Return of the Cruising Bunny's....

[flgirl51]

Quick check in waiting on Wendy & Jane to get here...Barb will be late as she works until 3:30...

Dave, even puppy dog's enjoy a good bedtime story...

Bill, I can just imagine how frustrating it must be for Rita trying to keep her clients informed when Royal is so stingy with their information....I'm begining to wonder how many cruise lines will be left when all of this is over...and how much will the price of cruising sky rocket?

Pat....and a beautiful day for a football game here in Florida...finally seeing some blue skies & sunshine today!!

Tony, how cool that you & Ben were able to enjoy some "guy" time together...he sure does look up to you...

Kathie, sorry your temps are dipping lower than you'd like...but at least like you said the sun is shining...which always seems to make things better...

Picked up KFC chicken for our lunch today...$30 fill up....a bucket of chicken...a box of chicken tenders...2 mashed potatoes...cole slaw 4 biscuts...can't beat the price & I'm sure we'll have plenty to send home for left overs...and on that note I need to get moving...if I don't make it back today I will see you all in the morning

 

[A’Burg Guy]

A tad chilly first thing this morning. It’s still only about 37F and has started to cloud over. Not much of a night for them to throw the switch for River Lights. The Navy Yard and Toddy Jones park are all decorated for Christmas. We’ll head down at least one night when the weather is a little more promising.We have until January 4.
I’m picturing Tony and Benjamin sitting on the tailgate of the truck, shakes in hand, discussing the state of life, the universe and everything. I know that’s not likely how it went but I can paint a personal Norman Rockwell moment in my head.
That sounds like one whack of chicken Madam Vice President. The four of you have a good dinner and evening. Now’s your chance to issue a Vice Presidential Order to allow one extra cat in every home!
I would suspect Bill that initially prices will be low to entice people to try cruising again. Then again I imagine that there are “die hards” who would board a ship no matter the state of things. We kind of gave up on
I’m curious Dave. What medium do you use these days to record your Christmas stories? Long gone are the days of cassettes, 8-tracks and reel to reel.
Yes Pat the pups have had their coats on the past few mornings. Katie and Ava go for their walk. Ava is doing much better when she sees squirrels. Our old Bear likes to come for the ride so he stays snuggled in the van with his cost on too. So, a guy walks in to Home Depot and says “I need a saw”. “What kind of a saw sir?” asks the clerk. “A turkey saw.” “OK, they’re in aisle 47 with all of the other kitchen appliances”. Sorry, sometimes my mind just heads off in a different direction.

I often wonder if that was like their way of getting any OLD SPIRITS, Ghosts, out of the place

If the danged border was open Kathie I’d pop over and help you get rid of any of your old wine. Those are the spirits you mean, aren’t they? I do enjoy hearing about old customs and traditions. I hope they never disappear. This used to be one of the busier times of year for places like Stanley Steemer and other carpet cleaning companies. I wonder how they are faring in the face of this danged Covid-19 thing?
We did manage to get most of the outdoor Christmas decorations up today. The lights worked just fine but I won’t put them on until around Black Friday.
Lemon pepper sole and sweet potato mash for dinner. Good thing my jambalaya stuff is frozen!
You all be good and remember, if your hands aren’t rough and dry you’re not washing them enough.

 

[Bellalago Belle]

Once again checking out for tonight. We're getting ready to head to the Grille for dinner and then home again to watch the Gator game. Have a great night, everyone, and I'll see you tomorrow.

 

[flgirl51]

Checking out for the night also....Wendy got here a little after 2.....and Jane a short time after that.. Barb must have gotten early release as she got here about 3:30...dinner was good...had enough chicken &potatoes to send everyone home with some for dinner...and enough chicken left for me to last a couple days...Wendy liked all her gifts...and thanked us all for having her over...

 

[fatherdav55]

Good Sunday morning Bunnies! I'm so looking forward to "60 Minutes" tonight.

