Road Trip Destination: National Harbor

I wasn't quite sure what topic I was going to blog on tonight. It was a very interesting day, with several events that would be worthy to "go on" about....

I had jury duty this am, but after rounds of questions, I didn't make the cut. Better luck next time.

My BFF and I went up to National Harbor to check out the new "Peep" store. Yes, it was filled with all sorts of peeps and peep accessories. You have to see it to believe it. They even had peep mouse pads for under $5, Wal Mart's mouse pads aren't even that cheap, oh cool for that matter.

While we were right there, we decided to tour the Gaylord Hotel. That was like nothing I had ever seen before. There was a Chik-fil-A convention going on. We knew something was going on when we pulled into the parking garage and every other car or truck was cow painted. And reading the vanity plates on some of the cars was a give away...EAT MO CHIX

We had lunch at McCormick and Schmick's, oh that cashew crusted mahi mahi with Caribbean salsa was splendid.

The view from the harbor place was really nice. Looks like Disney is going to build a resort there in the near future. It is really worth checking out, I would wait for a nice Spring day, as today was overcast and breezy (cold).

One of the highlights of the entire trip happened while we were enjoying lunch....There was a couple sitting across from us. This man and his wife were very well dressed and were very professional looking. When they finished and were ready to leave, the gentleman came up to our table and said that he didn't want to interrupt, but he wanted to tell us how much we encouraged him and his wife, by praying and thanking the Lord for our food before we ate. He said that they frequently eat out and have never seen that. He said that it was good to know there are other Christians out there. He also said that he and his wife were going to record us, but decided not to. They thanked us, and I thanked them for it encouraged me to have him make a point to stop by and tell me that.

Sometimes I wonder how God is going to use me as a witness, and times like this today, encourage me knowing that God is using me, and once in awhile, He lets me sneak a peek as to how. What a blessing it is to be a Christian, to have been forgiven for all my sin, past present and future, to be loved by My God who will never leave me or forsake me. And to think... all I had to do was to ask Him to forgive me of my sins and be my Savior. Friend... have you asked Him? He is ready... all you have to do is ask.

I hope you all have a blessed night

I rest comfortably on a 45

No, I don't sleep with a gun under my mattress, that's way too dangerous for me. I am referring to my sleep number. You see, I have a Select Comfort bed and 45 is my comfort zone. After being away from my bed for 8 nights, on vacation in various hotels, I was overdue for a good night's sleep.

On the last night of our trip, Greg got sick. He was throwing up and had the runs (sorry Greg, don't mean to put your stuff out there, but, it's part of the story) As I was saying..... He got sick and we were both up most of the night. Thank the good Lord that he was feeling well enough to travel. I had the helm the whole way. We met Emily in Smithfield, as I had a text book for her. She and I had lunch at Smithfield's BBQ, Greg went in, but just sipped tea. We made it a quick visit, wish we could have stayed longer, but Greg needed to get home. Our total driving time was around 9 hours that day. Boy was it good to get home!

Greg had to unpack and then repack his suitcase, as he was going out of town today for the rest of the week. Poor guy, didn't really get to recoup.

I went and picked up our mail from the PO, where it was on hold. Huge bag full for 6 delivery days!

Called into court this evening and surprise........I have to report at 8:30 am. I had plans for tomorrow too! Oh well, I don't want to be in contempt of court, so I will go.

Better get ready for bed, oh what was that??? I hear my 45 calling............

A Travel Day

This morning was pretty much a day in the car driving. We left Tangerine Woods right around 8:30 a.m. We had a real nice time visiting with Mommy and Deac. I hope the weather gets warmer there in Englewood, so they can enjoy the outside more. It has been one of the coldest winters there in awhile.

We stopped at McDonald's for breakfast and were on our way. The ride was uneventful, which was a blessing. We stopped for gas/lunch at a BP/Subway near Jacksonville. We stopped a little while later for oranges to bring home.

We got to our Hampton Inn in Bluffton , SC late in the afternoon. It is a big , new hotel. The breakfast area is at least twice the size of the normal Hampton. There are 434 rooms. Our room is nice, it is like a mini suite.

We went to dinner at a Mexican Restaurant called Mi Tierrita. It was really good. I had a Carne Asada Burrito and Greg had a Macho Combo (chicken burrito, beef taco and cheese enchilada).

