It’s been a few days since a regular update so here we go…
Last Saturday, we headed south of the Tampa Bay Area to an outlet mall in Ellenton. We normally hit the one in Orlando but this one is closer mileage-wise and we wanted to do something different for the day. This, however, involved crossing the very high and very scary Sunshine Skyway Bridge. You see, the Tampa Bay Area is distinctive because not only is Florida a peninsula, but Pinellas county is as well. So to get south of here, you either have to go all the way around – or cross right across the water.
The Skyway has a bit of an infamous history as it was struck by a large shipping vessel in 1980 sending 35 people right off the edge of the bridge to their death. The old, twin bridge was replaced with the new one. Which is steeper, higher and prettier than the old – but no less scary to drive across.
(In the second photo, you can see Harold. He’s a miniature Yeti visiting me in a swap on Craftster where you receive a “Little Visitor” that you take around where you live and photograph their adventures. So Harold came with us that day as well!)
Love and I found a few good deals at the outlet. He got a lightweight coat (which he needed) and he got me a cool watch. (Which I didn’t need technically but was super inexpensive and nice since my main one is several years old now and kinda beat up.) He also picked out a nice watch for himself as his birthday gift but he doesn’t get that until his actual birthday (which is Friday.) Love and I agreed to make his jacket and my watch our Valentine’s Day gifts to each other.
But then on Valentine’s Day…. he surprised me with a dozen roses and a small box of Godiva. He put them on my computer chair for me to find. Aw…
He’s so sweet. 
We decided neither of us wanted to cook so we decided some awesomely greasy burgers sounded perfect. So we hit Five Guys Burgers. We joked that you know it’s been over 12 years when you’re both ok with picking up some to-go burgers on Valentine’s Day! 
Today, Tuesday, I finally got someone to show up and buy my old couch for sale. (We had purchased a couch at IKEA last February but found it just did NOT suit our needs at all. It was too small, and not comfortable for lounging. Don’t think they make it anymore but it was called “Karlsvik” if you’re curious.) Anyway, we bought the new couch a couple weeks ago and I put the old one up on Craiglist. It was barely a year old and we paid over $300 for it. I wanted $150 but listed it as $175 OBO because I figured that way I’d get the one fifty. I had two scammers email, and several people who were interested but none arranged to show up. One offered $100 and I said no. And one today actually had the audacity to offer $70. Seriously?? You thought it was ok to offer one hundred and five dollars less than what the ad said? That’s just rude!
But thankfully, a cute, super young couple that had just moved down from Michigan and who had no furniture came today, sat on it, and immediately offered me $150. I said deal and we helped them carry it down to their truck. Love and I agreed we felt good about who got it since it was a decent couch in terms of having a ton of life left in it. She said they have a tiny little living room and that’s an undersized sofa so it should work out great. I’m happy it’s out of my living room and helping the couple start their new lives in Florida. (She said they were sitting on camp chairs before this!) Bye couch, au revoir!
Then we ran over to Publix (supermarket) to get dinner. They had all their roses and other flower arrangements 50% off. Love’s like, get one of each! I was like…um, okay sure! So I grabbed a dozen red roses (he already got me the pink ones yesterday remember) and an arrangement with daisies, carnations and such. The roses rang up correct ($10) but the other rang up full price. Publix has a guarantee that if anything rings up wrong, you get it free. So I got the 20 stem bloom assortment free. Score! I really had to stuff it in my largest vase.
(And that doesn’t even look as completely stuffed full as it really is!)
Tomorrow the 16th – Wednesday – is my day off. (Yay!) And I have some errands to run. Thrilling!
Thursday the 17th I go back to work for the last day before my extended weekend.
Friday the 18th is Love’s birthday. We’re both off Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. My office was already closed Monday and he took both Friday and Monday off. We plan on doing a few things like hitting the new Dali Museum and going out to Disney. I had originally wanted to get away for his birthday but that fell through. But I hope we’ll have a fun weekend anyway.
And….now it’s time for me to get to bed. That basically brings everyone up to date!
Looks like things are turning good for a change. Definitely deserved! Loving all those flowers!