Palm Trees Are In My Future

Well, today is Saturday...... Five more days until I leave this grey, gloomy, cold environment and escape to the warm beaches of South Florida once again.

My first real sense of shelter from the world is when I arrive at the airport of my departure. Finally! I have made it to the airport and left the job and all of my worries behind.

The first thing I like to do is take out my cell phone and forward all of my calls to the office. Now that is great feeling..... to be able, with one push of the button, to transport your daily problems, concerns and workload to someone else who is not lucky enough to be out of the office that week too. Instantly, I feel the tranquility of having no responsibility flow over me.

The next stop is the airport bookstore. I like to buy a paperback before leaving so that I have something to read on the plane, the beach, or in the hotel room. It's also fun to write something on the inside cover as a little memory of this particular trip. Someday, someone will find it so interesting to know that you read W.E.B Griffin's "Counter Attack" as you were laying on the beach in Rio or Miami or some other tropical paradise.

Next stop..... Starbuck's for a cup of Italian Roast..... God I love that stuff.

Then, I make my way to my gate, scan the rows of seats to find one with some space around it and settle in with my book and my coffee.

Somehow, I don't get much reading done while waiting. There are always people walking by that I have to look at. Things to check for the second or third time. Like, making sure I still have my boarding pass. Or, is my wallet still in my bag? Or, did I forget my sunglasses? Or, wonder what that stock is doing today? Think I'll look it up on my Blackberry.

The days are going by fast now..... Soon, I will be in the airport doing all of these things in real life. And I can't wait.

A full report will be published upon my return...... That is, if I don't buy a sailboat and check out of my current world for another more tranquil existence.