Best Life

 The word of the day today - lollygag.  Which is exactly what my day became.  Awake at 3am to take Scott to the airport.  Back in bed at 430am with the alarm set for 630am.  Back in Cumberland to watch Brianna for a few hours.  While she debated brushing her teeth after breakfast I managed a few quick helpful chores.  She entertained us with her singing Disney songs on our way to pick up our new washer for Maine (Yea!!!) and TJ's dishwasher.  A quick lunch for the ponies and Brianna (and another debate about brushing her teeth!) and we headed to New Bedford to drop her off with her mom for her first day of first grade! We picked up our new license plates for the Atlas, quick lunch for us at Davenports and a trip to the bank. I couldn't get back to the house fast enough.  I needed quiet time!  After a decent nap - more purging of kitchen items, food shopping, laundry and  a glass of wine on the front porch with Don and Kim.  Wit...

 After a 6 1/2 hour drive from Maryland we arrived back in RI and the kids surprised us with dinner at Bandidos!  We thought we were meeting Megan but everyone showed up!  A belated Mother's Day and Father's Day dinner (since we were not here for either).                                                                      Brianna thought this resembled Megan                                                                                and this was Isis! A great surprise, good food, excellent service and a wonderful welcome home!

  As a kid, when mom started driving to Maine yearly in August to Oquossoc, Maine, it always seemed to take forever.   We had the blue Volkswagen bus with the stick shift.   Packed tightly, there was little room for our legs to stretch.   Many times, we had to position our legs on top of coolers or luggage.   Just over 300 miles it took 7-8 hours.   We would leave super early in the morning (7-8am) and get there in time for supper.   McDonalds was our lunch and that was a treat!   I really do not remember packing my clothes but do remember packing every single board game we owned.   Because there was no TV, we had marathon game nights and rainy afternoons. We learned to play Continental and Canasta.     When we rounded the first curve and could glimpse the mountains it felt like a great adventure was beginning.                               ...

 This morning we awoke in Port St Lucie and hurkle-durkled  (to lounge in bed long after it's time to get up).  Eventually we set out for a walk.  With the temp 83 and the humidity 91% and minimal shade, it was a short, less than 2 mile, walk.   A delightful brunch with Marc in Palm Beach Gardens at Sabour Latino where we are never disappointed in the food or service.   We are so glad we made the trip south and were able to enjoy catching up.  And then we headed north again.  We did take the back roads and meandered through the intermittent drizzle and sun.   Tonight we stay in Daytona with an early departure for Savannah (to drop off last items for our next season) and then Maryland. Since it is exactly one year from today that Kevin and Isis will wed I thought I would share a little of Kevin's childhood.  I am sure after living together for the past year there will be few surprises, but some pictures tell their own story...

 Finally a day with all sun!  We headed to the beach to enjoy.  Where are all the people?  Mid 80s, sunny, August, Saturday - and few people.  We managed to walk 4 miles and lessen some of the guilt from last nights' dinner.  The water was cool and clean and refreshing.                                                                           Dog days of August                                                                           Fred continues to follow us!                ...