Swimmin with de fishes | Vacation Time

Well, swimmin with de dolphins!  (and we snorkeled with de fishes)

A couple weeks ago, I brought my husband, parents and mother-in-law to a place in Florida called Discovery Cove.  There, I had the most incredible experience of my life.

Meet Jenny.  She's one of the first dolphins to be a resident of Discovery Cove, and she was one of the friendliest (and smartest) creatures I've ever met.  You could tell she really enjoyed the time that she spent with her trainers, and there was an incredible bond between Jenny and the lead trainer.  Jenny would roll over and show her belly to let everyone rub her.  She would put her tail in the trainer's hand and let the trainer pull her backwards through the water.  We also learned that Jenny had watched the trainer's daughter grow up through life just as the trainer had watched Jenny's calves grow older.  

She loved men.  Especially Jason, my hubby.  You could tell when Jason went to give her a hug- she rolled herself into his arms, and held her head and tail higher in the air than for anyone else.  Maybe it was his stronger touch.  Or maybe she saw the same things in him that I do.... :)

The whole experience was pretty incredible.  

Here's the rest of the trip summed up in a few snap shots:

Left to right, top to bottom: 

Flamingos | SeaWorld Orlando

Mt Everest Ride at Animal Kingdom | Disney World

Fireworks over the Magic Kingdom | Disney World

Shamu | SeaWorld Orlando

Crabby Joes | Daytona Beach

Jet Skiing | Daytona Beach

Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse | Daytona Beach

Ascending stairs in the lighthouse | Daytona Beach

Jason vs ocean | Daytona Beach

Beginning of a new chapter

Over the last year and a half, a lot has changed for me. Since the beginning of 2011 I got a puppy, got engaged, moved, quit my job, got married, found a new job/changed careers, bought a car, and now we're buying a house. Needless to say, it's been a busy year.

And I've been loving every minute of it.

Sometimes change can be scary. Fortunately, I've had a really good track record so far, and and every step of the way has been incredibly exciting (and a bit of a blur). Through all of it, today was really the first day that I stepped back and realised, "whoa... I really am a grown up." Not that before I was just pretending. Or was I?

It hit me when I saw a birthday card from my parents. It was addressed to "Mrs. Katie Rhine." I mean it took me a few months to get used to the new last name, but this was the first time I saw myself as a Mrs.  It's almost as scary as the dreaded Ma'am. Gives me chills like Frau Blücher!

Regardless, this year is another year of challenge, another year of change, another year of learning and self growth.  One of my biggest challenges is going to be taking a step back from the 180 degree turn around that has been my life, and see how I've changed yet stayed the same.  I still have the wonderful support of my family, and the support of new family.  I still have the dedication I did with my old job, but have fresh passion and motivation with my new job.  I still have great love for pottery, but a new skill of actually making round things.  I can hear my favorite college art professor ringing in my ears "it's simple yet complex..."  Possibly the most wisdom filled words I heard in college.

Goals as I begin my 27th lap around the sun:

• Get back into writing. I used to write all the time.  I've forgotten how refreshing it is to write down my thoughts, no matter how much they resemble brain vomit.  gross
• Stretch my creativity.  Before, I altered pottery because I couldn't make round things and so I had to do something else to make them good.  Now that I can make round things, I should be able to make even better pottery, right?
• Remember how important it is to love myself and love my body.  So we've all gotten... rounder over the years.  I want to get back to seeing myself as beautiful.  Even as beautiful as my husband sees me. 

Well, here goes nothing...

Also, I've decided I would like to close my posts with a Song of the Hour.  I have very eclectic music taste, and I'm going to broaden even more.  For now: Mrs Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel