Zeitgeist

I think this word is appropriate to end this year's challenge. It has been the largest entry of blogs so far (almost 2000 if I remember correctly). It was a struggle maintaining the flow while on vacation. It was very hard to read all the steadfast friends I have made since starting this blog as well as attempt to reach out to new sites. I am quite behind on both of those last two items and certainly will be continuing my reading of old, and investigating of new sites in the next few weeks (or as long as the list remains up).

As one definition of zeitgeist involves the spirit, attitude, or the general trend of thought or feeling for a period of time...I believe this describes what we all have been involved in during this massively coordinated effort. A common spirit, an I-will-complete-this attitude, and the feeling of camaraderie and accomplishment among all participating bloggers. Zeitgeist is the perfect end.

Thanks to all my friends that read almost everyday even when there were hundreds of other blogs screaming for your attention. Thank you for the new visitors (and even a few new followers), many of whom I have not gotten to visit yet...I will get there. Thanks most of all to all the co-hosts of this snowballing internet annual event. Particularly, thanks to Arlee Bird and his insight to begin this at all.

It was a quick month but a fun month and for me a memorable month with a grand vacation in the midst.

So until the 2014 A-Z Challenge...good night.

C

For some good music...

Yearning

Even through a travel day from Hell on Saturday and a less-then-complete recovery day yesterday, I have a strong yearning to still be in Roatan...or anywhere tropical. Stronger than usual. I usually measure the success of a vacation (stay + travel) in terms of the "vacation high". This is the feeling you get, coming back to work relaxed and able to take things in (mostly) stress-free stride. Normally I am good if I can get a week, the first week of work, under my belt in a fairly calm and rational state of mind.

Lately however, the vacation high has continued to shorten in duration. I find myself less glad to be back home and more into the yearning to be gone again...somewhere. Relaxing, exploring, napping, photographing, etc. Anything but returning to the everyday drudge. I even mentioned to my wife that we certainly were capable of running a dive resort. The American couple that manage Coco View have been there for many years and have a blast! We allowed ourselves to dream this fantasy while watching the sunset Thursday night in the Caribbean breeze.

I fear this vacation high will not make it until Wednesday. Staffing issues I put on the back burner are now unavoidable. The decisions made while I was gone that need to be corrected or in some cases, finalized. Two full-day mind-numbing meetings this first week back. Three hundred emails to review and mostly discard. The grind has begun.

So yes, I yearn for the lapping waves, sunrise/sunset views, the watching of a crab or a bird for twenty solitude-filled minutes...just observing nature happening. Existing. It was a grand vacation!

And the first one in two years I have come back from with all my toes intact!

So there's something!

One letter left...

X-Rated

[This is not explict and deserving of the Adult Category.]

I am back on Roatan. First night with my wife.

Salute

C

A Picture

Or two...amazing photos my wife took while diving. More amazingness to come. Feel free to enlarge.

 

 

 

 

Sea Turtle with remoray cleaner fish



Seahorse holding court

The these are both being entered in the Best Picture of The Week contest tomorrow night! First prize is a free weeks stay at Coco View.

Cross your fingers!!

Welcome Party!!

As luck would have it I found an English speaking lacky on the freighter and explained what happened. He curiously stated, "we get that a lot". I think. Making me wonder if this was not some twisted prank by the resort for a ":noobie". No Matter. I am headed back to Roatan under an official flag.

I have received word from the island that a great welcome party is to be held in my honor tonight. This is as it should be. I have triumphed over great odds and drank a fair amount of rum to get back to my cabana by the sea. And they are even serving Cheeseburgers...in Paradise!! Jimmy Buffet wrote that song based on an experience he had in Roatan years ago. It is only fitting then.

I will be on land again in mere hours so I must rest for my grand reunion with my group...oh, and my wife.

'night

C

Victory!! Aha

Drenched with sweat and miles out to sea, this leaky dinghy has done its job. Under cover of a blood moon I made my escape using the last of the rum to hit the boat-guarding pirate over the head. I took the rum with me of course. Now I am being hauled in by a Costa Rican freighter, somehow during their down-time swim they found my message in a bottle. Since they could not read English, I doubt that is why they found me but hey, Karma, right??

I am safely (I think) aboard the freighter bound for....I am not sure, I hope it is Honduras but Poseidon works in mysterious ways. At least I am free of the pirates...hoorah! I need a phone.

I must now sleep...

Bula

C

Utila

I have at least found out the pirates have taken me off Roatan to the neighboring island of Utila. Here they have hidden me among the white slave traders and forced me to be a servant. Curiously I believe my wife has not noticed my absence. I am well fed and the shakes have stopped but I am without passport or camera. I am sure my swimming skills lack the stamina to swim the distance to Roatan should I even escape. Calling on Hunter Thompson's experience in Curse of Lono, I am going to try an pass myself off as a reincarnation of an island God. Providing of course I can find out about one or if they even have one!

My case of rum is about gone, having to use it to bargain heavily to stay off of outhouse duty...funny when you say it fast!! Ha. I have thrown an empty in the ocean to try and signal help...current goes the other way. Bastards. Maybe someone in Costa Rico will save me.

Care and wishes

C