My apologies for not writing sooner.

Today is the day after Christmas or the second day of Hanukkah.  Your choice.  LOL!

The last blog I wrote was December 11, so that means it has been two weeks and a day since I wrote. That's why I'm apologizing to those who might check today to see if I finally got around to it.

Yes, I've been busy.  That is nothing new.  Life for us in Florida is always busy, in a good way.

Yes, I've been eating.  Ridiculous.  Everyone eats during the holidays, but I totally excel at it.  On Dec. 7, I reported my weight at 269.8, a lost of five pounds.  Well, sit down and hold on to something.  Today my weight is 286.8, a gain of 17 pounds in two and a half weeks, AND the highest weight I have hit since I started losing weight in January of 2009.  Ridiculous.  On August

In between my last blog about meeting my high school friend PattiPark, I have had a ton of fun including directing the Cove Singers Holiday Concert on December 15, spending three nights at Saratoga Springs with Mark for our 41st wedding anniversary, Jewish Christmas of two movies and Chinese food, plus two nights of Hanukkah with video chatting with Evey and Eric to watch her open  her presents.  There has been a ton of meals in restaurants, but there has been a lot of snack food at home that I've eaten.  That's how you gain 17 pounds in just 19 days.  In fact, I guess it's like being on a cruise because they say that the average person gains a pound a day on a cruise.  I've managed to do it at home.  Now, in less than two weeks we are going on a two week cruise.  I MUST not gain a pound a day on that cruise on top of these 17 pounds.  That would be ridiculous!  Just Ridiculous.  On August 17, I weighed 261, so that's a gain of 25.8 pounds in 4 1/2 months.  Now I need to LOSE that amount in about the same amount of time.

Here are some pictures of our fun over the last two weeks.

We spent an afternoon at Universal Studios for the Macy's parade.

The first day of our anniversary celebration was at Hollywood Studios where Mark got to pose with Darth Vader.

On the second day we took a "backstage" tour of our home DVC resort, the Grand Floridian.

That night we had dinner at the California Grill at the top of the Contemporary Resort.

On Wednesday, Dec. 21, our actual anniversary, we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom and had dinner at the new Jungle Cruise Skipper Canteen.

The chef brought me the Lion Fish entree to try.  The quills are edible, crunchy, and similar to potato chips.

Back in our room that night, Mark surprised me with this gift.

On our last morning, we enjoyed breakfast on our balcony even though it was quite cold out.

We split this day, starting out at Animal Kingdom.

Around 5 p.m. we went to Sea World for their Holiday celebrations including the whale show.

We always enjoy the ice skating show at Sea World.

The hundreds of trees all lit up are beautiful at night.

Chef Mickey and PattiPark

On Thursday Mark and I joined 48 of our closest friends in the Solivita Disney Fan Club for a late lunch at Chef Mickey in the Contemporary Resort.  We stuffed ourselves on delicious food and mingled with all the characters who came by our table.  Then we took the boat over to the Wilderness Lodge to check out the Christmas tree and decorations.  We had never seen those decorations before.

Around 6 p.m. we met my high school girlfriend, Pat Park Miller, at Epcot.  She was visiting for her anniversary with her husband Terry and her daughter Lara.  We had only 10 minutes in the DVC lounge.  We did not know that it closed at 6 when we arrived at 5:50.  Ridiculous.  So then we just chatted and got caught up as we walked out of the park.  They had an early morning the next day.  At least we exchanged all the pertinent contact information and made a pact to try to get together again next year when they come for a visit.  I had not seen Pat in almost17 years!  Hardly seemed possible.

Yesterday we enjoyed a half hour presentation of Japanese Taiko, drumming.  There were about a dozen drummers giving an awesome performance.  Then we had dinner at the home of our friends Jonathan and Susan S. at the Cove.  They had recently spent two weeks on a music tour of Cuba!  They share photos and videos of their trip, which was a lot of fun.