Now, in answer to some questions and explanations of my book reading for a granddaughter; A couple of months ago my Arizona daughter sent me the 2 Hallmark Christmas books and wanted me to record them for her daughter.

The books contain the recorder, which has the sound-quality of listening to a clock radio. But good enough for your voice to be recognized.

No written message on the books for my granddaughter because you're given the first page to voice your message.

They are all packed and ready to be mailed next week. Not sure if she's getting them as a Christmas present or before that day.

No, there will be no videos of me recording. (Under the rules of my handler here in the witness protection program.)

Hot diggety damn! My nephew/contractor dropped off two N-95 masks made by 3-M yesterday. He had bought a bunch of them prior to this Covid 19 pandemic, just for all the hazardous air conditions he often runs into in his constructions and older destructions prior to a remodeling. I've told you that he's a nice guy.

And that's pretty much my thoughts this morning. Well.......except for wondering what Bill meant when he wrote " abbiubced".

 

[Bellalago Belle]

Good morning, all you wonderful people! I hope this find you all with your tails all fluffed and ready to face the day.

KC - So glad you and your sisters could give Wendy a nice birthday dinner and gifts. I'm sure she appreciated your doing this for her. How the heck much chicken did you start out with if everyone got leftovers and you still have enough chicken for a couple of days? Did you think you were feeding an army? LOL

The books we recorded had the beginning place for you to record your message, but we wrote a few words anyway in anticipation of the recording part no longer working in years to come. It was a CYA moment!

Bert sold a nice piece on ebay yesterday and the shipping would be ridiculous. Luckily the guy who bought it lives about 20 miles away, so he's coming in a little while to pick it up. It's a Donald Duck snow globe. I was sorry to see Bert sell it, but he's gotten rid of a lot of his Disney stuff on ebay recently.

Found out more about that fishing tournament from the other day. Bert & I went to the Grille for dinner last night and right after we got there one of the officers from our community fishing club came in with his wife, so we had dinner together. He was one of the watchers throughout the tournament here in our lake, so he got to talk to the whole filming crew. Apparently this was a major tournament. Those who qualified had fished at 3 different lakes - Lake Toho, a lake in Windermere (25 miles away) and our lake. This was the first time they had ever fished in a private lake and were fascinated with our boat left from Toho into out lake. Well, to cut a long story short, they caught the most and biggest bass in our lake and were very impressed with the whole community. This show they were filming will be shown in the spring on 2 different channels. I'm thinking, if we ever decide to sell our house, that would be a good time to do it, as it would be worth more money to some bass fisherman for sure. Trouble is, we'd have to find somewhere to move to and that won't be easy.

Gator game was a real blowout last night. The killing part was that Arkansas' quarterback used to play for the Gators and got injured 2 years in a row. Last year when was injured, our present QB stepped in and did a fantastic job, so the injury prone QB transferred to Arkansas. There was no comparison between the 2. We got the better deal!!

That guy should be here any minute now. Just as I typed that line, the man rang the doorbell. He's happy as a pig in spit to have gotten this rare piece. Better get going for now. Have a great day and I'll try to stop back later. Stay safe, everyone!

 

[flgirl51]

Good afternoon!
Pat, cool back story on that fishing tournament!! Years ago my best friends husband was big on bass fishing & fished in a few area tournaments...his big dream in life was to be a pro bass fisherman...but sadly for him...that never happened...as for the chicken...we had an 8 piece bucket and a box of what was supposed to be 12 chicken tenders...but I think someone lost count on the tenders because I sent home at least 6...plus 2 left for me & what we all ate at lunch....I probably should have just skipped the bucket because we all prefer white meat...so I'm stuck with the wings & thighs...

Dave, your contractor nephew does a pretty good job of taking care of you guys...that's nice to see for a change!!

Lee, good for you on getting the lights up early...I am hoping to get mine up next week...but like you...won't turn them on till after Thanksgiving..."THEY" are calling for a cold front too next week...so that will make it seem even more like Christmas...

