Orlando to home: 128 mi (about 2 hours 19 mins) -- note that the trip is likely less since we are not going to be downtown Orlando

We are in Orlando for our anniversary ... a great relaxing 3-day vacation planned ... after 5 years we deserve it. We are in Orlando 6-9th ... and Melissa has promised Jae and Cynthia to babysit on the 10th, but I must get home for work so can't stay myself. So ... how do I get home?

Option #1: Greyhound it home @ $35. Leaving at 5:30pm it would be a 5 hr trip ... a long ride where I can read, sleep, work, or pick my nose ... and relax. However, it would require Melissa to get dinner that night - probably out for a nicer dinner w/ Cynthia and family. Not to mention the 5 hr trip will be made possible by plenty of Junk food ... raising the cost of the trip at least $20.

Option #2: Melissa brings me home and heads up again the next day. Likely costing under a single tank of gas, likely sub-$35 dollars of gas. There is wear and tear - but that is almost negated since it is not "that far" and not a regular trip. Trip home: less than 2 hrs ... trip back: less than 2 hrs -- entire trip is less than the one-way bus trip. We would eat at home so food costs of sub-$10 for all three of us ... and hey ... it is more time with us.

Now, this is our debate ... which option should we take? The discussion goes beyond simple cost and convenience - but does not exclude them. Traffic and pollution are also a factor ... but how much so?

I will say, if the cost of the bus fare was $20 instead of $35 - this would likely be a no-brainer. As it stands right now there is little in financial savings for taking the bus (unless this is a regular one-person trip) ... and a whole lot of convenience costs. Until the balance starts to shift towards the opposite position you won't see a change in public opinion - doesn't matter how many movies are put out.

What would you choose?

Evening on the wire ...

Seems while I was away this weekend there was a shake-up in the Canucks camp. Seems that Bertuzzi was swapped for Luongo in a trade that involved three players (Bertuzzi, Auld, and Allen) from Vancouver and two (Luongo and Krajicek) from Florida.

This was coming ... Todd was not expected to be sticking around - this last couple years was rough - but it is sad to see him go. I found him a powerhouse ... and extremely exciting player to watch, and I think that once he gets his game on and shakes the shadows of the past he will be unstoppable. Though, in many ways I feel that he really needs a new start before he can truly be rejuvenated. What really make me sad is to see Auld go ... and Allen was always strong on the blue line. Two young players with a bright future.

In return we get a another starting goalie and a defense-man, a unproven replacement for Allen. Now, Roberto is a great goalie - one of the best in the league - but do you really think Dan is going to sit on the bench as a backup??   So, I expect another trade coming up ... using some of the Cloutier value to trade for a front-liner? Keeping a deep net is important, so we will likely need a decent proven backup ... Grahame (TBL) ?

We will just have to wait and see ... and in the mean time spend more weekends relaxing with Jae, Cynthia and Jordan in Orlando. We just got back from an incredible weekend of letting the kids destroy the house, hitting balls at the driving range, shopping, and enjoying the numerous eating establishments in the area. It was really fun to see the two kids bond and play - they pester, annoy, and share. They have no problem keeping themselves entertained for hours ... and getting themselves in double the trouble if your not closely watching.

Go see the movie - it will effect you

Krishen and I headed out this evening to view a documentary on global warming featuring Al Gore. I was not sure what to expect though I do remember reading an older blog posting about a speech by Mr. Gore regarding this issue with very positive reviews.

Wow ... very powerful!

It was a presentation of his speech reworked for the "big screen". A speech that details out the current conditions we live in ... a wake up call for our lethargic state of mind ... a clear and detailed depiction of the consequences of what has occurred ... with a forecast of the future. He breaks down the technical jargon with graphics and images so that it can be easily understood - and it is not a pretty picture.

There is no debate on a global warming problem, the situation is clearly defined - in numbers - we know where things stand. While climate cycles (CO2 levels and temperatures) occur - they do - the Carbon Dioxide levels are now well beyond anything that has been observed on this earth in the past 650,000+ years - and climate change is unavoidable. Expect the temperatures to rise ... expect the storms, droughts, and weather to change ... expect more disease, famine, and death. Heed the warnings for those who are studying this - for many of their predications have come to pass.

If we take action - drive less, reduce-recycle-reuse, use clean(er) energy resources, and adopt a new lifestyle around new emerging technologies ... we might be able to curb this spiking trend. At the very least be sure who you are listening too. There are lots shadows of doubt being laid out - global warming is here

More readings...

Today was fathers day ... man, has it been a year already? ... well it has been a great year. So ... Melissa has been blocking my view of incoming and outgoing communications (well, filtering it would be more appropriate) - utilizing private computer time - and sneaking off to friends places to work on "the father's day project" ... which was about all I was allowed to know.

So ... breakfast this morning was at First Watch nice and early before the crowd to join us. And before our food arrived I got to open my gift ... a collection of pictures from the last year done up in an album (from ShutterFly) ... thank you. It's perfect and in the card was a suggestion for the day ... a trip to MOSI ... what an idea.

