Indiana Bound

We left this morning for Indiana at 5:35 a.m.  We had planned on leaving a little bit later, but I woke up at 3 and Doug woke up at 5.  Thankfully, Grandma and Grandpa were more than prepared for getting out the door earlier than expected.  The first part of the trip was the darkest of all that we would travel today. It always makes me a little bit nervous because of the large lake surrounding I-75 near Gainesville.  Even though there are guardrails, I'm always worried about accidentally driving into it.   

Fortunately, we made it through that area and all the way north of Atlanta before hitting any traffic.  We had noticed after we stopped at Buc-ee's that the time on Apple maps kept going up.  I looked ahead to see where the backup was and spotted the crash.  Normally, we stay on the route suggested, but I started looking for alternatives as the time near the accident grew.  Right as I found one, the map rerouted us.  I was glad that I was prepared as it saved us almost twenty minutes of drive time.  Once we got back on     I-75 we saw the line of stopped traffic going southbound.  It went on for fifteen miles.  We even got a text from the Georgia state police to avoid the area and were all very glad that we had navigated the traffic jam very well.  

The rest of the trip was fairly light on traffic except in Nashville.  We spent the time listening to sports radio and music.  The sun was out for most of it which really helped.  We arrived in Bloomington close to 7:15.  Cameron was already at Brett's and we were glad to see the both of them.  Grandma and Grandpa stayed there for the night enjoying Pizza Express with the two of them.  Doug and I transferred everything to the van and drove on to Syracuse.  I was exhausted, but he was ready to get back.  He had a full day tomorrow in Elkhart and it was easier to start from Grandma's.  We stopped twice to help me stay awake.  Everything on Harkless Drive had survived.  The only issues that we found was a crate that had fallen off the shelf in the garage and a dead battery on Grandpa's van.  That changed my plans for tomorrow morning, but overall I was extremely happy to have made it back to Indiana safely.

A Quiet Couple of Days

The last few days have been quiet ones in the Heinisch family.  Meg, Doug, Brett and Cal have been engrossed in projects at work.  I don't think that any of them have minded, but that has lead to less phones calls home and not as much free time at all.  Cameron also stayed busy.  He started studying for his upcoming tests, working on essays for the honors program and figuring out his plans for next year's classes.

While everyone was occupied elsewhere, Grandma, Grandpa, and I have been spending the last few days of their time in Ocala at home.  Yesterday, we got out of the house to see the movie, Beekeeper.  It starred Jason Statham, one of Grandpa's favorite actors.  He warned me that it would be violent and it definitely was.  The overall, movie, however was way better than I thought that it would be and we liked it very much.  We told Doug all about it on our way to Jaws for dinner.

Today was mostly spent packing, but we did make it out to eat lunch at Wendy's, stop at Bealls for Valentine's Day towels, and pick up Subway for the trip to Indiana tomorrow.  Last night, we were able to play Oh Hell, but tonight Doug had to work.  None of us minded missing our card game as IU basketball was playing Iowa.  Cameron sent us pictures from the game before it started.  He was excited to be a part of it.  The game was one of the best of the season and kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the very end when IU finally pulled ahead for good, winning 74-68.  Everyone went to bed happy.  It was a great way to spend my parents last night in Ocala.  

The Aftermath

Today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be regarding the Lions.  Cameron didn't sleep well, but he realized that it was an absolute fluke that Detroit gave up the 17 point lead.  Doug said that it was a lot like the Bartman game with the Cubs.  Just like that night in Chicago, one bad incident turned into a round of mistakes that led to the Lion's demise.  Thankfully, Cameron was able to start talking about next year's team and the plans for the coaching staff.  

In all honesty, Cal was probably the most upset after the game.  He had won money on it which was nice.  The game, however, brought back memories of the time that the Bears lost on a missed field goal that hit the upright twice knocking them out of the playoffs.  He had called home to get some sympathy, but the Bears fans in our family didn't really have much to offer.  His roommates didn't either, so it was a pretty rough night for him.  

Thankfully, none of us have to worry about anymore heartbreaking games in the near future.  Although I think that most of us will pull for the 49ers, I don't believe that their losing to the Chiefs would ruin anyone's night.  Since IU basketball probably won't make the tournament this year, there shouldn't be any misery with them either.  Guess it just wasn't our year for a championship.  

A Terrible Ending to an Awesome Season

Championship Sunday was a tough one for those of us rooting for the Lions today.  We first had to endure the Chiefs beating the Ravens easily.  It wasn't that we necessarily disliked Kansas City, but hoped to not have to see Taylor Swift anymore.  Her dating Travis Kelce had been big NFL news all season and I know that I for one had grown tired of hearing about it.  According to Cameron, Cal and Meg, I was not alone.  The real tragedy happened in the second game, however, and was big enough that it will take some time to get over.

The Lions started off strong.  For awhile it looked like they were going to hold the 49ers scoreless.  I texted Cameron and said, "Unbelievable."  He agreed completely.  All of us were shocked when Detroit headed into the half up 24-7.  Even more surprising was that their coach had kicked a field goal on fourth and goal.  He has a tendency to "go for it" on 4th down and we all agreed that it was a smart decision to kick take the 3 points instead of trying for a touchdown.

Around here, everyone was all smiles during the break in the game.  I remember Doug saying not to get too comfortable and my Dad stating something about us being in for a big heartbreak.  I didn't think anything of it.  The Lions looked unstoppable and I already started planning the food that we would have during the Super Bowl.  Just thinking about it now makes me really sad.

The second half started much like the first.  The Lions still looked good.  With seven minutes to go in the third quarter, they reach field goal range, but their coach decided to go for a first down instead.  It was only two yards and seemed doable.  No one was surprised as he was known for being aggressive.  Unfortunately, a dropped pass gave the ball back to the 49ers.  The second guessing began immediately and only intensified when San Francisco scored and then got a lucky rebound off a Lions helmet for a touchdown.  The Lions missed one more 4th down try and soon enough the game was tied and the momentum had completely changed.  Detroit's defense couldn't stop anything and the 49ers' quarterback caught on fire.  San Francisco went up 34-24 giving the Lions only a few minutes in the game to tie them.  They got the touchdown, but not the field goal and lost by three.  It was absolutely horrible to watch.

I texted Cameron after the game.  He said that he was doing ok, just really disappointed.  I felt terrible for him as he had such high hopes for the Lions this year and they almost exceeded even his expectations for them.  Doug told Cameron that it was a great season with a terrible ending.  He was right, but it still stung.  It will definitely take a few days before anyone is saying, "Wait until next year."

St. Augustine

 Over Christmas break, we had talked about taking our family to St. Augustine.  Everyone we had met down here had highly suggested it for a day trip or even an overnight stay.  Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and we ended up going to Tampa and Clearwater instead.  We thoroughly enjoyed the family time, but still wanted to visit the first Florida city at a later date.  Thus, when my Dad said that he would really like to see St. Augustine, we jumped at the chance to my parents.

We started our trip to St. Augustine at 9 a.m. this morning.  It was a little over two hours away with a slight detour to drive past the home of John Travolta.  Once we arrived, we decided to first visit the Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth Archaeology Park.  Since he was the one who first settled St. Augustine, it seemed only logical to us.  I was excited that we found parking close as I had read that it was difficult to find spots near the attractions.  The park was a little more pricey than we expected at $20 a person.  After talking about it and realizing that all of the museums in St. Augustine were around the same price, we purchased tickets for the park.  In the end, we were very glad that we did.

We started in the building that housed the Fountain of Youth.  We learned all about Ponce de Leon and the settling of the first European colony in present day United States.  As a complete surprise to us, de Leon was not actually looking for a fountain of youth, but instead potable water for his settlement.  After tasting water from the legendary spring, we weren't quite sure that it was drinkable or that it made us any younger, but it was fun to say that we drank from The Fountain of Youth.

Next on our list was the planetarium, where we learned how the explorers used stars to navigate the seas.  We all liked the presentation.  Our next stop was the original global show that was built in the late 1950s.  I thought it was really neat as it gave a visual description of all the trips that Columbus and Ponce de Leon took over five hundred years ago.  Our last show was my favorite.  We learned how to fire a cross bow from the 1400s and shoot a cannon from that time period as well.  Before we left, we passed through the mission church and saw the burial plots of the indigenous people that lived in the same area as the settlement.  We also walked the boardwalk to get a better view of the gulf.

