For us, January 2017 started with change questions. What would a month be like without ballroom dance, without handbells, without volunteering, without our friends, and without our normal routine?
Jan 1: We left Cincinnati on a cool, foggy morning for a day of driving, which included a light rain that occasionally became more – but not a constant rain. We noted the slow increase in the temperature.
Jan 2: The final 4.5 hour drive, again with intermittent rains of varying strength. Dry at the time of arrival, but the view of the surf while unpacking told a different story – the dangers of a nearby tornado – so down to the lower lobby we went. The evening storms off the coast provided an extraordinary light show that was worth watching – but the next morning would be a positive omen.
Jan 3-5: Cool but comfortable days. Sometimes shorts, sometimes jeans, but always long sleeves and usually a jacket. Good enough to find our routine of breakfast, lounge, walk, lounge, lunch, lounge, walk, lounge, shower, dinner, cards/television, and sleep.
Jan 6: A stormy day that also brought falling temperatures – a good day for a movie (La La Land).
Jan 7-9: The northerly winds delivered quite the chill, yet no matter how cold, it was warmer than home. Walkable days, but shorter distances.
Jan 10-19: After the initial transition day, a string of days of sunshine and 15-20 degrees F (13-24 C) above normal. Perfect days to continue the routine. Days that would treat us to glorious sunrises, colorful sunsets, and brilliant nightly moons.
Jan 20-21: Although temperatures remained above normal, unstable air delivered an angry sea and occasional storms – even tornado watches and warning severe enough to interrupt normal television. Good days for movies (Hidden Figures and The Founder).
Jan 22-25: The normal routine returns as storms are gone, but the above normal temperatures remain. It’s been quite a streak of warmth.
Jan 26-27: Normal temperatures finally arrive – 60 F (15 C) by day – 40 (4 C) at night. The breezes are cool. Sweatshirts and jackets are the order of the day. Some people in shorts, others not.
Jan 28-29: Noticing the temperature decrease during our return drive home – a home not along the sand and waves, but one of wonderful sunsets when the sky is right. Home – the permanent one, not the temporary. A home with colder temperatures and light snow in the air. Home – the place (while we were gone) that had 1 sunny day, 6 partly sunny/party cloudy days, and only 7 precipitation-free days in January (although overall temperatures were above normal). Home – the place for ballroom dance, handbells, volunteering, friends, and normal routines – just not the routine of January 2017.
That was our January in Orange Beach, Alabama. A time when we had a different routine – one of first-time snowbirds. A time when I drafted over 20 posts the old-fashioned way – on paper – so I now face the daunting task of getting them ready.
So lovely to get away (even if it wasn’t all that warm, it was better than home).
Though choosing a tornado-prone area? 😉
Hope you had a chance to regenerate, relax and enjoy!
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Dale,
Wonderful it was but with a few bumps … But the weather was warm most of the time!
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That’s good!!
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Quite the warm stretch for most of the time. At least the bad weather days got me to see three very good movies.
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Indeed!
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It’s always nice to have a break isn’t it – and you had a good routine going there! I love time spent by the sea, do you feel refreshed now?
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Pauline,
Very much refreshed – but we didn’t miss the cold of home. Should have stayed longer! 🙂
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It sounds like you had a wonderful break from routine–with time to relax and watch movies. It’s too bad about the storms and tornado watches though. I’m glad you didn’t experience anything too horrible.
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Merril,
The second batch of storms caused havoc across the south, even killing 20 in Georgia. But our immediate area just more normal storms. But we had a relaxing routine of our time there to go along with the great weather.
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A month without yet a month with so much! I love your month’s recording!
On paper huh? Does sound daunting but isn’t it wonderful good old writing on paper?
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Marina,
Your words is a good way to describe out month. Meanwhile, yep … on paper with scratches, scribbles, mark outs, arrows, and more. Getting them into electronic format will be a task … and then transitioning them into a post. Whew … yep – lots of work ahead … but I have 1 or 2 ready!
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👍 🙂 🙂
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Maybe the stars are still aligned tonight .. don’t forget to check.
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It sounds great, Frank. As I New Englander, I think the beach is always best during a storm.
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Elyse,
Watching the storm over the water is always a treat. The first night’s light show was over the top wonderful. Then again, the weather was great most of the time.
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Glad you enjoyed it. Orange Beach looks lovely. (Nice photos)
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John,
Yep – I got to see the daily view like yours for most of the month – which is better than none at all but not as good as your time with that view. At least I can say that is Obama’s fault.
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The fact that that view exists when you are not there is Obama’s fault as well.
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Precisely …. and I like we are two of the few people who have truly figured this rhythm of blame.
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I use it daily to explain my own failures as well.
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An excellent approach
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I blame Obama for giving me the opportunity to blame him.
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You are on a rational roll!
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What a great trip. Change is good. Nice pics too. I cant write the old fashioned way any more. I have to have the keyboard and screen to think. Weird, eh?
Cheers, Frank.
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Audra,
A wonderful trip that was also very relaxing. Regarding using paper, I didn’t say it was easy! … but I see them as a start. Then again, how many will actually turn into posts is another story.
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We’ve had a couple of extended trips where we noted ‘this feels like home now’. It would be so easy to stay.
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Jim,
Yep . that’s the ticket. For us, now the question: “What about next year?”
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How wonderful to have a whole month to really get away! I’m impressed that you took the time to compose posts the old fashioned way. I think I’ve just about lost the ability to write without a keyboard. 🙂 My happiest moments are watching a sunset over the Pacific, but I would have loved to spend the first month of the new year on the Gulf of Mexico! Wonderful, Frank.
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Debra,
Our first experience as snowbirds was a big success. With warmer weather further south, primetime in that area is actually summer – which also means prices are toward the bottom.
The notebook has many scribbles, scratches, arrows, and associated markings. But hey – those are drafts. Of course pressure is now on to get them into electronic form, improve them, then turn them into posts. That’s a lot of work! For now, I’m in that process.
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Nice slides of various days from your journey. I notice that even a short vaca can help us appreciate the home we leave behind. I can’t recall when I used the old fashion pen and paper technique. What would I do without my spell check. 😁
Have a good week aFrank.
Isadora 😎
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Isadora,
Glad you appreciated the pictures of the various skies. As ab early bird, I began each day anticipating the grand display of the early sky. Meanwhile, I may have drafted posts on paper, but I didn’t say it was easy. 😉 … but they will go through spell check once I transfer them into electronic form.
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Except for the occasional potential for tornadoes, it sounds like a wonderful trip. Your images are beautiful. 🙂
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Robin,
I got the impression that tornados are rare in that area this time of the year. That said, more rolled through the area today (New Orleans made the news). … Otherwise, yes … a wonderful trip! Glad you enjoyed the images.
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I can remember sketching out some posts on paper back in the day. Now I’m a prisoner to devices. I might just go “old-school” again soon just to see what it feels like to actually WRITE. Looks like a kite in the photos? Story behind it? You certainly had the weather at times for one. Glad it was a wonderful trip overall.
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Bruce,
That is quite the kite. Not ours, but one we saw on the beach. The owner noticed me taking a pic so she volunteered that was a Christmas present from her mother. Meanwhile, try the old school thing. I simply did it to limit time on the computer.
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Sounds like snowbirding at its best. Thanks for sharing!.
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Tim,
Snowbirding was a good thing for us. Probably not for everyone, but for us … oh yes! … so we recommend it.
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Frank, those photographs are stunning. Makes me want to get away someplace like that, even if there were tornado alerts and you needed to wear a jacket. There is something so beautifully calming about the sea.
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Lenora,
Glad you liked the images … then again, the skies made it easy to capture. So many great ones!!!
The tornado alerts were OK … after all, there were only two. The colder days required a jacket, but most of the days did not! Evenings were typically cool though. … and I agree, the there is something calming about the sea. Gotta love it!
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Ah yes, and it’s incredible how they never stay the same!
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Precisely.
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I love the images! Man of so many talents, Frank.
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Cayman,
Glad you enjoyed the images, but hey – when the sky does want it can do, taking pictures is way too easy!
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A change of scenery is always good for the soul.
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How nice to be snowbirds for a month! The Texas coast is good also and might be warmer although we did have a couple of very cold days in early January. Impressed that you chose paper and pen!
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CC,
We went to this area because my in-laws used to go here for two months. My father-in-law hadn’t been back in 5-6 years, so we took him along.
Meanwhile, the pen and paper worked as I have transferred many to electronic forms … and my drafts are current over 10! 🙂
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