Elite Resort at Citrus Valley - March Part Two

And just like that another month slipped by. With my sights set on Delray Beach, life goes on and I filled it the best way I know how: savoring and appreciating the warmth of the sun, the caress of evening breezes, the company of friends both dining and before the hypnotic flames of campfires.  And life goes on for my friends as well. Vicki flew up to North Carolina for a few days while George "kittysat" Stella, Fran and Walt went up to Perry, Georgia, for a rally week, Tony and Doreen visited friends in Jensen Beach for an overnight and Noreen and Jack headed back home to New York.

One Sunday afternoon I once again enjoyed the company of Daytona Beach friends, Mya and Mark who traveled the hour+ to visit me here in Clermont. Here, we met son Zane, from Buena Vista and friend, Amanda, from Orlando, Off we went to dinner at Mito Sushi & Grill located just outside the resort in the nearby Publix Plaza. It was my first sushi meal while here in Clermont. I enjoyed the 10-piece Firecracker Roll. 

Firecracker Roll: Shrimp, crab meat and avocado, fried in tempura with chef special sauce, tobiko and green onion.

After dinner, Mark and Mya stayed and enjoyed the campfire along with friends, Ray/Kathy, George, Roberta, Tony/Doreen and Jack.

Mark, Mya, Zane, Amanda

DiRomios Italian Restaurant was another dining destination for Tony/Doreen, Roberta and me. My cheese calzone was huge and provided three meals. I also ordered a to-go meal of penne al pesto with pine nuts, parmesan and fresh basil sauce for future dinners.

On March 14th, I witnessed my first rocket launch from Cape Canaveral as the CRS 37 Dragon Launch made it's 17th trip to the ISS, circling 210 miles overhead at 17,500 mph. The Cargo ship was carrying a payload for 60 new scientific experiments as well as vehicle hardware and food for the astronauts. The ISS costing three billion dollars a year to maintain and operate has been in orbit for more than twenty years and occupied with humans for fifteen. Although we're 80 miles west of Cape Kennedy, the two videos presented below will give you an idea of the awe-inspiring experience. The first video is courtesy of Nettie who lives about .2 of a mile from our location.

The second video, courtesy of Roberta, captured what we saw from my campsite.

You can watch the entire launch on YouTube HERE. A fascinating fact heard in the broadcast; the Falcon 9 booster, after separation, returned to a drone recovery ship successfully for the 178th time. Upon landing its speed of descent goes from twice the speed of a jet airplane to 0 mph in less than a minute. There was an all female crew recovery team that will take the recovered booster back to land. Later that evening we were able to see the ISS passing from our southwest to the northeast. At the time of the rocket was launched, the ISS was located over the Indian Ocean. The occupants get to see 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. For more fascinating facts and figures for the ISS, click HERE,

Thursday Tony, Doreen, Roberta and I traveled just three miles to nearby I Love NY Pizza . There we were in this Italian restaurant being served by Mexicans watching TVs in Spanish on St. Patrick's Day eating pizza.

The parsley garnish added some green.

The bottle added some green.

My shirt added some green

Tony & Doreen

Pizza was terrific; thin crust and tasty sauce. (half came home)

We were entertained by a very talented young man strolling throughout
with a unique violin whose sound was projected and amplified (a tad too loud).

The following evening I was among the guests (Mike, Chrissy, Fran, Walter, Tony, Doreen, George and Roberta) to once again visit the home of Ray and Kathy for the traditional corned beef, cabbage and vegetable dinner. Because of Kathy's bad foot and under her direction, Ray did all the preparation from setting up to cooking the excellent meal. We each contributed an appetizer or dessert.

A belated birthday cake for Fran.

Perhaps a scene during rest time at the home?

Corned beef, cabbage, veggies with Irish soda bread and 
dollops of spicy mustard and horseradish.

With just thirteen days left to this leg of my winter travels, plans were made to visit Disney Springs and catch a production of Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life. 

"This tribute to Disney Animation's art embraces the actions and feelings of life. The plot of the show focuses on a motivated young woman who finds one last item left by her animator father—a collection of incomplete sketches. She sets out on an exciting quest infused with her Disney childhood memories, assisted by a magical pencil and a funny band of creative muses. We'll accompany her as she dives into an imaginative realm of animation and unearths fresh options that bring her future into motion." See the trailer HERE

A photo taken before it was
announced they're not allowed.