All of us were extremely happy with our decision to visit the Fountain of Youth, but after two and a half hours, we were more than ready for lunch.  We headed to St. George street to look for a restaurant and found out why we were warned about parking.  It was absolutely packed. After trying a couple of different areas, we finally found a spot in a parking lot several blocks away from the main strip.  None of us minded the walk as there was so much to see and do.  We stopped at Barefoot Bills Bar & Grill on St. George street and really enjoyed our sandwiches.  We did a little bit of shopping where my mom purchased a visor and I got a St. Augustine sweatshirt.  We did some more people watching and my dad bought an ice cream cone before we headed back to the car.  All of us were exhausted, but very pleased with our day trip.

Busy Season

Meg started busy season this week and has been a little bit overwhelmed by it all.  It is not the work so much that she's worried about, but more the expectations for her first year.  Cal's given her some advice, which has helped and also reminded her that she's not alone.  He is in audit, however, so they both realized that tax could be completely different.  Cal also spent his first busy season working remotely due to Covid, so that was different from her experience as well.  

I haven't been able to do much to help the situation but listen.  I watched from the sidelines for both Cal's and Doug's first busy season and know that it can be rough.  Usually, eating well, getting enough rest and taking breaks helps a lot.  I hope the same is for her.  I was glad to hear that she and Nick were going to spend a few days in Bloomington this weekend.  Immediately, it brought back fun memories to her of all of the times that we stayed there as a family years ago.  She will still have to work, but at least she'll be in a familiar place with her friends and family close by to do things with at night.  Meg told me today that Nick brought her a pop at lunch from her favorite Circle K in the whole world and that made all of the difference.  I was glad to hear that.  I know dinner at Social Cantina will help as well.

Belks

 Florida has two department stores that we do not have in Indiana.  I see Bealls in almost every city that we drive through in the sunshine state, but have never passed one in Indiana.  Ocala not only has one of their department stores, but a Bealls outlet store as well.  I don't shop at either one very often, but did find some great decorations for our tiki bar at the department store this December.  My parents have really enjoyed our proximity to the outlet store while they have been here.  Each have found some clothes that they needed and a few other items as well. 

Today, I introduced them to my favorite non-Indiana store in Ocala, Belk's.  I have never shopped there and walked out empty handed.  There are so many items to chose from and a lot of great deals on their app.  After searching all through the store, my mom and I each chose several items of clothing that we really liked and that fit well.  My dad found a new golf shirt as well.  I checked out for everyone so I could use the forty percent off in the app.  The cashier suggested a Belk's credit card.  Normally, I say no instantly, but with an extra 25% off and the rewards that I would earn, I couldn't resist.  In the end, we only paid $100 for ten different pieces of clothing and I had a new credit card with a promise to return.  I knew that Meg and Cameron would be happy as well as both loved shopping at Belk's when they were in Ocala.  

Oh What a Beautiful Day!

The weather this week has been unpredictably warm with highs in the mid-80s.  My Dad has been able to play a lot of golf.  Mom and I have taken multiple walks at Sholom Park.  We've opened up the lanai windows and enjoyed the warm breeze throughout the house.  That along with all of the sunshine has left everyone smiling.  

Unfortunately, Doug hasn't been able to be out during the day, but he has enjoyed eating dinner on the back patio, lighting the tiki torches and setting up the fire table.  We've even talked about watching the Barbie Movie in the backyard this week.  The warmer climate has definitely been an added bonus to Doug relocating.  So far, we are taking full advantage of it.  

The Woes of Growing Older

Since I turned 55 in November, I feel like my body has completely fallen apart.  First, I went to a new family doctor for a physical where I found out that my blood pressure was quite a bit higher than normal.  I hoped that it was the stress of seeing a new doctor, but after monitoring it at home for a few weeks, I realized that I was wrong.  When I went back a few weeks later to get the results of my bloodwork, I was completely taken off guard.  My cholesterol had doubled since I had it checked two years ago.  The high reading could have been the reason my blood pressure was off or it could have been the stress of the past two years.  Either way, I had to start taking medication for both issues.  Thankfully, my body responded well to them and I did not have any serious side effects.  My blood pressure even returned to normal in a few weeks.  The headaches and malaise that I had been feeling in October, November and early December had greatly subsided as well.

