Killing me with Kayaks



Down in the mangroves at Weedon Island Preserve, Rich and I went wandering about in our neon green double kayak from Sweetwater Kayaks. For the first two hours it was sweet indeed. But the tide was on its way out making paddling a whole heck of a lotta work. After our four hours we were TIRED.

We wandered the kayak trail deep into the tunnels of the mangrove roots. We took our paddle apart and each took half when it became too narrow for anything else. Later we had to get out and walk because the water was too shallow. At first we were delighted with the jumping fish. Big fish! Boing! boing! boing! leaping out of the water over and over again. Then deep in the mangroves we saw a family of raccoons playing at the water's edge and climbing the mangroves across the water above us. We noticed the very small crabs hanging out on the broken roots just above the water too. But coolest for me were the birds.

We have yet to identify the bird in the picture. Do yo know what it is?

The birds we know about were:

• brown pelican
• great blue heron
• little blue heron
• tricolored heron
• more white ibis than I care to count
• American red oyster catcher
• double breasted cormorant
• anhinga

My arms will be sore for a week, but I'd go back in a heartbeat - at HIGH tide!

Music makes magic

I bought this little boom box from the flea market to play music while I hula hooped with friends on the beach. Six "D" batteries later it plays the CD but stops in the middle of the second song and won't start again. It turns out that the only music stations that tune in on the beach are the Latin dance ones. AM comes in the strongest. Okay. Great beat.

It's not really all about me...is it?



As much as I was moved by the National Philanthropy Day awardees as they expressed their passion for this world in which we are all connected...I did get bored. There is only so long I can sit still and be attentive without mutual interaction or intellectual engagement. So I found a reflection. I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the table centerpieces were and how artfully they reflected the room's lighting and, well, me and my table companions. It's so difficult to find a muse and I seem perpetually willing so...here I am again. Do you think Lisa, sitting next to me, noticed?

People. Music. Food.

I met this handsome young fellow at a new place in town - Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe. We were there to check out the music, but we had some fabulous food along the way. I had the most delicious veggie burger and okra succotash. Really. Okra succotash. I LOVED it!

And there was the music. Do you see those acoustic panels behind Lee Pons? This place was designed for music! The sound was clear - without being too loud. We had the best time. Good food. Great music. And the BEST company.

Tea for two...or three or more!

Since she was itty-bitty, my daughter has always been able to listen to suggestions and then craft a very personalized solution for herself. When her first serious boyfriend was horrible to her I was petrified. I knew it was always possible she would struggle with the same kinds of problems that I had worked so hard, so many years to overcome, but what now? How could I help her? Thankfully, I was able to just be there so she could help herself. And wow has she ever! Now she is a fabulous new mom, parenting together with a kind and impressive young dad.

So when a bunch of invitations arrived for various charitable events, I decided to invite my daughter to join a Cup of Hope tea party designed to benefit the Bay Areal Legal Services in their efforts to help domestic abuse survivors help themselves. Relationships among family members can be some of the most complex and mysterious. Violence in the home is a salt in the emotional wounds of family members - something you can't always see but that turns up the volume on the pain for everyone.

So on the grounds of a quiet and serene, private Tampa residence, we talked about love, life and happiness over tea. We let the glorious Florida sunshine fill us with hope...for ourselves and for the sea of people we share the world with.

Gulfport Views

Gulfport is a delightful Florida throwback. It sits at the water's edge on Boca Ciega Bay and has its own little beach. The big trees, brick-paved roads and old Florida homes give it a distinctive feel. Sometimes it looks a bit worn but then you come across a treasure like this lovely flower-adorned building. We went to visit a photo-friend, Robert Scrivener, at his booth there at the Art Walk on Friday night. His photos were all the more amazing when printed! Apparently Gulfport is a hive of artisans and we enjoyed cruising among the various booths.

It was a very chilly night - the first smack of fall weather down here, but still a sitdown at the water was lovely. The strong breeze made good sailing and this boat was running at a decent clip. There's not much of a skyline here, but somehow that feels old-world-like too. It fits right in with Gulfport!