I'm Baaack

Kay and I are back home after a mini-vacation in Florida. We traded the 100 degree heat of Texas for the 95 degree temperature and 50% humidity of Sanibel Island, but it was a nice change. We had the opportunity to visit with long-time friends and see some interesting things. Sanibel is the #2 shelling location in the world. (Number one is in Brazil, in case anyone is interested). The beach there wasn't like most beaches I've seen. There was sand, but most of it was the consistency of a gravel driveway because of all the shells.

We toured a nature preserve, and I learned a few things. I had no idea that there were three types of mangrove trees, named according to the color that leaches out of their leaves contributing to the hues of the water in the mangrove swamps. Nor had I ever realized that flamingos aren't naturally pink! They're white, and the pink color comes from the shrimp they eat. Remind me to slow down on my shrimp intake, since pink isn't a good color for me.

Anyway, leaving home always makes me appreciate what I have here. It's good to be back. It's nice to sleep in our own bed, drink our own coffee, read our own paper, watch our favorite TV programs, and in general slip into our life like putting on a comfortable pair of old shoes.

I promise to get back to more substantive blogging next week. Today, I need to transition a bit more. Have a great weekend.