As I moved forward with plans today, my mind kept returning to the calmness I had mustered in the face of those in place to help me yesterday. At one point, the helpers continually ignored my questions about my looming deadline. I felt I couldn't stand there while they got their act together but I had to. I thought "I am supposed to be elsewhere doing something else, not standing here being held up by ineptitude."
I guess a few hours sleep didn't help the waiting game. Instead, it brought out some righteous indignation -- or perhaps just plain crankiness. <smile> While most people had been helpful yesterday and most tried today, I just wanted the whole process to be over. <sigh> I realized that I needed to go to a happy place -- in my head if not physically. That brought a song to mind -- a tongue in cheek and somewhat irreverent lyric that played well in my head. It had a calmer, happy place in mind and noted the frustration with those who fail to help when they could. Seemed perfect for my feelings today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today I had time to ponder the nature of waiting. Things that were to occur did not happen on time. In some moments the waiting seemed to be over, only to have the end point snatched away again. Well, just a bit longer -- maybe. The day ended with the wait being pushed into tomorrow. There were tears of frustration and disappointment when two hours turned into 12. All of this was totally out of my control -- something that the control freak in me finds difficult to manage. <sigh> To deal with such anxiety, I often work through the future steps that will happen, which helps me manage expectations and deal with small unexpected events. Now, when a major change in expectations occurs, I can be thrown for a loop. One can't prepare for all eventualities, it seems. That control thing raising its ugliness again. <sigh>
While waiting, I took time to sit down in a restaurant to have a late lunch. While trying to catch my breath and re-centre, I realized that my brain was working through a series of lyrics while I was consciously relaxing muscles and focusing on breathing. The overhead music was familiar older songs that helped with the relaxation process. Imagine.-- Me finding music in the background noise of the busy building. <smile> These songs helped me to manage the moderate changes to my plans. When more time was required, I felt deflated. More waiting was not anywhere in my plans.
They say waiting teaches us patience. I'm not sure that is true. If we spend some time reflecting, we might at least learn something about how we react to world around us -- how we react to loss of control. From this, we may be able to strengthen our resolve to deal with future situations. It may not bring patience but it might bring new coping skills.
For the calming ability of music today, I will share one of the tunes heard at the restaurant -- one that speaks to music from the past. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The morning appointment today was at the bank to deal with the investment plan. While things seem to be looking up for the first time in a long time, I always feel stressed when making decisions such as this. We got through it all and I did a couple of errands then went home to finish a major task. While working away, I realized a song was playing in my head. I had mentioned it to a friend last week when discussing financial things. It always makes me laugh. I recall as a child asking what some of the words meant. So, the lyrics helped build my vocabulary <grin>.
I'll share the song with you all today in hopes it will bring a smile. I enjoyed the actor's delivery of this one. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Fidelity, Fiduciary Bank == Dick van Dyke (Mary Poppins)
The to do list was a lengthy one for today. Most items are time sensitive, which only adds stress on top of stress <smile>. When anxiety ramps up, I can find myself pacing around the house, and with the big open concept I now have there are circles that can be traversed so it doesn't really feel like back and forth pacing. <smile> The lack of focus on the task or tasks in front of me can be very frustrating. It takes some time, but once I notice it happening, I can stop and breath and try to recentre -- at least for a short time.
Music can help, too. My old iPod used to help. I'd plug it into my ears and focus on the writing, grading, etc that was in front of me. It is showing its age now and a charge doesn't last as long any more. Recharging takes a bit longer, too. It took me a while before I realized that not using the music player as I worked or walked was making a difference to how long it took me to calm. Interesting. I will need to see what new technology I can use instead. I suspect my fancy cell phone could do much of this for me. I just have to find the way that works best.
The song shared today has a title that says it all. When I have trouble hearing myself, listening to music helps. I even hear it in my head without any device that emits music -- hence, this blog <smile>. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Like yesterday, today was extremely hot. The humidity indoors made it feel very uncomfortable. The central dehumidifier ran most of the day and night and it still felt damp everywhere. Paper felt wet. Clothes hung to dry remained wet much longer than usual. Doing housework created more sweating and discomfort. The temperatures are supposed to drop in the next day or two, but the humidity will likely remain. It has that distinct tropical feel that we often get at this time of year. With all the storm action in the Atlantic, we get some residual weather. In some cases, we get the actual storms. The current monster storm, Lee, may be heading into Atlantic Canada. There have been several community meetings dealing with how to prepare for a major storm and building community support mechanisms with a focus on maintaining mental health. The latter has been a challenge for many people after the devastation of Fiona last September.
