Jupiter Arrival

The View Outside my Jupiter, FL Condo

We arrived in less than 16 hours total travel time.
After some quick unloading, we headed off to the beach for some sand and fun.Not too bad--woke up in Maryland and after a long-ish drive are playing on a Florida beach before dark!  It is a bit longer than a day trip though!
Traffic was light and we really made good time but we saw lots of police keeping the speeds from becoming too outlandish.
It is good to be back after not coming here last year except as part of a couple day trips

Trucking

We made Florida about 1228 or about 28 minutes later than I wanted to.

But we are in Florida and are less than four hours from Jupiter.

Florida or Bust

Early Morning on the Beltway

In olden times we would be in a prairie schooner with the words emblazoned on the side. Today we are in the car some time about 0230 with Florida in front and home behind.
And so we are off and are already south of DC.
With the radio blasting it reminds me of being back in college when I used to make the trek from Ithaca to Miami.

I'm going to be a real bore

No, I'm not on vacation, yet.

But by this time tomorrow I should already have miles behind me as I trek to the beach climates.

And I love that I can instantly blog via email and with pictures from my iPhone. Did I say that I really like my iPhone. I still can't believe that I have adapted to it after so many years as a Blackberry high power user. (Thanks, Chris)

The packing is mostly complete--the last use items are being loaded into the bags for quick access.

We are still getting rain--last night I would guess close to two inches. Fortunately the lawn got mowed last evening just before the rain began. Literally, the rain was beginning to fall as I was making the last pass on the yard and parking the tractor back into the garage. My rain estimate is based of course on the level of water in the pool--so it is close but not scientific.

As for an update--Makayla is doing much better. We kept her on a water diet yesterday and began giving her boiled rice last night. The spewing has stopped and her eyes remain bright. She wasn't amused that I wouldn't give her my last piece of toast this morning--but we want her gut to really settle down before we start loading it up again with food, treats, and junk.

I really wish I didn't have to go to work today. Yesterday was a killer--just shy of 12 hours. Reminds me of high school when I used to work Fridays (or during the Christmas season) with Dad at the clothing store-- 9 to 9. Except there we got breaks for lunch and dinner. Yesterday--I didn't even have time for lunch and managed to straggle home for dinner. Thank goodness traffic was moving on the beltways as I was coming back from an afternoon meeting on the other side of D.C..

It is funny--as I sit here I can imagine the smell of beach in Jupiter and the tickle of the sand on my toes.

Like my puka shells, it transports me to a happy place.

And so with strains of Willie Nelson playing in my head--I head off for my last day of work for July 2010 and then it will be off onto the crowded roadways to add my small assistance to help sustain the economic recovery.

Early Morning - Makayla Wakes us up Sick

I heard the whine--and then I smelled it, the sure signs of a sick dog in the bedroom.

Never a pleasant way to start the day--especially when it is 4am and the mess is substantial--and not just confined to the bedroom but as we soon discover, is also in other locations around the house.

And the clean up is not easy--the washer will be busy all day cleaning rugs, towels and even bedding as the mess increased in size.

Makayla is being put on a strict water diet and confined to her cage until her gastrointestinal system settles a bit.

She hates the cage--but is taking it like a trooper. For our point--we are trying to contain the mess because it is really awful.

So we are up early watching TV and we are listening to a unhappy dog squeaking from her cage. Trying to settle her stomach and keeping her quiet.

A long day starting early. A sick dog and a huge mess still processing through the washer and dryer.

Vacation is only days away.

Monday Musings - July 12, 2010

1. The Orioles have a four game winning streak, tying their longest winning streak of the season and also, they completed their first road four-game sweep over another team since 1995. Is the season beginning to turn around? Will something miraculous happen during the stretch run to October?

2. It is amazing how quickly it passes--I noticed this morning that already the dawn is just beginning to break when I let Makayla out for her morning business. Just last week it was full daylight.

3. Well the World Cup is completed and Spain won. I was cheering for the Netherlands. It seems that the losers in this tournament were the teams I was cheering for.

4. BP is still playing in the Gulf of Mexico--but based upon their reporting, their stock increased in value overnight. Really? What about the clean-up efforts?

5. Is is vacation week--when the packing is done and the car is fueled sometime Wednesday night or very early Thursday morning, the blog will be heading south for the rest of the month!

6. There is a song that sings about "suntanned toes in the sand" --I'm so there.