Searching for some Sun!

Yesterday the clouds broke
and the sun remembered how to shine,

at least for a little while.

Today is quite foggy out
making the day feel eerie
or at least gloomy.

I can't help but long for more sun and the warmth it brings.

A sunny day always puts a smile on my face.

Since I don't have the sunshine today,
I am left to simply remember.

It has been 3 months since our trip to Florida.
3 months since I was able to lay on a warm sandy beach soaking up the rays.
3 months since I could play in the warm waters of the Atlantic ocean.
3 months since we enjoyed the awesome hospitality of good friends.

3 months isn't very long,
but today it feels like 3 years.

Perusing the photos I took while in Florida has helped put the smile back on my face.

I have so many that are my favorites I have to break them down into categories; plants, scenery, people, buildings, signs....
Or maybe I should break them down by location; St Augustine, St. Cloud, Winter Park, Orlando...

I think today I am drawn to the unique sights and signs that caught my eye.

I grew up in a big city in Kansas.

What I learned about fishing, I learned from fishing by the edge of the bank of some farm pond in the middle of a cow pasture.
I know even less about fishing when it comes to deep sea or ocean fishing.
So naturally this sign caught my eye.
I like the polite tone it takes for something so gruesome!

Brown being my last name,
I noticed the taxidermy sign.
I am curious though what a stuffed fish would look like after having to poke its eyes out.









I like a nice bar.
A place to relax,
have a drink,
watch the crowd.

Add to that comfy flipflops, coconut oil, warm sunshine, ocean breeze, and you got yourself a great Tiki Bar!
Of course, it is important to know your limits! 

 I was curious why one shouldn't feed catfish to Pelicans.

Will catfish cause indigestion?

Is it okay to feed the Pelicans any other type of fish?

I left Florida not knowing the answers to my questions.
This is why I must go back.

 I am also curious if every State has a branch office of the AANR.
Or do they only have branch offices in the States where the weather is warm enough to have a large number of nudists?
Is there a branch of the AANR in Minnesota or Wisconsin?

I would wager money there is NOT one in North Dakota!

 Gatorland should be a must stop for every tourist that goes to Orlando.
It is hokey, and interesting at the same time.
I was captivated by the awesome birds not to mention the enormous gators.
I may have to dedicate a blog to the birds alone.
I liked this bird though.  She appears to be the Vanna White of Gatorland!

 I miss our friends and hate the fact that they have moved so far away from us.
However, the community of St. Cloud is wonderful and I am glad they live somewhere warm and sunny when we go visit them.



Along with Gatorland, Ron Jon Surf Shop is another must on the tourist list of things to do in Florida.
We took the Golden Frau from Thunderhead Brewery of Kearney Nebraska along for the ride (a shameless plug for my good friend Trevor).

I am intrigued by the names people choose to give their water vessels.

This one caught my eye!

 Our last night in Florida we came across this sign.

It reminded me of #6 and made me think of all my kids.
I knew then it was time to pack my bags and head for home.



I look forward to more misadventures with friends and family on the opposite coast!






Steppin' out with DWNTWN

DWNTWNimages.me

The Game On Diet

I started The Game On Diet today.
I am playing this game at the invitation of my oldest child.
As best I can tell, there are a couple dozen ladies playing the game.

The rules are easy to follow.
Or I should say...
On paper the rules look easy to follow.

Giving up Alcohol will be challenging due to my fondness for craft beer and living in Beervana, aka Oregon.

However giving up alcohol will only be mildly challenging.
My greatest challenge will be giving up Diet Coke.
I did petition for 1 diet soda a day and the rules committee agreed, thankfully!

Aside from shedding a few pounds, I am hoping that the next 4 weeks of competition help me get into a better routine.  Team members earn points by establishing a new healthy habit and eliminating an unhealthy habit.
This past year I have found it too easy to sit at home, sifting & sorting through closets, cooking & cleaning for the family and seldom venturing out.
This isn't good for me.
I need to be connected to people.
I need to get out into the world and explore.
I need to feed my creative spirit and share myself with others.

 I think just playing Game On has already helped me feel more connected.

(Points are also earned for communication between those playing.)

Our group is spread throughout the United States,
yet we are linked together by 1 thing, the person who invited us to join.

Ladies from Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Colorado and perhaps even more states have joined to support one another in living a more healthy lifestyle.

There are new moms, working mothers, and grandmoms.
There are high school teens, and school teachers.
There are those who have full careers, those looking for work, and those who are retired.

Each individual person has their own story to tell and is uniquely valuable to our group.
I look forward to the communication aspect of this competition as much as anything else.


I read somewhere, "It isn’t gravity that keeps this orb from flying apart.
It’s the act of knowing each other,
caring for each other,
wishing each other well."

With the technology we have at our fingertips today we are able to tie the world together in ways that we could not have before.
When we share our story,
listen to others tell their story,
give support and care to one another,
we tie the world together.


So...
Game On ladies!










Steppin' out with DWNTWN

DWNTWNimages.me