Wow! It has been some time!

So, it has been some time since I posted! My computer went down and since it is summer and I was traveling quite a bit of June I couldn't get it in until July. After a bit of wait time I finally have access again!

I did attempt to post once from my phone but within 10 minutes I was completely frustrated and gave up. My hubs thought something was terribly wrong and kept checking on me trying to understand what I was doing. Once I gave up, he made a point to ask me what the Hell I was thinking and laughed his ass off! Such a supportive husband!



Eating Gator

I had three trips planned this summer. First, I went to Florida as a group sponsor for a Marine biology trip. Florida was hot but we had a great time exploring and gaining new experiences. We were able to swim with dolphins and even have one pull each of us around the pool. It was probably the best experience of the trip. It was amazing to see so many animals from an ecosystem that needs water to thrive. Emily and I even ate gator. Most of the kids thought we were crazy! We toured the Everglades and took an air boat ride as we hunted gators with our camera. At one point a gator scared a group of kids. They were never in danger but it was totally funny.  

The Enola Gay

After returning to my dry hot desert home I packed and headed to Virginia. I was given a great opportunity to attend the JASON National Convention. On the first night, we were wined and dined at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. With the museum closed, we were given a private tour before dinner and it was AMAZING! So much history to take in. One of the best parts was having the opportunity to see the Enola Gay, the plane that made history by dropping the first Atomic Bomb. 



 

  Then our dinner was served just under the nose of the Space Shuttle Discovery! AMAZING! I have always been fascinated by all things space and has been my dream to see an actual shuttle up close. It was the best dinner hands down! Who cares what the food tasted like the view was spectacular. Ok, the food was good as well. The potato side was everyone's favorite.

 

The next day we headed out to kayak but ran into an issue with the bus. On our way down a back hills road we came across a bridge that was labeled with a height of 11'8''. The driver being the experienced one said no problem, the bus was 11' 4". Many of us were concerned but hey, I've never driven a bus before who was I to say anything, right? Can you guess what happened next? If you guessed that we got stuck, you are right! The bus didn't make it. Nope, the roof caught on the bridge and began to pull away scaring the holy hell out of me! We were stuck. If the driver reversed the roof moved back but what was done was done. We needed a way out. How many science teachers does it take to figure out a solution? All 49 of them. Air was let out of the tires to lower the bus, all passengers moved to the front of the bus to weigh the front of the bus down so we could reverse, and a passing motorist leaped on the top of the bus and stood on the roof as the bus reversed! There were other suggestions like when the driver reverses everyone at the front jump and when we land the bus will lower and the driver should gun it, yeah I think we had an imposter with us. Eventually the bus was freed from the evil bridge and our day went on but later that evening after the kayaking and on our way to dinner the head guy in charge noticed something on the dash of the bus and quietly pointed it out to those of us in the front rows just loud enough so the driver couldn't hear. There was a sign clear as day that read "bus height 12'8".

 What was supposed to be a 4 mile trek down the Shenandoah River turned into 8. Did you get that? It was SUPPOSED to be a 4 mile trek but NO! I had to go and follow the wrong dumbass person. Yeah, I thought I was following one of our guides but nope, not so. Oh, and I wasn't the only one! When we realized that something was wrong it was too late. We ended up kayaking back UP river to a point when we could go no further due to the rapids and waited about 2 hours before the rest of the group caught up (we waited that long because the group we were waiting on decided to stop and snorkel looking at rocks). Then we continued back down river to where we had ended up the first time. Most of the river was calm and peaceful and I did have a great time. It was just relaxing enough to tell myself that I'd like to go again.Needless to say by the time we arrived back at the hotel I was exhausted. Unfortunately, I didn't have a water proof camera so this photo is all I have from my kayaking adventure.

The rest of the trip was typical conference and learning, nothing worth discussing.

My last trip was supposed to ne Vegas for the "Love N Vegas" authors convention. I have wanted to meet Pepper Winters since I first read "Debt Inheritance". Sadly life got in the way and I could not make the trip.

Having said all that I have been reading, reading, reading. Many good and many not so good. Hopefully in the next few I will be able to sit down and begin addressing them.. Till then...