recent trip

So, as you know I recently took a trip to my old stomping grounds of SW Fla. I thought it would be fun to sum the whole thing up for you folks on "the blog."
On Saturday morning while I was on the way to work Tiff called to let me know that my Step mom passed away. (I had spoken to my dad a week or so previosly and learned her battle with lung cancer wasn't going well.) I called my Dad as was moved to tears in very short conversation (She did teach me to drive after all).
After calling Tiff back we started making plans to go down for a visit. She made about 99% of the plans, arranging to rent a mini-van (our 92 Caprice was a bad choice, not only because it fuel efficency, but it's maintence level).
We decided to leave Monday after the boys got out of school.
After packing and shopping and map-questing (Yahoo, mapquest and google all had different routes) and all the other pre trip arrangement were attended to, we picked up the boys, and got on the Kennedy, in the rain. It rained pretty much all the way to South Georgia. Fortunatly we picked up a Harry Potter book on tape (Highly recomended) which passed the time well for everyone.
Arriving at Dad's was interesting, there was a small sign on the door saying "No Smoking, Oxygen in use" but when we opened the door, My Step Brother Josh was smoking, on the couch while watching football. Dad, Josh, and my Step-Sister Shelly all smoked constantly. Dad smokes little cigars which doesn't sound all bad untill you realize he inhales the things like a cigarette. It was definatly weird being indoors around smoke again after being a non-smoker for the last 2 years. and considering we were mourning the loss of a woman who had LUNG CANCER for cryin' out loud.
We spent a few days doing a lot of nothing with Dad, and my brother Rick who came down from Ohio. the highlights:
Rick and I went to the tattoo parlor where I got my first ink(Rick got a yin yang). the friend I was with in high schools pic was still in the photo book (She got a escher peeled face thingie)
The boys went to the beach with Rick one day & Tiff another
We drove by our old house, which is for sale for over $150,000 more then we sold it for, only 5 years later.
I got to see the hotel where I used to work. (lot's of changes from the last hurricane)
We all passed the time playing a little pool (dad has a table)
organised some crap (dad will be in a house full of junk and books if he's not carefull)
I aquired a bench grinder (he has crap tons of tools, many extras)
The trip home took 3 hours less then the trip down (rain really slows ya down)
My other brother Scott couldn't make it down, he is starting a new life in Gainsville, after recently (and suddnely) leaving his wife and job in FtMyers, and had a job interview he couldn't miss.
Tiff and I decided we were VERY glad we moved. It made us sad that we were not part of my Dad's life, but our life is healthier then it was, and it's not so damn hot all the time.