Made it to church this morning...wasn't as crowded as last week...then went to breakfast with some of my friends from here....this afternoon I am taking Tom & Grant to Harry's as pay back for taking me to the airport last month....busy...busy ...in fact I may even take one of Dave's beloved naps before they pick me up...Later gang!

 

[K2-Mich]

Hi GANG. Went to Virtual Church this morning and prayed for ALL of US. Stay safe things are spiking big time everywhere!
I managed to order a small 8-12 pound Fresh Turkey that I will pick up on Tuesday Nov 24th. The place has fresh (not frozen ever) turkey's and I've gotten them there before. Of course, I will be paying more than a grocery store turkey that is about 20#'s and $.79 cent a pound if you buy $10 bucks worth of groceries, but I really have no use for a 20# turkey.

Don't have time to comment on all your posts because I'm into doing the RUGS with the shampoo machine. Art and I moved as much furniture into the foyer and kitchen as we could and I vacuumed and now after this break I'll be doing a STANLEY STEAMER JOB on my carpets! I must say I do a better job than the last STANLEY STEAMER team that was in this house. WOW...that was a joke and a half. Remember the guy that sat in my bathroom forever that I had to ASK HIM IF HE WAS ALRIGHT. NEVER AGAIN!

You all have a good Sunday and I'll be back when I can. I already feel good about doing this job on the carpet and getting it done for WINTER.

Lee: I think we missed the best opportunity to do our outside Christmas lights. But since ART does them he's the one to make that decision. If it was me they would be UP and waiting until sometime in December to get turned on. I see lights on ALL NIGHT around here already. Must be on timers. And my dear neighbor across the street has her Christmas Tree all decorated and lit up every night. We call her Miss Hallmark. She's ahead of the schedule just like Hallmark is. People just have time on their hands because they are stuck in the house and figure they might as well get the TREE UP early!

Later............break time is over for this gal. Need to take a Tylenol now to avoid aches later.

 

[Bellalago Belle]

KC -Good for you going to church this morning. Thanks for explaining about all your chicken parts. We strictly get our friend chicken, tenders and wings from Publix these days. Their pieces are huge and cooked just right.
Lucky you going to Harry's That is still one of my favorite restaurants in Florida. Went to the one in Lakeland a few years ago, but haven't been to the Ocala one in years and really miss it. I'm still so surprised that they never opened one in Orlando. It would have been a big hit here.
In our community, you can't even start to decorate outside before Thanksgiving. Otherwise, you get a violation notice. Hopefully, they will make an exception this year and give people a break. I'm lucky if Bert gets lights up within 2 weeks of Christmas and he'd take them all down the day after. Heck, I've been asking him to string lights of our lanai for as long as we're lived here and he still hasn't done it!

K2 - Happy rug shampooing! I always hated doing that job and was so happy when the shampooer died. We really need to rent the one at the supermarket to do the few area rugs we have, especially the round rug in the family room. That gets a lot of activity and it shows! Between kids and animals, it is very well used.

I didn't get a very good night's sleep last night, so I think I'm going to go take a nap before the Steelers game comes on at 4. So bye for now ...

 

[A’Burg Guy]

