Monday, May 1, 2006

Vacation

Where does one begin?  I did not mean to leave this space untended for this long, however, fast moving events swept me up and carried me away.  Now I have a few stories to share.

 

First let me just say that I’ve missed all my friends here in J-land.  I’ve missed reading your posts and keeping current with all the happenings in this community.  I’ve missed sharing with you about what’s been happening in my world, too.

 

A couple of days after I wrote my last post, I got a memo from our Human Resources Department telling me to use 48 hours of vacation time by the third week of May or lose them.  We can only carry over so many weeks of vacation time each year and any extra must be used up by our anniversary date with the company.

 

I looked at the calendar on my desk and quickly realized that, due to upcoming events at work, I needed to use this vacation time the following week or I would have to forfeit it.  A quick meeting with my boss and it was confirmed.  I’d have nine days off starting that coming Monday.

 

My first plan was to just loaf around the house for a week doing a few chores and catching up on some reading and goofing off.  A call from my friend Ken the next evening had Paulette and I planning to meet Ken and Joyce for the following weekend in Daytona, Florida.  We picked Daytona as a half-way spot between our respective homes.

 

Sunday night after work, I walked in and found Paulette and Ken talking on the phone.  Ken and Joyce would not be able to go to Daytona the following weekend because of some health problems of their aging, but beloved pet dog, Valentine.  It seems that in my absence, Paulette and Ken decided I should drive down to Vero Beach for that week.  The thought was that I should finish the vacation that had been interrupted last October when I left early to return home before an impending hurricane made landfall. You can read about that trip in my archives for October 2005, if you like.  Paulette did not have any vacation time left so I’d be going by myself again.

 

That’s how I found myself once again on a tropical beach swimming and enjoying a cool beer in the hot sun.

 

 

 

 

With nothing to rush my visit this time, we decided to explore as many of the spoil islands in the area as we could.  This is a shot of Ken on one of the prettiest little islands we visited checking his messages from work.

 

 

I was having a blast and we saw some great spots for return visits.

 

 

We discovered that you can adopt an island if you wanted to help in keeping these islands clean and pretty.  Here’s Tom, Ken’s dad standing beside a sign explaining the program.

 

 

I, as you can see, am enjoying every minute of the adventure.

 

 

We needed to keep our strength up, so we foundour way to the Ft. Pierce City Marina and took sustenance at the Tiki Hut Restaurant located on the property.  Ponce De Leon would have loved to discover this place.  The adult beverages had great rejuvenating powers.

 

 

After lunch and a few beverages, it was back to the arduous task of finding more island beaches to swim and play at.  On some of the islands we made interesting discoveries such as these two stumps the locals have been carving on for years.

 

 

Here’s a shot of Ken on yet another island.  Notice the stump in the clearing behind him.  This one had been carved on and then it had been scorched on purpose with fire to give it a very eerie effect.  I love making these little discoveries.  Each new island had some distinct little secret to be revealed.

 

 

This is how we finished out our day before returning home to hot showers and some excellent hospitality.

 

 

There’s more of my trip to share next time and I’ve visited an interesting shipyard here in Savannah that I want to tell you about.  I hope you are all doing well and enjoying some excellent spring weather.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wondered where you'd got to Sam!! That looks a great place to stay and discover so much around you. Pity Paulette couldn't go too, maybe next time. I hope Trenton is still doing well with his parents, look forward to your next entry. Jeannette xx

Anonymous said...

Aha, so that's where you were.  Hurry up, more stories and pics please.  Mrs. L

Anonymous said...

How delighted I was to get an alert saying you'd posted an entry. Missed you Sam, and know everybody else did too. Love the pictures, and stories you shared
Huge hugs,
Barb- http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/THERESTOFTHESTORY
        http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful vacation! Thank you for making us all jealous by sharing it.  :)  And it's wonderful to hear from you again!

Anonymous said...

Seems to me that was one great forced vacation!  Glad you enjoyed yourself and rested up before the summer season is in full swing!  Oh wait, it probably is in full swing at your location.  :)

Anonymous said...

Wondefful pictures! Sounds like you had a really great time. have you heard from Trenton lately? Maybe he will visit this summer?

Anonymous said...

SAM the Sea the Sand the Sun the Islands all make for a wonderful vacation ~ thank for sharing those pictures ~ Gosh the water is so blue and clear ~ you never let us down with your entries I could almost feel I was swimming in there ~ we are all allowed to dream lol ~ Shame Paulette coundn't join you ~ Ally

Anonymous said...

