March has become one of my fav months of the year due to the onslaught of hoops 24/7. And if Duke makes it through the Sweet Sixteen, I become a maniac.

For almost 15 years, I’ve made the yearly trek to see a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium and join the “crazies” for one of my fav nights of the year. And it never disappoints.

The month of March is a basketball junkie’s dream. And in the office bracket pool, my loyalty always shines through with Duke picked to win it all (regardless of the odds & everyone gunning to take us down a peg).

Since 1991 with the deadly combo of Hurley, Laettner and Hill….. seeing “the shot”, my allegiances have never wavered. Not even once. And four National Championships later, it is even that much more addictive.

My top 5 players to ever adorn the royal blue jersey (in this order): Hurley, Redick, Zion, J. Williams, G. Allen.

As soon as the schedules are announced in late summer, I inevitably spend an evening plugging all the matchups into my calendar and imagining the nets being cut down in April to “One Shining Moment” playing in the background!

Despite a long day at work in Orlando, I dashed home to scarf down some leftover lasagna and beeline to the Merritt Island Refuge

I had booked a spontaneous excursion the day prior out to Playalinda Beach to take part in a turtle watch… and it just happens to be National Sea Turtle Day🐢🪹

After a briefing at the visitor center, we all got in our own cars in a single file line to head out in search of some action. Volunteers were already out combing the sand dunes and we got the call almost immediately upon arrival.

Our caravan of 19 crossed the boardwalk quietly via only a red light and found our mama already plopping out a bunch of eggs. We were told she enters a semi-trance, so we didn’t disturb her birthing process. Golf ball sized pods oozed out in ones and threes, quickly filling the hole she had dug. And then she efficiently flapped her back fins to cover all her eggs with a thick layer of sand prior to inching her way back to the safe confines of the sea. Nature is so surreal & mesmerizing!

We waited off to the side while she made her solo trek and the volunteers labeled & staked a pole in the ground to give her eggs a fighting chance of survival.

Current nests:

642 loggerhead

16 green

7 leatherback

1 in 10,000 survive to adulthood

Come back to same beach to lay eggs

Life span can be up to 116 yrs

Surfside Beach is my second home and every visit takes me back to simpler times. That first night I’m always itching to ride a bike the 2.5 miles to the pier and make the walk to the end. It’s my routine. I put in my headphones and sing away, without a care in the world.

20 mins flat.

Being July 4th weekend, an abundance of locals and tourists are intermingling in this hot spot halfway down the eastern coastline. Fireworks are popping everywhere and the sea breeze is a welcome relief from the stifling summer temps.

The band at the cafe sucks in a good crowd, but I always opt to venture onward to the southern point for more live music. It is one of my happy places. When you roll up to the classic “Angel Eyes”, I sink into a seat and love just tuning out from the real world for a few hours.

This particular visit was a doozy.

My bike tires were a little low on air, so I had to dig in for a tough ride (38 mins). No biggie. However….. little did I know that Tropical Storm Colin decided to circulate out of nowhere just off the SC coast AND it graced us with a wave of rain just as the last song (one of my favs “Summer of ‘69”) finished. I laugh it off and powered through (even had a ziploc bag to keep my phone dry). BUT a mile into my trek back home, I’m struggling and finally succumb to a flat tire. I walked the last 1.5 miles in the pour down rain at midnight AND had a freakin’ blast!!!!

Chalk it up to another GDC moment!

Norway had been on my bucket list for at least 5 years but the hefty price tag always had me finding an excuse to choose an alternative trek. But September 2022, it was time….

After a brutal work schedule in August, I was craving some solo time in the mountains far away from reality.

Mission accomplished.

After actually scaling the intimidating cliffs (400m via ferrata – definitely another blog story), we still had to push our battered bodies another 3.5k to reach the elusive Trolltunga and had exactly 60 mins. My legs and lungs were screaming but I dug deep to power through, even mustered up a few leaps and trots.

As we crested over the last ridge, the elusive Trolltunga was glowing in the last rays of sunlight. It was majestic and surreal…. one of those moments cemented in my brain for eternity!

We all took turns practicing our best starfish pose and then finished with a group celebration on top of the world, while the layers of light melted around us.

