Our trip begins with a new airline experience

So...admittedly I wasn't sure.

I was expecting a Skybus-type experience, or something like Southwest.

I have been very pleasantly surprised with our AirTran experience. I might actually be a new fan!

We did get to the airport early, something I am not used to doing...but I wanted to get on the direct flight. We checked in, asked about going standby, and BOOM we had seats on the direct flight! No standby required!

That was awesome, because next thing we knew, our other flight had been delayed.

We also got a beverage, free refill and pretzel snacks. I wasn't expecting that either.
Now - we brought only carry-on luggage, and didn't pay for reserving seats. That turned out just fine as well. They didn't even try to sell us anything on the plane!

A far cry from Ryan Air, who I flew in Europe - and is now installing credit card machines on the restrooms....jeepers.

Anyway, so our trip began very positively. Not to mention we got to fly with our longtime friends (Kelli, my hairdresser and her family) since they were going to Fort Lauderdale to leave on a cruise.

All in all a great flight (minus some turbulence over Savannah). Plane was clean, people were nice, I had an aisle seat. Great combination!!!! On to Florida we went!

Finally....FLORIDA!!!!

The long wait for some time off has finally ended!
Ian and Megan found out last Saturday we were going to Florida, but that was about all that they knew.
I was concerned I would not be well enough to fly, since I have been sick all week.
I did fine until we started our descent, at which time my ears decided to clog over and hurt...but it could have been much worse.

I sat next to a couple of people on the plane that were from Newark. What a small world! Turns out we knew some people in common so we had a lot to talk about on the 2 3/4 hour ride.

We were blessed with the direct flight and landed just after 7pm Saturday night.



View from our hotel room

Ian wanted to try out my new camera~

Turns out, everyone and their sister and brother stayed at the same hotel, or so it seemed!
Here was a very long wait for the elevator!
We finally took the stairs down 6 flights with our luggage...

Getting ready to explore Ft Lauderdale

Gotta gear up with some breakfast at the Embassy Suites

We had about 30 minutes left before checkout. I couldn't get these monkeys motivated!!!

We were able to meet up with my sister and her family at the hotel and hang out for the evening.
On Sunday, they headed for their vacation destination - a cruise to the islands, leaving from Miami.

We decided to follow Maria's lead and spend our day riding the water taxi around Ft. Lauderdale.
It was cloudy and not a great day for the beach, but a great day to enjoy the intercoastal and all of the views of mansions and slightly expensive yachts. We were able to get on and off the water taxi all day as we pleased, so we took in quite a bit of scenery!

The Water Taxi on the Intracoastal

The rain finally quit and we were able to head back outside. As you can see, the sand was already dry!
We had to wait for the water taxi, and for the right one to come along.
We felt a few more drops but thankfully, stayed dry at that point.
For $13 per person, the water taxi was a great deal!!




All they wanted was to go to the beach. I suggested they enjoy this patch of sand while waiting for the taxi!

I can only say, my toes are much happier in htis environment...

Ian finally got his yacht. And only had to use his good looks and charm to get it, instead of a cool $40 million.

Ahhhh finally home.
You didn't really think that my dissatisfaction with Ohio weather was unfounded, did you???

The meaning of MERGE!

Yes, that's right. Today we are going to experience a day in the life of my commute.

I am not sure where things went wrong. I mean, we all go through it. We turn 16, eager to get our license, shoved back down by our caring and over-protective parents, forced to go to driving school, forced to drive in one of those cars with brakes on both sides (do they still do that????) and generally motivated to get through the most boring class...driver's ed.

I, for one, was forced into it for what seemed like longer than most. My father was not about to let me get anyway near the paved paradise of American on anything but my 10 speed bike when I turned 16. We practiced. I went to driver's ed. I backed in and out of our driveway. I practiced maneuverability in the Heath High School parking lot (I still don't remember why we did it there) until my dad LITERALLY got carsick. I couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about, and I was getting anxious and irritated. I mean, come on! Just because the driving instructor had to use that little brake on their side multiple times didn't mean I wasn't ready! Just because I got C's on the driving practice (those were the only C's I got in my life, except for gym class!) didn't mean I couldn't handle the new privilege of driving!!

