Well today I left FT Lauderdale, now it's time to go back to where the weather is a little more tolerable. I did manage to see some wildlife while in Florida. No, not an alligator or a manatee but I did see a racoon and a toad and although it isn't quite the same as the first two mentioned I was pretty excited to see them. I think that Floridians are full of poo though. I mean they always make it sound like if you come to Florida you will see an alligator on every block, well I am here to say that simply is not true. I was in Florida for almost a week and I didn't even see anything resembling a gator, unless you count the toad. I was pretty hopefull but alas my hopes were crushed when it hit me that gators don't exist in FL. I might go back there some day but before I do I am going to do some research and find where they hide all the gators!

I am currently in Ft Lauderdale Florida. From the time I arrived it has been raining non-stop. It hasn't been just a "sprinkling" or a light rain, oh no, it has been that big fatty fat fatty type of rain that comes down in sheets and leaves welts when it hits you. The one highlight of this trip was the burger I had yesterday that had fries and saurkraut on it. As odd and maybe gross as that sounds it is actually really tasty. I wish the rain would clear up so that I could go swimming. The water here at the beach is sooo blue, very unlike the waters of Virginia that almost look like swamp water. Although the beach here is pretty nice I don't think I could live down here in this tropical environment. The humidity makes me feel like I am melting whenever I am outside. Blaech.

Today was my 24th birthday. I can't believe that I am actually 24 now. It seems like just yesterday my first tooth fell out. This birthday was a little unusual. For one thing I am not actually home to celebrate my birthday buy instead I am off the coast on an aircraft carrier. I woke up at three this morning and it has been an extremely busy day. I am proud to say that I was able to squeeze in birthday cake that someone sent along with me! So I guess you could say I had a good birthday, c'mon any day that you eat cake is a good day!