The LINDA's are at it again!

Today, about five of us (Linda's) met at Ferg's in downtown St. Pete for lunch. The lunch was special as Linda Porter and her husband, Phil, were in town -- they had moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, about two years ago and we've missed having her as one of our Florida Linda's! They've had a tramatic year as they lost their home in a flood in Terre Haute .. actually, they lost their home and their car. They've relocated to higher ground -- but still in the Terre Haute area.

Sandi went along with me as she hadn't gotten to meet some of these ladies who have become great friends. And we took Ava along. She was a sweetheart -- just looked around and smiled at them all during lunch. She is such a contented little gal for the most part.

So, here are a few of the photos I took today -- I'm not in the group photo as I was taking the picture and our server wasn't necessarily the best and I don't think we would have asked her to take one of all of us ... lol!

Phil and Linda Porter

Sandi holding Ava who is quite intrigued with Linda Chapman

And Linda Porter sure enjoyed Ava -- it was getting a little cool in the restaurant so we added a hat!

Tim's Toms

Our friends, Tim and Nova Ferguson, live out in the middle of nowhere Ohio. Well, not really but it seems like it. When the corn is high, you drive down a lane, take a sharp turn to the right and before long, you are at their home. I love it -- Tim's a hunter (as his Nova) and their home reminds you of a lodge. High ceilings and a wall filled with trophies from as far away as Africa, I believe.

When Nova sent me these photos of the visiting "Toms", I asked if I could share them. It's one thing to hunt them but to have them actually come calling on you, that's an interesting scenario. As you can see, it appears that Toms have found a great friend in Tim!!

They start really young ....

Rudy is just about a little over 20 months old (birthday May 3rd) ... he already is working towards his driver's license. Tyler had his quite young, too, although his vehicle was quite a bit larger than Rudy's. When Rudy is bored with that, he hands the phone to his mom with the request, "Nana". The photo below was taken while he was talking to me. I actually understood some of the words -- especially "Daddy", "Mommy" and "Marley"!

Here's to perspective on wind chill factors!!

I am freezing!! Okay, maybe not quite freezing but close. I am in Atlanta and as I was driving home from my brother's office, I noticed the outside temperature was 32. That's freezing, right? So, I am freezing!! Pure and simple!!!

Then I got back to Tim and Susan's house and checked my email and found the following bulletin: (I know -- it's perspective. That's for all the northerners who think I am nuts for donning a winter coat when the temperature dips below 60 degrees!)

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 307 PM EST TUE JAN 20 2009 ..

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FOR LATE TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING...

ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE REGION CONTINUES TO USHER A COLD AIRMASS ON 10 TO 20 MPH WINDS NEAR THE COAST AND AROUND 10 MPH INLAND OVERNIGHT LEADING TO LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. ..

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY.

ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD INTO THE REGION WITH BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 20S ACROSS THE NATURE COAST AND THIS COMBINED WITH THE NORTHERLY WINDS WILL LEAD TO WIND CHILL VALUES IN THE MID TEENS TO LOWER 20S LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

FURTHER SOUTH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S INLAND AND LOWER 40S NEAR THE COAST AND IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THIS COMBINED WITH THE BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE LOWER 20S TO LOWER 30S LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN WIND CHILL INDEX VALUES WILL DROP TO 35 OR LOWER...EXCEPT 25 OR LOWER ACROSS THE NATURE COAST AND SUMTER COUNTY...FOR 3 OR MORE HOURS.