However hot it is here in Florida, I’m still happy to live here all year around. Now that school is out, there is SO MUCH for us to do all within an easy driving distance. Yesterday, my daughter and I went to the beach for the morning. We got in the car and within 15 minutes were were comfortably ensconced on Honeymoon Island, surrounded by white sand and starling blue water.

We have season passes to Busch Gardens over in Tampa, because it’s too close to not have season passes. We also like to go a few times a year to SeaWorld over in Orlando. It only takes an hour or so to get there and they have such reasonable day pass and season pass prices for Florida residents. You can even get passes that let you into all of the Busch parks.

In fact, right now they have one of the best amusement park deals you can find in all of Florida. You buy a ticket for one park and get into another for free. For example, buy a ticket to SeaWorld and get a free ticket to Aquatica or Busch Gardens. I know you are probably looking at your budget this summer the same way I am looking at mine – getting the biggest bang for your buck. That’s why this kind of deal is just right for this summer.

I went in May to Sea World with some of the biology students at the high school. It was before Manta had officially opened and I was disappointed on the way over, because I was upset I would be missing out on riding such an exciting new attraction. I was thrilled when we got there and found out the Manta was on a “soft open”, which means that they were running the ride off and on all through the day. We happened to wander over when the line was shorter than usual and we got to ride. It was flat out incredible.

I learned the hard way about being very careful with what I put on my pets to deter fleas and ticks. Although I never skipped a month, I did buy some off brand medications that may or may not have been up to par. Despite keeping a schedule on heartworm medication, my older Greyhound did end up with heartworms. Now, as old as she was and as mild as her symptoms were, there was no need to worry with painful or expensive treatments. She was diagnosed and the vet told me she would die of old age before she died of heartworm related complications.

When I buy Frontline and other pet medications now, I make sure I am getting them from a reputable dealer who is not apt to substitute out of date products or products made in dosages that are meant for countries other than the United States.

I went to Sea World as a chaperone with some of the kids from my high school. It was mostly Biology and Marine Science students and this particular trip had an overload of people volunteer to chaperone initially. I’m not sure what happened, but about a week ago they ended up with too few chaperones. I was not even going to ask to go, but I’m thrilled it worked out. I’m not sure I will ever have another opportunity to go to Sea World for free. ?

Anyway, I’m sure you are much more interested to hear about Manta. It is amazing. I am a roller coaster fan and have never really played on anything quite like this. Besides that jolting second loop, the ride is smooth, freeing, and made me laugh with pure glee the entire time. I rode Manta with a couple of other teachers, one of which was dead set against going when we got to the park that morning. I think she just experienced so much enthusiasm throughout the course of the morning that she got all caught up and in the end she was the most excited person in our group.

I know Sea World is not known primarily for the thrill rides, but I think they made a brilliant move when they brought this one on board. It’s worth the entire price of admission. Well, that and those super cute puffins.

Amazingly, one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world is just about an hour from my house – Kissimmee. My daughter and I make the Disney parks a part of our time together as often as I can manage. It’s not the time or the distance that keep us from going more often. It’s the cost. The theme parks can get expensive.

Right now there is an exciting contest going on that means anyone can enjoy Kissimmee without having to shell out the cash. When you enter the Kissimmee Freedom Sweepstakes, you could win one of three weekend getaways (3 days/2 nights) for two people or one of two weeklong vacations for four people. Those vacations include airfare, car rental, theme park tickets, golf vouchers, and dining certificates. No matter if you live right here in Florida or across the nation, this is a worry-free prize package.

Go ahead and enter. You can do so by using your mobile device, by visiting the Kissimmee Freedom website, or by collecting game cards when you visit a participating Kissimmee destination.

So, Youssef Megahed was acquitted by a federal jury today. This, despite the other student he was riding in the car with when they were stopped and arrested on suspicion of illegally transporting explosives and possession of an explosives device in their car near a military base in South Carolina pleaded guilty earlier.

I ask you, if an American were to be thrown to the mercy of the courts in Megahed‘s home county of Egypt, would they EVER have been given a trial that would have resulted in being acquitted simply because in the end they could not prove he KNEW about the pipe bombs. You know, the pipe bombs that were found in the trunk of the car owned by his brother. And this, even though his “buddy” admitted he was guilty of aiding terrorists.

It is indeed difficult to prove what was or was not inside someone’s head. It’s just as easy to lie.

Now the guy wants to go back to USF and finish his degree. Let’s see how long it takes for him to get caught up in another shady situation.

While a vacation in Kissimmee very well may mean fun trips to family theme parks, some world class golfing, and dining in restaurants helmed by famous chefs like Emeril. However, you have to round out the pricey side of your vacation with the plethora of fun, free things Kissimmee has to offer.

Yes, I said free.

You don’t always have to have a pocketful of money to have a memorable time in Florida. You can meander along the brick-lined streets of Old Town and discover shops, vintage car shows, and amusement park rides – not to mention the free concerts. There are parks and other venues for viewing Florida’s exciting wildlife. Hanging out at Downtown Disney is free and for us that always means spending some time at the outdoor section of the Legoland Store.

