Can you see this? On the deserted portion of the beach, I ran across lots of bushes with large shells hung on the branches.


1. I went to Clearwater Beach, FL for a few days this week for work. I have had this awesome part time gig for the past eight years, and I traveled to our annual meeting to discuss how they can use me more now that my baby is going to kindergarten. The cool part is that whatever we come up with will still be flexible and I will get to choose the work I do--which will only be the things I think are fun. Such a great situation to be in.

2. I got to Clearwater early and had all afternoon to play on the beach. My first stop--a run on the beach. The hotel staff told me to turn right out the hotel doors so I could have more "privacy." I shrugged and followed their directions. Who needs privacy on a run, I wondered. I started down the beach, where people were practically piled on top of each other in the water and sand. About a quarter of a mile down the beach, I realized I was running alone. Just me and the birds. WOW! I ran 2 1/2 miles in one direction (tracked with the handy dandy Garmin watch I got for my b-day) and encountered 10 people at the most on the run. WOW! Who gets a whole beach to themselves in the middle of the day? THAT was SO amazing.

3. The next day, my knee hurt too much to do it again, but I walked the beach and took pictures. I think I could live on a lawn chair on that beach and be a very happy person. Who needs anything else???

4. I'm home again. Within an hour of getting home, I had to put my girls in time out. They behave quite differently for their dad than they do for me.

5. I am SO excited for my next big adventure--heading to LA for a week for the SCBWI national conference.