Sunday, January 15, 2017

Florida, flab, and fish



We’re slowly trying to build a routine here, activities for day-to-day in between sightseeing and getting to know the area.
My Guy has joined the art center, a very busy place with classes practically all day, every day. I’ve signed up with the YMCA, with mixed success. They kinda sorta honored my membership back home by lowering the monthly fee to belong here in Florida, so I’m actually paying twice.

 But I need to go – it’s surprising how living on one floor can change your activity level. I’m no longer carrying full baskets of laundry up and down two flights of stairs, and everything I use or need seems to be within arm’s reach instead of at the other end of the house. No running down to the basement three times (because I forget the item the first two), no shoveling, no raking Add that to wine every night and more frequent dinners out and flab creep is lurking around the corner.

           Speaking of dinners out, we attempted out first meal at a restaurant with the fluffy pooch. We were given a table on a patio that was designated for dog owners, although I saw no other people with dogs. Our table was a small two-person one, with little room for Mamie underneath. I’d had this vision of her napping cutely under my chair while we dined, but that never happened. She wasn’t too sure what to do; for the first 15 minutes or so she just stood next to my chair while I tried to find some way to hold her leash while simultaneously eating and drinking. Finally, we compromised – she sat next to me while every now and then I gave her a tiny piece of the bread from my fish sandwich. The good news was that she didn’t appear nervous or frightened, just bemused at all the people and music.

          Afterwards we strolled around the small downtown area by the jazz group in a small park and down one of the quieter streets where we could sit on a bench and listen to the music.

          We finished the evening outside at Dairy Queen where Mamie had her first small taste of ice cream (very favorably received) from a sample on my finger. And we all went home happy, if a bit sticky. At that point my hands were coated with grouper drippings, dog spit, vanilla ice cream, and more dog spit.

18 comments:

  1. I pay gym fees, and extra for a trainer. I don't think about the cost any more. I'll spend my grandchildren's inheritance to keep upright. Don't think about it; do it.

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  2. Oh the life of a dog owner. They quickly capture your heart and then your life.

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    1. Kind of makes me think about small children. They're so much trouble that nature makes them extra cute so you forget about the sleepless nights, or in our case, the barking. :)

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  3. It seems like a whole new way to enjoy winter. I am always wishing we still had our weekend farm. Hubby sold it 11 year ago. It was origonally bought to be our retirement place but hubby lost his love for land and ownership. He wanted the cash. And now we live in retals and he sees his mistake :(

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    1. The ability to foretell our future is a rare thing.

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  4. Which restaurant did you go to? (I know your little town, remember?!) We've had mixed success trying to take the dog to restaurants. She's always a little too keyed up to relax, so as you described, we spend half the meal trying to keep her contained and the other half eating.

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  5. Yes, I need to work on acquiring a third arm, or just resign myself to abandoning Mamie at home. We went to Daiquiri Deck, a loud very chain-like restaurant that seems to be always convincing you that you're having a GREAT time with its loud music and overpriced drinks. But it looked to have a bit more room for the dog than the little restaurants like T.J.Carney's, where you're really eating on a patch of the sidewalk. I did have lunch the other day at Siesta Key Fish House and plan to go back, with or without dog.
    So fun that you know this area, Steve!

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    1. Whoops! CASEY KEY Fish House!

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    2. I love Casey Key! Beautiful area. Does Sharkey's still have an outdoor deck? Maybe that would be dog-friendly? I haven't been there in years but I seem to remember an outdoor space.

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  6. It is amazing how much incidental exercies us forgetful people can get from housework isn't it?
    And don't you hate marching purposefully into a room and forgetting what you came for? Until you have left the room.

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    1. "Marching purposefully into a room" - you nailed it perfectly!
      I've run downstairs to the basement three times in a row and STILL couldn't remember what it was I wanted when I got there.

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  7. Things to think about when going from a two storey house to a bungalow! I can only imagine your dog's first time reaction to ice cream! -Jenn

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  8. When I visited my sister in Florida, her YMCA honored my membership here with a free pass for ten visits. I guess it wouldn't be enough for a longer trip, but it sure was nice to swim in her outdoor pool! I smiled at the picture of you coming home with such sticky hands. :-)

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  9. People here loop their dog's leash around a chair leg so they can eat hands free, you could try that.
    Flab creep is well established here, in my tiny flat I can get anywhere from my chair at the table in under twenty steps, and I don't take large steps. 8 steps gets me to the kitchen, 12 steps to bed, 17 to the bathroom/laundry. I'll look like Jabba the Hut in no time.

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  10. Fish and Ice Cream Mamie is in heaven! :)

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  11. Exercise. I love it and hate it. A constant dance, but a necessity.

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  12. Wish we had a YMCA here. Well worth the money. Laughed at how easily Mamie managed to train you.

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