The Jenna Devin Blog

Friday, November 12, 2010

A Firefly Summer

Okay, before I begin I just want to apologize for being so obsessed, you may think I'm crazy, but oh well.  I wrote this one fall afternoon a couple months ago when my OAYD (Obsessive Adam Young Disorder) was especially acting up...lol. Well, here goes:
So...
It's the summer, and my parents are gone for a whole week on vacation in South Dakota.  On a break from my jobs at Build-a-Bear and the library, I decide to go on a journey to Owatonna, Minnesota and invite my friend Brittany to go with me.  Why Owatonna?  Do I have to tell you?..you should know: it's Adam Young's hometown! :)  So, us two girls hit the road.  When we finally reach Owatonna, I am so psyched!!  With every turn I take, I keep jumping whenever I see a boy with dark brown or black hair, which makes Brittany laugh like crazy.  Then we go past a beach all of a sudden one second I'm gazing dreamily at this pretty beach and the next I see THE Adam Young sitting on a swing overlooking the beach!!  I begin hyperventilating and saying, "Oh my gosh!!  It's Adam Young!!!," as I slam on the brakes.  A few car horns blow at me from behind, and I come to my senses and pull over to the side of the road.  So, when Adam looks around to see what all the commotion is about, I get all red and hot and stare down at the steering wheel.

Brittany: "Well, that was..fast.  I...didn't think we'd actually FIND him, did you?"

Jenna (me): "No...I still can't...believe....Oh. My. GOD!!!"

A few minutes of silence while I return back to staring at Adam Young from inside my car.  He has stopped looking for the reason for the commotion and is now gazing out at the beach peacefully.  Brittany just continues looking at me.  I can feel her eyes boring into me, telling me, through some kind of telepathy or whatever, to take some action!

B: " Soooo....are you going to talk to him or not?

J: My whole body gets cold and sweaty and my face grows read at the thought.  "Ummm...uhhh..." I can't make out any decipherable language... It's now getting to be twilight and fittingly, fireflies begin to appear, flashing brightly around Adam.

B: "Relax, Jenna.  GO for it!!  Remember what we talked about and you said you'd do?  Be random!"

J: Yeah, I need to do this, I think to myself.  Adam has GOT to love random, right?  He's random...and amazing...and wonderful...and.... I open the door and get out of the car and begin walking toward the swing set.

B: (whispers) "Oh my God!  You're actually going to do it!".......
(mouths and puts her thumbs up) "Good luck!!"

So...I begin walking down below on the beach to see if he notices me.  I have my favorite light blue dress on, and I feel the soft lake breeze curl around me, sending my hair fluttering behind me.  I lay down in the sand and close my eyes, enjoying the cool summer night.  I open my eyes after a while to gaze up at the stars and instead am startled to see Adam right by me, looking down at me.

J: "Oh!" (startled)

Adam: "Oh I'm so sorry!! (he cutely reddens in the face and backs away)...I'll leave you alone...I...."

J: "Oh no it's..it's okay.  You can stay.  I just didn't expect...(I trail off lamely..)

A: "Still, I'm...I'm really sorry.  That was really rude of me to startle you like that...I just...I was curious.  I didn't recognize you at all.  Around here it's rare not to know someone..small towns, ya know....sorry, I'm...babbling...ummm....so, are you from around here?"

J: "Um...no..I'm from Wisconsin actually...."

A: "Oh.  What's your name, and what brings you here?...My name is Adam, by the way.."
J: (blushing profusely...good thing it's getting dark out...) "Ummmm....my name is Jenna, and I'm here because...well...ummm...."

A: "If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine..I understand...

Awkward silence, as I consider what to say/admit...
J: "Well...youll probably think I'm crazy and run away when I tell you this, but I came to see your hometown...I'm.......just a bit obsessed with the whole Owl City thing and...oh my gosh.  I can't believe I'm telling you this and...and...talking!  I never talk this much with other people I don't know very well, I'm extremely shy, and now I'm talking like crazy with.......Oh my gosh...."(I trail off lamely again...)

A: "Ah.  Hmm,,," (He bites his lip and looks uncomfortable..)

J: (reddening to the shade of a tomato) "I'm so sorry.  I'll leave now.  I'm such a horrible person... (I start to walk away)

A: (Adam looks down, hesitates, and then finally goes after me.  He put his arm out to my shoulder to stop me.) "Wait!" (I turn around abruptly and gaze back at him, causing him to get flustered (starstruck possibly?? ha...I wish! lol))  "I...uh...I mean....(he takes a deep breath) please don't go.  I just...still get uncomfortable...ish...when people know me when I don't know them.  The whole famous thing is still hard to get used to."

