The Adventures of Sam http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog SkyWriter Blog Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:39:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Adventure on Sanibel Island http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=42 http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=42#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:53:36 +0000 Joe http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=42

If you are looking for a summer getaway, but think the Caribbean may be too expensive. Let me share a place that my people escape to beat prices and the crowds. Sanibel Island is off the coast of Fort Myers and for us a quick plane trip places us at the Fort Myers Airport…a car rental for the 30 minute drive to Sanibel Island. First stop is Publix, a local grocery store chain popular in Florida and other points South…then onward to our destination. If you should forget something, Baileys is the local grocery store on the island that can supply all of your needs. But if you are on a budget…(no clue what that is in dog terms) stop at Publix first. Wait, budget…seems I heard mention rationing of Milk Bones…not a good thing.

Once there the beaches are some of the best in the world…you can kayak, hook up with a local charter boat and snorkel, or fish with some of the local guides. By the way, this is the home of Randy Wayne White…try saying that three times in a row after drinking a few beers! Sounds kind of like a strange bird call…Like a Loony Bird!! Randy was a fishing guide on Sanibel Island for a number of years before he became a famous author. He has written for Outside Magazine, but is best known for his character…Doc Ford. Read Randy’s Books…you will not be disappointed.

Great places abound to eat on both Islands…Captiva Island is connected by a short bridge to Sanibel…check out the Green Flash for fancy meals or if you want a fresh caught fish (seriously they have a dock…I am sure that was the cook’s assistant fishing from the dock)…or if you want  more simple food like  burgers and fries with a cold beer (they have a huge selection of beers)  go to Mucky Ducks. Be sure to bring bug repellent for the no see ums…you will find out what I mean if you do not understand this term. After dinner stroll a whole ten yards to the beach where the only thing between you and the sunset is the ocean. People like to see the many colors produced by these sunsets I am told…mostly I am napping until all the excitement dies down.

A nickname for Sanibel is Shell Island…easy to understand why once you begin walking the beaches. Almost hate to post this because I am afraid my favorite spot may become too popular. But if you do decide to come here look me up I am the good looking dog with goofy owners and a stupid cat for a buddy.

Hope to see you outdoors!

Sam

]]> http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=42 0 Boston 5K http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=27 http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=27#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 12:13:15 +0000 Joe http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=27 It is Friday! Not that I am really excited; since all days seem like Friday to me, except I do not go to office on Sat. or Sunday, However, my people are excited so I wag my tail for them as they do their TGIF Dance Shuffle! Hey, whatever keeps me in milk bones. Last post I said no way would I post the server guy’s photo, but he seemed a little put out and the milk bone box is running low and I thought we all could get an extra chuckle out of so…why not? The upside is great for everyone!

We have had so much rain that kayaking this weekend seems out…cycling on the road seems out…I don’t know what’s left…maybe in? The only bad thing is dealing with the stupid cat. This weather makes him more “freaky” acting than usual. That could be a good thing…it may bring about a change of address for you know who…stupid cat. Who am I kidding, the other day for no reason at all he decides to use server gal’s running shoe as a toilet! I sat back to watch the action, but instead of yelling they were worried if he had a bladder infection…maybe he needs to go to the vet. I tried to retch but was immediately escorted outside!

Oh well, such is a dog’s life! But compared to most…I have it pretty good. Enjoy the wet world this weekend…hopefully, Mister Sun will poke his head out and we can have an outdoor adventure!

See you outdoors!

Sam

]]> http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=27 0 Boston http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=22 http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=22#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 02:55:36 +0000 Joe http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=22 My people recently went to Boston to run a marathon and a 5K.  It’s not that I am not proud of my people, but it was only 26.2 miles! Of course that is amazing considering they run on two legs. Yours truly could have covered that distance in half of the time it took my server gal. She ran the marathon in 3:46…1:30 easy for me. My server guy…ran a 5K and is actually posing in a photograph with his finishers medal! Puulease!! I could have ran that backwards. I was glad to see them return…the stupid cat was starting to bond with me. It was not that I was beginning to like the cat but he was concerned about getting his treats, so I let him play with my baseball and played a couple games of tag. You know I swat him and then he runs I pretend to chase him. Ok so maybe we bonded a little…he is still a stupid cat!

In the photo is my server gal who ran the Boston Marathon for the second time! She is tough…I am not going to post the photo of the server guy. Too embarressed for him!

See you outdoors soon.

Sam

]]> http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=22 0 THANKSGIVING…MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR! http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=20 http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=20#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:20:22 +0000 Joe http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=20 Most people if asked would say Christmas is their favorite Holiday. Not Me! Oh sure I get Christmas gifts…doggie toys in a cute stocking. I know, I know… enough to make you gag, but I go along with the whole experience for my people (dog owners) who stand there watching me chew on the latest cutesy wutesy doggie toy and exclaim “look how much he is enjoying that toy.” I am only thinking if I  chew the stuffings out of that new “cute toy” then maybe I can get a real treat. Like maybe some of those country ham and biscuits! My favorite is the new ball trick… my people throw the new ball and then I bring it back while doing a few wind sprints to show my people how much more fit I am than they could ever be in their in life! I don’t care how many Boston Marathons they rack up!! After a few of these wind sprints I place the ball of out their reach and stare at my people until they get the message!!! GIVE ME A TREAT!!! 

Yep, give me Thanksgiving any day or every day for that matter! I am currently working out so I can hold more of that Turkey and dressing and yes some of that pie made from those orange goofy looking things they put on the front porch so all these kids can get treats…HEY, maybe they are onto something there. I like this idea…now I need to think of a costume for next year.