I was on the mend, but I wasn't done feeling old.  Two weeks ago, I stubbed my toe on Cameron's bed.  It still hasn't completely healed and has slowed me down way more than I would have liked.  It also kept me from walking for exercise until today.  Another blow to my body and ego occurred on Saturday morning when I realized that I had broken a molar while brushing my teeth.  As the missing piece was larger than normal, I knew that it wouldn't be an easy fix.  I considered waiting until I was back in Syracuse this spring to have it fix, but found a dentist here that would see me.  Unfortunately, I will need a crown to fix it.  The good news is that he will be able to repair it later this week and look at two other teeth that are bothering me.  Thankfully, no root canal, for now.  After spending the last two years helping Cameron and Doug, I guess my body decided that it had had enough.  I have definitely been slowed down recently, but do have a plan to take it easy from here on out with hopefully no other physical issues to report.  

The Florida Aquarium Part 2

Today, I took my parents to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa.  I had bought a membership in December and was happy to find out that I could bring anyone with me on any visit.  We arrived close to 11 a.m. this morning and were surprised with how many people were there on a Monday in the middle of January.  It didn't matter, however, as there was so much to do, the extra visitors never got in our way.  

We started in the Wetlands of Florida area.  It was like walking right into the middle of a river.  We could see fish and turtles in almost every exhibit.  There were alligators and otters as well.  My favorite part was all of the birds.  The scarlet ibis were beautiful.  I couldn't believe that the birds didn't fly away.  They were being fed while we were there and very active.  I was not sure what the connection was to the Wetlands, but upstairs there were lemurs and other animals of Madagascar.  They were very interesting as well.

The stingrays were next on our list and we enjoyed seeing them splash someone who was being too aggressive with them.  We spent the next hour in the coral reef watching the fish swim.  There were sharks, rays, shrimp, jelly fish and so much more.  We saw animals that blended so well into their environment that we could barely find them.  There were also geckos, chameleons and even a few poison dart frogs.  Our last stop of the day was outside to visit the African Penguins hopping on the rocks.

We headed to the gift stop and looked at the photo that they took of the three of us when we walked in this morning.  It was nice.  We asked about a place to eat lunch near the aquarium.  They suggested an area next door that had a lot of different small restaurants and one tequila bar.  It looked like a lot of fun, but most were outside seating or were pretty pricey.  We were glad that we checked it out, but decided to eat elsewhere.  Instantly, I thought of McAlister's and we headed there next.  The soup was perfect for a chilly Florida day and a great way to unwind after a successful day at the aquarium.

Happy Birthday 19th Cameron!

Today was Cameron's 19th birthday.  It was very strange not to be with him.  Meg must have felt the same as she made a fun post for him on Instagram.  Cameron and I did make plans to celebrate in two weeks when Doug and I were back in Bloomington, but I was extremely grateful that Brett was available to take him to lunch and give him his and Cal's birthday gifts today.  Both picked books that they thought Cameron would like - one on meditation and the other on investing.  Cameron appreciated both and made plans to read them this semester.  He also enjoyed going to lunch at Bucceto's, especially since they had vodka pasta on the menu.  He and Brett talked for quite awhile before Cameron headed back to the dorm to watch the movie Wicker Man with a friend.  He liked it more than I did and finished it just before the Lions game.

I talked to Cameron at halftime and we were both nervous about the game.  Tampa Bay and Detroit were tied at 10 all.  The Lions looked good, but just couldn't take the lead and run with it.  Cameron was still pretty confident when he hung up, but he sounded a lot better when he texted me after the game.  The Lions had held on to win 31-23.  They would play the Ravens next Sunday for a chance to go to the Super Bowl.  No matter the outcome of that game, Cameron had already received the best birthday gift of the day - a Lions victory.  

Night Out

Tonight we took Grandma and Grandpa downtown for dinner at Brick City Kitchen.  They had been there one other time, but didn't really remember it.  Last time Grandpa had banana pudding for dinner, tonight he tried their famed pulled pork.  Doug and I each ordered something new as I got salmon and he chose shrimp and grits.  Grandma's dinner was the most impressive as her salad was the biggest that I had ever seen.  It was covered with pork, chicken and turkey and had multiple vegetables.  All of the meals were very good and we enjoyed dinner a lot.

