I can still Adventure!

I was afraid for a little while that getting a 'real job' would place some severe limitations on my rather adventurous spirit.  And while 8:30-5:30, monday-friday does definitely put a damper on the randomness, I've still managed to get out and about to adventures a decent bit in the last few months.

(By the way, sorry for the long gap in coverage, though I'm keeping up the adventures, sometimes the mundanity of work, yoga, bar, yoga, work doesn't quite inspire the blogger in me)

And on that note, WOW, June was the last update!

Front of the Vizcaya villa

"Sunken ship" aka cement party boat in the ocean at Vizkaya

Well, since then I had a very lovely visitor come to Gainesville for an exquisite week of hiking and beach going and museum viewing. Afterward, I decided I needed an adventure and on a whim I left one Friday to spend a weekend with Steph Paula in Miami. What a kick that was! Steph was a wonderful host, taking me out to some local Miami night spots and some beautiful and historic sites during the day. We visited Vizcaya , a decadent Italian-renaissance style villa that is now a National Historic Landmark. The villa had some of the most incredible and intricate wood and plaster work that I've ever seen, accompanied by beautiful tapestries and carpets and paintings and decorative items. It was a gorgeous house furnished with a collection of items that span the history of the world. It was just superb.  We did manage a bit of time in famous South Beach with a few of Steph's friends, spending time on the jetti and then enjoying strong mixed drinks at a purportedly required South Beach bar.

The next weekend (or was it the one after). Anyway, for Labor day weekend I adventured to a small town outside of Baton Rouge Louisiana, Zachry, where it just so happens that almost all of my father's side of the family lives. This is family that I haven't seen nor been in touch with since I attended an aunts wedding in 1996 (PS my father hasn't been in my life since about that same time, a story for another time).

Only recently I became re-acquainted with my uncle Jimmy Jr., who had mysteriously added me on Facebook just before I moved to Florida (as my mom can attest, I wasn't totally sure how exactly I was related to him at first, but "he's your dad's brother" simplifies it).  Once I moved here to Florida, I got up the guts to actually engage with him and from there a great friendship has blossomed!  After much discussion and one random trip he made to Gainesville for work (where I got to take him to one of my favorite restaurants), we had all decided that Labor Day weekend would be the perfect opportunity to convene and connect.
And so I spent a wonderful weekend meeting new cousins (none were born last I had known anyone) and getting to know my uncle Jimmy, his wonderful wife, and some more of the Moffett family, and eating lots of yummy food you can only find in the south!  I even got to see my gigantic little brother Ben!

Turns out that my cousins are a wild bunch that never sleep! Ben and I (Ben more than I) stayed up with them until nearly 4 am a few nights that we were there!  We, of course, went to the local graveyard to look for ghosts at 2am one night. Jenny and I did manicures and pedicures (pink and white with inverse polka dots) and curled each others hair (I haven't had my hair in ringlets for quite some time)!  And with the grown ups I got to hear stories about my dad growing up, he and my mom when they first married. It was a great historical family gathering while getting to know the more recently added family. I wish I could explain how wonderful they all are!

I also got to catch up on a lot of family history (drama! kidding! (sort of)) that I had otherwise not been exposed to. My mom had told me a lot about my paternal family history, but in talking with them my knowledge expanded a great bit more. What it really comes down to is that this side of my family is the quintessential example of deep southern kindness and charm. Their slow southern drawls and incredible generosity and openness made me feel right at home-just like I was amongst family I had been visiting with every Sunday for my whole life!

Overall, visiting this new found family was an excellent experience. I've always been fortunate to be super close to everyone on my mom's side and I feel extremely lucky that my family just doubled in size and awesomeness! I'm one lucky girl.

Now it's back to life in Gainesville...I wonder what adventures await me next!