Fun On The Waterways

From My Videos

Kayak Adventure

The Beauty Of The Ocean

I went to the beach today and I was the only one there. I didn't go to Marco or Naples beach, I went to my beach in Chokoloskee Bay. I call it my beach because I am the only one who goes there regularly. It's not the most beautiful beach; the sand isn't pure white and the water is not azure blue. It's beautiful in a natural and unconstructed way. There are no obtrusive signs or man made obstructions. Nothing to point you in a specific direction or insult your intelligence by giving instructions pertaining to those with no common sense. Just nature and me, and of course the smell of dead fish from the recent cold snap (the smell is slowly subsiding, thank God!). This beach is the only place where I could just sit and look without feeling I needed to be doing something else. It never looks the same and just when I think it's the most beautiful site I've ever seen, the next day it's even more amazing. Calming, relaxing and tranquil.

Being in the water gives me a completely different feeling than looking at the water. Calming, relaxing and tranquil turns into anxious, unnerving and scary. Today was the best day weather wise since we've been here. It was warm and the wind was calm. I decided that it was the perfect day to kayak. Joe was out fishing so I was on my own. Almost as soon as I started padding, my mind started working overtime and I turned into Peter Benchley coming up with all kinds of scenarios all ending with me being eaten by some sea creature. I pictured the placid water being disturbed by a large shark breaking the surface and swallowing me kayak and all. There was no one else around. No boats to rescue me or to see what happened to me. I had my life jacket with me, but wasn't wearing it until I realized that if I had a seizure and fell overboard no one would ever find me and I would end up like the rotting fish on the beach. As I paddled along I saw the swirls made by fish that I had disturbed. Some of the swirls were small, others were as big as a 6' man; those are the swirls that freaked me out! I couldn't see through the water since it is so murky which made it even more scary. I saw something poking out of the water and I decided to investigate. I figured it was a coconut. The closer I got I could see that it wasn't a coconut.....oh my gosh it's a head! No it wasn't a head, it was a rock sticking out of the water. I decided to use my paddle to see how deep the water was. Again, because the water is so murky you can't see the bottom so 2' of water looks like 100'. Turns out I was in about 2-3' of water. Basically if I fell overboard all I would have to do to save myself is stand up. I decide to head back to shore and as I went a little farther, something bumped my paddle. That prompted an out loud scream which changed into a laugh when I realized that my paddle hit the bottom as I was now in only about 1' of water. How ridiculous! I needed to get out of there so I could relax. I though I would give myself a good workout and paddle as fast as I could to shore, plus it would help keep my mind from racing. You know how when you run up wooden stairs fast and it sounds like someone is following you? You have to turn around and look even though you know there is no way anyone is there. Well....paddling a kayak fast makes the same sound. Of course I had to turn around and look. I wasn't worried about "someone" being there, but "something" slimy and gross.

I need to stay out of the water and just stick to looking at it.

Labor Day Weekend Recap

I'm a little behind in posts, but I've been busy! After 16 hours sleep starting last Monday evening, and a good 8 hours the last 2 nights I think I'm good to go. What a great weekend! The only downfall was the uninvited guests. Not only were they annoying, they bit. Stupid mosquitoes. The weekend went by way too fast. There wasn't enough time to really visit with everyone. It still amazes me how our family is all spread out across the US but when we get together it's like we see each other all of the time. Joe said it's probably good that we don't live closer because with all of the antics that the boys pull someone would be getting hurt on a regular basis. Just for clarification when I say "boys", I don't mean the little ones. I mean the adult nephews.

Here is my abbreviated account of the weekends events.

Converged on Friday, got lost driving to the airport (Duh), laughed and hugged, ate beans, drank, raced go carts, ate more beans, viewed the ultrasound of Lauren and Kenny's precious baby, visited grandma, had a bonfire, got eaten alive by mosquitoes, drank some more, laughed our asses off, farted from the beans, ooh'd and ah'd over kids and babies, laughed and farted some more, watched an amazing video my children prepared for my birthday, cried and laughed, Shane farted, went to the farm, raced kayaks, drank, played games,jumped on the moon walk, Bryan beat me up with the boxing gloves on the moon walk (ouch), rode the 4 wheelers, shot guns, fished, ate lots of good food (especially the cheesecake that I ate with my fingers because I didn't want the fork to distract me from the yumminess), drove home in the rain, was sad there was no bon fire, drank, played cranium, Shane and Kyle cheated, Lauren gritted her teeth, watched kayak race videos on my computer because my TV broke (yah!), Shane, Kenny and Karl tried to blow up their lungs with an air pump, had to open windows to fumigate the house from the methane gas, got up early to take back moonwalk, got pissed because the a-holes weren't there, Dunkin Donuts closed for the day, took lots of pictures, hung out, everyone got ready to leave, There may have been more farting but I'm not sure (we were too sad to fart), tears and hugs, last group to the airport at 5:30, Delanie wanted to stay with me, went home, sooooooo sad that it was all over, went to bed, slept 16 hours.

I'm sure I missed something because it was definitely a busy fun filled weekend.

I have to tell everyone how touched I am that you took the time and effort to travel here and be here for my birthday and all of the festivities. This has been the best birthday of my entire life! I missed everyone that couldn't be here. Because we all live so far apart we could easily be out of touch and I don't want that to happen. I credit Lauren with helping us all stay a part of each others lives (and face book). She's relentless with her emails (I mean that in a good way). I want to thank my local family for all the help preparing for this weekend and Brian ,Lorrie and Julie for being so accommodating with all the craziness. Bryan and Amanda, the video you made for me is the most precious gift I have ever received. You're the best!

I love you all and will cherish these memories for the rest of my life.

PS: I'm still trying to figure out my new camcorder. I will have a funny video asap.

The One That Got Away

I decided to get my fishing license. I haven't fished in Florida for probably 2 years. I fished a lot when we first started coming down, but for some reason I've had no interest lately. Well, that all changed yesterday. I tried to catch some bait fish with a little net, but that didn't work. Then, I thought I needed to be out in the bay a little bit instead of on shore. I took the kayak out with my fishing pole. I wasn't out more than 10 minutes when I had a strike. Holy Crap! The fish was big, it bent my pole way down. Then it broke the surface....It was a huge Snook! The fish to catch in these parts. I was so excited! I wrestled with him for a few minutes (remember I'm in a kayak). He went around toward the back of the boat, jumped out of the water and broke free. SHIT! I apparently didn't set the hook properly. I believe that Snook would have been my record catch. It was probably even too big to keep. (They have to be between 26" - 36"). I know what you're thinking. It's a fish story, but I have witnesses. Seven to be exact. I had an audience the entire time I was fishing. I will not give up until I catch that SOB.