Florida R&R!

It's been a wonderful and relaxing week for Ginny-Mom in Florida!

Highlights have included celebrating their 37th wedding anniversary with Pete & JoAnne Shirk at home on Tidy Island. They also went to the beach on nearby Anna Maria for sunset with Tom & me and we had a fun adventure aboard Tom's boat visiting some of Sarasota's beautiful destinations! As you can see in these photos, we stopped for lunch at The Old Salty Dog, home of the famous beer-battered deep fried hotdog! If you don't believe us, watch The Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food" Sarasota episode on Saturday night (9/18/09 at 8:30 PM Eastern) where the host of the show visits The Old Salty Dog for this delectable treat. Wanting in on the action, we boated to the 'Dog, and Tom and Dad requested the now-famous version of the deep fried hotdog with cheese, mushrooms, bacon and sauerkraut. Mom stuck to the original version and she loved it!

Then we cruised around Sarasota Bay and enjoyed a breezy, beautiful, sunny day. Dad and Tom had fun rafting in the water before we stopped at another one of our favorite places: Mar Vista. This too is one of those old seaside Sarasota establishments, and when we were there last time with Mom & Dad on New Year's Day, Mom and I each decorated a dollar bill and hung it on the wall. As you can see, they are still hanging! After enjoying some grouper, oysters, and other delicious items we headed home in the dark and got to appreciate the peaceful waters and beautiful bright stars.

Aside from a few small adventures and several games of Scrabble, it's been an extremely restful getaway with much needed relaxation and heavy emphasis on healing. Florida sure is great for much needed R&R!

We're heading home to Pittsburgh on Sunday before Ginny-Mom's next chemo treatment on Tuesday, September 22nd. Please be thinking of her and sending lots of good energy her way! Mom is doing a FANTASTIC job and we really thank you for all of your prayers. Please keep it up!!

Our Love to All!!!!!

-Carrie