random nothingness

so this past weekend was the 4th of july. i hope everyone had a very happy one, remembering what we are celebrating. this weekend is always very busy for both chris & i with work. it's inevitable that we will both be working. sarasota is known for 4th of july weekend with the grand prix offshore boat races. if you every get the opportunity to be here for that, it is 4 days of craziness. they started with a big boat parade on land thursday. friday is the boats by the bay. all the boats are in one area so you can look at them up close. lots of venders. saturday is boats by the bay again and the fireworks. sunday are the races off of lido beach. very cool.

i had to work the parade but friday i did not get reassigned. so, on my way into work, i get pulled over by fhp. once i get to work, after about an hour, i wonder why the building is kinda empty...oh yeah...it's an authorized holiday. i don't have to be at work! but it worked out because there was a captain from one of the boats from deadliest catch (captain keith colburn from the crab wizard) in town for the races. it was pre-arranged to do a long bike ride with him. we were meeting at 9 so i wasted some sleep in time but it worked out. about 12 of us met him at the hotel and off we were. 45 miles later, we finished. we kept a 20-22 mph pace. this is my longest ride and riding in a group to date. i was very proud of myself.

saturday was a 14 hour day for me. i had to work the boats by the bay. from there i moved to where they were having the fireworks set off. there had to be at least 10,000 people there. it was a LONG HOT day! chris worked the fireworks out at siesta key. sunday morning, we were both so whooped that we skipped church and slept! chris had to go into work that evening for the drum circle.

billy, amy, will & bailey came down sunday afternoon. they kept me company while chris was at work. always fun when family is here. i had to take chris to the airport the next morning by 0'dark hundred (5 am!). he had no sleep since he got home from work around 1 am. poor kid. but at least he was on his way to montana for a month! i am so jealous!

we all went to the beach that day for almost the whole day. it was so relaxing! the kids had a blast boogie boarding. and by kids, i am including myself & billy! for dinner, we went to sharky's on the water. amy has been wanting to watch a sunset. not much of one since it was overcast but still it was very nice.

the next morning, we went to the science museum, g wiz. first time i had ever been there. it was great for the kids. afterwards, they headed home...leaving me here all by myself!!! i only have to get through to friday and then my girls are coming down! oh & david too. we are all playing in a beach tournament out at siesta key this weekend. saturday night, us girls are going to see aerosmith!!!

i fly out to join everyone in montana wednesday. i can't wait. they are already fishing my fishing hole! chris & i will be flying back august 3. much needed time away. can't wait for my photo shoot!

so the critter family at the laster household has grown. new additions are as follows: larry the lizard (who is at the bathroom window every morning cathcing his breakfast as i get a shower), a baby gator (maybe 1'), oreo the black & white cat, and trotter, the fox squirrel pictured below. at night, the coons, foxes and oreo come out for their dinner. i swear we are going broke on critter food. it's so much fun to watch them though. the picture of keagan is one that chris took. he says that he is praying to allah.

as you can tell, i had a lot of time on my hands being here all by myself. i don't function well without my husband. as my father-in-law says in his email to me today: remember, the heart grows fonder when apart.