Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Peace & Quiet

Another Writing Prompt from Mama Kat

Time for a break! Show us where you go for quiet time.

Quiet time?! Pppfftttthhh, yeah, right... I can't even pee in peace anymore, since having kids... For some quiet time, I used to just go to my back yard... when I was single and my yard wasn't torn up from the dog(s) and hubby's hobbies (ie motorcycles, four wheelers, lawn mowers, and other miscellaneous crap) and I used to have nice green grass back there. Now I can't stand to look at it, let alone sit back there for any peace and quiet.

So... where do I go??? Well, if and when I can actually leave the chaos behind, here's where I try to go. (Or if I can't, here's where I fantasize about going...)

The Beach... I LOVE going to the beach, especially in the early morning. There's just something so peaceful about it. The sound of the waves rolling in, the coolness of the morning air (before it turns 2000 degrees here in Florida,) the smell of the ocean and the salt air.... *sigh*

Panera Bread... Ok, call me weird, but this has become one of my new favorite places. Yeah, yeah, I know it's been around for a while, but we just recently got one in our town and I'd never been to one before. Yes, I'm out of the loop, but whatever. I'm there now and that's what matters. Anyway, I just love this place. And it's not the food that brings me back... don't get me wrong, the food's great, but it's the atmosphere that gets me. Especially when it's not really busy. I love the soft music, the lighting, the seating, etc. It just makes me feel like I'm on vacation or something. Maybe because it's new to me, I don't know. But Panera Bread is one of my Get-Away's. I've already told my family that if I ever run away during one of my Mommy-Meltdowns, to look for me there first.

Yes, I realize that this is a video game and it doesn't actually exist, but if I can get hubby to take Little Man outside to play and I can get a few minutes of "No One Bother Me" time, then I stick my headphones on and play. It's great for when I can't leave the house, don't have time to leave the house, or am just plain lazy and just want to sit and relax and forget the world around me. I get "in-game" and enjoy a world where the Real World and all it's problems don't exist. Yes, I'm a gamer and I'm proud of it. Of course, the people I play with in-game don't realize I'm a 42 year old pregnant woman, but that's ok.

Now this wooded area would be nice. Back when I grew up in Pennsylvania, I used to go hiking in the woods for hours at a time. It was the most blissful time I've ever had in my life. I really miss being able to do that. But down here in Florida, there are too many poisonous bugs and creepy crawlies to be able to do that on a regular basis. Although, I'd gone hunting with a friend down here before and it was almost as good. Very nice, very peaceful, but there's just something about the cool mountain air that sets PA apart. Wish I'd have had a camera back then to take pics while hiking. There were so many great spots that would have made amazing photos.

5am... Ahhhh, my best chance of escaping for some quiet time. Puts a whole new meaning to "It's five o'clock somewhere!" for me, anyway. I come out to my recliner in the living room and do whatever it is that I want. Usually I get on the computer, but sometimes I'll read or crochet, write or sketch... anything that's a quiet activity. The rest of the house is asleep and I remain undisturbed for a little while... depending on when Little Man figures out that I'm out here. But sometimes, I can take him in to snuggle with Daddy and I'll squeeze maybe another hour out of the morning to myself.

So, there you have it. My escapes. I'm glad I did this writing prompt. It was actually quite peaceful just writing about it. Of course, I've been up writing about it in the wee hours of the morning, but it's made me feel refreshed. I wonder if I can sneak in a quick drive to the beach.....?

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Happy Summer!

Today, June 20th, 2012, just after 7pm, our northern hemisphere officially hits SUMMER!

Are you kidding me? It's been so hot for so long, summer's only now just beginning?! Of course, the pregnancy hormones haven't helped my temperature gauge at all, but still... here in Florida, we've been celebrating "summer" for a while now. People have been flocking to their pools, to the beach, etc. for weeks (dare I even say months) now. Of course, we didn't really have a "winter" this past year either. Not that we actually have winter, per say, but we usually get a few weeks of cold weather (and yes, it goes below freezing, hence the rise in prices of oranges and orange juice most years) in order to give us a nice mini break from the heat.

And let me tell you, after growing up in Pennsylvania, with the "dry cold" weather, the humidity of Florida makes the cold ten times worse! The only saving grace is that it's usually so brief, it's almost not worth mentioning. Except for the fact that this year we didn't get any of that. UGH, the mosquitoes are going to be horrendous this summer! They already are, actually. So, between the pregnancy heat hormones and the bugs, my lily white skin will stay very white this summer... yet again! No tan for this chick. Got plenty of those in my 20's and probably too many and too much, but I've made up for it by never going in the sun once I hit my mid to late 30's. After my divorce from my first husband, I hit the beaches for a while yet... but then the heat started getting to me and it just wasn't as enjoyable as it used to be. Guess my body's chemistry changed too much. I still love the beach, I just don't go out when it's disgustingly hot.

So, anyway, enjoy your summer and if you missed it, check out my St. Augustine, FL Staycation and if you're not in or close to St. Augustine, check out the Staycation links for other areas around the United States for other great Staycation ideas.

What will you do this summer?

St. Augustine Beach Sunrise

Friday, June 8, 2012

Upsy Daisy Day

Today is Upsy Daisy Day... My son loves the show, In the Night Garden, so when I hear this, I think of one of the weirdest characters ever. She totally creeps me out. Thankfully, he likes the Pontipines more, but that's mostly because they're constantly making farting noises. (he's all boy, go figure!) Personally, I like Maka Paka the best out of the show's characters, but that's neither here nor there...

But, despite the fact that she's my least favorite character, in honor of Upsy Daisy Day, I'll post her picture. Even though I'm sure that's not what this day was intended for, but you'll be hard pressed to find much else other than some actual daises when searching on the internet.

Actual Definitions:

upsy-daisy

Upsy daisy is what you say to a child you are lifting up or to a child who has fallen down and who you want to stand back up again. (interjection)

An example of upsy daisy is what you say to your daughter as you lift her up.

See upsy-daisy in Webster's New World College Dictionary:

upsy-daisy

(interjection)

up you go: used playfully or for reassurance, as in lifting a small child

up·sy-dai·sy

interjection

(used, as for reassurance, at the moment of lifting a baby up.)

Origin:

1860–65; compare earlier up-a-daisy, dial. up-a-day, perhaps up + (lack)aday, ( lack ) adaisy; -sy perhaps to be identified with -sy

On a slightly more disturbing note... as I was looking for the nice pic above, I typed in "holding a child in the air" (because upsy-daisy only give pics of the creepy character and a few daises) and as I was going through the pics, I came across this one:

It's a "hold up"... it's a "child"... it's a child performing a hold up... Sheesh!

Anyway, I love the pic of the mother and child, but I'm also partial to daises, so here's one of those too...

And didn't I say it's amazing what you find? Well, when searching for a picture of a daisy, I found the Droste Daisy:

Go ahead... Google "Daisy" yourself... if you don't believe me. Cool pic, though, huh?

Of course, being a huge Disney fan, I certainly can't leave out Miss Daisy Duck, herself!

Today is also World Ocean Day and National Name Your Poison Day (which is interesting.) Personally, I just love the ocean and those of you who know me are probably wondering why I didn't use that one as today's main theme... well, I thought the Upsy-Daisy one was more fun. The ocean is beautiful and calming, but not generally funny.