After dinner, we walked over to Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop.  I not only got candy for Cameron's birthday, but found some delicious treats for ourselves as well.  Doug got an orange flavored chocolate and I found some sugar free York Peppermint Patties that were actually really good.  Grandma and Grandpa filled up their $5 box with a lot of different goodies.  An added bonus to going to downtown for dinner tonight was getting to see the lighted palm trees.  They looked just as nice as they did on the night of Light Up the Night Ocala.

We weren't the only ones who had a fun dinner out this weekend.  Last night Cal and Maggie invited Meg and Nick to meet them at a restaurant in Wicker Park.  I talked to both of them today and they said that they had a great time.  Cal and Meg's favorite activity has always been making fun of the rest of us.  Tonight was no exception.  They also talked a lot about the movie LaLa Land.  It was one of Doug and my least favorites when I saw it, so I could side with Cal instead of Cameron, Meg and Maggie who liked the non-traditional ending.  No matter the disagreement on films, I was glad to hear that the four of them had a nice evening hanging out together. 

The Villages

When I was home in November, I ran into a teacher friend of mine.  Her daughter was always one of my favorite students and I was glad to see her as well.  While we were talking, she asked me about life in Florida.  She knew exactly where Ocala was as her husband spent a lot of time in The Villages for work.  The next thing that she said completely took me off guard, "Did you know that The Villages was the VD capital of the world?"  I had never heard that and was completely shocked that STDs were a problem in the retirement communities.   I asked Cal and Doug about it later.  They both laughed and said that they had been told that by multiple people.  

Ever since I heard that story, I had thought of The Villages in a different manner.  Whenever we drove under the boardwalk sign, I felt strange.  Thus, when my Dad said that he would need a ride to play golf with a friend in The Villages, I jokingly suggested a hazmat suit.  

Today, mom, dad and I left for the Continental Golf Club in Wildwood just past the infamous town.  I had only been to The Villages one other time and I had been less than impressed.  Their center circle area was crowded and had a party atmosphere with more golf carts than I had ever seen.  Mom and I returned to the same place after we dropped off my dad at the course.  It wasn't quite as crowded, but it was still hard to find a parking place.  We had lunch at McAlister's and decided not to explore the shops nearby.  Most were geared for senior citizens - golf carts, hearing aids, etc.  

After lunch we drove straight to Hobby Lobby.  My mom had not been in one in years and was impressed with the store, especially their home decorations.  I was looking for lawn ornaments and seriously thought about buying a five foot tall flamingo.  Instead I got a couple of small ones for my bathroom.  I decided that my entire house didn't need to be decorated with flamingos.  Our next shopping stop was Bealls.  I was skeptical that I'd find anything there, but thankfully was wrong.  Not only did I find a cute gnome and sea turtle for the rocks in our front yard, I also scored a pair of shorts and a shirt on clearance.  As excited as I was about my purchases, my mom had the best find of the day when she got a dress for Meg's wedding.  Meg and I loved it.  

We made one more stop at Home Goods before picking my dad up at 5 p.m.  We were happy to hear that he had enjoyed the course and had played well.  He was equally glad that Grandma found a dress.  The best part was that we all survived our trip to The Villages without catching any communicable disease.    

Foot Woes

On the first day back from Indiana, I stubbed my toe on Cameron's bed. I didn't think much of it and continued to walk on it normally for the rest of the day.  Unfortunately, it must have been worse than I realized.  Soon, I could barely move my toes and the top of my foot was entirely black and blue.  After going to church on Sunday and not being able to walk very far without my foot throbbing in pain, Doug suggested I try the boot that I was given several year ago for my ankle.  It almost instantly stopped the throbbing and I kept it on for the rest of the week.  As an added bonus, I noticed that my planter's fasciitis was a lot better as well.  

I didn't wear the boot to the dermatologist today as I knew that a whole body check would include my feet.  It hurt, but was manageable.  In the end, it was a good thing that I didn't wear it as she found a freckle on my left toe that she was concerned enough about to take a picture of and make an appointment for me to return in three months.  I asked about a biopsy, but she said it could wait and that she didn't want to aggravate the broken toe beside it.  I was glad for that.  She also removed a cyst from my face that was not noticeable to anyone else but me.  Thankfully, it was benign.  Before I left she put liquid nitrogen on a skin tag as well.  

