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Fort Walton Beach, Florida

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Still Enjoying the Sun

Fort Walton Beach and Destin, Florida

Shannon took this picture. Just too good to not share.

On Monday, we went to the Air Force Armament Museum on Eglin Air Force Base. I really like learning about military history and about the different types of aircraft, so this was really fun for me. If only Sam didn't become cranky after too short of a time. We could have spent a lot longer, especially outside, but he just couldn't hack it.But that's okay. Inside was air conditioned. But chasing him around yelling "Copter!" every time he saw an airplane, and running to every airplane (and airplane model) was a bit tiring. The planes they had on display were very neat. Here is a link via google maps with an overhead picture.

Anyway, they have some great displays. There are many bombs on display, displays on automated weapons, air-to-air, aircraft, pilots. Really a lot of what you'd expect from a place called "Air Force Armament Museum".

Let's see. Later that night. . . or was it Sunday? I'm really confused about which day is which. This lack of routine is very, what, blissfully disorienting? Is that possible? I don't know, but I hope this isn't the last two week vacation I take. (It'll be quite a while before I do it again, that's for sure). Anyway, Later or Earlier I'm not too sure, we went out to eat at AJ's on the Destin Harbor. I have give it thumbs up all the way. I had something called "Run of the Kitchen" (where everything ran into batter and got deep fried). Very good, and the first time I've ever had oysters. It's a little bit expensive, but the value for what you paid is good.

Last night Shannon and I finally went to celebrate our anniversary. We went out to eat at a place called Old Bay Steamer. We had the Gulf Steamer for two, and I have nothing bad to say about it. Anywhere I go into where they play BB King gets an automatic nod for good, but the food here was just excellent, with a nice calm atmosphere. I had steamed oysters, steamed clams, and mussels for the first time. And it was the first time I have ever eaten shrimp that still had its head attached. An experience for sure. I highly recommend it to anyone coming to the area.

After supper, we went to Bass Pro Shop over in Destin. I just love that place. It isn't as good as the one in Springfield for sure, but still a neat place, with a pretty heavy emphasis on marine fishing, of course. I've heard a rumor that Cape is supposed to get one, but we'll see how that pans out. Bass Pro Shop is in a really neat shopping mall called Destin Commons. It's an outdoor mall, and is upscale (so I didn't do any shopping), but it's just a nice place to walk around and people watch. We got us some ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery, then headed back to the condo to make sure the kids were properly tucked into bed (with Shannon's mom watching them).

So today, this morning, the family headed down to the pool for a bit, then we had some lunch. I leveled my Mage (Level 52!) while Sam napped and Shannon and Erin went back to the pool.

Tonight was Great Fun. We all went to Destin Commons and as soon as we got there, Erin spotted the Build-A-Bear Workshop. Her face lit up, and we went. (We knew it was there and anticipated this moment, already planning on going). She was so excited! She went through and got her a bunny picked out, got it stuffed, gave it a bath, put clothes on it, and then we named it and created a birth certificate. She has been going on about it ever since, conjuring stories of how it came to be, where it lives (four televisions and an indoor pool in her house, which is a cardboard box and is "much bigger on the inside than it looks").

Sam enjoyed it as well. He picked out a monkey (named Nanas) then ran around the store trying to run the stuffing machine and trying to put the bear clothes on. He also had a great time.

After that, we went over to the fountains. It's this really neat fountain set up that shoots sprays of synchronized water and the kids (and some adults) can run around and play. Sam didn't do much with that, but he enjoyed running around in circles. Erin just dearly enjoyed every bit of that.

Shannon took this picture (just above) of the fountains tonight. We don't know anyone in the picture, but they're blurry anyway. I got a couple of short video clips (via digital camera) of Sam and Erin.

• Erin
• Erin and Sam
• Sam

And we ended our night with a few cheetos, some teeth brushing, and a quick couple of photographs of our new friends. I can't believe that it's only Tuesday, yet it's already August the 7th!

More Florida Trip

Day 8

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Sam being his normal ornery self. He just found a button on the helicopter that would make noise and is saying "Just a minute". At the Gulfarium.

So still, we've been here since last Saturday, and all is still well. On Wednesday, Shannon, Stephanie, and Sue took the kids to the Gulfarium. I wanted to go, too, but I had plans to go check out some fishing boats with Daniel, so I stayed at the condo, and played World of Warcraft. True, I could have been out in the sun, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Moreso than normal because I can look up from the screen at any moment and see the beautiful waters of the gulf. Anyway, I now have a level 50 human mage and level 25 drenai hunter. Sweet.

But back to the Gulfarium. We all went last year, and it was fun, but the kids were pretty cranky so it was not quite ideal. This year apparently the kids were pretty cranky so it was not quite ideal. The dolphin show and seal show were not as good as last year, and the entire place could use a serious makeover. It's 50 years old, and apart from several coats of paint, it looks as though not much has been done to update. (Well, the crocodile and bird part are pretty nice, I admit).

