Sunday, April 1, 2012

ONCE UPON A TIME....

....about 26 days ago I made a trip to Florida to visit with my father. Here are the highlights from that trip:


Some pictures I took around my dad's house.

(click to enlarge the photos)


Day One/Wednesday: Flights were good. I had spent hours trying to get my seating worked out the day before. Had assigned seats but they were gone when I went to print my boarding passes. As it turned out they were changed because they upgraded me to business but they took away my isle seat. I love an isle. If I am not on the isle I feel like I have to pee all the time. It's all in my mind! I was able to get an isle on the first flight but had a middle on the second. Turns out I was in the seats right behind first class so the middle was not even an issue. Thank you Jesus! (I believe that Tuesday I was right in the middle of the big change over, making Continental & United one!) We were late in arriving in Tampa due to deicing of the plane. I had never seen this before and it was actually fun to watch.

We then had a favorite Chicago style pizza at my dad's house with my sister and BIL who came over to visit with me. It was awesome.

Day Two/Thursday: Went with my sister Darcy to the mall. Not really to shop but to go see the Hallmark store she works in. They recently had to change their location in the mall. It's a smaller store but still very good in size. It was all fresh and pretty. I do love Hallmark. I found many things to buy in their store. Happy Dance! Then we went to a store called The Fresh Market. OMG what an awesome store. Like a Trader Joe's only better. Way better!

Before I went out with my sister: So my USB port was sent to my dad's house. You put it in and it give you interenet. Well I could not get it to work! So I had to call them for help.Well this time I was sent a newer port and needed new information downloaded. (%$&#) Well you can't download when you don't have internet.Duh! So she did tell me that I needed to uninstall older applications so she helped me with that. Then I went over to Starbucks and was able to download what I needed. I was a bit angry at first but I got over it! I just don't deal well with problems.

Day Three/Friday: Went to Hard Rock Casino. My niece Melissa went with us. It was fun but we didn't win anything. They got to keep our money :( So just a few weeks ago Melissa gamble for her first time ever and won. Well she quickly learned the lesson that you don't always win when you gamble!

Then we went to my sister's to have.....take a guess? Pizza. I am only eating the tops because of my low carb but the is the best part. There is nothing like a Chicago sausage. You haven't had pizza until you had it with Chicago sausage. There is a difference!!! And the sauce and cheese on this pizza is outstanding. I am so glad they found this place. (Christine, it's L'oven 2194 Main Street. Suite A , just West of Belcher. It is really outstanding pizza.)



Day Four/Saturday: I didn't do a thing! Believe me I was dead tired and just wanted to do nothing. My dad wasn't crazy about it but I stood firm on my plan.

Day Five/Sunday: We went to Tarpon Springs to walk around the sponge docks. It was crowded. Found some fun things to buy. It was fun time shopping with my sister and BIL. My dad sat on a bench waiting for us. Then we went to eat the best Gyro's in the world!



Lot's of shells and sponges available to buy at the Sponge Docks.



Day Six/Monday: My dad and I went to a small beach at Fred Howard's Park. It was really crowded since the weather was so wonderful. Then we drove around looking at all the grand waterfront homes.



It's a nice little beach at Howard's Park.



Day Seven/Tuesday: I'm thinking we did something in the morning this day but I can't remember what it was. Later in the day my dad, sister & BIL went to meet up with my niece's and their children to celebrate my great-niece Ashlynn's 11th birthday which was on the 9th. They went to Universal Studios for her birthday so we didn't get to celebrate on that day.

Celebrating Ashlynn's 11th Birthday.

(check out Garrett's awesome artwork on the wall)



Day Eight/Wednesday: We went to the Tampa Bay Downs Horse Races on Wednesday. It was so much fun. My niece Melissa and her daughter Amber went with us. We just made little bets. It was Melissa and Amber's first time. My dad had a free pass so we all got in for free, got a program and a $2. bet! Melissa bet to show each time and won 7 out of nine. I like to play to win. We all just pick because of the name. I won three out of 9 races however on the last race I bet $10. to show hoping to just win something. He actually came in first so I should have stayed with win! Went back to have a Gyro in Tarpon Springs!



Day Nine/Thursday: Another day at Hard Rock Casino with my dad. We had a fun time, didn't win but made wonderful memories.

Day Ten/Friday: Another day of nothing. Invited family to come over and enjoy that delicious pizza again. It was a nice evening. Didn't get to see the nieces and greats again but had a nice time with my dad, sister and brother-in-law.

Day Eleven/Saturday: St. Patrick's Day....Just hung around until it was time to go to the airport. My BIL stopped over for awhile to visit, my sister called from work and I ate the left over pizza. YUM, YUM, YUM! My flights home were both very nice. On the second flight I had the whole row to myself.

It felt really good to see my dad. I was worried about him. I think he is doing well. Asking the same question often but not in a way that I'm concerned yet. I went ahead and let him drive me around. Had two little scares :0 but I don't feel it's time to take that away from him. He loves to get in his car and run to the store everyday. I think he is feeling better then he was last year at this time. He dad will be 89 in June! I have now been home for 16 days now and I miss him so much.


THIS IS A NON-APRIL FOOL'S DAY BLOG (don't like being had)

26 comments:

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

What a wonderful time with dad!

