Sporadically Sandra

So, some highlights (and pictures) of the weekend:

Besides having dessert every night, eating at Cow Licks a few times, having fried cajun shark at Aunt Catfish's and eating at Bubba Gumps, we did actually have time to visit the beach.

As well as visit the beach, Joseph and I climbed the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. This lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Florida. We climbed it just over a year ago and it was hard. I thought I would die, I wanted to drop dead from exhaustion *and* I was sore for days. This time around, I felt like I could have climbed it more than once, I had plenty of energy to walk around and explore the historical buildings and nature trail *and* I was barely even sore the next day. It is amazing how much I've changed physically to where climbing the tallest lighthouse in Florida was a peace of cake.


Joseph and I also jogged on the beach together. So much more fun then jogging on the streets of Georgia. I mean, I ran in the water, testing out the Vibrams. It was nice and breezy and beautiful. Besides that, my grand plans to work out while on vacation didn't quite come to frutition, but, I did exercise twice. I also did a lot of walking on the beach, crab hunting and sitting on the beach covered in sun screen.

Yesterday, Joseph and I woke up early enough to see the sun rise over the water before making a Krispy Kreme run (hot sign, what!). Then, later that day, he did something truly crazy.

"We have some free time, want to go buy yourself an iPhone?"
What kind of question is that? Why, yes, I do want an iPhone!

This morning, before leaving, I made sure to snap a picture of the sun rising. So, this was my last vision of the gorgeous beach:

Sadly, that is the only beach picture I have since taking my camera to the beach didn't seem like a great idea. But, I think my brother in law got some pics. So, I migth have to steal some of his pictures.

Now, I'm back home. Meals for the week planned, groceries bought. I'm about to throw a load in the wash as I avoid life going back to normal.

But, I got a ton of reading done, some additional writing. My whole mindset has been refreshed and in a whole new good place.

And, as sad as I was to leave, I'm a little happy to be home.

I thought you could only catch crabs at the Jersey shore... and I'm sure if you've seen the show, you can agree....

As much as I've always loved going to sleep, I've always loved waking up in the morning of a good nights rest. I was never the kind of girl who could sleep in, which made slumber parties a special form of torture. Perhaps that is where my love of reading really came from. You can wake up and read quietly until others wake up, which is more fun then just laying their bored.

But, being awake in the morning, by myself, is now a special treat. It doesn't happen so much with Joe and more because we usually get up at the same time which I'm fine with. I think it makes my private vacation mornings all the more special. I've spent the last hour or so, on the balcony, wrapped in a blanket and sitting on a lounge chair, reading a book and enjoying the sound of the waves. The sun is slowly making its way around the building and a strip of me is bathed in light. Slowly more and more people are venturing to the beach.

At first it was only the hardcore runners, which slowly turned to couples walking and enjoying the morning breeze. Now, people are lugging their beach bags and umbrellas, setting up their chairs and applying their sunscreen. Preparing for a relaxed day where the water kisses their toes and the sun warms their face.

I get in my own head when I'm alone in the morning. There is nothing to interrupt my thoughts or pull me from myself. I sit in my thoughts and I bathe in them, roll them around in my brain and just enjoy them. With everything there is to interrupt a train of thought; tv, computers, radio, people; it is truly nice to be lost in my own head. Most of the time I'm thinking of the next thing I'm going to write, or that scene that just won't happen correctly, but sometimes I reflect on my life and what is happening in it. The things I never expected to happen, the words I never expected to hear or the ways in which changing myself effects other people, for the good or the bad.

Reading in the morning takes on a whole new speed. Instead of rushing to finish the next page/chapter/book before I run out of time; I savor the words and take a minute to think of the words so carefully typed on the page. I can take twenty minutes to finish two pages because I stop so much to just mull over the book, the people, the ideas.

And then, when I've done enough thinking... I've mulled over enough ideas.... I've lived in my head long enough. I have to write. I have to get something out. I have to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and I have to put all my thoughts into words because if it doesn't come out I might just burst.

It's still quiet in the condo. Kids/babies/adults are all still asleep and a part of me wonders how anyone could sleep away the morning. The concept had eluded me as a child and it still constantly eludes me as an adult. But, good for them sleeping, because otherwise, I couldn't quietly commune with the beach.

As I write this, I can hear waves as the roll onto shore, I can see pristine sand and blue ocean, and my skin is sticky from salty air and sand. Up until a few years ago, I didn't think I cared about the beach. Then, we got invited to a beach wedding and for the first time in a number of years, I visited the beach. This is my third time back since that wedding. I love the beach.

Joseph and I, along with his brother's family have ventured down to Daytona Beach for the week. (Saturday to next Sunday to be exact) My porcelain pale skin is already freckling up and trying to take on a pink hue, which is why I'm up in the condo, taking a break from the sun and the beach.

There is something instantly calming about coming to the beach. I'm not sure if it is just the vacation itself or if the endless blue ocean rolling in and out has something to do with it, but I do know, I could be perfectly happy "toes in the water, ass in the sand". Zac Brown may not be my favorite band, but they got that part right.

For the most part our vacation is totally unplanned, but there are a few things we must do while we are here. One day for lunch this week we will be eating at Aunt Catfish on the River with their great lemonade and awesome cinnamon rolls. A trip to Crabby Joes is necessary so we can eat a delicious meal on the pier while we watch the tide roll in. Then it is a short drive from the condo to the lighthouse to climb it. That will be fun. And, I know Joe really wants to visit the Daytona Beach pier, so if it is open (It was closed for rennovations last time), we will be going for a visit.