and 1/2 year old nephew Bryan.  Also here is Dave's stepsister along with her new contribution to the family tree 9 week old nephew Tyler.  They had all been with us at the picnic and now at Dave's dads house.  In addition, we were joined by Dave's brother and his wife and niece Megan and nephews Justin and Dylan, Dylan is also called potsy for reasons unknown. Mike (Dave's dad) known in family circles as Papa made the absolute best hamburgers, virtually a meal on a bun loaded with onions.  These were accompanied by chips, fruit salad, potato salad and the baked onion rings.  Mary's shrimp, which had been set out as an appetizer disappeared as if attacked by locusts.  We arrived home about 10PM with tummies  full and satisfied.

     Sunday was our quiet relaxing day this week.  I ventured out this afternoon to visit a nearby Train Club train show (flea market).  I had read the flyer and assumed that the 10-4 time frame was relevant  for both Saturday and Sunday. Never assume.  I arrived at the show hall at about 4 minutes to 3PM, thinking I would have an hour to wander through the hall.  I was surprised to learn that I had 4 minutes (for which they did not charge me admission) to wander through.  I did manage to find a small HO dc power pack which I could use to power the small assortment of HO trains I had brought from Chicago.  I returned home with my new purchase and spent the time prior to dinner putting together these notes. We ended the evening by watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition.  This time the family had lost its' home to a flood in New Hampshire.  The insurance company refused to cover the claim.  The family was left paying a mortgage on an empty lot while renting space in a building next door.  Mom and Dad slept first on an air mattress on the flower and had just managed to replace it with a real mattress, also on the floor.  Week after week this show brings you back to reality.  When you are feeling a little bit sad about your life, Ty and the crew makes you realize that you are in good shape.  What's the old adage?  I was blue because I had no shoes until I met a man that had no feet.

        Monday, Mary went to Curves and she and Kathi went and did a bit of shopping. Mary found a curtain and rod to replace a Venetian  blind which had been bugging her.  I went to meet my 2PM appointment with my personal trainer. Craig (my trainer) is a really nice guy and like today if no one follows we have been known to run over.  That on top of the fact that he gives me a 50% discount on his services. I got the St Julie Bulletin today so I took some time to convert it to a pdf  file and create the link on the bulletin page.  It will  be all ready to upload tomorrow night.

         Tuesday we met with our financial planner to finalize the paperwork on Mary' investment.  The road contractor came back to our street today.  By the time we returned to our street they were busy laying asphalt.   We parked at the end of the street and when Mary returned from another errand they had taped off the end of the street to keep the new asphalt from being parked on for a while. After dinner we watched one of Mary's favorites The biggest Loser. The program is interesting not only for the weight loss but also for the "mind games" that  occur when decisions are made about who is eliminated.

     Wednesday, Mary made her daily trip to Curves. The car had been parked at the end of the street while the new asphalt cured.  The street was still blocked off when she returned so she reparked it at the end of the block.  I left about 1:40 for my 2PM appointment with my personal trainer.  When I left, the street had been reopened so when I returned I was able to return the car to the driveway. Tonight we went to Mike's (Dave/s Dad)  club for the Wednesday night prime rib special.  Tonight I had the fish and Chips which was very good.  I know, who passes up prime rib for fish right?  Even a good thing needs a change from time to time.  This is a nice place.
They appear to have a good early evening business(5PM) because although the restaurant was nearly empty by the time we finished.  Even when they are a bit busy it is comfortable to dawdle over coffee without feeling any pressure to leave. We came directly home and I'm enjoying a little TV before hitting the sack.  Oops need to put out the garbage first.

   I read the online diary of my friend and mentor Don.  Some of you know that early on I gave him credit for inspiring --nope that's not true--I copied many of his ideas this effort.  Now he has changed gears and decided to leave out what he refers to as the mundane comments about his day to day life. I always found his comments interesting and looked forward to them each week, especially the comments about his family, card playing with friends and comments about Sunday mass.  Don was the only guy who could make a trip to the mailbox interesting.  Even that became mundane when someone gave him a high-tech "You've got mail outside" indicator.  Oh well, for the time being friends will have to put up with my mundane day-to-day activities.  Without them, there would be a blank page.

Yesterday (Thurs) we finished the week with a beach day.  Mary skipped Curves, substituting a walk on the beach at one of our favorite places, Honeymoon Island State Park.  The sign at the Entrance says Welcome to Honeymoon Island State Park, The Real Florida, and it truly is just that.  Unlike some of your tourist beaches there are no "plastic" tourist stores selling branded T-shirt, mugs, etc.  There is a small state park coffee shop (probably managed by an outside contractor and on the beach a couple of guys who will take your money for the use of beach chairs and lounges, umbrellas and kayaks for paddling in the gulf.  There is also a ferry which runs to Caladesi Island nearby.  Caladesi became and island in the 1930s when a hurricane stripped the strip of land connecting it to Honeymoon Island. Last time we took the ferry it cost $8.00 each way. The boat ride is well worth the price.  Honeymoon got its' name because coming out of the recession, the government built small cottages for Honeymooners. Needless to say, the cottages are long gone.