I couldn't move into my house until 3:00, so that gave me license to take my time making it from Clearwater to Sarasota. I love any opportunity to go where the wind blows. Instead of heading in the direct route I took to the beaches west of Tampa and meandered south. I saw a very cute restaurant where I stopped for lunch. It was warming up so I was able to eat outside very comfortably. Warm air feels so good when you've recently experienced winter!
As I was walking back to my car I passed a building with a spa. And I thought, "What the heck. . . I'm going to get my toes done!" Walked in and sure enough I could get an immediate appointment. I had no idea what the pedicure cost, but I was all in. The woman who did the pedicure was the owner. Picture a tall, slender 53 year old woman poured into a very short black sheath dress, black fishnet stockings and spike heels, white blonde straight hair down to her waist. She gave me a fabulous pedicure complete with her "signature" feature (for free). . . . . "diamonds" at the bottom of the big toe.
A great start to my month in Florida.
So I literally drove into the driveway of my house at 2:50 and it was all ready for me. It took me about an hour to unpack the car and move everything in. I love settling a house. The house is everything I hoped for. . . very cute.
But perhaps the best thing that happened was that within an half hour of my checking in, my brother Chip had called and we made a date for he and his wife Sue to come to my place after which we would go out to dinner. I was "entertaining" on the first night. And then Sandy called and said she would be stopping by tomorrow on her way back home to Afton from her stay in Naples. Now I have company coming tomorrow as well. No feeling lonesome here!
Chip and Sue arrived and we had a glass of wine before heading off on foot for "downtown" Sarasota. I had gotten this house because of it's walking distance to Whole Foods, but I really didn't know just how far the walk would be. We covered the distance in about 15 easy minutes and ate at a restaurant just across the streets from WF. There is a motorcycle gathering in town and the streets were filled to overflowing with bikes and bikers and bands in the streets and police directing traffic. Sarasota was jumping and we were right in the middle of it. Chip and Sue had not been out at night for over a year since Sue's cancer diagnosis. And a year later here we were out celebrating her recovery. What a joyous time! We had a fabulous dinner. . . I had a lamb risotto which was about as good a dinner as I have ever had. I have so little time with any family that the special quality of the evening was to treasure.
We stopped into Whole Foods so I could get stuff for breakfast tomorrow. Chip and Sue got coffee at Starbucks. Then we walked home in the clear, warm January night. Boy did I ever pick the right place!
We enjoyed another glass of wine and talked and talked until 11:00. An auspicious start to what is shaping up to be a banner month for me.
On tap for tomorrow. . .the triumvirate of television. . . for me who has been without television for 2 years. CBS Sunday Morning. my all time favorite show. The Redskins in their first playoff game in years and years at 4:30. And the premiere of season 3 Downton Abby at 9. And Sandy's visit squeezed in. Can't think of a better line up.
I'm so ecstatic to be here. The weather. My family. My opportunities. Yee Hah!!!!!
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