Walk Into the Future

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  • Chicago Marathon: Time for some action!

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    “A marathon is hundreds of miles. The finish is the last 26.2”.

    (Running Quotes)

    This quote identifies my current Walk into the Future.  I started the Chicago Marathon training cycle on 6/10/2024 and have logged 561.89 miles to date.  I’m flying to Chicago tomorrow morning, so I have completed all the prescribed miles on my training plan.

    There have been a lot of early mornings to beat the Florida heat and humidity but I’m feeling good about the work I have put in this year.  I used lessons learned from previous training cycles to improve my mental and physical preparation to ensure I get to Chicago in great shape to compete with my fellow runners.

    I started this training cycle at 207 pounds and have been as light as 192 pounds.  I tipped the scale this morning at 194 pounds right before I start the carb loading process.  I will toe the line at the Chicago Marathon lighter than my last marathon and this should translate to my performance.  Again, I decided not to take any short cuts this time around and made sure I put in the work mentally, physically and with my diet.  Feeling good!  My friend Lynn keeps saying that I’m skinny now—not sure I buy that but have lost three inches on my waist and none of my pants fit me now.  Will have to see if I maintain this weight before I invest in a new wardrobe. 😊

    I touted being 32 – 0 during my last Chicago Marathon update.  I never thought I would remain undefeated throughout the entire training cycle, but I wanted to maximize each run to ensure I performed well at the Chicago Marathon.  Well, let’s cut to the chase—I missed a few sessions either due to travel or illness.  I missed an entire week of training when I returned from the Virginia Beach 10-miler.  This may also explain why my time in the race was slower than last year.  Imagine that I completed a 10-mile race while I was sick.  😊

    Here’s my weekly miles update:

    Week 937.39
    Week 1034.49
    Week 1126.03
    Week 1234.58
    Week 132.03 (Sick this week)
    Week 1442.7
    Week 1530.85
    Week 1633.77
    Week 1727.11
    Week 185
    Total273.95

    I’m flying up to Chicago tomorrow to get acclimated to the city and weather.  I’m excited to go to the race EXPO for the opportunity to meet some of the elite runners scheduled to be there.  I’m sure I will not see them much on race day so will enjoy the opportunity to share the same venue with them.  There are a few Orlando Track Shack runners coming up to Chicago and I want to catch up with them at the EXPO as well.  Friday will be my day to get some sightseeing in and deep-dish pizza.  I will stay off my feet as much as possible on Saturday to conserve energy and keep my legs fresh.  There will be an organized shakeout run on Saturday morning, but I have not decided if I want to participate.  I’m sure it will be exciting and a great opportunity to meet runners who have gone through the same experience as me to get ready for the Chicago Marathon.

    The weather is projected to be in the mid-40’s and warming up into the low-60’s.  This will be a welcomed change from the Florida heat and humidity. Really looking forward to see how my body adapts to running in cooler weather without humidity. 

    Well, the training is done!  It’s time to put all this effort into action on race day to see how well I perform.

    Thanks for coming along on this journey with me!  Will see you on the other side of the 2024 Chicago Marathon finish line! 😊

    Irie!

  • First Day of School Vibes!

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    “The first day of school is the beginning of a new chapter in life”.

    (Unknown)

    What’s the best that can happen?  This is one of my new mantras for 2024.  I started leveraging this within the work environment and decided to expand to the Walk into the Future blog.

    This is a simple question with the potential for huge returns in daily life and activities.

    I decided to bring this concept to life for the first day of the 2024 – 2025 academic year.  The first day is always filled with excitement and the promise of big things happening with campus partners, students and employers looking to hire talent.

    I made a promise to one of my friends to wear a tuxedo on the first day of classes last year.  We laughed at the concept at the time but agreed we would rock tuxedos and walk around so students could see how great we looked.  This would have been out of character for both of us, so we were sure to get some weird looks and questions from students, faculty and staff.  Why are you wearing tuxedos to work? Well, the first day of school came and went last year but I did not wear my tuxedo as planned.  My friend Frank passed away unexpectedly, and I didn’t feel right wearing my tuxedo.  I didn’t want to have to explain why I was wearing the tuxedo—thought it was too soon to complete the agreement and didn’t want others to feel bad.

    So, fast forward to this year and my mindset has changed.  What’s the best that can happen?  Wearing the tuxedo was a great way to honor the agreement I made with Frank and put a smile on the face of others.  Not many people knew about the agreement so my tuxedo entrance at work caught a few people off guard in a good way.

