2/26

The clock is ticking!  We leave OBA  Sat AM, and will return next Nov - the Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

The plan is to spend a few days in Long Beach MS - right on the Gulf and just west of Biloxi.  And no, I will not visit the casinos.  When I was working, I gambled every day when I walked into the office, and over the years I won more than I lost.  No desire to give it to the tribal nations.

We will be in Houston from 3/7 to 3/12, visiting Emily and Ryan.  Then up to Fort Worth for a few days so J can visit the museums.  Then we head for home.  I think we will head to St Louis, then east to Indy, and north to Mich.  Hopefully, the state will have thawed out by then.

2/17

Ate lunch today at Doc's in Gulf Shores.  They have a large sign over the front door:  Best Fried Shrimp in the Entire Civilized World.  I am not a fan of fried food, but I had to try it.  Don't know if it was the best, but it was very good.  Batter was very light and shrimp cooked perfectly.  And 15 shrimp for $15

2/16

A first for me!  On Thurs I visited my cute young barber who cut my hair and gave me a shave.  I was a little nervous about the shave, remembering that in my long lost youth there were several women who would love to get that close to my neck with a sharp razor.  She did a nice job, without spilling any of my blood.  Not only is she cute, she is a single mom, works 2 jobs, and goes to school to become a nurse.

Friday we had Valentine's dinner at Cosmo's.  J had steak with fois gras butter, and I had red snapper.  Both meals were superb.

Sat we drove up to Mobile to visit the art museum.  It is a nice manageable size, and I especially enjoyed the wood and glass works of art.

2/11

Yesterday we visited Fairhope, which is about an hour north and west, near Mobile Bay.  Visited there last year and wanted to return.  Town reminds me of Petoskey/Harbor Springs.  We visited the Happy Olive, a wine and cheese store, and a cigar emporium.  Ate at Panini Pete's.  When we returned, the lock on our condo unit malfunctioned, so the rental agent was introduced to an Irish temper.

J has been watching the Olympics,  especially skating.  My favorite part is the parade of the athletes during the opening ceremonies.  I like seeing the nations which have sent only a handful of participants, none of whom have a snowball's chance of winning anything.  But they are happy to be there, representing their country, ready to do their best.  My favorite Olympian of all time was Eddie the Eagle, a ski jumper from Great Britain.  He had no talent or ability, and he was so bad that people mocked him.  But he laughed it off, and continued to give it his all.  His spirit and enthusiasm won people over, and he became a celebrity of the games.  That is what the Olympics should be, and I for one don't care how many medals any nation wins.

During what locals call the storm of the century (freezing rain, sleet, snow and temps in the teens and low 20s), we saw 2 or 3 brave souls walking the beach

2/9

It has been a quiet week here on the Gulf, and that's the way we like it.  Last Sunday, we wasted several hours watching the "Super" bowl.  We were not cheering for either team, but hoping for a good game.  Even the ads were disappointing.  Yesterday, I took J on a tour of 5 homes.  She enjoyed it, and I read my Kindle.  We had lunch at Sassy Bass, down by Fort Morgan.  It was recommended by a waitress at Cobalt. It had great cheese grits and crab bisque.

There is a community theater in Gulf Shores.  J enjoyed a play there in January, so she went back on Monday to get tickets for the next production.  Ticket office opened at 10, but she was 15th in line when she got there at 9:30.  This play is put on by the snowbirds, and J would like to volunteer to help next year.  At intermission for the last play, there was wine and snacks for no charge, although they did ask for a donation.

Weather today is predicted to be great, so I think there is a cigar in my future - the 4th since 1/1

2/1/14

Sun!  Glorious sun!  It returned on Thursday, and we were able to get out. The roads were all clear, but the parking lot and walk way had some ice.  All gone yesterday, and temp today is in the 60s.

They spread sand during the storm, but by the shovel full.  No spreaders.