Signing Off

Living in Paradise and her husband, Mr. Living in Paradise, will be flying northward before sunrise Tuesday morning, to be closer to Santa and family.
As we battle the snowstorm expected Wednesday, we will be thinking of you all down here who are complaining how cold Tampa is.

Our wishes are for peace and harmony here in our community and in the world. Good health to you all, and have a prosperous and happy new year.

Don't forget to come out and help take down the clubhouse Christmas decorations on Dec. 27. Check the Information Room, or call Mary Willsey or Alice Disharoon for details.

Buy your tickets for the New Year Day Dance with Happy Days. Guy Hislop is selling the tickets for a mere $5. No membership to anything is required. Bring your drinks, a snack, and come have a ball.

See you next year!

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year

The 35 or so carolers treated every street in Regency Cove tonight with their joyous voices and wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. At some homes,I must admit that it was a little difficult for me to sing, because the tears in my eyes kinda caught up in my throat, and the music just couldn't flow. Watching Dardy wheeling his wife to the front door, as she threw kisses and waved. Others just clasped their hands to their hearts and repeated over and over "Thank you, thank you". Some were joined by the care-givers, probably family, who came out to call out their Thanks for the experience.
For me, this is the annual event that brings out the most feeling of community. I'm sure those of you competing in tournaments have your own warm and fuzzy moments, but this night has always been superior for me. Mary Willsey and soon-to-be-president Alice Disharoon have been preparing for this event for weeks.There is so much to co-ordinate with this: Thanks to Ed Scobee and Larkin Garage for arranging the use of the trailer. More thanks to Tim Reynolds for his help hooking us up with some music to blast the singers into a semblance of unison.Betty Ridge provided some harmony. Chet Hindman and Margaret Mohar played Santa, but Mary and Alice actually filled all the bags, or arranged for those goodies.
I was not involved with the party, but I saw Judy collecting gifts and giving out coupons for the big drawing. Thanks to all the volunteers who baked, or prepared sumptous goodies, who braved the cold and sang out their hearts for their neighbors.
You just gotta love this place!

Christmas Caroling

The absolutely best time of the year in Regency Cove is the night we dress up warmly, pile up onto golf carts, and drive the boulevards singing carols along the way. The purpose is to provide some holiday cheer to the shut-ins in the park, but truely, the holiday spirit begins with your little cluster of songsters in your cart, and the neighboring carts, and the residents cheering us along the way, from the apartment balconies to the boulevards. The cheering residents, in the past, have ducked thru houses on their streets, to catch up with us again, on the next boulevard.

This is truely the most joyous Regency Cove annual activity. Ladies are baking cookies for gifts to the shut-ins. If you wish to contribute, please deliver them to Mary Willsey or Alice Disharoon by Monday morning.

If you care to join in the caroling, please be at the hall before 6:00pm Monday. There is a great Christmas party that follows this event with a gift exchange (I think Mary calls it Dirty Santa). Bring a wrapped gift with a value of between $2-$5, also bring a snack to share. The gift exchange, or should I say "gift war" begins after the caroling is over. Bring your own beverage. This party is a hoot! Everyone is welcome, and everyone has a great time!
Other than the Christmas Day Church service, this is the last official Regency Cove party of the Christmas Season.

On December 27, the decorations in the hall will have to come down. We had a great group helping us when they went up, we only ask for the same volunteers to come help us take them down and pack it up for another year. Check your Outlook for time.

Hope to see you all at the New Years Day Party celebration. Tickets are available for $5, see Guy Hislop, or ask any Club Regency Board member, or the office.

Merry Christmas, God Bless Us, Everyone!

(Living in Paradise is going up north for Christmas. Give me a week or so to relax. Catch up with you in the new year.)

PS Please keep an eye on your neighbors. This can be a very lonely time of the year for some folks. A little bit of attention can go a long way, and make a huge difference in someone's life.

Wow, What A Blow!

Its shortly after midnight, Saturday morning, and the wind and rain are creating havoc on the bay. There is absolutely nothing in terms of boats on the water right now, thank goodness! Wunderground, the awesome internet weather site, is saying that Tampa has sustained winds of 26 mph, with reported gusts of 35 mph. The waves are absolutely furious right now. They are crashing with loud bangs on the seawall. The sidewalk is currently underwater, with the hard-hitting waves and the spray must be 8 feet high, or even higher. It is truely awesome!
The tide is 2 1/2 feet over MSL, that's 2 feet higher then normal. Occasionally I hear the wave spray landing on our deck, which is 30 feet away from the edge. This is a true test of our new wall and sidewalk.

Current Water Restrictions

Many of our friends are back with us for the winter and very confused about the current watering restrictions. We are still in our Emergency Water Use mode. By tomorrow morning, I will have the Sept. 1, 2009 revision in the office for you snowbirds.Here are a few restrictions in a nutshell:
There is no outside watering between 8am and 6pm.
Irrigation of established lawns is once a week, on your day only. Rain sensors are mandatory by new state law passed this summer.
Low volume irrigation (soakers and such) may not be used between 8am and 6pm.
Car washing is only allowed on your watering day!
You may hand water plants on any day, but no lawns or grass. This must not be done between 8am and 6pm.
If a lawn service has applied chemicals to your yard, they will indicate this by appropriate markings. You may not water during the restricted hours, but you may water on an off day.
If you apply your OWN chemicals, you are only allowed to water on your day, and during the designated evening/night hours.
Pressure washing your home is allowed for necessary purposes, which includecleaning prior to painting and sealing,maintaining warranties, and addressing a health or safety issues.
Fountains and water features are still restricted to 4 hours per day, pending certain conditions, which may allow them to operate for eight hours a day. Check the site below for more information. This is just a summary.
Paste this address into your address bar for complete restrictions.

www.TampaGov.net/WaterRestrictions

Christmas Dinner Monday

The doors will open for Club Regency's Christmas Ham dinner at 4:30 Monday afternoon. Don't forget to bring your utensils and drink. Coffee, of course, is provided. The Sweet Adelines are performing after the dinner.

