Thursday, August 20, 2009

A Weekend @ the Beach

So last Friday after work I hopped on a plane and headed to Orlando. After I landed safely I got in my rental car (Jeep Compass...kinda cool) and headed North to Daytona Beach.

At 1:30 am I arrived and as I could see and hear the waves crashing outside my window I knew this was going to be an excellent weekend! :)


Saturday morning I woke up to the sun shining and mother nature calling my name. This is Ormond Beach.





I took the camera in the water with me so here's some shots...the water was beautiful (a little cold at first) the water wasn't green...I'm still figuring out the settings in the sun. :)



After a little while in the water...I headed to my towel on the beach and just laid there soaking up the sun (with sunscreen of course) and just thinking what a wonderful Saturday this was and how lucky I was to be there.

While on the beach I was reading this.


Michael J. Fox has always been a favorite of mine and his story is pretty fascinating.

Back in the water to cool down. Then out again (you make notice a pattern). :)

There was this group of about 20+ adults and kids near me. They split up into 3 groups and decided to have a sandcastle building contest. They worked really hard for about an hour. It was interesting to watch. :)


Around 1 o'clock came the ice cream man driving down the beach...



...unfortunately I left my money in the room so no ice cream for me at this moment. But that was ok since I was about to go inside and clean off and then go in search lunch.

I ended up here for lunch. It's just a little place on the water in Ponce Inlet. I enjoyed the shrimp and strawberry margaritas and just watching the water and people on Jet Skis. :) I didn't take any pictures...I was too busy just relaxing. :)

Back to the hotel...but not before stopping at 7-Eleven (there's about 15 on this stretch of road) and purchased and massive Slurpee.

Sun, Sand, Sea and a Slurpee...honestly what more do you need? Life is good. :)



One of my favorite things about the ocean is watching the tide. In the morning it was way far away by the time the sun was setting it was so much closer...the cars parked on the beach were gone by this point. Well almost all of the cars were...I watched for about 30 mins as 3 lifeguard/beach patrol guys dug this one woman's car out of the sand. Man that was a mess!


After the sun went down I went back to my room and got ready for dinner. Saturday night was going to be hibachi night! I headed to my favorite place for Hibachi ...Sapporo Japanese Steakhouse. Here the master chef did his thing while I sat on the end of a table with people from Brazil, Uruguay and Florida...where Portuegse, Spanish and very little English was being spoke...except for this cool 14 (thought she was at least 18) year old Brazilian chick named Wanessa...who happens to be slightly obsessed with money...can't wait 'til she's living in the "real world." :)


Dinner was so delicious. Back to the hotel where I watched as the lightening flashed miles away over the water and the waves continued to crash. Such a great day!


Waking up Sunday was lovely as the sunshine once again came though my window.






*You don't understand how the brilliance of the Sun affects me...I spend at approximately 7 1/2 hours a day in my cave of an office (don't get me wrong I love my job...but my fake window doesn't cut it when it comes to sunshine.)

I decided not to take my camera with me this morning. 10 minutes into being on the beach, I kid you not, 20 guys (and 1 girl) in blue life guard shorts came running down the beach, past me, made a u-turn around a marker, back down the beach and end to ocean and around a bouy. They did this about 5 times while I was out there. It was sooo Baywatch



...only in blue. That'll teach me to always have my camera on me! lol

Anyways...I spent the next couple of hours in and out of the water. The current was crazy today. It felt like something was swimming between my legs...nope just the crazy strong current. :) I decided to let the water do most of the work. I would start off in front of my hotel but would eventually be carried about 5 hotels down. To get back I walked towards the beach and back down. Most definitely a workout!

For lunch I headed to Sunglow Fishing Pier, home to Crabby Joe's. I love this place. I think alot of it has to do with that the first time I came here was back in 2000 with Momma and Nana & Grandaddy. :)

Lunch consisted of a strawberry margarita...


coconut shrimp and hush puppies...



such greatness.

I spent the next 3 hours in the ocean...trying to get my fix until the next time I am near water.

I clean up and packed up and said good by to Ormond Beach.



Next stop was Orlando where I had dinner and spent the night with the coolest Floridians I know.

Meet Ray, Laurie, Evan, Josie, Ellie, Daley and Anselle Combs:


*I borrowed this picture.

The last time I saw them was 9 years ago...at that time there were only 3 of them. They are most definitely an awesome family! I was very thankful that they took me in for the night...since I had a 7:30 am flight the next morning. Each kiddo is truly an individual. I had a blast meeting all of them and witnessing wonderful chaos. :)

I hope it's not another 9 years before the next time I see them.:)

I got to the airport on time...just barely (I thought the flight was at 7:30 not 7). I had a safe flight and landed at DFW just in time to head into work...grr

much love