    The ironic aspect of my first day of school outfit was the impact it had on different generations. 

    People close to my age focused on the tuxedo, my shirt and tie.  They were extremely complimentary of my formal outfit and how it made me stand out. 

    What’s the best that can happen?  The students had a completely different view of my outfit.  I decided to add a little flair to my outfit by rocking blue and white Air Jordan 1’s instead of formal dress shoes.  Wanted to have fun with the outfit and the Air Jordan 1’s gave me a way to enhance my outfit and create conversations at the same time.

    Students that never would have approached me kept coming up to introduce themselves and ask me about my J’s (that’s what young people call Jordan Brand shoes).  Had no idea what they were talking about but played it off since they were interested in talking to me.  The students did not view me as an Associate Vice President but a fellow sneaker head who likes to wear formal clothing while rocking J’s. 😊  The day was filled with smiles, laughter and bonding over my decision to finally wear my tuxedo to work. 

    My colleagues were curious as to why I was wearing a tuxedo to work and were understanding when I told them the true reason why I wore the tuxedo.  I decided it was time to honor an agreement I made, and they fully supported it once I let them in on the secret.

    What’s the best that can happen on the first day of school?  Rocking a tuxedo with J’s is a great way to get multiple generations talking and sharing experiences.  I had the most fun just walking around and saying hello to people—the outfit seemed to disarm folks and made them want to chat.

    The experience was great for me and I’m happy I completed the pledge.  Will I rock a tuxedo again next year?  Yep, I will bring the outfit out again to connect with the next wave of students.  What’s the best that can happen?  You decide!

    Irie!

    “The first day of school is a blank page in the journey of education”.

    (Unknown)

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  • 2024 Virginia Beach 10-miler

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    “I’ll have a side of beach with my morning coffee”.

    (Unknown)

    My Walk into the Future continues to provide me with travel and adventures.  These are major reasons I decided to embark on this journey back in 2018.  Not sure how long I will chronicle my walk but I’m happy this concept came to me, and I still have content to share.  The term ‘Walk’ is there as a reminder to slow down and enjoy what’s coming.  There are days when we are in too much of a hurry and sometimes miss out on opportunities to enjoy life and the little things.

    Enough on the meaning of the blog title—let’s jump into Virginia Beach! 😊

    My first venture to Virginia Beach was for the now defunct Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon.  This was one of the premiere race locations on the Rock N Roll running series, but the locals did not like for an outside running organization to come in over the Labor Day weekend and take funds from local running clubs.  Not sure if this was a real issue but the Rock N Roll series race in Virginia Beach was canceled the following week.  The Rock N Roll press release identified they could not reach future agreements with the city of Virginia Beach and decided not to host an event there anymore.  I thought it was a fantastic race location and didn’t know if I would get a chance to run there again.

    Well, the J&A Racing organization picked up the pieces and created a Labor Day race weekend that includes a 5K, 10-Miler and kids races with beach concerts.  J&A Racing is local, and registration money stays local and helps charities in the Virginia Beach area.

    I ran the inaugural 10-miler last year and enjoyed the experience.  The course was pretty much the same as the Rock N Roll half minus a few neighborhoods.  The 10-mile race is not a standard race distance, but it was a fun experience, and the beach concerts were great.  I was lucky last year, and the finish line was half a block from my hotel, so I got a chance to enjoy the beach and music and only had a short walk to my hotel when done.

    I am a creature of habit so decided to fly to Virginia Beach on Friday so I could enjoy the area, free live music and great food before race day on Sunday.  Most of my readers know I love outlet malls and that was my first stop after picking up my rental car.  I didn’t really need anything but made my way to the Nike outlet and picked up new compression shorts.  Hit a few other stores but mostly just window shopping and sightseeing.

    Made my way to the Virginia Beach Convention Center to pick up my race packet and explore the EXPO.  There were a few more vendors at the EXPO this year so did a little bit of shopping—mostly nutrition I would need during the race.  Got my customary EXPO photos before heading to the boardwalk and hotel check-in.

    Decided to explore the Virginia Beach boardwalk after checking into my hotel.  Did not have a specific location in mind but wanted to hit a few bars and find live music.  This is very easy considering the number of great bars and restaurants on the boardwalk.  Catch 31 is one of my favorite spots on the boardwalk so settled at the outside bar for people watching, beer and live music. 

