Easter brunch, splashing in the rain, lobster rolls- fortunate

so much going on. i have fallen behind because i have multiple irons in the metaphorical fire. let's see, how about we start with my favorite thing-yesterday i met up with my friends for lobster rolls! we did the curbside pick up thing (from different cars), then drove out to longboat key to eat them and just enjoy the bayside view from a restaurant parking lot. this was the first time mermaid's pies and produce has been open for several weeks, so it was certainly a treat!! please ask how many times i have driven by and looked for the open sign! and here's the best part- a friend had seen that i was going, because i had post something about it, and he venmo'd $ to enjoy my treat!! #randomactsofkindness #COVOD19-style now to pass along the kindness!

best lobster rolls around! 

it had rained almost all of last week, after a long dry spell. in fact, so dry that there had been a burn ban in effect for quite some time...in fact the pond out near my parking lot looked like two big puddles, it was that dry. it has since filled in quite nicely, as it seems we are moving into some rainy season activity. also, some of the first turtles have begun laying nests.

ah, the rain!

so last week i went out for a walk and parked by the little maritime museum in cortez and walked over the bridge toward my favorite beach park because there is still no parking there, and beaches have yet to open. as i was walking down gulf drive, there was a large puddle in front of one of the motels and that was were i was walking when it happened. it was still dark out, but there were street lights...and i had on a bright coral long-sleeve, apparently not bright enough. an 18-wheeler, going much faster than necessary, hit that puddle like he had every intention to see how high he could make the puddle fly. i got soaked, and i my immediate reaction was to yell some unseemly things that should never be repeated. for an instant i considered returning to my car (i was about halfway through my walk, sopping wet, and a bit chilly), but i kept going...partly in hopes that the driver would have stopped ahead with engine problems and i might be able to get off a good throat punch and knee to the groin... i was driven for at least the next 7 minutes. then as approached the park, the sun was rising, and i was rewarded with the most beautiful sunrise! and a bit further down, i had to stop and take in the beach view, since it's been so long! then i made my way back to where i had parked, thankful that my car hadn't been towed.

gorgeous, no?

on the way home i walked on the opposite side of the street, but there's the puddle lake

i forgot treats, so they were not up for Easter pics...i'm sure everyone has experienced this with their families as well.

and for Easter, i listened to an online message and watched a special, then went over to do brunch with my friends shea and patrick. i took some mini brie/gruyere/carmelized onion quiches, and they had put together some eggs, bacon, and the 'piece de resistance' KANAKUK KAMP CoffeeCake! amazing!

YUM!

we caught up for a bit, then i went home for a bit to take a nap, before reconvening with 3 other friends to do an egg-hunt with snacks, chit-chat, social distancing around the pool, and then patrick's homemade noodles with pesto! yummers! good to see the crew-safely.

did you notice how there are 4 separate stations to sit at?! #playingbytherules

the past few weeks have been an inspiring time to create my own cards and stationery because, as we know, i like to write letters, and at this time, the store really doesn't have much that suits my needs! plus, it's been a great outlet to use some pent-up creativity! (much inspired by a video that one of my friends shared with me!).

these are a few-i've already sent a few others out...spread the joy!

in other news, there have been some fun video conferences for work and play. and this afternoon, i was inspired to try whipped coffee-one of my friends posted a pic of hers, and i've had something saved because i'd been meaning to try it for quite sometime. i happened to find some instant decaf, and thought, 'JACKPOT!" because this meant i didn't have to go to the store! but unfortunately when i opened it, it had all disintegrated/melted together...something, but it was definitely not good. gosh, how long had i had that canister, yikes! so i did in fact have to go to the store...and in my hurry, i parked the car and realized that i had forgotten my debit card at home...(zero motivation to go back), so i fished around in my coin jar, and had $2, so i opted for the dollar general next door to get a mini-jar of instant coffee to do this thing!

 i made the first batch and spooned it over some iced-coffee- not bad...but i wasn't convinced. so i followed it up with a second batch and spooned it over coconut milk. i was pleased with the result!

again, i am grateful. thankful to have a job, a place to lay my head, my boys, friends, food, a sense of humor...i am fortunate and i don't want to take any good thing for granted.

i hope your weekend has been everything you needed it to be!
julie

how far? 8 and a half puppies...

alrighty then...it's been a few days. a lot going on. who are we kidding. so, how far apart? one of my friends did a facebook live today for istation, (click here to see), and she talked about some math suggestions, which made me think of this... so, seriously, how far apart? everyone knows it's 6 feet...so it seems like this is a great opportunity to use those approximation skills you learned in kinder, first and second grade when you had to measure with non-standard measurements...like how many fruit loops...how many pencil-lengths...what would be the best thing to measure 6 feet with? answers will vary...depending on geographical location. let's see, from the different places i have lived, what might the measurement be?

illinois- chicago pizzas

kansas city- gates rack of ribs

wisconsin- baby holstein calf

costa rica- shell necklaces from punta arenas

HONDURAS- coffee pods

kansas- wheat sheaves

iowa- corn stalks

missouri- kanakuk kayak

texas- long horns- like literally the span of a longhorn bull's horns

florida-alligator, manatee calf, sea turtles

i did stop by my friend's house for 10 seconds to drop something off, and look...they went and created a home theater and disco...they had to block all light, so this was the solution. #covidcreations

and it worked, they created somewhat of a cave! 

i have continued to walk the river walk- makes for a beautiful sunrise. fortunately the other morning when i arrived to park, there were two older lady walkers talking to an officer, and pointing at a sign. apparently, OVERNIGHT the marina had put up signs and parking is no longer allowed on the north side-reserved for marina folk only...snobs. way to go, bradenton, i hope they paid you well. 

so unimpressed. 

one of the few rewards to waking up....early

so glad the skate park was shut down-too much gathering...

then back at the complex, it was looking a little dead out, but beautiful days! so we put the garage door up and made a makeshift office. the view. (much better the following days after i moved my car). the boys drive me nuts though, because they are out scavenging for leaves-which they eat and then it just makes a mess. but it's nice to go out because the set-up of the apartment doesn't allow for much natural light in the afternoon-it always seems later than it is because all of the windows face the east, and there is a mini-wooded-bush area on the back side. 

pretty, but silent

looking for leaves, looking for bugs...they'll try to put pretty much anything in their mouth to get a reaction.

one of the kinda' cool things to come out of this is that we have had company-wide virtual meetings to touch base and get information out...virtual happy hours on fridays, which is interesting-fun putting names to faces and seeing everyone! it is also neat to be able to learn a little more about the people i would not otherwise be exposed to. 

fortunate to work with such scoundrels!

i may or may not have done the one thing that is making salon-artists across the nation cringe...yep about 3-4 inches. i knew i was going to do it though, and i think i mentioned it in a previous post. it's hair. whatevs. at least i'm not dying my hair and living the mullet dream...(looking at you, lori). some people can pull it off...i'm not one of them.

and these guys. who needs to be in a legit office or see people for 3 months when you have companions like this!?! 

chaco...little romeo...loves people

bruno in the foreground....food-motivated!

we try to work together, but when we're recording or doing serious webinars, they cannot stay because i never know who is going to walk by and make them lose it.

i have a story about a cockroach, and it is almost time to share. stay tuned, that may be tomorrow's feature story...it's a little longer, so i think that will do it for tonight.

wash your hands, and 6ft... an alligator length(baby-ish alligator)...or 8 1/2 puppies!

julie