Thursday, May 1, 2014 – Tuesday, May 13, 2014We decided to check out of our timeshare on Thursday and drive up to Palmetto.  Rick needed to go up to Depco in Clearwater to retrieve a pump he had left for repair and we reasoned that we would be there in case the MRI was scheduled for Friday.  We got a call from the doctor’s office while on the road and the MRI was scheduled for first thing Monday morning.  Rick went up to Pinellas County on Friday and while there he went to Shaner’s in Passagrille and got some kabobs for supper.  We enjoyed a nice family supper with our son and daughter-in-law and our two granddaughters.  On Saturday, Rick, JP, Kellie and Emma went to Lowe’s to buy a new sink for the guest bathroom.  We met Ken and Jackie and Tommy and Renee for supper.  We received an e-mail from Aunt Tillie (from Andros) saying that she was in the States for a short visit, so we made plans to go over to Ormond as soon as my MRI is done on Monday morning.

Edward Hoffmeister, Rob Mat Butler, Eileen Hoffmeister Butler Chapman, Geraldine Hoffmeister, Rick Hoffmeister

Sadly, on Sunday morning, May 4, 2014, we received a call from Rick’s brother, Edward, telling us that their sister, Eileen, had passed away.  She had been noticeably ill for only a short time and the cancer that took her from us was diagnosed less than two weeks before she died.  The picture above was taken on September 27, 2013.  We drove to Ormond Beach to be with the family on Sunday morning and returned to Manatee County that night.  I had my MRI at 8 AM on Monday and we returned to Ormond Beach immediately after that.  On Tuesday, Dr. Valadie called me and told me that the blood tests he had ordered and the MRI showed no problem with my hip prosthesis, so he was going to order physical therapy for me.  The family had a private “celebration of life” gathering for Eileen on Wednesday evening.  Eileen’s son, Rob Mat Butler, stayed in Ormond through Sunday so that we could all be together for Mothers’ Day, May 11. 

Mom opening Mother’s Day Gift

Mat returned to Knoxville on Monday and Rick and I drove over to Bradenton for my physical therapy evaluation.  We got to see JP, Emma and Vanessa for a short time.  Emma is now 8 months old and has started sitting up on her own.  The therapist said that I had good flexibility and good strength in my legs.  They gave me exercises to strengthen the muscles around my hip.  I will try them for the next six weeks and go back to see the doctor to see if there has been improvement.  We returned to Ormond Beach Monday night.  On Tuesday, May 13, 2014, we attended the graduation ceremony for Daytona State College where my niece Melissa received her Bachelor’s degree.  After the ceremony, about 20 friends and family joined Melissa at the Top of Daytona restaurant to celebrate her accomplishment.

Melissa Cambre Frantz – 2014 Daytona State College Graduate with her extended family

Pictured above are Mary Cambre, Rick Hoffmeister, Charlene Cambre Hoffmeister, Bill Cambre, Tom Cambre, Melissa Cambre Frantz, Thomas Richard Cambre, Michael Frantz and Randy Frantz.  Melissa’s father is my brother Rick and her grandfather is my Dad, Tom.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 – Friday, May 23, 2014

We spent a quiet day with Rick’s mother and brother on Wednesday and drove over to Palmetto on Thursday.  I had another therapy session on Friday and then we drove down to the Ft. Lauderdale area on Saturday.  We checked into the Surf Rider Resort on A1A in Pompano Beach on Saturday, May 17^th. 

Surf Rider Entrance – An RCI Timeshare Resort

Herb and Chris O’Neill on Easy Living had just arrived in Ft. Lauderdale on Friday and were staying at the The Las Olas City Marina. 

It should http://davidfraymusic.com/buy-7835 buy viagra online be disclosed to pharmacist or the doctor.

Las Olas Marina – A public marina in Ft. Lauderdale

We enjoyed cocktails with them Saturday evening before taking them to a Target store to pick up a couple of large baskets that they had ordered.  Then we went to a shushi restaurant for supper.  On Sunday we picked them up again and we went to the 15^th Street Fisheries for lunch before showing them the new hard top on the boat.  After that we went to Boat Owners’ Warehouse, West Marine and Bass Pro Shops.  We dropped them off at their boat and went back to the condo for a quiet Sunday night.  On Monday, Rick met Bobby of First Performance Marina (FPM).  The wind has been blowing ever since we got here and they decided that it was just too rough to take the boat out for a test drive.  They ran the engines for about 45 minutes and then it was pulled out of the water. 

