Apricity South 2

​March 20, 2026 - Friday  HAPPY SPRING 

Walked my walk. Met friends from back home at the Elks today. It was really fun. A fellow Elk, Paul, bought drinks for everyone in the bar. We never saw him before, but as he was leaving I asked him if he would mind taking our picture. He immediately said, “I want to be in your picture!” Ok - who will take the picture of 7 of us? My friend, Bob. So we gathered round the table and Bob took our picture. Paul reminds us so much of, Kevin, a friend back home.

In the meantime, Paul told us he dealt in underground real estate. I knew right away - he was a funeral director. He has 4 establishments and his children are beginning to take over. All of the jokes started coming out - everyone is dying to see him, etc. He gave us each a card in case we needed it - just call Paul. When he asked where we were from, it was all Massachusetts except Rich (New York). He said he was from Binghamton, NY - it so happens that Rich’s daughter, Nora, is working there as a traveling nurse. Then he said he grew up in Rutland, Vermont which is very close to Rich’s town of Whitehall. He used to go drinking as a young teenager at Hampton Manor, in Hampton, NY, which is the equivalent of us going from Lee to the State Line in NY as the drinking age was 18. They knew so many of the same places. 

We skipped lunch and I had a mid-day vodka with cranberry and seltzer. I was so tired and hungry when we got home! Can’t keep up with these youngin’s anymore…

March 21, 2026 - Saturday

Walked with Charlotte and Shotsy. We took our time and really just meandered around the loops. It was amazing to see all of the work being done around the beautiful homes. The power of an HOA (Home Owners Association). There was a meeting last week about property violations - mostly trimming shrubs and trees, power washing, mold and mildew, painting, etc. People have been warned several times through email and snail mail. Now they will be fined $100/day for each violation until they comply. Glad I have a condo… 

When I got home, I dove into the owner’s closet again. Oh Boy! I pulled everything out and sorted it. It’s mostly toiletries and beach bags full of stuff, golf clubs, 4 scooters, a partial bottle of Tito’s, and some kitchen supplies. Anyway, I was able to consolidate, organize, and put it back together - exhausting. I am now acutely aware of how much easier it is to travel in the motorhome.

I have a 2004 Suburban here year round - covered and the battery disconnected. It only gets used while family is vacationing here. Since my son, Randy’s family is staying here for a week in April, we took her for a spin around the community - all seems well except for the windshield wipers which we will replace. 

March 22, 2026 - Sunday

On my walk today, the sun hit the pond just right and I was able to see fish holes/nests where females had fanned the sand away to lay their eggs. There were a bunch of them. As I was taking the picture, I saw a huge daddy fish making the rounds. I assume he was fertilizing those eggs. 

March 23, 2026 - Monday HAPPY 96TH BIRTHDAY, MOM ❤️

It sure felt good to swim again today. Took my uke to Jeff to get the A string replaced. He used a little heavier string this time. 

From there, we went to Sharky’s at Venice Beach to meet up and lunch with 9 friends from Lee. We were an hour early and the parking lot was already filled up. So we drove a ways to find parking on the side of the road. It would have been a hike and Rich was commiserating about it when a Shuttle golf cart pulled up next to us, “Would you like a lift?” WOW! Perfect timing. 

We sat at the Tiki Bar waiting for others to arrive. Turns out the guy next to me was from New England. Oh really, where? Maine. Where in Maine? Preparing myself for yet another person connected with the village of Raymond and/or Panther Pond, I told him about how many people I meet know of them. He says, “I know Raymond and drive by Panther Pond on the way to my sisters.” Oy! He just retired from accounting in April and has been in Venice for 4 months. They have only cooked twice in that time. They go out - cha-ching! He had some scoop on Sharky’s - they serve 2000 meals a day! It is always packed - in the winter by snowbirds and in the summer by the locals. They pay their rent according to the proceeds they earn. Last year, they wrote a check for $1.5 million!

After four hours of drinking, talking, finally getting a table at 2pm, enjoying a very nice meal, and then bidding everyone goodbye, we headed for the parking lot in hopes that the shuttle was still running. No one in sight - so we started walking. Then the shuttle pulled up asking, “Would you like a lift?” We were so happy to see him (same guy) that I asked if I could take a picture. I asked his name - Jack. Then he said he has a twin sister whose name is Jill. His father’s name was Jack, therefore, so was his as at the first born son. His aunt was working in the delivery room at the time of his birth. She said, “If his name is Jack, then his twin sister’s name has got to be Jill.” And that was that. 

March 24, 2026 - Tuesday

Early walk - more fish holes and big daddy still trolling around. I swear he’s two-feet long! 

I added a purple tint to my hair for ha ha’s. It is very subtle, but I love it on cousin Lynn’s hair. So had to give it a try. 

March 25, 2026 - Wednesday

Substitute water aerobics teacher - Barb. Terry had to go to Cincinnati for a board meeting for a couple of days. We were supposed to host the jam today, but I had to cancel due to a churning stomach which I guess was a bug. Slept in the afternoon, had a very light dinner, and went to bed early. Woke up with a headache every two hours. We were supposed to go shopping, but decided to wait.

March 26, 2026 - Thursday

After a shower, I tried to go for a walk, but only made it about 100 yards before I turned around.  No gas in the tank. Going to lay low today.