HAPPY  HOLIDAYS

             TO OUR

 FRIENDS AND FAMILY

 Hoping  your Christmas

was as wonderful and blessed as ours...and

may your New Year be

one of Hope, Spirit and 

Promise...

We gathered together in 

Sandestin...Kelly and her Molly driving here after finals and a short stay in both VA with Matt and Enterprise with Barbara, Eric and Niece Abby Lee...Kelly and Jan drove to Atlanta to pick up Robyn and her Marley (we girls did a weekend outing too to look for a wedding dress for Kelly's August wedding and also bridesmaids' dresses, as Robyn is one of the Honor Maids)...back to Sandestin to join Jim and our L.C. adopted cat just in time for a Christmas Eve candle-light service and a Christmas Day of stockings to open, gifts to unwrap, and dinner to fix ( each one of us did a "special" part of the meal making it a family fun affair!).  The festivities were grand...and we all enjoyed the togetherness, rest and recouping too.  Barbara and Abby Lee joined the festivities on the 26th...and it has been non-stop since!  Soon, the travels will be reversed...with Kelly and Molly leaving to head back to Birmingham and her LAST semester of law school....wo-hoo!...Jim and Jan will take Robyn and Marley to the Atl. airport so they can fly back to the icy roads of CO and work's reality...as for Jim and Jan (an L.C.)....this IS reality..and we are loving it!

T-DAY AND

THE FAMILY GATHERED IN SANDESTIN

Our "NEW" Stomping Grounds!

Before feasting, we had candid

picture taking...so you can share with us! 

All the "girls "gathered together...all ages..from Kimberly and Kelly followed by "Gramercy"

 then Barbara with her Abby and Robyn.  Believe it or not, we even got EVERYONE in the swing...Jeff and Kimberly (Phillips; St. Louis); Papa Doc and Gramercy (Sandestin); Barbara and Eric (Wade; Enterprise, AL)...then there is Logan (Philips; almost 5) checking out the "tree" candy...with Carter (Phillips; 2+) in front of "Aunt" Kelly...then Abby (Wade; almost 2)

challenging "Aunt" Robyn.  YEP....that's all..except for the grand-dogs Molly and Marley...and the feline "L.C."  We had a wonderful time together at Thanksgiving....the "kids" gifted us with a Thanksgiving night of "making ornament" for our tree...as all "precious" ones (as well as not-so-precious!) were lost.  We all spent about 4 hours creating!  What fun!..and you should see the tree now!  By Monday, all were either home or heading home...and we were back to being two "busy" retirees..as we headed to Gadsden, packed up the house in a U-Haul and headed south again.  We have some things at condo...some at house...some in Gadsden.  Talk about being "spread thinly!"  One more trip to Gadsden pre-Christmas, and then we will be in Sandestin for the holidays...and for the rest of this grand retirement!  Hope you'all enjoyed the Thanksgiving gatherings as much as we did...now...off to try and put lights on the house!

.....SCUBA-MAN.....

Well, here I sit in the Miami airport, madder then a wet-rooster... we had to pay $ 15 for Jan's one checked bag and $ 25 for my one checked bay and we each still had our carry-on bag..... Only an AMERICAN company could do this AA (of course)...............

Well, back to my post.... I'm now SCUBA-man....I got my certificate to scuba dive.....

Here are some pics.... Me going in and me coming out of the Caribbean waters....  Fantastic dive over a sunken submarine and a coral reef and several other sunken ships and gazillions of fish......  Oh, by the way, I added an extra picture of my newest "tats".....  I'm a sailor now....

Daddy-O/Papa Doc

...who are these people ?????????

Well, who could imagine who these two happy people are?????

Could it be the two cruisers of the Freedom of the Seas............

Well, we're back in Miami, resting for our flight back to reality....

Family, obligations, Thanksgiving, oh yeah and RETIREMENT...

....jump starting the economy...

OK.......... So here we are on "Miami Beach" at the beach........  Today we depart on the Freedom of the Seas......  As we close the door on our "South Beach" suite, we notice the "daily rate approval" for the "room" we have sooooooo enjoyed this past 20 hours.....   It must be the almost, but not quite, "priceless" view from the 12" by "24" window in the bathroom of the alley way that so vastly inflates the value of this room.....  Fortunately, we got the fantastic cruise line discount and aren't paying anywhere near the "going" rate that the business conventioneers and race car fans and beach fans are paying.....  So to all our friends, we beseach you to put in some overtime and welcome the upcoming tax increases so that we "retired seniors" can continue to enjoy the standard of living to which we have become accustomed...  Now, on the bright side, Jan and I are as excited as two love bugs in Florida in May, of course that is before the "SPLAT" on the windshield....  Breakfast with mimosa served "in bed".....  And, that was after a late-night bonfire on the beach with hot dogs, chips, beer and hostess cup cakes, all thanks to the good wishes of a "racing team" that competes today in the NASCAR race at Homestead....  We met a couple of the drivers and crew chiefs and a good many NASCAR fans......  If it weren't for the alluring sirene's call to the sea, we could have had some pit passes to the race....  Oh well, when it rains it just simply floods with goodness...  Well, my stomach is telling me it's about time for my first cruise "BLT"....... so I'm off to the SeaFarers Cafe....

We'll try to keep you posted as to our comings and goings....  Oh, by the way, did I fail to mention that it was 82 degrees yesterday with clear blue skies....  It's a little cool this AM at 72 but it's expected to "warm up" to the mid-80s by departure time........  So aloha as they say "in the islands"......

Jim/Jan 

Are We There Yet?

Well, we made it on Delta to Miami...but had to "rise-and-shine" at 3:00 A.M. to "make" it!  Needless to say, a little napping on the plane, a little napping by the pool, and probably an early night too...before we are keyed and "in sync" with the festivities that we will face on the Freedom of the Seas tomorrow.  They will be at the  hotel (which just happens to be on the Atlantic and offered us a beach to walk, but lacking in cleanliness and the "white" beauty of Sandestin)...at 12:30...and we will be boarding the ship that apparently compares to three apt. buildings!  Wow!  Might have to "look up" at that one....well, everyone...keep working and doing what has to be done to keep our world chuggin' in our absence.  I cannot imagine we will even be checking out the paper..after all, this is a retirement cruise, and we are "retiring" from "almost" everything!  

ON THE HIGH SEAS...AGAIN

Well, we have had time to recup from travels and family fun...only to be washing up clothes and packing again....this time for St. Thomas and ports near.  The Caribbean is calling us...for ten days at least!  We head out Saturday at the crack of dawn...and come Sunday the Freedom of the Seas we will be calling "home."  Sailing, no...but sea-going, YES!  We are ready to eat to our hearts' content every hour of the 24-hour day, scuba dive, mystery dine, shop, walk, bike...and enjoy our time together.  May the waves cradle our eves; may the sun, fun and music fill our days!  Remember...keep paying into SS...we are dippin' pretty deep!

......florida.....

OK, so look up the word in the dictionary..... Jan and I were on the back deck of Jim n Nicks.... Jan with her Coors lite, spinach dip and BBQ'ed turkey and Jim with his Coors lite (yes, it seems as if I've taken this "retirement" thing to heart and have begun to "indulge" a bit every now and then) habanero hot buffalo wings and "pig in a potatoe" (I definitely do prefer the D. Quale spelling) doused with BBQ sauce....Of course, we were the only patrons present on the private back deck because of the slowness of the season.....  As quickly as Jan and I had completed our usual toast of "it's a beautiful day in Sandestin" and were about to partake of the first test taste of the wings..... WHOOSH  From a high, overhanging and well hidden branch of a neighboring tree dropped the grey and black body of a badger....  With little fanfare and even less ado, Billie (as we later came to affectionately call the wild beast from ahigh) struck a pacing pose....walking to and fro without his head ever moving from it's snaralous sneer....we sat transfixed, unable to set out a proper defense....and with the most curious calmness, Billie raised his massive body (estimated to be ATLEAST 35+ pounds by several witnesses) upon his two hind legs....forelegs with claws that appeared more sharply honed than that the deadliest of Jason's cutlery...claws that seemed never to stop quivering....black-hooded eyes that glowed yellow to orange to red and then back to yellow...with irises that were as dilated as the most crazed addict in need of a "pick me up"....a thick, heavy drool slobbering down the left side of a massively gaping wide jaw....a jaw which exposed  55+ finely chiseled teeth that glinted intermittently in the intense light of the full moon....some would say "it's only a badger" but at that very moment we knew that we were about to be attacked by "the beast from beyond"......  Frozen in terror, we could not move....  Faced by this unholy terror....threatened by this ferocious meat hungry beast we did the best we could with what we had at hand (no, the .44 magnum was still at home and no, the ceremonial samauri sword was still hanging in the den)....we dug down deep into our vast repetoire of actions....Jim quickly grabbed the next wraught iron chair and "faced down this demon" while Jan cheered me on from a somewhat safer distance away.... finally with the beast tamed, and without any exageration at all, it took ATLEAST THREE cheese biscuits from JnN's to calm this wild beast....  To say none the least, we moved our dinner indoors and proceeded to enjoy another wonderful retirement dinner.....  Well, until tomorrow when we discuss the ardious task of "taming Publix... Until lated folks.....

Jim/Jan

,,,,a few more sea notes...

                          .....a few more notes from the bay...

As previously stated we made good 10.3 knots speed (see GPS readout) with 30+ knot winds... My crew included (left to right) crew mates Stan and Erico, captain Eric.....  Of course the "good ship" Celestial took care of all our marine needs, seeing us to Norfolk without any problems.... So now we're on to our next adventure......Starting the Sandestin move-in...........

...it's the sailing life for me....

It was the best of times..............

It was the worst of times..............

The best of times because the "Chesapeake Adventure" was about to start....

The worst of times because this adventure would eventually come to an end......          

There was Celestial, the 44 foot Island Packet that would take us the 200+ nautical miles from Rock Hall, MD to Norfolk, VA......  Crewed by the reknown Captain Eric and First Mate Erico....

From Rock Hall across the "bay" to Nap (Annapolis to most landlubbers), then down to Solomons Island, then Fisherman Bay, and then past the US Naval Base in Norfolk to Little Creek and the final docking.....  But forget not that during the voyage we sailed "wing and wing" with max speed of 10.3 kph (documented by photo, I just for some reason could not download it, but I will for you doubting Tomases)..... The winds were Force 7, the seas 5+ feet and on the s/v Celestial sped as sound, solid and stable as Noah's ark....  The "Fearless Four," Eric, Erico, Papa Doc and Stan) remained steadfast at the helm....  And don't think that this was all that austere a trip.... Sample dinners, cooked onboard, while sailing consisted of roast beef, new popatoes, jellied cranberry sauce, green beans, and salad, or home made Portougese chicken fijitas, fresh tossed caesar salad, fresh baked bread and pudding, or home-made spagetti with specialty secret italian sauce, garlic/oil bread, greek baked/fried potatoes, and vege-salad.....  And don't forget the meals we had ashore at the "Naughty Gull" and "Sparky's Mermaide"....

From the first step aboard the magnificent 44' IPY, I knew that this trek was going to by far surpass my expectations.... Docking, undocking, anchoring, mooring, sailing a pre-determined course, sailing by dead recognition or by position, tacking, jibing, sailing wing & wing.......

WE DID IT ALL....  I'll add a few more pic for you to view....  So now I'm all excited about the 7 day sail in St. Thomas.....  Til the next post, maties.........

Sails are Flaked

Well, tonight we flaked the mailsails...Jim on Scholarship and Jan on AcaDame and called it a day!..or shall we say a week!  Six days out on the Chesapeake for Jim with 10 knots sailing and 5 foot waves...and then two days on the river.  For Jan it was four days on the river...culminating in a navigational challenge on a six hour sail with docking and lunch "enroute"...and a return to the harbor with 3-5 foot waves and cold, cold, cold!  It might be getting into the thirties in Bama...but the wind chill here was astronomical!  The northeaster is a blowing and chillin and the barometric pressure is a falling!  Nights are spend aboard the vessels...so it is really a new sensation...sleeping, walking, living at sea!  (Fact is, even after you've packed up you still feel like you have your "sea legs" working for you!)  Now it is time to start heading South once again...after all., the Day of Haunting is drawing close...and we wouldn't want to miss that!

High Tide

Well, today it is official!  Jan left her land-lubber motel for the seas...and at a higher tide than usual too!  That's right...as of 1 P.M. she was in Lankford Bay Marina aboard AcaDame, the 32 foot sloop that her class will be using each day.  "Class" will be with two other men and a captain...one man (married) is staying with his wife on board AcaDame's sister boat  in the next slip; second man is  not arriving at the marine until 2 A.M. (so he will be sleeping in the school for the night); the captain is not due into the marina until 8 A.M....now...does everyone understand the significance of the aforementioned info?  That translates into "Jan will be alone" in the forward berth for the restof the day and all of the night!  I did manage to put some of my learned skills to the test already. With 40 degrees and lower eminent for the evening, I figured out how to run the heater on this boat...as well interior lights and outlets.  Next challenge will be the "head," also known as loo, commode, toilet, what-have-you!  That may be the true and hardest challenge..and I do believe one that I had better figure out before too long!  So, this will be home for a few days at least.  Classes are on the Bay all day and then return to the dock for dinner and the night. 

While Jan is just "gettin' aboard," Jim should be docking in Norfolk, VA tomorrow sometime.  I have not the opportunity to even chat with him since he left Sunday PM, but I know he is having the time of his life!  I cannot imagine a week on a boat...no docking, cooking/eating on board...and showering (the latter which I am sure must be mighty challenging!)  I look forward to hearing about his outing as well as I am sure some of you are.

For now, Riesling in hand and the novel Twilight almost completed (not the best book to be reading alone in a boat in who-knows-where, USA!), I leave you.  May you "ride the waves"throughout your day.

Papa Doc...on the Seas

 Tuesday had Papa Doc (AKA Jim) lifting the anchor and starting down the river to the Bay and on to Norfolk, VA.  It was an AWESOME day for sailing..little white caps on the river and a northwestern wind that was just perfect.  Though I am not on the seas with him, I can only imagine the "glory" he was in!  As for me...I am walking, walking, walking..through towns that are quaint and familiar; rented a bike yesterday and did peddling her, there and everywhere.  COurse, I am also stuffing myself with seafood...Maryland Cream of Crab soup with sherry is to "die for" at the Fish Whistle in Chestertown..about 12 miles from me.  Washington College is located there, so it is a bit larger and more interesting than Rock Hall, which caters to the clammers and sailors!  (Needed the library yesterday only to find out it is opened only every-other day...a one room blessing for the town!)Environmentally, this is TRULY where "fall" was named"...it is beautiful...leaves, chill in the air, winds, clear skies, countless stars...well...terrific.  This has been the BEST start to retirement for this duo...al systems "GO" and being fully enjoyed.  May you'all enjoy your day....

Set the Anchor

Well, the Wallaces "wandered" into Rock Hall, Maryland yesterday afternoon.  Jim (alias Papa Doc) headed to his sailboat and "home" until 10/26.  Tuesday he sets sail to Norfolk, VA and will not be a land-lubber again until the 26th.  On the 25th Jan (alias Gramercy) will head to her second class of sailing...for four days in the Chesapeake Bay but docking each night on land.  By the 28th we will join forces and do a BIG first...the two of us will man our own 32 foot sailboat for at least two days and nights (though I do believe we will dock in the evening)....but we will be cooking, living, sailing, etc... (as they say in Mama Mia...) for two days without being hampered by others.  THAT should be interesting....close quarters, two bull-headed people braving the seas

together!  Really , it should be great...Jim will be glad to know that on our boat he will be the official CAPTAIN and I, first mate.  With his knowledge, I concede!  After our sail, it will be heading back South, new route, new experiences...Hope all out there are enjoying the moments...if not, start now 'cause they are surely fleeting!  (Sorry no pics..one camera and in Jim's hands for now!)

NAP

That's what the locals call it...never imagined the capital of  Maryland was Annapolis, let alone that it would be so quaint and "covey" in its appearance (guess my geography days have escaped the memory stream; must have known all the capitals at one time...so THAT'S one of the retirement drawbacks... I can live with that one...we do have to pick our battles once we are over 60!) One of the locals we chatted with admited tht the air had a "fall chill" to it...at 55 degrees, I would say it is pretty darn close to freezing!  Course, we walked NAP in our VA attire both keeping warm and swelling up with winner's pride! (Navy did not fair as well losing their homecoming...but have to admit those DRESS UNIFORMED sailors surely did take this gal's breath away!)  Today we are heading up the road a piece to Rock Hall, MD...where Jim will board his boat and I will hang out for a few days solo...studying, sightseeing and shopping, of course!  The air still has a chill in it, but our enthusiasm willcertainly warm it somewhat.  Have a grand weekend...we will!

.....UVa topples UNC....

Here we are celebrating the OT victory.....U Va 16, Arch Enemy Tarheels 13......  Well, once again VA "does it" to UNC........ And there were the Wandering Wallaces cheering with the best of crowd.....  Now we're in Quaint Annapolis where the "Goat" take on Pitt...  We were wandering about the Annapolis Boat Show and dinner at McGuvey's....  Clam chowder soup and Crab cakes with hollandaise sauce...  This retirement is really getting quite exhausting....  Well, back to the map to plot out our next move.... Later, gators........ 

.....the wandering pirate Papa Doc...

Just to keep everyone on there toes.... This here be Pirate Papa Doc wandering up toward that there Bay of Chesapeake...  Having already wrecked havoc with the "Cav Man", I'm on  to more fierce adventures on the high seas....  I'm looking for one of the most dangerous pirates of all time, none other than Captain John Bloodsworth of Chesapeake fame.....  Our next stop will be Bloods-worth Island, famed for it's legendary buried treasures....  Well, I hope all is well with the world, I've seen no TV and only listened to Sirius 60's music for the past 5 days.... Until later dudes and dudettes... C. Papa Doc

Wahooooooooooo

Do you believe the smiles on those endearing retirees?  That is the sign of a "wahoooo" good time!  Yesterday was not a good day for the Parkway as fog, rain and a slight wind came up...so, adept as we were, we changed to the interstate and headed to Charlottesville, VA.  That would be the location of the University of Virginia and the renown Cavaliers, or CAVMAN, as he is endearingly referred to.  Course, we had our reasons for coming here...no, not to see UV slaughter UNC Saturday afternoon on the football field...but rather to see Matt, our future son-in-law, fiance to Kelly.  We came into a full city in early afternoon, walked about some (filing in with other parents and grandparents in town for the bitter rivalry on the field!), and called Matt.  Matt was hunkered down with the first practice of the season for the girls' basketball team (in the same arena where Elton John would be tinkling the ivories at a night concert)...we were allowed into the practice court, watched the girls a bit (who are ranked high for the season that starts soon enough)...and then we took the trolley from the hotel to the "downtown" ( a pedestrian mall of about 3 blocks in length; quaint with stores and eateries)...there the three of us enjoyed the fare at the Downtown Grill..then Matt took us on a driving tour around the campus (he is history-laden on the university and graciously shared some stories with us).   What a night!  For us a prelude to a great, refreshing sleep with a late morning rise...for Matt, a late night with an early morning practice schedule.  Ah, to be young again (I think not!).  Today, on to Annapolis...though the Navy is playing football today and the town will be "full," we hope to get in some of the tours and sights.  Suffice it to say...it is a beautiful day in Charlottesville...and we are smiling!

....the love of my life...

Miss America and Wonder-Woman all wrapped up into one wonderful life-partner....  Well after 40 years of marriage and "several years of work" and "many years of life" here is the true picture of my sweetie enjoying the "Good Life" while driving along the Great Smokey Mountain/Blue Ridge Parkway....  We have been blessed....  And we don't intend to look a gift horse in the mouth...  5 hours driving to cover 75 miles of twisty, tunnel filled two-lane, non-passing Parkway miles...  And every single mile was FANTASTIC.... multiple shades of green, yellow, orange, red, purple leaves with the magnificent backdrop of the Great Smokey Mountains....  Who would have thought that in today's hectic world that there would be places like this to enjoy God's beauty....  Oh, and don't forget the fresh lunch-time Mountain Trout at the Mt. Pisgah Inn....  Well, we've settled in for the night... See ya'll in our next installment.... One of the luckiest men alive.....me, Daddy-O, or Papa Doc

The Road to Tomorrow

Well, my birthday came and went...BUT...it was a birthday "with a view" that would never allow you to question the presence of our God!  Wow!  We tracked the Blue Ridge Parkway for many twisting, turning miles with God's pallet of colors on every tree  and bush in sight.  The road curved; the tunnels broke through the mountains upper crusts.  All was so very magnificent (especially the panoramic view that we had from the top being down!).  It is one of those "see to believe" moments in life.  We left Gatlinburg and headed northeast coming to rest just outside of Winston-Salem, NC for the night.  The wind, the sun, the memories, exhausted us.  Thanks to all of you who called or e-mailed birthday congrats...that was very special to me.  Today, off the Parkway (as it is raining and overcast) but upward and onward. Who knows where the sights and sounds may take us (we don't need to be in Maryland until Sunday noon)...the world is ours.  Hope the sun is shining where you are!  And may you know that twists and turns in our lives is just what God planned...all you have to do is drive the Parkway to validate that!

.....Alpine Slide II.....

It was the best of times.....  It was the worst of times.....  On a crisp, cool Fall morning beneath a austere blue canopy, atop Ober Gatlinburg the gauntlet was dropped....the challenge was made...  Who was to be the newest King of the Mountain ?  Both sledders mounted their mountain steads of yellow and red rail-runners...Alpine Slides of Appalachian reknown...  Sledders to the post....  Sledders prepare....  Sledders loose brakes....  Sledders Goooooooooooo !!!!!  An in that instant in time, the race began...  Gathering more and more momentum....  Gathering more and more speed, the daring sliders threw all concerns about self-safety and madly dashed feet-first toward the bottom of the mountain...  Throught turnes 1, 2, and 3 they blazed down the pipe-line....  Then came TURN NUMBER FOUR....a 270 degree, half-loop with a drop-dip exit..... Know more by the name "Death by Delight" than turn number four....  Well, the speed was unmeasurable as they entered the turn...  By the 180 degree mark and half-way through the halp-loop, the soon-to-be King of the Mountain took flight...  One complete airborne summersalt with a half-gainer with a perfect splash down on the trough....  Were it not for the soon approaching turn number five and the melting of his ski jacket and pants, he might still have won the race....  But alas, and alack, the King-to-be never was....  Now flash forward 14 years.... the gauntlet still remains...  The OLD MAN and the MOUNTAIN are again back together for the race to be....  So for his last hurrah Papa Doc sped down the mountain in true alpine fashion and was finally crowned the King-of-the-Mountain he was always meant to be...  Eat your heart out Robyn...

Ober-Over Gatlinburg

Well, we were "flyin' high" over this picturesque city...in the tram...2.1 miles up to the top at 3500 feet in 10 minutes...what an exhilarating ride (both in the day and at night!)  we have seen so many crafts and craftsmen..and done more walking than you can believe! )Fact is, my feet were actually tired last night...tho the body could have kept going!)  Today, 10/16...my 61st...yahoo!...we are heading north on the Blue Ridge Parkway for the beautiful sights yet unseen.  What a memorable ride!  What a gorgeous country we live in.  God has painted the trees in all His fall glory...sights to behold!  Enjoy the fall, wherever you might be!  We surely are  And to think..this is just the beginning of both this trip and retirement....I think everyone should be challenged with retirement "before" work...surely gives you an appreciation for life!  Well, you work..I'll retire and tell you all about it!

On the Road

Well, 9:30 AM, Tuesday..."Little Blue" packed to the hilt..and we are on our way (hard to believe all the goodies that that little trunk could hold!)  What a gorgeous day...we headed to Gatlinburg, TN (getting in around 2:30) just in time to enjoy mid -70's weather, walking the streets of the October offerings, nibblin' here and there, prepping ourselves for tomorrow.  Then Ober Gatlinberg, here we come... Today was  an afternoon of walking and a n'er to be beat steak dinner at Peddler's (next door to our hotel Bearskin Lodge!)  Now I sit on the suite's deck, in twigged rocker listening to the stream below and smelling the fresh air.  Even the stars are countable! Cannot imagine a better begin to "our tomorrows."  Bay..are we ever smiling and loving it!  (All of you out there working, please keep it up..social security payments are a MUST! Thanks for applying payment to our smiles!)
 

Birthday Bashing!

Monday night...and after one margarita and some tasty fare with friends, a birthday party looked "Grand to Jan."  The Lancasters, Pearsons, Higgins and the love-of-my-life celebrated a 61st early with this gal!  A Mexican dinner and communion with friends...what could have been better!  The gifted me with momentos to help make our first post-fire Christmas memorable...and more goodies for the road that Jim and I could possibly imagine!  Friends truly are the flowers of life!  Thanks guys for the "bloom" in my favor.  I loved it!  

HOME Owners...6 month overdue!

Well, we "signed" for our "home" after a six months hiatus of being "renters."  On 9/24 we purchased a three-bed, three-bath one-story in Sandestin, specifically DEERWOOD.  Traditionally, the Wallaces have "toasted Burger King" at new digs, so Papa Doc and I could do no less. Spread out on the dining room floor, sitting on one of the drape adornments, we shared Burger King with Barbara (daughter) and Abby Lee (grand-daughter).  Though the home is ours, moving in (with what little we do have) will be a December event...as we are renting in Gadsden until 12/31/2008.  We really don't have time, yet, to move in either...this month we are off to sailing classes in Maryland and checking out eastern foliage...November will see us setting out from Miami on my retirement-gifted 7-day cruise and Thanksgiving in Sandestin with a portion of family present...and then December becoming permanent Sandestin residents.  Though we have some personalization to be done on our new home, it is a winner!  We are so very happy and just had to share our smiles with any and all.  May your fall be fabulous also!

ROOTS RETURN

Papa Doc and Gramercy (alias Jim and Jan) cannot contain all their enthusiasm...we finally committed to a permanent residence and should take ownership at the end of this month.  Our door at 1236 Deerwood Drive in Sandestin, Florida will be open to friends and family "on a per diem basis," per Papa Doc!  We will be "carting" around on electric wheels (AKA golf cart) while on the grounds so the $6.00/gal that may be forthcoming shouldn't effect our daily lives too much! In between golf, swimming, sailing, tennis and traveling, we certainly do hope we can make the time needed to cash the SS check every month!  So, what's new with you?

Sandestin Chillin'

AHHH, it's a beautiful day in Sandestin...natch!  Ike has not come knocking on this door yet, but come Wednesday, we won't be waiting around for him! We have enjoyed spa-time, biking,and LIFE..what more could two retirees ask for!  SMILE...it's all worth it! 

Category "What's That You Say?"

Well, Hannah may choose to "hit" South Carolina, but not this dynamic duo! Retirement at least gives us the ability to "shift gears" without major changes, so we are "off" (to be sure) but to a point south...namely Sandestin, soon to be homebase for us, on the east side of Destin, Florida. We will probably be meeting some LA traffic south since Gustav has "Gone North," but that is A-O.K. with us...so until our eyes become accustomed to the glitter of the afternoon sun over the Gulf, our taste buds experience the succulent seafood of the Gulf, and our bodies bask in the sunlight of the Gulf...see ya!  Remember:  The day is everything that YOU make it!

First Mini-Retirement Trip

Papa Doc here......

Just to let you all know, our first mini-retirement trip in the Blue VW convertible was to the local DQ (Dairy Queen)....

We each had a medium sized vanilla waffle cone dipped in chocolate....  

Yum yum.....

Well, hopefully our SS checks will be waiting for us at the old Post Office Box in the AM...

This my next posting....

Papa Doc in retirement.....

Blue Sky Above...Road Below...We're Off!

Peace Out, everyone!  The Wandering Wallaces are "testing out blogging" with the help of Kelly and Meredith...we know that we will be heading "on the retirement road" this week and want to make sure that we can update all who are interested in our adventures.  

With three months and one month of retirement, respectively, Jan and Jim are loving every minute of it!  First port of call: VW dealership...and voila...blue convert is listed in Jan's name!  Though it is limited in space, it should do just fine for two wanderers and their as of yet unknown destinations, provided we learn to "pack tightly!"  

This week, Hannah willing, we will be heading to Hilton Head, SC and local points of interest.  Well, I am off to fill the tank...and check the maps...Jan leaves you with these thoughts:  SMILE! and enjoy life to its fullest!