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.
---------------
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.

Just a few stories told by photo's...

Its been a busy week.

Lunch with granny a few times. And a few visits. Then moving her from a large 2 room apt to a one room apartment in the Memory unit of the home.

And photos of Granny's place.

I also include photos of a lunch at Marina Jacks on the water front in Sarasota.

Finally, we went out to dinner at Outback with Nancy's friends. Followed by a trip to the Irish Rover Pub in Gulf Gate area...just a few blocks from our condo.

Enjoy...


The first group are of Karolyn and Nancy at Marina Jacks Restaurant

Below are photos of Grannies new home. Karolyn, Granny and me in the rec room.

Here we are in the Lunch room of the memory unit.

Here is the group at Out Back.

From the left...

Karolyn, Linda, Nancy, ME, Margaret and Ian.

Later, Nancy and Linda joined us at the Irish Rover where wonderful Irish songs were played.

Tapping Tilly....Singing Norma

Have you ever had a meal at a Dementia unit?

Well, the last few weeks we would visit granny often at the home.
Some times we would pay $5 and have lunch with her.

I'm going to tell you, the home has great food. None of that mixed up stuff that Jack Lalane? sells his machine for.

Today we had Salmon and Chicken frick and see for lunch.

We were half way through our meal when we heard a fork tapping a plate over and over again.

We looked and there was Tilly tapping her plate. A plain serious stare, at the fork. Then she suddenly stopped.

She kept repeating this action.

Then I noticed what she was doing. She would take a bite of food with the fork and notice a piece, a very tiny piece of food, on the fork.

Rather than just continue, she would start her tapping. She would keep tapping until the food fell off or she hit the plate 50 times. Ok, I'm guessing about the number, but after so many taps, she would slowly raise the fork to her mouth and lick it clean.

At just that second, she would burst out with a large smile on her face. A clean fork!

----------------
Singing Norma

Another woman, small in stature, a tiny face and short gray hair,,,most have short gray hair,, sits so stiff/stoic at the lunch table.

She just sits and is always the last to finish. Sometimes she would tap her fingers on the table with no apparent purpose.

Last Friday at the Home, a Piano Man was to appear at 3pm and give a little Jazz concert.

It was 3;10 and everyone was sitting, waiting and getting nervous.

Howard, a employee asked if anyone could entertain and they pointed to a red headed woman who mos-sied to the grand piano.

Howard started looking for another woman, Norma. Where's Norma?

Just then the red head started playing. She played for about 10 minutes and played the same song.

Suddenly Howard's face lit up and that little stoic woman walked guided from the Dementia unit and they shuffled her to the piano. Pushed the red haired lady out of the way and let NORMA start playing.

Oh My Gosh....did she play....lively music. And then sang along to all the songs. Not missing a piano key or work.

Shortly thereafter, Mr Piano Man showed up and was swept back by Norma. I thought he was going to back out.

But Howard hesitantly thanked Norma and let the Piano Man play.

Norma didn't get upset but continued to entertain us all by singing and dancing. One of the dances sure looked like she was going to do a strip,,,,,but she didn't.....thank you lord.

It turns out that Norma was a concert pianist, hardly talks but when she gets going she entertains.

Good Food and Live Entertainment....Granny sure has it good.