J: "Yeah...that would be hard."

Another awkward silence and even more awkward when Adam realizes that his arm is still on my shoulder.  He quickly takes his arm away.

A: (blushes) "sorry.."

J: (I grab Adam's arm back and hesitate and begin stuttering, while thinking to myself, I can't believe I'm doing this!!) "It's fine...is it...is it..okay if I....hold your hand?"

A: (blushes and smiles cutely, and places his hand in mine ) "More than okay."

The two of them gaze intensely back at one another in nervous, but ecstasy-filled, excitement.  They then walk hand-in-hand up the hill and swing on the swings, never taking their eyes and hands away from each other's grasp.  They chat about odds and ends and everything in between...

A: "Hey, Jenna, would you like to go for an evening swim--wait, you probably don't have a swimsuit with you, huh?"

J:"No, I have a swimsuit. (I take off my dress while Adam gawks at me wide-eyed for a second before realizing what I'm actually doing...)

A: (blushing) "Ermm..oh!...ha....umm...yeah...."

J: (blushes) "Sorry!  I should have said that my swimsuit was on under my dress...wow awkward.....but yeah!  Let's go swim!" (I take his hand, and off we go!)

Adam and I run giggling hand-in-hand down the hillside and onto the cool sand.  Adam takes off his shirt and sets it aside shyly.  I can't help but be curious to see what he looks like with his shirt off.  I am in complete bliss, and think about how he is everything I imagined and much more...his chest, his body, his physique, and his personality are all so cute and quirky and unlike any boy I've ever met before.  I try to sneak glances at Adam and his bare chest while they wade in the water, but Adam notices...oh embarassment...I turn away briskly and redden once again.  Adam then sneaks up behind me and grabs me, causing me to shriek in delight, and Adam laughs along, tossing himself and I into the water.  Adam backfloats with me resting my head on his chest.  He plays with my damp hair and sings "If My Heart Was a House" softly to me.  I feel so amazingly and keep telling myself that this has got to be just a dream...but if it is, it's the most realistic one I've ever had.  After we'd been in the water long enough to get chilly and shrivelled, we get out, dry off, and put our clothes back on.

J: "I've had the most amazing night...thank you.

A: "No, thank you..."  (He puts his hand in mine and gently places his other hand on my chin and tilts it up slowly...aaaannnnddd...he kisses me long and exquisitely softly.  I entwine my arms around his neck and sigh in pure bliss.  We kiss for a while longer and then break apart gently.  I blush redder than a tomato and gaze, starstruck, into Adam's eyes.  He does the same, but after a bit he starts laughing...."Man, I think we've broke a record here!"

J: (breaking out of my trance) "Huh...?  For what...?"

A: "Staring contest...ha...(and then seriously....--.->) ..I would break that record a thousand times, actually more, if it involved looking at you." He holds me in an embrace, and we cuddle close to one another.  I play with his hair for a few moments, and then snap back to reality when I hear a very familiar voice.  Brittany had approached, and I hadn't even noticed.  She is looking at me in amazement and with an "Oh my gosh"-look on her face

B: "Oh..wow."

J: (blushes) "Oh, hey!  Brittany, meet Adam...Adam, meet my friend Brittany."

A: (comes up to Brittany and shakes her hand) "It's a pleasure to meet you."

B: "Pleasure to meet you, too."

A: "Well, I suppose you ladies probably need to get going...it's getting pretty late...12:03 am...

B: "Yeah!..I was wondering if you'd ever come back!  What were you guys doing anyways?  Wait, I probably shouldn't ask..."

A & J: (blush and smile at each other)

A: "Well, I guess this is good-bye for now, but I'll come visit you or talk to you as soon as I can, if you want to give me your address and phone number..."

J: "Oh, yes!"  I scramble over to my car to get a pen and paper.  Brittany and Adam both look at each other confusedly and follow her.  "Ah...here we are....and now I'll need your address and phone number..."

A: "Well, I guess this is good-bye...I just......(his voice cracks cutely, so he clears his throat and tries again)...I just want you to know that your are the most beautiful and...amazing girl I've ever met."

J: (blushes) "...And you are the sweetest, most handsome boy I've ever met."  We kiss again and embrace tightly.  As I drive away down the road, I glance back in my rearview mirror and see Adam standing alone in the street, waving good-bye, as "I'll Meet You There" plays on my car radio.  I sigh and think to myself: this is not the end but only the beginning.


