Craft Fair Chuckles



Hi All,

As the holidays approached, every weekend was another Arts & Craft Fair. Sandy & Carl have great enthusiasm for craft fairs but virtually all of that enthusiasm resides in Sandy. Carl typically entertains himself looking for funny signs and T shirts to photograph and this season did not disappoint.

If you don't understand this one, ask an old person.

Dog Lovers Fight Back!

Yup, no Gila Monsters even in a stroller!

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Hanging Up the Keys 

After Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Dolphin Cruise



Hi All,

Our nephew Nathaniel is visiting from Massachusetts so we all went on a dolphin cruise from Dunedin Marina.

It really lived up to its name.

Great News X2



Hi All,

Carl's procedure went very well. Dr was confident the tiny radioactive spheres (1/3 the width of a human hair) will kill the tumor. Follow-up in a month. Carl feeling a little fatigued but otherwise fine. Both happy and relieved to have this behind us. 

While Carl's procedure was underway , Sandy got the call that our HOA application (and Sanibelle)was approved . We have a new home!

There is a causeway from Dunedin to an offshore barrier island called Honeymoon Island. With the exception of a small patch at the beginning, it is all a beautiful State Park where we plan to volunteer. That small patch is where our new condo is located (see below).

It is on the 3rd floor facing the parking lot (that's why we could afford it) but there is a great water view from the kitchen.

Here's another aerial view 

The condo is 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths and 1,181 square feet. "Let the furniture shopping begin!"

Sanibelle does not like the though of moving🙀.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Update on Carl

Hi All,

Carl's liver cancer procedure is scheduled for next Tuesday. Tiny Radioactive beads will be inserted into the tumor to kill it. Most literature describes it as being as successful as surgery and waaaay less invasive.

It's an out-patient procedure with fatigue and flu like symptoms being the most common side effects. 

The radioactive Yttrium-90 decays to Zirconium so Carl will have fake diamonds in his liver, a claim few can make. 

We are optimistic though impatient to have this behind us.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Florida Botanical Gardens



Hi All,

Saturday evening we met Alan & Barbara in Tampa to see the holiday light display at the Botanical Gardens.

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge



Hi All,

On Friday we drove to Crystal River and met up with friends Sharon and Richard from Ft Myers, to visit Ranger Monica who previously worked at Ding Darling. 

The manatee were there but not photogenic in the crystal clear spring water.

Monica gave us a tour of the Three Sisters Springs area

and pointed out the barred owl close to the boardwalk.

This sign apparently works much better than "Keep Out" except for ten year old boys!

Turtle pile-up

This firethorn is beautiful but non- native.

Back in the coach, Sanibelle defies the belief that cats don't like water.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Honeymoon Island State Park



Hi All,

Most of the barrier island that protects Dunedin from the open Gulf is Honeymoon Island State Park.

Today we hiked along the beach enjoying the shells

and the Shell trees that folks create.

This willet and sanderling were feeding in the surf line.

Here' what a barrier island looks like when it is protected 

Here's what unprotected growth on Clearwater Beach looks like.

In downtown Dunedin we caught this sunset reflected in a shop window.

Back in the coach, Sanibelle was keeping an eye on a neighbor's cat.

The first step of Carl's treatment is on the 30th. We are waiting patiently-sort of!

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Red Team Saves the Launch

Hi All,

We all understand that fire fighters, police and members of the military at times risk their lives in doing their jobs. We now have new heros to add to the list.

Imagine this if you can. With the Artemis 1 rocket almost fully fueled, a leak is detected. NASA sends a three man "Red Team" to try to stop the leak. They go under the rocket, six million pounds of creaking groaning metal straining to contain the super chilled propellant, with vent valves randomly  popping off. It's a struggle to focus but they find and fix the leak so we can witness this.

You can read more about these heros here.

https://www.space.com/artemis-1-rocket-red-crew-daring-launch-pad-repair

Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Artemis Launch Success

Hi All,

It is 2:05 AM and I just watched an awesome and historic rocket launch.

The NASA Space Launch System's first flight lifted off after months of technical (helium leaks) and meteorological (2 hurricanes) delays.

The pointy end was up

and the flamy end was down.

This is what 8,000,000 pounds of thrust looks like in the night sky. More powerful than the Saturn 5 of the Apollo program.

As the rocket speeds away, the two spent solid rocket boosters detach.

Soon after, NASA reported a successful orbit insertion.

 Congratulations to everyone on the NASA and Contractor teams.

Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

We Have Plan

Hi All,

We  had a very successful session with the PA and doctor today. We agreed with their recommendation for a Y-90 procedure which involves injecting micro-spheres of radioactive  Yttrium 90 directly into the tumor. It is very effective at killing tumors yet far less invasive than surgery and an easier recuperation than even the microwave ablation Carl had in 2021. It is a two step procedure with some preliminary "mapping" of the blood vessels followed a week later by injection of the radioactive micro-spheres. It should all be over within a month.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We'll keep you posted.  We are relieved and optimistic.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Moccasin Lake Park

Hi All,

We found this beautiful city park in south Clearwater.

In addition to lovely hiking trails they have a raptor rehabilitation center with about 30 birds including a barn owl,

a bald eagle,

several peregrine falcons

and this striking swallowtail kite.

A turtle pond featured lots of Florida cooters.

This is the biggest bat house we have ever seen.

We are not the only ones enjoying birds. Sanibelle was transfixed watching a PBS Nature program.

Carl's next appointment is tomorrow when we hope to learn about the recommended treatment plan. Meanwhile we have kept busy looking at condos.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Ybor City



Hi All,

Saturday we met Alan & Barbara in Ybor City just east of Tampa.