    Got up the next morning for a quick shakeout run on the boardwalk.  Wanted to stretch out my legs and get a feel for the humidity prior to the 10-miler on Sunday.  I was able to get in a 3.4 mile run with pace on the boardwalk.  Saw several of the 5k participants heading back to their hotels after completing their race earlier in the morning.  Most had smiles on their faces and seemed to have enjoyed the experience.  Got in more carb loading and beer drinking after my run.  Posted up at the 27 Ocean Bar and Grill to catch the Florida Gators play the Miami Hurricanes.  This may have been the worst part of my trip since the Hurricanes completely outclassed the Gators—it’s going to be a long season for the Gators! ☹

    Race day started at 5:30 am for me.  The 10-miler started at 7 am and the start line was only two blocks away from my hotel.  I was able to get my stretch routine in, take my supplements and light jogging completed before the race.  Virginia Beach is a friendly place, and crowds were already forming to cheer on runners.  A police officer volunteered to take a quick picture for me before the race started—nice people!

    I was slotted in Corral #1 for this race—not sure how I got in this corral but was happy to avoid the crowds at the beginning of the race.

    I shared with several friends that I wanted to get a personal record (PR) for this race—the goal was to beat last years’ time of 1:36:46. Had designs on 1:30 (one hour thirty minutes) for this race. 

    First forward—my first mile was 8:40 (eight minutes and 40 seconds) and my tenth mile was 10:10 (10 minutes and 10 seconds).  The finish time was:  1:40:06 for a 9:56 per mile pace.  Not bad but a bit off from my time last year and not a PR for the 10-mile distance.  Still felt good with my training and effort during the race.  Made my way to the beach party and started drinking ice cold beers. There were multiple food options to include sandwiches, pizza and cake for something sweet.  The music was not as good this year, but they got people up and dancing on the beach.  Spent an hour at the after party before heading back to my hotel for my nap.

    Enjoyed my Virginia Beach experience so much that I’ve already signed up to return next year. 😊

    Irie!

    “The smell of the ocean never gets old”.

    (offthehookadventures.com)

  • 2024 Celebration of Running 5k

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    “Run often.  Run long. But never outrun your joy of running”.

    (Julie Isphording)

    The Walk into the Future running season always starts with the Orlando Track Shack Celebration of Running 5k in Winter Park, Florida.

    I started running with Track Shack back in 2010 and leverage training plans they have for multiple distances.  The Track Shack team identifies the start of the 2024 – 2025 running season with this race and turns it into a celebration for the Orlando running community.

    The 2024 Celebration of Running 5k marked my 10th time running this race and I enjoy it more each time I return.  The course is the same and the August humidity is always thick, but this is a great race to reengage with competitive running and socialize with a great running community.

    My last race was the 2024 Rhode Island Half Marathon back in May.  The months of May, June and July were dedicated to training in the Florida heat and humidity, but racing was an after thought during the dog days of summer.  There are several 4th of July races to pick from but I normally travel and running on the holiday is not attractive to me—I may take on this challenge in the future but signing up for a race on the 4th of July has not materialized for me yet. 😊

    I find myself starting to get anxious to race again in early August.  I started my marathon training cycle on 6/10/2024 but running races with other competitors is more exciting than training miles.  I also leverage the Celebration of Running 5k to gauge my fitness levels to determine adjustments needed in my larger training program.  I’m down about 7 pounds and 2 inches so far during this training cycle so entered the racing season feeling fresh and of course lighter than last year.

    I approached the 5k as another training session with an opportunity to work on my speed and endurance.  I did not have a set finish time in mind but wanted to run as fast as possible and still have fun with the process—mission accomplished on both parts of this equation. 😊

    I lined up in my usual spot with the 9-minute per mile group.  This is always a safe place to line up to avoid crashing into other runners. It still amazes me that runners who know they will run slower splits make their way to the front of the starting corrals.  This creates numerous problems at the start of the race because other runners must expend energy to avoid crashing into these folks—my strategy is to hang back a bit to let this churn clear a bit and then hit my desired pace.  It takes about a half mile before the crowds start to thin out a bit to move forward.

    I finished the Celebration of Running 5k with a time of 29:05—9:16 per mile pace.  Not bad for me even after holding back for the first half mile.  I completed the 5k with a nice sprint and a smile on my face.  The smile came out because I saw one of my running friends and her husband in front of me and I decided I was going to pass them before the finish line.  It was working until she spotted me and decided to kick before I caught them.  She beat me by 3 seconds, and we had a huge laugh at the games adults play when racing.  It was all fun and made the experience even better. 😊

    Got my normal after race pictures in the race village and made my way to get my beer and donuts.  Always enjoy the opportunity to catch up with folks I know in the Orlando running community but couldn’t stay too long.  This was a 17-mile training day, so I needed to head over to the Cross Seminole Trail to complete my training.

