Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in riverspirit54's LiveJournal:

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Sunday, January 22nd, 2006
3:54 pm	I'm good, I'm good, I've very good. Finished the order and now I'm going for a hike to the prairie for sunset!! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
2:31 pm	I'm trying to avoid working on a wholesale order. Funny in VT I'm the soul of efficency and down here I'm the queen of procrastination. What's with that? (Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006
5:50 am	We made a mistake yesterday and went to Blue Springs on a holiday. There was a traffic jam to get into the park. A state police cruiser went by the long line of cars, loud speaker blarring, "THE PARK IS NOW CLOSEd." Mayhem!! Cars turning around in the middle of the road, people cutting each other off, angry, angry, angry people. We were driving past the state park, to go to the boat launch and put in the Jellie Boat. The launch area was FULL of folks trying to sneak into the park by walking up the river or through the woods. Just not possible, so lots of frustration all around. We canoed up river to the place we usually sit and watch the manatees. There were so many canoes already there, the park rangers were making them "MOVE ALONG!!" I can understand it. With that many boats on the water, the manatees will get agitated and leave the protected spring area for the main river, where they get hit by motorboats. So no manatee encounters for us! And to add insult to injury, Dead Creek, off the St. Johns, was choked with water plants and we couldn't punch through. Not such a great day on the water for the intrepid Jellie Boaters. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, January 13th, 2006
7:48 am	Took the Jellie Boat on the Silver River yesterday. Yes, Noel, Bob changed all his plans and wanted to go on the river as much as I did. Jellie saw the monkeys! Jellie had deep doggie desires to chase the monkeys, and gave my arms a terrific workout, holding her in the boat. We had a great day out there. Ended up spending 6 hours paddling up and floating back. Also took a long rest on shore to get the blood back in my legs. I'll get use to this new position, configuration. I'm spoiled by my kayak. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, January 11th, 2006
7:18 am	I have been putting off anything that resembles work for days now. The list has grown to a full page, so it looks like today is a work day. Yesterday I went down the Juniper Spring Run, through the Juniper Wilderness, and it is wild out there. Bob gave me the gift of dropping me off so I could do it solo. I was the only person out there. But I did see deer, otter, raccoons, and birds, lots of birds. Bob and Jellie were waiting at the Juniper Wayside for me when I finished paddling. Jellie got in the water up to her belly and refused to go any farther. The creek widens out at the landing and its only up to her belly almost the whole white sandy bottomed expanse. Good place to get a dog in the water because you can see an alligator coming. It was nice and quiet there yesterday. We had it to ourselves. Usually there are families, Dad in the creek in a lawn chair, beer in hand and Mom herding the young ones. We call it the Redneck Riviera. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 10th, 2006
7:34 am	We took the Jellie boat to Alexander Springs yesterday. It was a perfect day to paddle the canoe. I think we have found our rhythm. Bob loves it in the back and I'm happy up front with Jellie right at my feet. He got so comfortable, he took off his life vest. Amazing, because it took about a year before the life vest came off in the kayak. Jellie wasn't exactly happy, but she sat still. When we came back in, she was so excited to make land, she almost kissed the sand. BUT...I think I've found some new muscles in my back!! I wonder if I'm not paddling correctly. Just doing it is always the best way to figure out corrections, adjustments. My favorite thing about the canoe (well, having Jellie with me is my VERY FAVORITE part) is sitting up high and being able to see down into the water. All sorts of fish at the springs, mating and making nests. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, January 9th, 2006
8:03 am	We took the canoe over to the Wayside last night, around sunset. A cold morning turned into a beautiful day, so the place was way too busy. I just wanted to get Jellie in the boat and see how she would do. First we tried putting her in the center and she kept walking from side to side and couldn't settle down. Bob is as nervous as a tick on sticky paper. He doesn't really like water all that much. And I made the mistake of putting him in the front! He didn't have any control and he was going CRAZY. He yelled at me to make the dog sit down. Now I'm laughing hysterically because the whole scene with people everywhere watching us flounder around and Jellie looking at me like the end has come and poor Bob about to have a hissy fit. It just all seemed funny to me, until Bob yelled "Stop that damn laughing and hit that dog with the paddle." Now I'm bent over double trying not to laugh out loud and can't even steer anymore. Of course, we are only in the basin, not really going anywhere!! The solution, before I wet myself, was to go in and turn the back over to Bob. I put the dog up in front, between my legs. She settled down. The man was in control of the boat and he was happy. We are trying it all again today!! On the drive home last night Bob got us into a laughing fit over the "hit that dog with a paddle". We now have a new code phrase for uncomfortable situations. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, January 8th, 2006
2:19 pm	Just got back from my favorite gathering place in Fl, Crones Cradle. Women's Brunch and the theme was letting go and renewal. I got to tell Jellie's story, because she has renewed my life. So good to see all the beautiful women I haven't seen in 9 months. I also rejoined the writers' group, Word Weavers. I was feeling rather unworthy (unwordy), but going inspires me. I'm so undisciplined and I only write everyday in Florida. Vermont is a no-write-zone for me. Too busy with the biz. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, January 7th, 2006
