February 1, 2002, Friday- drove an hour north to Ft. Myers so Susan could get her eyes checked by an ophthalmologist. It was a good thing that we left some extra time in our plan since the new receptionist gave us incorrect directions. The bad news was that we waited almost an hour to be seen and then another hour to get through the various stations.
Back to Pelican by late afternoon and then over to the clubhouse for happy hour. Got to visit with many friends. By 8 we were at the Marco Island Jewish Center for services. Full house again.
During the afternoon we headed up to the local Ace Hardware where a complete line of fishing gear is stocked. Now we are the proud owners of new rods and reels. No excuses now for not reeling in the big ones.
February 2, 2002, Saturday- a long put off project. Today I became Sparky (figuratively speaking), and worked on adding 2 porch lights, a spot light (for winter BBQs), and an outside 110 outlet for the electric grill. The first cut into the exterior wall is always the hardest. If you screw it up, no covering the mistakes. Fortunately, it all went well, if you don't count a cut finger as a problem. (The blood washed away.) After buying what we had thought was the proper amount of supplies, I only needed two slight trips back for the final whistles and bells, and to return a few excess purchases. Trying to fit all those wires into a small receptacle was a challenge, but everything seems to fall into place. No choice words uttered.
February 3, 2002, Sunday- by 10 AM I had finished the wiring in the shed and it was time for the big test. Turned off the breaker, patched my wiring into the junction box and hoped not to blow the circuit. To my amazement, everything worked perfectly. Took out my tester and everything was up to code. Wow…good job Larry.
Caught up on a few computer projects…..got the web page up and running for January, and then we headed to Irv and Beth's for a Super Bowl Party. We expected a blowout with the Rams beating New England, but, it turned out to be the best game ever. Good food, good company and the Patriots to the victory! Sore throat from yelling so much.
 |
|
|
February 4, 2002, Monday- time to start planning the spring and early summer. Reservations made from June 1 to mid July in Colorado. Afterwards we head to North Dakota (the only state we've never been in), then Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Will wind up in NJ for the holidays in Sept and fly out to the west coast at the end of the month to see Rob and Deb. Whew!
After a few more phone calls and computer catch-up I checked into the office here at Pelican to catch up on the accounting questions. More worms to catch and place back into the box.
High point of the day….dinner with Howie and Pam at a new Italian Restaurant (for us)..Frascati's. Low point…the DOW down 220. Pits.
February 5, 2002, Tuesday- what a start to the day. As I was filling the coffee pot and Susan was at the back sink, we suddenly had no water pressure. A strange noise was coming from outside the coach. I ran outside to the utility pedestal. This pedestal contains our water, electric, phone and cable connection. Coming out of every opening and corner of the unit was water, tan water, being propelled several feet. Was it water or sewer? Well, it didn't smell. Good start. Waste water isn't under pressure….so it must be a domestic water line break propelling sand. Better!
It took 10 minutes to return with the staff that showed us where to shut off the water. Next, digging down along the pedestal revealed a plastic water line that had come free from it's 90 degree elbow. The plumber came at 5 and in 10 minutes had the repair finished.
 |
 |
|
|
|
Fortunately we had laid stepping stones along that side of the coach and around the pedestal. They easily came up and stacked along the side of the coach. Had we added concrete to that area, as some of our neighbors have done, it would have been a bigger mess to chop and relay a new surface.
 |
|
|
Tomorrow we have to get a few bags of sand to fill in the settled area, and, then replace all of the stepping stones.
Tonight was dance night…ballroom dancing….7 couples and an instructor. Good time had by all.
February 6, 2002, Wednesday- a better day today. Went to Home Depot and got three bags of sand to fill the area around our utility pedestal, and the posts that we wanted to add at the head of the driveway. Replacing the stepping stones took more time then I imagined. When we originally laid the stones, the pieces went along the path without a problem. Now we had to refit them from the two sides, and if you're off ¼", the pieces didn't want to fit. But, patience is a virtue. By 2 PM all was back into shape.
 |
|
|
Joined Hank and Linda for one of the Temple's cultural event…an evening with Ira Foreman, a political author and lecturer on Democratic Jewish Affairs.
