The Wallpaper is Up!

Hi everyone. Exciting days at Camp Venice. My vintage wallpaper came in from ebay and it was put up by Steve the wallpaper guy yesterday. He did a fantastic job; I really love the floral print. The original wallpaper was peeling so this is a major home improvement. The background is light blue so I ordered chenille robin's egg blue bedspreads for the twin beds in there.

Had a great day at work yesterday. I just love my job here and will be sorry to leave it. My boss and the team are great and yesterday, since we are the #1 store in sales for our big sale last week, we all got to pick out a jacket that we liked. Here's mine. It's a bright yellow sail cloth short jacket that I just love. We just got them in for spring. It will be great when I get home and back down here next season.

Let's see, what else is new. We are having a social by the pool tomorrow night with a dj and wine, beer and munchies. The last one was fun so I'm looking forward to this one.

People are starting to leave to head home so I bid on an autograph book on ebay so I can get some sentiments in there to remember this, the best winter of my life. It has been the best move for me. Nellie has been great, yesterday I cranked up the a/c, that was a treat. It doesn't take much time to cool it down in here it's so narrow. I'm working today because the owner of the company is coming in for a store visit.

Having fun with Curt and Jan. I had a gift certificate to a Cajun restaurant so we went the other night. I had jambalaya and it was very good. We try to go out once a week.

I've got about six weeks left here. I'm going to be sad to leave but happy to see everyone again. I've gotten very used to living with the basics so I'm planning on having a big rummage sale to pare down when I get home. Stay tuned! I love and miss everyone. Talk to you soon!

Love,
TZ

I'm Still Here!!

Feel like I've been out of touch for a while. Been very busy with work and my trip to Palm Beach Gardens for Michele's mother-in-law's surprise 80th birthday party. It was about a four hour ride over and I got to stay with Michele, Steve and Dylan at the Hilton on the beach! When I got there, Michele and I went to the beach right outside and ordered double pina coladas and margaritas and just sat in the chairs on the beach. The water was a good deal warmer on that coast so I went in but wasn't used to the surf because we don't have any over here. We met up with Steve's Mom and family for dinner. Saturday was a runaround day of party prep at the party store, balloon shop, etc. Saturday we went out to dinner for what Delores thought was her birthday party. Steve almost choked to death on a piece of shrimp so that was pretty upsetting, heimlich and all but thank God he's ok. The party went off without a hitch on Sunday--Delores was totally surprised and it was really fun. I drove home and had to work Monday so I was a little tired.

I also worked Tuesday and Thursday this week; we are having our biggest sale of the season so it's been very busy. Lots of new merchandise to check in, callouts to clients about the sale, etc, etc. I've been feeling a little disconnected with company and being away so I went to water aerobics today and got a good workout and stayed at the pool for the day. It was beautiful.

This weekend we're having a fish fry for the camp where everyone brings a dish and the men fry up fish for everyone. That's on Sunday. Saturday night, Curt Jan and I are going to the drumming ceremony at sunset on Nokomis Beach in the next town over. Bring a cooler, supposed to be really fun.

So that's the catch up. I'm doing really great and loving life here. I miss everyone and will be home in six weeks. Will go quick. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Love ya,
TZ

Di and Me

There's me and Di during her stay here at Camp Nellie! We had a great time beaching and pooling it, shopping at thrift stores and rummage saling. I scored a vintage coat which I'll put up later for 50 cents! Di was happy to get away from the weather up north. Talked to her this morning at it's 30 degrees up there. I'm staying put. We had a great visit.

People will begin to start leaving early April. They say on April 1st the traffic is brutal going north; everyone going back from their winter homes. I'm coming back on May 2nd. Nellie is going into storage and I'll be back up. I still have another 7 weeks and the weather has been great, 80 and sunny, very little rain. Last night it was so nice I slept with the windows open. Nice air. It was about 60.

Talked to my boss at work about leaving to go north. She was very understanding and would be happy to see my back there so that was good. It's a great group of women; I feel very lu

Everything is good with Nellie. I've been sleeping on the couch which is a full bed when pulled out. Getting a little more room after the halfway mark of my stay. Went to cocktail hour last night and met some people from Rhode Island. There are a lot of New Englanders here. It' s great. Well, gotta get the laundry. Am seeing Michele this weekend for her mother-in-law's birthday. Will be driving over to Palm Beach Gardens on the east coast. Can't wait.

I'll be in touch soon. Love you and miss you!

TZ

Checkin In

So far March has been great; we had a little cool snap but we're into the high 70s for the next week and sunny. It's not too hard to take. My friend Di comes in tomorrow for four days so I'm excited about that. We'll have some pictures soon, I promise. Another airstream pulled into the park when Bob and Jim left, it's a '73. Course I went over and did the "show me yours and I'll show you mine" and when the owner Don came to my trailer, he showed me how to lower the table into the wall so now the living area feels twice as big. I put a little tray table there for my computer and I'm all set. I re-fell in love with my trailer with the new room.

Work is going good. I'm enjoying the boutique; it's nice people, beautiful clothes and a really positive environment. I'm going to be sad to leave but hopefully I can be their seasonal person for the winters. I do plan on coming back next year; it's been an incredible experience and done wonders for my mental health. I'm very grateful for this opportunity and feel lucky that I found Nellie and she's worked out so good.

Last night Curt and Jan barbecued steaks; their son is visiting so we had a great meal. I bought a key lime pie for desert that was really good. Tonight is the rib barbecue in the camp which will be great; it always is. They have big barbecue pits and they start in the afternoon and cook so you can smell it for an hour before you go. It really get's your lips smacking!

Couple of big rummage sales on Saturday, Jan, Di and I are going to hit those at 8 a.m. Probably beach it alot with Di, she's hungry for everything warm and summery after the winter they've had in New England.

I'm at the halfway point of my stay which seems impossible but I'm very happy; know I'm going to miss Nellie while I'm gone but I know I'll be back so it makes it easier. She'll be store safely and I'll be back before I know it. I bid on some vintage wallpaper on ebay to redo the bedroom walls where the wallpaper needs to be replaced. It's seventies with flowers, orange ones. Are you surprised? We'll see if I get it. Anyone gotta get in the shower. Take care--love ya!

TZ