Da BEACH!

So, I finally got the acorn, or the ocean rather.  The local guy we biked with yesterday gave me directions to the closest public access beach, which is about 10 minutes away!  The beach is called Honeymoon Island, and it's also a state park.  I had to cross this long causeway that stretched over the bay and in the process found my next running route.  Alongside this bridge is access on both sides to park your car and do some fishing or swimming or jet skiing, and it has a nice path set aside for cyclists and one for runners as well.  I can't wait to run on that thing with water on both sides and the cityscape visible in the distance.

Upon crossing this bridge you enter into the island, which is covered in beautiful trees and flowers.  There is a nature trail that I may have to check out next time.  Anyway, I found a stretch of beach, laid out my blanket and starting soaking up what sun I could get (it was a cloudy unfortunately).  The sand is white, like in Destin, and the water is clear, a given, since it's so close to Clearwater.  I spent about 3 1/2 hours out there not really going to sleep, but thinking rather.  I was starting to get a little nervous about starting work tomorrow.  Oh well, that's natural.  I just have to keep my nervousness from interfering with the first impression I'll be making.  I just have to let the passion and excitement override the butterflies in my stomach and I should be okay.  

So, my time at the beach was nice.  Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures, b/c I seem to have misplaced my camera!  I know, a huge loss, especially now!  I'm hoping I find it ASAP!  I've missed so many good photo ops already!  Anyway, I didn't get much of a tan, but I've still got plenty of time for that.  Then I got my errands done and went ahead and got a checking account set up and made a quick run to the Wal-Mart that I found really close to our resort.  I guess I'd forgotten that not all Wal-Marts are supercenters.  This one was more like the size of K-Mart and didn't have much for a food selection, so I guess Publix wins.

When I got back I decided to go for a run despite the intensely humid air.  I ran around the resort grounds for about 45 minutes, enjoying the beautiful scenery, and arrived back at my condo completely soaked in sweat.  My humidity tolerance has a long way to go!

I'm taking it easy tonight and getting my clothes all ready and ironed and packing my lunch for at work. I feel like I'm getting ready for the first day of school!  I'll probably read some more of the book I'm currently into, The Alchemist (the first leisure reading I've done since pre-college), which by the way is really good!  I think it fits perfectly with what I'm experiencing right now- trying to figure out where I'm going and what I'm doing and why.  It's very wisdom-infused.  If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.  I'm glad that the author has several more books so I have several to look forward to.  After that I'll hit the sack early and hope I can get a good night's sleep despite my nervousness.

Alrighty, until tomorrow...