MARCH 2015 - PART ONE

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

March began with us thawing out from our winter journey to Burnsville, MN to visit Phil and Zuly, not to mention their two cats (Mickey and Tyler) and their new puppy (Aria). The week after we left MN, spring began to blossom in Burnsville and Phil and Zuly were at the zoo and golfing! How ironic … tubing and ice fishing one week, golfing the next! But, we wouldn’t have traded that week in for a golf ball; it was just that perfect! 

Returning to Ocala, to SummerGlen, brought a familiarity of “home” that I was looking for, as I had been “referencing" that “home” was “Port St. Lucie”. It was nice to be “home” again with our new friends in our new community. 

As I start to write this blog on March 17, it is St. Patrick’s Day, so Happy St. Patty’s Day to all who are Irish, or those who just wannabe and are out there drinking that green beer! Cheers! Do they have a green wine I wonder? Hmmmm … 

It has been a baseball game filled month for Thom thus far, and there are more games scheduled; he is in high demand. There are the good sides and the bad sides of the baseball world in this area. This is no longer the TCOA and we are no longer in PSL! In short, and in MY opinion, the umpires here are behind in skills and enthusiasm, and enforcing the rules. They are quiet in their calls, slow on their feet, and not willing to make the calls; rather, they question the rule and try to “shrug it off”, even to the point to proving a seasoned official wrong and making sure they aren’t getting on the wrong side of the coaches. Again, this is MY opinion, but I’m sure it is shared with a certain someone who I admire, love, and who always keeps on going like that energizer bunny from the battery commercial! 

Another difference here, in the baseball world, are the fans. I traveled to Crystal River with Thom on a beautiful Friday night (the 13^th, however) to be his quiet support in the stands, to watch him call balls and strikes, like I’ve done for over 35 years! When I arrived, the music was blaring a religious-country style tune and I thought to myself, “this is different but nice to hear”, thinking the music might reflect the mood of the folks here. WAS I WRONG! After 3 innings of the non-stop chatter from the folks sitting right up against the fence, directed towards Thom, I had to go to the Jeep and watch from left field. The so-called “fans” of the home team (Crystal River High School) were so mean-spirited, hateful, loud, louder, and threatening. and lacked sportsmanship, I couldn’t stand it. This has NEVER, EVER happened all the days of my baseball wife life! Usually the mood changes between innings, but not this mood. I know Thom tunes it all out, but I couldn’t imagine him “not” hearing the constant barrage of negativity, but he didn’t. Leaving that game, I did something I had never done before either, and that was to tell the administration of that school that I had never experienced such disrespect towards the officials in all my years and the school not getting involved to stop it, and the home coach at one point enticing the crowd (yeah, I saw it coach)! And, yes, I told the administrator she should be embarrassed by her parents/fans in the stands, to which she said, “well, there are some like that in the other stands, too”. WHAT? I know Danny Ninestine would never have let this happen, or RJ Costello, or any other school AD in the Treasure Coast area.

During my “escape” to the Jeep, I started thinking I may have gotten Thom in trouble with his new association. I have never done this before and I don’t want to ruffle any feathers for him, so I called our dear friend Jim Thompson, to report my actions and to get support or a talking to, I wasn’t sure at that point, and it was great to have Jim give me the backing that I needed in that I had not done something wrong. Whew! Friday, March 13^th, what a night and Thom should never have taken me out to the ball game! 

Then last night, March 16^th, Thom was asked to evaluate a 3-man crew at Belleview High School. This was a request from the association’s baseball “director” (not the commissioner). Since we were just an hour away (Clermont), we decided to make the trip to Belleview so Thom could do the evaluation. Belleview High School was the complete opposite of Crystal River. The fans in the stands, the parents at the fence, were so quiet and there was no cheering on the home team (or the visitors from Gainesville East High School). We heard one “ah ump” and done so with a smile! Two different worlds Belleview and Crystal River! 

This week, March 15-22, we are on the road in the RV. We had our small bedroom window replaced in Hudson. We left Hudson yesterday and headed for Clermont, where we were going to stay at a Thousand Trails RV Resort; however, when we arrived, we were told the last 50 AMP site was “chosen” and that we needed to go throughout the park and “find our spot”! WHAT? Yes, that is how Thousand Trails does it. You join their club (or not, like us), pay them money, make a reservation for a certain type of spot, and when you get there you have to find your spot. You do this by unhooking your car, driving through the park and claiming it, and then getting your RV on the lot! This is crazy. So, we cancelled and made a reservation a mile down the road with full hook-up, pull-thru, and 50 AMP just like we wanted (Citrus Valley RV Resort). We are here to just relax and go to BJ’s, to prepare for the water/power only 5 days ahead of us at the Florida State Winnie Gators Rally in Orlando, starting tomorrow, March 18^th. 

This is part one of the March blog. I will finish the month with a part two, after this nice break today and upon our return to SummerGlen after the rally and what the rest of the month has in store for us, i.e. horse show, dinner out with the neighbors, Mardi Gras dinner for the Bocce Club, and who knows what else! Life is good.

