The Essential Beachcomber

(Photo Credit:  Momma Gee) "Spontaneous" is a scary word to some people.  The very thought of flying by the seat of their pants or working without a net breaks them into a cold sweat.  Of course on the  spontaneous meter of life there are two extremes.  The low end would be forgetting your shopping list and grocery shopping without one. Going a little higher up the meter would be the middle-aged woman that goes to the hairdresser for her regular highlights but impulsively decides to go wild & get  aqua blue streaks  instead (you know who you are).  Impetuous tattoos and impromptu  skinny dipping would be on the wilder end of the spontaneity meter. (Note - Adding alcohol of any kind especially tequila can definitely affect your spontaneity.  My sobriety has definitely put the kibosh on my impulsive outbreaks of karaoke. But I can still sing a mean Bonnie Raitt in the shower.)   When life gets too daily you just ha...

  (Photo Credit:  Meghan McCarthy / Daily News File Photo) While most people follow the traditional spring, summer, fall, & winter seasons;  Here on Manasota Key we observe two seasons - Lights on and Lights off.  May 1 is the official start of Lights off or better known as Sea Turtle Nesting Season.  Most beach side Manasota Key Motels, condos, & homeowners have already made the annual move to shield all outdoor lights visible from the beac h.  Sea turtle hatchlings have a natural instinct to move towards the brightest direction. On a natural beach, the brightest direction is most often the expansive view of the night sky over, and reflected by the ocean .   Environmental lighting on the beach such as street lights, outdoor lighting on buildings, and even a lamp shining from a living room window can confuse the mother coming ashore to lay her eggs and the baby hatchlings some eight weeks later looking for their way to the sea. Sea tur...

My shark's tooth jar is always half full. Englewood is an accidental town of sorts. Situated on the Gulf coast somewhat close to I-75 and even closer to the historic Tamiami Trail don't text while driving through or you'll miss it. Even most Floridians couldn't tell you where Englewood is located.  (Also on that list would be Chiefland, Alva, & Gulf Hammock & I have kinfolk in them all) Most vacationers end up in Englewood for a quick stop to visit their retired parents on their way to the real vacation destination of Disney World.  Other tourists stumble upon the beaches of Manasota Key while on their way to more well known beaches like Boca Grande Island or Siesta Key.  At any rate it's one of the best ac c idents you could have. Although Englewood beaches cannot boast of the sugar white sand of Siesta or the swanky shopping of Boca Grande.  Our beaches have their own distinctive treasure to brag about - fossilized sharks teeth . The officia...

So true! Sign for sale by Country Marketplace. Walking provides an easy & inexpensive way to get fit.  It's good for the body and the soul.  Walking gets the heart pumping, detoxes your lymph system and gets the ole head back into good space.   I've tried walking every day but my schedule is kinda crazy and it just doesn't work out for me.  M y rule of thumb is not to go 2 days in a row without walking at least 2 mile s.  I do tend to get bored walking the same path all the time.  A beach walk is the perfect way to mix things up. We had a rainy day here in SWFL so today was perfect to walk the 1.3 miles out to the end of Stump Pass and back .  It was a light , drizzly rain (for the most part) so I donned my raincoat and got moving. The tide was rising on the very southern end of Stump Pass State Park. At low tide this sand bar is uncovered leaving a nice siesta spot for the birds.  In another hour it will be submerged as the ...