On the Hook coming out of the water

The bottom was pressure cleaned Monday afternoon and Rick met with the hard top fabricator to get details on how the new “glass” will be installed.  On Tuesday morning, the propellers, bearings and shafts were inspected and all looked good.  Bobby told Rick that the boat will be put back in the water on Tuesday, May 27.  Since it doesn’t look like the boat will be ready in time to meet Bill and Ruth at Tween Waters on Captiva Island on May 30, we called and made a reservation for a room for the weekend of our birthdays.  Ruth and I share June 1 as our birthday (just not the same year).  Also on Tuesday, we attended a poolside meeting about things to do in the area and I won a free chair massage and a discount on a full massage.  Wednesday afternoon, I got my in-room 60 minute therapeutic massage (which seems to have helped with my pain).  Later in the afternoon, Rick went down to check on the progress on the boat and talk to Bobby.  We passed the out-of-water portion of our insurance survey and tentatively scheduled the remainder of the survey for a week from Thursday, June 4.  That will be exactly three months since we returned the boat to Florida.  On Thursday morning, Rick went to check the progress on the boat.    We enjoyed a pool-side hot dog cook out provided by the resort and then some time in the water.  

Surf Rider Pool Area

While at the pool, we got a call from Chris.  She said that they were moving their boat, Easy Living, to its new home on a private dock on the New River.  They invited us to come over tomorrow night for drinks and dinner.   We went back to the boatyard in the afternoon to see what progress had been made.  Some more of the instruments have been installed over the new hard top. 

On the Hook with electronics on the new hard top

They plan to acid wash the bottom tomorrow and paint it on Saturday.  Rick paid a couple more visits to the boat on Friday before we met Herb and Chris at their boat for a great grilled dinner with “garbage bag” salad and ice cream with fresh fruit for dessert.  Unless you’ve spent an extended time in the Bahamas, you don’t realize what a treat ice cream is! 

Saturday, May 24, 2014 through Thursday, May 28, 2014

We checked out of the Surf Rider Saturday morning and drove north on I-75 to Ormond Beach where we spent the night at Rick’s mother’s house.  We left there on Sunday and traveled across the state to the west coast.  Rick and I ate lunch at the River Reef and Grill Monday and then visited with our friends Curt and Ann Mahoney, along with several of his family for a couple of hours before returning to the house.  I painted one small wall downstairs with chalkboard paint Tuesday morning and then went to physical therapy in the afternoon.  Wednesday morning Rick, JP, Emma and I went out to buy more paint.  On Thursday morning, my physical therapist released me saying that I just needed to continue to do the exercises at home.  On Friday, May 29^th, we drove down to Captiva Island and checked in at the ‘Tween Waters Inn for a long weekend.  Since this is the beginning of my “birthday weekend”, I am going to include the rest of this story in the June blog.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 – Sunday, March 9, 2014 – Lauderdale Yacht Club

We pulled into the Lauderdale Yacht Club before 1:30 on Tuesday afternoon after a relatively easy crossing of the Gulf Stream.  But, we still got salt water splashed up on the windshield, bow rails and decks coming over, so a thorough washing was called for. 

Lauderdale Yacht Club Entrance

After Rick called in our return to US Customs, we explored the beautiful Lauderdale Yacht Club and made reservations for the “Fat Tuesday” Mardi Gras dinner dance that night.  They had a Cajun food buffet and a singer who did a good variety of music but also fashioned himself after Louis Armstrong for many of his songs.  The club had set 14 round tables for 8 in the main dining room and all but one were filled – on a Tuesday night!  The couple seated next to us, John and Cookie Day, own the Mangos Restaurants on Las Olas Boulevard in Ft. Lauderdale and in Marsh Harbor in the Abacos.  They had both been professional singers in their earlier days and invited us to come to Mangos on Sunday afternoon.  They sing there twice a month on Sunday from 3 to 5. 

On Wednesday, we walked to 15^th Street (1.2 miles) under a cloudy sky.  First we checked with the Lauderdale Marina about their slip rates, then we walked across the street to First Performance to find out about getting work done and having the survey done there.  We were very pleased with the meeting at First Performance.  After talking with them, we went to eat lunch at the 15^th Street Fisheries Restaurant. 