While trying to do some house work today, the title line of a song lyric ran repeatedly through my head. I will now pass that earworm along to you. <smile> Keep safe. Enjoy!
The Rolling Stones announced a new album today. This is the first in 18 years with new music. A few songs bring in other artists. This news presented a great example of not taking age as an excuse -- or order -- to stop doing what one loves to do. Pondering this announcement made me think that this also could be a type of resilience -- something I've been working through a lot since packing up and moving. These guys have been excellent business men with marketing tours, albums and songs. They understand their audience and built their brand and fan base with staying power.
Today I share a new single released as a teaser for the new album that will drop in October. I look forward to hearing more of the the new material.
This was a very busy day. The alarm woke me at 545AM. I had an early physio appointment today. After this, I ran a list of errands. For the first (and likely last) time, I was waiting in the mall parking lot for Canadian Tire to open at 8 AM. Anyone who knows me will agree that this sort of thing is not commonplace. I visited five places. I was home just before lunch. A good friend came by and we virtually attended a professional association meeting together, while having a light lunch. We also had some time to get caught up on our recent activities. We haven't had our usual weekly check in for a couple of weeks.
The weather provided variety today. There was fog when I left early this morning. This was followed by rain, drizzle, sunshine and then more clouds. The next two or three days will be hot with major humidity. Feel like temperatures are forecast to be 37C (98F) with actual temperatures sitting about 28C (82F). I can feel the humidity inside and outside. The dehumidifier has been running a lot today and will for the next few days. Then cloud and rain are expected. I did enjoy the mist on the hills this morning. It gave an ethereal quality to the earliness of the morning. A song title seemed to fit some of my thought about the fog and drizzle today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
I worked through a to do list today that had me calling a few people to clarify bills or make appointments. I received a call from the IT Help Desk in the early evening to note that my account had been restored. They were still having difficulties with the main platform, though. I will wait until tomorrow to give the thing a try. Getting into the midst of the authentication difficulties would not make me feel any better about things. <smile>
I noticed this evening that a burn I got while cooking supper last night is now visible and sore. It could not be seen last night, nor did it really hurt in any way. Then all of a sudden it made its presence known. <sigh> It isn't anything serious, just a small line on my forearm where it touched the edge of the pan. I am sure the thing will disappear quickly. It did bring a song line to mind though. Please forgive me this one <smile> I did share the shortened version. So, there's that <grin> Keep safe. Enjoy!
Waiting was the word of the day. I called to deal with an online account that told me I owed money on the account while stating that the balance was zero. So, I made a cup of tea and called the national number. The wait was only about 20 minutes. The last time I had to call, it was almost 50 minutes. So, I took that as a good thing. It seems that one of the quarterly payouts was reduced by the amount I owed, which explains the different messages. Interesting though, that they did not have a note detailing how the amount owed had been paid. Then I called the MD office to get started on the fall flu vaccine acquisition. We were unable to get the preservative free dose last year. The receptionist was working on her own today and was unable to find the high risk form necessary to start the process. That is where we got bogged down last year, too. <sigh>. She will find it or get one from the vaccine distribution centre. So -- I was at the office well over 30 minutes waiting to speak with the receptionist.
Being in the same building as the MD, I returned something to the grocery store there and then picked up one needed item. I stood in what appeared to be the shortest line with the smallest orders. We were there for at least 20 minutes. The woman ahead of me told me I could go ahead of her. I thanked her and noted I'd been waiting in lines all day and another one wouldn't be an issue. She'd been having a bad day, too. We spent the time comparing the costs of things year over year. Yeah. That helped us both feel better <sigh>.
