G8R H8R

I could barely believe my eyes whilst grocery shopping at Publix the other day.  Could it be?!  More Bulldawg balloons than Gator balloons?!  I would have bought them all if they weren't $3 each! 

 Happy two months until Christmas, y'all!  Here's to having an early Christmas present this weekend in the form of a Gator stomping...Hopefully Sandy won't get in the way!

Endeavour

Endeavour finally made it to California!  

She was such a bittersweet beauty to behold leaving the Space Coast.

MQDTV: Endeavour from MQDaniel on Vimeo.

I'll never forget the sweet surprise of seeing her up close while touring the Kennedy Space Center earlier this summer.

I heart pumpkins

 Happy first day of October! Ever since my early days I have adored pumpkins.    

I especially love miniature pumpkins!!  Do you like my desktop pumpkin patch?  

October is my favorite month with her deeply bright blue skies and orange pumpkins.  

But make no mistake... I have no love for anything blue/orange regarding college football!

GO DAWGS :-]

Departure of Discovery

Five months ago, I watched Space Shuttle Discovery depart the Space Coast for Washington, D. C.

Fifteen years ago, I watched the same Shuttle depart for Outer Space.  

I will never forget feeling the "rumble in my heart" from that August morning launch. 

Victory!!

Victory~ I survived thrived in my first 5K!!  With a time of 43 minutes and 12 seconds I was 1168th overall and 87th in my age group.  I was thankful and thrilled to cross the finish line!  Especially with my friend Metz coming back to find me after finishing (32.53/38th) and cheering alongside me :-]  

  

I had a blast running with Michelle & Peter who both had an amazing race ~ finishing 39.28/76th and 27.23/17th respectfully. 

Yay, Turtles!!

The "Heinz-Man"

Long drives, choosing good travelin' music, watching airplanes, jumping waves, cheering on the Dawgs, eating great BBQ, keeping Christmas Secrets, playing Chinese Checkers, daring to dream, the comfort of a hug, cracking roasted peanuts and trusting silent prayers... 

I all learned from you. 

Happy 57th Birthday, Daddy :-]

I love you!!

Then there were four...

Wow!  It's already race time?!?!      

My friends Michelle & Peter (aka my "Tuesday night family") decided to join!  

I could not be happier!!

Let the carb loading begin :-]

13 hours for 39 minutes with The POTUS

It's not every day the President of the United States of America stops by to chat.  

Not wanting this historical event to pass us by, my friend Rachel and I made sure to be in line before the sun came up in order to get a ticket.  Five fun hours later (you really get to know people when waiting in line together) a ticket was finally in our hands.  

Saturday night proved difficult to sleep.  Thankfully, my friends Mike & Emily in Hawaii are always up (literally) for a "late-night" chat.  It sure was something getting to see the sun set twice in one day.   

Soon enough Sunday came and it was back to standing in line at 5 am.  Once again the people around us proved to be fun company.  Plus there were clever campaign buttons for sale.  Our friend Metz was volunteering at the event and we sure were happy to see him before going through security!    

Once inside the Clemente Center we ran into the President...of Florida Tech.  

(Two Presidents in one day~ are we lucky or what?!)

Two short hours and countless audio checks later we were finally in the presence of the 

44th President of the United States of America.   

  

Needless to say, Rachel and I were thrilled that all of our waiting, standing, and patience paid off!!  President Obama's campaign speech was effortless, encouraging, entertaining, and energizing.  I cannot wait tell my future social studies students about the day I spent half an hour with the President of the United States. 

               

Starting September

It's been said sung that "September days are the nicest days of the year"... If the next twenty-nine are anything like today then I would have to agree!

Watching the Bulldawgs open the season with a win was wonderful; Watching the game on Jekyll Island with my parents made it marvelous!  Two pounds of Georgia wild caught shrimp sure made a scrumptious celebratory supper at the Rah Bar.  

