Who Needs an Aquarium

It's Sunday again - we decided to meet at Ocean Reef Park. Across the bridge to Singer Island, is a beautiful coral reef about 30 yards off shore. Susan couldn't go because she had not yet fully recovered and we felt that "sinus squeeze" would not be fun. So, she hung out at the pool. Olivia's sister Natallia (Tallie) came out to visit from California. Another tropical adventure.

Good News

Here's some pretty flowers (taken by yours truly at the Botanical Gardens in WPB a few weeks ago) for my Mom who came through her knee replacement surgery with flying colors and is back at home resting and dreading physical therapy. My sweet sister, Nancy, has taken three weeks out of her summer vacation to help Mom out! Her husband, Bob, came up for a bit and then went back to spend Father's Day with their kids. My brother Bill and his wife Pam were there to lend a hand and Wayne and I came up for moral support. Unfortunately I got bronchitis and couldn't even go near Mom for fear she'd catch something that might complicate her recovery. My other brother, Bob, will arrive tomorrow. Anyway, congrats to Mom, we love you, Wayne's looking forward to collecting on that dance you promised him.

We were fortunate to be able to celebrate Carolyn's birthday with her, too, while we were in Richmond. Happy Speed Limit Birthday, Carolyn - you know, 35 ; )

Usual Suspects

The "Usual Suspects" got together for our weekly snorkeling adventure. This week, we went to the beach on Singer Island at the foot of Blue Heron Bridge. The rip currents were really bad on the ocean side of the island this weekend, so we decided to snorkel on the intercoastal. Michael and Anna had been telling us of the abundace of sea life there. Karen came up from Lake Worth to spend the weekend and snorkel with us. She has another week before joining Erik in New Zealand. Nine of us put on our gear and hit the water. Our Florida weekends involve finding a reef, meeting our friends at a beach to swim out to that reef, and transcend to the aquatic world. I take photographs with my Canon Sureshot - I found an underwater housing for it on the Internet. The bridge provides some shade and also provides underwater structure for sea life. There was a strong current around the bridge that we had to fight, but there was an incredible amount of diverse sea life. Susan was confronted by a barracuda that guards the sunken sailboat. She exited to water to take off her jewelry as barracudas are full of teeth and like shiny things. Floria discovered the fish with wings. She motioned her hand by it and it spread it's wings as I clicked the shutter. According to the Reef Fish Identification Book, it is a "Flying Gurnard"- and for Petey, wherever you are, it is a Dactylopterus volitans. I love the blue dots gracing the wingspan. When Susan and I look off of our balcony now, we don't just see Singer Island - we see the water and understand what is below the surface. After snorkeling, we went to the Tiki Bar and continued our wonderful summer day - sipping tropical drinks, listening to the marimba player, enjoying the southern Florida lifestyle with our new friends.

Another Florida Weekend

Saturday afternoon - 5:00 P.M. T minus two minutes and counting - Susan and I are on the balcony straining our eyes - trying to figure out approximately where it would be - Susan yells, "there it is" . . . a small streak and it's gone. Space Shuttle Discovery - traveling at 1,000 mph (whose paying for the gas?) streaking towards the heavens and the International Space Station.

Sunday - Olivia and Jennifer get ready for the First Snorkeling trip of the year - it was Anna's Birthday - Ocean Reef Park on Singer Island is our favorate spot . The Ocean is wonderfully refreshing - but, the wind has kicked up the surf and we can't make it to our usual spot on the outside of the reef. The water is not clear because of the riptides and waves, so we just enjoy the water and return to Our place for a cook out by the pool - complete with Birthday Cake for Anna. A good time was had with

all our new Florida friends.