Happy Birthday 🎂JIM December 7, 1959 I mean 2022

Happy Birthday🎂Jim December 7, 1959 I mean 2022

Location is Orlando TT

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband, Jim hoping to make your day special today. 

I started out by making him his favorite breakfast. We had pierogies and kielbasa, last night for dinner. So he loves the leftovers in the morning with eggs. 

Then I went and did my walk fit. When I got back I showered and got ready, we took the truck up to the parking lot on the other side of the gate,  to the Welcome Center, to meet our Uber for the day. 

When the Uber guy arrived he looked like a young thug Punk kid. He was nice, but kind of quite.  But he was playing music that you never would expect,  I think it was the first full Beyonce song I've ever heard. 

The car Jim thinks was, a Chevy Malibu. The guy said he was leasing it, only had it for 2 days, but he hated it. When you got to a red light it would shut off, then when you stepped on the gas it would restart.

We arrived at Icon Park around lunch time. First we walked around a bit. Such a beautiful day. We had planned to have lunch at Ole Red, Blake Shelton's restaurant. We decided we were ready so we headed back over there.

They have live music all day. This was the first guy playing. Joey Foley. He came over and said hi. Told him it was Jim's birthday. He said he had a song for him. Later he announced it was his birthday to everyone. That was nice.

Both On the big screen 

This was another band Bryan James 

After lunch this was Jim's birthday dessert. Mason jar cakes L to R, banana pudding, SB cheesecake. and key line pie. SOoo good. 

Then we walked around a little bit, then went on the wheel as they call it. 

That's the main thing that Jim wanted to do for his birthday. Here's some pictures of the view up there.

 It's 400 ft tall. 

We walked around a bit more.

Then when we first walked inside I remembered about Madame Tussauds Wax Museum was in there. Wanted to do it two years ago when his Mom was here for a month. But we never got to. 

The aquarium is also in there which we've done before, so we were good, which was nice because they were closed for a private event. That was really good,, well worth it,  So then we went into the wax museum next. Also once is enough for that place. It was good, but they weren't quite as good as I thought they were going to be. Everyone must have been done a long time ago, they looked so young compared to how they look now.

Jim taking out Vin Diesel.

You could get right up almost against them. Although they told you not to touch.Here is a few of the funny shots we got, we got goofer the farther into the museum we went. This is only a few of them. 

The caption on this picture. Jim said " so George what do you think of the way there ffing up the country now. "  Really cracked me up when he said that.

George Foreman 

Johnny Depp with Jennifer Aniston in the background.

                       The Rock

 John Travolta and Olivia Newton John

Really silly, superman needed help I guess.

Ricky Martin couldn't stop looking at me. Weird...

 I thought it would be funny if he took a peek at Beyoncé, inappropriately, LOL

After that we decided to walk around some more, watching young families, play, taking pictures. Jim had a drink all along the way.

 Then we decided we should have went on the Wheel for sunset. Someone told us if you went on it once already, you can go a second time for a $10 each. So Jim got us each another ticket for 10. 

Both times we went he stops at the bar right before you get on, and buys a beer for the ride.

We rode the wheel again here's some pictures of the sunset. The whole ride takes about 20 minutes but feels like 5.

Sunset view from the top of the wheel.

By this time it was about 6:00 Jim's supposed to take a pill at 6:00. We weren't real hungry,  so we decided to go back to Ole Red. We were going to have the nachos earlier but it would have been too much food then. So we decided to go back and share the nachos and get him another drink. Here's a picture of our nachos. 

We didn't finish them all I said let's take the naked ones home and I can doctor  them up for you tomorrow and you can have them for lunch.

 We got to hear another band play she was really good.. Jaclyn Hayden

Goodbye Ole Red

 Then Jim called The Uber, and this time it was a really nice car Chrysler 300. Very comfortable back seat.We got back to the truck at the campground we just had to drive it back to our site. What a great birthday we spent together.

Hello December 2022

Hello December 2022

Thursday December 1, 2022

This morning I did walk fit from 9:00 to 10:00 again. 

Then after I got home, took a shower and had lunch and then we went to save a Lot and Bealls, found some clothes I needed. I went in by myself,  to save a Lot, it was so fun for me. Found alot of things on my list.  $104. Was a little bit more than I thought I wanted to spend, but I felt like I got alot.

