The drive along I-10 was uneventful. We've driven this route about a dozen times now and I've learned where the best gas prices and the tastiest food is located.
 |
| Looking out over the bay from our room |
The next morning we walked next door to Another Broken Egg but discovered they had been replaced by Sunset Bay Cafe. A nice couple runs the place and although the place appears to have retained the original decor, I judge the food to be better with larger portions.
 |
| Sunset Bay Cafe |
 |
| Mary Ann refusing to return to her perch |
I picked up Mary at the beach and then we drove back to the Marina Bar. We stopped to see the parrot again but she was getting feisty and pecking so after a few minutes and a package of pistachios, I put her back up on her big perch and we went into the bar and talked with Angela, the bar tender/waitress who we remembered from previous years.
 |
| Boats anchored in Destin Harbor |
Returning to Sandestin we first made a stop at the Publix and the wine store. Remember. We're drinking healthy now days. For dinner we went back to the marina. They had really good burgers the last time we were there and nothing has changed. Very good.
Went straight to Chattanooga and stayed at the North Chattanooga Hampton Inn. It was a refreshing break not having to go through Nashville and their horrendous traffic snarls.
The next day drove to Kettering Ohio to see Gordy and Joanne. Always nice to visit with them for a few days. We arrived in the evening. The next day, after stopping for coffee and a non-MacDonald's restaurant, Tim Hortons, we drove into Cincinnati. Well actually, we crossed the river into Newport Kentucky and went to the Newport On The Levee, a mall-like place surrounding the Newport Aquarium.
We ate outside at Brothers Bar. Eating outside in December? Weird, yes. But we had a great view of the river. And it wouldn't be a proper lunch without stopping for ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery
Back at their house, Mary and I took our car out to gas it up and stop at a CVS for a few things. Oddly enough, I'm beginning to know the roads around here.
When we returned, everyone went off to church while I took a walked a few miles. I even went to Gordy's favorite MacDonald's to check and see if his, well theirs, latte machine was working yet. Nope. No lattes for for the next few days.
We were up and on the road pretty early the next morning. We choose to take I-39 up the middle of Illinois instead of enduring the supremely annoying Chicago traffic. And tolls. Taking I-39 adds about 50 minutes to the drive but the toll is only $1.90 and the traffic is always light.
We pulled into Oconomowoc late afternoon and first stopped to see Sammy, our newest grandchild. After a brief visit we went to Dave and Jens house in Ixonia where we usually stay when we are in Wisconsin. And, much to Mary's relief, we made it in time to see a good portion of the packer game.
Thanks for the welcome gift Jonah, a sparkling white rock!
Next day everyone was off to school or work. We did a little laundry and then drove up to Green Bay because we had a whole day of Dr. appointments Tuesday. Our normal hotel, Country Inn Suites in Suamico/Howard had only a few other guests. We literally had the place to ourselves.
The next day started at 8 AM by dropping Mary off at the Dentist office for her appointment which wasn't until 10. But I had a physical at 8:30 in De Pere which was several miles away.
Physical was fine except I ended up getting two shots, two blood draws and three x-rays. Followed by a shot in my aching knee. It took almost 2 hours.
I'm told I'll live another year and probably to 110. Hear that kids? 110!
One note about the knee shot. I was mildly trepidacious having seen, years ago, large bore needles entering a knee joint. Now it's a small bore needle, of moderate length. Didn't hurt at all however the sight of a needle sticking in my knee joint was sort of weird.
First injection was some milky substance with a mild analgesic including Lidocaine. Then, leaving the needle in my knee, the doctor unscrewed the first syringe and screwed in a different one filled with what appeared to be heavy weight mineral oil.
The general label for these types of injections are Hyaluronan injections. The poor doctor really had to work at injecting the the stuff and I could feel the pressure but it wasn't' painful.
 |
| Knee injections |
 |
| Mary getting her crown in Brenda's chair |
Next day we didn't get up until 10:30. Doctor appointments are exhausting!
Went to Seany's school Christmas concert. My pathetic camera wasn't able to snap a picture, but the festive atmosphere was great. Exuberant singers for the most part although there appeared to be lapses of attention from some of the younger participants.
The next day we took Jack to his swim practice in the evening and Jonah and I went swimming in the other pool. He complained of a stomach ache after we had left the pool. Then on the way home he upchucked in our rental car's back seat. Ever try cleaning out a car seat in 20 degree weather?
Stomach flu hit everyone except me. I had chills for an hour. It was quite the time we had for a few days as it slowly died out. Reminiscent of a scene from a jungle war movie and the dysentery ward.
Meanwhile we did finalize the boat window estimates and he'll be replacing all our front facing windows while we're gone. He is also putting in a screen door on the sundeck leading down to the swim platform.
Craig from Huckins called me to say they had to do a few extra hours of scrapping the shaft, struts and propellers because we had some super adhering type of Barnacle they couldn't remove without concentrated grinding. He mentioned he never saw anything like that before. Lucky us.
It was back to Green Bay after a few days for Mary's med check and the second of three shots in my knee. We had thought we could see Tim and Jill but Mary wasn't feeling all that well so we decided to cancel and try for another time.
 |
| Holiday food shopping |
On the 24th I took Mary to St. Jerome church. For a Christmas Eve service, there didn't appear to be a large crowd.
 |
| Santa? Didn't your wipe for feet? |
Christmas day I was up at 6:15 to pee and in the dark hallway bumped into Jonah who was poised to make a dash downstairs. I suggested he knock on his parents bedroom door. And he did. Did I say knock? I meant pound.
Did you know its pitch black out at 6:30am? Later after the present openings, Mary and I went back upstairs and took a nap.
Christmas Day, LeAnn and Brant arrived bearing gifts but also a turkey and their grill. And Lula their boxer! We were having grilled Turkey the day after Christmas. Yumm.
Greg and Laura stopped by for a while along with Sammy who has this perpetually perplexed expression as he takes in all the commotion.
The kids had converted a few of our family movie/VHS tapes into DVD's for our Christmas present. So we spent some time watching old family movies from when the kids were youngsters. I fear Uncle Dan's skills as a cinematographer had rubbed off on me. Long boring scenes sprinkled with hilarious snippets. Haven't laughed that hard in years.
 |
| The breakfast gang |
 |
| Jack and LeAnn starting the grill |
 |
| Sammy and Aunt LeAnn |
 |
| Sammy taking it all in |
 |
| Handing out presents to unwrap |
The forecast has been hinting at a storm and now, its been changed to a full winter storm warning. So our plan to meet Gene, the Downys and Fuch's is off and has to be rescheduled. Gotta love Wisconsin in the winter. Is that why we're here?
No comments:
Post a Comment