Well now, some years later, I am very grateful for all of that extra practice. All that time spent pouring over the books about the road signs and the "what to do in case of"...the actual rite of passage - driving through downtown Newark around the square without coming dangerously close to hurting someone...those were all important experiences that have led me to where I am today - an experienced, aware, defensive driver who has learned over the years that it really is a privilege and should be treated that way.

The unfortunate side of that is that I am keenly aware of those that are not cut of the same cloth. In reality, it seems the vast majority of commuters are only in it for themselves. They don't think about consequences until there is glass in shards across the road, lanes shut down for miles because of their mistake, mini-vans crushed with kid's carseats hanging out the back.

Lately I have noticed that the traffic has been lighter, which has been a blessing for me but I know it spells bad news when discussing economy and unemployment. However, I have found that the ones left on the road STILL have much to learn...

You see, that thing called MERGE is rather important. It involves understanding what the other person is thinking, which is not in the skillset of the general public. I will not go into gender classification at this point, since I see that the disease is now rampant amongst both the males and females.

Merge does NOT mean "hurry up and get on the highway before that car gets near". Nope, you should slow down and wait for an appropriate opening, even if that means stopping. They do it in big cities - they even use those little red and green lights to tell you if it's okay to enter! Oh, by the way, if you don't use a turn signal, now would be a good time to start. I can't read your mind!

By the same token, if I am in the regular lane and see someone trying to merge (and can reasonably get over) it does NOT mean "ooooo let's torture that soul and see if I can mess with them, trying to get on the highway! I am going to make them wait!" It also does NOT mean turn up the radio louder so you can't "see" what is going on, and it does NOT mean talk on the cell phone so you are just in general a hazard, swerving all over the road.

And, by the same token, if you are in the passing lane - PASS!!!!!! and get over! Do not cruise the passing lane and think "well, I am going fast enough. the guy behind me does not need to go faster!~" This is not healthy thinking. Just get over and deal with it.

The big irritation is on my drive home. Going from Easton Way to 270 North should not present major challenges, but it does. Why you would ever place 2 turn lanes at a traffic light that merge into one during rush hour is someone's idea of a sick joke. Do you really believe any of us ever got past kindergarten?? You mean we have to SHARE??? Seriously...people get in one lane or the other and figure that they own that part. I for one have a personal vendetta with people on the left side not putting their turn signal on. They just assume I know they want in. AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!

Here is another good one. Coming up 270 from the South, you see one of these:

What in the world? Whose fancy idea was that? Cars going 85-90 miles an hour in 2 lanes separated by a median are supposed to become one??? For real? Maybe if we could learn to do that, marriages would start staying together. Who knows. What I do know is even though I try to avoid that lane, I inevitably end up in it because the chicken farm truck is in the regular lane and the "I gotta have my smoke, coffee and talk with my g-friend on the phone" is in the next lane, so I am forced to do the passing.

I am sure at this point you are not sure whether to laugh or cry. I know I'm not sure. However, I have vented for the evening...now it's time for bed.

Next post will be the happiness surrounding Valentine's Day. I told you I would get around to it eventually. :)

Hmmmm....

Okay, so I have been a little out of touch lately.

Partly, it has been a wee bit of travel mixed with a sad fate for a business I used to know.

Partly, it has been Facebook (it's so much faster to give a quick status update! But not as fun as photo story telling!)

Partly, it has been business demands.

Partly, it has been Saturdays busy with gymnastics, band, and other activities like cleaning.

Partly, it has been the dregs of winter and a desperate need for spring!!!!

Either way...I have some posts to make up for, I realize. Stay tuned, this is on my to-do list! Since it has finally made it there, at least it WILL BE DONE!!!

See you soon!