15 seconds of fame

While I detest my voice and the fact that I sound like an imbecile, it was a memorable experience to be interviewed by a newscaster from Atlanta.

Jeff and I were walking back from a SCUBA shop with whom he scheduled an outing and noticed a newscaster and cameraman getting a shot. Jeff and I stopped so as not to interfere with their shot and continued walking (apparently like a duck). The newscaster Jim Wallace of Atlanta WSFA 12, asked where we were from, why we were here etc., and asked about the oil spill, which Jeff and I being on vacation and not even turning on a t.v. or reading a newspaper had only just heard about. He asked if he could get our opinion on the the oil spill and the effects locally. I shrugged and said "sure". Now you will see my 15 seconds of fame and understand my determination to remain forever in infamy:-)

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=12417955# This will take you to the web page and the video clip is entitles "Beautiful beaches hope to stay that way.

My favorite thing about that experience: FINALLY getting to meet Jim Wallace

May 2nd Random kindness

So, there we were at the condo in Florida with no mode of transportation as we intended on doing everything with Dad and Stephanie. After learning that we could also not rent a car without 24 hour notice we headed out to find dinner. We were told that we could take the trolley to dinner. We started walking toward restaurants and hoped to catch the trolley. One did go by, but we were facing away from it, hence unable to flag it down.

Still, we walked on. By now my feet were really hurting because I was wearing only flip flops with NO arch support. They rubbed my feet raw. Still, we walked. We were informed that the last trolley of the evening had just passed us. Now you are probably wondering why we didn't just take a cab. We kept thinking that surely a restaurant of SOME kind would be near making it pointless to grab a cab. So, we walked...further...a LOT further. Everyone was in town for Thunder at the Beach. By now my feet were bleeding and I would have eaten at McDonalds! Now mind you have have walked at least twice the distance in tennis shoes without difficulty. It really was just the flip flops.

We came across a restaurant at long last called Coconuts. I just wanted to SIT. So sit we did at Coconuts. We had an AMAZING and irresistible meal there. My dinner was Linguine with Caribbean Alfredo sauce, pineapples, tomatoes, onion and jalapenos. I had it left over the next day. I intend to do my best to make it again! Not many people were in there the night we found ourselves there. I think they all went to Pineapple Willie's, a local meet market. Anyway, we asked the host to call a cab for us while we finished our meal. Meanwhile we started chatting with the restaurant owner who graciously offered to drive us back to the condo. I was so grateful I could have cried. Should our journeys take us back there we will definitely patronize that restaurant.

My favorite thing: knowing I would not have to walk BACK to the condo.

Over two months...

since my last blog. Time seems to have escaped me as does sleep these days.

So because I have so much to share, I am going to post little tidbits in several different entries.

I have had so many blessings, and favorite moments, that no doubt I will forget to mention some of them and if this personally affronts you, then my apologies in advance. I pray you gently remind me so that I might elaborate on my blog. My memory seems to be challenged these days in the face of menopause and all it's side effects.

I begin this reminder blog back on April 30th, 2010. We took a night flight down to Florida. We passed over Tennessee. I have done fairly extensive flying and NEVER in all my flights have I seen the likes of what I am about to attempt to put in to words. I have seen lightening from the airplane, I have seen it above and below, flown through clouds etc.

I do not typically sleep on planes, so despite my lack of sleep I was wide awake in the middle of the night flight and grateful. I even awoke a sleeping Jeff beside me to fully enjoy the spectacular sight.

As we flew over Tennessee we were unaware of what was to come. The storm that drenched Nashville, eventually flooded The Grand Old Opera amongst many other landmarks. For us however the light show was, bar none, the most spectacular storm viewed from above the clouds. The best way to describe the scene that unfolded before me looked like cotton laid out in layers with white chasing Christmas lights lighting up the cotton at various time and in various locations simultaneously.

Meanwhile Dad and Stephanie were on the ground driving through Tennessee, or rather attempting to drive through Tennessee. Eventually they ended up staying in Jackson for two days as the roads were flooded. So, their traffic and weather disaster was by far the most spectacular storm to view from the top.

My favorite thing: realizing the old adage of things being better at the top applies in many situations.