Florida sunsets and white sand beaches…

A few weeks ago, we drove to north to drop the puppies off with our wonderful puppy-sitters and headed to the beach for a long weekend. After a 6.5 hour drive to Mark’s conference, we sat and watched the sunset over the Choctawhatchee Bay.      

The next night we went to Captain Dave’s, the oldest seafood restaurant in Destin, and it was spectacular.  We had a fantastic table on the deck overlooking the beach and another amazing view of a summer sunset. We snapped the next three shots while waiting for a table, and watching a beach wedding.

Budget decorating…

After years of reading in bed with book lights and desk lamps, I finally found a pair of inexpensive lamps (and lampshades) for the master bedroom.  We also got a deal on the wall art to spruce up our wall.

Ceazer, our little ham, couldn’t resist hopping into the picture.  Meanwhile, Jinx was too busy playing ball to bother with pictures.

Our puppy model in our bed.

 

A close-up of the wall art.

May Adventures…

Afternoon walks…

and lunch dates along the river.

 

Spring flowers…

Just because tulips, sunflowers and snapdragons at the farmers’ market, and a surprise day lily in our backyard.

Freebie Wednesdays at Arby's...

Throughout the summer, Arby's is having Freebie Wednesdays. Enjoy!



Arby’s Wednesday Freebies Calendar
MAY
13 - Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
20 - Free Chocolate Malt Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
27 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase

JUNE
3 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
10 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
17 - Free Regular Sidekickers® with any sandwich purchase
24 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase

JULY
1 - Free Regular Beef 'n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase
8 - Free Orange Cream Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
15 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
22 - Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
29 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase

AUGUST
5 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
12 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
19 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
26 - Free Regular Beef 'n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase

Counting down...

From September 08

To celebrate Mark's last free weekend before he begins rotations, we're headed north for a weekend full of family, friends, good food, and kayaking...and running calls for Mark. It's going to be awesome!

Weekend plans...

This weekend I'm determined to finally print out pictures like this...

...and this...


...frame them, and put them on the walls around the house.

Photos taken July 2006 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Public Health 101…

Since 1900, the life expectancy of the average American has increased 30 years, and 25 of those years are attributable to public health achievements. 

10 Great Improvements in Public Health

1. Immunizations universally recommended for children
2. Improvements in motor vehicle safety (think seatbelts, child car seats, guardrails, and street lights)
3. Workplace safety (labor laws, hearing protection, increased training and safety procedures)
4. Control of infectious diseases (improved sanitation and discovery of antibiotics)
5. Declines in deaths from heart disease and stroke (behavior modification such as blood pressure control and smoking cessation)
6. Safer and healthier foods (identification of essential nutrients, improved sanitation practices, and food fortification programs) 
7. Healthier mothers and babies (including improved prenatal care, shift towards hospital births, and milk pasteurization)
8. Family planning (modern contraception allows for smaller families and birth spacing)
9. Fluoridation of drinking water to prevent tooth decay
10. Tobacco as a health hazard (smoking cessation and reducing exposure to tobacco smoke)

Work left undone...

Nearly 50 years after the development of the polio vaccine, the polio virus still impacts the lives of vulnerable populations around the world. The Final Inch is an HBO documentary short that follows a group trying to reach unvaccinated children in India.