don't make any sudden moves on a sailboat

I know, I know: I still have not finished my stories from my September vacation to the northwest.

On Friday, we flew to Florida to visit my great-grandfather. He has been ill again.

Our trip got off to a rough start. My mom likes to be way early for everything. So a 7:25am flight meant that we had to be awake at 3:00am and leave for the airport soon after. UGH! We had a terrible storm during the night so, even though we left so stupidly early, we were late to catch our plane because the road was flooded out. We finally got to the airport to find that our flight was delayed anyhow. I slept all the way to Florida. And all the way from the airport to Cocoa Beach.

On Saturday, we went to visit my great-grandfather. Sadly, I was not allowed to go into his hospital room because he has an infection. But my mom took me into the courtyard so I could peek through his window and wave to him. You should have seen how his face brightened up to see a baby as cute as me. We waved to each other. Every day while we were there, we visited for hours with my parents trading off - one would play with me while the other visited my great-grandfather. Every day, I would peek in his window to cheer him up. I am his favorite.

My great-grandfather had some sage advice for my dad: "don't make any sudden moves on a sailboat." He also had some interesting stories about the war. He is happy that the Saints have finally made it to the Superbowl. And he is sad that Ted Kennedy died and was replaced by a Republican. "We always felt safe with Kennedy around," he says.