 

Friday the 13th - Dunellon High School v. Crystal River High School

Thom and his partner, who wanted to wait on the field to see if a fight would break out after the game, (past history of doing so), all the while Thom wanted to leave, and then his partner wanted to get "free food" from the concession stand! Seriously! And, while this was going on, I'm in the Jeep waiting for Thom, hoping the crowd didn't go at him, even though the home team won, and waited over 5 minutes before I saw he and his partner walking towards me. I was just about to get behind the wheel and see if I needed to rescue Thom and be like Bonnie and Clyde and speed out of there! Aye-aye-aye! Yes, it was that crazy of a night! And Thom, ever the professional, would not leave without his partner!

I took a photo of this man who would not stop glaring at Thom the entire 3 innings and who kept on and on and on, to the point of yelling he (Thom) needed to be taught how to call balls and strikes and maybe he should do the teaching! Good Lord people, it's high school baseball and your kids are not going to be the next Michael Brantley! Watch the game, not the officials!

Very nice accommodations at the glass repair center in Hudson, FL.

The right-hand small window before repair.

Jake watching the glass tech removing the window. He is curious about everything!

We needed coffee and ended up with breakfast as well. This was an unusual place but really good.

Our breakfasts! The biscuits were huge and shared!

Belleview High School, March 16th. It was nice to be outside with Thom sitting next to me, watching a baseball game and not being in a hostile environment!

 

Small bedroom window fixed; however, it looks like the other small bedroom window may be next!

Citrus Valley RV Resort, Clermont, FL - A 2-day break before the rally chaos!

Fritzy enjoying the front window views!

Ironically, the community this RV resort is located in, we looked at to buy a few years ago. Each of the X-number of homes in Citrus Highlands has an RV port; however, each home is two storied and we didn't want 2 stories, and the location to get out of FL was not as we would have wanted (27 vs. I-75); therefore, we ended up in Ocala!

 

 

Until next blog ... 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEBRUARY 2015 (and a little of early March, too)

FEBRUARY 2015

There may only be 28 days in February, but this was a month filled with lots of "happenings", each one better than the other, and the last one being fabulous!

Our community, SummerGlen, has so much to offer and one can participate as much or as little as they like, and we have chosen the route to participation! This month there was a health fair at the Grand Hall where we learned not more than we already knew; however, this is the high pollen season for Ocala and answered that nagging question of "why do I feel like this"! I had no idea Ocala's pollen season was upon us!

February was the beginning of baseball season for Thom. As much as the football gurus did not welcome him, baseball has opened their arms and have swallowed him up! February's total games are 5, which does not sound so much, but considering we were gone for 2 weeks out of the month and the season just started, and March is action packed thus far (as of 03/05/15), there will be no complaints from Thom except for the amount of miles he will be traveling to get to the games! He has at least driven with a partner to one game and was invited to join his family for dinner after the game. That is monumental. And, he has actually gotten a phone call from a fellow official asking about a rule interpretation! He has also gotten a few calls/e-mails from his buddies with the TCOA as well about the rules! Although he has gotten a lot of assignments thus far, he has also learned that the "good old boys of Marion County" also do things their way and have spoken to him about some of his calls. I am sure he is making his mark here and they will have to learn the rules of the game Coste style!

February 8th through the 12th was spent in our motorhome in Citra, FL for a Mid-Florida Winnie Gators campout, a club we belong to. This was our first campout with our club and we look forward to joining them often in the future. The weather cooperated, albeit a bit chilly, but it did not rain. There were over 20 motorhomes in attendance and lots of dogs! Our next outing with them will be in Orlando at the state Winnie Gators Rally, in March.

Before we left for Citra, the "check engine" light came on in the motorhome. Thom has an engine code indicator that told us there was a problem with the emissions control center. We took the motorhome out for a ride to see if that would correct it and it did, so we thought! We did, however, make an appointment with Freightliner a few weeks later (their earliest opening). Unfortunately, on our way home from Citra, not only did the "check engine" light come back on, but then the red "turn engine off" light came on! Thank God we were at an exit and we could get the motorhome parked in an abandoned gas station. As soon as the motorhome was coming to a halt, the engine turned off! Thom called CoachNet (a motorhome owner's version of AAA) and the motorhome was towed to Freightliner in less than 45 minutes! Thank God again, that we were just a few exits south of Freightliner! Freightliner repaired our motorhome before our scheduled appointment and now waits for us to take her out again, which will be in a week and a half, when we head to Orlando for the state rally.

On Friday, February 13, we went with our neighbors to a horse jumping competition here in Ocala, the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. It was our first show and we will definitely attend another. This competition was held between Ireland, Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia, Canada, and the United States. One of the riders for the United States is the daughter of the former mayor of NY (Bloomberg). She actually had two of the best rides of the show with no faults and good times. Ireland, however, had the best riders and placed first with the United States placing second. It was probably the coldest day in Ocala, however, and we were not properly dressed! It was probably a precursor to what was yet to come weather-wise!