Erin and Anne Marie at the Gulfarium

So Daniel and I headed to Destin. We had lunch at McGuire's, a very interesting place. It's a pub with some good home brewed beer. I had their Irish Red and found it to be excellent, and the fish and chips were easily the best fish and chips I've ever had. (At least the fish was, the chips were better than normal). They also had an interesting feature, that people have signed dollar bills, and they hang them up, so the entire place is covered with dollar bills. They have over 500,000. Oh and I loved their restroom signs. I walked up to one that had a huge sign that said "MEN", but in smaller lettering around it, it said, "Absolutely no admittance MEN this is the ladies room." There was a similar sign on the men's room.

Just as we fineshed lunch, it started to POUR down rain. We had planned on walking around Destin harbor and checking out the boats, but chose against that. We ended up finding a charter service right off and signed up for a boat to leave at 6 am Thursday morning.

The fishing trip was GREAT. It was the first time I was able to catch a fish (I've been trying all summer at home), and it was the first time I've been out on the open water. Yeah, I threw up twice, but I still had fun.

The boat we went out on was the Knight Rider.

Me reeling in my first fish. I caught a cobia.

The final catch. We threw the Cobia and Shark back, these are all bonita and mackerel. Notice the half mackeral that got cut in half by a barricuda on its the way to the boat.

The crew at the end. I'm horrible with names, and I don't remember the names of the guys who went with us. I'm on the left, Doug is in the middle, and Daniel is on the right. The guy in the Lindbergh shirt lives in St. Louis and the other guy lives less than a mile from my house. It's a small world.

So Thursday I spent quite a bit of time sleeping once we got back. Getting up at 4:30 was a bit much for me. Anyway, We it stormed pretty good, so we just hung out in the condo, ordered pizza out from Merlin's (which is excellent, by the way), and watched SpongeBob.

Friday was the clearest day, both the sky and the water. It had been pretty before, but Friday the waster was pristine. I spent quite a bit of time out in the water. The waves were a bit rougher, though and got tired of chasing my hat so I met with the family back in the pool.

We went out to eat at AJ's on the harbor over in Destin, and that was good, too. Plus the sunset was the best of the week! I thought for sure it would be cloudy again, but it wasn't. I really enjoyed watching the boats going by as we ate. It has just been a great trip.

More of Florida Trip

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Erin hamming it up for the camera. Playing in the sand and wearing Momma's hat.

Yes, the relaxation continues. It's early morning, and we enjoyed breakfast out on the balcony while we watched dolphins swim up and down the coast- we've seen several this morning. Though Sam chose to wake up at 6:15! Doesn't he know he's supposed to sleep in?

Well, right now I'm still sitting out on the balcony, still spotting dolphins. True, I'm glued to the laptop, but hey, it's much nicer to be typing when I can look up every few seconds and watch the emerald waves roll in gently.

We haven't "done" anything yet, which means we haven't really gone anywhere. With the exception of supper Monday night at Angler's down by the pier, I haven't strayed from the immediate condo area at all. Just from here to the beach and pool. And I dare say I like it that way. We have plans to do a couple of things. I am planning on going deep sea fishing with the guys (tomorrow?), the girls (and Sam) are going to the Gulfarium to see the dolphin show in about an hour or so. I think we are also going to go on a dolphin cruise in a glass bottom boat, maybe next week. But nothing is etched in stone. Sand, yes, but not stone.

Sunday we went to the beach a little bit, but we spent most of our time at the pool, and Monday we stuck to the pool completely. Sam loves it and he's really swimming well. He puts on his swim ring and goes pretty well wherever he wants to go (not that it's a big pool).

Tuesday has been my favorite day. The sea was so calm, we all went out in it- Erin included. Sam had to be held- he doesn't like the waves trying to get him. I swam out, but something kept touching me, and I didn't like that. I came back and got the goggles, and went out and found that wherever I went a school of fish was following me! That was fun. They swam around my feet, but if I floated, they would swim around by back and arms, and even close to my face. They were plain white fish, but they had a yellow flair on their fins, so plain as they were I thought them to be very pretty. And Sam thoroughly enjoys the airplanes flying over carrying banners. He yells "Ook! Ook Dada! Pane! Ith da ABC's!!"

The seashell Shannon and Erin found on our Tuesday night walk.

It's funny, and maybe sad a bit, that Shannon and I were sitting out on the balcony enjoying the moment and the location, and Sam and Erin are inside watching Dora the Explorer. We cancelled extended cable, mainly because I got tired of not being able to flip channels with Erin in the room on account of her spotting a bloody crime scene or a murder or half-naked people. It's annoying and quite honestly wrong. So the kids are enjoying being able to watch Nickelodeon.

So just a really relaxing enjoyable trip. Shannon has done some shopping, and Sam has watched SpongeBob and Erin has played in the pool (and is now fully capable of putting her head under water! Yay!)

I took the picture because Sam randomly chose to make a funny face. (So the fact that I have the camera has nothing to do with it!)

Me and the kids out on the beach in the evening.