 Friday December 2, 

 I have been getting up before daylight, which is about 6:30, sometimes even earlier. I really enjoy it, especially when you don't have to go somewhere. A lot of times I work on the blog that early. When Jim gets up we share a pot of coffee, I make him breakfast then I get ready and go to walk fit.

 We didn't do much today, at least that I can remember,  tonight we had another karaoke/ line dance party. 

Sat with Kathy and Tim Martin again. Dancing was so much fun. 

 Saturday December 3, 

 Today was a relaxing Saturday didn't do too much we almost always take a golf cart ride and talk to people. But at 6:00 they did meat bingo. We got to sit with Bonnie, and they had pizza and soda again first.

They play with cards, 4 decks I think. After they go through them,  they get people to come up and shuffle.

Quite a large crowd came.

 It was over by 9:00 we won  a pack of pork chops. It was a lot of fun then we got back and went for another golf cart ride after Dark. Just for the fun of it. 

Sunday December 4  

 Today was our big day to dump the tanks. Every 2 weeks we do it. Fun fun. After the usual fun watching people come and go. 

Early evening we went over to Neil and Nancy's and had a nice visit. Mike and Mandy joined us along with Ken and Donna. Good times.

Happy Monday December 5, 2022

After my normal morning routine I went over to do walk fit. For this week we will be doing it outside like we did last season. They needed the ballroom this week for decorating, and meetings they were having etc. 

After walk fit was over I was going back and forth talking with Fia, that I met last season,  she came to walk fit a few times.

 She had wanted one of my water bottle holders. We made arrangements a few times to get together but hadn't worked out. So today we tried it and it actually worked. I met her over at the activity center. We had a nice chat, talked a lot about NO BS. This weight loss program I've been doing, we had a lovely visit.

  I went back to the fifth wheel and Jim and I had lunch together, later he grilled dinner and once it was dark I got in the golf cart and went over and got in the hot tub by myself while he watched hockey. When I got there I was all by myself and I texted Jim and told him. He said I'm all by myself too, he's so funny.

 Tuesday December 6th 

This morning after our walk fit outside Nancy and Neil stopped by for a quick visit we took a golf cart ride and later I finished my pedicure,  

It is going to be a great weather this week, so glad because, Tomorrow is a BIG Day, it is Jim's birthday, oh the fun we have planned.

Travel Day from Gainesville to TTO aka Thousand Trails Orlando

Travel Day from Gainesville Florida to TTO

Tuesday November 22, 2022

This morning we left Gainesville area heading to Thousand Trails Orlando. It is only a few hours away. We planned our departure for arriving after 12:00, which is a hard rule for this Campground. When we arrived, you get your paperwork, and  go to a staging area. They kind of were giving us an idea what was open. Since it's early in the season they send you off to find a site.

 We ended up getting one right in front of the building that all the activities take place in. 

Was very convenient, right in the heart of the activity, which we're not always used to. It can be a little noisy.

After we got set up and situated, he put the golf cart together too, and did all the things that he does to the outside for a setting up.

 Wednesday November 23 

The first thing in the morning we have breakfast and I got ready and went across the road, they do walk fit every morning between 9 and 10 a.m.. we walk 3 miles, when I was finished, Jim and I went for a walk. We saw Donna,  that we knew a little bit because of Neil and Nancy. 

We took a golf cart ride and saw the flooding that was still going on in the woodsy end of the campground. 

They relocated alot of people out. Looks like they didn't get out in time.

Towards the end of the golf cart ride we were chased by a very small dog, he thought he was a Doberman. Really ticked Jim off,  having a loose dog. Right after that we saw another beautiful red Doberman . We were talking to the owner.

They had a blood drive going on so I donated  blood at 3:00. It was a great first full day in TTO.

Thanksgiving November 24,

After our morning pot of coffee Jim and I always share I made him his breakfast. I eat mine and then went over for walk fit from 9:00 to 10:00.

 Happy Thanksgiving. It was weird not cooking something. Well I did make us some mini pumpkin custard for tomorrow. I got some leftovers out yesterday to eat for tomorrow too.

 I had volunteered to go and help in the kitchen at the campground that was serving a Thanksgiving meal $15 a plate.

 I talked to Chef Carlos on the day I arrived to set things up. 

