Spatter

Boo!

bydamanti

I thought I'd re-post my ghoulish leaf photo to wish everyone a Happy Halloween.  I  confessI get a chuckle each time I see it and since many readers weren't around last year, I figured what the heck.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Better Than Nothing

I'm tucked in for the night.  I made it as far as Lake City, Florida...about an hour from the state line.  It was an easy drive and  I was happy to see that water levels were much improved from what I saw last spring.

I made good enough time to take a little detour in Gainesville to check out Paynes Prairie Preserve.  I found it, then decided I really didn't have time to make the entry fee worthwhile.  I'm definitely going to return someday to explore it...and too...some other nearby parks.  While driving to and from I couldn't help but think of Klaus...perhaps out there this very afternoon taking pictures.  What I did do before leaving Gainesville was go to Butterfly Rainforest on the University of Florida campus.  It's not unlike my area's Butterfly World and was just as enjoyable. 

Lake City was just another half hour or so up the highway.  Once there I pulled in to the hotel of my choice and after checking to make sure it had free wi-fi and MSNBC, I went through with my plan to ask for a discount off of the regular room rate.  The good news: I succeeded in getting one.  The bad news: I didn't get the $10 I asked for...I only managed to get $3.  Better than nothing, I suppose.  When the clerk asked me if I was traveling south as a snowbird coming back into Florida, I told myself that this wasn't the time of year to bargain. 

On to Kennesaw tomorrow.

Traveling On

I head north this morning. I've decided to make the trip to Atlanta in two days...partly to make it easier on my body, but primarily because I couldn't figure out a way to do a one day trip without getting in the middle of rush hour traffic in Atlanta.  So, I just resigned myself to spending money on a hotel room tonight and breezing in no later than 3 p.m. tomorrow. 

I'm actually thinking that I'm going to try to bargain some with the hotel clerk.  I don't have high hopes for success, but what have I got to lose!  Who knows, maybe they'd rather give me a discount vs let a room sit vacant overnight.  But then again, chains probably don't allow lowly desk clerks to make those kinds of decisions.  We'll see...

On a political note, I'm going a bit crazy watching daily tracking polls and seeing the race tighten up. Especially concerning to me is Pennsylvania.  I suppose I shouldn't look, but I can't help it...I'm so ready for a new direction and I won't be breathing easy until it's over and hopefully, won.  It's probably good that I'm going to be on the road with iPod going vs news. 



Post Note
Why it is that a convicted felon can remain in Congress?  I'm just wondering...

Wordless Wednesday - Sea Grape Tree Branch

bydamanti

More Wordless Wednesday participants found here

Photo is available for purchase here

Done!

My vote has been cast. I got to the poll an hour before it opened and found about a hundred people in front of me.  Still, my wait was only an hour and a half total...the hour before they opened, then about a half hour once in operation.  Florida's using optical scanners now.  It went from punch cards and chads, to electronic push buttons, to this.   I fed my completed ballot into the scanner and I can only hope there are no problems with them reading it properly.  Supposedly now there's a paper trail, but I still felt a bit uneasy feeding it in. 

The worst part of my wait was that I was in front of a woman with a Palin bag and behind a man who was voting for McCain because...get this...some guy promised him four rounds of golf if he voted for McCain.  He went on to say this:  "The problem with McCain is his age and the problem with Obama is he's going to get assassinated".  I couldn't believe my ears and almost sank to my knees.  Amazing...disturbing.  That's him on the left.

The guy on the right had a different problem.  He complained that the election should be based on the popular vote...like the old days.  I broke it to him that we have always elected our presidents based on the electoral college.  This seemed to be news to him. Makes you wonder...

By the time I left the line had grown to what I'm guessing is about three hundred people.  I'm glad I got there when I did and that voting's done!

 

Hello From Panera's

Ta-da! I'm in Florida.  I left at 7 a.m. and arrived at my door at 8 p.m.   That's 13 hours vs the usual 14.   I ate on the run and only stopped when I needed gas.  Gas was a bargain.  I filled up three times:  twice at $2.18 a gallon  (SC and GA) and once at $2.55 (FL).  The only slow down was when I got into road work between Savannah and Jacksonville...I can't figure out why but it's been going on for decades.     

This morning I unloaded the car and came on over to my local Panera's for a hot spot and a bite  to eat.  Next stop: going to vote. 

Utah Rocks #2

 

When having lunch between hikes in Zion National Park I looked up to see the moon.    I quickly took a shot, then moved a bit and took another...

bydamanti



 

Macro Monday - Feather

bydamanti

hosted by Lisa

Post Note
I'm on the road...driving straight through to Ft. Lauderdale...so I doubt I'll want to boot up the computer after 14 hours of travel!  I'll catch up tomorrow. 

To Florida...To Vote

I'm heading to Florida tomorrow...going to vote.  Judy sent in her absentee ballot for $1.17 but I couldn't do it.  I needed to go and vote in real time...I know it's silly, but I just got it in my gut that this is what I should do...and want to do, actually...even with the prospect of standing on line for hours.  I sort of liken it to being at a concert.  You can listen to a CD in the comfort of your home, or you can go be part of it and feel it too.  It's history in the making, after all.  At least I hope so!

Of course, a nice perk of doing this will be that I'll have a chance to visit with friends in Atlanta on the way back to Floyd.  I'll be taking a load of stuff down too...which will make the load of the final departure lighter. 

Camera Critters - Blue Eyed Dog

bydamanti

More Camera Critters can be found here