The longest wait involved the IT department on campus. I was unable to login to my account today. A call to the help desk soon let me know that they thought I was no longer affiliated with the university. This has happened several times, since the research position must be renewed annually. My appointment end date is August 31. Most are June 30. I had to make a call to the Academic VP office and ask if they could let the IT folks know that a letter had been sent from the AVP earlier in the summer with a list of all of the appointees. This message was sent to IT admin folks right away. I stopped on campus just to ensure things moved forward. It was a bit of a wait while the newbie on the help desk went back and forth with the admin person (who was in a meeting elsewhere this afternoon). She did send a note to the systems folks asking that they reinstate my account asap. My cell number was attached to the work order so someone should let me know when I can get to email and such again. I did check tonight and nothing had changed yet. So, I wait. <sigh>
One line from a song kept running through my head today. I kept my cool while waiting at all these places but it was still frustrating. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Tired of Waiting for You -- The Kinks
-- Waiting was the word of the day -- called MD for appt many times, finally went to the office and waited 30 minutes -- only one person on reception desk -- Then returned an item to store and bought one -- the latter took another 30 minute wait in line to pay -- crazy busy with all university students stocking up their new digs -- To IT services after a phone call that I waited for -- I had to go to campus to get them to reinstate my account which was shut down in error again -- failure to communicate between two sections of services -- Had to get AVP office to contact the Help Desk admin person who asked newbie at the desk to send info to systems folks to fix asap -- it didn't get done today, so still waiting on that one.
Sunshine and blue sky were present throughout the day. The warmer weather was tempered by a light breeze in some areas. I took a longer walk than usual, investigating another street. I chose to walk up a new street instead of doubling back the way I came. Up was the operative word. The road provides a constant low grade incline. It will be something to challenge myself as I get back into walking regularly. I have missed the daily walks since the end of packing and the unpacking. Those are both physical pursuits, but not the same relaxing outcome as a good walk.
I've been looking for some assistance with tasks at the new place. Today when asking if a neighbour knew of someone who could help, I was surprised to hear that they were able to assist. How cool is that? People keep telling me that it is a supportive and friendly community here. This action demonstrated this well.
I spent the late afternoon working on catching up with the blog. With this entry, I am now caught up. Any odds on how long that might last? <grin>
I chose this song due to the chorus that emphasizes that we focus on the positives. Today made that easier than some days. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Sunshine and warmth filled the air today. I did some cleaning and blog catch-up work. A late afternoon walk felt good and I got to wear my skort instead of jeans -- just like summer. <smile> While working around the house, I had a movie playing in the background -- "Where the Boys Are" from 1960. It was an early career role for a few stars -- Yvette Mimieux, Connie Francis, Paula Prentiss, George Hamilton, Jim Hutton, and Frank Gorshin. It wasn't a beach movie, but rather a social commentary on male and female interactions. It took place in Florida during Spring Break, which offered much in the way of boy meets girl plot lines. One story was particularly raw and emotional, even in the sterilized presentation of the early '60s. I found that story difficult where Yvette Mimieux played the role of a young woman who was sexually assaulted. It opens many conversations as this could be a group of college kids today.
The title song for the movie was sung by Connie Francis. I found this a bit disturbing, given her future brutal assault in the early 1970s. All in all, the movie was a bit unsettling. Lots to ponder for sure. Nonetheless, I've chosen the title song to share today because I love her vocals. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Yesterday on my walk I headed to a local farm stand just 10 minutes from the new place. It runs on the honour system. I was greeted by Hank, the great yellow lab. The shed held many wonderful things. I came home with cherry tomatoes. They are so sweet, I seem to be eating them out of the basket as they sit on the kitchen counter <smile>. I was there after lunch, so many items were no longer available. They did have two types of potatoes, flower bouquets, large slicing tomatoes, roma tomatoes and beets. I will need to head out in the morning to get a larger variety of things. Again, I was reminded of how great it is to have such direct contact with food growers.
The news today brought a sad story. Jimmy Buffett died. His music combined country, pop and Caribbean rhythms. He built an empire around the music with restaurants, hotels and clothing stores. He wrote many books. Both fiction and non-fiction works entered the New York Times best sellers lists. Buffett wrote many songs and composed music for several television programs. His focus was on finding the joy in life and communicating that message to people everywhere. Thankfully, there is much available to help maintain the Margaritaville state of mind. Choosing songs was tricky; after all, there are 29 albums from which to choose. I picked two for their lyrical stories. Keep safe. Enjoy!
While washing up after a late supper, I noticed an orange light out the patio window. It was a stunning moon on the rise in the eastern sky. This moon is a supermoon and a blue moon (as the second full moon of August). Now, due to rainy weather, I didn't see it as a full moon, but today did not disappoint. The moon was huge and such a deep shade of orange -- a colour I've rarely seen with the moon. The light was very bright -- fantastic moonlit night. Where I currently live far less light pollution is present. At the other place, there was a giant super bright light on the neighbouring house porch to light up the large back yard. In so doing, my living room was like daylight. Out the back window of that house were the two bright lights on the graveyard, one of which lit up the kitchen. Here, there are streetlights, but they focus downward rather than into the buildings. As a result, it is much darker here. I can see stars along with the moon tonight, too.
