free trip to florida

So, I have had this free florida trip paid for for the last 5 years, never had the time to schedule it, and now I get a call that it’s about to expire, unless I pay an extension fee of 118.00, which I of course cannot (will not). But, I still want that vacation! I want to see those manatees!

So, the agent, who I got on with famously (now that I’m no longer channeling a mad dog) agreed to find ’some way’ to keep me in the grace period for a while longer, so I looked up florida, and found interesting & disturbing news:

Drug war moves cultivation inside

With VIDEO Self-sufficiency, pride, the economy and a perceived responsibility to stem international terrorism all are reasons why a growing number of people are cultivating their own marijuana, according to lobbyists who want to change pot laws.

and…
Roommate of man found dead at landfill charged in dumping of body

A man’s decomposing body was tossed into a Dumpster by his live-in lover who is now charged in the disposal of the human remains, sheriff’s officials said. (He didn’t kill him, just dumped him)

and more…

Nesting skimmers ignore effort to lure them south

Despite a full-scale decoy effort to attract a pair of nesting American black skimmers to undeveloped dunes in Ponce Inlet, the birds have chosen a busy oceanfront resort instead.

My vacation dream has crumbled, but I am not dismayed…it only serves to confirm that I am exactly where I want to be, and there’s no place like home….

As we emerge from this cool spring, I (most of us) have survived yet another winter, and I have less baggage, more confidence, a longer resume, tighter wits, and more fun than I had last year. Somehow I feel cleaner, and have had my vacation after all.