February 7, 2002, Thursday- forecast of heavy rain and thundershowers. Awoke to winds so up came the big awning for the first time since we're down here. At 10 AM Susan and I went to a "town meeting" at the clubhouse with about 50 other owners. Covered a lot of ground about making the park better. Most of the hostility that was evident in October seems to have dissipated.
Met with Trudy who has finished her "audit", Bob who is finishing his rental and sales program review, and Howard who is working on the water bill situation….all members of my financial committee. Spent the rest of the afternoon working with Pat finalizing the rental income and entertainment committee numbers to incorporate into our financial statements.
Dinner with Hank and Linda at the Yabba Grill….lots of stories and lots of laughs.
Other then a few, and I mean few sprinkles….another false alarm on the weather.
February 8, 2002, Friday- I borrowed a post hole digger to get the holes dug for our driveway posts. I chose a setback of 14 inches from the driveway edge since we have sprinklers alongside the pavement. First hole went as easy as pie. Second hole, after a few shovels, bad news. The sprinkler pipe that was supposed to be by the driveway was now cracked. The pits again. Off to the hardware store to get some plastic sleeve connectors and cut down a replacement ¾" pipe. Naturally, after I had it all reassembled and ready for pressure testing, the sprinkler system water in the park had been shut off for other repairs. So, a two hour project will now stretch into two days.
Washed the cars, coach and driveway this afternoon trying to get some of the concrete dust cleared. Our neighbor had his driveway overlaid, similar to ours, and each time they have to clear the expansion joints with a circular saw, concrete dust galore.
At temple tonight, they had over 220 people in attendance, biggest crowd of the season. Returned to the coach and got to see some of the spectacular Olympics Opening show.
 |
|
|
February 9, 2002, Saturday- with the water now turned back on, I got to water test my repair. A little tightening and all looks good. Borrowed a level from our neighbor Bud, and after mixing the concrete, got the poles set in cements.
A call from Art and Anna that they were able to catch a flight 2 hours earlier then originally planned. Great…back to Naples by 7 and stopped at Steamers for a great fish dinner. Followed by a drive by on 5th Avenue and a walk along 3rd Street shops and galleries. Definitely where the action is.
February 10, 2002, Sunday- a great day…a vacation day. What a change. Picked up Art and Anna for a great outside breakfast at the coach. Afterwards an hour plus walk around the park. They were amazed at the quality of the park and the lush diversity of the plantings.
 |
 |
|
|
|
South we headed to Marco Island for some shopping and then to the juried art show where 115 booths were displaying quality wares. One of the artists had the cutest puppy, a Spanish Waterdog. He and Hobbes his it off well. Maybe Hobbes needs a friend?
Next, over to the Port Royal section where Art and Anna couldn't believe the breath and depth of money as displayed in mile after mile of mansion quality waterfront homes. Since they sell for $10 to $15 million, each should be something special. For dinner we got to use our 20% off coupon at Charlie's Crab. Yummy on two of the dinners and only ok for the other two.
February 11, 2002, Monday- at 9 AM the day's action started. Phil came over to pay us a visit, his first time in Florida and, by definition, the first time to Naples and Pelican Lake. I think he was satisfied that we are in good hands here. By 11:30 Art and Anna joined us and lively conversation continued for an hour before Phil left to join Howie, Pam and Ruth for a Country Club lunch. We left for a perfect lunch at Backwater Nick's with a waterside table and fresh grouper. Next, up to the Corkscrew Sanctuary to see 2200 acres of natural swamp and everglades areas. The 2.5 mile board walk took us through areas with bald cypress trees, wetland grasses, dozens of bird sanctuaries and areas filled with alligators.
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Next off to show Art and Anna the Expo store that features all of the high-end home touches and appliances. It's easy to like $6000 BBQ's, $8000 refrigerators and $4000 ranges.
