How is it already August 7th?? I am ready, I guess, for this month but it’s going so fast! Anyway, onto the questions!

1. What’s a task you do on a regular (or semi-regular basis) that feels like it should be an Olympic event?

I guess I’ll say yardwork. But really, my kids mow and my lawn guy edges and hedges so for me, it’s the overgrowth and there are times I get really motivated to tackle it and oh Lord, it is A LOT!

2. What’s in the trunk of your car right now? 

Funny you should ask because I keep thinking about it: there are two metal tins that the kids had; they’re art things, little suitcase type tins with crayons and paper with a theme – a Ninja Turtle’s one and an Avengers. I need to drop them off at the Goodwill because my kids have now outgrown them.

3. Summer foods vs. fall foods…which do you prefer? 

Hmm, I guess summer but I do enjoy a good stew or chili, which I really only make in the fall/winter. Summer foods, to me, are burgers and corn on the cob and light salads, and I love those all year round!

Would you rather-watermelon or caramel apple? iced coffee or pumpkin spiced latte? potato salad or sweet potato casserole? barbecued ribs or roast turkey? ice cream sandwich or apple pie? corn on the cob or candy corn? 

Neither; I dislike both. Pumpkin spice but I rarely get one. Potato salad! BBQ ribs! Ice cream sandwich. Corn on the cob.

4. August 7th is National Lighthouse Day. Have you visited any lighthouses? Do you have a favorite? Is a lighthouse something you seek out if you’re visiting an area known for theirs? 

I have gone to one in St. Augustine a long time ago and more recently, the one at Cape San Blas. The one on St. George Island cost money and we ran out of time last time we were there. I am not really into them, per se, but they seem neat.

5. Light at the end of the tunnel, out like a light, give the green light, a lightbulb moment, in a new light, in the limelight…of the ‘light’ idioms listed which applies in some way to your life lately? Explain. 

Light at the end of the tunnel for sure. While some of the money aspects are still uncertain as I transition back to teaching, I am almost done at this job and can see that coming to a close. It was a goal I had to reach because after being let go, I had a finite amount of time to find something else. Now I have these goals ahead of me on the other side of said tunnel: kids start school/sports, get my classes in order, and settle into the new routine!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I’m only here for 3 hours today because it is the end of the road at the Florida House for me. And that’s ok; I came to terms with that a while ago. I am just ready to move on. There’s so much to do and less time to do it in so I am very stressed and a little scared but also, oddly confident. I realize that being “let go” was not so much about me failing as it was realizing my limitations. I honestly thought I could work a job that stayed late and still be a solid mom and wife. Clearly, that does not work.

Anyway, I’m out at 10:30 today and I plan to go to the store and then go home with the kids, who are on their final week before going back to school. I hate August for so many reasons and this is one: everything is wonky and in between big endings and beginnings. Maybe some people thrive in that but it stresses me right the heck out. Mostly, it makes me throw myself into other stuff: running, for one, then I am reading a book called Mile Marker One, which is sort of a fictionalized tale about real events and people in the late 60s/early 70s Key West Literary/Music scene. I am focusing on the beer fest mostly; some of our friends and those who are helping run the tent Saturday are coming over tonight to do a preliminary set-up/dry run. I am excited about it because we put a lot of effort into theming it so this matters.

Well, I’m going to do some work on my online classes and work through the rest of the morning. Happy Wednesday!