The Beaches of St. Joe Peninsula

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St. Joe Peninsula — Day 3 of Journey Home

{Journal Entry}

‘Pulled out around 11 am and headed North on 301/27/441, we will take 441 N/W when we see it and hopefully hit 98.  *Camped at St. Joe Peninsula last night.  I met a nice Mother-Daughter (Rebecca & Nicole) camping team, set up right beside us in a Classic Serro Scotty Vintage Travel Trailer.  I loved their rig as much as they loved ours!

We sat up ’til way into the early morning….laughing and talking, tossing back a few cold ones, just having girl time.  Lucky for me, Nico is great with Baby….so I kinda had the night off.  Come to find out, they are Florida ladies.  I exchanged emails with Rebecca so we can keep in touch.

*About St. Joe*

Beautiful beach.  Had Fun fun fun!  Watched a show-stopping sunset!  We hope to return someday soon.  Loved the beach and company, though the sites are really close together and very hard to get.  I’d definitely make reservations for out next visit.

Travels: A VW Westy & Hippies at Heart

Day 18: Econfina River State Park from St. George Island

 

Pulled out of St. George at around 12:30 PM on Friday.  We said goodbye to Rob West; our nice camphost from Pennsylvania.  ‘Found an island grocery market and a ATM, then stopped-off at a little roadside seafood stand and bought the day’s catch directly from the fisherman who’d caught it that morning. What we bought:

1 lb shrimp, 2 lbs red snapper filets, 2 crab cakes.  Yum!  I’d be cooking the cakes later on down the road, along with the shrimp, and the fish I planned to save and cook the next day since it was frozen.

While at the seafood stand, we met a nice man, a retired college professor.  He loved the van!  : ))  We love St. George Island!  …hate to leave.  We both agree we could live quite happily on Saint George Island.  Never know…maybe some day!

*Beautiful drive along coastal 98 headed East, as we were leaving the long bridge to/from St. George.*

We stopped at an IGA in Carrabelle, FL for groceries and stuff.  The ladies at the store were really nice and helpful.  You don’t see that everyday!  *Cute little town, that Carrabelle!  I took pics of a kewl wooden boat-bar.  Love it!!  We wanted to stop, but we had to forge ahead.

Refueled in Pancea while down the road, and had every intention of going on to our desired destination, but considering the time-of-day and how tired we were, we decided to camp for the night at Econfina River State Park.  Come to find out, there were no campsites at the park, so we found a rural spot at a private compground up the road and secured a spot for $17.  Not too bad!  And the primitive site was very secluded and lush with Palmettos and Palms…and that scary Spagnum Moss hanging from the trees.  It reminds me of the Scooby-Doo mysteries every time I see it. Lol  This trip, we’ve seen it a lot too.

*Nice old bald man (The ‘old bald man’ part…his words, not mine.  lol) named Ron, who we met back at Econfina while asking for directions, loaned me some sunblock/bug repellent called ‘Cactus Juice’.  It comes from Texas!  hahaha  Good stuff!  We used a little then returned it to the store nearby, per his request, the next day before we pulled out.  He said he knew the folks there at the store and they’d hold it til he came in the next fishin trip…that next weekend more than likely. : )

We cooked the shrimp from St. George on the open fire-pit that night.  It was delicious!  Once we turned in, we had a bit of a scare when we heard some goings-on outside our camp.  Blanca had been fixated by something out in the woods all day since we’d arrived.  Nico went out (I begged him not to, but…you know men) to see what it was, but seemed rather spooked when he came back in.  He said what ever it was, it was circling our campsite, was very heavy…and very fast.  Needless to say, he stayed in after that.  ; )

Obviously we made it through the night, or I guess you wouldn’t be reading this.  Haha  It had been a good day…all in all.  Many…many Blessings!

Facebook: Life’s Biggest Faux Pas

An Opinion Piece on How Facebook Disrupts Lives and What You Can Do to Avoid Getting Sucked into Social Media Networks.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8192547/facebook_lifes_biggest_faux_pas.html?cat=16

A Volkswagen Westy & Hippies at Heart: Saint George Island, Florida

Day 17:

Had breakfast and got ready for a nice day at St. George Island Beach.  ‘Loaded up the bike trailer to the limit, and we were off!  Fun…fun day!  ‘Found a Pirate’s Booty of seashells!  Yayahhhh!!!

Headed back to camp and started a campfire to grill Bratwurst sausages.  While the fire was stoking, I headed out to buy ice from the camp-hosts and ended up meeting Rob’s wife Anne.  Nice lady!  We ended up chatting for over an hour and meeting other passersby out walking their dogs.

Later that night, Nico played guitar for Nixi and we settled in…after showers.  It had been a good…good day.  Lovin’ every minute of St. George Isle!  No words to describe…

I Believe…

I Believe…

If ever you’re around someone who tries to make you feel less than beautiful…less than accepted…less than appreciated…less than happy–you need to keep better company.

I Believe…

You’re better off being in your own company than in the company of those who attempt to bring you down through jealous eyes or deceiving ways.

I Believe…

True friends are near-impossible to find in this day and age.  But they are out there; few and far between.

I Believe…

You should be your own best friend and love yourself like no one else can.

Ching Ching to Self!

A VW Westfalia & Hippies at Heart: Grayton Beach to St. George Island, Florida

Day 16:

Met a nice couple from Gainesville, FL this morning who bought a copy of our CD (First one sold!!  Yay!!!).  Huck told us that he’s a native of New York State and his wife Leah is from Colorado.  They had two sons, and they were there at Grayton Beach SP on a family camping trip.  Nice people!  I hope they keep in touch.

We finally hit the road at around 2 PM (Ugh!!), leaving Grayton Beach headed East on 98.  It was a nice drive with no complications.  Yay!!  ‘Arrived at St. George Island State Park after passing over a three-mile-long bridge and snapping a few pics of the lighthouse there on St. George.  While we were stopped at the Ice Machine, an older couple pulled up in a golf cart wanting to snap a pic of us; the Hippies in the VW Van.  Too Kewl!

Arriving at SGI SP, we paid for a couple nights and set to work on camp.  ‘Met camp-host Rob West from Pennsylvania while buying firewood for our campfire-to-be.  Settled in for the night after setting up rig and cooked a bit on the fire.  Turned in at a reasonable time…for a change, but didn’t get much sleep (for a good reason, this time).  Nico and I made up for lost time.  Yayah!

Not bad for a day’s work!  We were lovin’ St. George Island so far.

Why Are Women Soooo Catty?

This very question…I’ve often pondered.  Still, the answers are often only a guess or matter of opinion.  Either way, we’ve all crossed paths with such life-dilemmas a time or two I’m sure.  I believe the root of cattiness begins with jealousy, and doesn’t always come across with words.  In many cases, maliciousness among women is dished out through bullying or alienation, in which case a girl/woman is made to feel unaccepted; like she doesn’t measure up to group standards.   Sounds childish…I know!  But it happens way too often; immaturity, ignorance, jealousy, petty bullshit! 

The reality of it–as studies have shown (and I’ll gladly name a few it need-be), is that…quite frankly, misery loves company.  If you dig to the root of cattiness, you’ll usually find that the woman dishing it all out is rather miserable in her life or with herself, and can find no other way to express such misery.  Truly happy people reflect such happiness by being nice.  Unhappy people…reflect in kind to how they feel as well.  You get the point.

Cheers to ‘authentically’ Happy People!  Jeers to Fake-Happies (I like to call them)!  You know who you are.  ;  )

I Believe…

I Believe…  People really want to be ‘real’ and authentic, but they are too afraid of inviting judgment from others.

I Believe…  If you appear elusive and mysterious, everyone will be in line to have time with you.  But if you appear alone, desperate, and easy to get, no one cares about what you’re doing…where you go…you at all. 

I Believe…  If you spend your whole life trying to ‘live for others’ and fit the mold society slyly implies we should fit, we will always be lost…and so, we will never find who we truly are meant to be, nor will we obtain true happiness and peace within.

I Believe…  There is no such thing as real Freedom; not in society today.  Why I say this is: Ever since we first-started attempting to step out of the rat-race, and live ‘off the grid’, we’ve been dealing with the opinions of others (albeit…unwanted and unrequested), and the judgement/constant scrutiny of people who (if they had a life) should really mind their own business.  We are adults, this is ‘supposed’ to be America (heh um) …Land of the Free (?).  Okay…whatever! 

I Believe…  Freedom has become elusive.  Perhaps that is why I want it so badly.  ‘Just a thought…

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I Believe…  Somewhere….someone’s dreams are coming true, even as I write this thought. 

I Believe…  As impossible as many dreams seem, if one can only envision, their deepest desires can become reality.

I Believe…  I can get across this bridge to another place in my life.  Even though times may be hard in the present, my future will be as wonderful to me as I allow it to become. 

I Do Believe…

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I Believe…It’s time for me to get my @ up, turn off the puter, and go spend some quality time with my family!  Yeppers…!  I do believe!

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I Believe…true happiness shines through by-way of a one’s actions and the way you treat others.  Too much idle time can lead to vicious and idle words. 

I Believe…there is much truth in the saying “Misery loves company”.  After all, when you are happy in your own skin–content and fulfilled–you have no time to meddle in the ways and words of others because you are too busy living your own life. 

