By the Sea

I freely admit I love the ocean.  Don’t necessarily want to be ‘in’ it but love being near it or on it!  This past week was spent mostly on the shores of St. Pete’s Beach in Florida. Every couple of years I attend a writer’s conference held at a popular resort. Though it’s not my favorite hotel (especially this year with rats—yes rats—running around the beach bar area at night), the views are always stellar.
 
My good friend, author Olivia Sands convinced me to join her in the ocean on our first day. I honestly can not remember the last time I stood in the ocean above my ankles! It was warm and pleasant and we even had a dolphin swim past us. Of course my first reaction was to reach for my phone, which sensibly was on the shore LOL! That’s one of the pitfalls of being ‘in’ the water rather than near it—no photo ops!
 
Today I’m back in landlocked North Texas but delighted to be in my own home. As much as I love traveling, and I do LOVE it, it’s always nice to come home and sleep in your own bed and be loved on by two dogs who think the sun rises and sets around you! But if you ask what was the one thing I really missed about home while enjoying the sunny shores of Florida—my teacup warmer. LOL.  This morning as I slowly sip my tea that has been perfectly warm for two hours now, (it’s a mini mug size hot plate like thing that is on my end table and plugged in always) I realized just how much I missed that!
 
Here are a couple of photos of my working week, including a last day photo with the wonderful authors Susan Stoker, Elle James, and Olivia Sands!

Here's a view from my room - you can see why I say the views are phenomenal!  And thankfully the only rainy day was the day afternoon I arrived - after that it was all blue skies and sunshine! (and heat lol) 

​Are you an ocean or water person too? (even if like me you don't go in it lol)