The Girls are Here!

Thursday, January 29, 2009
Merritt and June started the day with a hug. After 50 years they're still goin' strong!


Mae had her morning java out on the porch.


We went over to the Caribbean Beach at Disney to pick up Miranda & Maddy today. The girls checked out a few lids in one of the stores there.


We brought the girls back to Orange Lake because we had promised to take them to the Lazy River. It was raining, but still in the low 70s. No one was there! We had the entire Lazy River to ourselves!!


Old Silver Tongued Rog talked to one of the guys on duty and said "Hey Buddy, just wonderin', since there's nobody here and I have my 92 year old Mother-in-law sitting out under a patio table trying to stay warm and dry watching her great-granddaughters swimming, would it be okay if she sat in one of the cabanas?"
Here she is with Merritt, sitting in one of the $79/day cabanas!!! She had her own TV, phone, fridge and internet access if she wanted to use it.


This is one of my undocumented "50 Things to do Before I Die" things. I've always wanted to go down one of these slides. I talked to the guy at the top and asked if I was "too big" to go down? He said no problem. I asked if you went faster if you were heavy or light? He said the heavier you are, the faster you go. He also said that you would go faster if you laid back while going down. I told him to get out of the way cause there was going to be one hellofa freight train coming through!!
Holy crap!! I went down that thing like greased lightnin'! I flew around the first curve and by the time I hit the second one, I felt like a friggin' bobsled on a run!! My body rolled half way up the second curve and as I tried to regain control I was shot out of the end of the tube to create a frickin' tidal wave!!
Awesome! I went back for a second run that was just as invigorating!
Maddy also went down, but she's a veteran of these things.

Another great day!

Busy Day!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Lots happening today. Chris and Mae took off shopping and I took off..........Bass Fishing!!
My good friend Pasquale, the Greeter from Bass Pro hooked me up with another Canadian that also wanted to go Bass Fishing. Kevin Lavers is from Picton and owns Merlin Park Cottages on the Bay. He had already set up a date with our guide Bill Weaver from Ace Bass Guide Service.

We were supposed to go out last week, but it turned out to be the coldest day of the year so we rescheduled for today. They picked me up at the resort and we headed to the Butler chain of Lakes. Fishing is typically slow this time of year, but Bill's contacts had said that Butler was producing.
On the way through the lakes he pointed out a few of the residents.
Shaque O'Neill's humble abode.


You can just make out the golf carts to the left of Tiger Wood's house. It includes his own personal golf course. The picture really doesn't do it justice.


It was really nice to get that Bass smell on my hands again! The first two were caught on Shiners. I hate using shiners, but after I was being blanked and Kevin had landed a couple of nice fish, I said "Where's the Shiners?"


My first fish was a Grass Pickerel (small pike) that got off before I could get a picture of it (nice bright green colours). I then landed the following two fish, both just under 4 Lbs.


My best fish (although it was roughly the same size) was this one that Kevin is holding. Mainly because it was caught on artificial bait (whacky rig.....surprise, surprise!)

We had a some good fishing today, catching about 6 each and had a lot of laughs in the process. Two great guys!

Talked to Terry on the phone today and they spent the day at Epcot.

Merritt & June arrived this evening and we had a good gab session getting caught up.

Deja Vu

Monday, January 26, 2009
Well today I am slowly recovering from my scalping. Chris is not laughing nearly as much (of course, I'm usually wearing my hat). Yesterday at WalMart, she was laughing so hysterically that she was drawing a crowd and then she "wet" herself! (looks good on her).
I did have a feeling of deja vu last night as I slept. I went through some of my photos tonight (yes I have a portable drive with me with all my photos ever taken) and came across this!

I think my brother may have been responsible for that one!

Can you see the resemblance to now?


Spent some time down at the Lazy River today.


Mae was modelling her $10 jacket.


We also got some good news this week. Terry & Mandy and the kids are on their way down for a week at Disney. They should be down tomorrow (Tuesday night). Can't wait to see the kids!

.............Still hoping that Paul might cave 8O)

Merritt & June are supposed to arrive from Fort Myers tomorrow night as well. I just hope that when Merritt sees these on the property here, he won't think that we don't have to go to the Grocery store for meat!!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Started out slow and let Mae sleep in (very unusual). Went to Wally World to pick up some food and a few things. Mae picked up a great coat for $10!
I thought that I would get my hair cut while I was there. Had my hair cut there last year and it went well. This time I drew the short straw and got the Guatemalan Butcher! We discussed briefly how I wanted my hair cut and then she started. She fired up the weed whacker and had three huge swathes gone before I could utter a word!!
Hair was flying everywhere!! "You're not going to cut it too short are you?". "No" she replied and then asked if I wanted my sideburns removed!! Right!! Let's leave a gap between my beard and my hair!!
"NO" I exclaimed! I knew this was going to be a bad hair day! Chris hasn't stopped laughing ALL day! Says I look like a 7 year old. Looks like the old BPS hat ain't gonna be comin' off too much for awhile! The pictures don't really do it justice.