All I can say is that we keep expecting to see a cow blow past us. My gosh is it windy here today! Earlier we had such heavy rain with the wind l looked out to see if Jim Cantore was in the neighbourhood!
I can’t say I’ve ever seen those recordable cards Dave but in all fairness I don’t think that I’ve ever looked for them. I loved your description of the sound! Clock radios. There’s another thing that may soon be relegated to The Smithsonian.
How neat to get the full story on the fishing movie Pat. Much changed, except prices, since you were last in a store? What has inspired Bert to pear down his Donald collection? You know I mean Duck. Not that classless clown in Washington.
It’s a good thing when the person counting the chicken strips errs in your favour Karen. Now, as Madam Vice President can you write off meals that you treat your constituents to? Thank you for the good word at church. How are you finding this church now?
I can’t tell you and Pat how often Lu-Ann and I would pick up a fresh Publix chicken breast which, for those who may not know, could just about feed a family of four and never make it out of the parking lot!
It’s rare that I get the Christmas things up this early Kathie. We didn’t really recall what we had moved and what we hadn’t. We also picked up a string of giant lights that go on spikes in the ground so I wanted those in while the ground was soft. I looked at stuffed Butterballs at the grocery today and they were asking $52 for a small one and $62 for a large one. For now, they are still there.
We now only have two carpeted rooms and and a couple of area rugs but I’m glad we have our Bissel cleaner. We have learned over the past 40 years that no matter how much bare floor you have if a dog is going to throw up they find the carpets!
As 4:00 approaches it’s time to take the pups out. I may have to tie a rock to Ava to make sure she doesn’t blow away! Then I can catch a little of The Bills game.
You all have the best day you possibly can.
Stay safe and well.

 

[K2-Mich]

Carpet in family room is almost dry. Should be able to move everything back into the room in the morning.

Our Governor got on the TV at 6:00 pm and is closing lots of things down for 3 weeks. As of this coming Wednesday NO MORE INSIDE dining. Carry out is still okay. Gyms can stay open with a few more restrictions. She wants only Essential Workers out and about. You can go to the grocery store! If people would have been wearing masks and staying home and cooking in more or more carry outs things would be better.
I got into the car before she was done and drove the 1/4 mile to our Super Kroger’s and picked up Yams, marshmallows, Whip cream, half & half, green beans, bread, box of food storage bags, some Philsbury crescent rolls, eggs and a liter of Vernor’s Ginger Ale. Paid for it and got home ASAP. There was no way I was going to be in that store after the Governors speech. Tomorrow that store will be a crazy wild place. Tonight I swear I was the only person that didn’t have TOILET PAPER or PAPER TOWELING in my basket.
And by the way I saw HUGE frozen Turkey’s like 25#’s for $.39 cent a pound. I wonder just how TUFF those are?
Lee....that’s a heck of a price for Turkey’s over your way. Bet you can’t wait until you can cross the border and shop on the U.S. side of the bridge or tunnel!

KC: Nice of you to treat the GUYS to lunch for taking you to the airport. You have a good thing going there between all the favors you all do for each other. Great place to live.

Negc: Hope you’re feeling better and better each day. Bet you are thrilled you are going to be somewhere WARMER SOON. When do you leave and when do you come back? Even if it is 65F for January.....it’s still better than 15F -25F or sometimes lower and snow. Just be very careful about where you wander while in Florida. I’d be staying real close to my unit and be happy to just cook in most everyday. Not worth the risk.
I listed the Old Refrigerator. If it doesn’t sell I’ll call the electric company. They give you $50 bucks for it. Can’t find a charity that will pick up.

Nite from Macomb.

 

[Bellalago Belle]

It's been a very lazy day around here today. Not a single trip to a store!!!!

Time now to shut the computer down, get comfy and watch a little TV before we head to bed. See you all in the morning.

 

[fatherdav55]

You got robbed of a Bills win in the last few seconds of the game Lee. I thought they had it in the bag. Congrats to the Lions, Steelers, and the Browns. Bill, I still can't figure out if you are mostly rooting for the Buccaneers or the Patriots.

We too had some 50+ MPH winds ripping through our area as well. I wonder how many trash cans people will have to dodge on their drive to work this morning.

I'm curious KC; Since you actually go to church, do they make everyone wear a mask, and do you? And is everyone still allowed to sing?

BB; No matter how your property value may increase, I can't imagine you and Bert ever moving again. Too much stress, work, and starting all over again in making new local friends. An occasional remodel, but not a move.