Being back in Georgia is refreshing~ the paraphernalia is gloriously red & black and lacking grungy, gross gators.  Seeing this Georgia helmet tonight while grocery shopping reminded me of seeing this Bulldawg while school supply shopping my second year at UGA... eight years ago!   

Hi & Bye, July!!

July started with a road trip back from the Classic City for a Scrabble Club wedding.

My good buddy, RMP came down from Virginia for the festivities.  I sure do love spending quality time and making sweet memories with her!   

Fourth of July is my favorite holiday because something magical always happens.  Watching this years fireworks over the Indian River Lagoon from a restaurant rooftop was indeed magical!

   

The next week was filled with fun as an overnight counselor at the Florida Tech marine science camp.  My campers and I had a blast learning how to tie knots, making oyster mats, planting mangroves on BC-47, seining the Indian River Lagoon, tye-dyeing, and exploring marine ecosystems!  

Plenty of time was spent on the beach~ during the day as well as the night.  I witnessed for the first time a nesting Green sea turtle.  She was big and she was beautiful!  Watching sea turtles nest never gets old.  Perhaps next summer I'll see my first nesting Leatherback sea turtle.    

 

Sweet Summertime

Nothing quite says summertime like catching a baseball game or cutting into a juicy watermelon! 

Goal for 7th month of 27

It's official...I have signed up to run my first ever 5k on September 15th, 2012.  I have three months to learn how to run 3.1 miles without dying.  Not considering myself a runner by any means this shall be quite a challenge!  I did have awesome 50 yard dash skills during my elementary school field days~  Here's to getting healthy, having fun, and helping sea turtles!! 

Sea Turtle Celebrations

Happy World Sea Turtle Day!

Happy (103rd) Birthday to Sea Turtle Conservationist, Dr. Archie Carr!

Happy Fifth Anniversary to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center!

Cannot wait to celebrate sea turtles today at the Sea Turtle Preservation Society and Wednesday at the Brevard Zoo with a conservation conversation featuring Dr. Llewellyn Ehrhart!  

Fish, Family, & Friends

What better way to beat these post Oregon blues than to hop back on a plane and head home to Hotlanta!?!

My flight touched down and I was off to see some fishes with Todd but not without first stopping at The Varsity for a 10 o'clock chili cheese dog, onion ring, and fry~ yummy!!  

Operation: Surprise RayRay for her Birthday was in full swing but snagged up by her vertical challenges thus allowing plenty of time for silliness and silhouette fun...

After successfully surprising RayRay, I was off to surprise the Rumbles at their last Solid Rock.  What a great night as several friends from many years back gathered once more for Bible study, worship, and Miss Amy's delicious cheese dip! 

 

Friday was spent talking about Oregon and eating Coos Bay huckleberry saltwater taffy with my awesome MawMaw & PawPaw.  Saturday was full of giggles at GiGi's house with two of her grandchildren~ such precious answers to prayer!

 

Daniel Family Sunday night supper at Buckner's sure was yummy and it was wonderful to see my Bubba!  I cannot believe how fast my cousins are growing up~ time truly flies!  One cousin is just starting to walk while another cousin will be walking/graduating high school this time next year...yikes!! 

Memorial Day was a whirlwind Zoo Camp Reunion!!  I had such a fantastic time walking around Zoo Atlanta with my most favorite camper and his family.  Our pachyderm pals, Kelly and Tara were excited to see us again as well!  Afterwards, Daddy Gator and I enjoyed a delicious lunch at R. Thomas and a wonderful "window shopping" excursion to World Market.  Don't yah just love that gorgeous elephant umbrella?!  Mama Elephant approves :-]         

 

Memorial Day night was capped off with a quick trip to the Classic City to see my old pal, Pitcher.  I still cannot believe after several years together at UGA, he had never rung the North Campus Chapel Bell, stuck his feet in the Herty Field Fountain, or took in the skyline from the College Avenue parking garage.  There are always adventures to be had in places new and old~ especially with a good buddy!