Photos of the house for Sale..

Hi Everyone, here are photos of the house for sale. The light was low in the sky so that accounts for the lousy quality, not the lousy cameraman.

Its at the middle of the 15th fairway. So, photos include toward the tee and green with a water hole across from the house.

Finally, I'm Mr. Valentine...for a few hours

I am such a nice guy, I got my wife a dozen of the Most Beautiful Roses ever put into a vase.

Yes, me Jim Elliott, walked into the condo on Saturday night carrying the vase.

OMG, Karolyn said. They're oh so beautiful. Thank you for getting them for me....then we both laughed as it was a laughing matter.

The truth is that we received a phone call that our flowers were waiting for us at the front office hallway.

So, I went to check and couldn't find any flowers. Until I heard a couple women say “There's the flowers that have been here all day long.”

“If they're still here when we return, I'm taking them and you can have half.” Her friend immediately agreed.

Upon hearing that I thought I better take them and walk thru the condo complex trying to find the person they were meant for. They were addressed to unit 108 which is our number.

I went to the closest bldgs and found out that they did not have a unit 108. That there were only 2, ours and another.

After carrying the vase for some time, I returned home to Karolyns smiles.

We called the number on the card and left messages: voice and pager. We waited and waited but got no answer.
We called the flower outfit and no answer.

Finally, Monday the flower shop called and said thank you but the owner called and asked where her flowers were.

She was in unit 208 and another bldg.

Soon, another dozen roses were delivered to the owner.

The owner arrived and took the dozen we had.

Then the flower shop gave us a gift of a few roses and vase for our troubles.

All I know is that for the first time in our marriage, (temporarily) my wife had the best, prettiest and cost didn't matter flowers for Valentines Day.

I'd Walk A Mile For A Camel....er--Pizza

Today, I started to shampoo the rugs. I did the bedroom and then decided to take a break.

That meant, going to McD's for the special of the day. Purchase a quarter pounder at regular price and get a 2 nd for .25 cents.

We rushed over there and sure enough got two freshly made sandwiches. Because of the promotion, the burgers were fresh off the grill and even had a little pink in the middle. Just the way I Love them.

Then a return trip back home, for a much deserved nap.

During the nap, Karolyn took off to visit her mom and told me that we were going to meet her sister at Big Al's for the happy hour special on the pizza's.

I continued to nap and when I awoke I immediately started to shampoo the living room. Did half of it and then decided to walk to the restaurant. I called Karolyn and told her not to pick me up.

I walked past places I haven't seen from up close...usually from a car window...and usually the drivers side.
As I walked, I stopped at any bench I found. And even a couple brick walls.

I walked over a high bridge that had a great view and had to take a photo.

It took 40 minutes and I arrived just as Karolyn and her sister arrived.

Soon JC the waiter asked if we wanted drinks. Drinks!!! Hell give me water and a pizza. Just for me.

The pizza went down so fast and tasted like a pizza from home, Chicago.


As I get older I find that Bars/restaurants are almost too noisy.


So, I excused myself from Karolyn and her sister Nancy and sat outside by the front door.

Maybe its my imagination, but as I watched the customers walk in and out. I noticed that most were my age or older.

I did notice as I walked through the restaurant the most of the customers had purchased the pizza special.

So, instead of just a daily special, the pizza's for all the folks was like a SENIOR PIZZA...with
SENIOR DISCOUNT.... Not such a bad thing at our age.

Bobby Vintons..Pink thru Light Green

A continuation of the paint job we started a few weeks ago or it seems like a long time ago.

We had a pink bathroom and decided to use some old paint and make it an almost white but not quite light green.

I didn't think it would take much paint, and heck, 3/4 of a gallon should be plenty for a BATHROOM.

I grabbed one of those long paint handles with a thin roller. It seemed like a good idea but it just did not carry enough paint on it. I had to keep rolling it thru the paint.

Then, I could keep seeing the pink screaming thru the light green. Maybe it wasn't screaming but laughing at me.....nah, nah, nah nah,,,,look at the light green...oh you can't because Pinkie me is everywhere.

One heavy coat might do it,, yeah maybe it'll slowly spread out..in my dreams.

We let it dry for a few weeks and found another can that looked like the green except it was beige.

Today we decided to try the last of the green paint and maybe cover the pink. If not, we'll just cover everything with the Beige.

With no rolls to spare I covered the ceiling and walls with another coat and presto, the pink disappeared.

Hey, I did it. Oooops, the louvered doors hiding the washer/dryer still were pink. Soon, it'll be beige and it'll look ok.

So, about 2pm we stopped and went to the pool for some sun. But not before a nice chicken ham sandwich on rye.

At the pool we found 2 chairs together. All around us were these pale bodies, topped off with gray heads or skinheads like mine. Many with big belly's and one with a super belly.

That was enough for me to see.

I decided to try to walk off that sandwich. On our property we have a small road to get around to your parking spots. Its about a half mile long.

I only did it 2 times with stops at the front office bench. Wow, that painting sure is tiring.

At 4 pm we returned home and got ready for a visit to granny at the home. To our surprise they were all gathered in the front lobby being entertained by Mr. Piano.

I guess he's a regular as he knew many of the residents names. And made granny smile when he played and had a sing-a-long for Goodnight Irene.

Irene is granny's name. And also another ladies. When piano man said Here'is a song for you ,Irene, granny really smiled. But he doesn't know Irene-granny, he was talking to the other Irene.

What difference does it make? none, no one knew nor could figure it out.

So, its back to the paint job. I mention Bobby Vinton...because he lives in the area and is one of the major VIP's to live here. He's been in the local papers and still seems the same.

How many of you thought he was Korny but still smooched to his love songs.

Ah, those were the days. I wish I could remember who the girls were...Whoever you were,
thank you.....