Early Thursday morning, Javier came to the boat for about a half an hour to take a look at our engine room and discuss the installation of a fire suppressant system with Rick.  His company works in conjunction with First Performance and the work would be done at their facility.  We had a bad weather front come through in the afternoon.  It had been in the Tampa Bay area in the morning when we SKYPED our son.  We were advised to tie double lines on the boat as the area was expecting 60 mph winds and we were under a tornado watch.  But, the weather came and went and we had no problem.  Rick decided that we needed to take all of our frozen food off of the boat because we will not know when the boat will be hauled out of the water and would not have electricity, so he made arrangements to rent a car tomorrow. We will drive to Manatee County, Florida, taking the items we want off the boat while work is being done on it to our son’s house.  We received an e-mail from Rick’s sister, telling us that his brother fell in the driveway and broke his wrist.  He is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

First Performance sent fabricators to the boat on Friday morning to take measurements in order to give us an estimate for a hard top, or other alternative, to replace the canvass on the top deck.  Right after they left, our friend Janine, came by.  She had flown home from Compass Cay to see the doctor and she brought our customs decal to us.  She said that she and Barry would be returning with Sea Clef to its slip at Lauderdale Marina on 15^th Street on March 23^rd.  We are sure to be still at First Performance at that time, so we will get a chance to visit then.  Eileen sent an e-mail saying Edward was just out of surgery.  “He crushed the bones and the doc had to clean out the shards and pull bones together via the plate/screws.   Stitches will stay in 7-10 days and he sees the doctor on the 13th. ”  Rick picked up the rental car and we loaded it up and headed to Florida’s west coast.  We dropped off the freezer and other stuff that we wanted off of the boat at JP’s house and then headed to Marina Jacks in Sarasota to join the BYC Power Fleet cruise away, staying on “Snowman” with our friends Ken and Jackie Sosville. 

On Saturday morning, we went back to the house and spent a couple of hours visiting with JP, Kellie and their girls, Vanessa and Emma.  Then we met Bill and Ruth Baker to look at some cars that he has for sale.  Rick tentatively decided on an 2006 Hyundai Elantra sedan, but will make a final decision on our next trip.  After looking at the cars, the four of us went to our yacht club’s tiki bar for lunch.  While there, we ran into Rick and Sydney Shaurette and had a nice visit.  We returned to Marina Jacks in time for cocktails on “Hazel” with Ray and Elaine Barr and then we all went to Two Senoritas for supper.   

We were back in Ft. Lauderdale Sunday afternoon and went to Mangos to listen to John and Cookie sing in addition to a “regular” entertainer.  They told us that John sang with the Beach Boys in the 1980s.

John Day – Owner of Mangos

Monday, March 10, 2014 through Sunday, March 16, 2014 – First Performance Marine Boat Yard

Monday morning we moved the boat to the First Performance Yard.  The move went surprisingly smoothly as Rick said something went out on the transmission on one of the engines just as we left the yacht club, so maneuvering the boat was difficult.  You can’t imagine how I felt standing on the bow of the boat looking at all the multi-million dollar yachts in every direction when he said, “You better get out a fender, in case I can’t control our boat and we get too close to them.”  Yikes!  But, luckily, just as he started to back into our assigned slip, the fellow from First Performance with whom we are dealing, came out on the dock and helped us get in and tied up without accident.  We have been assigned their last wet slip on the west side of their property which abuts to the Ft. Lauderdale Police Marine Unit Station.  There are approximately a dozen police boats lined up next to us.  The yard is very well lit at night, and, there are other live-aboards, so we feel quite secure here.

Police Boats Lined Up Next to Us

That afternoon, the mechanic came on board and, after inspection, told us that the transmission was shot on one engine and would have to be replaced.  He also determined that the shaft would have to be re-packed.  (Don’t ask me exactly what that means – but, I’m sure some of you that are reading this know.)  Late that evening, Rick sat down with Bob and went over the final numbers for all of the work and improvements that we need and want.  He told Rick that it looks like it will take about six weeks to get it all done.  And, let’s just say that we will be spending mucho dinero, beaucoup bucks, and a lot of money while we are here!  If you look at the bright side, which I always try to do, you could say we are saving the $2,900 a month slip rental that the marina across the street quoted us for the time that the boat will remain in the yard. 

