Miami Metro Zoo

On Jan. 23, Friday, Richard and I decided that we wanted to go to the Miami Metro Zoo...The weather was going to be very nice, about 72 degrees for the high....So we got ready, had our breakfast and headed out for the day...

Our day began around 10am with us heading to Walgreens to pick up my prescription that has been ready for almost a week...After the pick up, we headed up to the Miami Metro Zoo (MMZ)...It was an easy drive and the zoo was easy to find...The MMZ is on 124th Avenue off of 152nd Street near the Florida Turnpike...The road leading in to the MMZ is about 3/4 mile long and leads cars to the parking lots...Parking is free, which was amazing...We found a parking space for our truck, or should I say 2 spaces...*S* There weren't many cars there so it looked like it wasn't going to be crowded but we did see school kids...We purchased our one day ticket and asked some questions...Then we thought that we were going to return to the MMZ at least one more time so we bought a second day pass for only $7 more each person...

As we entered the park, our cameras were out and we were taking pictures...While taking pictures I got pecked at the back of the knee and I thought Richard was swiping something off...Come to find out it was an Ibis that was pecking at the back of my knee...We started our slow walk towards the new Amazon & Beyond, which opened up in December 2008...Along the pathway, there is a place to rent Surrey Bikes...For 2 hours and $22 you can rent a bike and bike along the pathway and around the MMZ...You can rent strollers and electric wheel chairs...

The MMZ has several areas of interest and we only saw 2 areas in 6 hours...The main thing that Richard and I do is take lots of pictures of anything and everything...The flowers, shrubs and trees were unusual...All the animals...from Flamingos, Ducks, Tigers, Birds, different Safari type animals...The Amazon & Beyond area was amazing...We missed the Hummingbird Encounter which I would have loved to have done...We didn't see any Bats...and Snakes galore...The MMZ is a very nice zoo...After all day of walking, we realized why the guests rent the Surrey Bikes...*S*

At lunch time we did take a break...At the beginning of the Amazon & Beyond, there is an area where you can sit and buy some lunch...It isn't much to choose from but we got a big salad that had eggs, ham, lettuce & cheese...We got a lemonade to share too...The salad was really good and even one of the employees went and got Richard some honey mustard for his part of the salad...I got Ranch for mine...There was plenty of salad for the both of us and we both felt full...For dinner we stopped at the Oasis and shared some chicken tenders/fries and a lemonade...

At 4:45pm, we grabbed the monorail which takes you around the park...There are 4 stops with the monorail...We took the monorail to Stop 1, the beginning of the park...From there we had to go through the gift shop and walk around to the building where you can join the Miami Zoological Society for an annual pass...The cost of that was very nice, $64/couple for a year...You can't beat that, huh! The only thing that the Society couldnt' do was put the second day fee that we paid towards the annual cost...So we now have the second day tickets on sale for $10 each...We hope that someone will buy them from us...We do plan on returning back to the MMZ at least 3 more times so it will pay off for us...and with the Zoological costs it will get us 10% off on merchandise and food in the park and we will also get 20% off of entrance fees at other Florida attractions like the Miami Seaquarium and Theater of the Sea...After we got done signing the papers for the new fees for the year, we walked to our truck and headed home...

It was a fabulous day..The weather was about 72 degrees..The sun was out for most of the day...We could not have asked for a better day to visit the MMZ...We look forward to going back there and taking lots more pictures of all the other areas that we did not get to see as of yet...

Looking for Michaels (crafts)

It was Thursday, Jan. 22, and we decided to go exploring...It is so boring during our hours of working when there is nothing going on...So I thought that I would like to find a Michaels and go see what they had in cross stitch crafts...I thought I would do another cross stitch blanket for our 3rd granddaughter, Elizabeth (Lizzie)...In the past, I did a blanket for Kayla and a blanket for Brianna but Lizzie wasn't suppose to happen...so when she did come in to this world, at the time I couldn't do another blanket...but now time is all I have...So why not!

We left our rv around 10:30am and headed up Krome Ave. towards SW 88th Street (Kendall Drive or Route 94)...This will be main street of business in Miami...So we drove and saw Home Depot, Best Buy, a Walmart (not a SuperWalmart, darn it), a few restaurants, some strip malls and other buildings of interest...Then we came across Michaels, next door to Barnes and Noble...We parked and went in to Michaels...Richard and I walked around and saw an area where there were some xmas stuff on sale for at least 80% off...Well, because we are Activity Directors up at Lake Ridge RV Resort in Hillsville, VA. and needed some crafts for the Themed Weekends, I saw little xmas ornament ceramics that were on sale for 80% off...Richard went to see how much they were, no prices were on them, and he came back and said that the ceramic pieces were 11 cents each...So we gathered up a bucket that was behind us and put pretty much all the ceramic ornaments to be painted in to our bucket...Then I got a xmas flag (small one) for $2 and a few little other items on sale...We bought 2 candles, White Magnolia and Honeysuckle, and a cross stitch blanket for Lizzi and a latch hook rug, Lucky CareBear, for our newest addition, Laurianna...We got a good deal on everything...Awesome buying day....

