Much needed R & R

Jeff and I celebrated 15 years of marriage this month and we decided to celebrate by taking a family vacation to Florida. We did it on a whim (those are the best vacations because you don't have time to form lofty expectations.) We went to visit Jeff's friend from 8th grade. We stayed a block from Venice beach and the price was right. It was such a relaxing vacation. On Venice beached we searched for shark teeth and sea shells. We walked the beach to the point to view the dolphins. The dolphins swimming feet in front of us took our breath away. Truly awe inspiring. I could have happily sat all day watching them swim.

We attended a drum circle at Siesta Beach also. People show up bring their drums or bongos and to no written music, just play. The beach goers gather around and listen and dance. At dusk, all the people are facing the direction of the sunset and when the sun dissappears, everyone cheers and claps. It was awesome. That's how we spent each evening. We would make sure to get to the beach for the sunset. How awesome to live in a place that can watch the sunset over the ocean every night.

We nearly got sucked into the theme park trap but managed to escape. We have done Disney twice and decided to try Busch Gardens. After being on the beach for 3 days, we decided Busch Gardens wasn't for us. So we left the park and headed to Panama City. We had never been there before so it was exciting. We found it too commercial . The Holiday Inn did have a kids spray park overlooking the ocean though. We continued driving up the coast and made a last minute decision to stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. It was a super cool resort with beautiful gardens. Truly the vacation got better as the days passed.

It is so great to get away and connect with the people you love the most.

Argh, Argh, Argh, Yea Baby!

Is it bad that this dishwasher was the highlight of my month? I have not liked the dishwasher that came with the house since we moved in. I had made phone calls to GE service and they came to check it out and they said the dishwasher worked liked it was supposed to but it doesn't clean the dishes - aka "your builder put the cheapest model in this house hoping you wouldn't notice or at least not complain." After having service men out to say the same thing - this is how this model cleans (or doesn't clean) I finally had to have a fit. I made up my mind, I was getting a new dishwasher and one that cleans. And that I did. After much negotiation, I ended up with a GE GLD 6700 NBB. Yes, you read that right a 6700 NBB baby! And she's a beaut. She holds a cool 16 place settings; that's 16 plates, 16 salad plates, 16 bowls, 16 cups and 16 mugs. That's right. She also has an attachment for 16 wine glasses. She starts hot for a better clean. She has 3, count them 3 spray arms. I can't wait to run it. I got it yesterday and haven't even filled it yet.
I missed the 8-12 appointment window signing up for nursing classes but luckily the installers were able to come back at 5 p.m.

I show up at the college expecting to sign up for the class and find out that students had been in line since 2 a.m. to sign up for the class. I got in but am perplexed as to why students have to wait in line at 2 a.m. to sign up for nursing classes when there's a nursing shortage. (I have learned that it's not actually a nursing shortage but a nursing teacher shortage). And just like I said about the labor shortage in Fort MacMurray - well pay them more if you want them to work for you!!!!!