A song floated into my brain when standing and watching the moon tonight. The song was distributed through a major coffee purveyor -- one of the first to use this form of publication. Keep safe. Enjoy!
I've realized often that the house has a decided echo. I don't have anything up on the walls yet. I expect that this might dampen the sound bouncing around. I think the furry one recognizes this, too. He has been known to sit in the hallway and make a howling sound. I'm sure it sounds different to him than it did at the other dwelling.
The echo makes me think of the emptiness of the space. I still have to add the personal touch to the walls. I will make notes of where artwork would fit. I will need to get some new removable hanging devices since there is much wood on doors and such that isn't thick enough to hold a screw- or nail-based apparatus. It will get there. There are boxes to deal with for bookshelves and office setup as well as those that need to be organized into the storage shelves in the garage. Those and the pictures will be the next round of unpacking.
A song came to mind today that fit some of my recent travels and the wall situation. It made me giggle. I hope it brings a smile your way today. The song is about an imaginary place, though it is said to have been inspired by the Beaches area in Toronto. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today we had the major rain that the heavy rainfall warnings had promised. The pouring rain was very loud on the roof. Post tropical weather patterns can be devastating. Flooding did occur in some areas. I had planned to be at home today with no need to be on the roads. I'm glad I did that. I did a couple of short phone meetings to arrange for an in-person meeting next week and tie up some other bits of business. I felt a bit yucky today, so was glad to be home where I could rest.
I did very little today other than look out the window at the rain. A song about standing in the rain seemed to fit the day. I hope that no one is out in this mess, though. Keep safe. Enjoy!
A multitude of small tasks were completed today. I bit the bullet and got a new rate plan for the mobile phone. I hope it works as well as I think it might -- more data and more talk than in my current plan and for just a few dollars more. I had a virtual meeting with a friend and research colleague in which we discussed our respective household moves. We also looked at where we left the research paper before we took time away to pack and unpack. That helped things begin to feel a bit more usual. I went to campus to print a couple documents. While there I got caught up with a friend who was deep into preparation for the start of classes next week. Again, this conversation helped me to feel connected and within a recognizable rhythm.
I miss the buzz on campus during the start of the fall term. Town is filled with cars -- both student and parent owned. Grocery and other larger stores were filled with people getting ready for school. From elementary grades to university years, school supplies and outfitting apartments can leave stores in town looking rather bare. I lived in residence as an undergrad, and apartments and houses as a grad student. I do miss the excitement of getting back to res with my dad driving me and all the books and stuff. It was a special time in so many ways.
The possibility that comes with the start of a new school year brought me to a few lines of a song lyric. Keep safe. Enjoy!
When I went to check the mail today, the day was so warm and sunny that I took a longer walk. I stopped at the main office and noted that there was a problem with the door to the main bathroom. The door clearance is higher on one side than the other. It needs adjustment at the hinges. (The door hinge and latch were fixed within a couple of hours -- a refreshing change from where I've been for years.) While out I met two people who have been here for two or three years. I had a lengthy chat with one woman also out for a walk. When I got home she was walking down my street and introduced me to another woman from up the street. It is pleasant to meet other people who live in the complex. I felt meeting these two made up for the two bills in my mailbox today <smile>
I'm trying to find a place or space in this new neighbourhood. I feel like I don't yet belong. Slowly, I'm seeing people and getting to know some of them by sight and name. It will take time. I've heard it said that one must be in a new place through four seasons before things feel more like home. There is hope, then <smile>. I chose a song about a person who felt they didn't fit their new surroundings, but were determined to remain who they were when they moved. Keep safe. Enjoy!
The main word of the day -- Rain. This major rain event comes from the remnants of the tropical system Franklin. It rained overnight and all day with sporadic heavy downpours. I spent a quiet indoor day listening to musical documentaries and doing some light cleaning. I am glad that I purposely made sure there was nothing that I needed to do outside the house. I had a couple of phone meetings. One noted that there was flooding around town. The construction area where the four lane highway is being turned into two lanes and an active transport corridor became a mud pit. Forecasts stated that we would get 50-75 mm (2-3 inches). I heard thunder briefly twice -- once overnight and once during the day.
