11/24

Yesterday was a good day, although it rained all day and through the night.  Villanova defeated NJIT, which humiliated UM in Ann Arbor when UM was highly ranked.  This on the heels of an OT victory over Syracuse.  The Wildcats are undefeated going into conference play.

Soon after we arrived in OBA, J heard that Alabama Public TV was organizing a trip to England, the highlight of which will be a visit to "Downton Abbey".  It was already sold out, but J put her name on a wait list. She received an early Christmas present yesterday - a phone call telling her she is in.  She will be going in Sept, and it will be party time on Cottonwood.

Women down here like long hair, but yesterday I saw one with hair down below her butt.  Not a good look.

12/21

We have had some much-needed rain, to the delight of the locals and dismay of visitors.  Weathermen have been calling it a drought.

Had breakfast the other day at Duck Diner.  In addition to the usual assortment of meats, they also offered fried bologna.  I lived on bologna and cheese sandwiches my last semester of law school (all I could afford),  and surprisingly I still like it, although my consumption is limited to a few times a year.

Big sporting news lately has been USA going to a bowl game.  Down here, USA is University of South Alabama.

12/13

Leaving the restaurant tonight, I stopped to watch the end of the Mich/Ariz game and chatted a little with an employee.  When I told him that I lived in Ann Arbor, he asked if I ever heard of Fraser's Pub.  I spilled a few beers there, and Sherman remembers the night I saw a woman go into the men's room.  So I went in after her.  Anyway,the employee claims that his grandfather and John Fraser started the pub.  World gets smaller every day..

12/8

Life has been quiet here in Paradise.  Lot's of football on Sat and then too much discussion on Sun.  Happy for Oregon and Alabama (J loves Sabin),  Can't stand Ohio and Fla.  But the good news was that my Wildcats won twice:  once on the hardwood against Philadelphia Big Five rival, St Joe, and then on the football field against Liberty to advance in the tournament, meeting Sam Houston next Sat.

11/26

Well, it has been a busy week here in Lake Wobegone.  Friday, the Fahrners stopped by and we had a very nice visit with Norm and Billie.  We chatted with them for a few hours, went out to dinner, and returned to the condo for more conversation and laughter.  J and Billie are 2 peas in a pod, and they claim the Norm and I were separated at birth.

J had a Dr appointment on Monday in Panama City, so we went over on Sun.  Rained all the way, and all day Mon and Tues.  Mon early we were awakened by a fire alarm.  J quickly dressed and prepared to run down 12 flights of stairs.  I said screw it.  The alarm kept going off and on - 5 or 6 times.  Yet another reason why I hate Fla

11/16

The other day, we finally made it to Lulu's aka Crazy Sista's aka Jimmy Buffett's sister.  Much nicer than I thought it would be:  spacious, open, airy, clean, and staffed with lots of friendly people. It is right on the canal, across from Acme. I have commented that many of the people who live and work here were not born and raised here:  Detroit, Brooklyn NY, Georgia, etc.  Our waitress was born in Brazil.  We will return.  Loved the gumbo and burger was great (eat you heart out Singer!)

Speaking of Burgers:  Hardees  advertises a large burger, stacked high with who knows what.  It is held by a voluptuous young woman with lots of exposed cleavage, who invites the viewer to join the mile high club.  I never thought of a burger as part of the mile high club.

Last night we went out for an early dinner.  A wedding reception was being held, and several of the men who were part of the ceremony were out on the  deck for a smoke.  They  were all dressed alike, except one who wore a baseball cap backwards and carried a pistol on his hip.  No, we are not in A2 anymore.

11/14

Yesterday, Paradise took a turn in the wrong direction.  High of the day was 42 and it rained most of the day.  Every joint in my old body ached.  We drove to Pensacola and visited Joe Patti's fish market, but the highlight of the trip was lunch at  small Mom and Pop restaurant across the street.  Buffet of fried chicken, swiss steak, mashed potatoes, collard greens, red beans and rice and more.  Plus iced tea.  All for $9.  Very tasty