At dinner, (Macaroni Grill), we had an interesting discussion on the coaching programs that Art and Anna are building. Sounded very interesting. We may look into that as a way of keeping our business skills sharp without having to give up our "wandering" lifestyle.
February 12, 2002, Tuesday- after dropping off Art and Anna at the Ft. Myers airport we headed back to Naples and showed Phil around the Port Royal area and 3rd St. and 5th Ave. shopping districts. A quick stop at Loudermilk Beach provided some needed leg stretching. Stopped at a little boutique shop so Susan could get a new hat that would cover her ears (as requested by a local physician). Each was in the $35 to $45 range. One fit her perfectly. The clerk rings it up and says $135. We said here's the hat back. Are you kidding?
At 5 we arrived at Howie and Pams house for a great steak dinner and got to visit with them and Ruth. Lots of laughs and stories around the table.
 |
 |
|
|
|
February 13, 2002, Wednesday- frustrations continue with Globalcrossings, our ISP. For the last 3 days we have been unable to send out our e-mails due to a computer glitch in their mainframe. Repeated calls have gone..sorry, we're working on it but don't know when it will be resolved.
Met Elaine and Bob at the Bonita movies and viewed Gosford Park. Remind me again how much I hate English movies where they speak too quietly and when you can hear them you can't understand them. Also, this picture started slowly and then died. Two hours too long, in my humble opinion.
February 14, 2002, Thursday- Happy Valentines Day…love to all. After a 10 minute phone call with Earthlink, our new ISP account was up and running
Spent almost 3 hours in a Pelican planning session this morning and then 2 hours with Pat in the office trying to finish up the year end work.
Susan got her hair cut, colored and herself pampered at a new beauty parlor. She looked marvelous.
Dancing tonight at the clubhouse….more swing and rumba lesions. Someday we may get good enough to show off our steps.
Chatted with Steve tonight…he is driving to Salt Lake City to the Olympics. No doubt he will enjoy it.
February 15, 2002, Friday- worked a few hours on budget and financials for the association and then went to the clubhouse for happy hour. Started chatting with two new faces and "flying" came up. One guy used to fly a 1978 turbo 206 with a Robinson STOL kit. It was the same as the one we used to own, but his were on floats. The other guy was trying to sell a 1980 P210 Cessna. We used to own the same plane when we were partners with Phil. Small world.
February 16, 2002, Saturday- our first day starting with rain in a long, long, time. Gave me a chance to finish a lot of Pelican Financial Committee stuff while Susan worked away on Laurie's granddaughter's sweater. By noon things were slightly dryer and we headed shopping. Susan finally, after about 10 shops during the last week, found some shoes to match the outfits she got 2 weeks ago. Finally wound up at Costco for some steaks, wine and checking out new printers and computers.
 |
|
|
February 17, 2002, Sunday- great news from Brad…yesterday he soloed at Kansas City. Keep the clean side up Brad. After the frustrations with attempting to do backup on our 3 year old Gateway, we ordered a new Dell computer. With a little luck the new box with all of the whistles and bells, should be here in just over a week. Also ordered a new photo quality printer so we can print out some of our great digital photos and distribute them to friends and family.
An hour and a half walk along Tiger Tail beach today got us both needed fresh air and exercise. Two for the price of one.
February 18, 2002, Monday- great news…United Airlines and their machinist's union reached a tentative agreement, so…..no strike this week. Kids will arrive safe and sound!!!!!!
Finance committee this morning and some this afternoon. Making good progress. Finished a 10 page report which my committee will submit tomorrow as we head to Miami.
All things seem to happen at once. Got a call from a communications guy that we met at the Hamburg rally last October. He finally got the car kits in from Nokia, and was on his way to Pelican to install the external antenna and hands free system in the coach. His work was very professional and the mounting positions look great….now we just hope that the speaker phone system works well.
Test number 1 worked well…..Robert called and he said that the speaker system was good.
|
CLICK HERE TO: |
|
|
|
|
