“We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings.” ~Erma Bombeck
After the whole Broward/Dade/Hanging Chad debacle of 2000 I had pretty much written off Florida. They are a nuisance, I said and started to give a look of “This? This is your fault.” See also; I can hold a grudge like no other even against an entire state. Especially against their former Tammy Faye Baker look-a-like, Secretary of State who I would go on to dislike for other reasons. See also; here and here.
Ah, memories.
Anyway, prior to Thanksgiving I found myself on a work-related excursion to Captiva Island. A trip to a proper resort where they brought you drinks while you lounged poolside. Drinks with fruit, no less. Perhaps a little umbrella. I even had a bike* with which to traverse my private oasis.
How could I continue my disdain for this state?
One day I was sitting on the beach minding my own business when a seagull did its business on me. Instead of flailing about hysterically, I did nothing but smile. I couldn’t help it! I was all, seagulls, please use me as your personal portapotty! I don’t mind! And then I went for a dive and all was still right with the world.
It’s hard not to smile – despite other events – when you’re sitting outside come November without a fear that the sky will open up and blizzard upon your frigid ass. Florida, I said, I like you. Except now it’s FLORIDA! and always with gusto. Welcome back to my good graces. I’ll take a vodka cranberry please.
*Quick story: I went to the gym with nothing but my iPhone and when I removed my bike from the rack it tipped over and there went my phone and now my iPhone is shattered but it is still completely functional and whatever, y’all, it was FLORIDA!
Sometimes I write about my thighs
“To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the inner music the words make.” ~Truman Capote
In the total whirlwind that my life has become over the past three months I completely forgot to mention that I’ve been writing over at the Curvy Girl Guide. Heather and Brittany said “Please” and I was like “Wait, you are giving me free reign to talk about the size of my ass? WHERE DO I SIGN UP?” So I’ve been writing over there not that frequently but now more frequently as I put myself on a posting schedule.
I recently told someone that I blog and I lobby and I do other things that involve being 20,000 feet above ground and she looked at me like I was crazy and said “wow, that’s a lot”. Yes. It does feel like a lot at times. Even on the days where I’m not actively trying to get the words out, I still have this feeling in the back of my head as if something is missing. Even worse is that churning feeling in my gut when I am full to the brim with content but I cannot get the content out due to a lack of time. Woe is me, I know. Now I am making it my mission – even though from now through July are going to be pure insanity that will probably leave me in tears and even though I’ve added another person into my life that needs my attention, I know that if I don’t get things out that I’ll feel a little bit…sad. Is that odd? I’m not sure but there it is.
Oh and speaking of other places I have been: My friend Helen Jane interviewed me for her new site HJ Entertains. The drawing she did of me is pure genius and I love that she has an entertaining site for real people. She is one of my favorites not just because the girl always has a bottle of wine on hand but because she’s just a wonderful person.