I was able to catch up on some farming tonight and we watched some Olympic events.

We leave here in the morning around 8:30 so we can meet Emily in Smithfield at Zaxby's for

lunch.

A Fine Friday in Florida

Today is Friday the 19^th of February. We are here in Englewood, Florida visiting with Mommy and Deac. This morning Mommy had a hair appointment. Greg and I went out to find a Radio Shack to get something for the TV. Afterwards, we rode over to Englewood Beach and then on to Blind Pass Park, where we got out and walked down to the beach. There were a few people out sunning themselves, others just walking along the beach and some just sitting out there reading and getting some fresh air. It was mostly overcast, but the sun did peek out now and then. It was a nice ride. We stopped at a gun shop that we had seen on the drive into town a few days before. It wasn't a big shop, but we each found something that we wanted and bought. I got a padded travel case for my .38 and Greg got a magazine for his AR-15. We then pulled into a Dunkin Donuts for a coffee on the way back to Tangerine Woods.

The four of us played some Rummikub in the afternoon. First time ever, I tied for the win with Deac. We headed up to Sonny’s in Venice for dinner, we got the family meal, which was supposed to be for 4, but could have fed 6-8. It was a platter filled with sliced beef and pork,a whole chicken quartered, easliy 8-10 meaty pork ribs, a bowl of cole slaw, a bowl of green beans, a bowl of Bar-B-Q beans, and an assortment of garlic texas toast/ cornbread loaves... another good meal. We brought home alot, there was simply too much food for the 4 of us.

We tried watching some more home DVD’s, had a few hang-ups. Don’t know the cause, they run fine on computer though.

Packed up all the non essentials before bed and did my “Farmville” for the night. Then we headed to bed. Heading out early tomorrow.

Good Times/ Good Eats

We have been enjoying visiting with Mommy and Deac. We watched an awful movie today. I was embassased, as I brought it along and thought it would be good. It wasn't! It was called couples Retreat, Don't waste your money, it stinks!

We spend a lot of time just talking, which is great, that's what we came to do, just spend time with them. We did go out to eat a bit while we have been here. We went to Momma's Italian, Sonny's B B Q, and Walt's,a seafood place in Sarasota.

Something weird/funny happened at Walt's. While we were there an older lady came in and brought her Pekingese dog with her. She used the guise that it was a "service dog." The owner came out and questioned her about it, and asked for the "papers/license" to prove it. The lady got indignant and said he had no right to ask her that. It went on for quite a while, she couldn't produce the papers, and finally she took the dog to the car, and came back and waited for her food. It was very busy there and the service was really slow. She was still there waiting when we left, and she wasn't looking too happy. Oh well Nuff said.

Came home and had a nice big fat brownie with White house cherry ice cream on top. We all sang Happy Birthday to Mommy. A good day was had by all.

Heading for the West Coast

We got up and left Miami Wednesday morning. We were headed over to the west coast of Florida, to Englewood, to spend a few days with Mommy and Deac. Our ride over included driving through Alligator Alley. We had a little excitement when we got to the toll booth. It seems the person in front of us, didn’t have the $1.50 to pay the toll keeper. You could tell it was going to take longer than it should have to sort out. The passenger in the car actually came back to our car and asked Greg for the money to pay the toll. He said no, by then the toll keeper had gotten the driver’s license number and license plate number and they rolled on out of the toll booth. I wouldn’t want to see the ticket that person gets for failing to pay the toll. (I was hoping that we wouldn’t breakdown on this road and have to ask someone we had earlier turned down for $1.50 to help us.) The ride across Route 75 was pretty dull…until I noticed alligators sunning themselves on the banks of the water that ran along the side of the road. That was cool. I have never seen so many gators in one place. They were everywhere.

We got to Mommy and Deac’s mid-afternoon. It was good to get there, and they both seemed to be doing well. Mommy made Jambalaya for dinner, it was excellent, she has always been a great cook.

Greg turned a lot of VHS Home movies into DVD’s for Mommy and Deac. We have been previewing them. Some of them are really funny.

We played a few rounds of Rummikub. That is always fun. Mommy and Deac are Pros.

Time to turn in for the night

Out to Lunch...Be Right Back

Tonight's blog will be posted tomorrow. Check back in to see what we have been up to the past two days.