Today I finished all of my present wrapping and boxing.  All the packages are ready to go to the post office tomorrow morning.  Then we drove up to Winter Garden to see A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Garden Theater.  It was an adaptation of the 30 minute TV cartoon. They made it last 47 minutes by having some Christmas carols before and after the show.  Took us a lot longer to drive up and back!

Solivita Disney Fan Club at Chef Mickey

Me with Barb and Susie

All of us in red!

A Goofy selfie

Good doggie

The Chef himself

Donald has always been Mark's favorite.

Wilderness Lodge lobby

Me and Pat in the DVC Member lounge

Me, Pat, Lara, and Terry

Saying good night

Pearl Harbor Day

It's been a week and a half since I posted.  I have been extremely busy with concerts, and now I'm also sick.  I was up multiple times this past Friday night with a fiery sore throat.  By Sunday it was moving up into my ears, and Monday it settled into my chest as a nasty cough.  I'm sore all over from so much coughing.  Still, I have not skipped any activities.  Hm...could be why it's still lingering.  Anyway, I'm sure it will be gone by next week.  I have lots of OTC meds to dose myself up with. Unfortunately, although I've tried to be careful, Mark has a sore throat and the sniffles this morning.  Sorry, Mark.

Tonight is the cast party for the Guys and Dolls concerts.  We had dress rehearsal Thursday night and three shows, Friday through Sunday.   I sang very well through Saturday night, but Sunday was a bit dicey.  There may have been some lip-synching going on.  LOL!  Monday I played both Mah Jongg and Rummikub.  I kept using lots of hand sanitizers so as not to infect the tiles.

Tomorrow I will play Mah Jongg in the morning, run off to the Contemporary Resort for a late lunch, which they called brunch, at 2 p.m. at Chef Mickey with the Disney Fan Club followed by a trip around the monorail resorts to look at the holiday decorations.  If we have any strength left when we get back, we will go up to the ballroom for the SoFEES party to listen to some carols, eat some snacks, and donate some kids underwear.  The SoFEES is a Solivita group that collects school supplies and clothing for local elementary school kids.  I think it used to stand for Solivita Friends of Eastside Elementary School, but lately they have expanded to other local elementariness.

I am also 269.8 this morning, down five pounds since I reported two weeks ago.  Mostly it's just getting back to eating at home and maybe all the extra calories burned in four nights of performances!

Meanwhile, it is Pearl Harbor day.  Mark and I visited the Arizona Memorial in 2010, and I was so moved by it that I insisted our kids and their spouses go when we there together as a family in 2015.

Peaceful Saturday

We took Evey and Eric to the airport yesterday.  It was sad to send them back after such a great week.  When I went home, we had lunch and then both Mark and I took a long nap.  I actually slept THREE hours from 3:40-6:40 in the chair in the living room.  Crazy.  I guess they wore me out more than I realized.  LOL

Today we plan to watch TV most of the day with a brief break to go to the gym and take a walk.  I really need to get back to normal eating and exercise.  I have gained almost six pounds in the week that Evey and Eric were here. It's not their fault!  It's all the eating out and then Thanksgiving and leftovers.  From today through December 11, I will be eating all my meals at home, and I'm determined to make them lower calories than they have been recently.  I started off by NOT having pie for breakfast.  LOL!

Here are some pictures from the week with Evey and Eric.  These are all from my phone, and Eric showed me how to move them from the phone to my Picasa program so that I can save and share them on the blog.  Yay for Eric!  He is very smart and helpful. I'm lucky to have such a great son-in-law.

Eric, Stitch, and Evey at the Ohana character breakfast at the Polynesian Village Resort.

At Disney Springs

Outside Living Seas at Epcot.

In the Gaylord Palms lobby

Waiting for the Cirque show to start

Seeing Moana Wednesday afternoon

Checking out the drone in the theater, the type used for the new drone light show at Disney Springs.