And did I mention we still had a 3km trek back to our glass dome hut for the night amongst the stars, full moon and hopeful viewing of the northern lights.

Pinch me!

This one has been a long standing bucket list location that I’m finally tackling.

I originally envisioned camping at this remote National Park but that is easily a 6-8 month out reservation request that I didn’t have the luxury to attain to.

So I picked a long holiday weekend to take a solo road trip down the 7 mile bridge all the way to Mile 0 in the elusive town of Key West.

With a hefty price tag for either the ferry or biplane to whisk you away 70 miles (or 2 hrs 10 mins) due SW, you have to be dedicated to getting to every National Park or just REALLY want to visit this once in a lifetime remote island. It is a mixture of history and a pristine marine ecosystem.

Crazy fact – there are 16 million bricks making up Fort Jefferson, which is the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. But this vantage point never saw battle and is slowly succumbing to the rough seas.

Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in all the hollow corridors and ducking the numerous storm waves that tried to wreak havoc on our day of solitude.

And conquering my 48th of 63 National Parks was a memorable day in the (not-so) sunshine state.

After 33 cruises, I know my way around a floating city and never take it for granted. My child-like curiosity is in overdrive and I always have boundless energy to expend onboard.

What are your favorites and must-dos?

• Soufflé x 4 (my record is 12)!
• Fireworks…. Seriously?!?
• Banana pina colada
• Verandah card games
• Walking the top deck after midnight
• Scrambled eggs, hash browns & a croissant every morning for breakfast
• Watching movies on the big screen
• Reading in the comfy chairs on the running deck
• Hammock overlooking the bay
• Rainfall room in the spa
• Broadway shows
• Jumbo shrimp
• Unlimited self-serve ice cream bar
• Float mat on Castaway Cay
• Silent dance party
• Character photos
• Midnight pizza slices

After previously climbing a few via ferratas in the US, I was fairly confident & genuinely excited going into today’s Norwegian cliff side obstacle.

The faint hearted or vertically challenged beware…..

The 6km mountain bike trek along the winding, glacier capped ridges definitely got the heart pumping. Then we had to bushwhack vertically up the ravine for another hour using ropes and scaling boulders to reach our launching point.

We snacked while admiring the picture perfect bay below, being intimidated by the looming steps above and strapping on our climbing gear. After the obligatory group starting photo, our 8 brave adventurers clipped in for 3 hours of intense focus.

With our harness securely on, it is mandatory to attach both carabeeners to the cables bolted in adjacent to each step. Then by guiding your safety line up to the next set of bolts, you can safely transfer each clip individually to the next line. Can you imagine repeating this progression for 180 minutes?

The X factor is the weight of the pack we have on our backs, including our overnight clothes, sleeping bag liners, frozen dinner, next day lunch and charging devices. I diligently tried to be a minimalist but every pound weighs a ton when you are dangling hundreds of feet from safety.

It was slow going until everyone’s confidence kicked in, but the experience was equally exhilarating with each rung that was conquered. I inherited the awesome responsibility of bringing up the rear and capturing the team’s memories from this extreme adventure.

And the best gift I never knew I needed was the extra time to sit and reflect hanging off the side of a cliff. How does it get better than this? Truly a magical experience and one of the best afternoons in my lifetime.

After scaling three rock faces and amassing a string of bruises on the shins, we finally peer over the last rung to freedom and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

As a relative newcomer, Jordan Davis packed a huge punch into his new headlining tour.

Orlando was opening night and I was stoked to have an free evening to unwind. And ohhhhh how I have missed live music, especially in an intimate setting such as the House of Blues.

Being sold out at 2k guests, it was no surprise to see the swarms of people lined up early. We paid the extra $20 to secure a spot in the VIP line and we’re one of the first 30 people in the building….. totally worth it to stake out front row viewing along the stage!

After 2 opening acts, one of which was excellent and the other was easily forgettable, Jordan’s energy radiated onto the crowd and we responded by belting out all the lyrics to his rapidly growing list of country hits.

My face legit hurt from smiling and singing all night, as I really didn’t want the experience to end.

After being front row 2 weeks in a row for both of my favorite performers (Garth was the other legend), I am certainly spoiled for any future gigs as it will be nearly impossible to top the rush of these performances!