Saturday, 1 October 2022 - Now that hurricane Ian has passed we are seeing lots of photos on the web of the devastation it caused. Susie and I stayed in today and I worked on getting the previous blog posted. Susie spent time researching radiation therapy online and trying to get more information about it from friends with experience with it, too. This evening we watched a couple of movies here at her house in Cayahoga Falls, Ohio.

Sunday, 2 October - Susie and I met her mother, brother Tim and his wife Angel, and their sister Debbie for a late breakfast then drove her mother home and then headed back to Susie's with detours to some of the places she used to live while growing up. It's the Portage Lakes area with many small lakes among the trees and nice homes.

Monday, 3 October - Susie and I went for another drive today down to the Amish country about 45 miles south. The drive passes through absolutely beautiful, very green hills with, again, lots of small ponds and lakes. It's easy to see that it rains a lot here. There are lots of big barns and homes that have huge yards that they all mow. I'm sure that many are mowing two or three acres of lawn. Lots of huge trees, too; many must be at least 150 feet tall. Lots of logging in the area, too. The boat getting there is VERY winding with LOTS of ups and downs; almost like riding a roller coaster. A beautiful and totally enjoyable afternoon drive.

Tuesday, 4 October - I spent most of today either in Susie's basement or her garage cleaning up or organizing things for her. Mostly, I was trying to find tools to work with that she thought she has here but does not. There is a possibility that she has taken them to Florida to her other house. Anyway, I put electrical cords with electrical cords, hoses with hoses, tools with tools, etc. Now that I know where they are, she probably won't be able to find anything; but that's ok, she couldn't find anything to begin with.

Wednesday, 5 October - Susie had follow-up oncology appointment today. The doctor apparently was fairly upbeat about the treatment so far but she has another tomorrow that should determine how long her radiation treatment should last. We, of course, are hoping for just one week but it could be 5 or 6.

Thursday, 6 October - Susie had two appointments with oncologists today about her cancer treatment. Unfortunately, there is still one report that hasn't come back from the people that are assessing the tests so we dan't know if they'll be suggesting chemotherapy for her or not. It does look like she'll be taking about 4 or 5 weeks of radiation treatment. If she doesn't need the chemotherapy, the radiation treatment can and will be done back down in Florida. Apparently the chemotherapy, if needed, will be done first and she'll do that here in the Akron area, then the radiation treatment. That, however, is up in the air until the last report comes in. Hopefully, that will be soon.

Friday, 7 October - Susie and I went out for dinner and dancing at The Getaway Restaurant and Bar this evening and had a real good time. There doesn't seem to be anywhere close to her house to do so but the drive was well worth it. She had some friends that had said they might be there, but they never showed. Their loss.

Saturday, 8 October - Since it was my last night in Ohio we went out to eat at the restaurant that I had liked best while here, El Mason. Great Mexican food and large margaritas. This one was close to home. I'd eat there a lot if I lived in Cuyahoga Falls.

Sunday, 9 October - We got up early this morning because I needed to be at the airport early. My flight took off at 9:15 so we got to see the sun rise on the way there. Navigating the airport was less stressful for me this time, but it really did seem as if they planned it so I would have to enter at one end of the building then go all the way the the other end to pass through security, then all the way back to the other to get to Spirit's farthest gate. The flight back was pretty boring because I didn't get a window seat and I couldn't figure out how to get their WiFi on my phone. Without WiFi the phone was pretty useless. Upon arriving at Miami I had a three hour wait before the shuttle arrived. The ride back was no fun either. The driver was late arriving in Miami, then his driving was atrocious. He must have been trying to make up time. He was doing 80 mph on the turnpike and 60 mph in construction zones that under normal circumstances had a speed limit of 45. Not only that but he missed two turns and stopped on the road to back up. He also wouldn't listen to my directions when we neared the turn-off to Susie's and missed that turn, then he refused to turn at the next street and deliver me. Instead, we went 3 miles further to deliver the only other passenger, then doubled back to drop me off. I was glad the travel was over when we arrived back at Susie's at 6 o'clock. I had closed the house and hurricane shutters up, moved several chairs inside, and stacked and moved and stacked everything I could as high as I could before I left and, this evening, reversed the process. Susie's house had sustained no damage. Apparently, the wind blew quite a bit around 50 mph and the water rose to within inches of flooding the new patio, bit did not come any higher.

Monday, 10 October - Susie got great news today. One of her oncologists called with results from the last tests and informed her that she will NOT have to undergo chemotherapy. Fantastic! If she had to have chemo she had decided that she'd stay in Ohio for that for several more weeks. Now, she'll return here after her mother's 90th birthday on Saturday and arrive, hopefully, on Tuesday via her automobile. I planned to go to the boatyard today but it rained quite a bit so I knew they wouldn't be working on the boat, so I stayed home and finished moving a few small items at Susie's back into place and washed a load of clothes in her machines.