    Love the Cross Seminole Trail because it provides a flat and shady surface to get extra miles in.  You get to interact with walkers, runners, roller bladers and cyclists all on the same trail.  It’s great for people watching and training.  A local cycle club places coolers with free water on the trail to help keep folks hydrated while on the trail—this was a bonus and much appreciated. 

    I completed my 14-mile training run and headed back to my hotel to cool off and relax.  Of course, a nap was in my immediate future after racing and training.

    My racing season started out exactly how I scripted it and I’m happy with my physical and mental preparation so far.  Excited to see how the rest of the season progresses.

    Irie!

    “Train smart. Train hard. Have fun”!

    (Matt Wilpers)

  • Five Minute Thursday: Favorite teacher

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    “My teacher gave me the best gift of all…believing in me”.

    (Unknown)

    The Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt has been a fun detour with my blog writing. Never thought I would enjoy a scripted prompt this much, but it has become a staple writing exercise for me.

    So, let’s give the Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt another run.  Not sure if I shared this in an earlier post but I am a proficient typist.  I signed up for 10th grade Typing 1 class with designs to meet girls in high school.  Turns out the skills I learned in this class as a 15-year-old have propelled my professional life and opened numerous doors for me.  I would not be able to crank out weekly blog posts without the ability to type and put my thoughts down. I type as fast as I think so getting a lot of content completed is an easy task for me.  Never imagined my attempt to meet girls in high school would provide me with a skill that helped me separate from my peers.

    My fifth prompt for Five Minute Thursday is:  My Favorite teacher—Mattie Fouraker.

    I officially met Mrs. Fouraker in the 10th grade, and she was my typing teacher.  She took a special interest in me and decided that I would learn how to type well in the year we had together.  She also decided that I was not in her class to meet young ladies and put me on the far end of her class so my interactions would be limited.  She made a point to get onto anyone who distracted me while I was in her class.  This set-up created a typing incubator that allowed me to thrive in her class and taught me a valuable skill that I leverage daily.  I was recognized as the best typist in class with a 65 words per minute with 99% accuracy rating—not bad for someone in class just to meet girls. 😊  Our football coach always made a point to identify I had the best hands on the football team—not bad for a wide receiver.

    Mrs. Fouraker made a point to keep taps on me throughout the rest of my time in high school.  She always made me feel special and provided life advice on the best way forward.  I never took another class with her, but she continued to mentor me daily.  I progressed to Typing 2 the following year but did not enjoy the class as much because I was just another student to the teacher in that class.  My typing skill level remained sharp based on the tools Mrs. Fouraker helped me develop in my time with her.

    Our relationship continued during my time in the Air Force.  We shared cards and letters over the years that helped us stay connected over the decades.  She remains one of my biggest advocates and follows the Walk into the Future blog weekly.  I will visit her when time permits when I return home to Jasper, Florida.  Mrs. Fouraker lives one town over in White Springs, Florida and it puts a smile on my face when I stop by.

    Amazing what a teacher that believes in you can do to propel your life forward!

    Thanks, Mrs. Fouraker for guiding me over the years! 😊

    Who is your favorite teacher?  Do they know that?

    Irie!

    “The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery”.

    (Mark Van Doren)

  • IRSC River Talk

    River Talk

    “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else”.

    (Booker T. Washington)

    My Walk into the Future continues to provide me with opportunities for growth. These growth opportunities are leveraged to create additional tree branches (mentees).

    My latest adventure was a partnership to return to the IRSC River Talk show to share information about my areas of responsibility and to answer questions posed by the host.  I did a spot on River Talk maybe a year and a half ago.  It was still a new show on the IRSC Radio Network, and we covered a lot of ground for that show.

    River Talk has a new host, and she reached out to ask if I wanted to come back on the show to provide an update on my departments for her listeners.  I rarely say no to an opportunity to share information, so I agreed to a return engagement.

    Met the host in the radio studio a few minutes before we started recording.  She identified she had done some extensive research on me (LinkedIn, Blog, Leadership training) and was excited to learn more about me during the interview.  I thought this was going to be a standard interview about my work at IRSC, but it turned out to be that and a lot more.

