Starting with the setting sun....

Settling in to watch the show....

Pina Coladas win the second prize...

Becky and Hugh enjoying their Florida vacation

...just can't beat the ambiance...

...it's just like the islands, mon...

Just enjoying the sights on Clearwater Beach

We had a terrific Easter Sunday. Shane and Laura came up from Gainesville on Friday, Crystal and Dana drove in from Zephyrhills on Sunday afternoon, and Steve and Donna showed up on our doorstep with a beautiful Easter Lilly. After converging at our house and the ensuing short visit, we all piled into our cars (notice Shane's new wheels, below) and headed to Gus & Laurie's.

Gus carved the ham.
Crystal and her Grandma "hammed" it up for the photographer.
Several tables were set up so there was plenty of elbow room.

We celebrated Shane's 21st Birthday.... dig the candles we dug up.....
twenty-one singles, how creative!
Laura's sunburned smile (from the jet ski trip the day before, notice Gary and Shane's red colors too).

We all had a wonderful, relaxing day. Happy Easter everyone, and Happy 21st Birthday Shane!

NEW YORK CITY! Best friend Cathy (Luuuuuucy!) extended the invitation, and me, being the Ethel that I am, accepted. There's certainly no place like it, it's a blend of excitement and chaos all at once. The taxi's are just TOO much, clinging to your life at every turn or intersection. We ate many expensive meals, but the best meal was in Soho with my niece, Christin......the best Chinese dumplings, and of all things, a tuna fish sandwich (it had to be the cilantro). She also took Cathy and I to a great little Cuban dive, we had plantains for dessert, Cathy had a grilled chicken cuban that looked delicioso. That was a pretty relaxing day, Christin sure knows her way around. She took us on a subway trip that was quite interesting. I wish we could have spent more time with her, in her world, but four days wasn't quite enough. Back at the Vision Expo, Cathy and I got a glimpse of "The Donald" and we even had time to go shopping.....can you imagine eight stories of Macy's? Me either, but I bought a sweater, on sale of course. During our last hours in NYC, we took a cab to "Ground Zero". It sure left a big hole, and you can feel the emotional hole when you are standing in front of it all. The church in the distance certainly caught my eye from Ground Zero, though the blast knocked out a huge tree on the grounds, not one of the stained glass windows in the sactuary broke. After that, we were rushed back to the airport, in a TAXI, of course, the last of the wild rides! What a trip. Thanks, Lucy, and Christin, I had a wonderful time!

Sea World was great! You can't go wrong with fish, right?

It was also a great way to celebrate a birthday!

Our most recent visitor

Not much goings on here, though I survived 50 years......plus one more just went by really fast. To keep me feeling young, Gary, Crystal, Dana and Brandon are taking me to Sea World for the........."special day". It should be great fun, and good food and bEEr! I might even have one with the Clydsedales.

I also get to go to NYC with Catherine for 4 days the end of March. We're stayin' at some fancy schmancy hotel on Broadway (I can feel a professional massage coming on). Cathy invited me to join her, she's attending the "big" International Vision Expo, and I'll get to see that too, but while she's seminaring, I'll be.......(you guessed it, I'm sure)........shopping! I cleaned my closet out, just in case I find a little something. I'll also get to visit Christin, who wants to show me the jammin' night life of a 20 something........I think I'm in trouble here, but no matter what we get up to, I'm sure it will be fun. Yes, I'll take some photos, and I'll even post some, if they're decent.....

Wedding plans are moving along. We have the place for the ceremony reserved, and if the "little dive" is available, we'll be set on the date we want to get married.......August 19th, so hold that thought.........a good thought............and I'll be confirming with everyone as soon as possible. We just really want to make it a fun, relaxing time for all, a time to really blend the families and friends. I'm still thinkin' denim......

Guitar lessons are moving along, and Gary is a real pusher, but its all good.....I've actually learned to play a few songs. Our bud, Barbie, comes to jam with us, and we're have fun jamming on a few songs together. She's gracefully offered up her band RadioActive to play some wedding reception music.....who knows, we might have some other surprise in store as well.

The screened room is scheduled for to be built out this week, they are starting it the day I leave for NYC...........it will be a nice surprise when I get home. The weather is getting here too, so the bunnies, lizards and birds are starting to rip and scatter around. I love it when the spring and summer pop, the cold sh*t is for the snow birds (like Stephen and Stanley.....whom I mention because I do miss having their smiling faces around, but you know, Maine is a great place to be when you're young and you can "tolerate" the cold much better---a great place for "old mama's" to visit after their 51st birthday.

A Clearwater Beach Sunset.......

Ordered just for John and Norma!

Gary's Birthday Party.....all the kids had fun.........

Happy St. Valentine's Day! Hope yours was swEEt too!

ALL THREE OF THE NEDIK SIBLINGS.............A great time was had by all