It's a rough life, but someone's got to live it. Glad it's you. ;)

Anonymous said...

Good to see you post again, with great pictures I may add. Were you wearing your sunscreen?  If not, you are sure to make some little ole dermatologists wife very happy!   haaaaaaaaaaa      Anne

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam,  Oh dear poor you, having to put up with all that sun,sea and relaxation...lolol!  Glad you had a great time though. :o)))

Sandra x

Anonymous said...

It looks WONDERFUL!  -Kelly   www.pixiedustnme.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

That is such a shame such a wonderful vacation was forced on you LOL. Those were great pictures. Glad you had a great time and sorry Paulette wasn't able to enjoy it with you. Helen

Anonymous said...

Hey, you are back just in time for our first 30 day challenge of 2006!  Are you up for it???  Great pictures...Jae

Anonymous said...

It's good to be you!
Judith

Anonymous said...

Wow!  Ten days off in a row and a get away too.... what I'd give!  Glad you had some fun.. pictures are great
d

Anonymous said...

Le sigh with envy....  with a capital E!   Oh to hae good friends like that, and time to enjoy.   You certainly have earned it...~Sie

Anonymous said...

There's our Sam!

Nice to see you :)

Man, that is my idea of a perfect vacation!  I'm jealous ;)

Sorry Paulette couldn't join you, though...

I absolutely adore Savannah!  I was so disappointed not to make it there the last time I was in GA :(

Anyway, I can't wait for your next tale...

Cat

Anonymous said...

Dear Sam,
How cool is that! I'm so glad that you adn your freinds have had such an awesome adventure!
hugs,natalie

Anonymous said...

I'mglad you had fun.  Vacations can be VERY good things, even if the timing was unexpected. - Karen

Anonymous said...

    Good for you, Sam.  I was hoping that you would get the opportunity to finish that vacation.  Looks like you had a great time, and that the weather cooperated. I'm so glad.  Nice pics.  You look refreshed and relaxed .... that's what a vacation is all about !  Tina

Anonymous said...

You didn't put up much of a fight when told you HAD to go to Vero Beach again, did you? ::grin::

I think the adopt-an-island program is a great idea! Are you and/or Ken thinking about doing it?

Your pics are great. Lovely place, and I am glad you were able to continue the trip where you had experienced vacation interruptus.

Nikki Ü

Anonymous said...

Great to see you and Ken having so much fun.  Been missing your posts.  

Love ya!  Lynn

Anonymous said...

Hey Sam

It's nice to see you smiling and enjoying your time off. :) It's also good to know you are well. The water is beautiful.

Always, Carly

Anonymous said...

Hi there bathing beauty! ;-)))) I was so envious when I saw you swimming in Fl! Thanks for taking us along on your fun vacation. I dunno what it is, but I seem to tune in right when you come back even without alerts! Blessings to you and your family, Sassy ;-)

http://journals.aol.com/debbted/SassysSecondWord

Anonymous said...

You know Sam, it never ceases to amaze me how many visitors you have here! And I would bet that you would come back a year later and still have as many, if not more!!!! LOL

Anyway, love the photos. It's looked like a heavenly place that I could only dream of! Looking forward to hearing about more.

Anonymous said...

First.....Let me thank you for your wonderful comment to my journal. As you read I took a little vacation recently with my family. I wish I could have been on that vacation with you. The pictures of your trip looked amazing. I wish I could have been there to see it for myself.

I really enjoy reading your journal and getting to know you through your many entries. You and your journal should be chosen as guest editor in my opinion. I will put your journal in one of my new entries so you will be my pick. Take care and I will be back for another visit soon................Take care.

Anonymous said...

That looks like so much fun!! The pic in the water...heaven...I am landlocked so I love to see ocean pics.

Tracie

Anonymous said...

Ah ha!!! I knew you were a Bud man!!!!

Love the pics...looks like a whole lotta fun; after all what can be better than warm sun on the skin, cool sand under foot mingling with a light tropical breeze?  I delight in your fun and adventures, Sam.  :)
Dona
http://journals.aol.com/delela1/BlueSkiesandGentleBreezes

Anonymous said...

Great pictures! It's wonderful that you have such a beautiful place to go and relax and just enjoy life!
We all need that.

Christy

Anonymous said...

Hey Sam!
was that another great cheeseburger?
I got to try a "double-double"
from IN-N-OUT
in Las Vegas
w/fries
one of the 15 burgers to try before you die
lol

Anonymous said...

You look wonderful!  Where is the surf board table?

Robin