The beginning of 2008 finds me along the gulf coast of warm, sunny Florida.

I am enjoying my housesitting duties here and am taking advantage of the central location to explore a number of Florida's wonderful destinations.

Thanks to a handful of thoughtful neighbors, I have been receiving a personally guided tour of the surrounding areas. These kind souls have also provided a great deal of information about local and regional events.

As for the year ahead, I will reside in Tampa at least until June. After that, my future is uncertain. Work opportunities will undoubtedly steer my direction in the months to come.

MLK Day Parade -- Florida 7 - 8 - 9

Gasparilla Pirate Invasion -- Florida 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16

Day Trips -- Florida 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23

Shuttle Launch 122 -- Florida 24 - 25

Gasparilla Pirate Departure -- Florida 26 - 27 - 28

Day Trips -- Florida 29 - 30

Gasparilla Knight Parade -- Florida 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35

Florida State Fair -- Florida 36 - 37 - 38 - 39

Day Trips -- Florida 40

Gasparilla Art Festival -- Florida 41

Bike Week (Daytona) -- Florida 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 - 47 - 48 - 49 - 50 - 51

Sebring Auto Races -- Florida 52 - 53 - 54 - 55 - 56 - 57 - 58 - 59 - 60 - 61 - 62 - 63

Bark in the Park

Photo Trip 26 -- Florida - Georgia - North Carolina - Georgia

Day Trip - (St. Pete Beach, Don Cesar)

Local Activities - (Seminole Heights movie, art museum ground-breaking)

Day Trip - (art fair)

Day Trip - (Sarasota, Sanibel Island)

Local Activities - (concert, parties) Lowry Park Zoo

Obama Rally

Neighborhood Fire

St. Pete Wedding

Red Bull Flugtag

Clearwater Building Implosion

Rays Baseball Game