Destin beautiful Beach in the middle of the spill Late June.

Well another summer season has come and gone on the emerald coast and I have to say I am very disappointed with the media.  You know so many great people make their livings on the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Its beauty is enjoyed by those of us who live here and is a massive draw to others all over the country as well, thus our way of life revolves heavily around tourism.  As a Destin photographer making his living by the very heart of what makes Destin and the Beaches of South Walton work (tourism) I am so mad at the way the media portrayed the oil spill.  I am on the beach just about every day of the week and I have to say we had virtually nothing to worry about.  But because the media talked about the oil and the entire region being a disaster the livelihoods of the folks that make their living on the gulf coast have had their businesses threatened, most everyone has had a nonprofit season and the season typically carries everyone through to next season.  The worst case is that some businesses have closed and the ones that haven’t are holding on by a thread.  Media is powerful and before they start making all kinds of assumptions about how catastrophic things are they might want to make sure that catastrophic is really the case.  Our area has had very few hard-hitting issues with regards to the environment as far as I know.  To be clear the literally four or five tar balls that I actually saw were no bigger than my thumb nail.  Yet as a result of the media, businesses all over town have suffered.  We have all heard about the domino effect.  Do we really know what that means?  From my perspective it means for example we start with a vacation planed by the Jones in January of 2010 to stay at xyz resort or with xyz vacation Rental Company.  The media announces our area is devastated and doesn’t let up.  The Jones call and cancel their vacation.  Multiply this effect times the number of folks we see during our season, and then attach the domino effect.  No bookings means no revenue for the company which means they have to cut back in every aspect of how they run their business.  Further, food from ice cream to five-star dining, water activities from fishing to canoeing, movies, night life, grocery stores, retail establishments, golf courses, Weddings and beach portrait photography.  Every single thing that we have to offer in Destin and The Beaches of South Walton has been affected by the media and how they portrayed our little spot on the map.  Don’t get me wrong I am not saying we shouldn’t be concerned about the state of the areas that took the hits however, I don’t feel that we should be plastering an 800 number all over the news  to cancel vacations  because of the devastation that happen miles and miles away from us.  We shouldn’t assume devastation to areas based on nothing more than a guess.  There are too many people’s livelihoods at stake to make such a blanket statement that could and has affected the area so badly.  The oil has almost been completely capped at this point and we still don’t know how much oil or to use BP’s term “Plums” are under the water  so we still don’t know what’s going to happen or how much the oil is going to continue to affect our environment.  All I hope is that Destin and the Beaches of South Walton stays clean and the media changes the way they present the news.  Our communities are strong and we will get through this.  So everyone that’s reading this is already thinking about coming back and I say to you come enjoy The Beaches of the Emerald Coast and enjoy your vacation and don’t forget to schedule your beach photography at www.TheDestinPhotographer.com

Family

Joe and I both believe that things happen for a reason.  Last week one of our dear friends lost his beloved wife.  Talk about putting tragedy in perspective.  Our friend’s wife, Misty was truly a testiment to being an “inspiration”.  Throughout her battle with colon cancer at the young age of 32, she was upbeat, postive and always such a warm and charitable soul.  In her last days, she was still inspiring all of us to make sure that we focus on what is most important and get past the “little things” that are not.  Obviously, none of us will ever understand why such a bright and glorious soul was taken from her family and friends at such a young age, but according to Misty – God had a plan and she wasn’t going to question it.  We’ve decided that we wont either.

Regardless of what is in front of us, Joe and I know that the most important thing is to get through it together.  That can be tough sometimes when life is so busy that you’re running in a million directions!  No one ever warns you how much work kids can be when they reach the “social years”.  I was always reassured that things got easier when they grew up – but whatever!  Now they have social engagements, birthday parties, tea parties, just because parties, karate every single day of the week, music lessons, recitals, concerts, plays – they grow out of shoes every other week and their pants are above their ankles within a month of purchase.  Easier?  Puhlease and I’ll gladly trade a bag of diapers a week for their “activity and social needs costs!”.  Not to mention feeding them – our son eats more than a pack of wolves!

Yet, what would life be like without our mini-me’s!  Joe is not the biological father of James (our son) but most people can’t even tell.  They have the same mannerisms, wear similar clothes, walk the same way, talk the same way and whistle just alike.  It is uncanny how similar they are – unfortunately, they even have the same taste in expensive cars.

I know it’s taking me a while to get there, but the point of this post is to reiterate that life is really all about family and friends.  It is so easy to forget about what really matters when life throws its punches, but I guarantee there is no bank account balance, no bill, no diploma or job that can replace a simple dinner with friends, family and laughter – and the satisfaction that ensues. 