12:24 pm	Bought a used canoe today!! Been hunting for over a week, and there aren't a lot out there. In Vermont used canoes are easy to find. Now Jellie can go on the water with us!! DOG PADDLING. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
7:23 am	Bob went on his first solo kayak in florida, yesterday. He was out for 5 hours on the Silver River. He likes to go up to the spring, into the attraction. That doesn't appeal to me at all. Its noisy with canned music, glass bottom boats, tourist yelling and waving to the kayakers "Hey, where do I rent one of those?" "Aren't you scared of the alligators?" And comments like, "Look at the poor people that can't afford a real boat." "I'd never do that." "Looks like you could tip over." Like nails on the blackboard, to me, but Bob is nostalgic for when his aunt and uncle brought him to Silver Springs as a pre-teen. So - he has to take his yearly pilgrimage all the way into chaos. I turn around at the entrance sign. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, January 4th, 2006
3:07 pm	We just got kicked out of a Marion County park for having Jellie with us. NO SIGNS about the pet restriction. "We are in the process of erecting new signage", says the nasty man in khaki. We were the ONLY people in the whole huge park. It covers part of two lakes, and has miles of hiking trails. GRIND TEETH. Sic him Jellie. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
6:35 am	Yesterday, I was up at 5:30 in the morning. Nothing unusually about that, but it was 70 degrees outside. We have cold mornings in this part of Florida. So I walked the dog, left Bob a note, and headed out to the Silver River before the sun came up. I expected to see more wildlife at sunrise. It was quiet out there. No deer or boar. But I saw all the birds waking up, or I should say I HEARD all the birds. Also saw monkeys fornicating; NOW MY LIFE IS COMPLETE (if it was only that simple). There was a lot of sexual activity out there. Turtles and hawks were getting busy too. The river was totally mine until I was almost back to the boat launch, around 11:00. (Comment on this)
Monday, January 2nd, 2006
9:03 pm	We took Jellie hiking on the Salt Springs trail today. She was so tired when we got to the boardwalk, and the overlook on the spring run, she ate her lunch laying down. Some German tourists where in stitches over my lazy dog. But they thought her portable, folding water dish was very cute. I've gone around some sort of doggie bend here. Throw me a line. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, January 1st, 2006
1:15 pm	I'm so lucky. Bob didn't mind my kayaking solo on the Silver today. I went out early, so the ride up river was quiet, peaceful. But when I turned around, YIKES, motorboat super highway. Well, what did I expect on a holiday! I did see two monkey troupEs and that is always a thrill. Also slide up near a old craggy cypress and a brown florida water snake lifted its head, about 6 inches from my arm. They aren't aggressive but I backed off anyway. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! (Comment on this)
8:32 am	Last night was a perfect New Years Eve. We went out to the prairie to watch the last sunset of 2005. It was glorious, but the best part was on the walk out. The peepers were "electric". It was the warmest day we have had since being here, almost 80, and the peepers were going wild. One of my very favorite sounds. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, December 30th, 2005
5:46 pm	We just had two great days in the outdoors. Bob wanted to go to the ocean on Thur. Actually, he's been driving me nuts to go, even on some cool, cloudy days. Yesterday was perfect, so we went to Washington Oaks State Park, on the Atlantic side. The ocean side of the park is called THE ROCKS, because the beach has coquina rock all worn and formed by the waves. Beautiful place, and we took Jellie! She loved running on the beach, but danced around the waves like a lady in high heels. Also tangled with a little black crab. She didn't pulverize it or eat it, but she did check it out with her paw. The crab latched on and Jellie had to shake the crab free. It also clamped onto her cheek, but the crab lived to walk away. I was amazed how gentle she was. Today I took a solo kayak ride on the Ocklawaha to Gores Landing, about 12 miles. I LOVE solo trips. After I got past the canoe rental at Colby Woods (they were all heading up the Silver and I was going the other way), I didn't see another soul out there. It was perfect... (Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 28th, 2005
6:48 pm	Jellie got a clean bill of health at the vet's today. He has a shar-pei and confirmed what I've been reading. They have very sensitive skin and needs lots of TLC. A friend of mine had major surgery today, and came through better than they expected. He's coming home tomorrow! Just got the phone call. So its been a day full of good news. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
8:30 am	Its been forever since I've written in here, so... here goes. Taking Jellie to the vet's today. I've been putting it off, using the holidays as an excuse. This background fear, NOT YOUR DOG, was finally overridden by common sense yesterday and I called for an appointment. She needs a rabies shot right away. We went hiking in the Marshall Swamp, around sunset and she wanted to tussle with an armadillo. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, April 15th, 2005
9:05 pm	HOME!!! (Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 12th, 2005
7:50 am	Life's weird twists and turns. How about Bob's heart attack to wake me up. Maybe not wake up but practice what I preach. Gratitude for life. Love. Living in the moment. Going with the flow. I've lived years in a moment the last few days. All is well now and I'm in such a beautiful place of thankfulness. (1 Comment |Comment on this)