Friday 02.04.2011 Ahhh, Home

I didn't figure out how to blog from the Droid phone, but I didn't have much time to work with it. Our hosts didn't have a computer, and we didn't take one, but our phone's access was enough to check flight status and such. Learning how to blog with it is on my list, though pretty far down.

We're home now, after a safe trip there and back, thank you God. We had great fun--temps in the 80's, humidity at 100% (really), good company. We ended up staying with one of Dan's friends and his wife, who were lovely host/hostess in their (vacation) home on Marco Island in Florida, just south of Naples. We walked the beach at sunset, listened to a Big Band concert in the park, took a pontoon ride out to the Gulf and back in through the maze of the numerous channels, saw dolphins and pelicans and terns and herons and cranes and cormorants and....I just love the water.

Another one of Dan's friends had both taken us and retrieved us from Detroit Metro airport. Tuesday morning, the "Blizzard of 2011" had started, and the drive there was slow and slippery. We arrived just in time to stand in line at the check in kiosks, then stand in line through security, and hurry to the gate, where boarding was just starting. We went back to the restrooms, and when we got back to the gate, our "zone" was boarding. Although we had some anxiety about getting to the airport in time, it turned out perfect. Not having to wait around was great. When we got back to Detroit, Dan called him and let him know we had arrived, and were scooped up as soon as we got outside. What a change, 20 degrees and breezy!

The roads were cleared, except for within our complex. The snowplow had gone down the main road through, but with the wind and drifting, it was a one lane mess. I was very pleased to turn into our condominium area, however, as "our" snow removal contractor had done an excellent job, with dry pavement in both the roads and sidewalks, including in front of each of the garage doors. Wonderful! That's why we chose condominium living--for right now, anyway. No shoveling or lawn mowing.

We were greeted by the sounds of the smoke alarms blaring. From our unit. Hm. After looking around, we couldn't find what the cause was. Turning off the circuit breaker didn't stop the noise, so, one by one, Dan took the batteries out of them. Then we could turn the breaker on again without them blaring. All of the batteries tested good, and we don't know anything else to check. Or who to call to ask.

I'm feeling good physically. The plane rides don't seem to have triggered any lymphedema issues. My ears, however, didn't travel well. I used a Vicks-type (store brand) nasal inhaler, took tylenol and motrin, and claritin pre-flight, and re-medicated as time indicated. I also used the EarPlanes ear plug type things, to help equalize the pressure in the ears. It mostly worked on the way there, but on the way back I had a lot of ear pain during the last hour or so, when we were descending. Now my ears feel full of cotton, are ringing, they feel swollen and tender on the inside. Hopefully the motrin will help with that and they'll ease in the next couple of days.

Dan and I both work tomorrow. I'm planning on sleeping well with my own pillow.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.