Clue me in K2; What's so special in a never frozen turkey? You freeze stuff all the time for future use instead of freshly cooking things each time. We too have a carpet shampooer and I've done carpets but never a rug. When you get to the edge of it does the shampooer want to gobble it up like vacuum cleaners?

As for Christmas lights and the tree, I've always waited to put them up and turn them on, on Thanksgiving.

Lights sure have changed a lot for the better since I was a kid. Back then all we had was those big bulbs that got so hot you could burn your hand. And the dreaded, one light goes out and the whole string went out.

My only definite goal for today is getting those Christmas books mailed to my Arizona daughter.

Lucky Kathi gets to have a video call with our family doctor around 8:30 this morning so that she can have a prescription refilled.

They always find a way to charge you for an office visit even if you are sitting on your couch with "Sponge Bob Square Pants" muted on your TV.

 

[Bellalago Belle]

Good morning! Here we go with another work week. Oh wait - We're all retired so who really cares, right?

I have got to share with you about the most beautiful perfect night launch that happened last night. This was a Space X launch carrying 4 astronauts to the Space Station. There was not a cloud in the sky, so it could not have been any better. We watched the launch on TV and then immediately went out on the lanai. We saw it immediately right out the side door and could see it for so long. Best launch we've ever seen under perfect conditions! You're right Dave - Why would we ever want to move with surprise benefits like this?

KC - Could you see the launch last night? I know a lot of people couldn't see it due to clouds or rain. We didn't get the rain until we were going to bed around midnight.

Dave - Good for you sending those books out early. I'm sure come Thanksgiving the PO is going to get very busy. Good for Kathi being able to do a Zoom meeting with her doctor. That stinks that she'll get charged for an office visit just to refill a prescription. I just send an email to the office and they will refill all my regular meds.

K2 - Did you get those rugs finished yesterday? Time to put all the furniture back in place. What's the next thing you're going to tear apart? I'm sure you've got something planned.

Lee - Loved the pictures Lu-Ann posted yesterday of you with the dogs in amongst the Christmas decorations. Definitely looked festive and different. It also looked very chilly with you and the dogs bundled up.

San - So did you and Benjamin have any more adventures over the weekend aside from your trip to Mickey D's? How's your weather these days? Any rain yet? When will you be heading for McCloud to celebrate Thanksgiving?

Going to start working on our non Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday with G&E and the boys. I want to get the sweet potato casserole done up to a certain point and also make the stuffing. Those are the things that take the longest to get ready, so I may as well take care of them while I don't have much to do today.

Time to make sure I have everything for everything I need. We have to go to Publix, so I want to make sure that a second trip isn't necessary,

So have a wonderful day today, no matter what you're doing. Just remember to wear your mask, wash your hands and stay safe.

 

[verosnowbird]

It is possible to root for both teams,Dave and that is what we did yesterday and both the teams were victorious. Pats game was held in horrific conditions with heavy wind-driven rains. Today, however it cleared up and was just cold. Which team we would root for should they ever meet up, is a bit up in the air, but I expect that the Patriots would get the edge.
Had to be up early for a phone call from the hospital in preparation for my surgery next Monday, and later in the morning I had to go and have blood work and an EKG so it was busier than usual.
Finished the Lincoln Lawyer book and am looking for something else to read.
Looks like it may be 2022 before the cruise lines begin offering interesting itineraries, Lee and they don't seem to be offering any bargains at the time being. Of course that could change if they meet a lot of resistance to those prices or demand for longer and less ordinary itineraries. I am sure a lot will also depend on how effective any vaccination program turns out to be and how soon a vaccine will be readily available.

 

[K2-Mich]

Hi gang. Dinner is over.
BB: Had a busy mid morning doing the Dining Room Carpet!
Moving all those tall heavy chairs out of the room was the pits! Got the job done. And I just now remembered I opened the window in there and need to close it. Yikes. Be Back.