Saying good-bye at the airport

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday today.  I certainly am.  I am spending the whole day at home, watching the Macy's Day Parade with Evey, Eric, and Mark, doing the annual family holiday present drawing with Evey, calling family members on the phone, and hosting dinner for the four of us and our friends Ed and Barbara W.  We have a traditional menu planned of roast turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, broccoli, and peas.  Ed and Barb are bringing an orange-cranberry relish and apple pie.  There is also pumpkin pie.  Our traditional Thanksgiving breakfast will be cinnamon rolls and Sara Lee Pecan Coffee Cake.  Lunch is a smorgasbord of six kinds of cheeses, salsa and chips, two kind of crackers, and fresh veggies with ranch dip.  YES, there will be a LOT of eating today, but isn't that part of this particular holiday?

Yesterday was also a wonderful day! We did everything I wrote about in yesterday's blog except that instead of pizza at the Bistro, we went to Citrus Garden for Chinese food followed by cones at Twistee Treat for dessert. Moana was a really great film that I'd recommend to all and would watch again and again.

I forgot to take my camera yesterday, so I only took pictures on the cell phone.  Unfortunately, I no longer know how to download the pictures from the iPhone to the computer to put on this blog.  Hopefully, sometime today Eric is going to show me how to do it.  Then maybe I can post some of the pictures tomorrow.

Tomorrow the kids leave, beating the holiday rush, which is very smart.  We don't have to go to the airport until noon, so at least I'll have them for the morning hours.  Today I am not going to think about them leaving tomorrow.  I'm just going to be thankful that they are here and enjoy every minute of this beautiful day.

I am thankful to spend this week with Evey and Eric despite the temperatures!

We had a great time at WDW with Evey and Eric even though I had to wear a sweater AND a hoodie sweatshirt.  It was cold at night!

The D23 event was interesting as always.  Evey and Eric went to the pool on Saturday in the early afternoon when it was still in the upper 70s.  Then they enjoyed Disney Springs where we joined them for dinner and shopping. Sunday they went to Animal Kingdom all day while we went to D23 and then Magic Kingdom.  It was only 49 degrees out as we waited for the fireworks.  BRR! We spent the whole day together at Epcot on Monday before checking out of Old Key West and coming home yesterday.  Today we are going to Gaylord Palms for viewing their decorations and a short Cirque du Soleil style holiday show before seeing the new Disney film Moana at Disney Springs.  Then it's Thanksgiving.  Wow!

It's also Wednesday.  Although we walked a lot yesterday, I ate way too  much every day and mostly just sat all day at the convention over the weekend.  I weigh 274.8 this morning.  That's up 3.6 pounds for the week.  All that walking cannot compensate for way too many calories.

Today we are eating lunch at Q'doba's, one of Evey's favorite places. Unfortunately for her, there are none where she lives.  Dinner will be at the Bistro for pizza.  Then there's a BIG dinner tomorrow for the holiday Yikes.  Guess I'll get back to healthy eating on Friday.  Oh, wait...the leftovers!

I am very thankful for everything in my life--my husband, kids, family, friends, health, and prosperity enough to allow us to live comfortably in our retirement years.  I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous Thanksgiving Day and every day thereafter.

Here are some pictures from the last few days.

Waiting for the D23 event to start

Sponsored by Ethan Allen and its new Disney collection

Mark is ready for D23.

Tree at Disney Springs Saturday night

Playing on their phones at Paradiso 37 Saturday night

On the Christmas Tree trail

Sunday night at Magic Kingdom

Heading into Adventureland to ride Jingle Cruise with our special D23 fastness.

Monday morning at Epcot...Evey with her favorite character, Stitch

Waiting for the best seat on Soarin'

Hanging out in the DVC Member lounge

Lunch in The Land food court, always on our phones

Evey with her manatees!  She has always loved them.

Giant holiday tree at Epcot

About to ride the new attraction in Norway with Fastpasses

Chilling' out in Germany

All day Evey was thinking about this sweatshirt and she finally bought it on the way out of Epcot.  

These two are just so adorable!