Laurie & Gene's Summer in North America

31.8.06

It started out as a short trip

to see our kids & grandkids (Florida, Washington state, Montana). Then my sister Susan said we had to go to New Hampshire for my nephew's wedding. Then our good friends Judy & Bob, who live half the year here in Costa Rica & half in British Columbia on their boat, invited us to visit them on their boat in BC. Our friend Madelle said we couldn't be in Washington and not visit her in Olympia. And of course we couldn't pass thru Seattle, my favorite North American town, and not spend a few days. How could we fly across country and not stop off to see our great friends Marilynn & Ron? Eventually the trip grew to include visits to friends and family in 5 towns in Florida plus New Hampshire & Maine, Chicago, Washington (Seattle, Spokane & Olympia), Missoula Montana and up the Sunshine Coast of BC from Victoria to Princess Louisa Inlet. We were away from home for 2 months, and as usual, Gene had to drag Laurie away from every place we went! Every visit was way too short. This photo blog of our trip is pretty much in chronological order, so just keep paging down to see the whole trip.
There's a separate blog for the New Hampshire wedding at http://aimeenmichael.blogspot.com
There's a separate blog for our visits with the kids at http://grandkidsandmore.blogspot.com
Just click above to go there.
As you page down, if there are any photos you want a better look at, just click on the picture to get a larger look. Then hit the "back" tab to return to the blog. We loved our trip. We hope you enjoy the pictures.

Florida - What a Welcome!

Oh, My God - Limo Service!

Gene's nephew John (aka JR) sends a limo to pick us up at the Orlando airport - a hummer no less!

It Really Is This Long!

Our limo is fully stocked with our favorite wines. There was room for 12 people, but it was all just for us! The all black interior was accessorized with neon and completed with a great sound system.

And Here's .....Darrell!

What a Crew!

After Delivering us to JR's house (next door to his brother Jeff's house), Darrell went out with all of us for a fabulous fish dinner - in the limo, of course!

Getting Overfed in Orlando!

Nephews John & Jeff in Orlando had heard we don't get good beef in Costa Rica, so they made sure we had some fabulous steaks while we were there. Some good fish and some huge breakfasts happened also. There are always interesting people to talk to - and movies to watch on the wall-sized tv screen (as opposed to a simple "big screen") at John's - and next door at Jeff's! We also got to visit Jeanna's (JR's girlfriend) ranch. Below are a couple of pics from when Jeff and John (JR) and Jeanna were in Costa Rica a few months ago. (Apparently we were so busy having fun at John's & Jeff's in Orlando that we forgot to take pictures!)

JR & Jeanna & Jeff

Gene & His Aunt Mary Always Lots of Laughs!

Aunt Mary in Plant City lived up to her reputation and had Gene's toll house cookies waiting for him. She also fed us the traditional sloppy Joe's and jello salad for lunch. Yum!

Alternative Modes of Transportation

I love Aunt Mary's neighborhood. Everyone owns a motorized golf cart. Aunt Mary's next door neighbor Lucille took me for a ride in hers all around the community, showing me their community center, which has swimming pool, pool tables, movies, daily coffee get togethers, organized trips to places near and far, dances and God only knows what else. Aunt Mary, like most in the community, golfs at least a couple times a week. Lucille, who just turned 98, says she doesn't golf all that much any more. She gave up her car a couple of years ago so that she wouldn't have to listen to her kids nagging about it any more. When she sold the car, she bought herself a new bright red golf cart. She says her eyesight isn't what it used to be, and that although she could see the man across the room at the clubhouse, she couldn't tell who it was. She can see just fine to drive the golf cart around the community though.

Time to Leave Aunt Mary's

Seems like we just got here & now, after a lovely breakfast on the patio, it's time to go!

On to Pt Charlotte - Aunt Kay & Uncle Nello!

Aunt Kay & Uncle Nello have the wine waiting. We always have fun together. Many rounds of "the game," much wine and Aunt Kay's home cooking. Next night we go out for some fabulous seafood at a wonderful casual waterfront cafe.

Happier Now in Port Charlotte

Kay & Nello are anxious to show us their "new" house. After 2 years, the repairs from Hurricane Charlie are finally complete! But I have no photos of the house! Too much wine and conversation to take pics again, I think!

Next: Hollywood!

Following Another Tradition: We Do Breakfast at the Beach with Tony & Gail

Gene with Sara & the Kids

In Hollywood Gene gets to visit with daughter Sara & her sons Jason & Jeremy

Jason & Jeremy

Sara & Jeff

Sara's cousin Jeff (who we had seen in Orlando) is in Ft Lauderdale - so he joins Gene & Sara & the boys for dinner

How Long Can We Stretch Out Breakfast?

Most of the Day if there's Enough Conversation!

Walking on the Beach

Hollywood Beach

Sushi Blues-Where It All Began

Laurie with Junko & Melissa at Sushi Blues - where Lauri& Gene met in November of 1994
A visit to Hollywood without a feast at Sushi Blues would be unimaginable!

Oh, My! What to Order First???

Tony's Toy!

On the Docks

Goodbye to Hollywood

Thank You, JR!!!

