Apricity South 2

​November 21, 2025 - Friday

Started the day with water aerobics, drying off in the sun, and eating homemade chicken rice soup. They changed the day to socialize with fellow swimmers from Thursday night to Friday night because there is no live music on Thursdays this year. We’re game. This is Brooke - she has a nice voice and good play list. Terry is our instructor…

Some of the water aerobics group and spouses…

Got home in time to follow the big Lee High Wildcat football game. Unfortunately, they did not win this one. It’s the first loss of the season, so they should hold their heads high and be thankful for the glory days they enjoyed. Jacob said, “I know but everyone is so sad.”

November 22, 2025 - Saturday

Shopped early and then went for my walk. Quiet day - should probably do laundry…

November 23, 2025 - Sunday

Walked early to beat the heat. Attended church service online. Got into the left side of the Owner’s Closet…and another bag to drop at Goodwill. 

Got a couple of patio chairs for our front landing…

November 24, 2025 - Monday

Well, I tipped over at water aerobics with the bar bells tucked under both knees. Got my hair wet, but at least I couldn’t get hurt by falling over in water - right? One of the advantages of exercising in the water. 

Line dancing after lunch raised a little sweat as it is boom, boom, boom - no lolly gagging. One short break midway and that’s it. It is amazing to me the muscle memory that I have for these steps. Not the same patterns that I learned in AZ, but I can almost feel which way to go with the music.

November 25, 2025 - Tuesday

I increased my walk today to 2 miles which is what I was doing last month in Massachusetts.  Since here, my walks have been around Stone Harbour Loop which is only 1.6 miles and it’s time to step it up, so I went through cul-de-sacs to pick up more steps. 

Rich and I are committed to playing in four of the Aloha Ukulele Christmas Performances -  12/5, 12/6 @ 11am, 12/12 and 12/15. It took me as long to learn to pronounce mele kalikimaka (Merry Christmas) as to learn all 23 songs! We are starting to get our wardrobes together - stay tuned.

So Brenda, a fellow player with a boo boo on her index finger, told me today that she knows a player in the Lakewood Ranch Garden Club who she wants to bring to this group. She said she’s from Massachusetts! And is a “stringer” in the Magic Fluke Co. of Sheffield, MA which is 25 minutes down the road from my home in Lee. What? I couldn’t believe it - don’t know her name or anything yet, but I will let you know when I meet her.

Stopped at the Elks for a late lunch - we split a meat lovers pizza. It was frozen, but very good actually. Nice and spicy is how I like it. 

If you want a good belly laugh, I highly recommend watching Everybody Loves Raymond on CBS. I didn’t watch the live session, but it is available streaming. So, so funny and back stories on how it all came together. 

November 26, 2025 - Wednesday 

Did H2O Aerobics this morning. Rich came over after to swim and sun after class. Another gorgeous day in paradise! 

Went to the Elks in the evening to see Tony (bartender) play his 12-string guitar, play harmonica and sing. He sounded good. We’ll go see him at our golf club too where he plays once a month. 

Also met another Cindy! There are many in my life - this one is a bundle of laughs and the cook at the Elks… 

November 27, 2025 - Thursday - HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Went for my 2-mile walk in anticipation of a delicious turkey dinner with the works. And it was delicious. We didn’t get a pie since it took us a week to eat a huge pumpkin pie from Costco ($5.99) two weeks ago. 

Called John and Eileen in AZ who we have had Thanksgiving dinner with for the last 5 years. They had a neighbor couple with them this year - a much smaller affair than it has been. 

Talked to my mom, our kids and their families as they gathered together. ❤️❤️❤️ 

Apricity South 2

November 14, 2025, Friday

No water aerobics today as it was 55 degrees at class time. So I walked instead after a quick trip to Costco. Surely the steps up the stairs lugging groceries counts for something! Ironically, WW gives me 3 points for H2O aerobics and only 2 for walking 1.6 miles. Doesn’t seem right. 

The Lee High Wildcats practice for the big football game on Saturday. It is at home and you never know what the weather will be in the Berkshires.

A ride through the town of Lee illustrates the immense town spirit. Bed sheets with each player’s name and tagline are hung in the store fronts. It’s pretty impressive to see. This is Jake’s 2nd cousin, Landon. Big strong boy!

Injured Jake got coverage too. 

November 16, 2025 - Saturday

The warm weather is back, thankfully. 

We did another early morning run for breakfast at Skillets and a Publix - home before people have even climbed out of bed. Love the knotty pine…

They won the Final Four trophy - if they win next week’s game, it’s on the road to the MIAA Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. Jake is #23…

The town of Lee does a stand up job of celebrating the Wildcats successes! The fire department drives them through town with whistles, lights and sirens blaring! The townspeople line the sidewalks to cheer the passengers on the trucks! 

November 17, 2025 - Sunday

Went for a walk, listened to church on line, then opened the Owner’s Closet here in my condo! Wow! Lots of stuff in there that I had forgotten about since it’s been 5 years since I was here last. I spent the afternoon going through the right side of the closet - filled 1/2 a garbage bag and also a box for Goodwill. The other half will be done later. It was pretty exhausting as most of the items brought back cherished memories. Then deciding which pile to put it in… keep, donate, toss - Ugh!

November 18, 2025 - Monday

Started the day with H2O aerobics wearing my finger condom to keep it dry; then Rich came over to swim and soak up some sun. 

I almost forgot to go to Line Dancing this afternoon. I am pleased to say that I did pretty darn good with the steps (muscle memory) and certainly got a good workout. It lasts one hour with one brief break, but no loitering between songs - just go right into the next one. There were 15 of us there. During the break, I heard someone talking about “up North” so I asked where up North. St. Albans,Vermont! It so happens I had talked to her husband a few days ago. I was out walking and noticed a golf cart with the vanity plate CLARK. He was nearby, so I started the conversation. Both of my kids married Clarks (2nd cousins) from Tyringham, MA so I am attracted to the name. So now I met Linda - don’t know the husband’s name yet.

