We're heee-eere!

Greetings from Florida!!!

Thank you, we'll be here all week, be sure to tip your servers!

Things went without a hitch until we got to Cleveland and found out that our flight to Orlando was delayed by about 50 minutes. It was okay, we got a chance to stop in a Cleveland airport Max & Erma's for a cool beverage, where we encountered an amazingly surly waitress! Traffic out of the Orlando airport was just crazy, worse than we've ever seen, and I said that I couldn't believe that it could be due to the shuttle launch...that has to be fairly routine around here. I forgot how many tourists come through here, like the guy from England that we talked to while we watched. I also realize now that it's still a very big deal even to those who live around here.

So we were on I-95, about 10 minutes before the launch. The sky was a gorgeous blue, with a few clouds here and there. People started pulling off the highway, and that's when I realized what a big deal this is here, no matter if you're local or traveling from afar. Cars pulled off of the highway and parked, and it was almost like a fireworks display! (As I said to Ken afterwards, "That's the biggest firework I've ever seen!")

I got video of this, too, but I'll probably wait until we get back to put it up (maybe not, though, because I have successfully connected to a network here). I have to say that it was incredibly awesome. The launch was successful, thank goodness, and I had no idea how cool it would be to see it go up. WOW!

It was incredibly bright, much more so than these pictures convey. I can only wonder what it would look like at night! Although we weren't able to get to the beach in time to see it, we still got a great view from the highway (actually, we were closer than we would have been here at New Smyrna), and I'm so pleased that we got to see this launch!

It feels great to be back here! When we got in, it was in the low 90's, with a brisk breeze off the ocean. We're in one of our favorite units, right near the end and looking out at the ocean. After a trip to the grocery store, we went to PJ's, which is one of those funky restaurants with stuff hanging from the ceiling, etc. (The tube with fish swimming in it is especially cool.) I got my fix of crab legs, and I'm stuffed to the gills. HA! Get it? GILLS! Sometimes I slay me.

So the fridge is stocked, and I suspect that tomorrow, we'll be hanging out on the balcony and finishing our books (we started them yesterday--quick Dean Koontz reads!) and then heading down to the beach.

Things are looking good here at our timeshare, and I promise to take some pictures. We've got some new end tables and lamps, and they seem to be maintaining the place very well. We have some questions for them about trading weeks and stuff, and we have a week in Cancun that we can still use--we're thinking about doing that soon--so we should try to meet up with someone this week and talk about all that.

Okay, I need to end this. I woke up at 5:30 this morning (my alarm was set for 7:30) and wasn't able to go back to sleep. I think every single bird in North America congregated in our front yard this morning! I dozed on the plane, but I'm basically wiped at the moment!

Great to know that I can nab a network here--more soon!

Tags: Shuttle launch, New Smyrna Beach