By the time we left Hollywood, I'm sure I had put on another 5 pounds! Gail's scallop recipe alone was worth a trip to Florida. She's promised she'll email me her fish recipes. Add on Sushi Blues, Le Tub, Rainbo Cafe & the place on the beach and wow! We have to go back, though. We never found time for "Try My Thai!" As always, Gail & Tony were fabulous hosts and I really didn't want to leave. But off we went to Viera to see friends Michael & Vashti. Although only there for an afternoon and an evening, Michael managed to feed us the most delicious & tender steaks I've ever tasted - along with some delicious grilled veggies. This was more than I ordinarily eat in a day. Then he announced that we were all going out for sushi in the evening! Did I mention gaining weight? From Michael & Vashti's we headed back to Orlando to see JR again - and to return his car.
The beautiful bright red car that JR let us use to drive all over Florida for two weeks! Gene says it's a Pontiac Firebird with a TransAm engine - and that it will go from 0 to 160 miles per hour in some ludicrously small number of minutes. All I know is that it is a convertible and it's bright red! I loved driving this car! JR decided not to let us drive it to New England. I still wonder if he really understood that I had not driven an automobile in 4 years when he offered to lend it to us! Thank You, JR. You are the Best!

We Finally Make it to New Hampshire!

I'm so excited to see my little sister - actually we're both happy to see each other - see her big smile!!!

Finally Here!

We’re here! But first an extended layover in JFK, followed by an extended sit-on-the-runway experience before flying to Portland, Maine. But Joy of Joy, this was the most fabulous layover experience ever. Jet Blue's fabulous terminal filled with numerous types of eating establishments (including a bar with $12 bottles of beer and a full sushi bar), cafe tables and chairs filling up the center area, and wireless internet available throughout (Yes, my tiny E-Bay-bought laptop was waiting for me back in Port Charlotte!). We finally made it to Portland around mid-night – and opted for a nearby motel instead of driving in the pouring rain. Next day on a memory filled drive to Union, New Hampshire, I finally get my first chance for the long-craved-for fried clams with bellies. I even get to have them at “Ted’s,” the teensy drive-in place remembered from my youth. Alas! “Ted’s” is now a large eat-in place with large prices to match! A couple of little boxes of clams set us back $18! Between $12 beer and $18 clams, price-shock has definitely set in! Were those clams worth paying the price? Absolutely! I’m in heaven!

We Meet the Bride!

The New England part of our trip was to attend the wedding of my nephew, Michael. This is Michael and the lovely bride, Aimee, right after we arrived at my Sister Sue's house in Union, New Hampshire. She is showing off Kelly's bridesmaid dress.

Aimee is adorable!

For photos of Aimee & Michael's beautiful wedding - and the fabulous reception party in a grand never-used-by-animals barn, click on the following: http://aimeenmichael.blogspot.com/

The Groom & His Mom

Is my sister Sue taking this Mother of the Groom business seriously? - or maybe she's just confused by our excited arrival! Michael looks wiped out! He had just moved all the collector automobiles out of the huge barn where the wedding reception will be held.

Kelly!

My Adorable niece Kelly Megan is all grown up - and a lot of fun!!!

Baked Bean Supper

On our first day in New England we drove by a church with a "Baked Bean Supper Tonight" sign out front. Actually it was the church where Aimee & Michael were going to be married, but I didn't know that at the time. After all these years of telling Gene that in my youth we actually went to suppers on Saturday night where the main course was baked beans, I actually had an opportunity to prove it to him! It got even better when I learned that Sister Sue had promised to take a salad over to the supper and we could go along so I could show Gene that they really were eating baked beans! Everyone who knows me knows that I will eat almost anything. Baked Beans are the exception. Something about every Saturday morning of my youth awaking to the smell of beans baking away in their molasses and salt pork brine, after of course being soaked over night. For some reason that I don't recall, I was required to go to these suppers. I survived somehow because there were also plentiful amounts of cole slaw and hot buttery rolls (in addition to, of course, the traditional "brown bread," also made with molasses, which also turned me off, although later in life I came to like brown bread. Go figure.) There also were always dozens of fresh made pies of all kids - blueberry is still one of my favorites. And of course apple pie with chedder cheese. Don't ask me why. It's just, like my Dad always said: "Apple pie without cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze." I certainly never learned to make baked beans, but being a true New Englander, I always knew that they had to be soaked all night and then cooked all day in a "bean pot" (see picture), they had to have molasses and salt pork, and that they had to be made every Saturday night, in quantities large enough to have some available as a side dish with every meal for the rest of the week. Apparently some of the rules have changed since this bean supper was held on a Thursday night - and I later saw a sign at a church in the next town for a bean supper on the following Tuesday night. Some things have changed in New England, but the necessity to consume beans certainly hasn't. Gene now believes me, but he elected to skip the bean supper that night and join everyone else for lobster!

Arrival Nite - Lobster Feast

On our arrival nite in New Hampshire, the whole clan indulged in a lobster feast at Sandy Point Restaurant on Lake Winnipesaukee. They claim to serve the "finest Lobster Dinners in the Lakes Region." They just may be the best lobsters anywhere (except those served in my sister's kitchen!) Joining us and my sister Sue & husband Snooky and the bride & groom and my niece Kelly, were my son Mark & his wife Debbie and my beautiful grandchildren Megan and Austin, who had flown up from Florida for the wedding.
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