Holy Fast-Moving World!

I’m a little embarrassed to tell you I haven’t written in this personal blog for awhile because I couldn’t remember the log-in. Then Susan reminded me today I hadn’t written in awhile, and for some reason I sat down and entered the right log-in the first time I tried. I REALLY want to keep up with this, so I’m glad I remembered it. As soon as I’m finished with this entry, I’ll call and let her know she has a new entry to read. I can’t believe so much time has gone by SO fast. I told you I’d be complaining about time.

It was a whirlwind tour of the coast. I had a blast and learned some things about myself. In a way, I was worried I would work too much, for example, and miss all the sights. The opposite happened, though. I didn’t work enough, because I was so enamored of the sights. The biggest problem, though, was that I tried to work at night, thinking I would save the daytime for seeing what I wanted to see without having to work a lot. That would have worked great if I didn’t need more than about three or four hours of sleep. Alas, I am too old, I guess. I found I had to sleep at least seven hours. That meant I worked until about 3:00, slept until 10. Showered, packed up, ate breakfast in the Jeep and got on the road at the lazy-bones hour of noon. The day was half over by then! Then, in the evening when I got to work, I couldn’t see a thing. I could just as well have been in Nebraska as St. George State Park in the middle of a thousand beautiful dunes.

So, the last couple of days I switched it up. I went to sleep about 11 or 12 p.m., got up about 7 am. and hit the road. Then I found an interesting place to work, and I stayed there for two or three hours to enjoy it.  When I came to a good stopping point, I packed up, walked around to see a little more of the location, then moved on to another location. That gave me a chance to relax and enjoy my surroundings while I worked. I’ll know about this next time I’m moving from place to place. I think I’ll also bring a screen tent with me. I loved working outside, but it gave the bugs a Kindy smorgasbord, and I just don’t feel that generous.

How do I feel about the coast? I loved the experience. It opened my eyes to locations I had only heard about before. It erased a frustration I felt from having only visited Orlando through an airport and conference center in the past. I didn’t go to Orlando, but I went to many, many wonderful spots in Florida. I visited the redneck forest and swamp area, the big city (Tampa), the spring break mecca (Panama City), the snow-white beach (Miramar), and the elite vacation hive (Destin). I actually had a beer date with one of my waiters, Mike Freschette, after he got off work. (Don’t worry…I gave my sister all his personal information before I said I’d go.)

The curious thing is that I didn’t get homesick at all, and I’m still not. I DO miss my kids, family and friends, though. It seems as though I should just be able to hop on the road and come say hello, then come back to continue my adventure, but that would involve about 30 hours of driving. I think the time is right in my life for this adventure. Honestly, I don’t think I could have NOT come. I just wish each day didn’t move so fast. I have more to do than what fills a 24-hour day.

So look for more posts as I explore Houston. I’m hoping to meet new people, see new things and become a better driver on seven-lane highways.