This picture is  courtesy of owlcityrox7's pictures on: 

Dedication to Adam Young..

Dear Adam Young,

I just want to let you know that you are an amazing person and a terrific musician; you have inspired me so much. Whenever I listen to your music (which is pretty much everyday), it brings optimism and hope to my day no matter what. If I'm feeling depressed, lonely, or stressed, your beautiful music makes me feel happy and peaceful. The lyrics to your songs are so happy and daydream-like, and I love that a lot of your songs talk about the ocean because I LOVE the ocean (though I'm pretty much as far away from the ocean as you are, in my state of Wisconsin..). Your music is so unique and wonderful, unlike the "popular" music on the radio; it seems that the only thing they make music about nowadays is sex or drinking, and the rap stuff really annoys me...that's why I love your music because it's so pure, sweet, beautiful, unique,and quirky...just like you. :) Love ya, Adam.! Keep being you, and please continue making your beautiful music; it's definitely your calling. <3 <3 :)

Love,
Jenna

This picture is courtesy of owlcityrox7's pictures on: 


Sunday, November 7, 2010

A Blast from the Past!!......

Panama City Beach, Florida  Trip Journal 2007


 
Saturday, July 14th, 2007  
*Left Portage (Carimaunee Dr.) at 3:35 a.m. We planned on 4:00 a.m., but we were awake shutting the windows (it was storming).
*At approximately 6:45 a.m. we stopped at the wayside in Illinois by the windmills (Paw Paw, Illinois…we think)
*We stopped at Illini Prairie Rest Area for our breakfast (Little Debbie Donut Sticks) at 8:01 a.m. We left there at 8:18 a.m.
]*At 8:45 a.m. we got gas at Jumpin’ Jimmy’s in Mattoon, Illinois 325 miles.
*At 9:19 a.m. we were in Effingham, Illinois
*We left Rend Lake Wayside in Illinois at 10:40 a.m.  It was very busy!
*Left McDonald’s in Calvert City, Kentucky at 12:30 p.m.  We ate outside and fed the birds French fries! J  We noticed the first signs of southern drawl y’alls!  Also, we got gas at BP in Calvert City.  We were on the road by 12:40 p.m.
*Went through Nashville at 2:15 p.m.
*We stopped at the Alabama Welcome Center (Rocket Wayside) at 3:30 p.m.
*Passed through Birmingham, Alabama at 5:00 p.m…and it was raining (Déjà vu!)  We got gas right before Birmingham and didn’t have to wait for a bathroom there…for once!
*At 7:30 p.m. We got to Troy, Alabama and decided to stay at the Comfort Inn there for the night.

