Family + Friends = Happy

Good thing that Family + Friends = most Happy.

That being said, I continue to mull around how I might be able to convince family and friends to all move to a warmer climate.

A couple of days ago we had a snowstorm (about 10-15cm of the white stuff) and I had the pleasure of shovelling my driveway - a pleasure I had forgotton. I have to say that it still all feels a bit surreal as I move around outside in the cold and snow - almost as if I am on a movie set and someone is about to yell "cut" and then there will be sun, ocean and beach.

I have still been on sabbatical this past week and look forward to returning to work tomorrow! During this week, there have been a number of very happy times which as you might suspect were with family. Lunch with my sisters, a belated birthday celebration was supposed to be at Seasons in Oakville but the snowstorm suggested that we shouldn't all drive that far so we went to Canyon Creek.

Guess which day I go home to the cold?

I do understand that I have nothing to complain about and I promise that I am not, however, those who know me and know my bad travel karma, have to be amused by the fact that the weather here in Florida has been 20F below normal with freeze warnings and the temps go back up to normal (75F) next week after I leave on Monday.

more very happy days....

I can't express how very lucky I feel...there are so many people (family and friends) in my life who love me and make every day of my life so happy and full of special moments.

Donna, one of my very closest friends, who I have known (and who has known me) since Grade 6, came to visit here for the last 4 days. It was a truly wonderful few days - simple and comforting as only close friendships can be.

Hmmmm...What did we do....

Not much but in some ways so much...in this crazy, busy world in which we all live in, finding time for relaxed time with no expectations or plans is uncommon. That is exactly what we did - very little - really.

Today, on Donna's last here, we watched the Obama inauguration on TV and we were, like so many, mesmerized by the event and the man.

The weather here has turned very cold with freeze warning tonight. With little to complain about considering the temp at home in Toronto, here is a video clip of Donna as she leaves the The City Pier Restaurant at the top of Anna Maria Island where we had lunch today.

Hanging out and feeling even more happy here

Donna arrived on Friday night and as I showed her around and shared what Longboat Key is all about, I realized how very comfortable this place has become. The sun has been shining but the temp is quite cool 55-60F and requires sweaters, coats and pants (Donna and I ran on Saturday morning with socks on our hands as mittens!)
Last night we headed downtown Sarasota for dinner and once again attempted to take the public bus - which luckily came on time. We went to Mattison's Grill which is outside but with a tent and heaters so more than warm. Dinner was really wonderful. I had my very favourite filet mignon. TC and the Troublemakers were the house band and the music was fun to listen to and enticed us to get up and dance!

very cool pelicans

Pelicans are way more fascinating than I ever knew...here is one video clip of a feeding frenzy one afternoon... (with special thanks to the Burdons and Hawkes for the Flip video recorder for christmas)

yikes it got very cold (I know...not as cold as home but..)

Today was Cindy's last day here (I hope that her flight home was uneventful). Strange that Cindy and I chatted late this afternoon as I drove her to the airport about how we hadn't listened any news and also how we both don't really like to fly (except we love to travel). After I dropped Cindy at the Sarasota airport, where she was getting on a US Airways flight to Charlotte NC, I got to a restaurant for dinner and saw that a US Airways flight crash landed (successfully) in the Hudson River NYC (it was destinated for Charlotte NC!) ....creepy wierd.

While I am sad that Cindy has left (miss her) and that her last day here was very cold (60F) with no sun, I am sooooo very grateful to have had 4 days together - including my birthday celebration.

Here are a few pics of Cindy and me yesterday (when the sun was shining).

Wonderfully fun birthday (at least the parts being shared here)

Well the birthday celebration was great fun and full of crazy moments. Some of which will remain within Cindy's and my cone of silence. We had a yummy dinner at Caragiulos Italian restaurant in downtown Sarasota.
But leading up to that dinner... I need to share that my idea of taking the local bus (drink don't drive!) turned out to be not so brilliant in that we waited and waited and waited.... which wouldn't be so bad but the weather here in Florida has turned a wee bit chilly and the wind she was a blowin'.

