Home Again
Wow. I'm home. It's... weird. Sad. Not that I don't love home, don't love my family, didn't miss any of it, but I have that same heavy, sad feeling I had when I finished my first program back in 2000. I love Florida and everything being there encompasses, and I miss that so much. I have so very much to write about, and I hope I can remember it all. I just got through my last week, so here's the Trip Home:
Saturday
Animal Kingdom Lodge has the most beautiful pool ever. We decided to spend the morning laying out and swimming. Kate got a wee bit toasty. Ha ha. The first thing my dad asked me when he saw me on Tuesday was where was my tan. I told him I worked seven days a week and only went out at night, that's where it was. Well, on my last day at Disney, I found my tan. With a little added pinkness. Ha ha. Ah well. It was a wonderful and relaxing morning.
I had to take Jess and Dad to the airport, which I did. Then coming home, signs kind of just stop directing you to Disney World, so I went by my exit, turned around, and ended up getting on 417 going north instead of south. I had to drive about five miles before I found an exit, and I wasn't entirely sure that was the wrong direction, but I turned around anyway. I was getting a little panicky, since I had to get back to meet Mom for dinner at EPCOT, so I was tense and looking for any sign telling me that I was headed for Disney World. I was going 72 mph on a 65 road, but apparently (even though I was being passed), I was keeping pace with a police man about a quarter mile up the road. Well, he slowed way down, and I saw him do so, so I slowed a little bit, but passed him. BIG MISTAKE. There go the lights. Yeah, five years and I'd never been so much as pulled over. On my very last day in Florida, I get my first ticket. GRRRRRR. It pisses me off, because he told me he was on his way to an accident, and the roads were wet and he had to pull me over, but if he'd been on his way to an accident, there's no way he'd have taken the time to pull me over. Turns out he gave me a ticket for Violation of Right of Way, which I did NOT violate (I stayed in my lane the whole time... what right of way was I violating??), I was just speeding (even though it was ONLY 7 miles over the speed limit). I think I was an easy target, being from out of state so that I can't go to traffic school, can't take him to court... just have to pay the damn thing. Eighty freaking dollars. I don't HAVE eighty dollars. So that was the suck-ass-iest way to end my summer.
On to happier topics after that vent. I went back to the hotel, met Mom, and we made it to EPCOT in time for our dinner in Mexico. It was very yummy. Our fabulous timing struck again, and we got out right in time for Tapestry of Dreams, the updated Tapestry of Nations parade from 2000. After the parade, we went to see Shockwave, this awesome barching band-ish group that plays at the American Pavillion. We also got to see the World Trade Center flag, which is hanging in the American Experience. That was very cool. Very sad, but very cool.
Sunday
Left Animal Kingdom Lodge and headed for Daytona. I'd never been to Daytona. I'd been to Clearwater, Venice, and Cocoa Beaches, so Daytona was the last of the major central Florida beaches to go to. We got to drive on the beach and finally found parking. We laid out a bit, but then played in the water for the majority of the time. We met a very talkative eight-year-old, which was fun. After the beach, we drove to Atlanta. We arrived around 9:30 and pretty much fell into bed.
Monday
Mom and I met Carolyn for lunch at Logans, and then Carolyn took us on a tour of Atlanta. We went to Centennial Park, which was the park they made for the 96 Olympics. That was cool. And hot. We then went back to the CNN center for a tour, which was very interesting. Great tour. I highly recommend it if anyone is going to be in Atlanta. <.g> After the tour, Carolyn took us on a driving tour of Atlanta, and then back to Logan's to get her car. We encountered some Authentic Atlanta Traffic, and then Mom and I took our Chick-Fil-A to Stone Mountain for the laser show. Very enjoyable.
Tuesday
We left Atlanta and headed to Chattanooga, TN. In Chattanooga, we went to Lookout Mountain, the site of one of the turning point battles in the Civil War. We took the Incline Railroad a mile up the side of the mountain, which was scary. At the top, you're at a 72% incline. Wich means you can see right down the side of the mountain from your seat on the train. Eeeek! We took a walk and heard a program on a civil war artist, which was extremely interesting. Then we headed back down the mountain and to Ruby Falls, which is a cave inside Lookout Mountain. We took an elevator down into the side of the mountain and walked through a tunnel, past cool rock formations and whatnot, to the Ruby Falls room, which is a room the waterfall carved out over thousands of years. Beautiful. It was an hour-long tour to and from the falls, and was well worth the $11. Lol. After Ruby Falls, we got back in the car and headed to Bowling Green, KY. We hit some awful traffic (due to an overturned semi... bad stuff), but made it to Bowling Green in time for dinner at a cute little steak house by our hotel. I had the yummiest baked potato I'd had in years. Mmm-mmm.
Wednesday
Final Day. We left the hotel and ate at the Waffle House. I'd never eaten at a Waffle House. It was tasty. The rest of the day was spent on the road. We hit some more traffic, lost a piece of my car (oops... hoping it wasn't too important), but made it home more or less in one piece.
And now I'm left spotting Florida license plates and missing the heat and sun and friends and everything I had to drive away from four days ago. =( I'm going back. That's for sure. My mom told my dad on their way down to get me that she suspected I was going to move to Florida, and I think I might, at least for a few years. I'm not sure I want to raise a family there, because I want my children to still see all the magic in Disney that I did. I know that's the sappiest reason ever, but I still think it's important. If I get that internship in January, I'm definitely going. And if I don't, maybe I'll look for jobs in Orlando anyway.
I miss Florida!!