Christmas Week, Boca Raton Bowl, and the Beach

On Monday, I went for my third PT session. I think it is helping because I’m not in severe pain like I was.

Tuesday was the Boca Raton Bowl hosted by Bush Beans. First, we got gas at Costco and thought about going inside until we saw the crazy crowd, so we left. We headed to Boca Raton around 10:15 and found a great parking spot right outside the stadium for $20. The Fanfest started at 11, but we were able to walk around the booths and talk with people. We stopped at the Air Force table and registered for free to do the performance lab. We entered the trailer, where three video game-like tests were administered to measure our focus and other skills. The last was a virtual reality where you drove a jet through a canyon. At another place, we spun a wheel and won Bean hats (we actually ended up with a lot of them). We also took a picture with a Can of Beans mascot and Duke the Dog. We got a lot of swag from vendors and had to take it all to the car since we couldn’t take anything into the stadium. I ended up buying a t-shirt and having to go back to the car again. When we finally went into the gates, we were handed another Bean hat, which was nice during the game when it got hot. The game was between the Louisville Cardinals and the Toledo Rockets. We were pulling for Louisville, which was good since we ended up sitting among Louisville fans. We took our time leaving the stadium so most of the traffic would be gone. Then we took Hwy 1 all the way back home and got home about 7pm.

On Wednesday, I was tired from the day before, so I just relaxed and knit. Started needle felting a raccoon from a kit that I bought at Dollar Tree.

Thursday was Christmas Day. We spent the morning at the beach. It was beautiful weather, and we even went swimming. We found a shark’s tooth! I finished my raccoon, and it turned out really cute. After lunch, we spent the rest of the day watching Christmas movies: It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, and Red One. I didn’t even cook any dinner, and we just ate junk food.

On Friday, I went shopping with Donna. We were surprised there weren’t big crowds buying last-minute deals. I spent most of the day knitting on my sweater.

Don and I went grocery shopping early in the morning on Saturday, before the crowds woke up. Then we watched football bowl games on TV for the whole day. I finished my sweater and am already thinking about my next projects.

On Sunday, I went shopping with Donna again. I didn’t need anything, but it was nice to get out of the house. I also washed and blocked my sweater so I could take a photo of it. Then I prepped my yarn for a pair of socks to do on our January cruise.

It was a wonderful week. I think my shoulder is getting better slowly. I feel impatient, but then I realize I only went to the doctor two weeks ago and have only been to three PT Sessions. Hopefully, it will continue to heal.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Return to FL

We left South Carolina at 4:45 am Friday, 10/17/25, and arrived in FL by 3 pm. We stopped about 3 times for the rest area and ate lunch at McDonald's. We took down the hurricane shutters, and Bob and Donna helped us raise the living room and bedroom awning. When we arrived, the AC was not working, and I texted Lucas (neighbor who works on our HVAC system) to see if he could put us on his list for Monday. He said he was able to come right over, so he found a broken wire on the condenser (maybe from the lawn company?) and had to add refrigerant to the unit. Now it works beautifully!

On Saturday, we went grocery shopping, and in the evening, we went to the car show. Donna and Bob had entered their trucks in the show, and Donna won a trophy for the best decorated.

On Sunday, I dusted and vacuumed. Don cut the candlestick bush that had overgrown. We put out the patio furniture and put away the hurricane shutters. Then Don moved the hose reel next to the laundry room door, and it is much easier to use the hose now.

Monday, we trimmed the bushes under the bedroom window and the Golden Dewdrop bush in the front yard. I’m glad we finished before it got too hot. We went to Home Depot and I bought 2 plants: a milkweed and an impatiens.

Tuesday morning, I went shopping with Donna.. We went to Rorabecks (I bought a beautiful tomato plant and a lantana flower). For lunch, Don and I went to Flanigans because we had a 20% off coupon for our meal. It was good to see our server, Jeff, again.

Wednesday morning, I did a load of laundry before Don woke up. After breakfast, we went to the beach. It was a beautiful morning, and there was hardly anyone there at 9:30. We got in the water for about an hour, and we were the only ones in the water the whole time.

On Thursday, one of Donna’s new kittens came to visit us. It was a little orange and white kitten that I call Nosey because it seemed very curious. We sat on the swing, and he explored the back patio. And when we moved to the front screened room, he followed us there. He spent the morning in our screened room, and I asked Donna where I should take him when I went in for lunch, so she came and got him. A few minutes later, he wandered back to our door, and I let him in. He spent the rest of the afternoon taking a nap in the screened room. A guy knocked on our window, who said he was a contractor with the electric company. He needed access to our backyard because they are going to replace a utility pole in the back corner behind our shed. They can reach it from the other street, even though it is on the other side of our fence. We stressed that they better not tear up our yard or our irrigation system, and he said they wouldn’t. It should happen within the next 3 weeks.

Today is Friday, and I’m sitting on the front porch enjoying this beautiful breeze. They say it will get cold next week, but I’m not sure what they consider cold.

Original photos by Pat Hensley