Anna Maria Island Trip

We drove out to Anna Maria Island one day while we were still in the hotel. We just wanted to get away and enjoy the beach (that is a big reason we moved to Florida after all).

Driving across the Sunshine Bridge

Check out all of that water

The top of the bridge

The sign for Anna Maria Island...you know it's cool...it has a dolphin AND a manatee on the sign!

A natural bench to watch the tides (I tried it out but it was wet)

A very cool brown pelican

This brown pelican let you walk right up to it. This wasn't zoomed in

Trying out the water...it was a little nippy

You can see the sunshine bridge in the distance

The base of the Sunshine Bridge...heading home

A sail boat that just went under the bridge (maybe it was the one in the earlier pictures)

Our First Home in Tampa

This is where we spent our first three weeks in Tampa...the lovely Sheraton. It wasn't too bad. I just wish we had been able to get into our place quicker.

This is a view of the atrium from right outside our room.

Looking down into the atrium.

More atrium...and elevators.

And even more atrium...

This is a shot of our bedroom. We had a separate living area too but I don't have a picture of that.

Sorry It's Been So Long

We FINALLY closed on the house! We actually closed on Jan 21 so we've been in the house for over a week. I took pictures of the house the night we closed but can't find the cord to upload the pictures. We've (and by we I really mean L.A.) made some pretty good progress of unpacking. There's still a good bit to go but it's getting there. Since I can't update pictures of the house I decided to post a couple of Tampa's Finest for your viewing pleasure...I just couldn't pass them up.
This was a ridiculously jacked up truck parked at Best Buy

This was a ridiculously jacked up car (with Lamborghini doors) parked at a car wash.

Hope these hold you over...I'll try to get house pics posted soon.

Our First Week in Tampa

We have been in Tampa for a week now....we're still in a hotel We were hoping to close on Friday...last Friday. We didn't but we were told it could possibly be Monday but definitely by Tuesday. It's now Tuesday...still not closed. Maybe Thursday but probably Friday. I'm getting very tired of the song and dance and wish I could just get a good date that will stick.

Thankfully our hotel is a nice hotel. It could use some remodelling...updating but it's clean, quiet and safe (other than the "Yankee's Fantasy Camp" group getting rowdy last night). Our room is a little suite with a living area, bar area and separate bed/bathroom that can be closed off. This works well when we're gone because we can shut the babies in the back and their not staring out of the door all day. The hotel is one of those that has the huge atrium in the center and there are big windows that flank the door (and the door itself is is glass). We can't complain too much. We did have a cold front today...Highs only in the 60s...BRRR.

I've been to work for a day and a half. It went really well. The co-workers seem to be very nice and get along well. The work seems pretty interesting...always something new. I like that kind of challenge. I think the hardest thing for me is going to be not having my cell phone. We can't even bring them in the building. In fact there are lock boxes outside the building because if you leave them in the car in the summer they will cook. AND it looks like I'll be heading back to DC in March for a week long class. Yea!

So everyone send us some good vibrations that we'll be able to close sooner than later and that we'll be settled soon...we're still taking reservations. :-)

Day 3: Travel to Tampa

Day 3 was much better than Day 2. One thing...we didn't loose anymore fish (of course there are only 4 left). But even better...the sellers came to there senses and accepted our offer. And most importantly we made it safely to Tampa. We aren't going to be able to close on Friday but we have settled into a nice hotel. We are staying at a Sheraton that has a separate living area so there is a little room to spread out. The babies are very excited to be stable (for a few days anyway). The plan is now to close on Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed that there are no more hiccups.

Day 2: Travels to Tampa (part 2)

Today has not been a good day. The one bright side (and by far the most important thing) is that we made it to Savannah safely. We are in a clean, nice hotel and can take a hot shower and recuperate. The bad news is...we had a complete meltdown of our aquarium and lost all but two fish and our house fell through. We aren't sure what happened to the fish other than we got to the hotel and they were all dead.

The house appraised for less than the selling price. We came back and offered them the appraisal amount and we would cover the closing costs. They didn't accept. So we're back on the house market...wish us luck.

This isn't how I had hoped to spend my night in Savannah. I guess we'll have to come back and do it right.

Here's to a better day tomorrow...

Day 2: Travels to Tampa (part 1)

I took a shower and must admit I feel a lot better. I took some necessary precautions. I put the floor towel in the shower to stand on and the hand towels lining the bathroom floor to step on when I got out. I was very careful not to touch anything unnecessarily especially things that look like they might require a tetanus shot.

I did take some pictures of the place to give you an idea. They don't do it justice but you get the picture.

A shot of the luxurious sleeping quarters (notice the window above the door) The sink and toilet

The shower...can you see the towel on the floor

A shot of the lovely ceiling...classy