Ever since I tried SUP a few weeks ago I can't stop thinking about it. Have you ever tried something you really like and take to it right away and it brings back good old times. I've tried to talk myself out of one but honestly I can't think of a good enough reason not to own one. Besides the price I mean, and that I already have a boat, and that I'm afraid a shark will chase me around the sound. Still I cannot wait to get on one again and put my new puppy on it with me. The pups won't be here for about 4 more months so I better get started and practice before I scare the poor little doggie.

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This squirrel was cute eating fruit and acorns on the rocks. There are so many acorns around for them to eat. Did you know Florida is the only state with no snow at this time? What you might not realize is the water temperatures are 50 degrees. Manatees and fish life have a hard time in these temperatures.

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I hope you are enjoying your weekend. The sun is shining and its breezy with gorgeous weather to sit outside and enjoy a drink while running a few errands.

For Christmas, I was given a pair of the Lululemon groove pants and they were the wrong size. I had to go back to the store to get a smaller pair. I'm not going to lie, I had a hard time keeping my wallet in my purse. It's a good thing I'm a saver or I would have bought a few tops to go with the pants.

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The gala dinner was held on the top floor of The Ferry Building. The meal was catered by Paula LeDuc and wine paired by Bonny Doon Vineyard. The meal was exquisite.

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Last night we went out for dinner to one of my favorite places Cafe Dufrain in Tampa. The wine list is very nice for a small place and I like the way the wines are listed. This one bottle caught my eye for several reasons: the name, the blend of grapes, and the story.

After making my selection the waiter told us an interesting story behind the label. It's a great story for a bottle. Two families were in a land dispute the O'Neill's and O'Reilly's. These 2 families decided to go out in the middle of the lake for a rowing contest and the first one to reach land owns the property. In the haste of the mad rowing and noticing he was behind, one of O'Neill's rowers cleaved his own hand with his sword and tossed it on the shore to stake his claim in the land. I was stunned. The waiter promised me it was true and then the manager came out to verify his story and we talked more while he poured the bottle. Today, I Googled the label, and confirmed the story online.

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Look at all the empty tables in a normally busy Westshore area. Right about this time of year temperatures get down right steamy and I notice few people outside until the sunset. When I see a convertible with the top down in the sunlight I'm sure they must be from Canada. As I head inside to the cool dark bar I move along to the back, away from the sunlight and order a chilled glass of white wine from the list.

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Guess where I am? I'm on a business trip and found myself not too far from St Augustine. This area is rich with Florida history.

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My little dobie is still recuperating so she needs to stay out of the sweltering sun and inside.

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Torre del Oro was constructed between 1221 and 1222 by the Berbers. This Golden Tower was the last point of a fortress that extended from the Alcazar to the river. Huge chains crossed the Guadalquivir river and this structure anchored them thus preventing ships from sailing upstream. The chains were used in the city's defense against the Castilian fleet during the reconquest.

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