10/31/14

Greetings from warm and wonderful OBA, where nothing is coming from the sky except sun!  We arrived around noon yesterday, checked in at the rental office and went to the Oyster House Restaurant for lunch:  2 dozen oysters, fried green tomatoes, and key lime pie, washed down with iced tea (I remembered to ask for unsweetened).  And so the attack begins - although at $13 a dozen, I don't know if I can afford it.  Staff said they are having trouble getting Trigger Fish.

We got a late start last Sunday, and made it only as far as Fort Wayne, where we found a nice restaurant with very good prime rib.  Another day we had a scare:  J keeps 3 credit cards and her driver's license in a small container, which she could not find.  Eventually she did find it between her seat and the console.

3/19

Home again, home again!  Yeah!  We rolled in around 3 yesterday and were pleased to see that the condo was still standing and the water damage was less than I anticipated. Spending lots of time sorting mail and getting ready for tax day.  Also unpacking. Slept in our bed last night and bathed in our shower.  Ah, the simple pleasures of life.

3/16

How about those Spartans, beating UM!  Sweet!  And Villanova is a #2 seed.  Now it is time to stop talking and begin the games.

We did not travel far today.  I slept poorly last night.  It was 38 and raining when we got on the road, and the temp lingered around 30-32.  And it was windy.  We are spending the night at Effingham.  No, I am not making that up.  It is at the intersection of I-57 and I-70, About an hour west of Terra Haute.

3/15

Getting tired of checking into another motel each night.  Anxious to get home, even if it is cold and covered in snow.
Dinner tonight was a treat:  Ruby Tuesday is not great, but it is sit-down, with a waitress, and silver ware.  And J could get a drink.  We sat next to a family with 4 young children.  They are headed to Gulf Shores AL  J was telling them about attractions, including the zoo, which got the attention of the youngest.  She still had pictures on her smart phone, so she invited the youngest over to see them - which gave his mother a chance to eat.  J handed him the phone, and he promptly found Angry Birds and started to play it.  He is 3 years old.
Shooting for Indy tomorrow.

3/14

Greetings from Little Rock.  We arrived in Houston last Friday and left Thursday.  We had a nice visit with Emily and Ryan, and Em and J  did lots of "girl" things.  We had 2 special meals:  Underbelly, which is fairly new and features lots of pork dishes that are small enough for the 4 of us to share. Very good.  Then in the process of driving around, I spotted a Smith and Wollensky steak house.  I have always wanted to try it, but thought I would have to go to NY.  Did not realize they had establishments around the country.  Expensive, but worth the money.  Dry-aged steaks were superb.  J had steak tartar as an app, and the 3 of us shared tomato carpaccio and raw tuna served on a Himalayan salt block.  Sides were creamed spinach and sauteed mushrooms. If I had ever had a better meal, I don't remember when or where.

3/5

Bad news.  Our friends inform us that the roof of our condo leaks and there is damage to the interior.  Now I have to deal with the assn and management company long distance, as we will not be back until the 20th +/-
Bummer!

J stayed up till midnight last night watching the ball, wherein the courts of Rex and Comus meet.  Very stylized, with lots of old money.  People down here take Mardi Gras very seriously - not just a bunch of the world's worst jelly doughnuts.

Off to LA tomorrow and Houston on Friday.

3/4

Lazy day, thanks to the weather.  Rain, with temps in the 30s.  We watched on TV a plethora of Mardi Gras parades:  NOLA, Mobile, Biloxi, Gulf Shores AL and Orange Beach.  Felt sorry for the participants and spectators.  I expect that some of them warmed themselves with an adult beverage.  Tonight is the ball from NOLA.