Fri, Jan 26, 2024:  Dothan, AL, to Ocala, FL:  Perfect driving day today.  Partly sunny and NO RAIN!  We left Dothan at around 9:00.  I drove a little over 4 hours and we stopped in Chiefland, FL, for lunch.  Ate at a little place we used to frequent when we stayed at beautiful Manatee Springs SP.  After lunch Mike drove.  Only 40 miles to Ocala.  We checked in at around 3:30 p.m.  Now some relaxing time.

MANATEE SPRINGS STATE PARK

Thu, Jan 25, 2024:  New Albany, MS, to Dothan, AL:  Another nasty driving day.  Rain, rain, rain.  Some fog when we started out in New Albany, but that cleared off at least.  Then just rain.  Some dry spots here and there but mostly rain—hard at times.  Not as bad as yesterday at least.  I drove for a little over 4 hours and then we stopped for some lunch.   Another downpour.  After lunch Mike took over driving and we checked in to our hotel at 4:00.  At least it's 75 here in Dothan! 

KEY WEST HARBOR

Wed, Jan 24, 2024:  St. Louis, MO, to New Albany, MS:  A horrible travel day today.  We left at a little before 9:00 this morning under a dense fog advisory.  We had fog all the way down.  We stopped in Sikeston, MO, for lunch and then switched drivers.  Mike is now driving, and it is now raining and foggy.  Horrible!  Then we were tied up at least an hour and a half in construction tie-ups in Arkansas.  We didn’t check into the hotel until after 5:00. 

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

Otter Point

Jordon Pond

Mon, Jan 15, 2024:  St. Louis:

Watched some great football the last couple of days.  Saturday the Chiefs hosted the Miami Dolphins.  A great game but painful to watch as the temperature was -7 with a -27 wind chill.  How horrible!  But Mahomes didn’t seem to notice.  He is amazing!  And last night the Lions hosted the LA Rams.  Another very close game.  I’m a Rams fan, but reluctantly glad the Lions won.  This afternoon the Bills are hosting the Eagles.  Buffalo has been a mess.  We’ll see how that one turns out. 

  

Wed, November 8, 2023:  St. Louis:

A friend of mine from GE, Jerry Hyde, wrote a story about a neighbor of his whose husband went missing in Vietnam.  He wanted to chronical her story, and it is now a book—“I Deeply Regret to Confirm”.  It’s available at Amazon for about $12.00—all proceeds going to POW/MIA.  Thank you Jerry for this great story!

 

Tue, October 31, 2023:  St. Louis:

Last Sunday after the kid’s soccer game we went over to our daughter’s house and had a little birthday party for Dominic who is 5 now.  We had cake and ice cream and Dominic opened his gifts.  We gave them both Messi soccer jerseys and they put them on.  They both looked so cute! 

Mike and the boys in their soccer outfits.

Dominic giving me his autograph.
(Messi is a big deal)

Dominic opening his gifts.

  

Mon, October 30, 2023:  St. Louis

Went to the ballet recently to see the St. Louis Ballet production of Giselle.  A few years ago when we were in Sarasota, Giselle was being performed at the Osolo Theater there.  Unfortunately, it was sold out.  But finally we were able to see it here in St. Louis.  The performance was accompanied by the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis.