Happy New Year Dear Friends

@DianneN (247184)
United States
January 2, 2016 7:24am CST
After months of living the life, we are finally settled in sunny, beautiful, hot Florida. We have been here for 3 weeks after an awful start, with which I shall bore you another time. My brother greeted us with dinner in his beautiful condo, next to our building, with his wife and son. We celebrated the New Year with cocktails and nibbles at our condo with friends, dinner at a steak house in town, and back here for dessert. We watched the ball drop in Times Square on TV and then watched fireworks over the water from our lanai. Today we are headed to the airport to pick up our sister-in-law, who is flying down for the season. Happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year to you all! And yes, Orville the osprey is here!
29 people like this
29 responses
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Jan 16
Happy New Year Dianne, I am so happy to see you back. You are surely happy to be in Florida and I am glad to know that Orville is still there.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Jan 16
@ivyparkgirl Happy New Year to you Kelly.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
It is good to be back, Anna. I have thought of you often. I knew if I stopped by, I would never have the time to reply to anyone, which is not nice. That Orville is something! I was so relieved to see him alive and well.
4 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50541)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Nice to see you. Happy New Years.
5 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Thank you! It's good to be back.
4 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
2 Jan 16
I realized that we need to exchange email addresses, I was concerned about you being gone from here so long. We are enroute to Florida and will be there Wednesday. As usual I like to stop along the way and do some tourist things. Happy New Year and I await the update on the arrival in Florida and what went wrong. I also want to hear all about your trip to Turkey.
4 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
2 Jan 16
@DianneN Ocala. We travel down I81 over I95 for a good part of the way. More scenic I think. Glad you arrived safely
3 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
@BelleStarr We travel following the AAA directions and still manage to get lost. We are planning on buying a car soon and flying from now on. Talk to you soon. Still be careful!
4 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
We take our time coming and going, lol. I was super busy, Thanksgiving and Turkey taking up most of the time, not in that order, but here I am. Thanks for being concerned, Belle. When you settle in I will send you my email address. Meanwhile, safe travels and don't speed. The police are out like crazy for those flying to FL. What town are you in. I forgot.
4 people like this
@Juliaacv (51429)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
It sounds like a nice way to ring in the new year. Let's all have a fabulous 2016!
4 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Yes, it was a fun way to ring in the New Year. We have friends from New York (Yonkers) who are renting for 4 months in Delray. We will be seeing lots of them this year. The other couple live in our building and were instrumental in finding us our condo. Bless them to bits! Again, wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!
3 people like this
• United States
2 Jan 16
Orville is around? That is great news. So much fun to have "accidental" pets.
4 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
@ElizabethWallace Most definitely. His offspring will have mates and young ospreys this year. The only way I can tell him from his sons is by his call. That and the fact that he comes to me when I call him. His boys think I'm nuts!
2 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Yes, he is here with his sons. I am so happy that he remembers us and visits. The entire pool crowd applauded him when he showed off the fish he caught.
3 people like this
• United States
2 Jan 16
@DianneN Since he is bringing osprey offspring around, you will enjoy them for as long as you visit.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Jan 16
Happy New Year
4 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
And the same to you!
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Jan 16
@DianneN What did you teach in college. My son is nearing completion of his Masters degree and then continuing on for his PhD in Astrophysics. He's not sure what he will do then but teaching Physics is always an option. He was a supplemental teacher at Purdue university and has already taught one semester of undergraduate physics at Michigan State University where he is now at to get his PhD.
4 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
@fishtiger58 I was an adjunct professor of special education. My husband was Chairman of the Special Education and Reading Programs at the university. I mostly taught special ed and regular ed before I retired from the public school system. Your son sounds very bright. I hope he gets a job either in a top university or within the private sector. My older son graduated with top honors from Cornell U., worked for a law firm in NYC, went back to Cornell for his law degree, and worked in the top firms in Manhattan. He told us that these firms only hired those at the top of their classes and from the best law schools, especially the Ivy League schools. Your son sounds as if the world is at his disposal! Best of luck to him.
5 people like this
@marlina (154130)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
I was wondering where and what you were doing lately. Glad to have you back here.
