Hurricane Cleanup - BEAR - Watching the Coasts of Calif

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi 70   Lo 51)

Sunday was a gorgeous day, no WIFI or TV so the neighbors sat outside talking. The BBQ Operations Relief brought great pork and green beans for lunches.  (Click on the photos to enlarge). 

Yep, I got some too. 

I visited with the neighbors but wanted to get the blog done and when I left for home I finally got to see the bear that's around here. He's got smart, he's learned if he comes during the day the dumpsters are open and he can get to the trash. He was on the left side, but couldn't get in the chain on that side was locked. He went to the other side and found it open, he saw me at that point. I told him I wasn't going to bother him, he turned and pulled out the trash bag. I was trying to turn on the video but missed him. I went back out after cards trying to find him with the guard, but didn't see him. I'm NOT afraid of him, but cautious. He's not going to hurt us if we don't be aggressive. 

This has been a super great weekend. We had a cat 2/3 hurricane named Isaias. The next day I made hamburgers on the grill and didn't burn them or over grill them.  Talk about feeling proud!!!!!  Then I saw the bear that's basically a resident here.  I hit the jackpot. 

                                                                Trying to open the left side

Gave up and went to the other side.

Working on the chain

He's looking around, his head is pointing  in another direction 

He saw me, I talked to him and I moved back 2 steps. He grabbed a trash bag and took off. 

Everyone was getting their power back and I still had the living room without lights. A neighbor told me to flip the switch in the breaker box, but I waited till morning. Yep, one breaker was half way, so I flipped left and right and and all lights came on.  The WIFI and TV was working at 10:30am, just on time for a class I wanted to get in zoom. Timing is everything. All afternoon, on Monday, I got caught up on emails and texts. I'm back to getting things done. The best part, I didn't lose the 10 meals from Hellofresh that arrived on Thursday.

On Wednesday we had more sightings of the bear.  He went up a tree by the commons building. 

The bad thing about the bear getting into the dumpsters is the mess he leaves behind. 

Going thru one of the hallways of apartments. What if a person came out the door just as he was passing?...

The week went on with cleaning up the grounds from volunteers and food still coming in from the BBQ Relief Operation.  I also had the massage and chiropractor this week. I feel so much better when I have those appointments. It's also the week to help folks with computers and phones. We had five people this time. A couple were scammed and trying to get their life back. Please hang up if you get a call from anyone that you don't know. Scammers are getting smarter. They must go to school for how much damage can they do to the elderly with finances stolen or identity. Please be careful. 

My neighbor was coming home from east coast and saw the spacex launch. It was the jellyfish scene that's been seen before. So neat!

I spent a couple afternoons on youtube with watching the coastline of Calif falling in the ocean. Cracks in the side of the coasts where the train tracks go and the main PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).  There's one video  you have to watch. It's totally breathtaking.  

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9H7qsPvL0I&t=720s

There's several more, but this one shows power of the ocean in taking everything.  I watched surfers and buildings slowly coming apart. So sad what El Nino is doing in the Pacific. 

Saturday it started off with a cold front, 55 degrees, but went to 72 and windy. It wasn't as bad as predicted but later in the afternoon there was no wind. A neighbor and I went to the annual craft fair of over 100 vendors like we did last year in Niceville. (A town north of us). Lots of stuff and nothing that I make. There were a couple booths with bigger animals made with the big yarn, but not little things. Here's some ideas the attendance. There was a different line of merchandise sold this year. Here's a few photos of the attendance and items. 

Noisy chimes made from anything that make noise. 

Carved seahorse rocking chair,  gorgeous

Good attendance this year. Last year was miserably hot. We stayed an hour. Both of us were hurting from hip and knee joints so we decided to go back home. I went to happy hour later in the evening, but this ends another week.  We did see a lot of trees still down, but at least out of the roadways. 

Last Two Days in Destin Last Sunday - Dr. Appointment - Hurricane Isaias

 Shalimar, FL    (Hi  85      Lo 65)

Final Two days, with four gals left. This is now Sunday (last week) and we had rain over night, lots of rain.  We had a break in the rain so we went to Pompano Joe's restaurant further east from the condo for lunch. It's great food and packed with people. We had a 20 minute wait so walked down to souvenir place for fun stuff for the families. Good food and very busy place,  Pompano Joe in Miramar. 

Por-boy sandwich, lots of shrimp

Our view

I took Kathy to the airport and back before lunch, so now down to four. After lunch Michelle took Jen  to the airport.  We used the rest of the day to start packing. It rained again in the evening and we played card games.  Monday morning, Michelle took off early to take the car back to airport and catch her flight. She texted us to say there's flooding and glad she went early.  Then there was three.  Jane, Chelsea and I packed up the cars (they drove down) and headed out at 8:00am. I'm so glad Jane didn't go my way to the airport, I sat in traffic for an hour without moving waiting for the water to subside a bit so we could get through. I wish I took a picture, but it would have been awkward and dangerous handling a camera and dodging high water.  I'm glad I have an SUV, the lower cars were having a lot more trouble. I got home in time to unload and get to WII bowling. The rest of the day was "unwinding" and getting settled in for the rest of the week. 

I had my six month doctor checkup and the meds to refill. It's the only reason I see a doctor, can't get them without a dr visit. He said I'd live to 90, ok, well.......  I'm going back in six months. I had another med appointment from Mobile med to get on their list for in home visits here in the complex. The more people they have signed up the better the advantage to get them here full time. I hope that works. I'd love to not have to get out if I'm really down and sick. (vertigo) is one reason. 