I Believe…laughter is contagious. 

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I Believe…the path less taken, toughest trod, hardest fought, is where we shall find our true self, a life worth living awaiting us, a reward of no materialistic value…though completely priceless.

I Believe…most of us are more than we have dared become. One should not judge another solely by the looks of the outside or by one’s worldly possessions. The part of a person that really matters remains unseen.

Pet Peeves: Grown Ups Still Acting Like Cliquish School Kids

August 12th 2010:

Okay People…it’s time to grow up!! The days of gathering in a circle, whispering here….gossiping there, leaving certain people to feel left out of the conversation, should be long-gone; especially if you’re beyond your teen years.

Example:

Say you’re at a gathering–you’ve been invited just the same as everyone else–but you don’t seem to be getting the same treatment.  The host & hostess are playing favorites with one group; hobnobbing like a bunch of school kids, acting like a group of teenage kids.  Well, little do they know–and if you’re secure with yourself–they are only making themselves look bad.

Not only are they appearing immature to anyone who is above 6th grade level in their way of thinking and manners, but they are also being rude, exhibiting ‘zero’ class, and coming-across as just plain jealous or envious; trying to deplete you to their level.

If you’re a positive person and you are secure with yourself, you’ll likely never return to that person’s house for more rudeness.  As well, you won’t allow anyone who is so immature and petty to control the world around you and how you are treated.  Be kind to yourself if ever you come across such rude and insensitive behavior from ‘no matter who they are’–escape the insanity as soon as you possibly can.  Life is just too short to spend with a bunch of idiots!

You know who you are!!

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Don’t BULLSHIT a BULLSHITTER!

One of my all-time absolute biggest pet-peeves is people who say they are going to do something, but never do what they say.  SAY what you MEAN…and MEAN what you SAY!  It’s really not too complicated.

BE about it!  Don’t just TALK about it!

Example:

Say there’s this acquaintance of yours–not really a friend, but someone behind a friendly face–who says she bought you something, or she is going to buy you something…say for a baby-shower *heh um*.  Well, first of all, I never asked this person to buy me a thing; second of all, I can buy the damn thing my own self; third of all, they’ve been saying “Oh, I have this ‘such n such’ for you, I’ll bring it…but I’ve been ‘busy”’ *fake…fake…SO fake!*  Three weeks, maybe a month, later–nothing!

Well, what I want to say to that person/fake-friend is…BULLSHIT!  You can’t bullshit a bullshitter!  Yeah…a person can say this, that, or the other…but the proof is in the doing.  ACTIONS…NOT WORDS! Yes, I am pissed!  I never asked anyone for anything that I can buy myself.  I didn’t need that person to do me any favors.  She acts as if I’m desperate or something.  Let me assure her–Hubby and I are perfectly capable of going out and purchasing our own items for our baby; not due for at least another month.

Yes, there is no rush.  But…still, I just don’t like it when someone treats me as though I need their help, when I don’t.  I was very grateful when I first heard this person had bought me this baby item–even though she bought it used, I didn’t mind.  It was sweet of her to think of me.  All was fine.  Well, she shows up at my shower and brought me a nice gift–that would’ve been more than enough.  I sent the thank you card out asap in the days following my shower.

But, at the shower, she says she’s going to bring me this thing by the next week; week passes–nothing.  The following week, same story; she’s going to bring it by, but she’s been busy.  Okay, fine again.  No problem, I’m not worried about it–I won’t need this item for several more months anyway.

So…another week or more goes by, and still nothing.  Now I’m a bit irritated.  Especially since, through word-of-mouth, she’s still planning on bringing the damn thing…finally!  Well, it’s not like I’m sitting here waiting for it.  I have a life to live–I could care less about this damn thing by now.  Hubby is getting rather tired of the ‘stringing along’ as well.  She can keep it at this point!

Well, yesterday we see her and her man at a family party and still, the same story…no goods!  “Oh…I’ve been busy, I’ll bring it by soon.”  Okay, ask me if I care?!  I really don’t give a ‘F’ what you do with the damn thing now!  Hubby and I will buy our own, brand-new, in colors that don’t clash!  Enough is enough!

So…it has been decided (since it was  never really her decision to make)–Hubby and I will be shopping for the item we really want.  As for the ‘item’ that has never materialized from my ‘aquaintance’?  I just don’t have time to worry about it anymore.  I’m just too busy!