 

[Bellalago Belle]

Checking out for tonight amid lots of uncertainty around here. Seems like Gary called me late this morning to tell me that a classmate of Elaine's son had tested positive for COVID-19 and he was on the way to pick him up at middle school. Seems like the kid had tested positive last Monday and had been out of school since then. Apparently, his parents just let the school know today, so now Kegan has to quarantine for 2 weeks. They were taking him tonight to one of those instant testing sights. I just heard back from Elaine that they were all booked up for tonight and tomorrow, so the first day they can have him tested is Wednesday, when they are supposed to be coming for dinner! On the upside, Kegan was exposed over a week ago and is showing no signs of having the virus, so that's good.

Now I'm ready to take up serious drinking after preparing half the sides for the turkey dinner. Either they will be able to come, or we will be sending a care package up that way One way or another, I will be making this turkey dinner on Wednesday.

Now, where is that bottle of scotch? ....
See you all in the morning. Stay safe, everyone!

 

[K2-Mich]

As promised I’m back. Man was it cold in that dining room!
Dave: I have done area rugs. Like you said you have to be careful not to catch the edges, but it’s not as bad as vacuum cleaner catching the edge. If anything you could have one of you STAND or HOLD the corner when doing it.
I got all the furniture back into the family room late last night while Art was sleeping. I have some long strips of heavy plastic from those kids sleds that they use to use to go down small hills. I put them under the legs of the furniture and it slides across the carpet really good.
On Tues(tomorrow) I’ll do the bedrooms and hopefully the hallway if I feel up to it. Nice feeling getting this done.
Amazing how dirty the throw out water was from the Dining room that only gets used a few times a year. I guess DUST is dirtier than I thought. I used a dry clean swifter on the walls and got lot of dust off of them too.

BB: I forgot to reply to your statement about possibly looking for a new place to
LIVE. PIGS WILL FLY BEFORE that ever happens! Bert has major issues thinking about buying a new car, yet alone thinking about MOVING! Ha HA!

Lee: Nice pictures of the pups and you at the park admiring the huge beautiful decorations for the holidays. I bet they will look fantastic all lit up at night. Make sure
Lu-Ann takes pics when that happens.

SAN: Saw on TV that your Governor went to a party and got caught with too many people in one area and NO MASKS. Did he really think he’d get away doing something like that. Crazy man.
And then we have Trump signing orders to bring home the military from Iraq & Afghanistan. I know we’ve been there like 25 yrs and we should be out of there, but you don’t do it all at once just because you lost the election Amdahl are ticked off. Lord help us all the next few months.
Hope you’re doing good over your way.

Negc: The last type of vacation I would take once this Covid is under control would be a cruise. Those ships have enough of their own NORVO VIRUS germs on a regular basis to keep me from ever cruising.

Okay, I need to get a shower and snuggle up on my bed and do some knitting to unwind from my long Cinderella day!

Nite from. Macomb.

I think the Good Doctor is on TV tonight at 10 pm EST. Need to watch that.

 

[K2-Mich]

BB: Call me a worry wort, but you and Bert need to just put the food on the front porch and have Gary pick it up. I would think that ALL of them need to get tested at this point. This VIRUS is on the UP-SWING big time. I wouldn’t take a chance. Not worth it. The Turkey won’t care where it got eaten.

Our Governor is shutting down eat in restaurants and bars and a lot of other stuff staring Wednesday.
Be careful my friend. Tell Gary & Elaine to get tested too.
Nite.

 

[K2-Mich]

At about 11:00 pm we had our 1st SNOW FLURRY HERE! Looked like GLOBS OF COTTON BALL SIZE SNOW FALLING. Didn’t last long and has already melted.
SAN: Tell Nancy now is the time to come to Michigan......it will be COLD ENOUGH FOR HER!! LOL

Lee: I have a feeling Bear & Katie are going to start asking “When are we leaving for Florida”. Good luck telling them they’ll have to TOUGHEN UP this year!
Here’s a picture of Lee with the pups and one of the Christmas decorations in their new town!

Nite.