We returned the rental car on Tuesday morning and spent most of the rest of the day trying to figure out the least expensive way to have transportation while in Florida.  Rick met with Bob of First Performance on Wednesday morning to discuss our options for mounting the electronics on the new hardtop.  He told Rick that the transmission will be delivered on Thursday, and they will start the installation on Monday.  We have decided to stay off of the boat, starting Monday until they put it back in the water.  We will return when it is out of the water, but only stay for the survey.  We spent Thursday organizing, moving and putting away things.  (Well, actually, we do a little of that every day.)  Rick has covered or removed most everything on the top deck.  We will move some of the salon furniture on Sunday to make access to the transmission easier for the workmen.  The transmission was delivered.  Fabricators for our new hardtop were back on the boat Friday morning taking more measurements and talking to Rick about how the satellite, radar, and antennae will be mounted.  There is constant traffic up and down this short canal, so there is always something to see when sitting in the pilot house.  Of course, there are police boats as well as paddle boarders and jet skis, pilot boats, racing boats and mega yachts and every size in between.  But, it is pretty quiet and peaceful at night.  As I have mentioned before, Google Earth indicates it is 1.2 miles between the 1^st Performance Yard and the Lauderdale Yacht Club, but it is a pretty walk through an old, established neighborhood.  Normally, the Lauderdale Yacht Club issues a visitors card that is good for two weeks, but Rick explained that we would be staying nearby and asked for an extension.  They graciously extended our visitor’s pass through the end of April.  So, we walked to the club to pick up the new card and to have a late lunch.  We have been intrigued by a couple of plants along the walk.  I took some pictures today and have identified them using the internet. 

Creeping Fig with Fruit

There is a wall around a house on Cordova that is covered by this vine with fruit on it.  I told Rick that the fruit reminded me of a fig, but he pointed out that these certainly did not look like fig leaves.  My research indicates that it is known as a “creeping fig” aka Ficus pumila.  The research also indicated that most humans do not eat it the fruit.  We turn east off of Cordova onto 12^th Street NE and walk down that block to enter the Yacht Club.  There is a tree planted in front of one of those homes that looks like it has pineapples growing in it.  It is actually called a Pandanas and, again, the fruit is not edible.

Rick called his mother and brother on Saturday.  We will leave here Monday morning and go up to their home in Ormond Beach (the Daytona Beach area) to stay for a while.  In the afternoon we walked around to 16^th Street and found the Bimini Bar and Grille.  We enjoyed a few drinks there during their happy hour, then stopped at the Southport Raw Bar for a couple more drinks on our walk home and then, when we got here, we decided to go to the 15^th Street Fisheries Restaurant for one more drink and some supper.

Sunday was spent preparing the boat for us to be away for a week or more.  We went out to eat for supper to Noodles Panini on Las Olas Blvd.  This is an Italian restaurant that was recommended to us by Captain Barry and the food (and wine) was excellent.

Monday, March 17 through Monday, March 24, 2014 – This week we visited with Rick’s mother, brother and sister in Ormond Beach. We drove over to Ocala one day for a short visit with Dad.  And went to Manatee County (Palmetto/Bradenton) at the end of the week where we bought a 2011 Kia Soul-S.  While in Palmetto, we had supper with Bill and Ruth at the Riverside Café; went with Curt and Ann to the Bradenton Yacht Club’s tiki bar Friday night and saw many friends and met Ken and Jackie after supper with our family on Saturday at the new Motorworks Brewery in Bradenton which has recently been opened by our friends Frank and Denise.  On Sunday we drove both the rental car and the “Hoffmeister Hamster Mobile” back to Ft. Lauderdale

Kia Soul-S aka “Hamster Mobile”

While in Manatee County, we were saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Barbara Marcin.  Dr. John Marcin is a past-commodore of the Bradenton Yacht Club and was a partner in the Eye Associates where Rick and I saw both Brian Murphy and Michael Mackie.  I got to know Barbara a few years ago when we did a “mystery dinner theatre” at the club.  The title of the show was, “Who Do Voodoo – You Do” and I played the part of a weird physic who tried to get rid of the evil spirits where the murder took place.  Barbara’s part was as my apprentice.  She didn’t have any lines in the play; but followed me around and mimicked my every move.   She was absolutely hilarious without saying a word.  She will be greatly missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

Rick met with Bobby of First Performance (FPM) on Monday morning and learned that they did get the fuel tanks cleaned last week, but they did not get the transmission work started.  We helped tie up Barry and Janine (who came back from Compass Cay with Sea Clef) on Monday afternoon at Lauderdale Marina, across the street from FPM; said hello and goodbye; and drove through the rain back to Palmetto to stay for about another week while Vanessa is on spring break.
In such condition the viagra no prescription see to find out more person has not to worry.

