My cousin and his wife surprise me with a trip to New Orleans for my birthday. The trip is January 30-31.

We dined here:
http://www.commanderspalace.com/new_orleans/index.php

Took pictures of: http://stlouiscathedral.org/

Also had beignet's here:
http://www.cafedumonde.com/beignet.html

Took pictures of: http://stlouiscathedral.org/

Also had beignet's here:
http://www.cafedumonde.com/beignet.html

Janet writes books on a very popular character, Stephanie Plum. She released a new book called "Plum Spooky". She had a book signing in Tampa. Unfortunately my camera died and I couldn't get my picture taken with her. Bummer!

picture taken with her. Bummer!

J.D. Byrider has been a sponsor of Tony's since '97, when they sponsored his dirt car and continue to sponsor his dirt teams and is an associate sponsor on his Cup ride.

750 people got wrist bands and were able to get one item each signed. My brother came with me so we got two items signed. I was wearing a shirt with "got smoke?" on it . Tony said loved it and smiled at me. Whoohoo!! We had about a 20 second encounter before I was ushered out.

My brother took one or two pictures. I'll upload those once he sends them to me.

and were able to get one item each signed. My brother came with me so we got two items signed. I was wearing a shirt with "got smoke?" on it . Tony said loved it and smiled at me. Whoohoo!! We had about a 20 second encounter before I was ushered out.

My brother took one or two pictures. I'll upload those once he sends them to me.

You can tell I love NASCAR. I have Chad Knaus, Crew Chief for the 48 Lowes car, Clint Bowyer, driver of the 07 Jack Daniels car and MY favorite driver in NASCAR, Tony Stewart, driver of the 20 Home Depot car.

Depot car.

Concerts, comedy shows, sporting events, etc.

Just looking at the cheap price of my first concert in '85 makes me feel old. :-)

EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom were great. We ate at the Italian Restaurant at the Italy Pavillion.

During the preshow to the Castle lighting, the Fairy Godmother asked Cindrella how she wanted her castle decorated. She said she wanted it to sparkle like her glass slippers. I think it does.

castle decorated. She said she wanted it to sparkle like her glass slippers. I think it does.

My Brother and his Fiancee went on a boat ride to see dolphins over Christmas week. The Dolphins love the wake of the boat, as you can see by these photos.

These were taken in the Gulf of Mexico, over Redington Beach, FL.

over Redington Beach, FL.

I went to CT from 6/14-6/18. As part of my trip, Kris, Dawn and I went into New York City for the day. We left Union Station in New Haven CT around 8am. About 90 or so minutes later we are in NYC. We had an AWESOME time!

We did the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ground Zero and The Magnolia Bakery.

had an AWESOME time!

We did the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ground Zero and The Magnolia Bakery.

The squirrels LOVE to run on the gutter and climb the building like Spiderman.

If there's one thing we get in Flordia, it's weather. Rain, thunderstorms, tornados, hurricanes and lightning.

Did you know the Tampa Bay area ranks second (Indonesia is first) in the world in the amount of lightning strikes per square mile?

amount of lightning strikes per square mile?

This little guy somehow got into my apartment.

These are some pictures of a brown anole, who has decided to take up residence on my porch among my cacti.