The week before school started, my family had the privilege of staying at a nice condominium in Fort Walton.  There were two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, and a patio with an ocean view.  Each of the bedrooms had a TV, and one in the living room that was equipped with a DVD player. 

The Fort Walton Beach was on what Florida calls the Emerald Coast.  The sand was soft and white and the water was a translucent aquamarine color.
   
We had invited everyone to bask in this beauty, but only my family, my Uncle Randy, Aunt Sandy, and three cousins could come for the whole week.  My grandmother came for half of a week, because she had just come from Europe.  Not fair. 

My other grandmother had bought my dad some really nice binoculars, so from our fifth story patio you could see dolphins and hot guys up close.  And yes, there were dolphins, and it made this family vacation even more exciting. 

But hence, it was a -family- vacation.  Even though we were in a nice island condominium surrounded by God's most beautiful landscaping job, nothing could erase the embarrassment of having your eight-year old cousin screaming "HEY JENNIFER DO YOU LIKE HIM?!" from that outside patio while you're talking to a rather cute, older boy below.

The first few days were nice. We would hang out at the beach or pool all day and then watch movies at night.  Then my grandmother came late Tuesday night, and everyone rushed to plan events around her to make her happy.  We had to eat here.  We had to see this movie.  We had to do this and that at the same time while taking off our clothes in case she got cold.  Of course while achieving our . . . I mean, her goal of happiness, we overwhelmed her to the point of exhaustion. 

We did have fun, though.  My mom worried about rain.  There was only a storm one night, and after it passed there were huge waves for the rest of the week!  It was so fun to dive right into the so-called "dangerous" undertow against the expert advice of many boring people.  Stretch Armstrong couldn't handle some of the waves I got dealt.

Also, we went on a pirate cruise.  There was a guy who really looked like a pirate who told stories and handed out balloon swords to the kids.  He was pretty cool. 

At one point my mother forced me to see Freaky Friday.  Normally I despise Disney-produced actresses, but I have to admit Lindsay Lohan has a knack for acting.  Some of her dialogue consisted of things that I could swear I had said myself.  And, unlike that synthesized Hilary Duff, Lohan had guitar lessons for five months so she wouldn't have to fake it in the movie.  That made me happy.  Hooray for method acting! 

But I digress.  Anyway, the movie was good.  But the best part of my vacation was hearing that my Uncle Terry, who lives near Detroit, had been affected by the blackout.  This made me smile because he never could make up his mind about whether or not he was going to the beach with us.  We were already at Fort Walton when he decided he could indeed come.  Then he was surprised when he couldn't get a flight under five hundred bucks.  Alas, he did not come, and had annoyed everyone with his horrid indecisive future planning.

If only he hadn't had the need to keep his "schedule open" he would be on the beautiful Florida coast with us - and electricity. 

I was kind of depressed about the end of summer, but at least it was a fun ending.  I have had good memories that will last a lifetime.

Everyone, have a great year at school or work!