I got back last night from another awesome vacation to the Florida Panhandle. We usually head down there at some point in the summer - preferably a place on Hwy 30-A. This year we stayed at a fabulous condo called “Seagrove By the Sea”. This year was especially pleasing because each of our kids had a friend along. We went with another couple who have a 4 year-old who paired up with my youngest. And, my older step-son brought along his best friend. The other couple had a 14 year-old daughter who brought along a friend and they were able to babysit while the adults went out a few nights.

One thing I tried to do this trip was pack as few things as possible to keep my junk to a minimum. Here’s my perfect list for a week at the beach. One quick note - the Florida Panhandle is very casual. So, you might need to amend a few things depending on the dress in your neck of the woods (especially at dinner).

• 2 bathing suits
• 3 pairs casual shorts
• 1 pair dressy shorts
• 2 beach t-shirts
• 3 casual t-shirts
• 1 pair sleeping shorts
• 3 polo shirts
• 1 Under Armour HeatGear Ventilator visor
• 1 pair Reef Fanning Flip-flops (you’ll love the bonus feature on these)
• 1 pair Birkenstocks (could have done without)
• 2 belts

That’s it - all you need for a week in the sun. BTW - that’s me having lunch on our balcony with a little homemade Sangria.

I was recently heading back home from a snow skiing trip to Breckenridge, CO. We ended up having to leave early because of high winds, 8″ of new snow and a few air travel SNAFU’s (thanks American). Anyway, we were heading down from Summit County and wanted a little breakfast before we hit I-70.

We looked around Breckenridge and couldn’t really find anything - most of the restaurants were lunch and dinner. Then we hit Frisco, Dillon and finally Silverthorne, where we lucked out. We found this little cafe on the main drag there called the Mountain Lyon Cafe. For $7.95 I got a short stack, two eggs, bacon and O’Brien potatoes - a mountain of food. The pancakes were the size of an LP and had that little butter induced crunch that I love on my hotcakes. Everything was great - don’t miss this place if your up for a little time on the slopes.

Here’s the address:
Mountain Lyon Cafe
381 Blue River Pky
Silverthorne, CO 80498
(970) 262-6229

Life is too short. Try something new or set a goal and go for it.

I have been compiling this list for a while now. It is ever-growing. I have accomplished some of them and there are many yet to be accomplished things. I keep this in my Blackberry so when the mood strikes - I can add a new thing to the list. Here it goes:

1. Spend New Year’s Eve on Jost Van Dyke, BVI
2. Swim with dolphins (again)
3. Swim with Whale(s)
4. Ride in a hot air balloon (done 4/28/07)
5. Learn to sail
6. Collect sand from all of the beaches we visit
7. Rope a calf (done)
8. SCUBA dive (I have about 50 dives in my log, but there are many more oceans to explore)
9. Play Augusta National
10. Own a boat - preferably with a lake house
11. Catch a bonefish on a fly
12. Learn to surf
13. Play guitar with Eric Clapton or John Mayer
14. Attend Rock-n-Roll Fantasy Camp

Got back last week from the Iberostar Tucan Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. This was a nice place and we went for my sister-in-law’s wedding. So, it was a little hectic, lot’s of agenda and other logistical issues to deal with. But, at least there was SCUBA diving to get a way from it all.

The Dressel Divers Club staff at the resort was first class. Really nice people and some great diving right off the beach. It’s not like diving in Cozumel right across the sound. However, you’re 8 minutes from the beach to the dive sites. With my kids in tow, mother-in-law in the vicinity, wedding agenda and other things - I could grab my dive bag and be back to help out in 90 minutes flat from a 1 tank dive. I’ll take that anytime … on a “working” vacation.