THE ARABIAN KNIGHTS DINNER SHOW

March 29 – Karen had a brilliant idea!! Does anyone want to go to see The Arabian Knights playing in Kissimmee?? We planned to go on Monday to the first show. Karen did the footwork and made reservations, and got the tickets. About twenty plus of the Pickleball group got together for the show.

Thanks, Karen, for putting this together!!

A VISIT WITH TRACY AND JIM

March 28 – Today we spent the afternoon with Ken’s daughter, Tracy, and her friend, Jim, at his home just outside downtown Orlando. They had visited the nearby Farmers’ Market earlier in the day and prepared a wonderful luncheon for us.

A Mediterranean Salad of lettuce, tomato, boiled egg, with a mixture of roasted Florida Finger Potatoes, and green beans topped with seared tuna and Jim’s special dressing. UUMMMMMM!!

After lunch we split a couple of games of pool – Ken and me against Tracy and Jim. They cleaned our clock in the first game. The second game was very close and came down to my having to shoot a bank shot, kissing the 8 Ball into the corner pocket. Believe it or not --I ACTUALLY MADE THE SHOT!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!

Jim was a delightful host. And Tracy, too; but we already knew that!! Thanks Guys!!!

PICKLEBALL AT TT ORLANDO

We have spent almost two weeks at TT Orlando and many hours on the Pickleball court. In almost every match, players had to play against a third opponent – The WIND!! Check out the flags!!

But we had a good time anyway. Here is some of the action:

It was a great fun time!!

A SURPRISING CONNECTION

We discovered on Tuesday that potential new Pickleball player, Patty (previous article), is traveling with friends of ours from TT Chesapeake Bay – Barbara and Tim. We decided the group from Chesapeake Bay should get together for dinner. Ken suggested going to Oakwood Smokehouse and Grill for a rack of ribs.

We had the waitress capture the moment in pictures.


Bull head above our table.

Barbara giving me her e-mail address on my doggie box so she could get our Blog!

The company was lots of fun and the ribs were great!!

FREE THOUSAND TRAILS MEMBERSHIPS FOR THE FIRST 1000 WHO CALL!!

Free Thousand Trails Memberships for the first 1000 who call!! After the first 1000, memberships will cost $100!

Have you heard the rumor? Seen a copy of the E-Mail? (See pictures of the attachment to the E-Mail below, or you may go to the website given at end of this article.)

It’s true! I talked with a representative in TT Reservations Department. She confirmed the rumor. She did clarify some things for me, so I thought I’d pass the information on to you.

The Free Offer is for Zone (Region) Memberships only – Either East Zone or West Zone. (See Map)

> It is a stripped down membership – No RPI, No ELS, No Outdoor World, Etc.

> No family membership add-on.
> May use Thousand Trails Campgrounds 360 days a year.
> May go from park to park.

> It should be noted these memberships are for only three years. Then the member must either upgrade to full membership or drop the membership. (I guess that’s the good part.)

I said I thought we already had enough members! It is almost impossible to make reservations at Orlando!!

We chatted with Marc (Sales at TT Orlando). He sort of explained the logic of the Free Zone Memberships. TT has been spending thousands of our dues dollars offering free weeks or weekends in conjunction with a sales pitch, etc. Frequently, the customer leaves without buying a membership. They are thinking with the Free Zone Memberships, people would use the facilities, enjoy and UPGRADE.

That’s all we know!

Sorry the pictures are so chopped up. The website is:

www.thousandtrails.com/freeoffer/topten2.asp

POTENTIAL NEW PICKLEBALL PLAYER FROM TT CHESAPEAKE BAY!

March 22 – Today Patty came to the Pickleball courts in Orlando. She had never played before, but hoped to learn. Patty happened to mention she had noticed people playing at TT Chesapeake Bay and thought she would like to learn. I, of course, picked up on that! Chesapeake Bay is our home park – her’s also. We talked about some of the people she knew – Gilbert and Jenny; Keith, and I can’t remember who else. She hit a few Pickleballs and decided she really likes the game.

We will look for Patty out on the courts. Watch out Gilbert!!

GRANDSON MICHAEL ACCEPTED FOR TEACHING FELLOWS AT UNC CHAPEL HILL, NC

March 20 – I got a call today from my daughter, Stasia, who was so excited she could hardly speak. Her son (my grandson) Michael had received notice that he has been accepted for a Teaching Fellows Scholarship at UNC Chapel Hill.

Michael had applied to several collages but Chapel Hill was his first choice. It is quite an honor to be accepted!! CONGRATULATION, MICHAEL!!!

Here’s a little blub about the North Carolina Fellowship program FYI.

North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship Program
This program was adopted and funded by the 1986 North Carolina General Assembly as part of a ten-point teacher recruitment plan proposed by the Public School Forum of North Carolina. The first recipients were named in 1987. Applicants must be North Carolina residents currently enrolled as high school seniors and qualifying high school juniors. Selection is made on the basis of high school grades, class standing, SAT scores, writing samples, community service, extracurricular activities, and references from teachers and members of the community. Interviews at the local and regional levels are required. Recipients must be accepted for admission to one of the following postsecondary institutions in North Carolina: Appalachian State University, Campbell University, East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University, Elon University, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Meredith College, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, Queens University, UNC Asheville, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, UNC Wilmington, and Western Carolina University. Applicants are screened by two committees, one from the applicant's local school district, and the other from the educational region in which the applicant lives. Candidates recommended by the selection committees are interviewed by the Regional Screening Committees. Financial need is not a selection criterion.

Teaching Obligation: Scholarship recipients are required to teach in a North Carolina public school for one year for each year of assistance they receive.

UNC Chapel Hill

CHARLOTTE'S SMART CAR

March 20 – Charlotte (Pickleball player at TT Orlando) and her husband just bought a new Mercedes Barbus Smart Car!! She was happy to show Ken all of the fine points of the car, inside and out! They are waiting to have it outfitted to tow behind their smaller motorhome.

Surprisingly, the Smart car does not feel small at all when you are sitting inside. It is very quite when running. Charlotte said it is so much fun to drive. She said it is very fast even though it has only a 3-cylinder engine.

She pointed out some of the features of her car: The dashboard; air bags all around; sun room that opens to the sun, not the wind; dual mufflers; skirting all around; etc., etc.

Have fun, Charlotte!! We know you will.