2010 Jan. 3, Sunday.
As yesterday, a bright sunny morning, but cool. Yesterday we went to Dunkin’ Donuts for breakfast, then we got groceries. After lunch we went to Gulf Coast Mall (3 miles away) to shop a little at Target and then to the movie ‘Complicated‘. It was entertaining, but not great. Merryl Streep was good - she can play any role.

The area just south of our RV Park has changed a lot. There used to be about two blocks of woods, then an Arby’s, then a combo Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins. But last year they started to clear the woods and put in a new road. This year, there is a new strip mall there (no more woods at all!). On the corner is a CVS Drugstore, and the only store open in the mall is a new Publix grocery store. It seems strange, because two blocks north of our RV Park is a strip mall with a Publix grocery store in it! Further south, there are 3 strip malls with lots of vacancies, and one area cleared. Are they getting it ready for another strip mall??

WEATHER: Very cool, high about 60. After the movie, it was sprinkling a little bit. Tonight is supposed to be in upper 30’s here, but inland there is a chance for frost. All the fruit and vegetable farmers are making ready to protect their plants. I noticed in the paper that the rainfall for Jan. 2009 was a total of .3 inches, and this year already there has been .48 inches. Looks like the drought is over!


FL NEWS: Lee County (which includes Ft. Myers) had 8% fewer homicides in 2009 compared to a year earlier. While killings last year were down to 44, the number of fatal shootings by law enforcement - four - marks a record in recent years. The majority of those killed in 2009 were in their 20’s, 81% were men, and 61% were killed with a gun.