Our March trip was a visit to Evansville Indiana to celebrate Art's (Jan's dad) 97th birthday.
But before our trip north we headed south. For one of my varied aliments I see Dr. Castro at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston Florida. I can't say enough good things about the Doctors and staff of the Cleveland Clinic. Every time I visit I am made to feel that my care is their first thought. Also there is some great artwork on display through out the clinic. I really enjoy seeing all the art on the walls. And I got a good review by the Doctor!
After visiting Weston we headed north via the Florida Turnpike. Jan and I traveled the entire length of the Turnpike. All 312 miles of it. Along the way we passed several Turnpike Travel Centers. These advertised gas and food as well as restrooms. We decided to stop and give it a try. These are really big rest stops. They are in between the north and south roads so if you don't pay attention or get a little confused when leaving you could end up going the wrong way. We almost did.
On the turnpike there was offered 5 or more different restaurants but when we got there only 3 were open. These three were also very lightly staffed. So we had a very long wait for a simple order of burgers and fries.
Needless to say if we travel the turnpike again we will find other places for lunch.
Heading north to Evansville we had to travel through Atlanta. This trip was surprisingly easy through that traffic hub in Georgia. Usually there is some traffic hold-up. Last time we drove through Atlanta it added about 4 hours to our trip. This time we hardly had to slow down. Not sure why but I'll take it.
During our time in Evansville we celebrated two birthdays. My brother-in-law Tim and my Father-in-law. The main event was Art's 97 birthday. Yea Tim turned 62 but the big show was 97th birthday. Art is getting closer to getting his picture on a jar of jam!
For his birthday we had lots of cards and gifts as well as pineapple upside-down cake. We also zoomed in with family who couldn't make the party to sing "Happy Birthday" I ate a little extra cake for them!
Art had 4 of his 7 kids present to celebrate his birthday. During covid that is a good showing. We did practice covid safety and wore masks except while eating or taking pictures and tried to sit at a safe distance from each other. Most of us have had one or more of the vaccine shots.
While we were there Jan was in charge of checking out the new power scooter that Art got through the VA. It is really a very nice "electric chair" as Art calls it. As you can see Jan gives it her stamp of approval.
On Thursday we celebrated Tim's birthday with a chocolate cake with white icing. We had a lot of birthdays this trip.
The trip home was fairly uneventful till we got to Adel Georgia. There we decided to stop for gas and a bite to eat. From the interstate exit 39 looked hopeful. Several gas stations and fast food spots. So we pulled in and went to the side that had the most offerings.
We got to the gas station and filled up and looked down from there and saw three different restaurants.
Jan thought she wanted some vegetables so we parked and went to the Zoku Hibachi restaurant. When we went in and waited in line. And waited. During this wait time I had a chance to look around. Hummm? Not the cleanest I've seen and ooh the floor is kinda sticky. And there is a family with young kids running around playing in the drink machine.
Ok there are two other options and life is short, maybe shorter if we stay here.
So we moved on to the next option. Captain D. Seafood is a healthy choice! We went in and got in line. And waited. And waited. There was much action behind the counter. People talking quietly to each other and messing with the registers. But no food coming out and the line getting longer. Apparently the cash registers had crashed and were not coming back...
Ok on to the third spot. Burger King. I could tell Jan was hungry because she never chooses Burger King, something about the creepy king on their commercials. So in we go and just like Goldilocks the third time was a charm.
While we were waiting Jan struck up a conversation with the girl in line before us and she recommended the Jalapeño Cheddar Bites. I ordered those along with my burger and they were not bad. Even shaped like little jalapeño poppers.
So exit 39 will now be on my list of spots to pass on by.
With my retirement looming I feel that I need an activity, a reason to get up in the morning. A quest to give my life meaning. I've been puttering around the house the last few days. Cleaning and arranging things around the house. Moving stuff from one place to another to create what I imagine is order in my life. I'm beginning to realize I've got about as much order in my life as I want. I have found that my most creative ideas come from the chaos around me. So L'm going to take a different route. Last night I was watching "The Hobbit" and thought a quest is what I need. A quest is what it is then. But unfortunately there is no Smaug for me to battle. Using Bilbo Baggins and the Hobbits as my guide on this quest I decided that meals should be part of this retirement quest. Here is my plan. A Quest " Seafood Resturants I'm Goina Eat At " Some of these places I have already eaten at but they deserve a second try. Others are new to me and ...
Dr. Galloway and the gang over at West Florida Radiation Therapy have developed a very efficient process of treating their patients. I arrive about 5 minutes before my scheduled treatment time. The waiting room is often empty in spite of having plenty of chairs. I have my temperature taken and wash my hands. Then within a minute or two I will have my name called. As I'm going back to the treatment room there is usually another guy just coming out of that room. When the technicians are ready they call me in and I climb onto the treatment table. After I'm on the table my feet and legs are aligned using a hard pillow that is molded to my legs and feet. Then the table is moved into position and the technicians adjust me using lasers and my aiming tattoos. The techs then leave the room and the machines take over. First two arm move into position to x-ray me to determine the position of my prostate. The table will make slight adjustments itself to move me into the best position. A...
I'm working on a letter today to the Mary E. Bryant community for the school December newsletter announcing my retirement. This is what I have so far. It may or may not change, I'll let if sit for a few days and them reread it.
So many adventures on your trip!! Can’t believe Art is 97, he makes it look easy, right??! 🥳 Glad y’all made it back home safely! 🏝😄
ReplyDeleteEvansville (or as Art calls it "Heavensville") is always an adventure.
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