No wonder so many people that flock to our gorgeous beaches contact us for Destin Beach Portraits – what’s better than capturing a moment in time where everyone is so happy and in such a beautiful place.  Joe is lucky to be a Destin Photographer, and I am so lucky that he is my wonderful husband and such an outstanding father.

Its much prettier than the cabbage

It’s hard to believe that it is already August and I skipped an entire summer of blog posts. To be honest though – I’ve been writing them all along in my head and now I just have to take a few evenings to pour them out here on the world wide web. 

Busy would be an understatement to describe our Summer.  Joe has been incredibly blessed to have worked with some of the finest clientel any photographer could ask for!  The resort has been full steam ahead and in between work we have found a little time for play so that the kids don’t blink and summer is over.

This summer has been truly memorable.  Family visited for five weeks in a row and we survived, Michael Jackson died but I’m fairly sure we spotted him at Disney World, our dog is still lively but naps more than she used to and has gray in her muzzle, my son and I can wear the same shoes and he’s only nine, my daughter looks like Daryl Hannah and we’re terrified, our hearts were broken over losing a house three days before closing, we mended our wounds with brand new vehicles and have no room left in our driveway, and had the most beautiful sunflowers in our front garden that replaced the cabbbage.

In retrospect, it is probably one of the best summer’s I’ve ever had – nothing terrible to report, lots of laughter with the family (just imagine 11 Italians in less than 1300 square feet for over a week….), I didn’t gain any weight even though all anyone wanted to do was eat or cook during the visits and I passed my milestone – I have not been sick for two years! 

So as I delve into these next few posts  – everyone please accept my sincerest apologies for the delay on reporting our most intimate and hilarious moments these past few months.  =)

McGuire's Irish Pub in Destin, Florida

My father (Joe’s father-in-law) is truly a pain to take out to eat.  Peter considers himself a gourmet chef and is highly critical of anyone else’s cooking.  Even in a five star restaurant Peter will say after a perfectly delicious meal – “ahh, well – it wasa alrighta”.  Yes – I just typed in English-Italian accent … justa lika my fathera speaksa.  

Low and behold we took my father to McGuire’s one evening during his annual coastal retreat to spoil the grandkids and we figured that no matter what he said or did – McGuire’s is an original and regardless of Peter’s opinion – it would always be at the top of our favorites list.  Starting out with an order of Irish Boxty’s (these delectable little balls of fried potato and cheese that you can dip into salsa, sour cream or guacamole) and the most scrumptious bread ever delivered to a table (It’s like pumpernickel only lighter and fluffier and fresh made and then drenched in a honey sauce over the top).  My dad’s smile broadened.  No sign of complaints on the horizon…. 

Salads were delivered on time with fresh fixins including our favorite dried cranberries to add just a bit of zing to the normal rabbit food mix.  Balsamic vinegrette for half the table and a gallon of ranch for the other half – no one was talking.  (At a table full of Italians – no one speaking while eating is a very good thing!)

The entrees were of course, the house special – Prime Rib.  Let me just say, McGuire’s offers one of the best cuts of meat without having to wear a tie and full length gown to get in the door.  Completely casual, McGuire’s is the “pub atmosphere” with a perfect affinity for us cow eating connesiuers.  As a side – huge potato with fixings or very yummy garlic mashed potatoes for the carb consuming crowd, while we lowly diabetics enjoy crunching on some grilled asparagus and long for the smooth taste of buttery, cheesy potatoes … mmmmmmm.

McGuire's Bar in Destin, Florida

Then a miracle happened.  My father (Peter) clapped his hands together with big smile on his face and said “This is some of the best food I have ever eaten.”  Jackpot – OMG – I’ve never heard him say that ANYWHERE in the almost thirty years that I have been conscious upon this earth.  I was speechless and just looked at Joe – (he had a big smile on his face, like see – I know your dad, I know how to do it… )

My father making that statement is truly the biggest endorsement that McGuire’s could have ever gotten and they have no clue.  So here’s to you McGuire’s – my heartfelt thanks for providing another culinary masterpiece and the first evening out with my father where I wasn’t embarrassed when he wanted the chef to come out so he could give him a few pointers!

During our search for a new home – we have walked into dozens of empty homes that are still echoing with heartbreak and defeat.  The children’s bedrooms in the vacant homes all but kill us.  The colorful walls, the faint smell of crayons – the shadows of laughter.  We wander through the homes and analyze their merit against our current set of non-negotiable features, but at the end of the tour – we always wonder if the previous family has found another place to call home, the children another yard to play in …

I truly believe that homes have personalities of their own, that the family leaves their footprint on the spirit of the house – and an adventure like purchasing a home should be so exciting and yet, it has been nothing short of depressing.  There is nothing exciting about the “bargains” that have resulted from such tremendous pain and loss. 