On Wednesday, February 25, Thom and I flew to Minneapolis, MN to see our son Phil and his girlfriend Zuly! We had a blast! It was wonderful to see Phil again. It had been almost 7 months since we last saw him. He looks great! He is happy and enjoying the Minnesota lifestyle, i.e. the weather! They have truly embraced the weather change and all it has to offer. During our visit, Phil took us to Prior Lake where he drove us onto the frozen lake (2' thick). We went to the University of MN, where Zuly will continue her degree in nutrition once she has met the MN residency criteria. As the university sits along the Mighty Mississippi, Thom, Phil, and Zuly decided they would make me a nervous wreck and stand on the icy river bed! Thank goodness they didn't venture any further because the river was not entirely frozen! We also went tubing at Buck Hill. That was the most fun I have had in a long time! A conveyer belt brings you up the hill so it makes it a lot easier to go up and down that hill! My goodness was that a cold event though, it was about 20 degrees but felt like 10 (or less)! Thank goodness there was a fire pit at the bottom of the hill to warm us up! And, Thom and Phil went ice fishing on another lake. They were on the ice for 6 hours and yes they both caught fish (sunnies), a total of 3, or 3 fish sticks! LOL! The days went too fast and then we had to say goodbye. I don't say the word "hate" that often, but I really "hate" saying goodbye to anyone, especially to my son or daughter! It was tough I must say.

As for the weather conditions in MN during our trip, it was cold; however, we had lots of layers to keep us warm, and as Phil would say, "you go from the house to the car, the car inside a building, from the building to your car"! Yes, that is true, unless one is ice fishing, tubing, or your parking space to the "building" is more than a few steps away! LOL! We did experience negative degree weather (-15 was the lowest wind chill for us) but it is like that 2010 PSLHS graduate told us in Fairbanks, "it is just colder"! There was no snow the day before we left FL for MN, but Phil text messaged us the day we were leaving, that the "snow Gods must know you are coming, because it snowed last night". There was not a lot of snow, but there was snow nonetheless. BUT, the day we left, there was supposed to be snow from 3 a.m. Tuesday (March 3rd) until 9:00 p.m. Well, at 3 a.m. there was no snow (I checked), and at 5 a.m. there was no snow (we both checked).  At 7 a.m., it was a different story - there was snow! It was really neat to see the snow coming down, even if it waited to do so on our way to the airport! Yes, the airport went into shutdown mode for about 15 minutes and the plane had to be de-iced, but the flight back was quite smooth. It was, however, fabulous to get back to the Florida weather, even if it was 86 degrees when we arrived in Ocala!

Back in Ocala, life returns to normal, whatever that may mean! Lots of things going on in March including Thom's photos (2) hanging on the RSO hallway along with others from the Photography Club; loads of baseball for Thom (6 games this week); having a window in the motorhome replaced; meeting new friends in Clermont in our motorhome; the state rally; the Mardi Gras Dinner sponsored by the Bocce Club; Bingo; canasta; Bunco; bocce; investment club; and, snack shack volunteering for SummerGlen softball! Life is good!

Citra, FL

HITS Ocala - Martha, Erwin, Thom, and Danny

Erwin and Martha, our neighbors behind us who wanted our lot to build on but it wasn't available when they were looking! Erwin tells us we live in his house! They are both characters, but lovely people, friends.

Our after show dinner, celebrating Valentine's Day a day early!

It was so wonderful to not only see Phil, but to actually give him a real hug, not a cyber hug! Gosh I miss him.

The three of us standing on Prior Lake! It was a bit strange I must admit, but I look forward to seeing this beautiful area in the summertime!

Wild and Crazy Guys, standing on the Mississippi River bank!

As seen on Divers, Drive-Ins, and Dives! This is located in the West Bank section of Minneapolis.

Thom had the Warsaw dog. The food was really good!

Coming to Vikings fans in 2016!

Happy!

Buck Hill Tubing!

Zuly and I took a "get warm break" by the fire.

I had to get my gloves warm. Yes layered gloves as well!

Phil and Zuly - after tubing getting pizza and calzones!

As Phil would say, "The Parents"!

St. Paul Cathedral. The cathedral is absolutely beautiful.

St. Paul

 

Michelangelo's Pieta, a replica, but so beautiful nonetheless.

The Capital Building, being renovated.

Another diner as seen in Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, this one in St. Paul, which has been open for more than 70 years, 24/7, and has been featured in several movies including the Mighty Ducks. It is a lot smaller inside than it looks!

Yes, even in cold weather, you have to try the local faire of milkshakes, which was the best part of our meal! LOL!

 

Thom's lunch - a patty melt grease-style!   

Sunset, Burnsville, MN, outside Phil's apartment - so pretty even in the bitter cold!

The terrorist threat was not keeping us away even if we only walked one floor. This mall is crazy, too big, and they are expanding!

6 a.m. the day we are leaving - no snow!

7:00 a.m. - SNOW! 

It is so pretty being above the clouds, but I really prefer motorhome travel a lot more!

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Welcome to Orlando, 1 degree cooler than Ocala!

 

Until next blog ...