10 March 2000 - In the beginning, there was an idea. A marvelous, wonderful idea. (Having Ken along on this trip is really affecting my creativity!) I had the idea that instead of spending another boring spring break loafing around at home, we should spend it with the Dalys in Sarasota. Ken agreed, I bought the tickets online, and we waited for this day to come. Finally, it is here! What a day for adventures. We were going to take a bus from Madison to Mitchell Field in Milwaukee and we were lucky enough to get two of the lasts seats available. The ride was long, but I read The Hobbit and listened to some music. When we got to the airport, we found our flight to Detroit had been delayed a half-hour. We put away our stuff and had a look around the shops. We spent a lot of time in a bookstore. Our flight was delayed again, so we got some dinner. We checked in at the desk, then sat down and played some cards. Finally, our flight arrived, and we were allowed to board. We didn't take off until 5:45 (supposed to go at 4:15). Most of the flight, I sad worrying that we wouldn't make our 7:45 connection. Finally we landed, got off the plane and RAN! We had to go to a whole different concourse. They held our flight until we got there, so, out of breath, we got our seats. The flight to Tampa, we read, tried to sleep, listened to music. We finally made it to Florida, and met Mike and Sue Daly at the game. Oh, 'tis wonderful to have finally made it! We got to their car, then drove to Sarasota. When we got there, we watched a bit of the Badger bball game (we won!) then went to bed. Nice long day!
11 March - You'd think we'd sleep in good and long, but we ended up waking up early. Ken and I walked south along the beach to the Point of Rocks, then cut up along the wall into this very ritzy neighborhood. We took the road up along, stopping in little shops on the way. Finally, we made it back and ate lunch. Sue took us grocery shopping. When we got back, Ken and I went swimming in the ocean, then laid out in the nice warm sun. The water was a little chilly, but it was almost 80° and sunny. After sitting out, we came up and got some sourdough and grapes. Then Ken and I decided to run to these little shops by the drawbridge. We looked into parasailing ($50 - ouch). I bought a $139 {yeah, right...} watch for $13.90! Sweet! Ken got an ear cuff. We came back and watched the Badgers lose in the Big Ten tournament. Mike and Sue had guests come. In fact, they used to the owners of our house in Rapids (Tabers). It was nice to talk to them - they knew so much and shared a lot of stuff that went on in the neighborhood before we came. They only stayed for a drink. Mike keeps pressing fish on me (you know what I mean)... yuck. All four of us went out to have a real Floridian seafood dinner at Phillipe Creek. I took Mike's recommendation, but the bullet and ordered a blackened grouper sandwich. I'm not a real big fish fan, but hey, it's an adventure! It turned out to be pretty good! Despite our protests, Mike paid for us. Man, we owe them BIG! We came back, then Ken and I fished dessert - angel food cake with fresh strawberries and ice cream. Brilliant! We watched a little TV before heading off to bed. Did a little reading. I think Ken put it best when she said that we have done more today than we ever would have done at home - we would be happy with all that we did today. I quite agree... I'm just waiting to see what tomorrow brings us for adventures! :)
12 March - The day started off a good deal chilly and windier than yesterday. Ken and I decided to take a walk up along the beach and look into the shops in the village. They were very kitschy, but some were nice. We both bought ourselves toe rings. :) We walked around until noon, when most of the shops opened up. We found a little grocery store and bought croissants, cheese, and water for lunch. We ate by the road. We did a little more looking around, then headed back along the road. There aren't too many college kids here for spring break, but there are some. We got back and slept or read or worked on this puzzle Sue had. We ate dinner down by the pool, where we grilled hamburgers (a meatless one for me) and had salad. It was all very wholesome and happy. We finished off the angel food cake for dessert. I read and then finished The Hobbit, then started in on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone {when I began reading the series for the first time!}.
13 March - Ken and I slept in a bit, then we went out and played in the sand. Actually, we made a giant sleeping dragon. It was awesome! It took us about three hours. We got a lot of compliments. We spam in the pool, then came up and ate lunch. Then Sue, Ken and I went to the Mote Aquarium and saw all the fish. Ken and I went to the mall to look for sandals for her. Couldn't find any, but we stopped at Old Navy and Walgreens. We came back, got dressed up and took the Dalys out to eat at Gastronomia's, our treat. The food was excellent and it was just a wonderful time. We even got dessert. :) Then we came back. We're both pretty tired from all our adventures today, so we went to bed extra early.
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| Ken, Smaug, Cara |
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| Sue, Mike, Cara & Kendra |
15 March - Our last day in paradise. :) We got up bright and early to go parasailing, but alas, it was too windy and they ended up cancelling all trips for the day. Instead, Ken and I drove to Myakka State Park to see gators. We took a short nature walk, then went by the lake. It was exceptionally busy and the only open boat tours were two hours away. We decided not to wait, so we jumped back in the car, snapped a couple pictures of random gators, then took a drive. We stopped at a bookstore to see if I could buy more Harry Potter books, then took a trip down Tamiami Drive. We stopped at Barnes and Noble and got frappucinos. We drove back and ate lunch and worked on the puzzle. It's hard! Mike, Sue, Ken and I went to downtown Sarasota to eat dinner at Two Senoritas. It was good - my tacos were incredibly spicy! It rained for the first time while we were down here. We stopped in the village for ice cream at Big Olaf's. Man, I'm stuffed! When we got back, I called home and puzzled some more. Then we decided to go to sleep. Have to be up at 5:00 am. Ugh!
16 March - Got up nice and early. Unfortunately, I was pretty awake. The drive to Tampa was quiet, and I listened to some music. Our flight out was on time (Hallelujah), so we bid adieu to the Dalys, thanking them yet again. Ken and I both listed to music, read and dozed on the way back. I got a special "vegetarian" breakfast that was no different from everyone else's, but I got more stuff. :) We didn't have too much time in Detroit, then a short flight and we were back in Milwaukee. Dad met us at the airport and drove us home. What a nice guy! {I wish we would have taken him out to lunch like he wanted instead of begging him to take us straight home. This is one of those inconsiderate things I did as an immature young adult that I mentally kick myself for these days.}
{The day we made the sand dragon, Smaug, we applied sunscreen, but the frequent movement caused patches of skin around our bikinis to be exposed, causing us both to get strips of very bad sunburn. It was still stinging when we were on our way home!}
18 March - Side note. Mom, Cassie and I drove to Minneapolis to go to the Mall (got tons of clothes) and see The Scarlet Pimpernel. The musical was hilarious and we even got to go back stage to see the lead, Douglas Sills, in a robe in his dressing room. Oh, sweet! It was such a great day!
{transcribed 2/6/2020}
