No, we haven't become Tampa Bay Bucs fans yet (or Ray's for that matter), and are not likely to do so - but it has been rather neat to work right across from the Buc's stadium and right near the Yankee's Spring Training Camp. Should be interesting when Feb/March roll around. For now, we are getting acclimated to being in a City again, a warm climate in November, and yet another new existence. We are getting good at new experiences and flying by the seat of our pants, but it does come with an elevated level of stress while all of the logistics are being worked out.
Just last Friday we finally moved out of the extended stay hotel where we had been staying for the first few weeks, and into a short term condo rental that feels more like an actual home.
It's only about 5 miles from my new workplace and is right on the bus line. Yes, I said bus. One of the challenges for us here right from the start has been not having a commuter vehicle to zip around in. As our schedules grow more complex, we often find ourselves heading in opposite directions with just one vehicle - and a vehicle that is not particularly fond of all the idling in traffic. Got my bus pass today and hopefully we'll be able to give the van a much-needed break from daily commuting.
We have managed to have some fun here in Florida while working out the logistics of our temporary foray onto planet Tampa. The first weekend we were here, we spent some time checking out St. Petersburg, including a downtown arts and music festival and a quick re-visit to Tropicana Field, where we'd been once before with the boys and our nephew Bo to see a Red Sox/Devil Ray's game many many years ago. And this past Friday night, we snuck off to historic Ybor City to see one our favorite bands, American Aquarium, playing at the Old World Brewery.
American Aquarium put on a fantastic show!
Not the Red Sox - but hey, these folks seem to like their Rays too!