Sunday Morning Sentiments

 

A View From Our World

Okay…so it’s not Sunday ‘morning’ anymore, but afternoon.  Still, I’m gonna write a little ditty ’bout the beginning of our day.  Here goes…

As I write this, Hubby sits in the next room, strumming his guitar for his biggest-little fan: our baby Nixi.  She loves to hear her daddy play his guitar, usually a bit of Pink Floyd, Staind, or one of our original songs we hope to put out there someday soon.  Breakfast was served a couple of  hours ago (Veggi-man Omelets w/ cheese), and now we are just enjoying our day while I try to talk myself out of working.  I know we’re not supposed to work on Sundays, but I still have  a lot of stuff to list on Ebay, and time is ticking away. 

Oops!  There goes the PA system — Hubby is about to crank it up!  :  )  Naw…I love to hear him get ‘into his strings’ (play the guitar), I too…am one of his biggest fans and he is one of mine.  I feel truly blessed to have such a great guy for my very own.  There was once a time in my life when I was all alone, my two older kids had their own things to do; not much time for Mom.  And I remember one night…sitting out on my balcony, looking out over the city…up at the stars, when I prayed for God to bring me a man who would be the one I thought I could never find. 

Never did I think, back then, that he would send him my way so soon.  But…am I ever glad He did!  Hubby plays beautifully ( I can’t strum a chord), and I sing (he can’t carry much of a tune, ‘ he thinks anyway); together, we are in tune.  Life is a song we just keep on trying to play.  Every now and then, we might hit a sour chord or two, but when we’re in tune and it’s all ‘just right’– Man!  Ain’t it sweet!  ;  )

Happy Sunday to you all!  I hope you find your path in life that is your perfect tune.  God Bless!  

 August 16th 2009:

     Another peaceful-quiet Sunday morning, and I just blew-off some steam (see ‘You can’t Bullshit a Bullshitter’ post).  Hubby is still soundly dreaming, getting in some much-needed rest.  Me…?  I’m running on baby-time: up early…can’t go back to sleep because I’m a burst of energy.  No worries…!  By this afternoon, I’ll be the one resting and Hubby will be taking up the slack for me.  We work in shifts around here.  :  ) 

     Already, I’ve managed to fix me and baby an early morning snack (cinnamon toast with coffee); watered most of my growing number of plants…inside and out (still watering flowers/plants out back); managed to blow-off steam about biggest pet-peeves; Oh yeah!  Move getting dressed to the front of the list, lol; tried to call my sister…no answer; now…I am writing this little tidbit-of-a-thought.  If you have time to read it…fine.  If not…that’s fine too, I’m an understanding kind of gal. 

 

[sipping coffee]

     No, really…  I’ve been thinking alot lately about the beach, getting on with a life I can embrace.  Hubby and I want to move closer to the ocean.  Really…we’d both love to just wake up, walk out the back door…and be there, right on the beach, each morning.  I’ll keep on writing; maybe it’ll all pay-off someday.  I choose to follow my dreams, work hard for them, and see what comes…come what may.  So on and so forth…

     I figure in the next hour of this new day, Hubby will be rolling out of bed, so will my teen-aged son, and we’ll all brunch in a leisurely fashion.  As for the rest of the day?  We can tackle a never-ending list of ‘honey-do’s’…or we can take advantage of the day off and do a whole lotta nothing.  More than likely, we’ll compromise and cross-off a few tasks from our list and get some rest afterwards. 

     What we’d really love to be doing is heading to the beach.  As they say…  “Life’s a BEACH, and then it’s…not.”  

*Peaceful Sunday to You All!* 

:  )

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June 28th 2009:

I woke to a morning of peaceful quiet. Though it is early morning still; the dog and cat have both been fed and are at rest in their chosen spots.

The wonderful man who sleeps beside me takes in a much needed rest after a long exhausting week. The baby girl in my womb barely stirs as I pray that God has kept my just-married daughter and my teen-age son safe where they sleep.

All is right in my world…
I awake to no regrets.

But I think back to a time when I was lost in life and love…in every way. I feel for those who are…still.

Sex During Pregnancy

It’s a matter of opinion when it comes to whether pregnancy helps or hurts a sex life.  I for one have to say ‘It comes in stages’.  What I mean by this is:  In the very early stages of my current pregnancy I had feelings of nausea at any given hour or minute of the day.  Such was a pretty darned good reason for not being in the mood a whole lot.  All was well, hubby got through it. 

 But NOW… oh man!  The sickness is gone and the drive to ‘move beneath the sheets’ (or anywhere else for that matter) is back with flying colors.  Hubby is a very happy man.  ;  )  I have to say, I’m smiling alot more these days as well.  But alas, the uncomfortable days are yet to come.  I wonder what our sex life, or my sex drive, will be like when the belly has reached measures of mass-proportions.  I guess time will tell for me, but I want the opinions of other women who are, were, or have yet to be pregnant. 

It is your turn to tell your story.  I welcome you…to my blog.  It’s all about sex and romance.  Have fun!