I’m in Clearwater, Florida. Where geckos roam the sand and egrets chill on the beach. And where the 2011 MBT Deep Thinkers Retreat has taken over the two-story house at 302 Cedar.
I’ll write more about the retreat itself at a later date. Right now, we’re talking strictly Florida fascination. Here goes:
-
Swimming in February. It hit me this afternoon, as I backstroked across the pool, that if I were in Iowa, I could maybe try “swimming” through an ocean of white in snowpants and boots. But dude, which would you choose? Suntan or frost bite? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
-
Breakfast on a deck overlooking the ocean. Enough said.
-
Palm trees. Saw a squirrel running up a palm tree today and thought, “Gosh, Gilbert” – uh, because he just looked like a Gilbert – “you’ve got it so much nicer than your Iowa cousins.”
-
Speaking of squirrels, they’re so skinny here. Back in Iowa, the brave squirrels you do see in winter are chubby with insulation. ‘Cause, you know, they don’t like frost bite anymore than I do.
-
Grilling! Okay, so you can grill outside in winter in Iowa. But it’s not the same with your teeth chattering.
-
Humidity. It’s the perfect excuse for putting little-to-no (mostly no) effort into my hair. (Yes, yes, we do have that one in Iowa, too. But for some reason, when I’m not on vacation, I feel the need to battle the frizz. Here? Bring it on!)
Right, so I could keep going on, but you get the idea, yeah? Long story short: if Iowa has any hope of seeing me again, it’s going to have to send a bounty hunter my way.
Oh, wait, forgot one!
-
Whoa, YouTube videos are even funnier here!! Yes, yes, we did just sit out on the deck for more than an hour watching HappySlip. Thank you, LJ, for the introduction. Here’s the first HappySlip video I ever saw and sooo not the last. (Uh, as evidenced by the 20-some we watched after…)
Comments 4
I’m all for it. Move down! Just make it a little closer to me, okay? 🙂
I keep hoping you’ll randomly show up here, Jenness!! You could still drive over!! We’re here for one more day…:)
How did watching HappySlip help with plotting your WIP and ensuring your story spine was straight, M-Tagg? I’m just wondering?
I, too, enjoyed the frizz/curl hairdo in Clearwater. I embraced it all week long! Back in CO, the land of no humidity, and my hair has relaxed . . . slumped.
Haha, Beth…um…I’m pretty sure HappySlip equipped me with super stellar characterization skills. Seriously…