In the meantime, keep up the running. More room for the good stuff in one week and three days. I even got the fat guy (one of my people) to run so he could eat more this year. He is the goofy one pointing his finger at the camera…I am of course, the fit handsome one!! Maybe I will go as the fat, goofy guy next Halloween…just borrow the hat…and make a fat man suit!!!

See you outdoors,

-Sam

]]> http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=20 9 ADVENTURE AT THE DOCK! http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=17 http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=17#comments Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:13:21 +0000 Joe http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=17 Good Friday to all of you! Most of us meet at different locations before we pursue our adventures. You know the favorite trail you like to hike, the perfect bike route which has just enough hills to challenge the lungs of even the fittest rider, or the dock where you launch your kayak for a gut-wrenching five mile journey that really adds to your fitness level although it seems to drain the strength from your limbs. 

Yet, adventure does not always have to be a long journey, or a wind-sucking event that will etch itself onto your brain for later recall. It can be quick and simple as launching a kayak. For example, what do you get when an 80 lb. lab (yours truly) leaps 3 feet into a kayak when it is not braced for impact? It could be better stated 80 pounds x 3 feet traveling at mach one speed! The result was not pretty, but boy was it funny and yes it was an adventure!

See all of you outdoors somewhere this weekend!

Sam

]]> http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=17 2 WEEKEND! YES!! http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=16 http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=16#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:00:32 +0000 Joe http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=16

It is Friday…the weekend officially starts after 5 pm. Who am I kidding…it starts the minute I post this blog!!! Last weekend was great. Instead of the Dog Day’s of Summer (pun intended!) the weather was more like a fall day. Vivid blue skies adorned with a yellow Sun suspended in the sky casting a warm, bright glow over the entire lake. Lulled in a tranquil state by the occasional ski boat’s wakes as they gently rocked the boat. This was my goofy partner’s version! My version…nice weather to take a long nap in the warm sun until some clown speeds by with kids screaming on a inner tube! Boat feels like it is about to capsize from the 7 foot swells!

Have you guys been following the Olympics? Besides Michael Phelps, my favorite was the Women’s and Men’s Volleyball Teams! I loved how our ladies and guys kicked butt (and sand) and won the Gold! My only question is why do the Olympics not have a Frisbee toss and retrieve event?? You know who would be kicking major butt in that event!!

Enjoy the weekend and if you see me out say hello…except if you are one of those screaming idiots on the inner tubes!

-Sam

]]> http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=16 6 Kayaking http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=13 http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=13#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:01:35 +0000 Joe http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=13

Relative to many boats a kayak is small, unstable, and rather slow. In a lot of ways these attributes can make kayaks unsafe. To a larger degree than most boats the safety of the person on the boat is dependent on the skill and judgment of the paddler. Where some boats will keep their passengers alive despite the errors and faults of the passenger, a kayak does little to overcome the failings of the paddler. While it is possible to design boats that are inherently safer, and there are things that you can do to make a kayak as safe as possible, trying to make a kayak that you would call truly safe would result in a boat that is no longer truly a kayak.I found this description of a kayak on a website devoted to kayak techniques. I don’t know a lot about what this author is trying to say other than the same passage could have been written about a canoe, a dinghy… or hey take away the paddling part and you could be describing the Titanic!

What I do know is there are several techniques to paddling a kayak. Guess what…you should say what at this point…anyway, all of the techniques are correct! It is up to you to decide which form best fits your style. Me personally, I like it when I can get someone else to paddle and I can watch the scenery.

One term I have to pass on is from Kayak and Canoe:  Carp – A failed roll in which the boater manages to get his lips above water to take a hasty breath. Picture someone trying to stick their beak above water to take in what they think is their last breath…then look at a fish called a carp…no difference, except the carp can breathe underwater! I personally have witnessed this event… but that is another story.

Whatever your fitness level it is a blast to be on a body of water paddling for no reason at all soaking up some rays, wildlife watching; or paddling for exercise…or bumming a ride! Hope to see you all out there paddling except the kid who saw me this weekend and made the crack “Look Mommy he is doing the doggy paddle!”

See you outdoors.

Sam

 

 
]]> http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=13 2 Exercise http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=9 http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=9#comments Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:48:45 +0000 Joe http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=9

Hi! I hope most of you have enjoyed your week! Why I say most is because there is a certain cat who enjoys waking me up from my “power” naps. That cat is really not in the best of shape for a rumble with yours truly. Check out the photo of my physique as I leave a wake at the lake…in a no wake zone no less! We all know the saying if you don’t use it you will lose it. I live by that motto…although power naps are just as important.

 One quick lame comment about SkyWriter…plastic bottles are taking up more space in the landfill…it takes around 700 years for a bottle to decompose…no idea what that is in dog years, but its a lot! So if your company really takes green seriously…check out a cool water bottle (bpa free) or one made of aluminum or stainless to help combat this problem. Me I use the same dish no plastic…unless there is a cool fountain around with running water or hey a sprinkler really does the job.

All this talk of water has me heading out the door for the lake this weekend! Kayaking, swimming, catching up on some serious power naps!  Have the best weekend ever!

sam

]]> http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=9 0 Welcome to the Adventures of Sam http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=3 http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=3#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:13:00 +0000 Joe http://www.skymarkpro.com/blog/?p=3

Welcome Everyone! My name is Sam and I am the host for the SkyWriter Blog or to be better known as The Adventures of Sam. It should be the latter title because that is what I intend to write about! MY two partners think I am writing about promotional products, marketing or some lame tip on how to make your company more visible to the consumer. Nope! You may learn how to kayak, how to belay your buddy at your favorite crag, or maybe some cool camping spots…oh well, maybe a word or two occasionally about marketing…that is what keeps me in Milk Bones!

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