Don’t be fooled! Not all of our trips go off perfectly.

Yesterday, in Sarasota, Florida it rained like cats and dogs all day long until about 7:00pm.

Then it was like the sky opened and gave me this-

I was due for a beach club day, but resorted to, well the resort I was at, my room, surfing and reading waiting for Brian to finish meetings.

I decided to touch base with some of my favorite friends I never have a chance to visit with and gave them a call.

I love Robyn, we met at BYU and was quickly reunited as friends when she lived in nearby Manchester. She now lives in Texas and I love her to pieces. I have attached her great blog that I love to read and follow. She is a mover and shaker getting things done in two languages, both english and spanish.

We just caught right up with where we left off.

I spoke to my college freshman roommate, Nicole, from Sarasota, Florida who I love to death, now living in Virginia raising soon to be 6 kids. We haven’t talked for three years so that was fantastic.

And I put a call out to Amy, who I also adore who lives in Colorado, who I lived with Junior year of college, we went to high school together and she lined me up with Brian. We never ended up speaking. They were going to move out to NJ, so for a few summers I dreamt I might live by and travel with one of my friends close by. No such luck! Still crossing our fingers.

Next, We managed to find some Japanese food in the Historic District, but I learned quickly that Floridans don’t know how to cook Japanese food, it was the worst ever.

I have only had two negative Japanese food experiences in my life and this was one of them.

Top it off with dinner at a spanish restaurant, Sangria Tapas Bar something right out of Madrid, that I thought was going to be fantastic and everyone loved except Brian and I, who had trouble getting out of our comfort zone and always opt for Asian, maybe it was late? Maybe I was tired? Many of the dishes were good- I just didn’t gel with it.

I think what drove me nuts is that you order Spanish Tapas individual “little platters” – each filled with a “special flavorful combination” to pass around the table and share.

I am not keen on just taste testing my meal and trying food off of plates everyone is eating off.

That brings out the OCD in me.

After we rolled right into bed to wake up to sunshine only to return to New England to pouring rain because of the tropical storm that moved up the coast.

Now I have returned, I am trying to find something to smile about…it certainly is not the weather!