The 90-minute performance with no intermission was outstanding. Audiences are mesmerized by the non-stop activities taking place on stage. Distractions are everywhere while, in the dark, other parts of the stage are being prepared. From the revolving backstage to sets that rise from beneath the floor, your breath is taken away while you watch aerial artists perform. I wanted to find out the nationalities of the international  performers (many appeared to be in their late teens) and found 16 amazing facts that make the experience even more outstanding. The athleticism of the acrobatics, scenic design, technical lighting and staging as well as the projection techniques featuring Disney characters were mind-blowing. 

What were the chances that Tony would
find a parking spot right across the street.

After the show, our crowd (Ray/Kathy, Fran/Walter, Mike/Chrissy, Roberta, Tony/Doreen) dined once again at Longhorn Steakhouse. You know what I had if you read my last blog.

A belated Happy Birthday for Fran

They forced me to take a spoonful as Fran's dessert was passed around.

Finishing my last week here in Clermont, Tony, Doreen, Roberta and I squeezed in a breakfast at KeKe's Breakfast Café........

My usual: scrambled eggs, home fries and an (almost) English muffin.
I passed on the $5.49 side of bacon.

...and a next to the "last supper" at Amore Ristorante where we were able to pin down twelve of us who were expertly and pleasantly served by Cassidy. Recently opened in January, owners Julian and Alda Serjani have succeeded making this upscale "from scratch" restaurant beautiful with an elegant ambiance and plenty of classic homemade selections. For a Monday night it was quite busy.

l. to r: Ray, Chrissy, Roberta, ACR, Doreen, Fran, Walter, Vicki, George, Mike, Kathy.

(Thank you Cassidy)

Pasta Fajioli

Capellini Primavera
Sauteed vegetables with garlic and
olive oil served over angel hair pasta

Tony & Doreen's Tiramisu at Amore

Some of us went next door to
Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream.
I had  two scoops of butter pecan
in a waffle bowl.

One more dinner on Wednesday...okay, this is the "last" one with Ray/Kathy and Doreen/Tony. We went to Carrabba's Italian Grill. This was my first visit to a Carrabba's. With an extensive dinner menu, I settled on...

Ravioli stuffed with lobster and Romano
cheese in a white wine cream sauce topped
with diced tomato and enjoyed a wonderful Valpolicella.

Taster's Note: Well-structured wine, with a soft, long and persistent finish. Brilliant ruby red in color, with a pleasant scent of wild berries. Dry and velvety on the palate, it is characterized by a bitter almond finish.

Classic Tiramisu (shared)

A second trip back to Amore (really...this was the last dinner out) with Tony and Doreen. It afforded me another homemade choice.

...Gnocchi Bolognese

Gnocchi pasta mixed with their homemade Bolognese sauce.

Half of this melt-in-your-moth taste treat went home for a future meal

And for those who have issues with me enjoying Italian dining pleasures three time in four days, I can express myself with Italian sign language:

Translation: "What? You don't like Italian cuisine?

Earlier before Roberta left we had a campfire with everyone present. Sadly, I won't see another one like this until June.

Some evenings were chilly with a breeze but if you're prepared, the fire still felt good.

I cannot end my last post at Elite without sharing my heart felt thanks to the wonderful people I know and with others I've had the pleasure of meeting. There was:

Morning coffee;

Gatherings for evening campfires and those contributing sacks of wood;

Trips to restaurants, grocery shopping and haircuts;

Receiving, holding and delivering my mail and packages as well as a place to do laundry;

An endless supply of wine, gin and tonics and ice;

For fear of leaving something/someone out, you know who you are and I thank you.

And, as always, central to the good life I enjoy is the love of food.

Even as I prepared to leave on Friday, 3/31st, the thoughtfulness and generosity continued:

Potato Bacon Soup
Theresa across the street brought over a bowl for me one evening. Outstanding with loads of flavor and the right consistency to stick-to-your-ribs, perfect for a chilly night.

Having returned from a week at home in Michigan, Theresa gave me a special treat to see me off on my last day. Candy made in her hometown. The solid milk chocolate is in the shape of the Upper Peninsula. A Yooper is a native or inhabitant of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Check out Sayklly's Candies HERE.

The best homemade oatmeal raisin cookies you'll find anywhere are made by Kathy M.
She made a plate of these special treats for me and given on the last day...As were

...these pumpkin apple strudel muffins baked by Nettie. Nettie has been the liaison between the owners of sites I've rented these past two years. She and hubby, Chuck, are the proud owners of the two beautiful Goldens, Clare and Finnegan, you may remember from my last blog post.

So this concludes my two month stay in Clermont, Florida, home of the Elite RV Resort. The owners of my lot, Russ and Sherri, from whom I'll rent again next year, travel extensively from January to October and maintain their own blog. I received their latest and wanted to share the link with my fellow RVers or anyone else planning to travel. It shares the unique opportunity for you to obtain audio tours of the places you visit without a guide. Check it out HERE

My next stop is a return visit to Delray Beach, FL I've stayed here many times in the past. This centrally located campground allows me to visit more friends and relatives. I look forward to sharing the experience with you. Meanwhile, stay well, stay happy and stay safe.

 

"I'm finding old age is coming at a very bad time in my life. People my age are so much older than me." --?

Elite Resort at Citrus Valley - March

Welcome back to the second month of my stay here in Clermont, Florida. I blinked and February became part of history. In case you missed it, you can read all about it HERE.

In the northeast, March came in like a lion. I think my neighbors in Peekskill escaped the brunt and saw some snow but mostly rain. Snow removal procedures were in effect at the River House. The pattern continued on the following weekends.

This sunset in Clermont continues to show off the warm, breezy days I'm enjoying. Temperatures are consistently in the mid 80's, sometimes reaching the low 90's. There have been so many days that I've sat outside, felt the warmth of the sun, the constant  breezes swaying the palms, the neighboring mocking bird's occasional serenade and feel so blessed to be in this place. It's difficult to think of the best summer day back home to make the comparison...there is none.

My annual treat for Winnie is to catch Five Star Detailing and schedule an on-site visit. Owner, Jose Ferrer, has a year round tight schedule which includes traveling throughout the country to provide a wide array of cleaning services for both trucks and RVs. Be sure to check out his website and the gallery to see some of his work.

Well equipped for all services including a de-ionized spot free rinse.

Tires, roof, awning--top and bottom were pressure washed, blown dry then waxed and buffed.

Lazaro and Jose

Beautiful visitors, Claire and Finnegan, come by once in awhile as they take their owners, Chuck and Nettie for their evening walk. The Goldens know where the treats are and know what to do to get them after tugging their owners onto my site. What are the chances that my Franklin Street elementary school's Librarian, who read stories to my third grade class, was named Claire Finnegan. She passed away in 2015 at age 91. Click on the "What are the chances" link, to see many more "coincidences" in my RVing history.

On March 5th, I had the honor of joining others on Vicki and George's site 233 to celebrate her 50th year dealing with Type I Diabetes.  Over twenty folks were in attendance that included neighbors and friends. From our group: Roberta, Jack/Noreen, Walt/Fran, Tony/Doreen, Ray/Kathy attended. A few of the photos follow:

Neighbors Missy & Paul

Ray & Kathy

Kathy, Tricia, Vicki, Craig

Tony

Doreen

Neighbor Bob

Friends Tricia and Craig with neighbor Wayne

A ton of food

Because of the slight chance of rain on Saturday, Vicki opted to play it safe and changed the date to Sunday. Needless to say, the deluge occurred on Sunday. Tents and canopies notwithstanding, not all escaped the rain. Gallant Tony escorts Fran into the dryness (?) of the canopy.

I asked Vicki to give me some thoughts to share that would enlightened those of us who are fortunate enough not to have this daily burden to deal with. She writes:

"I’d like to thank all the Islanders who attended my celebration of “Surviving Type I Diabetes” dinner party on March 5^th. With the addition of my neighbors here at Elite, we had about 22 people. We also experienced torrential rain for a bit, but it didn’t stop anyone from eating, drinking and having fun.  The presence of each and every one of you was the catalyst for the party’s success.

 I had wanted to make a toast to thank you all at some point during the party, but the opportunity never materialized. I was also going to mention a couple of the most memorable moments of this difficult journey, so when Charlie asked me to write up a “blurb,” I asked him the restriction of pages to submit. Below contains the moments and even more than I had wanted to say.  

 As you would assume, the number one moment was “Diagnosis Day.” I was given grim news about my future with this disease from a doctor who sat back in his huge, wooden, swivel desk chair. Once he finished speaking, he placed the remnants of his most recent cigarette in the big, amber colored ashtray on his desk and snuffed it out. I watched the smoke rise. I was 17 years old with no parental support. His predictions, mannerisms and attitude annoyed me. I remember standing up, full of rage and pointed my finger at him and saying, “I’m going to prove you wrong!” I stormed out of his office, only to return to get my glass syringe and metal needle. Ouch. That’s another story and still painful to remember. 

 Technology flourished at the best time for me. I can attribute my lack of fear to try anything as helping to improve the quality of my life and allow me to live longer. However, technology is only half of the equation. The other 50% is inside your heart and soul.  It took a couple of tough lessons and years to make me a T1 Warrior.