One of my favorite low-cost options for fun here in Florida is going to see Spring Training games. Both the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves train in Osceola County.

Whether you’re headed to Kissimmee to take advantage of al the free or nearly-free attractions, or if you’ve been budgeting all year so you can spend freely in the theme parks and dinner theaters, there is always something to do. And, right now you can enter the Kissimmee Freedom Sweepstakes.

Since the best things in life are free (in my opinion) Kissimmee is giving away three (3) weekend getaways (3 days/2 nights) for two (2); and two (2) weeklong vacations for four (4). Those getaways include airfare and a rental car. Drawings will be held on or around 4/15/09 and 5/21/09. Can you think of a better way to threat yoru family to some amazing fun in these unsure economic times? I can’t.

On the other hand, forever green and flowery Florida becomes even more green and flowery beginning in late February and early March. Trees all over the place have pink and blue and purple blossoms. The oak trees and the maples are putting out astounding amounts of pollen, and new baby leaves. It is, in a word, breath-taking. The overall beauty of Florida increases a hundred-fold in the spring.

As I said, I’m conflicted. I’m miserable, and in awe. I’m achy and tired and bleary-eyes, but my mood is elevated by all of the color and light and fresh outdoor smells. And, I keep reminding myself that before I moved to Florida I suffered through two allergy seasons a year – spring and fall. I was born and raised in the Washington, DC suburbs. Four seasons are nice, but with those additional seasons come additional allergy seasons. I miss autumn, but being able to breath effortlessly throughout the autumn is a more than fair tradeoff.

Ah, dolphins. My sister has always had an affinity for them. She moved to Florida about four years before I did and one of the first things she did was locate a handful of dolphin rehabilitation centers where she could donate funds and be involved in supporting research, like programs that allow sick and disabled children to swim with dolphins as a form of physical therapy.

Once I moved to Florida and was able to see dolphins all round me near the Gulf beaches, I was won over as well. I started looking around at how many programs there are here in Florida dedicated to dolphins. They range from rescue and observational study to more interactive programs like the one at Sea World.

Because my daughter is so young and patience is not one of her more finely tuned personality traits just yet, I prefer a setting like Sea World where we’re guaranteed an interactive experience filled with a chance to learn everything our brains can retain about the dolphins. Plus, there is no way that by looking at dolphins in the wild I would have ever been able to see them playing with bubble rings. You have GOT to take a look at the dolphin bubbles video that Sea World has on their dolphin blog that shows their dolphins playing under water with bubble rings. If you cannot imagine what I am talking about, imagine a time when you have watched someone blow a smoke ring and apply that to air bubbles. It’s almost unbelievable – but, of course, you can see it yourself and seeing is indeed believing.

This year has been very different. We’ve had hard freeze warnings over and over. Most mornings in the past three weeks when I have left for work/school at about 6:30 a.m., it’s uncomfortably cold. I have had to chip ice off of my windshields all too often this year. And the truth is, we just don’t keep ice scrapers in our glove boxes down here! Along the same lines, I have a woefully inappropriate wardrobe for this long stretch of cold. Thank goodness I found a pair of Birkenstock clogs in my closet. My poor feet were getting quite fed up with my insistence on wearing sandals every day.

We had the Superbowl here this past weekend and I felt a little bad for all of the people who made plans to be in town to see the game. I imagine many were expecting a little fun in the fun. Instead, it would have been quite acceptable if they had worn their northern coats and scarves. Don’t even think about the beaches, either. The air coming in from the water makes the temperature feel all the chillier.

And so yes, I am talking about the weather. And as mundane as that might seem to you, this extended period of very cold weather is big news here in Florida.

However, that was a few years back. I’m past my partying days and more concerned with finding fun family activities to do with my daughter this weekend. I have had it in my head all week to go over to Apollo Beach tomorrow. Another cold snap hit town and that means another good time to go over to the Manatee Viewing Center.

I mentioned my plan to one of my friends last night and she asked to come along. The more, the merrier. I mentioned the plans to another friend this afternoon and she reminded me that the traffic in Tampa is horrific right now. This weekend is just going to be insane with the additional people in town for the game and the parties. An awful lot of out-of-towers are clogging up the roads in rental cars. It’s not pretty.

Unfortunately, the quickest route to Apollo Beach is across the causeway and through Tampa. Apollo Beach is just a little south of Tampa. And while it is just across the Bay from me as the “crow flies”, I’m no bird and need to use a bridge. Someone suggested heading south, taking the Skyway and coming back up the other side of the Bay. Yikes, I hate taking the Skyway – it sways!

So, right now I am in flux. I need to call the friend going with us and see if she has any input. The thing is, she rarely does.

It pains me to think of missing this opportunity. The next time I have my daughter for a weekend is two weeks away and I cannot know now if it will be chilly enough to attract the manatees.

*sigh*