70 degrees..Lets Head To The Beach

I Held Him Tender Like a Man

Today, Friday, we got up early to go 15 miles to the Faith Baptist Church of Sarasota.

It started out with an attempt to return to the Snook Haven restaurant to see Bruce Nye The Elvis Guy.

Sorry, sold out weeks ago.

Margaret said "Hey Elvis is going to be at the Senior center I go to, want to go"

So, we all took our own cars and met Margaret at the Senior center.


As you can see from the photos, the Senior center is a large hall/gym.

It started with the Pastor and his wife, greeting us all and doing a warm up for Elvis. It was 10am and believe me, these seniors needed a warm up or enema.

Sure enough when Elvis ran onto the stage, just a few folks looked like they were breathing. Fewer yet clapped.





Margaret arrived early and we had a table just in front of the stage. Of course we clapped and even made a few cheer sounds.

He sang for about 40 minutes and took a break. During the break, the Pastor talked and raffled off some treats.

After a few minutes, Elvis returned and sang several Gospel songs. Suddenly, many in the audience sang along.



Unfortunately, the entertainment ended and Elvis LEFT THE BUILDING.

Then returned for photos. No one decided to go up there and Priscilla asked us if we wanted photos. Poor Elvis.

Just then, they announced that lunch would be served.

Ahh, thats why no one got out of their seats.





The meal consisted of beef stew, peaches and cottage cheese, and home made bread. Yum Yum.

Then they announced that if it was our first time, please don't donate. Its on the house.

I love Free, and soon they surprised us with mugs to all the first timers with Super Seniors written on them.

They asked that we all hug. I hugged the usual ladies....Karolyn, Nancy, Margaret and Lois.... Then I grabbed Ian and gave him a big big hug. He got shy and I wouldn't let him go. He kept trying to break loose but I hugged and shook him up until he finally laughed.

He's a difficult one. But one of my hugs even softened him up...so watch out,,,you might get hugged next....

don't forget....Keep Smilin

Chills.....

Its never going to get warm again. Yes, I'm saying that sitting in the condo in Sarasota,Fl.

Everyone is asking...Where's Global Warming?

Today, we visited granny and while driving past all the local residential developments we noticed special coverings being put over their prize entrance flower gardens.

They look like large flimsy tarps that are used for painting. Somehow, they are attached to the ground and cover the flowers without smashing them. Some, appear to be over 20 sq feet and because of the weather are flapping in the wind.

A few years ago, Gramps took video of his live garden on Christmas eve, the next day he took a video of all the dead frozen flowers.

A few hours below freezing sure made a big difference then and I suspect by Saturday, we all will see the result of CLIMATE WEAPONS OF MASS PLANT DESTRUCTION.

Hey, I tried....and some of it is original.
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I intended to do some errands before visiting granny. We started painting the main bathroom.

Yes, it all started a few days ago when Karolyn was talking out loud and asked: if I knew if we had some leftover paint from painting the 2nd bathroom.

I remained silent.

The next evening I heard her again asking if I thought there might be that light green paint in the storage shed.

I remained silent and started really trying to pay attention to the channel on tv I was watching. Unfortunately, it was the TV guide channel.

Soon, I had the paint can in the kitchen and was stirring it 100 times in each direction.

Then I noticed that I had a roller in my hand and was painting a pink room green...almost a light beige with a tint of green.

Today, I hit Target looking for a ceramic space heater...no luck. But got TP and some painting rags.

A trip to Harbor Freight for paint rollers was another out of luck...I walked out with knee pads and cheap paint brushes: 4 for $1.49.

Ok, enough errands that only spend money.

Time for grannys.

As you can see, things are getting exciting.

Nothing like a 48 piece puzzle of Nemo to occupy a visit. Believe it or not Granny actually got more pieces together....while I got headaches.

It seems that we visit after lunch and if we stay to just past 3pm we are suddenly swamped with wonderful refreshments and treats.

It seems like the visit is going good until its time to leave.

We have been saying "Well, its time we go". That's when the tough time begins.

That's when Granny says: Hey I'm ready to go home too. Lets go.

No, this is your home. You have to stay here. Then after hugs and kisses we walk away and silence for quite some time.

Chills....from the weather and walking away from Granny....

Super Bowl = Super Pig Out

Did you cry or cheer?

Was this the greatest Super Bowl game ever....I still like the one with Joe Namath.

It started out a little slow but at the end, the excitement just increased with the decreasing seconds on the clock.

Congrats to those Pittsburgh fans, even though I don't know any. I know there are plenty of Kurt Warner fans....I guess I fit in that group.

Now that the game is over, just how much did you celebrate the game. We started off slow.

We had breakfast at home and then went to church at St. Thomas More church.

We attended the 9:45 mass and had to sit in the outside room and observed the Mass on the giant screen with many other late arrivals.

Then it was off to Rotonda to check out the in laws house.

We made a slight detour and stopped at Stephano's in Englewood. After a Super large lunch, we continued our quest to the house. Once there we cleaned and checked the electical and plumbing.

Collected some leftover clothes for the poor befire we left the house and made a stop at Checkers for some Hot Wings....20 of the Buffalo spiced up little things.

Then off to Publix for a few other items.

Ranch dressing, frozen pizza and cocktail sauce for the shrimp.


During the game we enjoyed the Wings and then went on to pizza.

Come the 2nd half, we finished the meal with coffee and raised donut nuggets. Ummm Ummm.

Now we need to get some one more little item...something to reduce the swelling. The swelling of our guts. Mine was so much smaller before the super bowl.

So, I want to thank what ever channel televised the stupid show.

Now I won't be able to eat again for a long long time...not until tomorrow morning after a 2 mile walk.

Ah, who cares. I really enjoyed the game.