Life of the Wild

Up early this morning..figure that.

The wellness challenge at work is about sleep this month and I am doomed to fail even on vacation. We are supposed to get 7 hours a night and that never happens for me! I think I went to bed about 1AM and I was up at 6AM like it was nothing.  Better morning response than when I'm at home and need to go to work! I've already had my breakfast and sat on the patio watching the wildlife.

Every year we come here there is some wildlife that is the one we see more than others... one year it was crabs walking across the streets, one year it was love bugs, another it was the blue jellyfish...always something.

This year it's DOLPHINS!!!!! I'm so excited! There were about 10 of them out this morning and yesterday afternoon we saw two over on the river side by the park. They are just out there playing...

So of course thoughts run through my head...

• I guess dolphins don't sleep? I guess no fish do. 
• I've been sleep all night - lazy human - and they've been swimming
• What makes the morning the best time for them to have fun?
• Will this be a pattern I'll see all week? 

It's just so cool...I can'd wait for R to get some really good pictures with his good camera. But that might be tomorrow because he's a lazy human and hasn't even stirred yet!

P.S. Dragonflies are the other - less exciting - prominent wildlife right now. So far they are cool too...they don't bother me, so they can stay. 

The Games We Play....

First full day in Indialantic and I was determined to do one thing...level up! It worked! I am now level 6 in Ingress and I'll have to do everything I've already done again to get a level 7! Ugh...I saw someone posted on the COMM that they were "over level 7" and I think I already am and I haven't even gotten there yet.

We had already been shopping yesterday, so there was truly nothing to do but work on our game. We went out about 12PM and stayed out until almost 3PM. Then we came back, had lunch and made a new plan to make several control fields in 3 areas. The plans didn't always work out, but we got good points and covered the city in blue!

It's crazy that while we were on one side of town making new fields, someone was back where we'd just been blowing the previous ones up.

Don't know why I think this is so much fun...but it is! I know that TheNewGirl probably thinks I'm crazy, lol...that's more than likely true.

The red dots show our fields! 

Puppies and Railroad Ties

Se we are off to FL again...now this is what I call vacation. Getting into full vacation mode by already being unable to complete sentences in conversation!

It took me a bit longer to get to Lexington than normal. Since I had to run through Versailles to hack and claim a few portals. I didn't leave home til almost 5 there was traffic after Frankfort and that led me to  turn around and go through Versailles. I got to the house about 8. 

The dogs were all happy to see me. Mabel was her calm "excited but I'm not going to lick you" self. Wiley was the young apprehensive puppy that he is but that Felix! He barked and talked to me and even managed to get tangled up in the folds of my sundress. He is a character for sure.

It is 3am and we just had a bit of a run in with what might have been a railroad tie. R is driving and we ran over something that was all the way across the road. Not sure what it was but he said it looked like it would do major damage - I was looking down at the phone and never even saw it! - so we pulled off the road and into a lit parking lot to check it out. We heard a strange noise as we slowed down but didn't see anything or hear anything in the parking lot. We got back on the road and we started to hear a small whirring sound but nothing about the car wasn't working. 

We press on.....

Never Forget....

I usually use my packing list when I travel and it helps me not forget things and not leave things behind.  I didn't even really have to use it for the Nashville trip since I'd barely unpacked from Florence/Cincinnati. However, I have some new things I think must be included in my bag from now on...mostly for car travel.

1) The MacBook Air - now obviously this is a new addition since the list was made quite a while ago. But since most hotels now have free wi-fi, why not bring it? Plus when taking pictures on a real camera you need somewhere to load them and see them on a bigger screen when you get back to your hotel room. Which brings me to the next item...

2) SD Card adapters - solely for the image transfer purpose.

3) The MacBook to HDMI cable - this one came in handy in November when we watched movies from my prime account for free on the big screen TV in the living area of the hotel suite. 

And last but not least...