3 people like this
@marlina (154130)
• Canada
4 Jan 16
@DianneN Happy New Year and I hope that your time in Florida will be great!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
I wrote a post months ago explaining what would be keeping me off here, but I am back!
3 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
3 Jan 16
@ivyparkgirl Kelly, I thank you. However, I have been here for a bit before, then had to take a break. I knew I would be too busy to have the time to respond, let alone post anything. But I am back!!!
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
2 Jan 16
@DianneN Happy New Year to you and your family. It is nice to see a post from you. I miss some of the bubblewers. Have you moved to Florida?
4 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Hi Bobby! We bought a condo on the water and are spending our third season here. Will return to CT in April. I couldn't stand the cold and the snow for one more winter. We were lucky to buy when we did.
2 people like this
• United States
2 Jan 16
Happy New Year Dianne and glad to see you back. Looking forward to your posts about Florida and of course Orville
3 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
It's good to be back. Although life in Florida is just as hectic, I will try to pop on more frequently. Missed you. I heard the weather has been pretty mild up our way.
1 person likes this
@fawkes62 (1276)
• United States
2 Jan 16
It's great to see you again! I hope you've been having a great time with all the things that have been keeping you busy. Enjoy the warm weather and Orville.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Life has been good! Love that Orville!!!
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
I am looking forward to being warm again. Happy New Year to you and yours too.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Warm you shall be! Record heat here, but today will be lower at 79 F.
2 people like this
@Elizaby (6902)
• Pensacola, Florida
2 Jan 16
Welcome to the state. The panhandle is chilly today, but at least the sun is trying to peek through
3 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Thank you Mary! We are in south FL, and the cooler temperature of 79 is very welcome after the mid 80s since we arrived 3 weeks and 2 days ago.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
That sounds like a lovely New Years celebration. We were tucked in well before the New Year reached here. Glad Orville is there! Our owl is not but a different owl is wintering near by so we are enjoying him.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Thank goodness you have another owl. I hope the other one moved, and nothing else. Happy Happy New Year to you!
2 people like this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
3 Jan 16
@DianneN From what I've read, when they get more mature they stay way up North all winter. And the areas where they winter change for no reason anyone has yet figured out. I just find them beautiful and enjoy seeing them. And it seems that once they've chosen their winter spot they stay put for the season and we can almost count on seeing them every day.
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
2 Jan 16
It sounds like you had a wonderful New Year, Diane! I'm jealous that you are in sunny, warm, Florida! I'm so glad to hear that Orville is still there and I look forward to your Orville posts here! Have a very Happy New Year!
3 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
It has been exceptionally hot down here - mid 80s when it should be around 75, but I'll take it. It will only be 79 today. Lol! I heard that CT had an average temp of 52 for December. Good for us - lower cost of fuel and snow plow guy!
1 person likes this
@zebra2222 (5268)
• United States
3 Jan 16
Sounds like a good start in the move that you've made.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
3 Jan 16
Thank you. We are only here for the winter.
• United States
2 Jan 16
A lovely photo a lovely couple friend. Happy New Years to you also. May you be blessed in your nice new place:) waiting to read the other side of it tho.
2 people like this
• United States
2 Jan 16
@DianneN Good but I hope it all works out fine.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Thank you and LOL! I have stories to tell until we return home in April!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Oh my! I forgot to thank you. Thank you very much!!!!
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
Hi Dianne, how wonderful to see you after all this time, we've so missed you. I'm pleased that you are back in Florida and look forward to more Orville tales! A Happy New Year to you and yours too.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Thank you so much for your kind words, Janet. I have so many tales, that I don't know where to begin!!!!
2 people like this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
2 Jan 16
Yay! Welcome back! Happy New Year! Dianne, I am glad Orville is still there, and that you are settled in Florida, missed you @DianneN .xx :-)
2 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
2 Jan 16
I thought of you often, Catherine. It's so good to be back. See you around and Happy New Year!!!!!
1 person likes this
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
2 Jan 16
Happy New year to you & family
3 people like this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
2 Jan 16
How nice to be so close to your brother! Glad to find you here!
2 people like this