November 19, 2025 - Tuesday 

After my early walk and shower, we went to ukulele practice for 2 hours. Of course, we always arrive early, but I heard a woman talking to everyone about how she sliced her finger with a potato peeler! Say what? At first, I thought it was a joke on me, but she held up her well- bandaged left index finger. I approached her holding up my left index finger which is now protected by a New Skin, a liquid bandaid. Brenda is now a new friend of mine as she encouraged me to use one of her extra bandaids for playing today. I was able to use that finger lightly holding down the strings. 

We had to solicit Mr. Handyman to come by to check on my front window with a $175 minimum due at the consultation. Oy! I decided to wash this window for the first time that I can remember since we bought this condo in 2008! That’s right - I have been here VERY LITTLE  until now and don’t think we ever opened the window as it is A/C all the way. Anyway, Mr. Handyman, Andy was a great guy who has been working with windows for 35 years and was able to pull out the faulty springs. He will have to order replacements ($90) which is a whole lot better than having to replace a heavy hurricane window. We breathed a sigh of relief. Great guy working seamlessly with a thumb, 3 stubs and a pinky on his right hand. It amazes me how people make the best of difficult circumstances. 

 

November 20, 2025 - Wednesday 

Walked early to beat the heat. For lunch, we went to the Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge for the first time. It’s a very nice club and just 15 minutes away. They have a burger special on Wednesdays which was very good. The bartender is a performer (12-string guitar and singer) - we will probably go over on Thanksgiving Eve to hear him. 

Nice bar…

Ready for Bingo tonight…

This is a great picture of our dear friends from Arizona and Texas. We miss them a whole bunch  and try to stay in touch. ❤️

November 21, 2025 - Thursday

Ukulele practice after my early morning walk.

This is Alice, the amazing retired high school teacher who injects so much energy and understanding into the group - it is contagious. 

Rich is getting serious about this upcoming performance! There were fewer than usual players here today, but they sounded great. See the short video in the body of this email. 

There is a Dim Sum Kitchen across the way from where we practice. Watch out! This is one of our favorite things to eat - just ONE of our favorite. 

Small, medium and large baskets.

Rich does NOT like to wait for anything, much less a table in a restaurant. But today we did wait - 40 minutes. Unheard of… With only 5 booths, there was actually a waitlist to sign to sit and eat. It was well worth the wait. As we watched folks pick up to go food, we realized that the way to do this is to call in your order, pick it up and go home to eat it. 

Rich grabbed one before I could get a picture…

When we checked out, the waitress told us that they would only be doing take out after Thanksgiving. The chef (now owner) has been preparing fresh, homemade dim sum for 20 years. His assistant is retiring and they do not have the staff to cover sit down dining. Good to know…

The view from my office!

Apricity South 2

November 7, 2025, Friday
Weighed in today and am I pleased? The scale was very good to us today. Gives you hope and encouragement for the upcoming days. Water aerobics at 9am, They took a picture for the newsletter as it was a cloudy day.  Then Rich and I sat by the pool for a while - just the two of us. Didn’t do much for the rest of the day.

Observed these woodpeckers having a feast! 

November 8, 2025, Saturday

Did an early morning breakfast treat at Skillets - they have cheesy grits. A favorite of mine.

Got some groceries and then I took my walk. We went poolside for about an hour on this glorious sunny, 80-degree day. 

November 9, 2025, Sunday

Lazy Sunday - early walk, church on line, lunch, margaritas, watch the alligators, birds, turtles and golfers from the lanai, practice Rich’s ukulele/harmonica, and dinner. 

November 10, 2025, Monday 

Did “polar plunge” water aerobics - it was 63 degrees so the water actually felt warm. Getting out wasn’t as bad as I feared it would be. I decided to make potato soup for lunch today and before I peeled 1/2 a potato, I was bleeding. This is the sharpest potato peeler I have ever seen - a serious flap of skin now hangs on my index  finger. Dr. Rich bandaged it and held onto me at my request. I have fainted before when I cut a finger and bled. He also finished making the soup.

So with that in mind I dared not line dance in the afternoon as was planned. I did go and watch them to get a feel for what they do here in sunny Florida. The difference is they don’t call the dance steps as my adorable friend and drill sergeant, Cindy, did in AZ. Hmmm - their steps are the same, but hope I can put them in the right order next week…

November 11, 2025, Tuesday 

HAPPY VETERANS DAY! 

Woke up to 38 degrees so walked in the afternoon instead. Rich went to the Alohaukulele group with me today, I could not play with my tender finger tip, so I just sang. But he played his ukulele very well for someone who has hardly picked it up since last winter. The group keeps growing in preparation for Christmas concerts. 

November 12, 2025, Wednesday

Decided to try an online live jam session with Ukulele Gent. I still can’t play, but I can strum with my right hand and sing. It was interesting - a one way jam. We can see the leader, but he can’t see or hear us. We learned some new stuff.

November 13.2025, Thursday

Pretty darn proud of this young lady - 1st born grandchild, Leanna. Her BopBop would be so proud💕

Today we had a beginner lesson at the Lakewood Ranch Library - an amazing huge structure.

The room was equipped with a screen, sound system, comfortable chairs and tables. Alice led us in an hour of the last class of the session. It was good for us - I never used the pick and am much more confident and aware of the island strum. Rich played the whole time as well. I did ok moving my fingers around so as to NOT use my index finger.  

Went to the Golf Course Clubhouse for a double smash burger for $8! Very good.

Until we meet again…