So, tonight is my last night of vacation here in Tampa.  However, I didn’t quite make it to the beach.  The weather turned suddenly cold (it’s in the 60s, y’all!), and I’m freezing!  So instead of the beach?  I went to a flea market.  Some consolation, huh? 

I’ve also eaten my weight in ham and Key Lime pie.  But mostly Key Lime pie.  There’s a local place (J. J. Gandy’s) that makes the best pie evah!  Thanks, Dave, for your continual effort to help me bulk up.  Even though it’s no longer winter.  But it does feel like it. 

Anyhoo, I’ve had a nice little visit, and tomorrow morning at 7:00am sharp, I’ll be on my way back home.  With the grandparents in tow.  Now, let me just say that both of my grandparents are sweet as pie (Key Lime, that is), and I love them dearly.  However, they are also deaf as door nails slightly hearing-impaired, which means they’ll be a lot of yelling and stuff going on in the car on the way home. 

Plus, what is normally an 8-hour drive back to Georgia will end up being a 10-hour drive because, well, I’m driving old folks, y’all.  Lots of bathroom breaks, stopping at the Cracker Barrel to eat, and stopping to get gas each time the needle goes a notch below a half a tank, because, you know, even though it’s 2007, there might be a 200-mile stretch between gas stations.  Wish me luck everyone.

So, now?  On to the birthdays!  I have three (yes three!) birthday wishes this Sunday, April 8, and one birthday reminder for Tuesday, April 10.  First, I must wish Phoo a very happy birthday!  Sorry that GR and I couldn’t be there to celebrate with you on Saturday night, but I, of course, was here while your dad was forcing me to eat pie, and GR was at home stressing over the new patio and what to do without me.  I hope that you had a great day, and here’s a little birthday picture of you and GR.  Nice hat, Phoo!

Also celebrating a birthday today is Phoo’s hairier and chubbier half-brother (tee-hee!), Sam.  Sam celebrated his 6th birthday with pancakes and sausage this morning.  And of course, he had his own special place at the table. 

And my grandfather, the “Dukester,” whom I will be driving home tomorrow, turned 92 years old today!  The Dukester is a veteran of WWII and Korea and has some of the most amazing stories about the wars and his life in general.  He’s in great shape for a person of 92 years, and up until a little over a year ago, he was making the drive between Florida and Georgia himself!  That’s a little scary for me and anyone else on the road, so that’s why I’ve taken over the long haul driving duties.  I’ll be doing a WoMen are Fantastic Friday story about him soon…

Finally, on Tuesday, April 10, the ASPCA (the oldest humane organization in the Western Hemisphere) will be celebrating their 141st birthday.  In commemoration of ASPCA Day and to show your love of animals, dress yourself and/or your pet in orange on Tuesday!  As usual, it’s for a great cause, y’all!

Happy birthday, everyone!