This is us trying to make the best of it. (note that we took a taxi home!)

Earlier in the day, it was raining and so we headed to the Ellenton Outlet mall and bought a few "must haves" like Jockey underwear.

Wanted to buy a fabulous Ellen Tracy corduroy jacket but even on sale a bit too steep (still thinking about it though!).

Sun is shining here today and even with the lower temp of 65 degrees we are going to sit on the beach (maybe with a blanket).

Until tomorrow my friends...here are a couple of photos of our dinner last night.

Birthday morning blog post from Cindy

Can you believe Lisa is letting me have full control of her blog?!?! So the day started with the sun streaming in notwithstanding that the forecast said it would be cloudy. I sang Happy Birthday to Lisa and we got our day started. As soon as the "technology" was turned on, the well-wishing emails and phonecalls and twitters and facebook posts started pouring in. Lucky Lisa! She is loved!

Off we went for a run. Twenty minutes out and twenty minutes back. Here's the picture. Trust me - we ran! When we got back, I made Lisa promise that we would jump in the ocean immediately, without first checking messages. The water is lovely and refreshing. Never mind that forecast. It's a beautiful day.

Now that is is almost noon, we have had a healthy breakfast and have plans to head out for the afternoon...a little shopping, a little touring around, stop for a little b-day drink along the way. We'll post later with birthday updates!

Yah! Cindy's here

So extra happy today as Cindy arrived to stay for the next few days. The sun was barely shining but no matter as we had a late lunch on the beach (peel and eat shrimp and crab claws) at Sandbar at Anna Maria.

Short stop at my condo and then off for some shopping and then a couple of drinks at SKOB where we are thinking of having dinner tomorrow for our joint birthday celebration (tbc). We ordered the happy hour margarita and steamed crayfish and when it came yuck I couldn't eat them they had heads and eyes! I ordered oysters at that point - couldn't bear to even look at those crayfish.

We then headed to Whole Foods in Sarasota and bought food and dinner - which we are about to eat and so I shall stop writing now. (Cindy's message to those who like to cook is check out the recipes on the Whole Foods site.)

She's Only Happy in the Sun

One week into my 3 weeks in Longboat Key Florida and I've finally found the time to set up my first ever blog. You'd wonder what the heck I could possibly fill my day with that would keep me from the computer but alas the sun has been shining and it has been very warm for this time of year so I had to be out in it!
















I'm very happy with my condo. On the beach with direct views - exactly what I wanted. Here is a picture of my view and my condo which is at the SeaHorse Beach Resort (giggle re: resort) and here is my unit (2nd floor and 2nd from the right in this photo)


I have also found a great club to play tennis at...The Cedars Tennis and Fitness Club and I have played tennis at least once (if not twice a day) during my first week here. Most people here are year round members who are retired and live here for much of the year if not winter. I should note that retired does not mean old and certainly does not mean that they aren't great tennis players. I have mostly been humbled by the fabulous level of play of the women I have played with and I am grateful that they are not frustrated by lower level. (thanks to my new friends Margie, Mary, Barbara and Penny). I am, as I am when I play at The Boulevard Club in Toronto, inspired by older players who play so beautifully and with such ease - hopefully that will be me someday.


I have to share how very welcoming people have been at The Cedars. To begin, the new owners Randy and his wife Charlotta (picture here of them with their goodlooking boys) were super at getting me matched up and playing right away. And I've had 2 lessons with Robbie (who has helped me focus on using my legs for power not just arms). The Cedars also has a great weekly round robin on sunday afternoons and was a great way for me to meet other players and have some fun. I'm looking forward to this RR again tomorrow.

Enough for now...Cindy comes to play with me here on Monday to Thursday and then Donna from Friday to Monday - yippee! It is supposed to get cooler (65 degrees) but the sun will still be shining and so all will be happy.

I will end here with the posting of a song/video of Ben Harper singing which is now my mantra song She's only happy in the sun. (thanks to my good friend Janine for this song)