2/17

Last parade of the season is due here around 2:30.  Temp in the 30s, with wind.  J is all bundled up and down by the street.  I will watch from the 5th floor.

2/13

You may have heard that J became a grandma on Wed.

Tonight was the first Orange Beach Mardi Gras parade of the season.  Nice little parade with all the usual bands, floats, horsemen, fire engines, and police cars - led by the Colors.  Temp was in the 40s, but no precip or wind.  I pulled a chair to the walk way outside our front door on the 5th floor.  Nice view.  Another parade tomorrow at 5:30 - same weather.  The last parade is Tuesday, with a 70% chance of rain.

2/8

Dropped J off at the "Pensacola Intergalactic Airport"  ( That's what the sign said.  I am not that clever).  On the way, we passed the local Catholic church with 2 police cars out front ready to direct traffic.  A few miles down the road was the FloraBama Bar, with a police car out front and a large sign inviting us to "Worship of the Water".  The parking lot was packed, but we declined the opportunity.

After breakfast, I picked up a cigar.  Temp ar noon was mid-60s.  Another perfect day in Paradise.

2/7

Last weekend some friends from A2 visited for a few days and we showed them around.  Watched the Super Bowl - probably the best I have seen.  On Mon we went to Fairhope  and followed that up with a drink at the Grand Hotel on Mobile Bay.

Last night we had dinner at a fund raiser for the Lions and the blind.  Very interesting.  We met one fo the members at a wine tasting and she invited us to sit at her table.  J knows braile and used to teach the blind.

I take J to the airport tomorrow and then enjoy 10 days of peace and quiet

1/29

We are finally back on line with a new hard drive.

Friday, Billie and Norm Fahrner stopped by and we had a nice visit.  Good people.

Saturday I took J on a home tour.  Six homes on Ono Island - a long, narrow, private strip of land with a guarded entrance and million dollar homes.  J has wanted to get on the island for several years, and finally succeeded.  One of the homes had a marble shower in the garage.  Must be nice.

Monday we explored Pensacola.  Nice city.  Lots of nice old homes that have been converted to office, and new buildings that were designed to look old.  J was disappointed that it was Monday - museums are closed, so we will return.

1/20

Great weather has returned to the Gulf - for the time being.  Sun, light breezes, temp in the 60s.  Sunday was the perfect day to spend the afternoon on the balcony with a cigar.  Thursday, the rains return and will be here when the Fahrners visit.  At least we don't have to shovel anything.  We want to go to Old Town Pensacola tomorrow while the weather is still good.

1/18

Well, the Gulf Coast has not run out of oysters yet.

We now refer to ourselves as Winter Residents.  While the locals love the money Snowbirds pump into the economy, they marvel at some of the strange antics of the damn yankees.  We have talked with employees of several restaurants, all of whom laugh about snowbirds stealing salt and pepper shakers.  I note that our unit is fully furnished with everything except salt and pepper shakers.