4) An extra sock - now this one is a left over from Aruba. The first day we checked in, there were no wash cloths in the room, like they just forgot them, plenty of towels though. So at some point NativeNewYorker says... "Well, we could use a sock..." And a new tradition was born. Good heart was totally on board and we will all be packing extra socks just in case from now on!

Loveless!

The cafe has been around since 1951! Over 60 years of biscuits...wow, can you imagine how many they've made?  

I had originally found the cafe on a FoodNetwork app but forgot all about it until we saw the rack of flyers in the hotel lobby. Our hotel is on 1st Street right near downtown and it was only about a 20 minute ride out to the cafe so we went for it. There are little shops and things in the old hotel rooms and it's quaint. Worth a look see...

However, if you decide you want to eat there, my advice is put your name on the waiting list right away! The wait on Saturday afternoon was going to be 1 hour and 20 minutes and we had already seen everything on the grounds. The cheat is, you can order to go like we did, get your food in 20 minutes and pop a squat under a shade tree at a picnic table, they are all around! Awesome sauce!

Biscuits were very tasty! Not flaky but fluffy, not large, only about the size of a three year olds palm, but they don't mind giving you several so that's OK. They also provide several jams that are homemade and flavorful. 

I can't speak on the ham...I don't do it anymore. They do have several bacon laced treats in the gift shop. I bought some for the folks in the office, so I will have to let you know the verdict on that later!

This one's for ShinyLegs.....

Saturday morning and time for my shower...seems pretty normal right?  Well, it felt normal until I stepped in the shower and realized that the curtain was snapped wrong! It's one of those with the sheer upper third, then the bottom that snaps in so part is in the shower and the other is outside. A very smart design and it's eco-friendly because it's made from recycled materials, blah blah blah... But it's snapped wrong!

First one snap is undone, so I fix that but in doing so I realize that it's backwards. Now I must emphasize, I am IN the shower, the water is running, I am supposed to be getting clean...yeah, whatever. I proceed to undo all 12 snaps and resnap them correctly. So then I could shower....

Then I realize ... FormerUPSer took a shower the night before...she didn't notice? Rethinking our friendship... LOL! 

FYI... Shower curtains have 12 hooks, did you know this? If so, we probably would get along. Just so you know though the fancy hotel ones with big circles instead of hooks only have 10 circles. I knew this, but yes I did double check while I was in the shower. 

This should all be under the category of "how ShinyLegs and I think"!

Dash to the Nash

You would think I didn't need another weekend getaway but you'd be wrong. I am with my friend, FormerUpser, hanging out in Nashville, TN. 

We got in town about 4 and headed out to check out the city. Eventually we got hungry and found the Sicilian Pizza place. They have a beautiful Capitol building that you can't see from the highway. The batman building is a huge landmark no matter where you are in town. 

Why did I not know that Nashville had such a booming nightlife? It's weird because it's about two blocks of intense crowds, neon lights, loud music and more crowds...then nothing....like crickets.  

Funniest thing ever! 

Plans for tomorrow are sill up in the air. One thing we have already learned is Nashville is expensive! Cheese whiz! Tours run $50 to $140. We are considering the dinner theater and maybe a night tour or the Loveless cafe. We shall see. 

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. -- Saint Augustine

Let me upgrade ya!

On my way home from Aruba, the last leg of my journey is from Charlotte to Louisville.  As I was sitting having my dinner,  they made an announcement. There are two first class seats available on the flight, passengers can upgrade for $55. So an opportunity presents itself. The last time I flew I said I was going to try first class but I didn't and on that last flight I was regretting it. I heard a woman behind me in the terminal say, well the plane is probably so small its not worth the expense. I wasn't sure but this might be the cheapest way for me to find out.

So, I bit the bullet!  I was hoping I could pay cash but that was not the case.  So the only expense on my credit card for this trip is this one.

So far I think it is worth it. We boarded first and were immediately offered water and our drink orders for flight were taken right after everyone else boarded. I also have a small pillow in my seat for my nap!

What? No Wi-fi?

