Ups and Downs, Storms Come and Go...like the river, water Flows.

So sad my plans were a mess for middle of June, but on the up side things here are going well.  Lots of yoga has been being practiced, I am determined to practice my spanish more, and the ninos are helping me which is awesome (plus they are so cute so that's an added bonus). I have spoken to a lot of my home friends lately and am very glad to catch up when we do! 

I feel like my hot power yoga session the other day really reset my mindframe, and reinstated the work hard and reap the benefits motto, along with the "Live in the moment for we never know what is going to happen at any other time than now."  I have had numerous people change plans on me the past week or so, and instead of letting myself waste time in being frustrated, I have just gone with the flow and had the reminder that I don't need to wait around for other people.  Push forward and if it is going to happen it will, even though it may not be as you thought- sometimes it ends up being better.  I am no longer going to live my life with the "what ifs" and go with the "what is."  It is good every now and then to just let yourself realize this again, and even if you have not forgotton, it is easy to loose the simplicity in life. (Another thing I want to remind myself of is to simplify, get back to the roots...life is about less stuff and more quality).

I had a conversation with my friend a few days ago about how some people see value in physical belongings,  (things they buy, higher prices being 'better quality', more in quantity) while there are others who choose to spend their money on  other things such as experiences (travel, classes, charities, DOING things).  It is completely true...which one are you?
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I had a great day in South Beach with A and we layed out, got some VIP Clevelander Rooftop passes, had a delicious dinner and listened to some live music along with some tasty beverages!  Also, I have a "mini-me" at camp who is adorable and she will be in camp most of the summer :)

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Quarter Century Club

I have officially joined the quarter century club! Thank you to everyone for my birthday wishes first off, I miss y'all and wish we could have flown everyone down here, how awesome would that have been??! Kylie (from Washington, not the original Ky Ky) went and layed out at a pool with a waterfall for a few hours, then ended up at Shipwrecks for lunch where we met some really cool people...I got a birthday slice of key lime pie, and then we went for a boat ride and snorkeling with our new friend Gene. After that adventure, we went back and got some sliders..buffalo chicken ones and cheeseburger ones. We saw a friend from work there after, and then once back at home I went to support the softball team (which I am seriously considering playing next time, coed team and they need girls!!). After that, it turned into the Wreck Hall then hanging out afterwards... great night, fun people, and an amazing day off.  I love when you just go with the flow, and the flow takes you somewhere awesome!@

Today I may go wakeboarding later on with a person I met yesterday too, how awesome!! Now, if only they had the new pool in (they tore the other one up and we are getting another one) it would be awesome. My AC is fixed on a high note as well as our shower that is being fixed at the moment.  My original plans for Bahia Honda today isn't happening, but I have next week for that so no worries!


I should probably think back on the last 25 and say something about what I've been through, where I want to head, etc...well, I have learned a lot the past 25 years and am glad my parents raised me how they did. I am thankful for all my friends and everything I have been through because those experiences have made me who I am today and I am glad for all the love that is present in my life at the moment.  I am thankful I have a great job, that I have the chance to use my degree and excel at what I have been trained in, and what I like to do.  I have checked a number of things "off my list" lately, and hope to continue to keep living each day to the fullest and getting the most out of everything I do, relationships that are built, experiences and situations that happen, etc. 25...I'm hoping it's gonna be another great year!

Life Update in Mini.

So far being an Activities Coordinator here has been great! I really like the fact that I already have experience in the procedures here, and although some of them changed, a majority of the routine is about the same. Also, I know my way around property well which is very helpful!

I have been doing a lot of Yoga lately, and trying hard to get back into my workout routine. It's nice that although summer is considerably slower (it will pick up with camps next week though) we have nice initiatives, such as use of gyms, associate fitness classes, a fitness contest, healthy options at lunch- good salad bar, south beach diet option, a healthy choice option (Which is less cost than other meals which usually healthier is more expensive so this is nice and makes a lot more sense), and of course the added fact that we are working outside in the heat so we are less hungry and more thirsty, and there are people in swimsuits all the time to remind us to be healthy! 

Right now I am here until September, but we will see what happens... time will tell!

Tonite after talking to Brian and Grandma/Aunt Maria, getting laundry done, setting up direct deposit, getting the go ahead to start learning or brishing up on a language (or as many as I want from a list of like 96 choices), mopping the floors, pushing a great (weight lifting!!) session, and a few miles and random things in the gym, followed by a yoga class... I decided to go and explore and find and check out close parks in the area. I found one that had a lot of facilities, and I hung out there a little while and then hooped a bit.

My plans/ goals for tomorrow (or so I think): Watch the sunrise, go where the road leads me, meet a cool person, enjoy the sunshine and Ocean, have a dance party, and then skype with Miss Meg! Sounds like a pretty awesome day to look forward to! :)

Pilot Whale Rescue

I got to the volunteer area for the Pilot Whales in southern Florida. To clear some things up, they are NOT an endangered species. They live in pods and what happened with this pod they think is that one of the whales was sick and tried to beach itself, and the other whales followed.  There were 26 at first, a number of them didn't make it, while some of them they nursed back to health and released. They want to try to release at least 2 whales at a time so they aren't 'alone' which is a good idea.  The night I volunteered, I arrived around 7:45 with my wet suite.  They had you sign some forms and gave you wet suite type water shoes to wear because normal water shoes had a good chance of slipping. The area is enclosed with a metal fence because sharks were coming near shore to try and attack/ eat the injured whales (free food).  We took turns holding the whales to keep their blow holes above water so they wouldn't drown. The first shift I was on (8-12) went well. I was on 303 and 302, the ones with pnemonia.  The air they were breathing out was a little odorous, but it is expected because they were sick.  There was a combination of no shows and a lack of volunteers for the 12-4am shift, so most of us stayed through, including I.  The community had done a nice job with food and drink donations for the staff and volunteers which was nice to get a little pick me up after a few hours of keeping steady these large creatures.  They had 2-3 people on each whale to support them, and also they advised us to "hold on for dear life" if they got spooked or decided to try to swim away or attack (they are protective of their pod members, and at one point when I was switching I had to get out of the water fast and then wait till the biggest one calmed down before I went to hold the baby and switch out with someone. It definietly was a little unnerving.  I also got a chance to hold the biggest one (13 feet) #300, I had 2 men who were on the animal with me, a good thing because for a little while we had to really try to control it! Even though things are lighter in the water, they still were a bit heavy- the way you hold them, sometimes the whales decide to rest their bellies on your knee, so imagine a 4 hour lunge in the water with a whale on your lunged leg...yup, that was me. I got 2 short breaks of about 25 minutes and the rest of the time pretty much i was in the water, but it was so worth it! I left around 5am, got back home at 530 and then showered then went to bed at 6am.  The biologists and the marine rescue team members were really cool, some live around here and others were flown in from different areas of the country.

They expect to continue to need help for the next month or so, around the clock and everyday. Yesterday I heard news that they had to euthanize one of the sick ones :(  When I was there a few weeks ago though, the ones with pnemonia you could hear how difficult it was for them to breathe, so if it got worse then I can only imagine. I hope the other one survives though!