Orlando Ho!

(Rob:) We've been having a blast here in Florida! Yesterday we went out to Sanibel Island, just off the Gulf Coast of Florida. It's known for its white sandy beaches and awesome sea shells, but yesterday it was just mostly rainy. We made the best of it, though. After our picnic in the car we went out into the water and rode the waves in the rain. When we heard thunder we would come back in to shore for a while.

Rob with Tessa Jean and Gramma braving the waves:

Susan with her "Mae West" lifevest already inflated (for maximum safety):

(So here's a question for anyone out there -- if you're swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and lightning hits the water in a storm a mile away, are you toast? How about 2 miles? A half a mile? Just wondering how worried we should have been.)

Soaked to the skin:

We did find some cool shells during a lull in the storm, and Sam had a blast catching these tiny little white fish in his little fisherman's net along the shoreline. After we all got a severe case of prune fingers, we packed up and finally dragged our soggy selves back to Gramma's house for pizza.
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Today we loaded the kids into the car without telling them where we were headed, only that it was a place with a "really cool pool." After about 2 hours on the road, Tessa Jean was looking at the map of Florida and said, "You know, if we stay on this highway it will go right to Orlando!" We said, "Well heck, let's just go there then!" This was an exciting destination not only because of Walt Disney World, but also because our friends Beth, Bill and Abbey are vacationing there this week. We had secretly booked two nights in the same hotel with them but kept it quiet to surprise the girls when we showed up today.

Here's Tessa Jean and Abbey excitedly catching each other up on their weeks thus far:

Susan and Beth:

Gramma Judy with the kids:

The girls both had caricatures done tonight at our hotel:

Tomorrow: we get up early and journey to the Magic Kingdom!

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• Daily Obscure Song Lyric:
"Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy grab a girl
Everywhere around the world"

(hint: It's Motown Week!)

--- Yesterday's answer: "I Don't Know How To Love Him" by Rice and Lloyd Webber (1973)

-- No-prize goes to Aunt Zanny!

• Daily Movie Quote:
"I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy, we fought ourselves. The enemy was in us. The war is over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days. As I'm sure Elias will be, fighting with Barnes for what Rhah called "possession of my soul." There are times since, I've felt like a child, born of those two fathers. But be that as it may, those of us who did make it have an obligation to build again. To teach to others what we know, and to try with what's left of our lives to find a goodness and a meaning to this life."

(hint: It's War Movie Week!)

-- Yesterday's answer: "Stagecoach" (1939)

Grampa Smith continues his no-prize championship run!

Comments

[Sean Hostetter]

When lightning hits open water, the current is able to travel through the water quite well. How far away the dangerous current travels is not known, but it's probably on the order of tens of yards. Have fun in Orlando!! Sean

[Grandma Delores]

Looks like the vacation is going great, I am really jealous, so I'm trying to think of some place fairly close we could go for a trip before August is over. Have you had a chance to notice that whenever Kerry and Edwards do a campaign stop the music playing in the background is most often Springsteen. Have some more fun!!!! Love Grandma Delores

[tom]

Looks like a great time down there -

Oddly enough I just heard a story on the radio about lightning - something about it being able to travel up to 10 miles through the air........

Have a blast at the kingdom and everywhere else.

I'll go with "Dancing in the Streets", but I have to dog it with the Mick Jagger/David Bowie version since I'm not up on my Motown.

Have fun,

Tom