I was originally worried about the resort that we are staying in - Occidental Grand Aruba - just because you can't tell a lot from pictures on the Internet and the only people who write reviews are the ones who are mad. I am glad to say that other than a slight smell in the lobby when we first entered,  the hotel is very nice!

The room is super clean. Towels are nice...not super plush but not scratchy so I am ok with them, ever room has a balcony and oirs over looks the ocean to the left, the pool in the center and the rest of the island to the right...or at least a good enough portion of it to get a feel for the night on the island.

Check in was interesting because they took us to a room to do it "because it would be more comfortable" ... hmmm seemed a bit timeshare like to me so I was skeptical.  They won me over with the punch, champagne and lemon water they served us though.  We had left our luggage with the bellmen because we didnt have a room number yet. After we got one we gave the number to the bellman so they coulf take our stuff to the room. Then we headed to lunch because it was open until five anf it was about 4pm.

They have several restaurants on property and all are open on a scediule where you cann eat constantly if you want to but of course you just cannot. We have four restaurants to choose from for dinner and last night there was a BBQ on the beach so we went to that. It was good food and there was entertainment after dinner. We even got to line dance a bit so you know I was all over that!  After dinner we stopped by the disco but it was obviously too early and I know we are old because the seats were too low and the music too loud!

We went into the casino and  Goodheart won $40! NativeNewYorker won $30! I spent $30...so as a group we are ahead!  lol

All in all it was a busy day!

At 31,000 feet....

Well I am elated to say that we are all united again and well on our way to the isle of Aruba! It wasn't on my original list of places to go but if you know anything about me, you know that all you have to do is ask and if I can make it happen, I will! Plus it was a fabulous idea!

There is about an hour left in our flight. I wont be able to post this  immediately but still...

So I bet you want to know places that are on my list...heres my top five...

1) Hawaii - not only is it one of the fifty states - so I can get a key chsin for it - but it's beautiful
2) Spain - I remember the amazing pictures that MyTravelingManager brought back from his vacations
3) France - I must see the Eiffel Tower after all
4) Greece -this one is totally influenced by a movie -  My Life in Ruins as a matter of fact - they did a great job portraying the landscape and feel of the country
5) ......

Hmmmm, did I say 5? Thats all I can think of right now, I will have to work on that while I am on vacation.

Did I Mention.....?

Did I mention that we did not get to go to Aruba in March? Long story but cold weather causes cancelled flights, so there you go! Its a travel hazard when you live in Kentucky. I am trying to plan a cruise for my 50th birthday in Jan 2015 and I am so gun shy just because of the travel we will have to do to get to the cruise port! Oh well...jury is still out on that one.

I was supposed to go to line dance class tonight but I came home and collapsed. I am awake now so maybe repacking is in order! Maybe tomorrow I will be less tired and more excited!

Scandalous Vacation!

So my vacation officially begins with a night of Scandal! Gladiators unite!

I should be packing...... oh well!

Summer in Winter...

I've decided --it's going to be a bit crazy... to deal with summer right in the middle of what is obviously going to be a major winter in Kentucky! But I'm still more excited than words can say to get the opportunity to go to Aruba with two of my favorite people in the whole world! It's just amazing!

Today will be the day that I try on all my summer clothes to see what I'm taking and not taking...we'll see how this comes out. I've read a few blogs about money and packing in Aruba and I think this is the best packing advice I've seen so far...

• a good pair of flip flops
• a swimsuit
• a couple pairs of shorts
• a couple of tank tops
• 1 pair of lightweight casual pants
• 1 jacket or sweater
• your camera
• lip balm of some sort with SPF
• sunscreen (…and lots of it!)
• deodorant 

It sounds like a pretty bare list, but I can see where there doesn't need to be much more than that. Although, I already know I'm taking my standard set of toiletries - that's not gonna change!

28 days to go!

Aruba, Baby!

Yes, the next destination is Aruba! Can you believe that??? I can't and it is only a few weeks away. It will be the three of us ... GoodHeart, NativeNewYorker and me :)! Cannot wait! More info to follow...