Up to Tampa we headed right after some french toast, skillet, and coffee. The museum was really well put together with offerings for all ages. We started out with the tour through the "Bodies - The Exhibition" exibit ... actual human bodies preserved, skinned, and filleted for our better understanding of things. There have been concerns about the origins of these individuals ... however, it completely fascinating and very educational.

Then it was off the IMAX Dome ... Greece - Secrets of the past ... which presented new findings in the historical records about the greek origins, discoveries about a giant volcanic blast (40 times an atomic bomb), and detailed out the rise and fall of one of human's greatest civilizations. And one could make correlation's between then and now in how history is unfolding - the question is ... are we able to learn from our mistakes or are we destined to make the same mistakes again and again for all eternity? Ahh ... the age of philosophy ...

Anyways ... time for some science! It was up to the third floor to play with magnets, fly B-2 bombers, and smash cameras. Oh! Yea! That last one wasn't suppose to be an exhibit ... but apparently Joe had a better grip on the strap than mom did - and the camera fell to the floor landing on the open lens. Melissa is going to take it into the shop tomorrow to see what can be done ... gah! But ... the day can not stop because there on no pictures. And ... look mom ... there are magnets to play with - Joe loves being able to see clear cause-effect relationships ... and you could really see his mind working.

In the afternoon, we headed over to the kids wing (by this time late afternoon) for some Sesame Street fun. Joe continued to have a blast ... now with things a little more his age oriented. We have not had much interaction with the puppets of childhood yet - but it was more the games, sounds, and other kids that were fascinating to him. And with that you could see Joe starting to fade calling an end to the day ... an incredible day ... one that lasted from breakfast til 5pm - without a nap. Needless to say he was asleep before we made it out of the parking lot (we suspect before we made it out of the parking stall). Joe truly was a trooper on this day of adventure, giving Dad the best father's day he could ask for.

So, it is saturday again ... and after the Portugal - Iran game this morning Joe and I left Melissa in peace (she must study ... oh how tables turn!) So after lunch at McD's - and a Car's Happy Meal - we headed for downtown ... and after a little bump and grind at a stop light we got there.

Don't worry ... everyone is fine - including the car ... but still quite annoying. First ... I stopped for a yellow light, even looked in the mirror and the truck was THREE car lengths back. People here expect to run the reds ... they EXPECT IT!!!! Then ... he did not even pull over with me to ensure that everything was alright. Just happy it was more Bang! than Crash! so to speak.

... but I digress ...

Joe and I were headed to the bay to enjoy some splishing and splashing at the park. There were tons of other kids to play with ... one girl even shared her water bottle so Joe could play with the girl's little sister.

Every good day at the park should be memorable - and I am sure that Joe is going to remember this one (ouch!) He took it in stride ... and after a short time to allow Dad to stop the bleeding he was back running and jumping in the water streams ... and by the time we left he was done (sleepy times) ... though he waited until after the USA - Italy match to finally hit the sack ... guess just preping for the game tonight.

and so it begins...

So, Friday Melissa got her turn at the spa ... a several hour experience of manicures, pedicures, facials, and those swedes going to town on her muscles - oh ... and a hair cut that is just perfection on her. By the time the work was complete she was almost unable to move - the muscles were just too relaxed to support her ... though the hair cut perked her up enough for the drive home. Afterwards, she mentioned something about a 'hot rock massage' - she said it was odd at first but extremely relaxing as time went on. So ... guess the mother's day gift turned out quite well - she was at least pretty happy with the experience :)

Yet ... that got her in the mood ... we have been talking about changing up my hair a bit ... and I think this just sparked an interest. She brought home the kits and new clippers and went to town. Must say, was a might bit concerned when plastic bags were being placed over my head - but all turned out well. So, in the end she got treated like a queen and I got trimmed and coloured ... all to start off the new week.

... oh yea ... caught a couple games of the World Cup on TV. Several games have been on our basic cable offerings - in english - but today's game between Portugal and Angola we had to watch on the Spanish channel. Good thing that kicking the ball around a field is kind of a universal language unto its own eh!

So combine that with the Stanley Cup Finals and Joe and I have our seats reserved for many nights to come.

Just keep the car in drive Joe and ... stay away from that wall!!!!!!

Joe and I enjoyed a game of GT3 the other day. Melissa thought it would be fun to pick up a steering wheel controller for our PS2 ($10) ... and yea ... it was fun!!

And now Melissa gets to indulge herself with her mother's day gift tomorrow. And - it looks like she will be back taking her diving courses (Masters and then hopefully Instructors) ... so that is big news too.

Otherwise, Joe and I are still trying to figure out what we want to do this Saturday morning ... any ideas?

This past Saturday Joe and I were joined by Christopher and Tiffany for our "morning out" ... and this Saturday it was off to G-Wiz, our local science center. And oh what fun we had ...

Joe loved the floating ball

And was curious of the boys at the assembly table

We took some time out to teach ...

... and some time to play

Waste deep - mom ... mom ... are you there?

Melissa and Joe got a couple chances this week to enjoy the beach, the waves, and hanging out with friends. Looks like they had a lot of fun ... and apparently being buried alive is not one of Joe's fears!

The non-stop waves provided endless amounts of activity