    The format provided a platform for me to share information about my current role, leadership pursuits, training program, what brought me to IRSC and why I got into higher education.  The interview allowed me to reflect on my WHY and share this information with listeners.

    Areas covered:

    • My current role as Associate Vice President, Advising and Career Services
    • What brought me to IRSC and the Treasure Coast
    • My Air Force background
    • Authentic Leadership
    • Why I joined the Air Force
      • What did I learn about leadership?

    I’m sure I missed a few other topics from the interview. 😊

    Give the full interview a run here:  https://www.wqcs.org/rivertalk-at-indian-river-state-college/2024-08-08/dr-calvin-williams-associate-vice-president-of-advising-career-services-and-chief-retention-officer-at-indian-river-state-college

    Let me know your thoughts!

    Irie!

    “If everyone is moving forward together, then success will take care of itself”.

    (Henry Ford)

  • 2024 Marathon Training (32 – 0)

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    “You don’t stay undefeated without being a little stubborn”.

    (Andre Ward)

    32 – 0!  Yes, I’m going to claim an undefeated marathon training record at this point of the cycle.

    You may be wondering what the heck I’m talking about—happy to explain! 😊

    I just completed Week #8 of my 2024 Chicago Marathon training cycle:  https://www.instagram.com/chimarathon/?hl=en.  The training schedule has me running multiple distances Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.  8 weeks times 4 days per week = 32 training sessions so far.  32 – 0.

    I am showcasing the 32 – 0 record because I have not missed a training session, projected mileage or hit the snooze button once so far in this training cycle.  I’ve trained for 2 other marathons over the past few seasons but have never displayed this level of consistency and commitment to the process.  I want to see a ton of improvement in how I perform on race day in Chicago and dedicating the proper energy into my training program is my way to build towards the big day.

    Will I remain undefeated?  No idea but I plan to continue to put the effort into this training cycle to build physical and mental strength to guide me in Chicago.  Training is going well as I hit my mileage markers daily but need to incorporate more speed work into the program.  My future Wednesday morning runs are designed to run at 2024 Chicago Marathon pace so this will force me to begin to work on my stride to generate speed.  Excited to start targeting marathon goal paces to mentally prepare for the full grind of 26.2 miles.  I know I can complete the distance, but this year is all about going a bit faster than before.  I’m projecting to have a finish time with a ‘4’ in front of it (4:35, 4:41, 4:59)—I will share my goal time the week of the Chicago Marathon.  Yes, I have a projected goal time I’m targeting.  Melissa—can you guess the time? 😊

    Here’s my weekly progress so far:

    Week 541.67
    Week 633.61
    Week 734.11
    Week 850.26
    Total159.65

    The weekly mileage has gone up from the previous updates.  This will continue through Week #15 before the mileage starts to taper down.  The full marathon taper process will start in Week #17 and continue until marathon race day.  My previous marathon training cycle had me competing in the OUC Half Marathon the week prior.  Not sure if this helped or hurt my race day performance but I will not repeat this process again for the Chicago Marathon.

    Can I stay undefeated and make it to 72 – 0?  Great question!

    Thanks for joining me on this training cycle!

    Irie!

    “I don’t think being undefeated is going to determine my greatness”.

    (Mikey Garcia)

  • Five Minute Thursday: Travel

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    “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”.

    (Saint Augustine)

    Shout out to the Walk into the Future blog readers and subscribers.  Appreciate everyone joining me on this journey!

    Let’s give the Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt another run.  I’m enjoying this writing prompt as a challenge to create new content based on a word or phrase.  FYI—this writing prompt will be around for a while so buckle up. 😊

    My fifth prompt for Five Minute Thursday is:  Travel.

    I could take this prompt in multiple directions but will focus on my willingness to explore travel solo.  I write about my annual visits to the Smoky Mountains, Nashville and Negril as regular topics for the Walk into the Future blog.  I will continue to travel to these spots as long as I’m able—all three locations provide me with a different level of peace and allow me to add new chapters into my personal ‘travel book’ (pun intended).

    The Smoky Mountains getaway provides a level of solitude I can’t find anywhere else.  Yes, there are other people walking around in the mountains but the level of peace I find there is unmatched.  Simple trail walks and just being out in nature is captivating and helps me refocus.