Tuesday, March 25 through Tuesday, April 1, 2014 –

Bobby reported that they are making progress on the boat and sent some pictures of the top deck.  They have removed all of the canvass, the small windshield, and the arch in preparation for the new hard top which is being fabricated.

On The Hook – Topless!

Rick applied for VA Healthcare Benefits, and I applied for social security benefits to start after my 62^nd birthday in June.   On Tuesday, Rick talked to Bobby in Ft. Lauderdale.  He said they were painting the transmission today and they scheduled our sea trials for Monday, April 7.  We left Palmetto, stopped in the Ocala Forrest for a quick visit with Dad and then headed to Ormond Beach to stay with Rick’s Mom, brother and sister for a few days.  We swapped our timeshare into a place on Hollywood Beach and will check in there on Saturday, April 5, to stay for a week.

Wednesday, April 2 through Friday, April 11, 2014

We were the chaufers for the family for the few days that we were in Ormond Beach, as Mom has given up her driver’s license, Edward is not supposed to drive yet with his broken wrist, and Eileen was feeling under the weather.  Mom lives on the intracoastal waterway, aka the Halifax River.  The weather was so nice that we ate out on the patio each evening and watched the sun set over the river.  On Saturday afternoon, April 5, we checked in to the Hollywood Sands Resort for a week.  While it looks like an older facility from the outside, the unit is clean and nicely set up.  It is painted a cheery yellow inside.  Our unit overlooks the pool and the Hollywood boardwalk and beach. 

Hollywood Boardwalk and Beach on the west side of Hollywood Sands Resort

On Sunday, we spent the day with Loan (from Compass Cay) and his friend, ending up with dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak house.   During the week, we fell into a routine of Rick going to the boat each morning and then exploring the area together in the afternoon.  But, on Friday, he waited to go until after the resort’s grilled hotdog poolside luncheon.  First Performance Marina put together a list, after the sea trials, of additional work they recommend that we have done to the boat.  Bobby promised that they will be finished with all of the work/modifications by May 15^th. 

Saturday, April 12, 2014 through Wednesday, April 30, 2014

We arrived at Dad’s lake house in the Ocala Forrest on Saturday afternoon.  Edward sent some pictures that he took of Eileen opening birthday presents and visiting with family and friends.   We took Eileen to the doctor on Wednesday afternoon and then drove to Palmetto (Rick’s mother can’t drive and his brother’s shattered wrist is still in a splint).  On Thursday, we met with our financial advisor and then went to see the hip surgeon who replaced both my hips and revised the left hip between 2004 and 2008.  He ordered blood work and an MRI.  We got the blood work done on Friday morning, April 18^th, and then returned to Ormond Beach.  Later that day, we enjoyed some of Rick’s brother’s birthday cake.  Edward’s birthday was the 17^th, when we were in Palmetto.  I sent a birthday e-card to my niece, Dr. Christina Cambre, in Chicago, on the 19^th and got a quick thank you reply.  We joined my brother Bill and his wife Mary (Christina’s parents) at their Unitarian Universalist Church for Easter Sunday service, April 20, 2014, and then went to the European Café and Schnitzel House on A1A in Ormond for lunch to celebrate his 55^th birthday.  The food was very good and the company was great! 

The following week was filled with more medical appointments for various family members.  On Saturday, we had a short visit with Aunt Delores (Rick’s mother’s sister) and her daughter, Phyllis.  Later that night, Rick, his Mom and brother, Edward, drove over to the Sanford International Airport and picked up our nephew, Rob Mat Butler, who flew in from Knoxville for a long weekend to visit with his mother, Eileen. 

Sunday, April 27, 2014 – Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Just before noon on Sunday, we left Rick’s mother’s home in Ormond Beach, Florida, and drove back down to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where we have swapped our time share for the week.  We are one block south of Sunrise Boulevard and two blocks off of A1A and Ft. Lauderdale Beach at the Coconut Bay Resort. 

Coconut Bay Resort

We have a spacious 2-bedroom unit in this old-Florida style resort. 

Coconut Bay Living Room

The boat is scheduled to be pulled out of the water this week and we are hoping to get the insurance survey done.

We were invited to join Barry and Janine and their extended family for supper on Tuesday night and had a really good meal and a good time with his parents, sister and her husband and their twin boys.

Rick met with Bobby of First Performance on Wednesday morning and was told that it looks like the boat won’t come out of the water until next week.  I received an e-mail from the medical liaison with the county saying that the insurance company had approved my getting an MRI, so now I am just waiting for the doctor’s office to call to schedule it.