As Dad and I left Virginia it was about 30 degrees and snowing. Not hard, but snowing. As we headed south for Florida it got warmer and warmer. By the time we got to Tampa it was about 60 degrees and sunny. And that's chilly for Tampa this time of year.

We got some lunch and saw the new Star Trek movie before I met up with Tiffani, who I'm staying with here near Tampa. It was sad saying goodbye to Dad, but it was really nice of him to drive me all the way down here. He headed on south to check out the Keys before he goes back to Virginia on Wednesday. By the way, Star Trek was good but not great.

"I gotta move south when I get back."
I met up with Tiffani that night after her TV station's holiday party and went by a party some other friends of her's were having near the beach. That was fun... and interesting to hang out outside on the water in the middle of December. I gotta move south when I get back.

Today Tiffani and I did some last-minute stuff. I picked up some last-minute things I'd forgotten and food for my trip to Cancun, since I didn't pay for the $70 meal plan on the boat. We hung out at the beach for a while and checked out the park-and-ride my bus leaves from tomorrow so I'll know my way around.

"I better get used to it."
I sail tomorrow morning at 11am. And for that I have to leave Tiffani's house at 5:30am. What's with that? See, they want you there two hours before departure and I don't want to spend the $30 for a cab so I'm gonna take the bus. And to get to the bus I have to take a cab the first six miles. $12 for the cab. $3 for the bus. So I'm saving $15 by taking the public transit marathon. I better get used to it.

I think I've also figured out the problem of getting to Cancun from the port the ferry sails to. See, they don't actually go to Cancun. They go 12 miles south. So I'll probably get a ride with somebody that's brought their car. If not, they offer a shuttle for like $20. That would suck, but it'll work if necessary.

This is the real deal. I mentioned the other day that I've had so many departures, but this time I'm actually leaving the country. It's so weird to think that a little thought in my head over two years ago has led to me sitting in a friend's house in Tampa getting ready to board a ferry for the Yucatan. Odd. But I'm as excited as I am nervous. If nothing else, it'll be interesting.