A Big Nothing

Isaac never even met me.  Kind of blew me off, like a prom dress in a tornado; or like a jet ski in 3' waves at 55 MPH..

Seriously.  Tampa didn't even get so much as a strong wind, or if we did and in my light sleep did not hear it, that should speak volumes.

Oh wait.

There was a 3' section of an old pine tree laying where the dogs do their morning duty.

And the pavement was wet.

And it was cloudy.

Otherwise?  No big deal.

No wonder the Floridians were non-plussed about the incoming hurricane.  I tend to think I will become like them... "Meh!"

I did, however, buy a fancy flashlight.  You know, just in case... bwahaha.

Sir Isaac

So, you may wonder how a lady from Minnesota viewing the incoming hurricane in Tampa.

Kind of like this:

WHOO HOO!!!!!

Yep, can't wait!  Seriously.  I know it will be interesting to be in, and no doubt I will be one of "those" idiots on the patio taking video of the storm squalls and whatever else.  And no doubt, when Sir Isaac has left our beautiful area, I will be grateful for that as well.

See?  Life IS to be lived, loved, and cherished.  We're only here for such a short time, might as well see and experience everything one can.

So:

Earthquake (Acapulco, 2007) - Check!
Tornadoes (Several, 1979 - 2011) - Check!
Blizzard (Duluth, MN, 1991) - Check!  (3' of snow, yes feet, in less than 24 hours)
2nd degree sunburn (Clearwater Beach, 1996) - Check!  (And, truthfully, I'd like to have not had that experience; can we say, "OUCH!" and "Yuck" - when it peeled)

My question for ya'll:

what are you going to do this weekend to enjoy your life?!

I'm Alive

Won't go into details, but holy Batshi$ what the hell?!?

 haha...

Okay, no really. I'm good. Florida is awesome!! The people here are great, my job is going well (up for a promo and crossing my fingers). Checked out the medical school here; can't really find the oomph in my stride yet. Maybe it's gone, maybe it'll return, maybe I'll find something else that stokes my passion and doesn't leave me hanging. 

Anyway, here's a picture of gorgeous Sanibel Island before the storm blew in.

Hope ya'll are well!

Losing My Anonymity

I am considering taking the blog private for some time due to my anonymity now being shot.  Those who know me in real life, to whom I've invited to read it, were people I trusted, people whom I knew had the story of what has happened since that fateful day - December 4, 2007 - and people whom I knew "had my back" so to speak.

This week an email from a best friend's, parents' best friend sent me a link to which I posted.  The organization is well known in the city and very well thought of.  I sent him the blog post back (which I have done before).

What I didn't know is that it would get sent out by the president of the organization to everyone on their board with my full real name attached.  There are many executives on that board who do not know what I went through and if all they read were a few posts, they'd think me someone they did not want to know.

What they do not realize, is that in real life I keep my damn fool mouth shut.  I smile and say niceties, I thank the clerk for giving me MY change, thank the waitress for being kind enough to refill my water or diet coke.  I say please and thank you, smile when I'm mad nodding my head so that in private, I can vent.

My blog was my venting place.  Again, those who know me in real life know the stories in full.  They also know me to be publicly soft spoken and kind hearted.

I am not embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated about any post I have made on this blog.

I will never back away from the wrongful misconduct of my former SVP of finance and his financial fraud committed on behalf of the company.  Never.  If I could change one, and only one, aspect of that entire time in my life, I would have pursued the court case all the way to trial if need be because no one else had my back, as I was to find out except for:

the SEC; and that group failed to act because I refused to testify or find myself in legal trouble for breaking the confidentiality agreement with the company... while vindicated by the SEC who stated I did the right thing, the amount was not Enron sized.

I am not sorry that I posted about Sir Hawtsalot who still remains anonymous.  Despite some things he did to me, or failed to inform me of, or decided erroneously to eliminate certain details of his life, he still remains ...

If I do take this private, please email me at adoc2be@yahoo.com and I will add you as a reader.  If not, I'll continue to post and one day, it will magically reappear.

My best to all of you -

Ad2b

Most Iconic View + Most Iconic Animal - Old Lonesome George

Snorkeling off Pinnacle Rock was amazing.  For about 2 hours we swam with penguins and sea lions.  The penguinos have no fear of humans and as they chased fish around us, they would not change direction.  For instance, at one point, there was a very fast little fellow aimed directly at me, I had to swerve to get out of his way or I might have been... doubtful... but one never knows.  I'm sure they are not as directionally challenged as I!

So, boarding the Panga again to get dry clothes, we landed on the other side of Bartolome to climb to the iconic site of which no Galapagos book is complete with out it.

The hike is steps (again reminding me of the stairs in Quayaquil to the top of Santa Ana hill).  Boardwalk with little side outs to rest upon.  The hike is not that easy but not that difficult.

My pictures do not adequately depict the scene.  Thankfully, Nat Geo has not requisitioned my photos from the trip either :)

And this is the other side:

We still saw a few birds here and there but the sight from the top - marvelous!

Tomorrow's post will bring you to "China Man's Hat" or Sombriero China and more animals.

The remainder of my trip includes Isabella, Fernadina, Rabida, and Daphne Major.

Oh and lest you think I did not remember him, Old Lonesome George.  We thought he was already dead when we were there.  Here is a picture of the sign outside his massive enclosure, taken on May 24, 2012.

and of course, the magnificent, old, wrinkled icon himself - looking barely alive May 24, 2012:

RIP Old Man!