    Not sure I would categorize Nashville as peaceful, but I get a different energy vibe when in Nash Vegas.  I love live music and there’s not a better place to hear great live music.  I have regular spots I visit in Nashville (The Stage, Lucky Bastards, Dierks Bently Whiskey Row and Tequila Cowboys) because they have great sound systems, and the regular bands are all outstanding.  Each of these spots are larger venues and I can always find a corner to post up to enjoy the music and watch the crowds.  I normally just go back and forth between these spots until I get my fill of music and then head back to my hotel to do it again the next day.  The Wild Horse Saloon was on my regular rotation, but it closed late last year.  Luke Combs has a new venue in the same spot, and I plan to visit when I return to Nashville in April. 

    Negril, Jamaica is my happy spot!  I’ve written this multiple times, and nothing has changed.  Love flying down and spending time on the water and enjoying great food.  I go down there so much my resort lets me check myself in when I arrive.  The folks are friendly and take care of me like I’m a member of the family.  Will look to get down to Negril multiple times each year moving forward—may need to buy property down there so I have my own spot.  Can always rent out space when I’m not down there enjoying myself. 😊

    So, my five minutes are up.  How would you complete a five-minute prompt on travel?

    Irie!

    “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind”.

    (Seneca)

  • Key Largo

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    “Come to the Florida Keys, where sweating like a tourist is a rite of passage”.

    (#MeltingAway, #KeysLife)

    My Walk into the Future continues to allow me to seek and find new adventures in my life.  The concept is to enjoy life at a relaxed pace but to always move forward.  I need to remember why I created the blog name and make sure I follow through daily.

    Took the relaxed pace concept to heart when looking for my next adventure.  What better place to find relaxation than the Florida Keys. 😊

    I am a native Floridian but never ventured down to the Keys before.  I’ve thought about it a few times but never acted.  My thought process was it was too far to drive but I never put anything into Google maps to see the distance and/or drive time.  Told you I didn’t put much effort into this process. 😊

    Google maps identified the northern Key (Key Largo) was a three-hour drive from my house in Fort Pierce.  Key West was much further but I never had a desire to get that far south.  Decided to focus on Key Largo and plan a trip down around the 4th of July.  I took an extra day of vacation time so I could beat the holiday traffic and be in Key Largo before the fireworks started and people crowded the area.  Mission accomplished on both ideas.

    Didn’t know much about the Keys but wanted to get down to explore and experience something new.  I’m a huge Marriot fan so booked the Courtyard right off US 1.  This location put me right next to a marina with boat tours and several nice restaurants with fresh fish on the menu. This location allowed me to walk to multiple places of interest while in the Keys.

    Made my way over to Snappers Oceanfront Restaurant and Bar on my first day to people watch and get fresh fish.  Walked by the African Queen boat tour area on my way over.  Didn’t know they had boat tours, but this was a popular attraction in Key Largo. 

    The next stop was Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill which was a lively spot with music and great western views.  They had outstanding drink specials and the largest shrimp I have ever seen in my life.  Highly recommend this spot if you love shrimp, great sunset views and cold drinks with a kick. 

    The Caribbean Club was identified as a spot for great live music.  I was the most Caribbean person there and the band was an old school classic rock outfit.  It was still a great little spot because they had outside chairs sitting right next to the water.  The sunset views were better here because of the pawn trees—used them to frame a few of my pictures.  Visited both places two days in a row so they had a very authentic vibe.  Watched 4th of July fireworks from the Caribbean Club and enjoyed every second of the show.

    The Key Largo Princess glass bottom boat was my next adventure in Key Largo.  Saw the boat go out when I first arrived and was curious where it was headed.  It’s a simple tour where the boat heads out to a coral reef and circles so passengers can get a great view of the sea life.  The ship’s crew warned that some folks get motion sickness below deck while they circle.  I didn’t believe them but had to head back upstairs because I started to feel weird.  I was fine once I got back on the top deck and enjoyed the rest of the boat tour in the open air.  We saw tons of fish, sea turtles and nurse sharks on the excursion.  Great way to end my first venture in the Florida Keys.

    Where are you heading this summer?

    Irie!

  • The Poetry of Life (Repost)

    Poetry of Life

    (Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay) 

    The poetry of life moves me forward

    Towards the things that bring

    The happiness I need

    To fulfill these huge dreams that I dream

    Reaching out to help the next man

    Create and work towards a plan

    That makes the world a better place

    And one that stands to improve your stake in the race

    Let the poetry of life flow

    And discover the glow

    Of the poetic peace of living the life designed for you