Odd thoughts

I was a bit melancholy this morning, thinking about the recent death of a friend. That got me thinking about things I would like to do in my life. Which got me thinking, "what if I don't get to do those things?" So sometimes I think we have thoughts for a reason, and I really felt like I was supposed to make sure that people knew these things, in case I'm suddenly not around. (No, I'm not sick or suicidal. But accidents happen every day and I might get hit by a bus. Although that's relatively unlikely since there aren't too many buses here. But anyway...I digress.)

So here's what I want people to know, if I go to heaven earlier than expected.

I want all the parts of my body that are viable to be donated to whoever can use them, including people who need transplants and scientists for study.

I want whatever is left to be cremated, and my ashes put in Pamlico Sound off Springer's Point. (Because I'm a detail freak: I specifically want this done at sunset, right after the lighthouse comes on for the evening.)

If I don't live long enough to dance with Connor at his wedding, someone had better make sure that the third song played (after he dances with his bride and his mommy) is "You've Got a Friend in Me" (yes, the one from Toy Story) and that the videos of us dancing are shown while it is played.

That is all. So, now...back to focusing on life. I have lots more to do and as long as it is within my control, I will be around for a long while. Thanks for sharing this journey with me, wherever and whoever you are...

Soggy and foggy

After all that rain yesterday, the island is seriously soggy. I don't mean just puddles in the usual low spots in the roads. I mean puddles pretty much everywhere! This is the yard of the house next door.



It's a bit warmer today, which would be nice except for the fact that there's one reason warm days in winter aren't necessarily a good thing when you live on an island. Warm air + cold water = fog. And fog sometimes = no ferries.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Jan. 18, 2011
CONTACT: Lucy Wallace, (252) 473-3461

SOME FERRY ROUTES ARE SUSPENDED DUE TO DENSE FOG
Warmer temperatures could also cause problems tomorrow

MANNS HARBOR — The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division has temporarily suspended operations at its Hatteras-Ocracoke and Ocracoke-Cedar Island routes due to dense fog.

The Hatteras-Ocracoke route runs hourly during the winter and runs were missed at 10 a.m., 11, 12 and 1 p.m.

The Swan Quarter-Ocracoke route made its 10 a.m. run but it was delayed by fog. The return trip scheduled for 12:45 p.m. was also delayed.

The 1 p.m. runs from both Ocracoke and Cedar Island were cancelled. The 4:30 p.m. runs from both sides will take place, if visibility allows.

Operations will return to normal once the fog lifts but weather forecasters say fog could also be a problem tomorrow.

For further information, call Hatteras at 252-986-2353 and Ocracoke at 252-928-5311. Travelers who have reservations for any of the Pamlico Sound runs that have been cancelled due to fog should call 1-800-293-3779 and press 2 to speak to a reservation specialist. To receive fog cancellations and other ferry related posts, sign up at www.twitter.com/ncdot_ferry.


***NCDOT***


Lucy M. Wallace
Communications Officer
NCDOT - Ferry Division
252-473-3461
252-473-1490 (Fax)

Dark, damp and dreary

It started raining at about 12:30 today. It's 10:30 now and it is STILL raining. Even before the rain came, it was overcast and gray...a big change from the sunshine of the weekend. I have wished multiple times today that I could just crawl back into bed and sleep until tomorrow. (The fact that I only got about 5 hours of sleep last night certainly didn't help, either!)

I went out earlier today, both to take Connor to daycare this morning and to get a little exercise this afternoon, and I'm really glad that I did, because I think otherwise I might be getting a serious case of cabin fever already. (As it is, I'll probably still get it tomorrow, if this rain keeps up.) What do you like to do for indoor fun when the weather is dreary? Leave a comment and let me know. Seriously. I might need some ideas!

Anyway, I'm finally going to get my wish and get back into bed. Good night.

Dolphins

Many people wonder when is the best time to see dolphins in the waters surrounding Ocracoke. The answer is in the dead of winter, I think. After hearing from multiple people about the many dolphins swimming just off shore on the beach, I decided to go see them, too. Part of me expected to be disappointed. I mean, what are the odds that, hours later, the dolphins are still right where people saw them earlier? Apparently those odds are pretty decent in the winter. I had been told to look for dolphins between the airport ramp and South Point road. So we took a drive out to the beach to see what we could see.

We drove to the beach via South Point road, and I realized that I hadn't done that in far too long. I love how that area is a wonderful place to observe the changing seasons. In winter, the sea oats are fuzzy and the black needle rush on the marsh turns a wonderful silver/gray color. It was another beautiful sunny day, so I thoroughly enjoyed the drive.

When we arrived at the beach, we went toward South Point for a bit. We saw not only dolphins but friends, as well. (The word was out about the dolphins at this point, I guess.) Connor ran around for a while, until his nose went pink from the cool air...at which point, I required him to get back in the car - left to his own devices, he would have kept running! We drove north east up the island toward the airport ramp and saw several additional groups of dolphins. I found it very enjoyable, because I simply love dolphins.

It's all relative

It was a sunny, warm day today. Okay, "warm" may be a bit of a stretch since the high temperature was in the 50s, but compared to the frigid weather we (along with nearly everywhere else in America) have been experiencing it seemed downright tropical!

It was a great day to be outside, and many people were, including me. I didn't make it to the beach, but heard it was a lovely day to be out there, and that there were dolphins just off shore. There are some great videos of the dolphins posted on Ocracoke Island blog. Enjoy!

Busy, busy, busy

I am completely overloaded at work at the moment. I am hopeful that it will settle down (it is often this way in January when all the projects for the new year get started), but it's frustrating for now. I've decided, though, to act on my belief that work is not the most important thing in my life (although it is certainly one of the most time consuming). Therefore, today, even though I felt like I was drowning in email, I left work three times throughout the day: in the morning, to read to the first graders; in the afternoon, to eat lunch with my friend Amy; and in the evening, to go to Turbo Kick exercise class. I'm still behind at work, but all of those emails will still be there on Monday morning.

Hope you're not too busy, wherever you are...

Laughing ladies

A bunch of ladies just left my living room, after the January ladies movie night. We watched Notting Hill, and there was plenty of laughter. I have to say, I love having my living room full of friends, especially when they are laughing. What a great way to spend a cold winter evening!