In my last blog I wrote about the delicious food I had while visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Bonita Springs, Florida. Being great hosts, Jean and Scott kept me entertained when I wasn’t enjoying the fine food.

It started with a short tour of sculptures near their home. Knowing I like outdoor art, Jean found a few to show me.

“Setting the Pace” by Jane DeDecker.

“Guitar” by Dale Rogers.

“The Ties That Bind” by Jane DeDecker.

At Off the Hook Comedy Club, opener Andrew Rudick and headliner Kevin Nealon kept everyone laughing for a couple hours. I have been a fan of Nealon for decades, starting with his appearances on Late Night with David Letterman.

Whenever I visit, they usually find a Beatles tribute band. This time it was The Beatlemaniax – USA at J. Vito’s Supper Club and Lounge. This fab four actually had a fifth member to help with some of the complicated Beatles songs. The first set featured early Beatles tunes, while the second set had later songs. For each set their clothes reflected the periods.

There were two interesting side notes to the performance. The musician in the McCartney part appropriately played guitar lefty. Also, the musician in the Harrison part played a sitar. That is a rare thing in any Beatles tribute acts.

While at lunch at Sunset Grille on Marco Island, Jean and Scott engaged in a fierce shuffleboard battle. Can you guess who won by the picture below? Before we left, we took a short walk to the beach.

Sunday morning, while checking the schedule for the next NIT women’s tournament game for the Loyola Ramblers, I realized they were playing Monday night about 15 minutes away. Knowing my interest in the team and always up for something new, Jean and Scott immediately got tickets. The game was a thrilling 62–56 victor for Loyola. It was a seesaw battle until Loyola’s Kira Chivers hit a three-point shot with 27 seconds left to seal the win.

Interspersed throughout the weekend was cheering as they played pickleball; walks and play time with their pup, Abby; watching the men’s NCAA tourney; enjoying Scott’s piña coladas; and other fun things. Of course, a lot of the best parts were just sitting around joking and catching up.

— John Wroblewski, online writer