Tuesday, 11 October - I went to the boatyard today and checked on the progress that was being made. My new water heater has been installed, and quite a bit of the sanding on the external woodwork has been done, but the chainplates and the nuts and bolts to go install them are still in transit. The rigger said he'd be installing the chain plates next Monday. Until those go back in, the boat is a total mess and unlivable. I walked back to the marina and picked up mail there then caught a taxi back to Susie's.

Wednesday, 12 October - I got to play pickleball today. Camie Stoltenberg and her husband, Bob, picked me up at 8:30 this morning to head to the pickleball courts at the city park. It was nice to get some exercise. This evening I got everything I could ready to leave Susie's tomorrow morning.

Thursday, 13 October - Susie's niece and her husband and child will be staying at her house for the next three nights so I have to evacuate the premises. I got up at 6:45 this morning, stripped the bed and put the sheets in the washing machine. By the time I'd had breakfast the wash was done and I moved the load to the dryer. I got another ride to pickleball with Joe and Esther La Corte. I took everything I need with me for the move to the boatyard so I won't hove to return after pickleball. The boatyard has a small house that I can stay in while the boat is being worked on for $30 per night. That's way cheaper than staying elsewhere in a tourist town like Marathon. On Sunday or Monday, I move back to Susie's house, depending on when her guests depart.

Friday, 14 October - We had 6 pickleball players today. Joe and Esther picked me up and brought me back to the boatyard and I went immediately to the boat. I swear they aren't working on the boat usless I'm here to motivate them. Progress seams very slow to me although near the end of today a worker started sanding the bottom of the boat and most of the sanding of the woodwork has been done. The nuts and bolts for the chainplates have arrived but the chainplates themselves haven't. Curt, the rigger that ordered them became concerned about them and called the supplier to check on them and was assured that they would be delivered on Monday. That's the day he had planned on starting their installation. I also stopped by the office and settled up with the yard for the work that has been done so far, $17,000, and the chainplates, including installation, will cost about $13,000. Ouch! They don't call it a B O A T, Break Out Another Thousand, for nothing.

Saturday, 15 October - No work will be done on the boat over the weekend and there's no pickleball either so I went aboard and got needle and thread, a Handy Stitcher, sewing palm that my brother made me, etc., and replaced one pocket button on one of my pairs of shorts and reinforced the stitching on the other four buttons then used the Handy Stitcher to replace a broken 1" buckle on the computer satchel that I use as a carry on on the trip to Susie's and back. It's a very nice bag given to me by Fuji Film when I was president of the local chapter of the ASMP, American Society of Media Photographers in Salt Lake City years ago so I don't want to lose the use of it just because of one broken buckle. I was amazed. Only one part of the buckle was broken, the male side, and I have three variation of 1" buckle onboard as spares, but of course none of them was compatible so instead of simply sliding the male end off the strap and sliding a new one on, I had to cut the stitching on the webbing of the female piece and restitch it.

Sunday, 16 October - The last time I was here to have work done on the boat, I was allowed to live aboard while the work was done. I guess insurance companies or lawyers made the owners change their practices. Since I am staying at the boatyard's "Love Shack", a two room cottage for use by people who's boats are being worked on, I walked over to the boat today to inspect the work that has been done, to return the sewing tools that I used yesterday, and to pick up clothing that I'll need in the coming weeks while at Susie's as work is finished on the boat. Her guests left this afternoon and Susie should be home by Tuesday evening so I'll go to her house tomorrow after pickleball.

Monday, 17 October - Joe and Esther La Corte picked me up at the boatyard and five showed up for pickleball. We had to squeegee the court this morning after waiting about 15 minutes for the rain to stop but it never rained again while we were playing. They brought me to Susie's afterward and I settled back in here at her house and finished reading the third or fourth book that my brother last sent me and started on another.

Tuesday, 18 October - Pickleball in the morning, then Susie arrived back at about 2:15, just as it started to rain here and just as I was finishing another book. Susie was thrilled to be back in warm weather and I was just as happy to haver her back. She was really excited to be going to Dockside this evening. Susie and I went to dinner at our favorite seafood stores, Fish Tales, a little apprehensive about if it would remain so after having been away for several weeks. The original owners had just sold the restaurant before we left and we weren't sure how much difference there would be. We were pleased; the only thing we noticed different was one new waitress and that their hours of business have been extended. We like that because they used to close at 6 o'clock, which we though a bit early. Later we met Phil and Carol Vachon at Dockside for dancing and a few adult beverages.

Wednesday, 19 October - The other pickleball players got scared out of playing today because it rained for a few minutes about 7:45 this morning. I looked at the radar on my phone and believed that the rain was about over and said so, but didn't convince anyone else so no one played today. It never rained again throughout the day. Dinner at El Molcajete Mexican restaurant.