Polly said...

It sounds like you had a really great break away.

Secret Agent Woman said...

This post really makes me want to get to the beach. 9 weeks and counting...

Hilary said...

great pictures, and it sounds like you had a great trip!

CB said...

Debby you crack me up! You had me laughing at all the pizza being eaten - now it is 8:16 in the morning and I am craving Pizza!

Trisha Larson said...

Your dad is the cutest thing ever!!! He looks so happy to have you with him :)

Hugs,
Trisha

Caroline said...

Wonderful pics & looks like such a fun time. I so love pizza & could eat it all the time. Your Dad looks great so glad you got to spend time with him.
Thanks for sharing all this.

CiCi said...

You did have a good visit. Sounds tiring but fun. Glad your dad is doing well enough to drive and get around on his own. That will be us one day. It was difficult when I had to insist my mom stop driving. She had a few minor accidents but she did not want to lose that independence.

Empty Nester said...

What an absolutely lovely visit you had! All that family gathering time is priceless. So glad you had the time with your dad. Mine is only 4 hours away and that's too far so I can imagine how you feel having yours so far away! The memories you made will last forever.

Dena E's Blog said...

Woooohooooo for the NO April fools day stuff Sis... And another BIG Wooooohooooo for the note you left me!!! Love the pics Sis,,,could i get your permission to use soem of the senery 1's to place Bible Scriptures on for the Praise and Prayer Group I (try) to run on FB???
Soooo inspiring ....
Anyhoo's HUGSssss from me to you as always for the note ....
Enjoy a day BLESSED in the very REAL Presence of>>> JESUS our CHRIST !!! Ooooooh WOW, Praising our Mighty LORD,,,"We shall behold HIM" can we even imagine this truth???? GLORRRRRY to GOD MOST HIGH!!! LV+Hugssss with Prayers Always included too!!! DE

Liz Mays said...

I think you actually love pizza more than any other human on the planet! I might give you a run for your money though. ;)

Love that you made a couple of casino visits and the horse racing sounds like a lot of fun too!!!

What a great trip!

Renegades said...

So glad you had a nice time with your dad and extended family too.

betty said...

Looks like a wonderful time with your dad Debby! It is hard to know when it is time for them to stop driving;you want them to be safe yet independent. I actually prayed to God about FIL and his driving; he was so independent about it yet had a few tell tale signs like it was time to start thinking about not driving (like his arthritis was so bad he couldn't buckle his seat belt so he never wore one, plus a few close calls with hitting things). Thankfully he never had to have his license taken away, even got it renewed on his 88 birthday (he died 2-1/2 months later).

LOL on April Fool's jokes; we played one on son this morning before he was driving up to Temecula. While he was getting ready in his room with his door closed, I called into him and I asked him if he felt the earthquake this morning. He said "no". I told him it had caused some roads to buckle, he might want to check the road conditions before he left. He believed us. By then, I was laughing so much, but hubby kept on talking about size of the quake, etc. We waited a couple minutes then told him "April Fool's". The funny thing is three days before I did remind him today was April Fool's just in case he wanted to play any jokes, LOL.

I think he forgave us :)

betty

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Glad you had a wonderful time in Florida, visiting your dad. My dad turned 89 this last Friday. I dread the day when we'll have to stop him from driving ... I truly think that last little bit of independence is what keeps him going.

trennia said...

It sounds and looks like you had a wonderful visit with your dad!
I love all your pictures exspecially the one of you and your dad, precious memories!

Katherine said...

I love Florida! Looks and sounds like you had a wonderful time!

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Precious. I was in Florida 4 weeks ago!
Have a happy week leading up to Easter, Debby xx

momto8 said...

lucky you!! sounds like a great time!
and Happy Easter!

TexWisGirl said...

i'm laughing at your 'non-april fool's day' message. :)

thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. really appreciate it.

i like the collage of your seashells and starfish. very pretty! sounds like you had a great trip! food - i like food. :)

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

What a fun time! Think you crammed about as much as possible into the time you had there. Good for you!

Thanks for sharing your trip with us. Happy Easter week!

Joyce said...

Looks like you had quite a trip! Glad it all went well. I'm just now home from China and its going to take me a few days to get back in the groove. It was awesome though!

Happy Easter!

Anonymous said...

Awww, Deb, that's such a sweet post. So glad you were able to spend great time with your dad and family. That's a blessing. I'm wondering how many slices of pizza you ate that trip! :) The pictures are beautiful! Yes, I know how you must worry about your dad. It was the same for me. The day we hid the car keys from Dad was the day he drove Rick to a ball game. When they came home, Dad turned into a culvert. One day, I found him at an assisted living home parked on the sidewalk. You'll know when the time comes. It's sad. I know how you feel, friend. We love our dads! XO

Deb said...

What a fun trip great photos

Kristie said...

What a wonderful trip! I'm so glad you got to spend so much time with your family! The food sounds pretty awesome too!! :-)

Alexis AKA MOM said...

What a fun fun time you had, I always love to see the pictures you take!

Cyndy Bush said...

Beautiful pictures! I hope we can meet up the next time you're this close.
We have a Fresh Market here - I LOVE it!!

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