Winter Olympic Memories


Once every four years I spend two weeks doing something I never normally do ... I turn into a couch potato! I can't seem to get enough of the Winter Olympic Games, finding myself glued to the tube every night now for the evening's broadcast of skiing, skating, snowboarding and whatever emotional clips and babble the hosts present.

This year a number of the alpine ski events are based in Whistler, British Columbia. Watching them brings back memories of my ski trip to Whistler-Blackcomb several years ago, and my visit to the 2002 Winter Games in Park City, Utah (undeniably, one of the most fun and memorable weeks of my life).

I had visions of attending these Winter Games in Canada, hoping to repeat that magical time, but alas ... the cost was prohibitive. Thus, I sit nightly with my mug of hot chocolate, wishing I were there and planning my next ski trip. This photo is me at Whistler - pretty incredible view, huh?

Honeymoon Island is for the Birds

This week I headed over to Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, a wonderful park on the Gulf Coast with beautiful beaches and nature trails. I had heard a bald eagle had given birth to two chicks and the nest was viewable from one of the trails. Indeed, after a one-mile walk along the Osprey Trail (where about 10 ospreys were guarding their own nests), I came came upon the eagle's nest. The chicks were born Dec. 24 so are now rather big and scrawny, but I got a glimpse of both parent eagles and the chicks. Here are a few photos. You can learn more about Honeymoon Island State Park by going to http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/