Finally found an Internet Cafe in Florida (without strange gambling people!)

Here is Rob in the mouth of a hippo at South of the Border, SC. Yeah, this is the first state where I got to snap a picture with Rob... see post below for detailed explanation of why DE, MD, VA, and NC were no-go sitations!

I finally learned how to (1) use the timer feature on my camera and (2) use a tri-pod and (3) get over my hesitation to look like a fool by myself with Rob!

Yes, Georgia is on my mind. It was on my mind for the whole 109 miles it took to pass through...

Hooray! Florida!

I just wanted to show you all that Rob obeys the Buckle Up laws! He's a stickler for safety, that Rob...

Don't kill me, but Rob isn't in these next few photos. These were taken at Caneveral National Seashore.

Turtle! There's a turtle! I resisted the temptation to paint a #20 on his back and have him be a catcher for the Yankees... ah, I miss my boyfriend Jorge Posada. He is sorry he can't come on the trip, but he has to play baseball. (for those wondering the connection between this picture and Posada: my nickname for him is Turtle)

Hi there

Florida stuff

Hi there, I'm in Florida now. Apparently the good Starbucks company has not yet discovered the Daytona / New Smyrna Beach area, and my plan to hit up some 'Bucks and tap into their wireless internet offerings while sipping an iced mocha latte has been foiled. Who woulda thunk it?

So right now I am stuck at some cheesy-scary internet sweepstakes cafe. And just what is an internet sweepstakes cafe, you may ask? Well I'm not exacty sure, to be honest. Here's the scene: windows all painted red so no one can see in from the outside, sign on door says "must be 21 to enter," dimly lit room, about 40 computers, maybe 5 - 7 other customers... I'm using the computer for the internet (duh). But almost all of the other computers are devoted to Sweepstakes, which, to the untrained eye, seems like a neat and efficient way for people to log on, play some wack-o gambling thingum, and then lose money that they have no business losing.

I know, the first of Rob's real travel adventures has fallen short. Here's what I promise you when I do finally get myself to a place that lets me use my own laptop to connect to the internet (and therefore lets me access my PICTURES that I took!):

• Rob at South of the Border
• Rob in Georgia
• Rob in Florida
• Rob strapped into the passenger seat of the car

Here's what I'm NOT promising, along with an explanation of why.

• Rob in Delaware, because I DIDN'T SEE A SIGN
• Rob in Maryland, because there was scary traffic and I couldn't imagine pulling off the highway and then back onto it
• Rob in Virginia, because the road sign was in the middle of a bridge
• Rob in North Carolina, because I got there at night and it was dark and previous experience from Rob's last road trip with Heather tells us not to take pictures of road signs at night because all you'll see is the road sign and nothing else
• Rob in South Carolina, because if I had pulled off the side of the road to take a picture of that sign, the car would have ended up at the bottom of a lake. I like my car. It doesn't like swimming in lakes.

Oh, and Florida is a little warm.

That's all for now. Going to do a few more internetty things and get the heck outta this creep-o joint!

Rob's Going Away Party

Rob had a few friends over to send him off on his cross country road trip in style. Always up for the challenge, he wanted to see how many people he could have pose with (1) him (2) Tom Jones and (3) a stripper pole. [oh, by the way -- no asking why there is a stripper pole in our house, as I still have not been able to figure that one out!]

Steve decided to only pose with Tom and pole. Sorry, Rob...

Denise and Rob and Tom and pole

Mr. Crocodile Hunter, Mrs. Plastic Sleeves, and young Master Pool Shark. And of course Rob, Tom, and pole...

Rob, Tom, Kelly, and pole. And beer, too.

One of the things that pleased Rob was how people really got into using the stripper pole to get some height. Scroll down to see just how high some were able to get!

Pete, who always takes great pride in the fact that he lives with Rob, Tom, and pole, takes a moment to pose with his three favorite roommates.

Ham and Rob and Tom and pole!
(ok, this is getting a little old with saying "Rob and Tom and pole" over and over again... let's nix that from now on, ok?)

Kristen, taking a break from squiggling duty

Tom and Felicia. Yay-ers!

Robin and Dave -- hey Dave, 4011!

Some decided to meet with Rob on the couch instead of up on the pole.

Little known fact: Rob is a pool shark

And here we come to the portion of the evening where my camera was taken from me and I found some strange pictures.

John, aka "Cute Guy" shows he's more than meets the eye

Rob, aka "Hot Guy" is one of the more acrobatic guests at the party.

I dunno how people get themselves up there. Amazing, simply amazing.

I like it down lower where it's safer. No falling. Tom, Rob, and I are just fine.