Tonight, I was feeling pretty old.  Not only had I spent the afternoon at the dermatologist, but this morning we had signed our new will as well.  My own mortality must have really been bothering me as I spent the rest of the evening anxious that I had melanoma on my foot.  Doug and Meg both told me that if it was really concerning, she would have done something about it immediately.  I also looked back at pictures from this past summer and the freckle looked the exact same.  I know that I will feel better about it all tomorrow, it will just take some time.  

Manatee Rescue

My mom, dad and I had no set plans for the day.  The weather was supposed to be in the 50s, so golf wasn't on the agenda.  We were planning on shopping on Friday, so that was out as well.  Yesterday, we spent most of the day working on projects around our home.  I had no desire to do that again.  Before I gave much thought to what we should do, a video popped up on my Facebook feed from a spring in Crystal River.  It showed hundreds of manatee swimming in their springs, enjoying the warm water on this chilly day.  After watching that, I suggested that we take a trip to Crystal River to check out the famed sea cow.

I had only been to Crystal River once.  That time I went to see the ancient mounds left by the indigenous people well over 2000 years ago.  It was fascinating, but today I was more interested in the manatee, especially since Cameron saw a couple on his kayak trip with Nick several weeks ago.  It took us about 45 minutes to get to the heart of Crystal River.  We enjoyed the scenic drive.  It reminded all of us of our trips to Arcadia when Granny and CrapPa lived there.  

Crystal River had several tourist shops and a lot of different places advertising ways to see the manatee.  Boat rides, snorkeling adventures and kayaking tours were all available.  Even if the weather had been nice, we weren't really interested in those.  We drove alongside the river looking for a beach or somewhere to see the manatee from the shore.  We stopped at a pier where my Dad talked to a local worker.  He told him about two different places to see the manatee.  The first was a beach with snorkelers.  We could tell there were shadows where the manatee were, but couldn't really see much.  We decided then to try Three Sisters Springs.  I knew from Facebook that there were manatee in the springs today, and the local that my dad talked to guaranteed us that we'd see them there.

The entrance building to Three Sisters Springs was housed in a shopping plaza.  We were a little hesitant about it all as it seemed like a lot of money to enter the springs.  We thought it over during our chili lunch at Wendy's and came to the conclusion - "Why not try it?"  We were already there and I'd finally be able to see the manatees in the wild.  It had been over thirty years since we saw them swimming by the power plants near Granny's.  

We caught the trolley bus and soon we were at the walkway around the springs.  We were absolutely impressed with the amount of manatee in the springs today.  With the gulf water temperatures at 58 degrees, the warm water of the springs was a haven for the sea cows.  The docents did a fantastic job telling us all about the life of a manatee.  We were all fascinated with the information and loved seeing them swim, eat and huddle together.  At one area they were so close together that it looked like someone could walk right across them in the water.

On the way over, our bus driver had let us know that there was a group from Zoo Tampa there today rescuing a manatee who was suffering from cold stress.  We found out later that it was a lot like frost bit on a human.  At first, I thought that wasn't any big deal.  I soon changed my mind.  Watching the amount of effort the rescuers put into getting the manatee corralled, netted, on the stretcher and into the truck for the zoo was absolutely amazing.  We were right next to the opening where the injured manatee was taken and could see the sores on her body from the cold stress.  We were so thankful that she was going to be helped and joined everyone clapping when they finally took her away.  In the end, I was very glad that I talked my mom and dad into going to Crystal River today.  We didn't know what our day would bring when we got up, but it definitely was a memorable one.  

Wildcard Weekend

The past three days have been filled with football in the Heinisch family.  Wildcard weekend has become a favorite time for the sports enthusiasts in our family.  We started watching on Saturday afternoon and ended late last night.  The winter storm and the windchill forced the Bills game to be moved from Saturday to Monday, but the Chiefs did play with windchills well below zero.  

