So we headed to the Orlando Premium Outlet Mall to the Easy Spirit store. Talk about traffic and parking difficulties! Thankfully I used the Waze app that got us around the standstill traffic and we found a spot to park behind the stores at the very edge of the whole mall. There were many visitors dragging their newly purchased suitcases behind them filled with their other purchases. Lots of other languages were being spoken too. And then we learned Easy Spirit has moved out!!
We rode the boat all the way back instead of just half way as we headed for home. We had to stop at The House of Blues to get cooled off. They gave me a cold rag to help me cool down and Kristin brought me a cold drink. In a bit I was fine to continue on.
Kristin, who has lost 30 lbs. on WW, bought lots of new things for the cruise. I bought a shirt and dress plus new bras. I needed them! We ate lunch at Panera Bread but there was no room in the restaurant to eat. It emptied out to the food court but it was no better. I waited for the food while Kristin scouted around and finally found us a table just as our food was ready. She said weekends and Christmas are even worse. It was after 5:00 when we got home. Shortly thereafter we headed to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner.
We went to see Death of a Nation Saturday afternoon but I don't think my companions liked it all that much. But I am a history nut and found it interesting and informative. We had a bit of time before Mass so Larry rode us through his childhood neighborhood and showed us his house and schools. It was his old church that we attended.
Then we went to Outback for dinner and finally home to continue our Downton Abbey marathon. We are up to the second season, the fourth episode. It reminded me that the Outlander season is to start up in September!
Sunday we stayed home and invited Larry's sister for dinner. Ted and I went swimming and I noticed the screen door looked as if someone had spray painted yellow paint on it. Kristin said whoever cleaned their screen enclosure last time sprayed a solution that caused it. When she and Ted went out I told him to buy a can of flat black rustoleum and a piece of poster board. I fixed the door appearance!
Monday we returned to the mall (ugh!) to return some things and then headed to Disney Springs to see what had been added to Downtown Disney to create this new area. We walked a good distance taking in the sights then rode a boat across the bay to minimize our time in the sun. We ducked into a store to cool off and purchase a gift for Nancy who is keeping the home fires burning while we are gone.
Tuesday we drove to our old hometown of DeBary to meet with our financial guy who is retiring soon and to meet the new guy. After a good conversation with Charles, we met Syd and we all went to lunch. When we returned, Syd showed us some new software and after asking several questions and using the info he has, he created a graph with three different scenarios. Total meltdown of the market, average returns, and the market soaring. He showed how adding and subtracting discretionary or non-discretionary amounts makes the graphs shift. The green banner "On Track" never moved even when taking Ted to age 96 in a major market turndown.
We talked about our big travel expenditures slowing down but medical costs and possible long term care having a big effect on finances. We discussed our housing situation - one floor, accessible bathroom facilities, small yard being cared for by a service, cleaning lady when I feel the need for one, probably a new roof in the near future. Even my Expedition and replacing it for an easier access vehicle was talked about. He was very thorough. We left feeling very good about where we are right now and optimistic for the future.
Instead of jumping right on I-4, we drove south to DeBary to see our old house. It looks as nice as when we built it in 1996!
We attended a NAMI group meeting for families dealing with mental illness, mostly their children. Larry's sister has paranoid schizophrenia and they facilitate these weekly meetings while she attends one for those suffering from a mental illness. My heart went out to these people and what they go through each and every day. Maureen has her own home and a paid companion in the same neighborhood as Kristin. Larry administers her medications and except for some quirks, she gets along well. On Sunday her dinner roll fell off her plate onto the table. You or I would just pick it up and put it back or eat it. She looked at me and said it fell. I just took it away and gave her a new one. You do what is necessary for them to feel safe no matter how silly it sounds. I learned a lot that night.
Wednesday we drove to Tavares to visit a high school friend and her husband. We met at their son's restaurant for lunch. It is a beautiful venue on a lake with float planes going in and out and the food was delicious! We had a great time visiting for over 3 hours!
1 comment:
Sounds like you are having a marvelous time. Maybe we can meet up when you guys head home, either here or at "our" place by the interstate. Just let us know as we would love to see you both!
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