2007 Park Tour Continues

We continued our Pinellas County Park tour at the Boga Ciega Millennium Park in Seminole. I was interested in seeing the nature sculptures that had been installed, but we were also interested getting out on a Sunday afternoon, getting some exercise and seeing a slice of our county that we haven't explored. Below is my favorite of the sculptures. They weren't named, but I think she might be mother nature. Her hair was pine cones, she had a map of the world on her back and her dress was made of humanity's hands. Pretty cool I thought. And I thought like she was holding onto the tree for dear life, as if trying to save it.

While I came for the sculptures, I loved this park for it's pristine landscape on the inter coastal waterway. There were meandering boardwalks that take you by mangroves, and when you get off the path you can walk up to the water and find legions of crabs like below.

What was really cool was as you were wandering the paths you really forgot you were surrounded by development. It was quiet, minus the sounds of people having fun and nature. You really could spend a day out there. With the trails, dog park, fishing, playgrounds and lots of trees to relax under, this small piece of paradise, we are lucky in Pinellas County that they didn't bulldoze it and put up a parking lot.

Life Intimidating Art? Or the Other Way?

These are two of the Dilbert comic strips that ran today and yesterday. I read them both and burst out laughing. The more I work in the corporate world, the more I understand this comic strip. And this week, I feel like the strip is my life. For most of 9 hours, five days a week, I'm sitting in a chair, and I feel like I have developed a case of "chair buttocks" to go with my typers elbow and hands. Unless you sit at a computer all day you'd never guess the soreness that can come with sitting and typing a lot. And here I am at home, sitting and typing. Gotta go and sit and eat some dinner...

Words heard around the waterin' hole...

Recently my boss was overheard saying he was "stirrin' up the monkeys." Or causing trouble, I guess. For some reason that stuck with me and I think I shall steal it. So here I am ready to stir up them monkeys... now I just need to find something that deserves such a catch-phrase!

Lucky Number 700

This is Sarah Says 700th post. I can't believe I've had that many. It just seemed like yesterday that I joined the Blog sphere. Wow. I am impressed that I'll still doing this. I've kinda had a blog renaissance. I just enjoy a little creative writing. It's my only outlet really. I do wonder who is reading this stuff though. Maybe it's only a few of you, but thank you for doing it. And now, in honor of 700 posts, here's my 700 Haiku:

Seven hundred posts.

My life is between these lines.

Anyone out there?

Shalom

This past weekend my cousins children were baptized into the Catholic Church.

Brad (pictured on top) and Cody (on the bottom) sons of David and Kim got slightly wet - OK - that wouldn't be correct. They got pretty darn wet.

My Aunt Pat tells us she was very touched by the entire process.



I just wanted to offer my congratulations - or Shalom which in Hebrew is a very powerful blessing/prayer for peace, for completeness, wholeness. And this baptism brings wholeness to them.
Cody and Brad - Shalom!

Happy Birthday to Jooeee!!

I want to send out a very big Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law Joe. Today he turned the BIG 26. Yes, today he is officially closer to 30 than 20.

This picture was from yesterday as we celebrated with him before he and my sister took off for home in Jacksonville. It was his birthday tour. He had cake on Friday at work, a baseball game on Saturday (as well as golf with the menfolk) and cake yesterday. There was even some leftovers for him to take home for a some cake for tonight.

So once again Joe, hope your big day was great!

You know it's Easter-time when...

When the heavenly smell of cinnamon rolls/tea rings fill my Mom and Dad's home. Yesterday I made the all-important rolls, they are easier to split than the tea rings.

There are few things that take me back to childhood more than the smell of these pasteries. They are only made two times a year - Christmas and Easter.

Not that they are hard to make. In fact - they are really easy. It's just that they are so special because we only have them twice a year.

Yum.

Three Days of Rememberence

Catholics are in the midst of the Easter Triduum. That is the three days that lead up to Easter. Holy Thursday (the celebration of the Last Supper which instituted two sacrements of the church, the Eucharist - "This is my body, this is my blood" and Holy Orders "Do this in remembrance of me.") Good Friday, the only day of the year when no mass is said where the church grieves the loss of Christ - where there is no celebration that is associated with mass. And finally Holy Saturday - which culminates in the Easter Vigil, the most high mass of the year. Where out of darkness (mass cannot begin until the sun sets) a light comes forth in the form of Jesus' resurrection.

These are the most holy times for the church. Ancient traditions continue that have gone on for two thousand years such as the songs that are sung and words that are read.

Today we grieve, but soon we rejoice. Amen I say to you.

I believe.

2007 Park Tour Begins

Laszlo and I visited Sawgrass Park in St. Petersburg yesterday. I was there once before that I remember when my good friends Kathy and Dave chose the park to get married. It was a very different day as Hurricane Frances was clobbering many parts of Florida at the same time and we were only hours away from rain and wind.

We decided it would be nice to take a walk outside while the weather is comfy and check out one of the local parks we had little experience with.

The small park does have lots to offer. From meandering boardwalks that showcase Florida's nature to hills and picnic benches where you can chill out and have a nice afternoon.

I really enjoyed the Oak Hammock trail which we found few people enjoying. There were lots of side trails that the adventurous could take.

The biggest downside? The park sits right next to Interstate 275. And in many areas you are very aware of it.

Even with the roar of a busy highway, it is still nice to be able to see nature in the middle of a very crowded county. And all the wildlife too. This alligator was taking a break from the sun under the outlook tower. And we saw many birds, spiders, turtles and fish.

I think I want to make it to more of the areas parks. So this really kicks off our tour. Laszlo gets to chose the next one since I chose this one. In such a tiny county you might be surprised how many parks there are.

Let me know of any suggestions for where we need to visit in the Tampa Bay area. We're up for it!