Vacation
Mostly for memories sake I guess. That's what makes it not a silly waste of money. But most good memories perhaps have to be warped in order to be good. Thus really remembering it well isn't necessarily a good thing. So in reality how good was it?

Decent. But somewhat because of a fake nostalgia from having gone to Florida 30 years previous.

On drive down stopped at two places. Got an interesting musical instrument. A finger piano.
Stayed night in Savannah. Blah.
Then got to clearwater. Clearwater had a lot of shells on the beach. J and I enjoyed sea shell hunting Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning I went for a run on the beach barefoot. More calf stretch than usual left my calves toasted and walking like an old man for days.

Wednesday went to the Dali musuem. The best art was an exhibit at the end by high schoolers. Of Dali the best thing was a pictures of him with his ridiculous handlebar mustache looking surprised. Dali was a part of the surrealist group that propped/fluffed each other up and basically talked a load of incomprehensible bullshit. Other people who wanted to sound like they were in the know went along with it. Basically an emperor's new clothes thing. It happens the worst in painting. It's the most anti-egalitarian, meritless type of art. Dali was at least far better tha Warhol. At least Dali could paint a bit.

Then to the big cat rescue. This was J's thing. Women seem to like big cats. I was fascinated by the bintarang (not a cat).

Then to Sanibel island Wednesday night. Thursday morning went sea shell "hunting". Sanibel has the most of just about anyplace in the US. There were too many really. Finding a few neat shells is fun. Going somewhere where you could literally take a shovel and multiple trashbags is just too much.

Then Thursday around noonish, onwards, across the middle of Florida, through the everglades. I'm afraid without stopping as I wanted to get to Coral Castle in time. Coral Castle was a disappointment. Way overhyped. Very dishonest. Ed did nothing that was really that special. It was depressing. More so the city it was located in. The best thing was the little lively lizards. Also my calves were so so sore.

Then down to Key West. Just barely found a hotel room Thursday night. Wandered about the main touristy street Friday and also went out on a glass bottom boat to see the coral reef. J got really sunburned on her arms in less than 2 hours of sun. Also saw Hemingway's house. And a few other places. Ate a couple of meals while listening to live music. Listened to a good 80's cover band Friday night while drinking a bunch of margaritas.

Drank every night and made love about once a day for the whole trip.

Left to come home Saturday morning. 16 hours from home a rock cracked the windshield and we watched the crack slowly grow all the way home. At home Paddington was nowhere to be found. J was sure she was gone forever and bawled and bawled and put up signs, etc. And then she came home. So all's well.

In the future just want to go to one single place and instead of trying to frantically see everything, just relax. But this was OK. I listened to a Sonic Youth remake of a Carpenter song occasionally and would sing it to J when she got stressed about a few things (finding a room in Key West, the cracked windshiled...)