Thursday, 20 October - Susie and I were to get Covid boosters today, but she woke up with a bit of a sore throat so she'll wait a day or two. I got mine but it was too late to play pickleball so we went to the boatyard to get a few items off the boat to bring to her house. That also gave me a chance to see the progress on the boat. They've finished sanding the hull of the boat and installing the chainplates but because the wood is still wet have not started painting it. About all that is left on their part is reinstalling the sails, painting the woodwork and hull and reinstalling the cabinetry. After that, it's going to take me days to get everything back in order in the boat.

Friday, 21 October - Joe and Esther La Corte picked me up for pickleball. I also went by the marina today to get mail which included a birthday package from my my brother, Mike.

Saturday, 22 October - Susie's not feeling very well so we spent the morning inside then went for an exploratory ride in her car this afternoon. We headed east on Highway 1, the Overseas Highway, for a couple of hours and just turned onto every side road to see where they went. We visited Curry Hammock State Park and found another Marathon city park that neither of us knew about, too. I've heard "The Hunger Games" mentioned lots in the past but never knew what it was about. Susie has Prime TV and that show is available there so we watched the first episode this evening.

Sunday, 23 October - Dad's birthday - Susie still has a sore throat so we stayed in and watched the rest of the "Hunger Games" movies and cooked burgers on the grill on the back patio.

Monday, 24 October - Snowbirds from up north showed up at the pickleball court. We had more than enough players to fill two courts; all of them pretty good. One of them said that they have 46 pickleball courts at the facility that they usually play at. I had hung up my paddle at the end of a game, expecting to play another, but Joe and Esther, my ride, decided they were finished for the day, so in my hurry to go, I left the paddle there. I hope one of the other players saw it and picked it up for me, otherwise I doubt that it will be there tomorrow.

Tuesday, 25 October - We had a great session at pickleball this morning but since Susie is still feeling poor she and I stayed in the rest of the day.

Wednesday, 26 October - Since Susie is still not feeling well with a sore throat, I borrowed her car to go to pickleball and then to the boatyard to check on the boat. It appeared to me that no work had been done since last Friday so I went to the office and told them so and that I can't keep the boat there forever and that more time needs to be spent by the worker to get me back in the water as soon as possible. There's still lots to be done. The cabinetry and inner hull lining needs to be replaced, the eyebrows on the outer cabin still need to be replaced and they haven't painted any of the woodwork or the underwater hull yet. I had hoped to be back in the water by the first of November but I can see now that isn't going to happen. Susie and I had dinner at the Key Colony Inn after walking over to the Key Colony Beach to watch the sunset over the water.

Thursday, 27 October - Two of the out-of-towners still showed up for pickleball today and we had a very good session. Susie's feeling a little better today and we walked across the Vaca Cut bridge this evening to have dinner at Fish Tales.

Friday, 28 October - Pickleball in the morning. Susie had to drive to Miami, about 100 miles, to an appointment with her radiation oncologist, to see whether she will have to undergo 5 days or 5 weeks of radiation treatment. This evening we walked the mile to Havana Jack's for dinner and to listen to music by the Lady A Band with Roland and Leta Kok who have recently arrived back in Marathon after having spent the summer in Destin, Florida, their home. They left their boat here for the summer at a quay and will be getting back on a mooring ball in the harbor this week. It's good to have them back.

Saturday, 29 October - Susie and I drove to Key West to celebrate Fantasy Fest and my birthday, which is tomorrow. Last year the night we were there there was no parade, but this year there were about 30 floats that ran down Duval Street. They had the street blocked off for its whole length with barricades which forced all everyone that wasn't in the parade to crowd onto the sidewalks. You could barely move it was so crowded. We were glad when the floats finally passed and the barricades removed so the crowd could move into the street. That's when the "real" pride began; everyone showing off their costumes, or lack thereof. Whew! Lots of bare boobs and butts; at least enough until next year!
                    The room we stayed in was the same home as last year, the Curry Mansion. It was one of the early mansions built after the "wreckers" made their fortunes rescuing people and cargo from the ships that wrecked on the reefs around the Keys before the turn of the 19th century. The mansion is really beautiful so be sure to see the photos for this episode at the link below.

Sunday, 30 October - My birthday and the reason Susie treated me to a very fun and expensive weekend in Key West. This morning we went down to the pool area where they serve breakfast to order. I believe it's as good a breakfast as you'd get anywhere in town. After that we strolled through three art galleries and the Mel Fisher treasure store where they sell treasure items from "Nuestra Señora de la Atocha" Spanish wreck that Mel searched for in the 1970s and finally discovered in June of 1985 worth over $400,000,000. After that, back to Marathon where we swung by the boatyard to check on "Island Time". We met Roland and Leta Kok at Dockside tonight. They've returned from Destin, FL. where they spend the summers and will spend the winter here in Marathon on their sailboat "KoKoMo". We really enjoy hanging out with them.

Monday, 31 October - Halloween - Pickleball as usual in the morning and unfortunately Dockside was having a group that we're not too fond of playing so we had dinner at El Molcajete Mexican restaurant then watched a couple of episodes of "Black List" on Netflix.