Tampa, Carl Jr. and Those Funny Trees.

Hello from Tampa. Actually, I'm in St. Petersburg, but I flew into Tampa earlier today.

And when I got off the plane, my hair stopped being frizzy. My skin felt less dry. Ah, humidity. You are a curse in July but a delight in January. I took off my coat and wore a t-shirt on the trip from the airport to the hotel.

I'm here for Mortar Board (more on that later), and after our first round of meetings, a big group of us met up in the lobby to catch up. I've known some of these folks for almost seven or eight years, so we have lots to say when we get together from around the country.

Two of the people I've known the longest - Vishal and Sarra.

Vishal watches Cougar Town (yes!) so when I kept referencing my wine class as Carl Jr., he understood. It was a big glass of red wine, and I am in Florida, so the description a la Cougar Town fit perfectly!

Also, this is the second time in a week I ordered red wine. I don't know what has gotten into me. I liked it both times.

Before we called it a night, Sarra and I checked the temperature outside. Yes, still nice. Then we took pictures in front of our hotel with the palm trees.

When I was almost three, my mother and grandmother took me to San Diego to visit my great-grandmother. My mother distinctly remembers my questions about those "funny trees." Even as a little Kansas girl I knew enough to be suspicious of the palm trees. Now I'm less concerned about why they look so weird and more thankful that they represent an escape from winter.