The Big Blue Wet Thing...

rWhew! From yesterday afternoon into today, I've really had an amounting appreciation for the Pacific Ocean. For a small town girl, from land-locked Kansas, with the closest body of water being the Harlan County Reservoir, I just didn't grow up realizing how huge Oceans are. When we drove into Coolum the other day, it was amazing. We're just winding in and out of beach homes that look like they could be located in Southern California... just driving along the left side of the road which almost seems normal now... when all of a sudden, we top a hill and boom - there's the whole Freaking Ocean! And it was so blue, and so big... filling up the entire horizon... I just can't explain the enormity of that picture in my head. I've been to LA several times for company meetings, and I've had plans to see it when I've been out there (which from here on will be referred to as the "unfortunate cabbie situation"), but other than flying over it, or sailing on top of it on a cruise ship, I haven't REALLY SEEN an Ocean since I was a freshman in high school. Maybe it's the continual beach-and-sand combination that makes it seem so different... I don't know... maybe I just wasn't paying attention to it when I was on my honeymoon... but it's really captivating me this trip.

So, lucky for us, the Hyatt has an entrance to their own private beach! We went yesterday and just played. There were only a few people besides us there - which truley made it feel quite private. My muscles were even a bit sore this morning from all the standing up to the waves crashing in. It's so massive, so powerful. I must admitt, I'd be one of those people saying "Forget it! The world is flat! You'll sail off the edge!" Funny since I married such a visionary. Anyway - I'm still in awe and a bit fascinated by the whole expanse of the Pacific.

We went to Mooloolaba (pronounced Ma LOO la ba) today and it was beautiful. Lots of little European style cafe's with sidewalk seating and tons of shopping. Fancy stores and cheap stores. Shopping is so universal - what a wonderful thing. Had lunch and walked the beach. There's quite a bit of cloud cover and rain off-and-on today, so our private beach was closed. And, the ocean looks dark and drab when there are clouds instead of bright blue skies above it. So, we just went to the pool and layed around a bit. I think the next few days are going to be much busier, so my husband was kind enough to give me a "lounging" day of nothing.

We're getting ready for dinner now - and we'll be driving to the airport tomorrow to fly to Sydney for the weekend. Jimmy asked for the third time today if I thought Bishop was ok... if anyone would like to volunteer to drive to his kennel and read him a letter from his parents, we'd be happy to write one. Just like summer camp.

Ok - hope all is well in your neck of the woods... AFter dinner I'll be sorting my suitcases so that we only have our carry-ons for the weekend in Sydney. That should be fun. Oh no... here come the shoe voices again...

crl