Monday, October 26, 2009

One miserable, murky Monday

Because cloudy is the weather. Both out there, and in my brain. I leave for Ohio shortly, and even though I've known about this trip for a month or more, I just booked my hotel this morning. I can only hope I get the scenic overlook of Lake Erie the city boasts.


However, the weekend was bliss. We had clear sunny days, cool crisp evenings, and a lot of fun. Thursday we started the Florida Wildlife Watch after picking up Bob and Diane at the airport and heading to dinner overlooking (and overhanging) Tampa Bay. The restaurant lights the water, and since I'm sure plenty of people feed the fish off the patio, it attracts swarms. Huge catfish and a little manta ray.

Friday started off a little slow, because the Dammit had to go to the vet for scratching a hole in the side of his head. Like he needs another one of those. "It stops the scratching of its skin, or else it gets the cone again!" We now have a cone for regular use, and he's also on antibiotics and got a cortizone shot. Dammit the high-maintenance doggy, and the reason we can't have nice things, apparently.

Saturday we wandered about Busch Gardens, and since Lori and I hadn't been there since 2008, there were lots of new things to see and do. I don't do roller coasters, since if given the choice, I don't even do elevators, but Lori and Bob got to ride them all to their hearts content. And I got to do the Land Rover Safari, though the river segment was 'closed'. I have always taken this to mean 'non-existent but it sounds cool', since the ride has been closed every time we've gone. Still fun, since I could almost pet the zebras we were so close. Even got to grill out, big juicy burgers and fresh sweet corn. It was just like summer!

Yesterday we spent the whole day driving along and shelling at the beaches along the Gulf. Growing up swimming in Lake Michigan, I'm still in awe that I can set foot in the ocean in mid-October and not lose a toe to frostbite. We were late, so all the retirees had hit the beaches and snapped up the best picks already, but everyone still found a few gems. We also got to watch the little baby clams feed along the shore and then bury themselves in the sand as the waves came in. Oooh, nature. Sweet, delicious nature.

It was great to have friends visit, especially since it seems we won't be in the Sunshine State much longer (and that's a good thing, it really is). It was nice to take advantage of it from an outsider's viewpoint again, because of course, being a tourist is the best part of Florida, and we could actually enjoy it for a change.

6 comments:

carissajaded said...

Your weekend sounds like a blast! I have always wanted to go to Busch Gardens. and you are right in taking advantage of it while you're there. My New Years Resolution last year was to take advantage of what Dallas has to offer.. I have been here nearly 5 years and have never done any of the "touristy" things...

Elliott said...

I love Dallas, I did the whole tourist thing with friends a number of years ago. Traveling like I do for work I get to see a lot of places, but I don't always like seeing the once-in-a-lifetime things without Lori.

Thankfully, I'm sitting at the airport waiting for my flight to Cleveland. Nothing too special to see there, and Lori's going next week anyway.

amelia said...

Dogs are worth every penny we have to spend on them...

Elliott said...

Amelia - I can't tell him that, he'll start thinking he runs the household. Thank goodness he can't browse the web - no opposable thumbs.

manchester fat acceptance said...

i snicker each and every time i see the name 'dammit'!

we have 2 dogs. one of them is a very elderly yellow lab, who is a retired seeing-eye dog. very high maintenance!

Bev said...

Wow, your weekend kicked my weekend's ass all over the place! We had no amusment park trips, no warm ocean water, and no manta rays. Not even little ones. Hrmph!

Safe travels, Elliott!

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