Always Explore

I'll admit I'd gotten in to a bit of a rut.  Or maybe I'm just a hermit at heart.  I mean I've been in California for nearly a year and I don't think I've honestly done much of anything that was on my bucket list.  That's me...  Queen of Procrastination!

But a good friend recently decided to change that for me and took me across the border for lunch.  YUM!

I once went to Canada many years ago, but haven't left the country since.

Apparently this has shocked many people, as they seem to think I'm a well traveled gal.  I have NO idea where they got that idea.

So my wonderful friend decided to take me across the border for lunch.  I'll admit I was a bit nervous.  I mean I can barely as where the bathroom is.  Thankfully she is a fluent Spanish speaker and knows the area we went to pretty well.  We had a fantastic meal and I honestly can't wait to do it again!

Thanks again Martha!

And so you know...  I'm working on learning Spanish.  Have patience though.

Reconnecting

Ah summer!

A trip to Coronado w/ Hotel Del Coronado in back.

Who doesn't love the days of summer?  As a kid I couldn't wait to be out of school and free for 3 months.  Time to hang with my friends, play at the pool and read non-stop.  Now, especially since I live in sunny California, it doesn't hold as much meaning to me as it used to.  I get plenty of sunshine, can read whenever I please and live not too far from the ocean.  I think I may be a bit jaded.  

This summer gave me a special treat though.  I have been able to reconnect with three of my girlfriends from high school.  Can you hear the girly squeals and giggles in your head?  You should, because we did.

It was a great time to reminisce and catch up on what's going on in their lives now.  Two have married and have kids.  You may notice one lady (besides me) is in these photos.  That's because she lives here as well.  

So we made sure to tell people where to visit.  I took one girlfriend to Coronado beach to see the gold sparkling sand, live sand dollars and the Hotel Del Coronado.  We met up and had drinks later that night with our other friend.

Armor up!  It's gonna be a rough day.

Another girlfriend met up with us to tour the USS Gabby Gifford.    She's the newest LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) in the navy and is the type of ship my hubby is attached to.

And an outing with us is not complete if we can't be goofy together.

I've missed these ladies and I hope it's not another twenty something years before I see them again.

Although, I think they want me to come to them next time.

Hmm....

A Day In The Life: Adventures At Hampton Roads Naval Museum

USS WISCONSIN 

Volunteering.  We all say it's a wonderful thing, but how many of us actually do it?  I mean honestly spend more than two to three hours a month doing something that doesn't pay us.

I volunteer at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum in Norfolk, VA.  I know it's not feeding the homeless, but it's something that I enjoy.  I know kinda selfish, but I digress.  Normally I do administrative work, but that's dull so I'm going to focus on a single event in this post.

Every year in August the museum spends time with the Chief Selectees and gives them a bit of naval history on chiefs. It's called CPO Heritage.  I've been fortunate enough to help in four of these.  My first day of the first year I actually followed a group around and took photos.  What an experience!  The second day had me selling raffle tickets.

Norfolk Botanical Gardens - WOW Garden

Recently I did a post on the Butterfly House and promised to do more on some of the other parts of the gardens.

Today is that day!

Color Me Mine

Once upon a time I was a ceramics fiend.  The ceramic store that I spent many an hour at is now gone and I let my painting hobby fall by the wayside.

Many of my spouse groups have gone here and have lots of fun.  Sadly I missed out on those fun times.

I recently rectified that this past week.

Norfolk Botanical Gardens - Butterfly House

The Norfolk Botanical Gardens is a hidden gem in the midst of a city.

I had been in the past to the Season of Lights (post on that later this year), but I'd never actually gone into the gardens.

So recently a friend of mine took me and I so appreciate it.

Mermaid Hunting

What is Norfolk's obsession with mermaids?  Those half-women/half-fish sirens of the sea have a bad reputation in mythology, where these sea maidens “would sing to men on ships or shores nearby, practically hypnotizing them with their beauty and song. Those affected would rush out to sea only to be either drowned, eaten, or otherwise sent to their doom.” So goes the legend. Then along comes Ariel in Disney's version of The Little Mermaid, and suddenly the sea nymph’s image became all sweetness and light.

Slover Library

Libraries seem to be an asset that really aren't utilized to their fullest potential.  Which is really sad.  There's something wonderful about libraries in general.  I've spent so much time in libraries growing up.  I must sadly admit that my relationship with libraries has waned.  I must get better about that.  Looks like it's time to renew that library card!

But I digress...

I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the Slover Library in downtown Norfolk by Will Hopkins, a fellow author and painter.

Branching Out

I've started up something new for the blog.  Hoping that it will force me to work more on my writing and the blog.  Don't want anyone to think I've given up.

So, I thought I'd share things that are happening in my area.  Give you a glimpse of things that are going on in 'my neck of the woods'.

Willoughby Live Oak - Norfolk Naval Station

I honestly didn't know about this until recently.

Funny how you can live somewhere for years and keep learning new things about the place all the time.

I love all the history of the Hampton Roads area.

I hope you enjoy the article as much as I did.  I've yet to visit the actual site, but it is definitely on the agenda.