Being a Destin Photographer, Joseph took his camera out to our current negotiation nightmare in Windswept Estates and then used his new oober cool skills to put together a video of the home (it’s not finished) for our family and friends to look at with us.  This is kind of a dream home for us.  Check it out and let us know what you think.  One of Joe’s non-negotiables is a pool – so you’ll have to imagine that for now.  Although – considering the current state of the negotiation process on this short sale – we might be highlighting a new home each week!

The Home Fire

The cold weather is back again and we’ve switched our shorts for heavy jeans, sweaters, socks and scarfs. This year has had some extremely odd weather – one day hot, next day freezing, then cool, then hot, then freezing, then warm. So hard to dress in the morning! Our closets are too small to deal with this weather calamity!

So I named this post Forecast: Lazy, because when it is this cold we want to do nothing other than light a blazing fire and curl up on the couch with Tyrone, Moses or the Marlboro Man. No, we don’t smoke or have two new roommates – I just happen to name the blankets! I name everything actually, kitchen appliances, the cars, blankets, etc. It must be the marketer in me – always branding everything!

So while I’m slaving away writing this blog, Joe has sauntered to the bedroom to take a nice nap. He has a rough life… ahem, really…. I’m not laughing. Last night when we were driving home from cleaning out Old Time Pottery of their remaining Christmas decorations he mentioned that he didn’t think he could ever retire and stop working…. and I coily replied that I figure he was as retired as he’d ever get…. I muffled my laugh as you could imagine.

Speaking of Christmas decorations – while we were rifling around in the very stocked holiday aisles there was a man in the next section that very loudly said, “Honey, do you know why this crap is still here? Because it’s the Holiday junk no one else wanted!” I started laughing so loud that I snorted and had to walk away. Our cart was full of “the junk that no one else wanted and it will look fantastic in our new home!” If Adam thought Christmas vommited on our house this year, just wait – we’ve tripled our santa inventory.

I’ve also been harrassing Joe to do some more family photography and now I need some portraits for professional reasons and I’m petrified. You know how in the Dentist’s office you have to fill out this little card where you check off boxes and one of the questions is – are you afraid of going to the Dentist? Well if there was a box marked HELL YES – then I’d use a Sharpie to fill it in. Unfortunately, I don’t feel much different about getting my photo taken – ironic I know considering that my other half has photography equipment that is more valuable and costly than our new car. So I wonder if Joe should send all of his beach photography clients a survey that says, “are you generally uncomfortable getting your photo taken?” If they check yes, there could be an additional fill in the blank question asking them their liquor or alcoholic beverage of choice. Talk about service – Joe could dazzle them with his amazing photography skills and make them smile with a shot or two of their favorite “calmer downer”!

Until then, it’s time for another pot of coffee and I’m out of my favorite brew – so I’m heading to SAMS for a huge, industrial bag of KONA whole bean java. Even though there is other coffee in the freezer it is like filling your car up with regular unleaded when your user manual clearly states that your engine should only operate on premium.

Just Chillin

Last weekend we postponed our Thanksgiving vacation departure for two reasons – one because we couldn’t disappoint our friends and not hold our annual Vagabond Thanksgiving and the other was the Toys for Tots Charity Ride (That gets it’s own blog!).

The Vagabond tradition started three years ago when a group of us gathered at Joe and Rory’s house in Fort Walton Beach for Thanksgiving because none of us had any family in the area.  Even today, that evening is still one of our favorite memories – absolutely one of the most hilarious, let loose evenings amongst friends.  Since then, we’ve continued to grow the gathering with new friends, recipes and games.  This year we almost skipped out since Joe does not work in retail anymore and we were actually able to head to Texas to eat some Turkey with the relatives – but when we broke the news to our friends, we reconsidered and Saturday was our third annual Vagabond Thanksgiving dinner. 

It started out with a bang – literally!  As our guests arrived, John and Kris were parking their brand new car when someone pulling out from a neighbor’s house hit their rear quarter panel and then drove off.  John was impressive – he didn’t lose his temper, he calmly waited for the Sherriff without causing any drama and when it was all handled, he came in and joined the crowd without much of a fuss.  Dinner was fabulous as usual – 17 people tore up an entire fried Turkey in record time, along with three bottles of Vodka, a handle of Rum and all the mixers. 

I’m not sure if it has just been a really rough year for everyone or if we were just all tired for some reason, but the usual antics did not ensue.  We mainly sat together, laughing, reminiscing and relaxing.  Even when we all progressed to our usual watering hole, BluePoint Fishclub Bar – we just enjoyed each other’s company.  There was no candle stick karaoke this year or inebriated catch phrase – just togetherness, and for that, we were extremely thankful.