They say that whatever you do on New Year's Day, you'll be doing the rest of the year.  Well, if that's true, we should have a terrific year ahead of us.  We went to our Advanced dance workshop in the morning, followed by some geocaching, then some shopping at Wally-World, Publix, and my favorite, JoAnn Fabrics.  Oh yeah, and after dinner we ate BROWNIES and walked down to the river to watch see some birds & gators!!  Couldn't ask for anything more or better than all that!  We are constantly grateful for all the sacrifices of all the brave men & women that keep this country strong and safe so that we might enjoy our freedom to come & go & speak our minds. 

Yesterday was similar; we danced in the morning, and I mean we DANCED.  The caller did his thing, and surprisingly enough, we did what he said!  It was less like a workshop and more like a real dance, where we mostly knew what we were doing (and supposed to be doing).  However, after speaking with Tim & Staples, we decided that we probably weren't going to make the Lakeland Winter Fest, due to the expenses involved.  We calculated it would run us about $600 for a couple days of dancing, and at this time, it just doesn't look like a wise or economical decision.  We're going to see about dancing more locally, even if not at the Advanced level.  Seems like a small sacrifice when compared to what others are giving up.  Speaking of Tim & Staples - Tim, I have no idea what you mean by Chinese Lantern or Planet X.  I looked them both up, and apparently, I'm totally missing your point(s).  Please explain?

We had company last week, too - Jack & Di, our neighbors & "new" friends from Georgia came to see us.  We engaged a sitter for Sunny, and spent a lovely day touring Venice, and, would you believe, eating?   We tried out Marco Polo Buffet and it wasn't bad. After stuffing ourselves (and watching others do the same!!!) we headed to the beach.  This time, the weather cooperated, and tho the water was cold, the sun was hot and wind minimal.  We walked from Sharkey's down almost to the dog beach, looking for shark's teeth and/or interesting shells.  Found some new shells for Di, but, alas, no teeth.  Not a ONE.  On the way back, tho, Dick & Jack had quit looking & I found out that Di didn't know what she was looking for.  Well, she knew "teeth," but she didn't know what they looked like.  That's kinda how we feel when we're out geocaching sometimes.    I spotted a pile of shells & sand that looked like something someone had scooped up & sifted thru already, but for some reason, I decided to sift thru it again.  I just ran my foot thru it, and there it was!!  One of the largest & best specimens we'd found to date.  If I had known how scarce they were going to become, I'm pretty sure I would not have been leaving them in caches by the handfuls!!!

Today, Jose was back under the trailer for the better part of the day.  Well, better probably isn't the right word.  More accurately, I should say the "most" part of the day.  Remember, we had that stinky leak into the insulation.  All the wet, stinky insulation has been pulled out from under the camper & disposed of.  It's been right chilly here at night (OK, I call 49* chilly!!!!), so it's kinda been a priority to get put back together.  Today we (yup, I'm using the term "we" loosely) stuffed new, DRY insulation back up in there and started screwing the plastic liner back on.  Think, big tarp, 30 feet long, 8 1/2 feet wide, holding up 3  12-foot long strips of insulation stapled together, and only about 18 inches off the ground.  In the dark, since it's UNDER the camper.  Good thing Jose is clever & doesn't mind working hard.  It's not a job we could have "done" for us, since the camper cannot be moved in its present condition.  Airflow created by towing it down the road would destroy what's left of the current setup.  That would be so not good.  So, at end of day, he's got it well under control, and the liner is about half-installed.  Whew - that should make it a bit warmer in here tonight.

Oh, lemme tell ya what ELSE is making it warmer tonight...and smelling good too!!  Publix (God love 'em!!) had Betty Crocker brownie mix on sale again - BOGO.  (Buy one, get one free)  Well, I KNEW the turtles were good, so I got one of them, but they had a new kind out - cookie mix.  OMG.  Good golly, are they good.  Made 'em tonight.  And ate half of 'em already.  OIKS, just couldn't help myself!! 

We also couldn't help but steal some grapefruit the other day.  I mean, it's just sitting on the tree, looking ripe for the pickin!!  And, we've been told that ALL the trees in the park belong TO the park, so we could just help ourselves.  I guess that's not really stealing then.  Especially since #1, the tree from which the fruit was picked grows in the lot of an abandoned park model (that has been relinquished to the park for sale or rental), and #2, we gave half of what we picked to the 99 year old lady down the street.  Her daughter, Lynn lives with her and takes care of her, while still working full time.  She had a friend from out of town visiting and they invited us to go out to eat with 'em.  Took us to Myakka Oyster House, where we all had fish, shrimp & ribs.  No oysters.  Margaritas and some beer.  For dessert - key lime pie & Snickers cheesecake.  Oh, yumm..  One thing's fer sure.....we DO eat well here in Florida.  You would think in this land of bathing suits, we would be more careful.  Oh well, don't strain your brain with all that thinking.....careful we ain't!!

Sunny is still plunkin' along - some days are better than others, but for the most part, she's pretty spry.  Guess we can credit the good diet (SHE doesn't get all the brownies we do) and medication for her day-to-day health. 

Well, tomorrow is a work day (gosh, how quickly they come around!), so I guess I'd better get this out & get off to the shower.  Y'all have a great & blessed day, and thanks for being our friends.