I went over at 11:00 to help to pre-cut cakes and pies. They served from 12:00 to 6:00. They had a wonderful meal. All homemade real turkey and real potatoes etc. Jim came over about 1:00, I took a break and we ate together. 

 Then I pretty much stayed on the serving line helping clear tables, talking with people. I was impressed he had real Corelle white dinner plates he served on . The crazy part was there was no dishwasher in the kitchen . 

It was a lot of fun for me. They were very busy and thanked me for the help quite a few times. He also gave me a couple Thanksgiving meals to take home. Now I really have a lot which makes it really feel like Thanksgiving.

We did have a little bit of time to talk and he told me how he worked at Disney for like 30 years and worked in catering served anywhere from 10 to 10,000 people already. Was in many many different countries too.. spoke English and Spanish. Worked on cruise ships, was very impressive. He said he made almost every kind of food you could imagine.

 He told us later to come over for breakfast and lunch. I said Jim would love that. I came back and took a little break around 4:00 to 4:30 went back and finished up was back just after 6:00. 

Thomas had called earlier and Jim got to talk to everyone when his mom was still there. I was still over in the kitchen yet. Then we called him again and talked to Thomas and Kerri a little bit,  Sarah was there too, it was nice to see them  and hear their voices. 

Friday November 25

This morning after breakfast I went to walk fit again. Then when I came home later after lunch we went for a golf cart ride. 

At one point I jumped off the golf cart quickly to take a picture, and got into ants on my left foot. They got me pretty good. Didn't really feel it for 2 days. But then it's itchy for 2 weeks.

We had seen a DRV fifth wheel that I recognized from the switch it up huddle. I saw their names on their sign which said Val and Kevin. Their truck wasn't there, I told Jim I was positive it was them. He didn't believe, me I wanted to make a bet but he wouldn't bet me anything. Cuz he knows I would win. So later that day I told him I wanted to drive by and see if they were there yet. He wouldn't go with me. It was already dark out,  I took the golf cart there and the  truck wasn't there.  I put my card on their step and wrote on it "I think I know you."  As I was pulling out of the driveway a big truck was coming, so I waited to see where they went. He pulled in and got out by himself,  never seeing Val. Cuz then I would have been positive it was them. But she was still in the fifth wheel, the whole time.  I hollered Kevin, he said yes I said I think I know you. Yea, I won that bet, he invited me in and we chatted for a bit, it was so exciting to see him. Sadly they were leaving the next morning. We had a nice chat trying to figure out when we could meet again, hopefully it would be soon, so I got back to the RV.

I Told Jim I won, and then we got ready and went across the road to the karaoke and line dancing party they have on two consecutive Fridays. We got to line dance together was a lot of fun.

Was sitting with people I walk with in the morning. 

Doug we was going back and forth playing Texas Holden, and  Renee, Kathy and Tim . Jim had a nice chat with him.

Saturday November 26

After breakfast we left to go to The Villages, and walked around farmers market. There were a few vendors there.

They were selling wooden roses, I heard this boy say he was getting them for his Mother who was sick, so sweet.

 But they were getting ready to have a tree lighting ceremony in Brownwood Square preparing for Santa Claus . Some guy told us that they do it for every Square in The Villages like four consecutive nights. 

Then we had lunch in Cody's, we love it there. This was our view from our table outside.

Then we had an appointment to have an  tour at Thousand Palms campground. It was at 2:30.  Went to Thousand Palms for the tour and wasn't that impressive, we got a golf cart ride around the park then we, respectively said NO, and took off  and went to Winn-Dixie before we headed home.

 Once we arrived we had a light dinner and relaxed for the rest of the evening. 

Sunday November 27

We didn't do much the next couple of days. We did take a nice long walk and saw 4 different Turtles.

Jim did get the smoker out, and smoked a pork loin and then started a fire. Was a Lovely night.

Everyday next week I did do walk fit.

Not much else happened. No more pictures.

Tuesday November 29

While I did walk fit this morning I could watch Jim as he started the hard job of washing the FW today. They just started changing a 25.00 water fee for do it your self. The water so hard I guess, let it so spotted, not good.

Later I went over to the activity center to mail a letter, and met more Switch Crew. So fun

Amy and George Jones nice to meet you.

Wednesday November 30, 2022

We finally got to see Bonnie and Donnie. So much fun she is.

To be continued.....