Sunday, July 15th, 2007
*We left Troy, Alabama at 9:00 a.m.
*Passed through Dothan, Alabama (Home of Troy University) at 9:48 a.m.
            We arrived in Panama City!  We checked into Beach Tower Resort Motel at 1:00…we love it!  The balcony is awesome.  We’re on the 5th floor in Room 503.  Before we got to the motel we stopped at Walmart for our groceries and it was REALLY busy!!!  We ate a quick lunch after that and got down to the beach by 2 ish…it started raining, but didn’t last long.  We collected some cool shells and a few hermit crabs even!  Dad and I swam underwater with a few funny friendly fish friends.  They weren’t colorful (they were gray), but they were still funny!  They swam by our feet and nibbled our toes.  I plan on taking a picture of them with my underwater camera sometime before we leave.  It’s now 7:10 p.m. and we’re thinking about going to Alvin’s…Laterz!
At Alvin’s I got to hold a live baby alligator!  The guy just handed him to me…it was cool! J  He felt arm and rumply/scaly.  Later on we looked for ghost crabs…we found a few.  They’re so fast and look like little spiders running by your feet.  Gittin’ late…Laterz, y’all!
Monday, July 16th, 2007
On our first full day, we got up @ 8:30 a.m. and got down to the beach by 10:00 a.m.  The tide was high so Dad stopped by Publix to get 2 tubes.  We rode the waves until 2 ish when we started to get hungry for lunch.  We ate Garlic Bread Pizza…yum!  Later @ about 3 ish we played Frisbee until it stormed @ 4 ish.  Mom was @ Alvin’s…so we saved her! J LOL
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
Today we went to St. Andrew’s.  We snorkeled @ the jetty and saw a flounder, crabs, and a few other tropical neon fish.  Later we went to the other side of the jetty to where the ocean is wavier and brought the tubes out to do some wave riding…and later we saw dolphins!!!  They came pretty close to shore.  I think they were maybe after the big fish that were in the water near us.  It was SO awesome! J  They’re such majestic and beautiful creatures.  And guess what?!  We’re going to go swim with dolphins tomorrow!!!  I’m so excited!!!! J J J J
Wednesday, July 18th, 2007
Ah!  Today was the most momentous day of my life so far!!  We went on the Island Time dolphin/snorkel cruise @ 12 p.m.  We had to be there @ 11:30 a.m. and we didn’t leave ‘til 11:50 ish so it was pretty hot waiting…but well worth it!  First, we went snorkeling in shallow water (about a little over chest-deep and shallower) by Shell Island.  We found sand dollars, crabs, sea urchins, star fish, puffer fish, other tropical fish, and some other strange things.  It was cool snorkeling in the sea grass.  I felt safer in the sea grass than by the rocks at the jetty.  It was shallower and you weren’t afraid of running into rocks and such.  The water was very warm in spots and in others not (at the snorkel spot).  Once we were done snorkeling, we set sail, ate a lunch consisting of a turkey sandwich with mustard, chips, and soda…and found the dolphins!!  It was a mad rush getting into the water. Kicking everywhere and such…  It was the most exciting feeling when all of a sudden there was a dolphin underneath me!!!!! J  I could see its cute little teeth while he ate few small fish.  It was also cool hearing the dolphin clicking under the water…kind of soothing actually.  I’ve read stories and books about dolphins having healing powers and after swimming with them, it seems very plausible to me that dolphins could do that.  I was hoping I’d be able to touch the dolphin, but I was still really close…I almost could have! J  IT WAS SO AMAZING!!!! I wish we could’ve swam with them longer…forever…<3
Thursday, July 19th, 2007
Today was Mom’s 45th b-day (yesterday was Mom and Dad’s 26th anniversary).  Today was kind of a chillin’ day.  We went shopping for a bit in the morning, and then we swam/tubed in the ocean and the pool.  Right now we’re thinking about going shopping/walking again…          Laterz y’all! J J
Friday, July 20th, 2007
Today we went to St. Andrew’s again.  We only snorkeled at the jetty side because the water was very weedy and icky on the other side.  There were tons of jellyfish at the jetty today.  I was close to being stung by this rainbow-bright flashing little jellyfish.  It was right in front of my nose!...but Dad wasn’t as luck.  He got stung!  He says it feels like going through burning nettle.  He put some sand and vinegar on it to stop the burning.  For aquatic life today we saw flounders, a shrimp getting attacked by fishies, a cute yellow fish (I saw it only), a sword fish, a big angelfish-sized dull blue and white fish (only I saw it), etc…  This time @ the jetty, we went over the rocks to where the drop-off was.  It was pretty cool because there were big schools of fish and very clear water.  It was also scary though because it was very deep and wavy.  Also today we went to Moby Dick’s gift shop and I got a souvenir for Lisa and myself.  It’s so adorable!  They’re cute little snow globes with fake ocean water and cute dolphin figurines inside that float around.
Saturday, July 21st, 2007
Today was kind of another chillin’ day (our last day! L).  We went to the ocean and the pool.  It’s fitting for today that I had a stomach ache…since it’s the last day. L…but it will be very nice to see Buzzy and sleep in my own room and such.  I miss Buzzy.  Even though he can be ornery sometimes, I still know that he loves me and that I love him. J  I’m not looking forward to going to Band @ 6:30 a.m., though…ugh! L  So…that ‘tis de day!  Laterz alligatorz!!! J
Sunday, July 22, 2007
8:37 a.m.- This morning was very sad…we left Panama City Beach @ 6 a.m. ish.  I said goodbye to the ocean and I think (and I want to believe this) that I saw a dolphin jumping, for the last time for me, to say goodbye.  We’re thinking about stopping @ Troy to eat breakfast in a few miles…
8:50 a.m.- We ate breakfast @ Burger King in Troy, Alabama.  I had 6 pc Cheesy Tots and a few mini hash browns.
4:05 p.m.- We’re almost getting close to Illinois.  We didn’t stop for lunch…we just ate some snacks in the car (Cheetohs and crackers) because we weren’t really that hungry and I had a stomach ache.  Right now we’re in Paducah, Kentucky.
4:21 p.m.- We just crossed the Illinois border and entered Metropolis, the home of Superman. (Dad wanted me to put this in…LOL)
9:05 p.m.- We arrived in Tuscola (love the name...it’s fun to say! J), Illinois @ 7:30 p.m. to stay @ Super 8 Motel.  The showers were squeaky and were “Gerber” brand…LOL!  No pool here, but it’s still pretty nice.  For dinner I tonight I had an Extra Cheesy Pizza Lunchable. J
Monday, July 23rd, 2007
7:22 a.m.- We got up this morning @ 6:45 a.m. and left our motel by 7:15.  On the way out, Dad and I grabbed a donut.  Dad’s was apple-filled and mine was raspberry-filled.  It was pretty good.  It’s supposed to take about 5 ½ hours to get home so we should be back by 12:30-1:00 ish.
9:20 a.m.- At 9:05 a.m. we stopped to eat breakfast @ Burger King in Wenona.  I had 3 pc french toast sticks.  They were really good! J  I was going to get 4 pc Cini-minis, but they were all out of them. L  So…I kind of ate twice, didn’t I? (Bad Jenna!...LOL)  The bathrooms were squeaky in Burger King (seems like a lot of things were squeaky lately…LOL) and the dryer could’ve blasted you away…literally! LOL
9:55 a.m.- Just passed the windmills
10:02 a.m.- Stopped @ Willow Creek Rest Area.  The stalls were really spacious…LOL
10:58 a.m.- We’re finally in Wisconsin and out of Flatlander territory!  We just passed the Wisconsin Welcome center and there were some people getting their pictures taken in front of the “Wisconsin Welcomes You” sign…crazy!  I just saw a sign that said Madison is in 53 miles…we’re getting closer!
11:46 a.m.- Portage is now in 26 miles!
11:56 a.m.- Portage is now in 15 miles!
12:11 p.m.- *sings* ta dah!!! We’re in downtown Portage!!!
Prologue:  It was weird opening the garage door and seeing Buzzy…I hadn’t seen him in so long that I almost forgot what he looked like!  He looked so adorable, greeting us with cute little meows and rubs.  It felt weird going in the house, too.  I felt like the house wasn’t where I lived and I felt like it was huge!  Now it feels like I haven’t even left…but I will always have the memories to remind me that I did indeed leave the house…for the best vacation of a lifetime.

Dedication: This journal is dedicated to Kevin and Vicky Homan (my mom and dad).  I wouldn’t have been able to go on this trip without them!!  Thanks so much for all you do for me every day of my life!










Panama City Beach, Florida Trip Journal~July 2010

Here is the Panama City Beach trip journal I promised you...hope you enjoy!! :)

Monday, July 12, 2010

: Right now we are near Bloomington, Illinois and plan on stopping there for some breakfast.  We left this morning at .  I listened to “Early Birdie” (Owl City) on the way out of Portage.  I rested up until now…didn’t actually sleep, but it felt nice to zone out, listening to the sounds of the interstate.  I have an icky headache right now, but I think it’s getting a bit better…hopefully.  Ope! Not Bloomington for breakfast….

: Breakfast at McDonald’s in Le Roy! Huh huh huh :3) I had a sausage muffin.  The music was weird (50’s ish), and the mirror was slanted/crooked-ish in the bathroom. Lol. Randomness…you gotta love it. J

: We just left Paducah, Kentucky (McCracken County!! lol) and experienced the first Southern “drawl y’alls!” J  We ate at Burger King, and we all got a Twilight Eclipse toy! J  Weird bathroom set-up there but cool…sorry, more randomness.

: We just passed Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and pretty soon we will be entering Tennessee.

: We’re stuck in Nashville traffic, but I got some cool pics of the city! J
“You are awesome” ßgraffiti I saw just out of Nashville J lol

: Toot’s!  “Now entering Toot’s country!” lol
See Rock City” (Searock City!..as in Mr. Searock! Ya lame…) lol

: Started seeing some really pretty, majestic mountains near Monteagle, TN

7:15 pm: We decided to stay the night at the Super 8 in Kimball, TN near Alabama…J It’s very scenic but simple with an outdoor pool.  Havin’ Domino’s pizza tonight for supper…should be splendid. :P  Hey!  Singing toilet!!! lol Hrrrr!
…and suicide note in the motel Bible. L It’s so sad and depressing.  The person wrote to his family, telling them sorry and how much he loves them. L



Tuesday, July 13, 2010

ish: In the morning I had a lil’ blueberry muffin and a KFC-like biscuit with “grits” (ended up actually being gravy…bummer! lol).  ‘Twas delicious.  Last night I didn’t fall asleep until almost , so I only got like 4-5 hours of sleep. L  I really really really hope I’ll be able to sleep soundly tonight.  I feel like Adam Young, the insomniac. Lol

: Went to Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro…basically a huge Goodwill.

: Section, Alabama’s Tennessee River valley was extremely gorgeous! J

: I am extremely angry!!  I stupidly left my cell phone under my pillow, and someone at the Super 8 stole it!! L L

: Feeling better, but it sure is hot!  Just went to the Florida Welcome Center and had some orange juice (theee very best!)  Can’t wait to get to PCB…it’s been a loooong drive.



Wednesday, July 14, 2010

: Wow.  PCB is amazing as always. J The smell of salt and the taste of it (& the burn of it…) on your skin.  The salt collects on your skin even when you’re not in the water.  Last night I licked my hand, and it was extremely salty even thought I hadn’t gotten in the ocean at that point!  ‘Twas quite neat.  Last night I slept really good.  Our room at the Legacy by the Sea is amazing!!!  Extra-specially being the dividing door between my room and my parents’ room.  Sweetness.  This morning I had 2 lil’ muffins and some Fruit Loops for breakfast.  The only annoying thing here is the algae.  It feels like you’re swimming through pumpkin guts (ew, right? lol), and it gets stuck everywhere on your body (especially gross up your butt..).  In a bit we’ll be heading to Pier Park for a bit of shopping.  Tomorrow I think we’re headed to St. Andrew’s!!! J  Should be spectacular as always.

: Man!  My feet/legs hurt!  We did a bunch of walking today on the beach to Alvin’s and back and through Pier Park for a bit (we checked out Ron Jon’s).  I’m a bit burnt on my belly and have some funky tanline-burns, but otherwise I’m pretty good, along with Mom and Dad.  There’s a pizza in the oven right now…it’s starting to smell purdy good. :P  So tomorrow I’m going to wear my new one-piece swimsuit (cuz of my burns), and we’ll be at St. Andrew’s! J Fun fun fun! <---Hmmm..that's a weird word when it's repeated like that...Lol random.
(P.S. A yet again random thing--When we were walking on the beach this evening, I saw a guy that kinda looked like Adam Young! *sigh* Fantasies in my head....

Thursday, July 15, 2010
6:40 pm:  Another great day in PCB...I slept really good again last night.  In the morning we saw a bunch of dolphins from our room.  For breakfast I had 3 mini muffins.  Yumz!  Today we went to St. Andrew's, and we got to see the big oil boom/equipment that's out there all ready for when the oil comes.  As always, there were tons of beautiful, friendly fish.  Oh!  Also, me and Dad saw a stingray!!!  It was the first time I ever saw a stingray in the wild.  So sweet!  Later on I was lucky enough to see a dolphin jump WAY up in the air; it's whole body was out of the sea!!!  It was amazing!  Dolphins are just so graceful and gorgeous!!!  I hope we'll be able to rent at least a kayak when we go to Shell Island on Saturday, so we can possibly swim right by them. ^_^  At one point today, I was looking out at the rocks by the Jetty and out popped a raccoon!  It was quite hilarious; I didn't expect to see a raccoon in Florida!  People were intrigued and feeding him.  I was freaked out while snorkeling at one point cuz I saw a HUGE fish that I thought was a shark!  That really set my heart pumping!!!   But it turned out that there were a bunch of other big fish, but I really never knew for sure if it was a shark or not...  After a day in St. Andrew's, we shopped at Alvin's, and I got a "BP Beach Polluter" tee, a PCB tee, and a sweatshirt for both myself and Brittany.  Currently I am sitting on the balcony and listening to some Owl City..."Strawberry Avalanche" while wearing my strawberry dress! LOL.  And I've got onion rings from Burger King for tonight.  Delish! :P


Friday, July 16, 2010

3:00 pm:  So far today we hung out by the ocean; the algae has disappeared a bit, but there has been people starting to see tar balls; I actually found a few myself.  Some of them are squishy, but most are just the harmless , hard balls.  Also, today I found a fully-intact sand dollar, but it broke in the shell bag. L Sadness.  The waves have been really wild today, and Dad gave me a ride on the tube on a huge one, and I ended up flipping off and being pulled down toward the bottom!!  It scared me a great deal; I couldn’t get up and out!  Tomorrow I believe we are going to rent a double kayak and head to Shell Island.  Should be quite spectacular! J Hope we see lots of dolphins...  Tonight we’re heading to Pier Park for all the festivities: beach ball drop, sand sculpting, fireworks, etc..
9:18 pm:  Some sadness...we went to Pier Park for all the festivities, and it started pouring on us so none of the events took place! L It was especially sad for the beach ball drop because we actually saw the big, huge storage area that had all the beach balls, and they were really cool-looking!!  O well, I guess...some interesting news: since I’ve never had a sno-cone, I had a peanut butter one at Pier Park!  It was really weirdly good at first, but towards the end of it it got a tad sickening..so still recovering from that ish. lol :P.


Saturday, July17, 2010

3:30 pm: Well, today was.....interesting.  We went to Shell Island and rented a kayak.  So, me and Dad paddled it out around the rocks to the Gulf side of the island, and the waves got huge!  I could feel it in my stomach when we’d go up and down.  Especially scary was when we were riding the waves to shore because the whole kayak almost flipped!!!! L I was screaming like crazy.  Quite an adrenaline rush again.  Wobblyness.  After that we walked along the shore and found lots of big shells! J But fairly soon afterward there was a huge “damper” in our day..it started pouring like crazy and wouldn’t let up!  There was no shelter on the island so we were stuck sitting in the rocks with our almost-broken beach umbrella over top of us.  After a huge amount of time shivering and surviving, we were evacuated from the island, and then the lightning almost hit our metal boat and everything was soaked, dirty, and freezing!  Florida: the sunshine and hot place..hmmm...  So no dolphins or anything.  Just wet.


Sunday, July 18, 2010

6:00 pm ish?: Today was a nice, relaxing day.  We hung out around the ocean for a while, then spent the rest of the day by the pool.  Tonight I think we’re going to take pics, go to Funland arcade, and such.  O ya!  I’m going to try and figure out what “PH” is on the elevator.  There are 12 floors and then “PH.”  Dad and I went up the stairs past 12th floor and ended up on the roof, but we never found “PH.”  So yup.
10:20 pm: We went to Funland and played some games..whack-a-gator, whack-a-mouse, and Wheel of Fortune.  Quite fun.  We also explored the Emerald Beach Resort afterward!  It was so huge and maze-like.  We went up and down the escalators, throught the walk-way, and tried out the bathrooms even!  The stall I went in had a sink and everything in it!  Really fancy.  When we got back to Legacy by the Sea, Dad and I finally uncovered the mystery of “PH”...we went all the way up past 12th floor to “penthouses.”  Intriguesting...lol J


Monday, July 19, 2010

4:30 pm: Today was a very fun day, and I think I got a really awesome tan since I was out on Shell Island from 10:30-3:00!  Amazingly, it didn’t rain (and hallelujah!!). J We got a whole bunch of huge shells, saw a few big crabs, and even got to see dolphins!! J They didn’t come too close at all though, but we could tell that they were there in the distance by the Island Time and other dolphin tour boats.  While I was snorkeling at Shell Island though something nipped me on my leg, and I screamed a bit..ended up just being those cute lil’ “foot-fish” that hang around your feet.  On the way back from Shell Island, we stopped at Wendy’s, and I got a vanilla Frosty!  It was so good and cooly refreshing cuz I was really hot.  It tasted like Culver’s custard, especially when it melted down a tad.  Tomorrow begins the sadness...our last day at PCB...maybe for the rest of my life L but I hope not.  I’m just very glad we got a chance to see gorgeous PCB before the oil hits.  It’s not going to be the same for the next 50 years probably..I’ll almost be dead by then! L....lol.    ....ish.


Tuesday, July 20, 2010

6:15 pm: *sigh* The final day. L It’s always a very sad realization that your vacation in paradise isn’t the real world…we have to come back to the real world of dreary Wisconsin.  I think we should at least paint our houses in pastel colors like they do here; it would brighten things up a bit.  We hung out by the ocean and pool today, and tonight we’re headed for a walk to Ron Jon’s at Pier Park again, and then maybe we will eat at the Barefoot Beach Club! J I think I’ll be having a quesadilla. Yummerz.  I wish I could stay here forever.  I love it here.  Just spending your whole life walking barefoot on the sand with the ocean surf lapping in and out from under your feet, peering out for dolphins, snorkeling with the fishes, watching all the crazy people on the strip…sweetness.



Wednesday, July 21, 2010

10:21 am: The day of sadness has arrived…and way too soon. L Last night was nice though.  We ate at the Barefoot Beach Club, and the food was amazing; I had a quesadilla, and Mom and Dad had fish & chips with strawberry daiquiris (free with coupon).  I ate way too much though because the quesadilla was ginormous, and I practically ate the whole thing!  After that I ate the last Klondike bar out on the street-view balcony, then we went back to the ocean for the very last time…maybe for me it was the last time ever! LL I sure hope not; I want to live there someday with a cute and bright, light-blue house with a porch swing on the top level overlooking the ocean… ^_^ I could work at Gulf World with the dolphins or be part of the Island Time dolphin cruise staff.  Take walks every morning, barefoot along the beach with my ipod cruning Owl City/Adam Young tunes.  Yup…fantasies, but now reality sinks in.  Last night reality sank in for me standing by the ocean, watching the waves go over and away from my feet.  Feeling the beauty, majesty, and power of the ocean, it makes you realize how small, weak, and insignificant you are in this huge world compared to the ocean.  And leaving PCB is leaving paradise, no fear, and comfort behind; it’s the launch back home into fear (college, careers, questions, insecurities/fears).  It’s a turning point that I don’t want to turn in my life.  I’d rather just stay in PCB forever.  Yup.  Well, somehow I still slept really good again last night, regardless of all that “stuff” in my head.  O ya!  Also last night I retrieved a bag of sand from the beach so I can always cherish it (the euphoria of PCB) forever.  We left this morning at 6:00, and I actually slept in the car until about 9:00!  It felt quite nice.  Then we stopped at McDonald’s in Prattville, and I got a sausage muffin and a mocha.  The mocha really hit the spot, but I’m very sad that it’s gone already! L I crave more…MORE I tell you!! LOL.  I can’t wait to wear all my PCB apparel..especially my “BP Beach Polluter” shirt!  So cool.  Did I ever mention that tar balls had been washing up, hard ones and a couple soft, gushy ones?  I brought back a few hard ones as souvenirs, and we got to experience the oil spill crews walking along the beach picking up any, mostly/especially the soft ones.  We saw the big oil boom out by the St. Andrew’s/Shell Island area as well.  We are currently (11:00 am) approaching Birmingham ish area…it’s getting busy.  Talk to y’all later.  I should come home with a southern accent…LOL 
“cellphaun”=cell phone. “pin”=pen  haha
“Go to church or the devil will get you!” ßa billboard in Alabama on the way home (especially funny with my “mocha high” going on..LOL)
9:53 pm: We stopped at 8:00 pm at Baymont Inn in Tuscola, Illinois.  I swam in the pool and hot tub; it felt great to get some exercise/movement.  I hate sitting for long hours in the car.  It makes me sick. L


Thursday, July 22, 2010

7:35 am: We are on our way home! J Breakfast was really good this morning; they actually had donuts for once!!  I’d been desiring them the whole trip, but they never had them.  I had both a glazed and a powdered one.  Figures they’d be there on the last day… I think we should be getting home by 1:00 pm today.  I’m actually quite ready for it now that we’ve been on the road for so long now.
10:00 am: Stopped at Willow Creek Rest Area.  Thought the sign on the way out was funny: “Get it on!” with a pic of a motorcycle helmet.  Yeeeah!! Let’s get it on! LOL J
10:56 am: “Wisconsin Welcomes You!” LOL










 

Friday, November 5, 2010

Welcome!

Hello,

Welcome to my very first blog post!  So amazing, right?? lol  So...I decided to start this blog to kind of talk about my day and such, but I don't know if it will go well or not.  See, I'm more of a "paper journal" writer...old school, right? lol  But ya...I may post some of my most epic, past "paper journal' entries at some point, in case you are interested in that.  I'll probably for sure post my Panama City Beach vacation journal on here, so that may interest you if you like Florida, oceans, and tropical stuff like that, all told through my unique but whimsical ways...yuuuuppp....

So, how about I tell you about myself!  My name is Jenna (my middle name is Devin), and I am currently 19 years old.  I am 5`2", have naturally blonde hair, and hazel eyes.  Here are some nice stats about myself...and check my bio about myself to learn more about me, if you desire.

Some words to describe me....shy, quiet, weird-ish, love nature (hiking, swimming, animals), kinda a big kid (Disney movies, coloring, Christmas!!, etc...), music and singing are very important to me (especially Owl City!!!!), etc.......

Yupperz.  Ya, last night I watched "The Lion King," a sweet movie, I tell ya.  I'd be "lion" if I said I didn't like it. lol.

So...I will post more later.  Right now I am going to shower and then make some waffles!! yummm...I love food (especially desserts and pizza and...and....WAFFLES!! lol  I'm crazy, if you haven't noticed already...ha!  I find that fact ironic cuz most people don't know the real me.  They just think I'm this quiet, shy, smart, normal kid that never talks, but really I am this crazy talkative person.  Oooo! She lives a double-life! lol)

Laterz,

Jenna Devin

P.S. You must read Adam Young (Owl City)'s blog entries!! He is an amazing guy, a terrific musician, and an exquisite writer as well!! :)  Here's the link: http://owlcityblog.com/