Pensacola, Puppies, and Party People

I love the beach. It is my happy place. Specifically, Pensacola Beach in Florida. I have been going with my family since I was 7. It has changed a lot, especially since Ivan and Opal, but it is still one of my favorite places in the world.
I am going to be posting pictures for days, y’all should just prepare yourselves for the onslaught. I joined the rest of the world and got a DSLR for my Birthday! Don’t worry though, I will never give up crappy phone pictures.
We had fantastic weather. September, barring hurricanes, is the BEST month for the beach. School is back in, so screaming children and douchey frat bros are mostly absent. It isn’t too hot and there is usually a good breeze. And the beaches are empty. We had maybe 3 other groups within 100 yards of us. I completely expect, wherever we go, for it to be absent of other people. Completely rational.
But who cares, here are the two cutest puppies in the world.

Bean. She is out of breath b/c of the huge amount of spazzing she does when M comes home.

Mabel. Fat and sassy. Are you jealous of their awesome star blanket? It really adds something to the décor of my living room, I think.

Look who figured out bokeh on the new camera. Professional photographer right here.

The last day we were there the water was so clear and flat! No waves to speak of.

I have millions of more pictures of ocean, birds, flowers, grass, and me making funny faces which I will be sharing eventually. Y’all know me, I don’t want to raise standards of this blog by posting more than once a week.
Tonight I have to go back to boot camp after a week and a half off. I’m going to die. Though I have been doing crazy boot camp in the back yard, courtesy of the 100+ yo tree that fell. Turns out cutting and moving a tree is really hard.

Insomnia

Am I the only person with seemingly constant insomnia? Ugh. I am so tired of it. It is 2am and we are leaving at 8am. I think I'm going to just get some stuff done and then sleep...sometime. Somewhere. I'm sure it will be fine. I have just been sleeping so poorly lately. I just lay there (lie there? I can never remember) eyes wide open. Stupid body. Get with it! I feel tired, and then am just wide awake.

 I finally found my camera cord, so I thought I would grace y'all with a picture. The husband is in it. I'm not sure how excited he would be about me posting his picture just out there, so I made him a clever disguise. This is much better. I'm sure he would agree. If I asked him first.


No one will recognize him now! hahaha.


This is us at the Sugar Bowl. Before the Hogs lost in spectacular fashion. Story of our lives.

I'm so Fancy

Recruiters should totally try to buy our affections through steak, because it works. The dinner last night actually turned out to be pretty fun-it was a big group of people from our home state who all live here. The head recruiter was from my hometown! Older than I am, but he went to the same elementary, jr. high, and high school I did. It did make me homesick, though.

The dinner itself was amazing. Started with a great salad-Honey Roasted Pears, Dried Cranberries, Watercress, Shaved Onions, Sugared Walnuts, Stilton Cheese in a Shallot Rasberry Balsamic Vinaigrette. I love salads that are mostly fruit.

I had the filet-top right (not my pictures). It was so, so good. Buttermilk Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes, Cabernet Smoked Onions and Black Pepper Demi-Glace. I could've eaten two it was so good. Dessert was either peanut butter pie (which I made my husband order so I could taste!) or butterscotch creme brulee. I never order or eat creme brulee, but this one was unbelievably good. All of the residents were joking around about only getting to eat at restaurants like this when work pays for it.

Oh dear. I just looked at the brunch menu and now must have this: Banana Foster Shortstack-Buttermilk Pancakes layered with Roasted Bananas in a Traditional Foster's Sauce with Crumbled Pralines, Onion Braised Andouille & Chantilly Cream. How amazing does that sound? It would be worth the 847 miles I would have to run to work it off. I really am promoting health, wellness, and proper nutrition here aren't I?

It actually ended up being really fun. Our table had an interesting conversation about obesity/childhood health/public policy. We had 3 M.D.s, one R.D. (me), one pharmacist, and one guy with a MBA/MPA so it was a good conversation. My thoughts on public health and nutrition have really changed since moving here and actually being in situations rather than just reading about them or theorizing...but that is maybe a post for another day!