Welcome To Florida.........

Well the last few days have reminded me why it is that I do what I do. Work has been slow lately and there has been a lot of sitting around doing nothing and for the most part it has been in less than desirable places that are frigid and buried under many feet of snow. I finished up a very high profile move to Atlanta last Friday and everything went well but at last check there was no jobs coming up that were worth my while so I headed down to Tampa Florida for the weekend as I have an old high school friend near here but that's really just an excuse to come and hang out on the beach because he and I haven't really been close in years. On Saturday night I headed to downtown Tampa to have dinner and stroll around for awhile. Most of the bars were pretty touristy and I wasn't in the mood for a club throbbing in my skull. I did however find a great little sushi bar called Samurai Blue . I looked to be a pretty trendy place and was very busy, But I forgot how nice it is to eat sushi from a place that is actually right next to the ocean and fish about as fresh as you can get it. I also tried the swordfish which was probably close to being the best I have ever had. The staff is very friendly efficient and the price was not out of this world. I definitely recommend this place if your ever in Tampa. Sunday was pretty uneventful except for friendly pub in a small town about 30 miles south of Tampa, and then off for a couple of rounds of mini golf. The only thing of note on this journey was the distraction of the alligators in the water traps around the holes. Kind of unnerving if your not used to that sort of thing. Monday was spent for the most part trying to install Windows Vista but that is another story that I don't want to get into right now because I'm in my "happy place" at the moment and I'd like to keep it that way for now but that's why I don't have any pictures to post from my camera and only crappy ones from my phone but I will get the good ones up as soon as I can. Yesterday I was hanging out at a beach in the morning and decided to do something semi constructive and decided to swing into a local aquarium for a bit. I wasn't the biggest or the best but I hadn't been to one in such long time I thought it would be a fun diversion. I took a few short videos while trying to figure out my little camera. If you watch them make sure you turn down your sound because some of the audio is very loud and fuzzy. Today was spent mostly doing paper work this morning and then I headed to the beach to walk around looking for shells and enjoying the weather. It was a very beautiful today and quite relaxing and peaceful. I know it's been said before but sitting in front of the ocean for awhile really makes you feel small and unimportant but yet completely calm and content with feeling that way. Kind of an oxy moron I suppose but comforting. Tonight on my way back I stopped at another local sushi place (they are dotted all along the coast here) . I forgot the name but they had a pretty extensive menu besides sushi and everything was excellent but a little pricey. I got a call today and was offered work down here that actually pays good money but doesn't start until the beginning of next week so it looks like I will get a couple of more days to enjoy the scenery here. Darn it :)


Here's a quick shot of a stingray from the aquarium. I got a good look at the barb on it's tale. Just like a dagger.


This sea turtle was very friendly and had problem coming right up next to you to say hello.


I could stand and watch seahorses for hours. They really are strange creatures.


These are probably my favorite things in the whole aquarium.


The silly birds are obviously used to being fed by tourist as they were always right behind me when I turned around on the beach.