Cooking the NYTimes and Other Assorted Retirement Activities

We're winding down our two month stint in Belleair Beach, Florida.  During the daily beach walk(s), I've been using these last few days to reflect on our time here. I suppose the best thing I can say is that we're already signed on to return next year.  The place where we've stayed, a townhouse in a small development called Los Caracoles (the snails) that fronts the Gulf of Mexico, has been, as my sister who is a realtor down here calls a real find.   (In fact, on a walk the other afternoon, Hank discovered this snail on the property.) Next year the unit is available for 6 weeks rather than 2 months.  We'll make due.  I can sit on the patio and look out at the Gulf; listen to the waves at night, which have more than once lulled me either to sleep or back to sleep; and in about 73 steps,give or take a few, be on the beach.  We are simultaneously spoiled and blessed. The time, like the Gulf, ebbs and flows differently depending on what is g...

My oldest daughter, Molly, who has been visiting with her two preschoolers, commented yesterday that I hadn't posted lately.  Laughing, I reminded her that I've been otherwise occupied. We've been in the true Magic Kingdom of Making Memories. Now, we're staying only 90 miles from the theme parks in Orlando.  My nieces have referred to me, but mostly their mother, as a Parkaholic.  True, even at this distance, I not infrequently hear the siren song of the Tower of Terror calling my name.  Last year, we caved in and spent a very enjoyable day at Universal Studios (both parks so we could ride the Hogwarts train between them).  And we're here until the end of the month, so anything could happen, For the past 4 weeks, we have been blessed with family company.  First our daughter Maggie, son-in-law Pete and their daughter, my darling Georgia Rose were here.  Unfortunately, and not unlike the rest of the country, Florida was in the midst of a cool ...