Sea Pleasures

Becky here from Venice Beach in Florida.
Spring breaks happen for the four or five weeks of March and the first of April. We locals have to get in line--or just stay home until the tourists leave. The streets are filled with cars, restaurant wait lines long, and beach real estate hard to come by. I ventured out yesterday at 11 a.m. and lucked into a parking spot (Venice Beach parking was PACKED so I went to Sharky's beach). I set up my chair and umbrella windbreak and sat there to watch everyone play. A happy day for everyone. But I missed my kids...

My Beach House for the Day

Pretty Colors in the Wind

Waiting For the Big Wave



Shark's Tooth Hunter

The Big Shower

Today was the day we celebrated the arrival of our newest baby boy Jerdee. Just over one month left so we had a shower at the Underwood house! Rubber duck style.

Mom to Be Kim tested the rubber ducky cupcakes...and Dad to Be Adam Practiced. This is a new pose for Adam.

And Nana Becky and Grandpa Al skyped in from Florida. Cousin Hunter was in charge of the technology - making sure Nana could see what was going on.
The gifts were all precious ... Nana Becky sent something from Disney World. A Shark hooded towel came from Great Aunt Linda... And Great Aunt Becky Lynn sent a soft cuddly lamb puppet.
Everyone left full, tired, and excited for the big day .... 41 days and counting.

The prime rib was excellent...

Thanks, Dave and Amy, Hunter and Blake--for the lovely Christmas gift certificate for a dinner cruise on the Marina Jack II!

After waiting for weeks to cash in on the certificate, we thought we'd picked the perfect evening for the sunset dinner cruise on Sarasota Bay. We arrived early so we could put on a mile or two of exercise around O'Leary's before stepping on board to indulge.

We had the perfect table for two on the upper level--close to the captain, the bar, the head, and the staircase to the buffet below.

When we were invited to go downstairs (this picture was taken before the buffet doors at the back were opened), Captain Jack's dinner buffet featured mixed green salad, freshly baked dinner rolls, a vegetable medley, the chef's rice, peppercorn crusted prime rib, and grilled salmon with all the sauces and dressings. The dessert table included key lime pie, double-layered chocolate cake and New York cheesecake.

A toast to you from Grandpa Al!

The clouds moved in on the sunset but the cruise around Bird Key after dark was GORGEOUS. As if they knew we would come by for a look-see, the rich-and-famous homeowners on Sarasota Bay kindly left all their interior lights on...a parade of lights, boats, rooms, docks, pools, and towering windows. It was thrilling to see how the other 2% lives.

Thanks again for the lovely treat! We TOTALLY enjoyed it!!!!!

Adam Left Fighting For Air

Well, the 2010 American Lung Association Fight For Air Climb is done. I now know why they call it the "Fight For Air Climb." After completing the climb of 801 Grand, already fighting a cold, I found myself coughing and having trouble breathing. I was not alone; I guess the air was a little thinner and dryer up there. On the elevator ride down I really had trouble breathing. This is a photo at home with the finisher's medal. I will try to put a better picture on when they are available.
	I completed the climb in 8:24, much better than my 10 minute goal. Though it was challenging, I highly recommend everyone take the opportunity to do a climb like this if you have the chance. It was very rewarding and a whole new experience. I also want to thank everyone who contributed; overall we raised $585 for the ALA. If you would still like to contribute you can do so until March 31 or I just may do this again next year.
Thanks to: The Underwoods Grandma Bev Allen and Becky Ron and Linda Letnes Laura Aust Erik Lucs Stephen and Nancy Rolfsrud The Smiths Greg Menary Deval Shah Malvinder Singh

Pop's Sunset Grill, Revisited!!

Inspired by Hunter's Restaurant Review on mac & cheese in Venice, Becky and Linda went to Pop's Sunset Grill to test the "BEST" Fried Mac&Cheese Ever. Hunter gave it the top spot on his review of three mac&cheese dishes at local (Venice) restaurants.
The kids' menu is named after Junior, the white bird that sits on the rail at Pop's. That's where we found the Fried Mac & Cheese. We were allowed to order from the Junior menu.
The Fried Mac&Cheese was everything he said it was. Who knew? When we heard that the manager was going to take it off the menu and offer a more standard mac and cheese as a side, we gave them our sad faces...well, maybe they'll reconsider...possibly put Fried Mac&Cheese on the appetizer list on the new menu after they take it off the kids' menu. There's still hope, Hunter, that you can come next Christmas and get your beloved BEST Fried Mac&Cheese Ever.

Note to Pop's readers: If you want to see Hunter's Restaurant Review, scroll down a long way to the Blog Archive in the left column (you'll see a big gap of space before you get to it). Click on 2009 where Thursday, December 31 will pop up. Scroll down to Wednesday, December 30 where Hunter's Restaurant Review is written.

shark tooth hunting

hey guys, it's been cold for WEEKS and the poor vacationers are limited to shark tooth hunting in the waves. check out this poor chick who's making an effort...nothing like walking down boca grande on a sunny day...

Going to Coasters

We tried out a new restaurant on the intracoastal waterway--Coasters. We'd spotted it earlier one sunny day with the Underwoods while Dave was driving the boat. It was a nice place but the rest of the stylin' boardwalk was deserted. Hard times.

Thought this sign was cute.