 My second story goes back to early 1976 when I was taken to the hospital by ambulance due to Ketoacidosis, a possible deadly result from uncontrolled T1 diabetes. Along for the ride in the ambulance was my 4 month-old son, Glenn, being held by a paramedic. Once at the hospital, the nurses were fighting over who would hold the baby!  I was dehydrated, close to a coma and could just watch.

 My ex-mother-in-law showed up to take my son. She walked over to me and yelled “How dare you put this child at risk of losing his mother!  You better smarten up and take care of yourself, unless you want another woman to raise your son.”

 If not for her, my son could very well have lost his mommy.  I believe she’s the first person who helped me accept this disease. The second person is my son, Glenn. A parent would give their life to save their child….I needed to save MY life for my child, and in time was blessed to fight for two.

 The battle was waged. I succeeded and failed, but each time I got back up and fought again. I fought last night and I’ll fight tomorrow. Your weapon can never lay idle. It must be carried at all times.

 The third major person is the man who has patiently stood by my side for the last 20 years and been a major contributor to my current successes. Technology has allowed him to see my blood sugar levels in real time. He texts me when it’s high and often shows up with candy when it’s low. He’s always checking my numbers and wakes me at night when the alarms don’t.  My insulin pump alarms many times during a day and overnight. George has not had a full night’s sleep since 2009 and he doesn’t complain. EVER. Who else could be this lucky?

 There are times when I contemplate the “ifs and whys” of the major setbacks in my life. I’ve come to realize, they have each molded me into the person I am today; surely a better person than I could have imagined I’d be."

On Monday, Ray and Kathy traveled the 50 miles to Plant City, FL and spent the day at the annual, week-long Strawberry Festival. If you check out the link, you'll see it's a pretty big deal. The lineup of entertainers alone is impressive (including Willy Nelson, Lynyard Skynyrd, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Gatlin Brothers, Tanya Tucker, the Pointer Sisters, Bill Haley Jr. and the Comets, Wayne Newton, and the Isley Brothers). When they returned, they brought us our taste treat of the day...no, correction...month. 

These beauties are not color enhanced. I have never seen nor tasted strawberries like these. I think we've all long forgotten what "real" strawberries taste like. I'm talking about the ones you picked fresh from the plant on the farm that grew them or from your backyard; vivid red, sweet and juicy...and here's the best part. They taste like strawberries, not like the strawberries you pick up at the supermarket. Thank you Ray and Kathy.

Take a look at what Ray described as his treat for the day: No, he didn't bring any home for us.

Having enjoyed the company of Mark and Mya for lunch during my stay in Daytona Beach, I looked forward to my second visit to this restaurant in Kissimmee. Walter, Ray and I enjoyed an early dinner at Ford's Garage.

40 draft beers to choose from. After careful reading, my choice was...

...the Orange Blossom Pilsner or OBP for short. It's a honey beer made with real, local orange blossom honey. "Taster's Notes" indicated that it's "brewed with real orange blossom honey. There are 2.3 teaspoons of pure Orange Blossom Honey in every can of OBP. But don’t go thinkin’ you’re getting a mouthful of sweetness, sweetness. The fermentation process gives it a crisp, refreshing flavor sans candy-assery. So crack open a cold one. The bees need the work."

We shared the homemade "Giant Funnel Tower of Piston Onion Rings" with chipotle ketchup and Hidden Valley Ranch.

Ray tackled the foot-long Beer Battered Fish 'n Chips (minus the chips. Good boy, Ray), while Walter wished his "Mama Ford's Homemade Meat Loaf" tasted like his mama's.

Half my "Shrimp Mac 'n Cheese came home with me for lunch the next day. An ample portion of shrimp came mixed with cavatappi pasta and tossed in Ford's Beer cheese and topped with a Muenster cheese blend. It tasted as good as it looked.

Our nightly fires continued. Whoever was up to attending did so.  Some evenings we felt the temperatures dip down into the mid-60's which enhanced the fire's warmth and made sleeping very comfortable.

 “The onlookers watched as the fire snapped and popped, observing the flames encircle the logs. Bits of blue and green intertwined with the blazing orange and yellow. The smoke rose high above the campfire, lifting glowing embers.” – Ann White Lombardi

To keep this blog comfortably short, I decided to end on that warm note. My days are flying by. Unlike some of my fellow winter visitors here who have to head back home at the end of this month, I will continue further south in April to Delray Beach, Miami and the Keys before heading back north along the west coast to New Orleans. There will be so much more of to write about in the remaining weeks of March so stayed tuned. Stay happy, healthy and safe.