Chris' Dad used to say that the difference between a good haircut and a bad one was two weeks!!
Hopefully, it grows back somewhat by then.
My regular barber Angelo would surely be amused by all of this.

Had a great meal at Cracker Barrel tonight (Sunday Special - Chicken Fried Chicken!!).
Here’s our view of the Disney Fireworks from our living room window.

Good night!

Busy Day!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

A very busy day today. First of all, we had to move from Westgate Villas to Orange Lake. I ended up meeting an awesome couple from New Brunswick, Darlene and Sheldon Hallet and talked by the van for over two hours! They’ve been celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year and have been to Hawaii, a Caribbean Cruise, and Florida since early December. My kind of people, “Life is Too Short!”. I love East coast people, salt of the earth. Hopefully, will meet them out East in the next few years.



We also had arranged for another work day, this time at Vacation Village at Parkway. We met Tony, one of the funniest sales reps we’ve ever met.



Got taken to lunch in the Disney town of Celebration and received 2 - Two Day Disney passes! Gotta love it!
Rushed over to Orange Lake and quickly checked in and unloaded.
Got a quick shot from our back balcony before heading over to the airport to pick up Mae.



Terry took Nana to Hamilton Airport and she arrived at 8:12 pm


Don't let the wheel chair fool you, just an airline precaution. The old girl has more energy than Chris & I combined!!

Finally....Pool Weather!!

Friday, January 23, 2009

We have had a great 2 weeks here, but the weather has been cold. In fact last Wednesday was the lowest its been here in 8 years. Most days have still been very pleasant with the sun shining. It is particularly easy to take after one checks the brutal weather back home 8O)
We have filled a lot of the time with shopping, getting a lot of it out of the way early (at east for me).
But today was finally pool weather. We were laying there by the pool, Chris sunning and me reading (my new hobby) and we had the whole pool to ourselves. Time to go swimming!!



Once we were done with the sun and water we headed down to the town of Celebration. It is an amazing town built on Disney Property. It is very close to the concept that Walt originally had for Epcot. There is virtually no crime in Celebration. It is like the perfect town. Houses are in the millions and people drive around in electric cars.



We enjoyed an ice cream downtown.


Another great chilled out day!

Crabby Bills

Thursday, January 22,2009

Still fairly cool here so we spent most of the day shopping. Went to Crabby Bills on East Lake Toho. This has proven to be one of our all time favourite restaurants and we talk about it all year waiting to get back here.


As you can see it wasn’t that cold. Still in short sleeves. How do you like my shirt? The timeshare rep thought it was a Tommy Bahama! hahahahaha
$1.30 from Bealls!!
By the way, 4-7 is happy hour and beer is a buck!


Cheers!!

A New Hobby??

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Well this reading thing is really getting to me! Went out today and bought “The Audacity of Hope” by Barack Obama. An excellent book so far.

Going to Work

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Had to work today.
Went to Bonnet Creek for a timeshare presentation and picked up $100 US. Nice resort, on 400 acres in the middle of the Disney property that Walt could never buy.

Inauguration

Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Probably one of the most historic days of my life seeing Barack Obama sworn in. The crowd in Washington was overwhelming. I have never seen a gathering like that in my life.



We have been fortunate to be in the States the night that he was elected and now for his inauguration.
I must say that I am on the Obama Love Train! The most dynamic and inspiring speaker that I have heard since John F Kennedy.
Makes Harper look like a bag of rocks!

Vimy

Monday, January 19, 2009
Judy lent me Pierre Berton’s book on Vimy.



I always bring a book down with the intention of reading it, but as most of you know, I have trouble finishing a magazine article!! Well today I finished the book!!! But as you can see it was very tough sledding!



A very sobering story about the WWI battle. This should be required reading for everyone in high school.

These guys spent months in water filled trenches loaded with rats. Way to many of them (in the prime of their life) never came back.


Have added going to Vimy to my “50 Things to Do Before I Die” list.

