Coming to an end

Boys and "Mom" are ready to go home. Play with their toys, friends and cooler weather. You say "Steve, it is going to be 100 degrees here on Sunday when you are home!" Trust me, 100 in KS is nothing like 90 here in FL. I do not have to set the camera outside for 10 min to let the fog over the lens go away!

Anyway we had a great week off and I did not take one business (Or other) phone calls this week. One of the first times I can ever remember. What a great feeling and really speaks well of my team back at the office.

Energized and ready to get back at it next week.

I am not normally a Environmental Activist

However, listening to the news and their discussion of the impact on wildlife, economy, fishing and more it is really sad. After coming to these white beaches for over 20 years and thinking that they may never be the same, it is sad at the least. It is now obvious that it is a matter of time till it arrives here. It is looking like the day we leave the oil may arrive.

What a disaster and more concerning is the lack of response that BP and our government has had. I am not for more government, yet if they are going to act like big government than lets throw our resources at this problem. To this day, more oil is escaping than being captured. We are over two months into this disaster. What is our plan to get this under control? Talk about how bad BP is? We can blame people latter. Lets focus on the problem and come up with a solution. Accidents happen. Now lets respond.

I love my Garmin BUT

So driving around Florida this week, I have noticed that the maps need updated. They are a year and a half old and things have changed. Addresses do not exist, businesses have moved and more.

I use this quite a bit and when I am traveling it is a must. In fact I am not sure I could use a paper map any more. (Some may suggest that I never did know how to use paper)

So here is my problem. The map update is around $80. I can get lifetime maps for $119. Lifetime is not such a bad deal, however the Garmin that I have is around 5 years old and the Lifetime is only for one device. So if my device goes bad I would have to buy a new subscription.

So, do I
: Live with the old maps?
: Buy a one time update?
: Buy a lifetime for the device that I have and hope it does not fail?
: Buy a new device and then buy a lifetime for it?

It all equals money that I do not want to spend on something I already have! You may ask why I don't just use my phone. It is not as good. (Not even close) I guess I will wait till I have to travel to some unknown place then update. (Then I might start searching for a new one!)

Sure has been relaxing

The Gulf Oil Update

So we sit in Santa Rosa Beach (East of Pensacola FL) and no sign of oil here. Lots of worry about what it could do if it arrives.

It would definitely change the economy here. Everything along the cost is driven by tourism and such. The beach houses, the restaurants, pretty much everything. It would be a disaster to the locals.

As for the vacation Carsen is slowly getting better with the water. Caden loves the water, especially the pool. Today the beach has quite a bit of seaweed and we did not spend much time there this morning. Even Caden did not want to wade in the green.

Caden is exploring the local wild life. Lizards, beetles and strange things we do not have in KS. No boa's however, that is what Caden really wants to see!

HOT, HOT, HOT, more than just a bad 90's song here. Heat indexes well above 100 and the AC cannot keep up in the house. Our bedroom in the early evening is well into the upper 80's. I like to sleep cold. Not so good here. However, when you swim and play all day, sleep is not so much a problem!

Long day of travel yesterday

After traveling quite a bit by myself, it is a lot harder to travel with the family. Keeping everyone fed,to the bathroom and on time.

After that we went to the beach today, Carsen is not a fan of the water. We will have to work on that. Caden on the other hand is a fish.

The pool at the house is a nice addition this year. Much better than walking all the way to a public pool or the ocean.