....jump starting the economy...

OK.......... So here we are on "Miami Beach" at the beach........  Today we depart on the Freedom of the Seas......  As we close the door on our "South Beach" suite, we notice the "daily rate approval" for the "room" we have sooooooo enjoyed this past 20 hours.....   It must be the almost, but not quite, "priceless" view from the 12" by "24" window in the bathroom of the alley way that so vastly inflates the value of this room.....  Fortunately, we got the fantastic cruise line discount and aren't paying anywhere near the "going" rate that the business conventioneers and race car fans and beach fans are paying.....  So to all our friends, we beseach you to put in some overtime and welcome the upcoming tax increases so that we "retired seniors" can continue to enjoy the standard of living to which we have become accustomed...  Now, on the bright side, Jan and I are as excited as two love bugs in Florida in May, of course that is before the "SPLAT" on the windshield....  Breakfast with mimosa served "in bed".....  And, that was after a late-night bonfire on the beach with hot dogs, chips, beer and hostess cup cakes, all thanks to the good wishes of a "racing team" that competes today in the NASCAR race at Homestead....  We met a couple of the drivers and crew chiefs and a good many NASCAR fans......  If it weren't for the alluring sirene's call to the sea, we could have had some pit passes to the race....  Oh well, when it rains it just simply floods with goodness...  Well, my stomach is telling me it's about time for my first cruise "BLT"....... so I'm off to the SeaFarers Cafe....

We'll try to keep you posted as to our comings and goings....  Oh, by the way, did I fail to mention that it was 82 degrees yesterday with clear blue skies....  It's a little cool this AM at 72 but it's expected to "warm up" to the mid-80s by departure time........  So aloha as they say "in the islands"......

Jim/Jan