Life is good.

Today was a bubble of peace amidst all my frantic studying for comps.

I drove to Florida yesterday and checked into the hotel I picked online (there aren't many in the area), which proved to be an adorable B&B-style inn. S--- and I headed to my field sites before sunrise this morning.

This was a miscalculation as I forgot that the state park doesn't open until 8 am, but it gave us an hour to kill on St. George Island, hanging out on the beach and watching the sunrise. The biggest pod of dolphins I've ever seen in one place was swimming just offshore, taking advantage of a huge school of mullet. We watched them, and the sun, for nearly an hour before it was time to head back to the field site. It was worth getting up early.

Research today was at St. George Island State Park, and at Rish Park on Cape San Blas: The two sites I found and marked in May. It was fairly easy work (although they grow the mosquitos big down here -- yeech! And me without my quinine...) and we were done in time for a late lunch. S--- and I both appreciate good food and don't miss an opportunity to check out the local restaurants.

Then he was off to his conference, and I had an afternoon to kill in coastal Florida. Ah, life is hard sometimes!

So it's been a very good day. Tomorrow I have a long drive home, and then back to the grind.

Countdown: Comps begin in nine days.