With Age Comes Wisdom

A guy is about 80 years old and loves to fish.

He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say,

'Pick me up.' He looked around and couldn't see any one.

He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice say again,

'Pick me up.'

He looked in the water and there, floating on a piece of driftwood, was a frog.

The man said, 'Are you talking to me ?'

The frog said, 'Yes, I'm talking to you ! ! '

'Pick me up, then, kiss me, and I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen.

I'll make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because I will be your bride!'

The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully,
and placed it in his front breast pocket of his fishing jacket.

Then the frog said, 'What, are you nuts? Didn't you hear what I said? I said, kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride.'

The old guy opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said, 'Nah, at my age, I'd rather have a talking frog.'


With Age comes Wisdom.

(Thanks,Don S.,for this contribution)

Children Coming to Christmas Carol

The children of Bayshore Christian School are coming to Regency Cove to sing Christmas carols at 11 am on Tuesday Dec 15. We will find out their route and let you know where to be to enjoy their singing.

Winter Greetings From a Snowbird

It's winter in Ohio


And the gentle breezes blow,


40 miles per hour at 10 below!


Oh, how I love Ohio


When the snows up to your butt;


You take a breath of winter air


And your nose is frozen shut.


Yes, the weather here is wonderful,


I guess I'll hang around.


I could never leave Ohio


'Cause I'm frozen to the ground.

Thanks Tom S. for writing. Why don't you get your frozen butt down here?

New Board Member and Officer

At the BOD meeting this afternoon, a new board member was nominated and chosen to fill the vacancy left by Ron Herb's resignation. Betty Ridge is now the newest member of the Board.
The office of president position went up for nominations, and the following two names were brought up, Susan Dunphy and Paul McCumber. A secret ballot was conducted by the directors and the results were announced by our manager Cheri. Paul McCumber is now the new president of Regency Cove. Susan will remain as vice-president. Rose and Sandy remain in their respective offices as Treasurer and Secretary. The new board photo....

President Resigns

At an emergency meeting this afternoon, the Board of Directors was called together, and Ron Herb announced his immediate resignation from the Board. Ron explained that due to his health concerns, he will require surgery sometime before Christmas.

The park has Ron to thank for his years of dedicated service to the park, while serving on the board. He has served as president for almost two years. He has been active with several activities, bowling and calling Bingo, and he has served as the Chairman of the Gasparilla Krewe.

Please offer your prayers for his speedy recovery, and send him your kind thoughts.
God bless you, Ron. Hope all goes well with the surgery.

Gasparilla Volunters Needed

The Board of the Gasparilla Krewe has been meeting to set up the schedule for this year's festivities on Feb 6. Ron Jeffries is again the Chairman of the Gasparilla Celebration. Volunteers are needed!

The Gasparilla Hearty Breakfast will be held on January 23, from 7:30-10:00 am. Tickets will go on sale this weekend: $4 breakfast tickets, will include eggs, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, orange juice and coffee.

Table cleanup volunteers are needed. Call Ron Jeffries to volunteer.

Final Landscaping Project

The final landscaping project of 2009 drew a few new volunteers today, and unfortunately, some blood. Five final Phoenix Sylvestis or Sylvester Palms were planted on Pelican Point, filling in the gaps. We have been acquiring these 6 foot palms for $5 each. If anyone is interested in purchasing their own palm trees at very low prices, call Palm Wise Nursery, in Plant City, at 813-601-3868. The owner, Cecil, is working there alone these days. Call ahead to be sure that he will be there.

Earlier today, Tony Sencich, Ron Jeffries, Ed Bedore,and Mike Ross (and even me)dug the holes, hauled the buckets of water, trimmed the new plantings, and set them into the ground. These Sylvesters are a beautiful palm when mature. They unfortunately have thorns that can exceed 3 inches in length, sharper than any surgical tool. We all took our share of punctures today.

Volunteer water carriers are still needed to irrigate the new plantings on weekends when the maintenance crew is gone. It would be great if the pool people would water their new palms. Another crew can haul buckets to Pelican Point on golf carts. Two new Chinese Fan Palms were planted, to enhance the pavillion on Sunset Point.

We need a crew. To volunteer to water, plant, paint, or otherwise serve your community, please call the office to offer your services.

Boaters Trip

This morning the Regency Cove boaters made their first adventure trip to the Hillsborough River.
See their new blog, use the link to the right.


Maybe this will work:
http://regencycovesportsmen.blogspot.com

Decorating Party Photos

Link to a Kodak photo gallery to see Char Haviland's photos of the day:
If the link doesn't work for you, copy and paste the address below into your address bar to see a slideshow.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=13ft1zop.2p5jxdc9&x=0&h=1&y=93wdn6&localeid=en_US