Photo by The Joneses Here we are — that's us in the middle in our work "uniforms"! — along with Diana, Leslie and Jakob at Port Orleans. — — — E-mail Gisela — — — SLIDE SHOW: Still in Florida, and still having fun!
ARCHIVES: You wouldn't believe how beautiful Canada is! Wouldn't change a thing Who knew there was so much to see in South Dakota? Time is flying by — but at least we're having fun! I (heart) Hart Ranch, South Dakota Rallyin' in Goshen, Indiana A special day From friends to work to warmer temps, we're still having fun in Florida Traveling to Texas Finally, we're in Alaska! On the way to Canada Boise sure has changed a lot Escapees Rally in Wyoming Bittersweet trip through the southeast From Boy Scouts to ‘Stars on Ice’ Michigan is full of treasures Arriving in Florida Earning our ears Celebrating Christmas and New Year's in Florida and the Disney Parks Down in the Lowcountry Making our way through Minn., Wisc. and Ill. The holidays in Florida Our time in Lakeland has come to an end Couldn't have had a better time in Omaha! Arriving in Charleston A day with friends from Frederick 'Life is good' in Lakeland, Fla. Leaving Florida, and heading north Our final days in Kentucky Into the Keys Out of Charleston and off to Indiana Dreams come true in Vermont You never know what you'll see or who you'll meet in Alaska Leaving Indiana, but not before taking some of the state's best sites Idaho is full of natural treasures — and moon-like craters, too It's all about the theme parks From prairie country to beautiful views to grand 'ol Yellowstone Thunderstorms, flooding, tornados and a visit with the 'Duke' And so it begins ... Moving days for Greg and his family The gang's all here! Happy to be in Florida again Strawberries, and more strawberries 'The RV Capital of the World' From the beautiful Maine coastline down to southern Connecticut Training for our jobs at Disney World Chillin' out at 'Camp Monaco' Under the weather Back in Florida At long last, back in the area Lots to see in the 'Show Me' state With family and spectacular sights in Hailey, Idaho Look back, look ahead Back in the Lower 48 The cold weather is hitting Florida From Dallas to devastation Back on the road again Leaving Idaho and heading east Beautiful Alaska A memorable visit to Alaska's Kenai Peninsula Watch out for flying dinner rolls

Our friends, Erma and Bill, who we met at Bee’s RV Resort last year and saw again in Maryland, have finally made it to Florida. Erma is the one who knows the menus of all the restaurants within 50 miles. So, of course, we met to go out for dinner. We went to Guso’s, an Italian Restaurant in Clermont. Great northern Italian food!

Food and eating seems to be one of the most important part of retirees’ life. Here at the park they have breakfast every Saturday morning, dinner every Wednesday, soup every third Friday, fish the first Friday, and other specials, like hot dogs on the deck and ice cream socials. The dining room is packed at every meal. There are also a lot of coupons in the newspapers for great bargains at restaurants including "Early Bird" meals. We all take advantage of these offers.

A couple of Saturdays ago we had a great cookout with the kids, Erma and Bill, and or other friends, Peggy and Marty. It was a cool night just perfect for a camp fire. Hamburgers taste so much better when cooked over the open fire. Jordyn and Nick loved making S'mores.

On that Saturday we (Robin, Jordyn, Peggy and I) went to a Women’s Fair at the Lakeland Center, a huge convention facility. Lots of great women-related information on health, physical fitness, wellness beauty issues, etc.

There were also two great fashion shows — not your typical shows though. The first show had retro clothes that are becoming popular again. It was funny to see some of the type of outfits I used to wear 30/40 years ago.

The other show was from a consignment store with several real nice clothes — I think I’ll visit that store soon. We sampled many food items and also wines from a local winery. It was a wonderful "girls day out." Lakeland RV Park had a special Valentine’s Dinner and Dance that we attended. The entertainer was Bob Weed, a regular here at the park, playing "Cool Oldies and Hot Country" music. His show included many questions about music and singers from the 1940s/50s/60s with prizes for the people who had the answers.

I know very little about music in those years. My excuse “before my time” usually gets me a strange looks. Well, since I came to this country in the mid-1960s this is before my time in America. It was a fun evening.

Work at Disney is good. I usually work at the Bakery and "my specialty" is making Beignets. Beignets are a New Orleans specialty. They are deep fried pastries, hollow inside, sort of like a funnel cake, and then covered in powdered sugar. Really yummy! We make them to order. And since I seem to get all the Beignet orders some of the employees call me the "Beignet Queen."

Ralph loves working at the pizza station, however many times he has to be out on the floor, busing tables, taking care of trash, etc. He doesn’t much care for it, but for just the two days we work it is OK — definitely not a career choice.

One thing he loves doing when he is on the floor is what is called "Junior Chefs." The kids, who happened to be there at the time put on little white chef’s jackets and get a large cookie and the fixings to frost and decorate the cookie. This is a bit of the Disney Magic and the kids just love. And so do I when I get a chance to help Ralph.

Not everything is always great.

Two weeks ago Gretchen developed a large growth on her throat. It grew so fast that within a couple of days it was as large as a softball. Of course our first thought was cancer. Fortunately it was an infected abscess caused, the doctor assumed, by the little puppy next door that evidently nipped her. This little puppy is also a German Shepherd and just big enough to reach Gretchen’s throat when standing up — she is a real cutie and certainly it was all done in play. Gretchen is still on antibiotics, but she is on the mend.

Last week we had a pleasant, but very short visit from friends in Frederick. Diana Sanner and her family, who spent some time at Disney, stopped by at our workplace. It was very nice to see them. Diane used to work with me at SAIC Frederick; she still works there.

I always enjoy seeing friends from Frederick, because this is still where my heart is. Home is where we park our RV, but our hearts are in Frederick!