While this was going on outside my window, hurricane Idalia was wreaking havoc on Florida and then Georgia and the Carolinas. So, I guess the hurricane season is picking up as it does in late summer with warmer ocean temperatures.
Watching the rain outside my windows today brought a song to mind. The lyrics nicely describe the movement of raindrops. I like this Eva Cassidy's cover of the Paul Simon tune, though she does omit a verse in the middle. So, I went with the original. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Clouds rolled in early in the morning and thickened as the day progressed. In the late morning, a friend and I visited a local food grower. He has a lovely garden, apple and pear orchard, and bee hives for honey. He had some items in quart and pint baskets ready to sell -- onions, garlic, tomatoes and such. For most things, we walked through the garden and chose what we wanted. I got some eggplant, jalapeno pepper, red onion and artisanal pears -- a variety developed in France in the late 1800s -- Giffard variety. They melt in your mouth and taste sweet with a bit of a tang. I love connecting with where food is grown and with growers. It adds to the appreciation of food. We got home just as some spitting rain began. We are expecting a lot of rain over the next day.
The visit and food purchase early in the day brought a song about farming to mind. Keep safe. Enjoy!
It has been an interesting Friday. I woke early with some anxiety but things seemed to improve as the day progressed. The doorbell rang around noon. It was my newly moved in neighbour bringing me muffins and fresh biscuits. Cool. I'm not sure when or if that has occurred in the past. They were yummy and figured prominently in my lunch today <smile>. I then headed to campus to deliver some mail and chat with a friend for a bit. That helps me get things in perspective. I then went to a larger store only to find the return process was a bit wonky since they'd had a system outage in the early morning hours. All worked, it was just a bit different to get the return onto the card. My last stop of the day was to fill the gas tank. I'm down to two bars and it starts binging at me at one bar. They must have had the same system disruption, but had not gotten anything up and operating correctly again. So -- it was a cash only business with prepay required. Now, I only had $25 cash, which won't get me far at the pump, so that errand will wait until next week.
On such days, we become aware of just how dependent we are on technology. So many basic activities require connection. When systems go down, it creates much consternation and angst. It is inevitable. Technology of any sort has always come with a risk of failure and the same reactions from people when such failures manifest. The lyrics of the song shared today describe the depth with which we are involved with technology for all parts of life. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today began with all the garbage, recycling and compost NOT being picked up by the waste company. We left it for a while in case the trucks were behind or they were short a driver or something. We ended up taking it all into the garage later in the evening. <sigh> I will investigate this in the coming days.
This sunny day had brilliant blue sky. We decided to head out to the Culloden cairn north of town. It was made by Scottish settlers whose families had been part of this battle of highlanders against the English King. It was a short and devastating battle for the Scots. After this wearing tartan was outlawed, clan castles were demolished, survivors of the battle were imprisoned and many sold into indentured servitude in England and the Americas. Finding the local monument can be difficult as it is a small gate and turnout that would hold two vehicles. I always hurtle past it before turning around and heading back. With my friend there, it was easier with the extra pair of eyes. <smile> The walk through the forest showed the devastation of hurricane Fiona from last September. This is where the strongest gusts occurred during the storm that left 1/3 to 1/2 of the trees uprooted or downed. The pathway had been cleared and many trees removed, but there are so many more damaged. It made me a bit sad. When we got to the clearing on the cliff things were so very clear and the view stunning. The cairn and settlers graveyard overlook the Northumberland Strait. With the clarity of the day, we could see Prince Edward Island. The vistas did not disappoint.
After supper, we visited with friends in town. It was a fun evening -- great company, super play list, yummy food and a wonderful new-to-me cabernet sauvignon. I'm glad we all got together before my friend leaves tomorrow.
