Xanax For Sale

My trip to Orlando this past weekend was an especially fun one. My gorgeous, itsy-bitsy niece is now a bonafide 1-year old. She's walking running and babbling already. Included in her standard gifts of mostly clothes and toys were some baby tattoos and a string bikini from moi. They grow so fast - *sniff*. Brian also accompanied me (voluntarily!) and met the whole family. He got a very enthusiastic ten thumbs-up from them, especially little Jordin who thought he played very well with others. I even got to show him some old stomping grounds, where I went to college, and where I drank after classes to survive grad school. We also got to see Louis before he graduated and escaped from Orlando for good. There's something to be said about the feeling of "home" when you're completely ensconced in that familiar comfort. No pretenses, no expectations, but just the feeling of walking into a space where you can just be yourself. It was great to be back home, surrounded the most important people in my life.

I just landed in Snorelando. Bleh.

Brian and I had a fantastic time in Miami, and now this tanned and well-fed girl is suffering from vacation withdrawal.

Photos and tales in captions can be seen here.

Molly and I rolled into Orlando around sunset. Everything was gilded in the soft salmon that only Florida sunsets can color, and when I opened the driver's side window before the tollbooth on the turnpike, the car quickly filled with the sweet scent of orange blossoms. Molly even did extremely well during the ride down, sleeping and playing quietly most of the time. Most importantly, she only threw up after we arrived at my sister's (as opposed to in the backseat like last time).

It's damn hard to think about anything but the cold these past few days. I've huddled myself up in the house and tried to eat and sleep away the cold (mmm... chili), but the 20 degree morning dog walks are bitter and chilly.

But I'm getting my fill of anticipation waiting for the trip I just booked to South Beach. Yes, it's in May, but it gives me ample time to soak up the last bits of winter that I will absolutely miss in the dead heat of Atlanta's summer. It will also give me enough time to be less scary and white in a bikini (with apologies to the folks that see me at the indoor pool right now). Plus, it's been far too long since I've been to Miami (which, frankly, is the biggest and most diverse city in the South to me). Oh, and the food... central and south american... yum.

So we've booked the plane tickets and hotel, and are just waiting for the days on the calendar to pass. Did I mention I'll be Dave's tour guide on his first trip to SoBe (I think he was sold at the mention of a "topless beach")? Any other takers? Muahahaha!