Vimy Memorial

Westgate Villas

Monday, January 19, 2009
Got moved into Westgate Villas yesterday. This is an older unit, but very spacious and clean. We have most of the building (and pool) to ourselves. It is very quiet here. I thought with the downturn that there would be a glut of timeshare available for last minute specials and was confused when there wasn't (I had to use a deposited week for here). The answer became clear when I talked to some of the service people here. Much of the resort is shut down right now. There are whole communities at Westgate (a very large complex) that are totally shut down and up to 500 staff have been laid off.
Pictures of our unit can be seen here:
Westgate Villas

The Pringles

Saturday, January 17, 2009
We met this real nice couple by the pool today. Paul and Karen Pringle. Her aunt owns the Christmas Tree store in Frankenmuth, MI that Judy told me about and we plan on visiting on our return trip.


Unfortunately, Paul doesn’t own Pringles potato chips and evidently there is no Pringle University!
Had some great discussion and hope to rendezvous in Michigan on our return home.
We are here till tomorrow (Sunday), but went to check in today at Westgate for our next week (overlapping days).

Finally got WiFi Again!

Its actually Sunday, January 25. We were on dial-up at Westgate so didn't get a chance to update the blog.......

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
We took a walk today to check out the rest of Vistana. It is a beautiful resort with many fountains, pools, beautiful flowers and wildlife.






There are some nice sized bass in some of the ponds, but there is No Fishing allowed. Dang!


This was the closest we came to wildlife in our room!


Vistana is a GREAT resort, especially if you get the refurbished rooms. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

This One's for You Julie!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Had a great lunch at Olive Garden today.
This one is for you Billy!


Followed that up with a visit to Bass Pro and got to see a few old friends, Pasquale the Greeter and Grayson, the young guy that I fished with two years ago.

The one thing that is really missing this year and leaves a big hole is the fact that none of the Grandkids will be down this year. We're already missing them.
We have coaxed Pogger down with his family the last two years by showing pictures like this from Sonic. Today was Tuesday, 5 hamburgs for $5.00 and we didn't even partake! Oh well, maybe next week.

Chill Out Time

Monday, January 12, 2009
Well, one of the great things about Florida is that it is chill out time! Slow down the pace and soak in the sun and warm breezes.
Chris was really excited when we woke up yesterday morning and she found a palm tree right outside our 3rd story window!



We have been taking it easy, although Chris has already scored many deals at Bealls and Cracker Barrel General Store!!!
The drive down was tough, but amazing from a fuel perspective. Found gas as cheap as $1.52 gallon in South Carolina (that's 38 cents a litre folks!!!!) and we drove all the way down here for just over $80 US with still a half tank left over! Hope those prices hold for our return!

Our unit at Vistana is fabulous. Luckily, I brought down a few DVDs and am really enjoying them on the flat screen and Bose system!!
We haven't done a full tour of the resort yet, but some pictures of our unit are located here Vistana Resort
Stay warm everyone!

We're Off!

Sunday, January 11, 2009
Well thanks to great co-operation from my adjuster and exceptional effort by Ted from the body shop at Cambridge Chrysler, we got our van back in record time. I picked up the repaired van on Friday and we got away safely at 2:47 am. on Saturday. The first days drive was brutal, with snow covered roads and heavy snowfall from Erie to Pittsburgh and followed by driving rain most of the way to Charlotte. The city was hopping on Saturday as the Carolina Panthers were playing Phoenix Cardinals in the NFL Quarter-Finals that night (Panthers lost). We had a great dinner at Cracker Barrel and made a quick trip to Bass Pro before hitting the sack.
Sunday, we woke up to warm weather (64F) and dry roads and had an uneventful drive to Florida.

Here's the temperature as we reached Florida


We had to make a quick stop at the Florida Welcome Center for our complimentary drink of Orange Juice.


We arrived at Vistana Resort around 5:30 pm and were very pleased to be given a newly renovated unit in the Lakes Section. When we talk renovated, we mean right down to the walls! Just a gorgeous unit including 3 new flatscreen TVs and a Bose sound system! Great evaluation for my rec room when I return.

Unfortunately, all the weather stations are reporting a COLD snap this week. Temps will in the chilling 60's............ hahahahhahahaa!

BPS at Montanas

Sunday, January 4, 2009
Well since I don't have anywhere to go in the next few days I worked at BPS on Sunday so I could join many of my co-workers at Montanas for appetizers on the house courtesy of our Fishing Manager. The Fishing Dept. at Bass Pro is second to none and these guys are a big reason why I love working there so much!





Lots of laughs last night and good times.