I chose a Scottish song with lyrics that are said to refer to the flight of Prince Charles (Stewart) after the battle of Culloden. Pipes and bodhran accompany the lovely vocals in this version. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Woke early today and found the furry one in distress -- definite pain involved. We ushered him into a carrier and drove to the vet just after they opened. We left him there for tests. It didn't appear to be a urinary blockage as I'd thought it might be, so they will run some labs and do xrays. They called me around noon to let me know that there didn't seem to be anything outstanding but it could be a pinched nerve. We picked him up just after the office lunch break. The vet went over the labs and showed me the xray where things look reasonable except for the possibility of a small disc issue in his back. They hydrated him since the labs looked like he hadn't been drinking or eating, which was likely overnight. The tech quietly told me what the cost was. I asked her to repeat it. The practice now operates under a large vet med clinic company and boy howdie did the price reflect that. Whew! She set up the machine for me twice and it wouldn't accept my tap. I was too stunned to think -- a tap wouldn't work for the figure I was trying to pay. So, third time was the charm -- so to speak. He had a dose of anti-inflammatory on board so was a bit lethargic. I have more liquid med to give him for the next 10 days. They tell me it is chicken flavoured; we shall see <smile>. So good to have my friend with me today to have my back during all the craziness.
While we recuperated from the medical issue, my friend updated my living room table lamp so LED bulbs will work with it. The socket was fried a few years back and now it works again <smile>. An antique floor lamp needed similar attention, but proved to be more involved. We got different connector parts in hopes it would work. I will need to find an electrician who does this type of conversion.
After the stresses of the day, this song came to mind. It has a calming effect in the music and the lyrics. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Quiet and alone describe the day. The furry one even looked around for our friend who returned home yesterday. My feelings were all over the map today. The furry fellow is doing better -- a bit each day. I spent the afternoon running errands at five local businesses. I spoke with a local friend later in the afternoon which helped me feel less alone.
Overall, I was very tired today. A lot happening this week that creates stress and some anxiety, both of which cause fatigue and interrupt sleep patterns. A song with positive lyrics -- like many of this Canadian band's tunes -- came to mind. I like the message about music and keeping your eye on the dream. Keep safe. Enjoy!
We woke early to get on the road to the airport for my friend's trip home. The day was pleasant for driving. The flight out of Halifax was delayed, but only 15-20 minutes. We knew that before leaving the house. It was a bit later leaving. Luckily the connecting flight was delayed, too. That wasn't clear until my friend had almost run through the airport to get to the gate in time for the original boarding time. All four legs of the trip here and back were late leaving and arriving. The first one dealt with and equipment issue so a new plane had to be brought up. The other three were 'operational' issues -- a vague term used to avoid dealing with the recompense necessary in the new travelers' rights legislation. <sigh> I hope that loophole gets closed soon.
No matter how long they stay, visits from a friend always feel too short. Even with an idea of when we'll see each other again, saying goodbye is difficult. The house feels too quiet for a few days. I'm often reminded of a song title on days like this. I'll share that here today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
Today was aa bit cooler with more clouds. We did take a quick drive to Pomquet Beach just east of town. A sorter drive than yesterday. We walked along looking at rocks, major driftwood and the cloud formations. Sadly, there were a lot of mosquitos in the area and we did leave with bites <sigh>. I never thought of taking bug repellent -- silly me.
Found a fun song that fit the walk today. Keep safe. Enjoy!
No Me Moleste Mosquito (The Mosquito) -- The Doors
Today was a lovely warm day with blue sky and bits of puffy clouds. So, we headed to Cape Breton to Inverness Beach. It is a long drive, but the scenery was amazing as you drive through the mountains along the shore. Further north is the Cabot Trail. That is a two day drive that we chose to save for another day. <smile> The beach was delightful. Parking was a challenge, but we got one down by the wharf and walked up. Many golfer out on the links just above the beach. The sun was very hot on our backs as we walked out. The water felt cold today, so a short dip of the toes was all that occurred. <smile> This beach is known for sea glass and shells. We found some great rocks and I have one on my kitchen window sill with those from other beaches and areas I've visited across the country.
We arrived back at the house in time to change clothes and head out for a great dinner. We both chose the same thing -- penne with lobster and haddock in Thai green curry with spinach and grilled broccoli. Amazing dish -- true fusion here. <smile> We had mozzarella sticks that were stuffed with pesto and prosciutto served with a nice red sauce -- they needed more of the sauce, though. <smile> We chose a great malbec to go with dinner. After that, we were stuffed, so settled for a truffle for dessert. I had a white chocolate and lime flavour that was just right for the end of great meal.
I'm so glad we had a great day without rain so we could go out to a beach today. The beach was fun even though it was a short visit. I chose an instrumental to share today. The title fit with what we were doing as we walked along the beach. Keep safe. Enjoy!
