Glimpse ~ Pensacola

I rolled into Pensacola on Tuesday (Mardi Gras) early in the afternoon. It was windy and chilly. After a few meetings I headed to McGuire's Pub for lunch.

The appetizer of choice were Boxties - an Irish favorite

Followed by French Onion soup

My new friend - in the gift shop.

After tons of meetings (and right before checking into the hotel) - I went for a walk thru downtown Pensacola, Florida. It's an adorable town.

I stopped in several art galleries along the way.

Before driving to the hotel - I stopped by the Pier

Mom joined me on this trip. After my meetings - we met back up..

Finally we drove out to Pensacola Beach and right before dinner time we went for a walk. It was FREEZING...

The waves were huge for the Gulf of Mexico.. a storm was brewing..

The sun was setting..

Me waiting for my favorite meal of the entire trip!

Coconut Shrimp with pina colada sauce - (not to mention my appetizer!)

PS - I did not eat my fries.

Beware of the man-eating clams!

The last day in Pensacola - I had to wait it out in the hotel. Several tornados came ripping through.. destroying several businesses outside of Pensacola and West Mobile..

We were under a flash flood advisory... this was the view from the room. Heavy, dark clouds...

And that's it for Pensacola, Florida.

Stay tuned - tomorrow - Fairhope/Mobile, Alabama!

Tiger Blood

"Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think." ~Chinese Proverb

No doubt about that.

Today I dash down the coast to a little military town called, Pensacola. Really I only have two meetings - one with a DJ named Dana with Cat Country and another with a Jackie with a Soft Rock station. I do plan to drop in and see someone at Lamara Advertising and WEAR ABC3- but they said to just "drop by."

That may not seem like a lot, but when you are driving for 4 hours, it really only gives you fromn 1pm - until for the rest.

I am actually staying out on Pensacola Beach. Why not, right? I hope the weather holds out and I can snag a little sun/sand.

As far as updates - the egyptian was a complete a$$ yesterday. He is the moodiest man alive. I told him to shape up or ship out. LOL He just rolled his eyes. Thanks GOD I am getting a week to myself.

As for the blog - it's time for me to get back to my topics. I feel like these have been strictly a "report out" type of posts. That's not my thing...

Now since I have dealt with the daily issues that I felt I needed to purge, it is time to get back to what I enjoy, writing about stuff.

I am tossing some ideas around and would love any suggestions! Until then, I am off for the coast. Have a marvelous day!

A Picture Show

I LOVE video. I really do. If I see you guys posting a video - I run to see it. It just brings you and your lives .. well.. "alive." When I see you type LOL, I can actually imagine you laughing out loud - b/c I heard your laugh.

Well - I am about to share a few videos with you. They are from my Birthday party and my trip to Pensacola. Each are probably less than 45 seconds.. please take a moment and hear the funny banter, or see the images!

:-)

Thelma & Louise Hit the Road

"Thelma: You said you 'n' me was gonna get out of town and for once just really let our hair down. Well darlin', look out 'cause my hair is comin' down! "

That's right my dears, Nicole (aka Thelma) is going to be hitting the road soon and it will be a good old-fashioned Tour de Delta. My side kick Telisa (aka Louise) has nicknamed our trip "Down With Love," since we are going sans men.

Yes, my dear egyptian flies the coop on Feb 5th, and just a little over week after that I have a business trip. (Did I mention a birthday?) Yes - my birthday is February 16th, and I am very fond of celebrations for everyone.. including myself. This year not only will I be alone, but I have to work. Yes - WORK. Our Research Reception is that evening.

You can imagine a week or so ago I thought the situation was hopeless,  that I would be lonely, no birthday cake or hug or presents AND I have to go to an adult science fair. Geez... Then I found out I have a business trip the very next day...

Hmmm.. That's President's Day weekend.. and guess who is off? My dearest friend for the past 27 years?? Yes - Telisa. Sooo.. she is hoping to drive up on my birthday or early the next morning and join me on this little trip down the coast.

I have meetings in Pensacola, Florida & Mobile, Alabama. THEN we are heading over to New Orleans on Friday and driving right back here on Saturday night.

I told Telisa - we need a theme. She came up with - "Down With Love" - and I added a Tour de Delta... and now.. an overall cast of characters of Thelma (the married one) and Louise (the free loving single girl) - and off we go!


The funny part is - we want a "Down With Love" scavenger hunt. Seriously. I made a joke about us being Thelma & Louise, and she said - sure  - if Brad Pitt is there. I said - that's it - we will find a Brad Pitt stand in and take a pic with him in NOLA... then the idea was born - a SCAVENGER HUNT.

So here is the itinerary:
Pensacola, Florida on Thursday - Mobile for 1/2 the day on Friday - New Orleans the rest of Friday- New Orleans on Saturday (and don't forget, we drive THRU Mississippi) and head back to Birmingham, AL. (She is coming from Georgia.) What I would LOVE - is ideas for the scavenger hunt - from YOU! What we plan to do is take the pictures in each location (as many as we can) and post each night - HERE.

YOU can help us go on this adventure.
What we need is crazy stuff (within reason) - like in New Orleans: Go to the Crescent City Brewhouse on Decatur Street and have your picture made underneath the 'Oyster Bar' sign. (Maybe add - eating an oyster or holding on...) Or even having a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's (home of the first Hurricane.) Silly stuff like that.

Here is where we need ideas for:
Pensacola, Florida
Mobile, Alabama
Somewhere along I-10 in Mississippi
New Orleans, LA
Birmingham, AL

Come up with good stuff - or insane stuff like - filling out an employment application at a bowling alley, or finding the craziest hat... all of these to be documented through pictures.

How fun.. right?

I mean.. with all of the stress I am under.. if we don't have the scavenger hunt - it could very well end up like THIS. (Make sure to click that link.)

Send me your ideas in the comment section or email me!!

Feeling CHEEEEEZY

Day 2 - Pensacola, Florida

** using cell phone for pictures (quality is sooo bad)

My breakfast - course #1 - yeah, I hardly made a dent! Prepared by the Innkeeper - Barbie!

Then the most amazing French Toast was served!

Visiting one of my media sponsors - a Lite Rock Radio Station (This is Jackie Linn - the DJ)

Ooh.. second pic of breakfast.

Sorry the pics are out of order (and I am too lazy to fix them.. lol) Here is a glance at the menu where I had lunch. Just a few of my FAVORITE things.

Lunch! - Middle Eastern!

The Pensacola team - Natalie and Kelly

Dinner time - me, myself and I on the porch at the Dharma Blue

Don't you just love the ugly closeup - where you look like you have 8 chins and have a smirk?

View from my table

Spicy homemade chips with a blue cheese dip (I ate like 1/4 of it... but DELISH)

This is the Dharma Blue Salad. Steak with blue cheese, dressing and what is up with all of the spicy fried onion rings on salads in this town?

Some of the house in Pensacola

A drive by shot of downtown Pensacola.

After dinner I drove down to the pier. Don't worry - I called mom. I have been watching too many episodes of Without a Trace. I thought I should let someone know where I was!

a little H2O

Night! Night!