The Road Goes On Forever

The road does seem like it goes on forever as we drive back and forth to Texas. This time we trailed a big U-Haul trailer behnd us on our way back to Punta Gorda.

We drove back to Texas to begin packing up our house and fix a few inspection items before the closing scheduled for January 28th. Michele & her boyfriend stopped by for Christmas. We met old friends at TMCA's Commodore's Ball and a New Life brunch.

Listen to The Road Goes On Forever by Robert Earl Keen. Michele's girlfriend's husband is the drummer for the band.

Christmas Lights

December 14 - Colorful lights brighten the canals of Punta Gorda Iles each evening during the Christmas season. Shimmering lights reflecting in the water enchant passersby along the wide canal leading to Iles Yacht Club. Our lights, while not spectacular, at least shine out for the tour boats. Actually, our neighbor across the canal complemented us on our light display!

To see the Christmas lights, one really must be on the water. Tour boats pass by each night. Sometimes we wave to them and exchange "Merry Christmas" greetings with the passengers. Tonight was perfect for a dinghy tour of our section of the Iles: a warm and clear night with no wind. We left just before dusk for our very own tour. Many other private vessels were touring the canals as well.

Today was one of disappointment. We learned that a lot just down the street listed for sale at a reasonable price actually sold the first of December. Over the weekend we had talked to a builder and picked out a model and prepared a "wish list" of options. We are waiting for an estimate for the house - but reasonably price lots are rare. Oh well, we will keep our eyes open and our spirits bright!

New York City Dec 7 -10 2009

Joanne's Mom, Marie, witnessed the Rockettes debut on the Radio City Music Hall stage in 1932. Incredible, isn't it? This week she returned to NYC with us to see the Rockettes in the Christmas show. We flew in Monday afternoon in time to check into the Belvedere Hotel and walk a few blocks down to the Radio City Music Hall. The show was terrific! I especially liked the smooth coordination of a moving city bus with Rockettes on board with the background video of city streets. Very cool. Joanne enjoyed watching Santa navigating his sleigh over and through the streets of New York in 3D. We all enjoyed the Rockettes! Click Christmas Show. Click Rockettes.

After the show we walked up a few blocks to Rosy O'Grady's Saloon for dinner. Then on our way back to the hotel, we walked a long way around to Rockefeller Center to see the spectacular Christmas Tree and listen to the musical snowflakes on the wall of the Saks 5th Avenue Department store.

Tuesday - we walked down to Times Square to look around and then took a cab to Central Park for lunch at Tavern on the Green. When I looked at the check, Marie said, " Richard, we didn't come to New York to save money!" And, of course, she is right.

Before Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral (It was a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation.) we walked up & down Madison Avenue to view the window displays. After Mass, we took a short break before attending The Magic of Christmas Concert at Carnegie Hall. We enjoyed Eileen Ivers, star of Riverdance, play the Irish fiddle along with singers Andy Cooney, Crystal Gayle and the Fordham University Choir entertain us.

Wednesday - After breakfast at Pigalle, we took a cab to The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art for a tour. Photography of the exquisite Christmas Tree with handcrafted angels is forbidden - but I got a poor photograph before I was told "no." See the tree in person and engage a guide for a history lesson!

After the tour, a just-in-time taxi dropped us off at the Imperial Theatre for Billy Elliot, The Musical. Following an excellent dinner at La Masseria, we lined up on the street for a chance to get tickets to A Little Night Music starring Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta Jones. We did! It was great seeing their wonderful performances.

Thursday - We flew home. No one on the plane could believe Marie was eighty-nine! She certainly doesn't look a day over 70 and kept up with us 60-somethings. On Friday morning we drove back to Punta Gorda from New Port Richey and Marie went off to her volunteer job at her church. What a wonderful holiday experience - we highly recommend the Big Apple at Christmas Time. Check out our photos below...

New York City Pictures