Seattle July 10

We left to go to Seattle at 1:30 about 1/2 hour later than we had planned.  But the GPS said we would get to the hotel by 4:30.  Dinner reservation was not until 6 pm so we had plenty of time ... NOT!!! I knew there would be traffic but did not factor enough time in.  We gave up with the idea of going to the hotel before dinner and went straight to dinner.  It was on the way.  5:59 pm we walked in to the restaurant. We were the first ones of our group to get there. Toulouse Petit Lounge.  A very nice restaurant.  The had set up a table right by some open windows.  It was cooling down by then.  Very pleasant.  We had a large group. Steve and Jennifer, Leslie and Laura Serviid, Don Fletcher and Margie Graham (all from our India connections).  The food was delicious.  The one drawback is that it was a noisy place so we had trouble connecting with each other.  Very hard to visit.

After dinner we went to the hotel and checked in. University Silver Cloud Inn.  We have been here before.  Jamie and Pam had taken the train up from LA and were all checked in.  We visited for awhile before we turned in for the night.

I left my camera in the room so you will have to wait for the photos..

Travel Day all day

It was a long day but we got home safe and sound.  The shuttle took us from the hotel to the airport at 9 am.  Our flight was not until 11 am but it was better to get there early.  Our first leg was to San Antonio.  We did not get off the plane but we could move so that we were sitting together.  At Vegas we had to change planes.  we only had an hour between flights.  But the gates were close together so there was no problem.  We were a little late leaving the gate.  Then a storm came through.  We lost our window of opportunity to fly out of there.  so back to the gate to refuel and to change flight staff before we could take off again.  We were 2 hours late leaving Vegas.  Free drinks due to the delay.  That was nice.  Tye very nicely came to meet us at the MAX station to get us home.

All in all it was a nice trip.  Great for me to go to my reunion and I think that Dorothy and Ed were glad to have George's help with cleaning out their mom's condo.  Now it is ready to be sold.

We only have 1 day turn around.  Tomorrow after lunch we will head up to Seattle for the weekend.  I am looking forward to that.

Gotta be flexible

The Salvation Army was supposed to arrive sometime between 11:30 and 2:30.  They finally arrived about 5:30 pm.  Dorothy and Ed had arranged 2 pick ups.  one to take the majority of furniture and one to pick up the final stuff (things like beds and dinning room tables).  We were all packed and ready to go.  We had taken the stuff to the recycling and the small stuff to salvation army.  Stuff to the trash and stuff to neighbors. Stuff to donate to the Recreation room kitchen.  We were just sitting and waiting.  Once they came and loaded up all the stuff we packed up the car and headed to Tampa.  Close to the airport and the train station. Because of the timing the movie was out but we did go to a very nice Italian restaurant.  I had arugula salad, chicken with artichoke, mixed vegetables and a few bites of tiramisu.  Such a good meal.  I think everyone like their meals.  I had a nice Chianti

neighborhood flower

empty living room

tiny car but we all fit.

Italian restaurant 

Dorothy and Ed

George and Barbara

great salad.  I forgot to take a picture of my meal but it was not necessarily a work of art anyway.  Just very tasty

tiramisu.

Tomorrow will be a travel day.

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work day all day

I am afraid that I do not have many pictures for today.  Mostly a work day.  A lot of cleaning and sorting and taking things to various places, laundry ...

Nice way to start the day

these birds are pretty tame.

partly cleared out living room.  Yesterday the Salvation Army picked up a bunch of the big stuff - couch, dressers, side tables.  Left a few things for us to use today.  Now we are waiting and waiting for them to come for the final pick up today.  The house is clean.  All the loads have gone to the various places.  We had planed to go out to dinner in Tampa and then to a movie but if they take too long to get the final load then we may have to adjust our plans for tonight. I think we are ready to kick back and relax.  

Next phase of my trip

George came to pick me up about 3 pm.  We drove back to Holiday to George's mom's place.  Wow they sure had done a lot of work.  Much of the furniture was already gone and they have taken many loads to the Salvation Army.  We took a break and went to dinner at the German Restaurant.  It was very good.

Dorothy and I split the chicken cordon bleu

The hazelnut torte was delicious as well.

Jane's condo

this one is for you Shanta and Amanda.  They are all over here

After dinner we went to the recreation hall - the only place with wifi.  We were all busy on our computers.

Tonight cooled down a little.  Tomorrow will be a busy day.

All you reunion people - I had a great time.  Thank you for making it so special.  What a comfortable house that was and Shanta and Amanda you made me feel very welcomed.  Thank you!!! The rest of you start thinking about 2018 - our 50th!! We want a great turn out.

Sunday, July 6

We started the day with scrambled eggs.  I was trying to use up some things we had - onions, garlic, peppers as well as eggs.  Unfortunately since I was cooking I did not get any pictures. Some people went to check out the St John's Episcopal Church.  The rest of us sat and tried to solve the worlds problems.  We came close.  Then we went to the local Withlacoochee State Forest with Mckethan Lake.

Florida creeping mimosa

Elaine and Cheryl

Roadside smoked mullet.

lunch at a local spot

This is as close as Karl got to alligator.  He ordered an alligator po'boy. 

Chapatti making

Chapatti - Maharashtra style is quite the process

Shanta, mixing the ingredients

kneed then let it rest (while it was resting we went to see the mermaids)

Shanta and Elaine made the little balls of dough. Let it rest again.

making little chapatti pillow.  Then another rest.

Then they rolled them all out.  

Vivian helped with the final step of cooking them.  

I sure enjoyed eating them.