Adventures in Florida - Closing out the trip

[luckycanuck]

Last year when I was out with my fellow Australians to observe the American elections, we went out on the Saturday before Halloween and in the process I met MCat who was dressed up as Lady Gaga.  We spoke for a little while and became Facebook friends.

For the past few days, I stayed with MCat and her cats (who reluctantly got used to me.)

I suppose in theory it's an odd thing to do for both of us.  She opened her home to a guy from overseas (and had to reassure skeptical friends that she would be ok) and it was a long way for me to go, though given that I was in America anyway, Orlando isn't all that hard to get to.

We had gotten to know each other pretty well though, in fact better than most people I interact with on a daily basis.  She knew about my frailties and quirks and accepted them all.  For both of us it just felt right.

So when my bags were delayed (again) coming in from Washington, I didn't mind much even though it meant waiting around the airport a bit because my bags came in on the next flight right at the same time as MCat finished her class and came by to pick me up.

On Thursday little aside from resting was done.  I've been fighting a cold since last week (probably punishment for lack of sleep in New York) and medicated myself to a point where I felt much more human.  (Though I think I passed some of my symptoms on to MCat.)

On Friday she hauled me across the state to her native Tampa (which is, I was assured, much better than Orlando) and we went to Sand Key so that I could swim in another body of water, this time the extraordinarily warm Gulf of Mexico and do pushups on the shore.  An onlooker asked if we were visiting on our honeymoon, and we said no, but for some reason I was inspired to spin a bit of a tale.  I told the guy I was a rugby player when he asked what I did.  Now technically that's true.  I am a rugby player.  I never said I played rugby for a living, I just let him conclude that.  He said he was going to look out for me when he watched ESPN.  I told him I played for the Sydney Convicts, and I'm pretty sure he forgot the name of the team by the time he left.

People in the south are really very friendly.

On Saturday we went to the other coast and visited Kennedy Space Centre, which was expensive, but worth it.  A space shuttle was on the platform in preparation for launch and we got a pretty good view.  We also met with an active space shuttle astronaut and, of course, I did pushups with her.  I'm not a full on science nerd, but I do have some tendencies in that area and the opportunity to get that close to space was too good to pass up.  The whole production was quite impressive and was aimed at promoting the idea of space travel amongst people who might lobby their Senators and Congressmen to increase NASA's funding.  I know there are a lot of demands on taxpayer funds and the US Government is going deeper and deeper in debt everyda, and I couldn't actually explain in simple terms what NASA is doing with all those expensive missions, but it was hard to come away from the place without wanting to send a man to Mars.

This morning MCat took me to the airport and saw me off.  (I made it through security in time to catch most of Easter Sunday Mass.)  Now is an odd part of the holiday.  I am currently in LAX on an 11 hour stopover (luckily I have a guest pass to the Qantas Club which was accepted which is good because as much as I like adventure, I think I've had enough of it for now and I would rather have some quiet time.)

The problem with quiet time is that sometimes it gives me time to stew, and stewing at the moment would likely be on the subject of feeling alone now that I am leaving all my American friends behind.

But you know, this has been a pretty good trip and I have had some very good friends to share it with.  From starting my holiday visiting JAQ in San Francisco to visiting my family, to getting in touch with some old friends in Ottawa and Washington, to getting in touch with newer friends in New York, to meeting blog friends in Baltimore, to ending my trip with MCat, I have been fairly well surrounded by people who know me and care what happens to me.

There were a few lonely and teary moments on the flight in to LA, but they are behind me now.

I am, indeed, a Luckycanuck.

Comments

[selfavowedgeek.livejournal.com]

re: "People in the south are really very friendly."

Glad you had a good experience down South, big guy! You were only four hours away from my neck of the woods.

If you're ever visiting again and pass through Georgia, send me a message.

[luckycanuck.livejournal.com]

I'm on a real "I love America" tear right now.

And yes, people in the south were almost invariable polite and accomodating, even though I've heard people say that Florida isn't really southern.

[yurusumaji.livejournal.com]

Aww. It's over, but a new adventure will begin when you're ready. It sounds like you had so much fun. I bet you can't wait to relax and start getting over your cold.

[luckycanuck.livejournal.com]

There really is a come down from the high. I'm kind of all over the map right now. The day after I get back I'll be at work and I'll have to occupy myself with that. (ugh)

I will need to find something new to look forward to and soon.

[displacedtexan.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a most excellent trip! You’ve seen more of the US than most Americans, and the opportunity to see a shuttle ready for launch is very cool.

[luckycanuck.livejournal.com]

And there is still plenty to see, especially now that the Australian dollar is so high. It really was a great trip.

Tumblr Text Post Options?

[(Anonymous)]

Bypassing country block?How do I make a page on Facebook for a Language?HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?What's a Good YouTube name?
Jailbreaking IPod touch forums? (http://srrwheel.com/webboard/index.php?action=profile;u=37719) dieta przy refluksie żołądka How can I use the Kanvus a5 tablet?"Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Mobile" installed, now cant adjust brightness with Fn keys?Must click programs in Taskbar before I can CONTINUE using them/ switch back to them.?what is difference between adsense for content, adsense for feed & adsense for domian ?How to convert epub files to text?When you pre order something on iTunes does it download right away?Does this sagittarius just want sex? refluks u dzieci Dieta refluksowa (http://refluks24.pl/dieta-refluksowa/) refluks jak leczyć source code mini c compiler?Something similar to Loudtwitter!!?What is this tumblr theme?Something funny to say about birthdays on a youtube video?[/url] [url=http://homoenhandicap.cocamsterdam.nl/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=818&p=691623#p691623]objawy choroby refluksowej[/url]
FARM TOWN PROBLEMS!!!!?How do you ENCRYPT a password? from hotmail, facebook?Sweex 2.0 Speaker Set (Purephonic) - problem? [url=http://refluks24.pl]Refluks[/url] power director 9 keeps freezing?I have SRS Premium sound. Is it something to be hyped about?Is Dreamweaver and Fireworks 3.0 any good?