Tuesday, August 14, 2012

dock: noun



A dock is a landing and moorage facility for watercraft
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last night was the Perseids Meteor Shower, and while the best viewing would be in an area with no lights, I wandered down to the marina to see, well, what I could see! Which ended up being one falling star, however I still felt lucky to see it.
This was a surreal experience, wandering around in the dark, completely alone. Although I didn't feel alone, my imagination kept nagging at me that boogie men were hiding behind every darkened corner...
or that some owner of their boat was going to pop out demanding to know what I was doing skulking around the docks at 1 in the morning...
or dropping my camera in the water because I was balancing it on top of the pilings. I had to have something to put the camera on since I was having to open the exposure to get good pictures. I love the lights reflecting off the water.

So this morning, I got woken up by my library from home calling to let me know my book was in...ok, 6 hours of sleep is good enough. ( I didn't go to sleep until 3am after my marina photo op ) I got myself up and went and scheduled a spa treatment, walked down to the local pier bar, only to find out it was closed :( Please note that it's a long walk and I was in new sandals..details on that will follow...
So I have my "I am alone survival kit" with me, aka a watercolors, pens, etc.So even though the bar was closed and I had walked all that way I made do by settling into a comfy chair to do some sketching...sounds like a plan, eh? except for the ants that attacked me...so I took a quick picture and I was walking back...new shoes...remember?
Three quarters of the way back to my room, my feet were KILLING me and I knew I was getting blisters, I took off my shoes and limped back to my room, determined to not let the bar closing, the ants and the blisters ruin my day, I got in the car and did some scenic driving, just enjoying looking at beach houses and well, the beaches. I got a cute shot of this manatee mailbox, love it!
I decided to do one of the scariest things on earth, for me, which is eating in a restaurant alone, but I wanted to go to Pineapple Willys which is a beach pier restaurant and thinking it was 3:30 in the afternoon maybe it wouldn't be crowded. It went pretty well, but when the waiter asked me if anyone was joining me, I lied! What's up with that??? I told him that since I had hurt my foot, the others had gone off and I was on my own! wow...I couldn't believe I felt that I owed this waiter an explanation of why I was alone...told you I had problems eating out by myself! Anyway, excluding the lie, the scenery was awesome...
So, bar closings, ants, blisters and lying totally exhausted me and I returned back to my room, took my book and spent the rest of the day in the pool, until Tracy's video which I watched outside, but the frogs were so darn loud I couldn't hear her...boy it's been a tough day....5 more days to go....whew...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway...
- John Wayne -
snagged from Mel's blog, The Yorkshire Fox
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Link up to Project Pinterest here!

11 comments:

Redanne said...

Hi Sandee, you really did saddle up girl, well done! I think what you told the waiter was totally acceptable and mostly true.......your pics are fabulous, what a lovely place. If it was me I would enjoy all that peace and quiet (well except for the frogs that is). Do try to enjoy more sightseeing, if the feet will allow! Crafty hugs, Anne x

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...super piccy's Sandee, your photography skills are flying and yes the quote very fitting and as small as ants my be they certainly have a mighty bite, your poor feet...have a super day...Mel :)

CraftygasheadZo said...

Super photos, eeek to the ants, ouch to the blisters but a big way to go for you! Take care Zo xx

Mary Pat Siehl said...

your photos are awesome!! looks wonderful!! enjoy!! i was single for a very long time and i embraced eating alone in restraunts! believe me no one is looking!! just ejoy!

Eliza said...

Beautiful sights and yes a bad move with the new sandals, we sometimes have to learn the hard way. I love walking around at night on my own, it is silence that is awesome. Pity you only saw one shooting star, night time is amazing and so much to see in the sky.

Eliza

SarahinSC said...

Sounds like a mix of good and bad. I laughed about you telling the waiter what you did. I can so see myself going on and on and on to the waiter about something like that! Hope your day today is not filled with ants or blisters or closed piers!

Pat N. said...

Hi Sandee! Gee, I haven't been around for a while and I'm sorry for that. Your vacation place looks wonderful and your photos are beautiful--TFS! Sorry to hear that your friends were unable to travel with you. Wish I could have come--I can definitely picture myself sitting at that table with you doing some crafting!! I must be sure to check in tomorrow. Have a fabulous time.

Katie said...

I give you tons of credit for heading out to the marina alone. The pictures you got are stunning!

Bringing your crafting with you is a great idea. I'm sorry the ants got you. But the manatee mailbox is such a cute picture!

Its too funny that you lied to the waiter. I would definitely do the same thing. One time, I ordered double mashed potatoes at a take out place, and no chicken or anything else that would make it a meal, because I really wanted them and only them for dinner. So I lied and told the girl at the counter that I was ordering for several people as a side for leftovers from a chicken I'd made the night before. (Okay, that may have happened more than one time...)

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Like you, I don't like to eat alone, either. But I learned to do so when I was traveling. One thing I won't do is go to a movie alone. That is still too scary to me.

I have had times when I got blisters on my feet and new shoes seem to do that. That's one reason why I only wear Princess Reebox now. They seem to fit as soon as I put them on.

You took some incredible night shots. They are beautiful. You have a real way with that camera of yours. I loved all the photos.

I hope this was your worst day and the rest are awesome. And be sure to wear OLD well worn shoes from now on. After all, you're on vacation, not at an Easter parade!

Neet said...

Oh heck Sandee, I am allergic to red ants, do get blisters with new shoes/sandals and would probably have to lie about being alone - think it was not a lie really just an excuse.
BUT ... on the positive side I would love to look at beach houses (never seen any over here and only glimpsed them from the roadside in CA, and am so envious of your night shots (what's the camera please - we need a better one than what we have) and you saw a falling star. I would have never been brave enough to walk that area on my own so hats off to you.
Now to go to your WOYWW blog entry which is where I was when I got side-tracked. Enjoy what is left of your vacation and be proud to be doing this on your own.
Hugs, Neet xx #21

Kalea Wavedancer said...

Manatees are friends with mermaids. And as to eating alone, do it!!! You get amazing inspiration that way. I love people watching like that.