Most of the games ended up being non-events with a lopsided victory for the winners.  The best and closest game of the weekend came on Sunday night when the Lions played the Rams.  It was obviously the game that we were most invested in with Cameron's love of the Detroit team.  Even Cal joined in rooting for the Lions as he had bet on them to win.  The hype was big in the football world as well. Especially since, several years ago the Rams traded their quarterback, Jared Goff, for the Lions longtime QB, Matthew Stafford, who led them to a Super Bowl win in his first year with the LA team.  From the media attention before the game, it was apparent that it would mean a lot to Goff to win and prove his former leadership wrong.  I loved that Lions fans wore old Stafford jerseys with tape over his name.  Even Eminem joined the pre-game show, talking about his love for his hometown team Lions.  

The game held up to all of the hype.  The Lions scored early and easily, but that didn't discourage the Rams' offense as they scored as well and at halftime the Lions were only ahead 21-17.  Defense held strong in the second half for both teams with the Lions stopping the Rams last drive guaranteeing their win with just two first downs at 24-23.  It was the Lions first playoff game at home in 30 years.  I was glad to hear that David was in the third row watching it in person as he was the one who was credited with starting Cameron's love of the Detroit team.

I called Cameron after the game and he was crying.  He was so happy that they won.  Two weeks ago when an incorrect call cost the Lions the game against Dallas, he thought that their chances of winning in the playoffs were over.  Now, they have a legitimate chance of winning the NFC championship.  It should be an exciting game against Tampa Bay next weekend.  

Martin Luther King Jr Day

Today was Martin Luther King Jr Day and a lot of businesses and schools were closed.  Brett and Doug had to work, but Cal, Meg, and Cameron appreciated their day off.  Cameron slept in, talked to Alina on the phone and watched football.  Cal read and hung out with Maggie while Meg rested, cleaned and ordered Door Dash.  I was glad that they enjoyed their day off.

I noticed that most schools in Northern Indiana had the day off as well which was a good thing as the windchills would have cancelled classes if they were in session.  I thought back to the years that I taught before Wawasee recognized it as a holiday.  Most schools were off, but we were required to not only teach, but have a lesson prepared about the reverend in our individual subject.  It was easy when I was a FACS teacher, but once I switched to mathematics it was a little more challenging.  I figured it out, however, and enjoyed providing math facts about the American leader.

Several years ago Wawasee added Martin Luther King Jr Day as a day off for students.  I always thought that it should have been from the beginning - not only to commemorate Dr. King's message of equality, but also because the weather was usually terrible that week and there was a good chance that it would be a delay or snow day anyway.  That was the case these past two years, and I am sure that it will be several more times in the future.  Maybe schools should start considering the week off as a holiday, as many have already delayed for tomorrow as well.  Either way it was nice to think that none of this really effects any of us anymore.  Instead due to the time of the storm and the holiday, Meg, Cal and Cameron were able to spend this zero degree windchill day at home in the comfort of their warm apartments and dorm.

Baby, It's Cold Outside (in the Midwest)

All week, while we were in Indiana, we had heard that the midwest was in for a winter storm that could dump up to 8 inches of snow in the northern part of the state as well as Chicago.  Thankfully, it wasn't quite as bad as predicted, but there was definitely more snow in that area than they had had all winter.  Cal sent us pictures on his way to work in the morning just so we knew what we were missing.  He and Meg did both make it into work, but didn't do much else during the evening.  

There was a little more snow on Saturday and in some areas white out conditions.  Cal and Jayce were still able to make it to Cameron Adams' for a weekend of football and Nick made it safely to Chicago from Bloomington.  The poor weather conditions continued, however, changing from snow to freezing cold.  The negative temperatures even reached Cameron and Brett, so that all of our children had deal with twenty below zero wind chills.  Almost all activities were cancelled which left several of them feeling cabin fever by the end of the weekend.

The cold temperatures are not predicted to end before Tuesday.  I wished that it was different for them, but realized that it was part of living in the Midwest.  I heard someone complain on the way into church today about how cold it was in Florida.  I actually almost laughed out loud.  I would definitely put up with a 50 degree morning every day in January to miss what Meg, Cameron, Cal and Brett were dealing with this week.  Hopefully, the weather will change for them soon.  At least I know that they are well prepared for it with all of our lectures about respecting the dangers of sub zero temperatures.

Jaws 2

 I was up early for a Saturday morning.  It was worth it, however, so that I could attend a talk by the Dominican Friars on the importance of servitude.  The priests were a part of the Mission group that I helped with this fall.  The talk was wonderful.  I enjoyed hearing about their lives and their roles with the Friars.  I was glad that several of the women from Blessed Trinity Council for Catholic Women were there as well.  It was nice to sit with familiar faces.

