I'm Back, from a lot of excitement

Hi everyone,
June 19th..
I did make it to fla and back. The back is the tough part. I really love it there and after awhile I don't miss the family. Ok, I do but could travel back and forth if I lived down south in Paradise.

We arrived in Fla during a heat wave that felt more like a sauna. As soon as we got off of USA 3000 flight 659, we felt the humidity.

What were we going to do get back on the plane, nope we were here and no matter how difficult it would be, we would tough it out for the 12 days.

We stayed at our condo in Sarasota. The reason for the trip was Great Grampa Ted's 89th bday.
Our daughters Jill & her Sara, and Jessie joined us. Jill left Thomas at home and Jessie let Mark do his mountain climbing. As you might know, that did not go well.

We spent most of the time together going to Teds house or touring the area.

One trip we drove thru ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE...(which I compare to Rodeo Drive in Calif). It smells of money. Then turned right and drove thru Longboat Key where all the big politicians visit.


We ended up on Anna Marie Key. We were surprised where years ago it had tacky beaches that were blown away by some hurricane.

Now the beaches were great and we found a wonderfull restaurant that borders the beach.....THE SANDBAR....at the north end of the key.

After Anna Marie we returned to Sarasota and jumped in the pool, sauna--yes a heated sauna. And visited Gramps several times.


We ate on St. Armands at Columbia, expensive. Carrabbas in North Port--almost as expensive.


And of course my favorites: Sam Selzer and McDonalds.

One night we went to Sara's favorite restaurant near downtown Sarasota. Its on the water in Sarasota Harbor.

Yes, its Marina Jacks and we ate outside on a new like boardwalk. I think I had a French Dip beef sandwich $12.

I'm cheap and this sounds expensive but it was as good as one of those $15 prime ribs. A good choice made by Sara.

We all had fun everyday and it was time to leave. Gramps thanked us for the bday celebration and we all cried as we said goodbye.

USA took us back on July 1, 2007.
c'ya
jim