January flew by...... Mom's Big 75th party.....and swimming with the Manatees

OK...not doing too good with keeping up with blogging, sorry. It's just not the same when you are doing day-to-day and not on vaca. January was a busy month. My sisters and I and Brad, Britt and Brooke (older nieces and nephew) planned a surprise birthday party for my Mom....she was 75 on Feb 2, but the party had to be on Feb 4. We flew in one of her best buds...Betty Alexander from OK...that was fun.
Then we had invited 100+ to a Broadway Birthday party at Southside Theatre Guild for a cocktail hour and appetizers....a Broadway show, then a dessert reception. It was wonderful. Ken, Patty, Charlie, Kathy, Tommy and Robert all did a fantastic job...Mom had a blast and was oh so surprised. We worked hard on this, and it turned out perfectly....we thank all that helped make it happen and all that attended.

Mom with her brother Bill, his wife Frances and sister Renie on the end....lookin' good!!!

Mom with grandsons Chad and Brad

Chad and his mom Kelley (my sister)

Our bartender and my good friend Reba

All Mom's daughter's....(in birth order, not sure we know how to stand any other way)

Debbie, me, Kelley and Shea

This cake was really cool, made by friend Susan, it is really a bunch of tiny boxes put together and they each have party treats in them...what a cool party gift.

We had other desserts...and we did light this cake and sing....absolutely!! 

Mom with Chad, Brad and great-grandson Quinton...he was all dressed up

Does it get any cuter than this???

The weekend after this I went to Miami for 3 nites to visit Linda K. I'd been to visit in Maine, but wanted to also visit in FL. It was a bit cool, but we still had a great time...the relaxing was very nice. Thanks Linda....enjoyed my visit very much...

The next weekend I headed for my home in Sarasota....was cravinig my own bed. It was a holiday weekend and I was ready to do something on my "bucket list". I was headed to Crystal Springs to swim with the manatees......
It had to be a early start....be at the dive shop at 615a....OMG.....but it was worth it. Crystal River is 72 year around...so with a wetsuit I was just fine. The water was peaceful and after some instructions on do's and don'ts, we were off.
We rode about 10min and came to a cove. They anchored and we all slipped into the water off the back ladder very quietly. There were 3 on the bottom below us and it was sooooo cool watching them. We stayed there about an hour then several other boats came and it got very busy. So, we pulled anchor and headed for another spot. We saw some others but they were swimming not being still so we kept moving. We went into another cove and saw only one and that one had a "tracker" attached, so we left. The Wildlife Assoc attaches floating trackers to some manatee for study purposes...you cannot get close to them....so we did not stop.
We continued to look, but eventually had to give up and head back. It has been very warm in FL this winter so the manatees have been ok in the ocean...it is the cold that drives them into the river...so all total we probably saw 12 or so.....and though I didn't get to touch one, it was still very cool. Check....can take that off my list, although I might like doing it again...was only $45 so not bad on the budget.
Back to the hotel and a shower and some breakfast and then off to River Side Resorts to see Monkey Island.... www.riversideresots.com
It's a very tiny man-made island at this resort where the first owner kept his monkeys. Well, that was many yrs ago and those monkeys are now in "monkey heaven", but they now have new monkeys and they are fun to watch.....that was cool.
Then off to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.....this was cool. Yes, these animals were in captivity, unlike the manatees I'd just seen, but they were still fun to watch. Gators, hippos, LOTS of birds, black bear, deer, bobcat, 2 manatees that were there for re-hab....and many other animals. It was a great way to spend a few hours and the weather was perfect. Then it was time to head back south...it was a 2.5hr drive home. It was a gorgeous day and was a nicer drive home than it was the night before since it had been dark and rainy and plenty of traffic.
It was a great 1 night get-away.
The next 2 days were spent with neighbors and beaching it....was a great weekend.
Then.............screeeech...........put on the brakes, back to ATL and reality, cube world. That's ok, I'm grateful for the job and will one day enter the world of NO schedule.
Until then............