Heather and Nathan Collide With Matinee (And Bobo founds city of 'Bobofat")

Nathan and Heather got off the plane Monday dressed for the cold spell we have been having. I thought mittens and ski parkas were a bit much for the 75 temperature in the parking lot. Michigan people are funny that way.

We were really excited to have them visit!

They of course admired our metals and were kind enough to listen to our 'race' stories.

We took a boat ride on the inter-coastal and had to 'endure' the dolphins. They can be such a nuisance. Squeaking around the boat and demanding food. We went to the beach and watched the sunset.

We went shopping at 'John's Pass' and had drinks with umbrellas on the wharf. Later we took a boat ride to the 'Pub' where we had drinks without umbrellas.

Our Trip to the gulf was interrupted by some cloudy weather. We saw this...

Cindy saw this.

So we decided to come in.

Next day however we went out at dusk and made it out to the Gulf. Even Cindy agreed it was a good ride. We saw a pirate ship with a whole bunch of tourists on board. The trip back was interesting because we couldn't see the marker buoys in the dark and I forgot if the green ones were supposed to be on the right or left of the boat. But the coast guard helicopter hovering overhead made me feel a little better.

In the morning Nathan and Heather went out on the kayaks but had to come back in because the Manatee's were just too aggressive. Nathan made the mistake of taking a lettuce sandwich and the Manatee kept trying to take it away from him.

We played cards, enjoyed some terrific meals (Heather and Cindy had stone crabs) and enjoyed some wonderful conversations with our son and daughter-in-law. Nathan introduced me to a neat on-line game and I founded the city of 'Bobofat'....how cool is that...

We had a wonderful visit and feel blessed that they are a part of our lives.

Badger and Otter Visit Bag End

We received the best Xmas present ever when our grandchildren came to Bag End for a visit last week. They were our first visitors from Michigan and we did our best to show them around our

new neighborhood.

We went to the beach where I got to build sand castles with Badger....We even waded out got knocked over by some waves....

Otter got to dance in the surf with his mother....

We hit 'Crabby Bills' for the beach bar scene...Nana and Badger got a little rowdy...

Otter wasn't too sure about it....

Next day we went to Saint Pete Beach and did some dancing on the pier....

Badger and her dad climbed a tree in the park...

We saw some pelicans and a couple dolphins...

We also got a cool puzzle and had fun putting it together....

Badger took a kayak ride....

But best of all we got to sit and talk...I even learned that my son-in-law (despite his protestations) actually reads books...

The Dolphin quest on the inter coastal was a bust. Every time Cindy and I have been on the water we see a plethora of dolphins but of course when your trying to impress your granddaughter there isn't a one....I figure it's a good excuse for them to come back...Yesterday they arrived home safe and sound which is another gift...

Tomorrow Nathan and Heather arrive and we're pumped...Got Pina Colada mix and because the dolphins are swimming in the back yard I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing some...

39th Wedding Anniversary

Last August, after several beers, we were having a nice conversation with Sarah and Joel about their 'running addiction'...Cindy and I were attempting an "intervention"...At some point in the evening they implied that we were too old to run a half marathon...

Next day we spent $300. on running shoes, down loaded a 5 month training program and signed up for the Donald Duck Half Marathon...It could have ended there but $300. is a lot of money and the thought of Joel saying "I told you so!" was just too much...So it began...

Our first attempt was on August 21st...we did 2.43 miles in 43:04 or 17:44 minute miles...(to get a metal we had to go 13.1 miles @ 15:30 per mile)...we went home and took a long long nap...

We 'wajoged' (walk/jogged) three times a week gradually building up our distance on our every other week long run...3-5-7-9-11-13 miles...on the 5 mile I pulled a hamstring and on the 11 mile run Cindy "hit the wall at mile 10"...we were sustained only by the thought of Sarah and Joel and their smug knowing looks....

I gave up beer for a whole week before the race and Cindy and I drank gallons of water to hydrate...The day before the race we drove to Disney World and picked up our race packets and numbers...

We got up at 3:00 in the morning, took the mono rail from our hotel and got in line with 26,600 other racers...the temp was 46...we made it to our assigned coral and waited....we could see the start line (about a mile away)...and watched as the 5 corals in front of us made their start...Donald was there with Mickey and Goofy to start each coral...fireworks went off for each coral start...the wheelchairs went off at 5:30 and we went off at 6:10...Oh the humanity!...

My hands were cold because I'd forgotten gloves...around the half mile marks I picked up a glove and at the mile marker I picked up another...sweatshirts, gloves, hats and running pants littered the first two miles...

About mile three we settled on a 'race mantra'...something to keep our motivation up...something to make our blood boil...we decided on "Sarah and Joel are watching!"....

At mile four we came around a turn and along the fence was Sarah, Joel, Badger and Otter...Badger/Otter?...we had no idea they were coming to Florida and assumed they were sleeping in Traverse City...

Cindy threw out her arm to point (knocking a poor Asian woman into the ditch) and I (mouth open) drifted into a crowd of other runners creating havoc...complete

and total surprise...My first thought was that I was hallucinating....

Joel yelled something about meeting at the finish line and suggested we keep running...(putting distance between ourselves and the pile up was probably a good idea)...so on we went...9 miles later we finished and got our medals...3:13:37 for Cindy and 3:13:38 for me...(she beat me!)...Our pace was 14:47 per mile...well ahead of the 'goofy bus'....

Sarah and Joel had been planning the trip since last fall!...They ran the 'chip and dale' the next day (relay marathon...each doing 13.1) and we got to cheer them on...our metals are 'cooler' though!....

Best of all we got to see our grandkids....note how loose Cindy's jeans are fitting...

Wednesday they are coming down to Largo to stay for a couple days so Cindy is obsessing about food/beds/etc....We are both really excited...Best anniversary yet...

And I finally got to have a beer...

Eleven months later and 'Bag End' feels like home. We bought the place 'move in ready' and proceeded to rip out several walls, pull down paneling, fill in the sunken living room, and in general create a construction site with dust everywhere. That wasthe easy part.

Putting the place back together took a lot more time. Wood flooring, relocated kitchen, new lighting, gallons of paint, carpet for the bed room and several hundred man hours later and I can finally say 'feels like home'.

Our last project was the boat and boat lift which we finished up today. (I added stairs so Cindy doesn't have to 'jump' on board.)

Decorating has been problematic. (One of us has very poor taste...before jumping to conclusions remember 'I married her and she married me')

Saturday we're off to celebrate our 39th anniversary in Disney World by 'wojogging' (walk/jog) the 13.1 mile Donald Duck half marathon.

If we can finish under 3 hours 30 minutes we get a Donald Duck medal!