While I was gone, Doug worked and then exercised.  He and my parents were ready for lunch when I arrived.  Doug and I decided to take them to Jaws Jumbo Burgers.  I wasn't sure how they would like it, but they thought it was just as fun as we did.  The movie themed restaurant was perfect for those of us who remembered seeing the thriller in theaters almost fifty years ago.  The food was delicious and the owner was extremely friendly.  All made for a wonderful meal.

After lunch, we drove up to the "I-75 Ocala Flea Market."  Even though the website said that it was open, it was completely desolate.  I was a little bit bummed.  I didn't need anything, but we had planned our afternoon around it.  I did a quick search and found a link to the Ocala Mall.  I remembered reading about it when it opened last spring.  We headed there next.  It was an indoor flea market inside of an old K-Mart on the north side of town.  It wasn't anything spectacular, but fun to try.  Doug and I found a vinyl store that had thousands of album for sale.  I was excited to find a gift for Meg's Valentine's Day and Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits for me.  

Tonight, we turned on football and watched the games while Doug made dinner.  I had bought Turkey brats to try.  They weren't as good as the regular ones, but definitely healthier for me.  Phil joined us for dinner and then a round of Oh Hell.  He had never played before, but caught on quickly.  Even though Doug won, we all had a fun and relaxing evening.  

Aunt Jan & Uncle Lee Visit

Aunt Jan and Uncle Lee arrived in Orlando on Saturday for a week at their timeshare.  When I figured out that we would be back while they were still there, I invited them up for a visit.  They were busy on Thursday, but had a free Friday afternoon.  We were happy to hear that and made plans to meet them here around 1 p.m.

While they were driving up this morning, my Dad played golf at Ocala Palms.  It was raining when he left and was supposed to continue for the rest of the day.  Thankfully, it stopped and ended up being very nice with temperatures in the seventies.  

I texted my Aunt Jan at 1:30 to see how their drive was going.  They did not have a Sun Pass and decided to bypass the Turnpike.  Unfortunately, there was a lot of traffic, stoplights and construction, so it took them almost twice as long as normal.  They did arrive safely, however, after 2 p.m. and I had fun giving them a tour of our home.  We spent the next two hours catching up with what everyone had been up to over the past few months.  I enjoyed listening to my Mom and Aunt Jan as they have so many shared memories to talk about.  It reminded me a lot of when I used to sit with Grandma and Grandpa.  I also thought it was really neat to have them together in my home in Florida.  

My Dad made it home at 4 p.m.  There was no one on the course, so he actually got to play thirty-six holes.  I had to pick up Doug at work, so we all decided to eat dinner at Crazy Cucumber before Aunt Jan and Uncle Lee left for Orlando.  It was a nice dinner with some great conversation and everyone enjoyed eating at Meg's favorite restaurant in Ocala.  As an added bonus, I was able to set up Uncle Lee's new Sun Pass, so their trip home was a lot better.  Overall, it was a wonderful day in Ocala and I was super glad to play host to such a memorable afternoon.  

Hanging Out in Ocala

The lack of sleep the past couple of days along with the long drive home while being carsick definitely took a toll on me.  I was glad to sleep in and have an easy morning.  I was also happy to finally color my hair as it really needed it after I got it cut on Monday.

Overall, it was a typical day in Ocala for me.  I took my parents to Bealls so they could look around while I picked up groceries.  Afterward we stopped at McAlister's for lunch.  Their chicken and dumplings soup has become one of my favorite meals.  Mom and I then dropped my Dad off at Candler Hills Golf Course so that he could hit balls.  The practice facility was a nice one with a driving range, chipping area and two practice greens.  While he was there, my Mom and I took a walk at Sholom Park.  She was impressed with it, especially the Zen Garden.  

Tonight was a normal one at home.  I unpacked, swept the garage and put the ping pong table back in place.  Doug exercised and made chicken curry for dinner.  We did play half a game of Oh Hell.  My Mom got a headache, however, so we called it early.  I felt bad for her, but was ok just watching television for the rest of the night.  It had been a busy week and it felt awesome just to relax.