I did go to the passport session. This month is was on Uganda. It was half hour long, this one I don't care to visit. Very interesting places that we've visited.  (Click on the photos to enlarge)

The rest of the week was full preparation for a hurricane Isaias. A tiny "blip" on radar became a cat 3 in three days. I got all my power packs out, made sure everything was charged up. We had hurricane party in the lounge at 3:00 Friday. 

The storm was getting closer and at 6:30 the power went out, winds were higher and rain was sideways. We all got to our apartments and waited it out. I noticed about 8:30 lightening was to the east.  I knew the eye was coming in. The wind wasn't like a cat 5, but it was coming in hard and fast. I went out to see if I could find the eye, but it wasn't a tight circle so the eye wasn't like you can look up and see the storm swirling, The feeling of the rain is amazing. It was like getting hit with tiny pins, not like the feeling of big drops of rain. It lasted about 2 1/2 hours then the lightening continued to the west and quieted down on my side of the building. The windows didn't move and I felt so safe. Remember IRMA when Jim and I had pans on our heads?  Not needed this time. 

It was a great experience. Just enough to be something different.  I had buckets of water ready for the potty. Found out that wasn't needed.  I also had lots of drinking water, wasn't needed. Our water worked fine.  It's Sunday 10/11 and no full electric. NOTE: the storm Isaias hit 10/9/26 8:30pm.  I took pictures of my place before and after. A few more pictures going around our neighborhood.

                                                        BEFORE

AFTER

We had it good compared around the community outside the campus. Lots of trees on power lines down.  We were without power till Saturday night about 9:30pm. On Sunday 11:00am I lost it again. Some had power some didn't. I have refrigerator and microwave and stove. That helps. I was worried about refrigerator, but I think all is ok. I'll double check before eating anything. 

Saturday night we fixed hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. I did it this time. I didn't burn them and all was good. Pulling together as a community is great, someone has something to eat and shares. 

Our heating lamps by the pool got damaged. 

The pool will need some cleaning. 

Tree down on fence and mess on the pickleball court. 

Saturday and Sunday was coffee and movie time. The commons had partial internet, AC, and power. That's where I'm doing the blog. 

BBQ operations relief gave us pork and beans for lunch and this is half the line. I forgot to take picture of the full line of people.

I'm hoping to get full power and WIFI tomorrow, but not holding my breath. We are safe, it wasn't a bad place to be and I'll stay again. Thank you to all that kept up with emails and texts. 

Lab Work - Newsletters - New Physicians - Packing - Vacation in Destin

 Shalimar and Destin, FL   (Hi 86  Lo 74)  

The week started with the vampire. I found out why doctors don't ask for A1C anymore. The "prick" machines are so good now days that if you take your samples daily there's a calculation that can equal A1C. It's so accurate no need for the A1C. Mine changed a tenth of a point since March.  

We had a nice group of us folding this months newsletters. We try to have six of us, one for each village which takes an hour to do them all. Volunteers are needed quite often to do things here. I try to do that as often as possible.  Fun to meet people from the other villages and just chat away. Amazing how many I've met that have full timed in an RV, or has been at another base that I lived. 

Another physician group Physicians Service Group,  came in to talk about having medical care in our apartments just like the other one did.  They are closer to us and if we get enough people to sign up they will be here 24/7 during the week. Now we have two companies to pick from.  Mobile med is the other one. That would be so convenient. 

One of our maintenance men, Mike,  is retiring and there was a big gathering to say "thank you" for the help he gave us. It was a great turnout from everyone in the community. He helped with our water problems, the sprinkler system and since he worked for Verizon he'd help with TV setups or problems. We all love him and all the work he did without a complaint. He has an injured knee so you'd see him working sitting on the ground.  Take care Mike and thank you for your help to all of us. (Click on the photo to enlarge). 

                                                 Mike and Bobbi Jo

Very good turn out for the retirement. 

Every day I packed something I'd need for the weekend, I put it in my backpack. I also made cookies. The "vacation" is to Destin, about an 45 minutes away. Two years ago I went to Ft. Myers, FL for a Glioblastoma Cancer girls group.  We were called 'Wisters'
. A great group and we decided to meet again this time in Destin in an AirBnB. We're a couple blocks to the ocean, with a pool in the back. They arrived on Thursday and by Monday morning they'll be leaving. 

 The first two arrived by car at my place. The second two were an hour apart at the airport, so I picked them up at the same time. I'm so glad I'm so close to the airport. We headed to Destin to the Airbnb condo. It has six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, It's big, it's great for all of us. (click on the photos to enlarge). 

We were supposed to have hard rains all weekend. We didn't have any so on to the beach on Friday. 

The water was rough and there was a red flag. That meaning rip tide. 

Time to meet the girls, left to right. Dee, Jen, Jane, Chelsea, Kathy and Michelle

There was someone taking a nap most of the time in the afternoons. 

Friday night we ate at Crab restaurant

I shared this bad boy with Michelle

No it's not marshmallows, it's hot handwipes

Crab, almost as good as lobster

We almost finished it. 

Jen, Dee, Jane, Chelsea, Michelle, and Kathy

We had no rain that was predicted, till Saturday. We still went to Destin Harbor walk. There's lots of shopping for souvenirs. 

And lots of candy

And super specialty drinks

Florida hurricane

We had lunch at AJ's 

Our view

Places along the boardwalk.

We ate at the condo for dinner, then a four of us went to the bar at the end of our road.

Mai Mai only one, no more

Chelsea and Jen doing some dancing. 

Then another game Skyjo.

Two will be leaving tomorrow. I'll continue with the next two days in next weeks blog.