After shopping, we decided to travel east some more on SW 88th Street...We were heading towards Route 1 or S. Dixie Hwy....After driving a while, we decided that it was lunch time...But where to eat...We passed up Chilis...Red Lobster sounded good...but we turned on to Route 1, going south...We drove and looked around...We were on the outskirts of Downtown Miami...So south on Route 1 we headed....We came across a sign for Red Lobster and turned on to the road heading to it...Across the street was a MALL...and a MOVIE THEATER...We parked our truck (in 2 spaces as always) and walked over to Red Lobster...

Red Lobster service - The service from the time we walked in to the restaurant to the time we left was superb...The Host did a fine job of seating us...The Waitress did an excellent job of taking our order, keeping up with our drinks and asking us how we were doing...To the Manager in getting to us so we could tell him what a fine establishment and service he had...Usually when I order Ice Tea, it always tastes bitter...Like it has sat for days...but not this day...It was SOOOO GOOD...I even drank 2 glasses...The Lobster Fondue was excellent as always...Richard ordered a Hawaiian crusted Salmon with Coconut Shrimp and a side order of Scallops...A House Salad came with the meal (or a Caesar Salad) but he got the house salad...The Cheddar biscuits are always great and delicious...I ordered some concoction of rum sauce with my Shrimp & Scallops with Broccoli and Baked Potato...Richard also got a Baked Potato...I got a Caesar Salad which I haven't had before...and that was delicious...The whole meal was fabulous...The meal was more than we wanted to spend but it was a celebration of our new granddaughter or so we surmised for spending so much for lunch...*S*

After our luncheon, we drove home still heading down Route 1 to the mall...Southland Mall...a real indoor mall...one with stores that we recognize...We walked around the mall, got my engagement checked at Kays Jewelers and saw where the movie theater was...It looked like they had a really nice Regal Cinemas theater...Finally, we had enough of walking around and got back to the truck and headed home...

We got home and Richard laid down for a nap...I knew I couldn't go to sleep cause my daughter, Brandi, was going to call me very soon to talk to me on her way home, which is fine with me..I did try to lay down on the couch to cat nap but it didn't work...After talking with her for a while, I realized that I had to go to the store to get a few things like MILK...but while I went to the store, I also got my hair cut and tried to pick up my presciption at Walgreens...Wow! What a laugh...The line was so long that I just went to Publix instead to get my groceries...

And that was our day of exploring...

New President - Barack Obama

Jan. 20, 2009

It's a new day for a new president...At 12:06pm Barack H. Obama became the 44th President of the United States and his wife Michelle Obama, became the First Lady...
Since about 8am this morning, we have been watching ABC to see all the hopla of the new president to be...Tonight is the Inaugural Neighborhood Ball...and President Obama is attending all 10 balls tonight...He will be one tired President tomorrow...*S*
Today is a day in History...A new Afro-American president...

but really he's just more all American...He is a United States of America citizen...
Washington, DC was packed with almost 2 million people...

The weather was about 26 degrees during the day and towards evening it got a lot colder...but all the people prevailed and hung around for the festivities...Bands from all over America marched down PA. Avenue...Even the marching band from his Hawaii school where he grew up...The Military Bands were there in the parade as well...
I'm not very good at saying things about what is going on but today was awesome...
I didn't vote but I knew that Barack Obama would have been the man I would have voted for...I like him and his speeches ever since he started...I certainly hope that this new man will do what he said...
The parade was good to see along with seeing the new President of the United States to walk Pennsylvania Avenue...

May the following 4 years be as he says and make things right with all of the United States...

Laurianna Sylvani Jorges

Today is a very special day for us...Today our daughter, Misti and her husband, Chad became the proud parents of a little baby girl...So we are the proud grandparents of a new granddaughter, Laurianna (lor e ah na) Sylvani Jorges...

Lorianna was born at 5:18am (Sicily time) on today, 1.20.09...She weighed in at 6 pounds 1 ounce and was 18.5 inches long...

Misti was admitted around 12:30am, 1.20.09 (Sicily time)...She gave me a call and was having contractions while we were on the phone...She was doing well and hanging on...Chad had gone home to pick up some things that were left behind...Hopefully the camera wasn't one of the things that got left behind...*S* *L* but in the end, the camera was there and pictures were taken...

Misti's dad, Bruce, was on his way over to Sicily to witness the birth but his granddaughter came too soon...Hopefully he made it their safely...

Last night, early morning, I had a very good dream that I was there with her and helping her out with her delivery...I was telling her to breath and to push...and making sure the nurses were taking care of her...Then about 7:50am, Misti called my cell phone to give Richard and I the good news...Richard and I are glad that she is doing well and so is Laurianna...

So now we have 4 granddaughters - Kayla, Brianna, Elizabeth & Laurianna...and we love them all very much...

Richard and I are hoping to visit Sicily in April 2010...and to see our new grandbaby...