Simple Sunday Random Thoughts

Venice Avenue Bridge Over Intercoastal Waterway - Venice, Florida

Taken from the Venetian Waterway Park - December 24, 2010

I hope you've had a most wonderful Christmas celebration with family, friends and a healthy dose of self-restraint!  If not, I wish for an even healthier dose of self-forgiveness and the ability to put poor choices behind you.  It's a new day!   Breathe deeply and move forward!  

Our holiday has been strange to say the least.   Neither Mr. B nor myself had any idea that being away from our home over Christmas would affect us so deeply.  We always travel over the holiday (usually to Florida), but have never left until two or three days after Christmas.  As I've mentioned in earlier posts, it was our idea to spend this first holiday without Mr. B's dad away from all things familiar and bring MIL along with us.  She has expressed several times how much easier this has been for her, so we believe coming to Florida was the right decision.  We just didn't anticipate the degree to which we would miss OUR traditions with church and our friends.  I couldn't begin to tell you how long it has been since we missed the Christmas Eve service at our church and I can now see that the season seems incomplete without it.  We spent a very quiet day yesterday reading, playing games and going for a nice long drive yesterday afternoon.  

On Christmas Eve, Mr. B and I rode the linear bike path called the Venetian Waterway Park which runs approximately five miles from downtown Venice along both sides of the Intercoastal Waterway.  It is absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed the ride immensely.  Today's picture was taken near the start of the trail and here a couple of others we took along the way.

 I love this mural which was at the start of the trail.   You may or may not know that Sarasota, FL (just north of Venice) was the home of John & Mabel Ringling.  Sarasota was where the Ringling's spent their winters and Venice became the winter home of the circus.  This mural depicts the circus train and is a true work of art.   We plan to visit the Ringling Mansion, museum and art gallery later this week.

 Hot and Sweaty Biker Babe!

In today's picture, you can see the Historic Venice Train Depot beyond the drawbridge.  It has been beautifully restored and is the starting point for The Legacy Trail, a rail-trail that runs from Venice to Sarasota.  We will ride it later this week.

I do not know what possessed me to step on the scales this morning (yes, my scales go with me everywhere) because I had planned to not weigh until January 1.   I think I just woke up thinking that NOT knowing would be worse than knowing.  In my self-visualization, all those "turtles" and numerous other indiscretions were solidly packed on my backside.  I fully expected a significant gain, so imagine my surprise and utter delight to see no gain at all.   In fact, a loss of a few ounces since I last weighed.   Maybe it was a stronger force than I who led me to the scale because although I'd been encouraged by a couple of healthy eating days, you better believe that gave me the renewed determination that I needed.  I am believing and confident that I can still post a good loss for 2010.  Not what I'd hoped for by this time, but far better than what I expected a month or so ago. 

Today, we are experiencing the Florida version of yesterday's snowstorm in the south.  We are getting it in the form of extreme wind and thick clouds.  Sustained winds are around 27 mph with gusts up to 40.  Kind of spooky, but I'm starting to get a little stir crazy and wanting to walk.  Probably will exercise good sense and refrain.  I'm already showing signs of sinus congestion, so even walking with ears and head covered probably wouldn't be such a smart idea!  Not in this howling wind!  I can see the headline now - "out of state tourist injured by flying palm tree!" 

I think tomorrow's plan is to head down to Ft. Myers and visit Thomas Edison and Henry Ford's winter estates.  I've been before, but neither Mr. B nor MIL have.  They'll both enjoy it as will I!  

Thanks for reading my Sunday ramblings.   Your friendship, blogs and comments mean a great deal to me and I'm anxiously awaiting Christmas updates!