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October 23rd, 2006   Well, it was pink around here this weekend.  Nancy, Nicky and Linda worked a citywide yard sale in Deale.  I attended for moral support.  We sold yard good items and a lot of new donated items to support the Susan G. Komen  Breast Cancer Foundation and the October drive for funding and awareness.  It was a wonderful day for the yard sale.  We will be at it again this Saturday trying to raise some more money.  Nicky is really the big driver for this, you wouldn't believe what she has done.  As a 3 year survivor she is really supporting the drive.  Along with the yard sale, we are selling raffle tickets with the proceeds going to Susan G. Komen also.

For the Texoma folks that came to the boat show and put up with the rain, this is what is was like the day after you left.  Wonderful day.

Tippy got a new present.  A carrying case.  I don't think she likes it.    When she is not sleeping in her case she is out enjoying the fall weather.    What a cats life she has.

Nancy is in Florida this week and according to her, she doesn't have another trip scheduled for a while.  Cats don't know what to do when there is someone else in the house.

October 17th,2006  Well the big thing this week was the Barbra Streisand Concert.    She put on a 3 hour concert with IL Divo in Washington D. C..  It was a late anniversary date for us.  We drove to the Branch Avenue Metro Station (which is about a 15 minute drive for us) and rode the subway into D. C..  The Metro stop was below the Verizon Center where the concert was being held.  We arrived early as to enjoy the evening in town.  After walking through China Town and enjoying the sights we went to Legal Seafood's for dinner.  It was a wonderful dinner and would recommend it for any out of town guests.  Our timing couldn't have been better for everything that we did.  We were immediately seated for dinner and 5 minutes later it was a 30 minute wait.  After dinner we walked to the concert and were second in line.  About 5 minutes later the line went around the block.  Over 16,000 folks showed up for the show, so you could guess how long the line got.  Once inside, we found our seats.  Lets explain it this way, a box seat area cost $10,000.00 for the concert.  We didn't get that.  The floor seats were $3500.00 -$2500.00 each.  We didn't get that.  Our tickets cost about $500.00 for the two of us.  There were a lot of seats  behind us but there were a lot more seats in front of us.  We did get stage center seats and with the help of binoculars we had a great view.  Actually it wasn't that bad but we did use them.  We thought that IL Divo would be the opening act when in fact they were part of the concert.  Barbra came out right away and started singing.  Wonderful.  Its hard to believe that a 64 year old women can still sing like that.  Her last concert was 12 years ago and this is being billed as her final final concert and we were there.  We had a little community around us and it was interesting getting everyone's story.  They came from New York, West Virginia etc.  We still smile when we think of the couple next to us, at the end of the concert they kissed each other and said "Merry Christmas".  Back to the concert.  After 4 or 5 songs IL Divo came on stage and joined Barbra for a couple of songs and sang 4 songs by themselves and she took a break and then Barbra came back and sang about 8 more songs and we took a 20 minute break.  It was hard to believe that 80 minutes had already gone by.  The second half of the show was about the same.  My reactions------ I couldn't really believe that I was watching Barbra in concert.  It was a once in a life time concert.  I couldn't believe that IL Divo was also there and added so much to the show.  We had purchased their first album about a year ago and it was like two concerts in one for us.  I sat in my seat with my mouth opened for almost the whole concert.  I just couldn't believe it.

October 9th - Birthdays and Boat Shows

One year ago, right after we became fulltime live-aboards, we ran into some friends of ours from our old Marina and we talked about how great it would be to have a reunion the following year at the Annapolis Boat Show. We promised to set things up on this end and they promised to spread the word back in Texas. Well, last Thursday night, we had the privilege of joining 24 great folks from our old Marina for dinner at Carrol's Creek restaurant in Eastport, MD. The surroundings, the company and the food couldn't have been better.

We started the evening by meeting at Jay and Diana's boat "Far Niente" for hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Nancy mixed up her lazy woman rum punch. Di "whipped up" some of her tasty salmon dip and artichoke feta dip. Before we could have too much of a good thing, we all walked over to the restaurant together - about a six block trek, if that. Carrol's Creek Restaurant could not have been more accommodating for such a large group (26 total). We had a glass enclosed room overlooking SPA Creek, the Eastport Bridge and the Annapolis docks. The service was excellent and there were no qualms about separate checks for the various couples and family groups. Wine prices were reasonable. Food was pricey but well worth it in both taste and presentation.     Lump Crab Cake was the flavor of the evening.

For the next two days, we immersed ourselves in Boat Show. Non-sailor friends ask, "what do you find to do for several days at a boat show?" Our answer is, "Plenty". We look at new "BOAT STUFF". We sip painkillers at Pussers'.   We talk to manufacturers and dealers about boat stuff we already own or that we want to own.  We meet friends for painkillers at Pussers'. We go back to take a second look at particularly interesting "BOAT STUFF. When we have made the rounds to all the booths and tents (at least once), then we tromp through various makes and models of boats - either daydreaming about winning the lottery or whispering among ourselves that "Solitaire" is better. We also attend seminars - this year we enjoyed Eileen Quinn singing and talking about Cruising and staying happily married. She is laugh-out-loud entertaining. We picked up just a few "finds" this year - a new water filter system was our only major purchase.

Sunday (the day before Jim's birthday), we shared rum birthday cake with several dock neighbors and had an impromptu party in the cockpit.  Monday, we went back to Annapolis and had lunch with Jay and Diana at Maria's Italian Restaurant just off Dock Street. Whew, what a weekend! We are going to have to slow down a bit and get some things done.