Blogging in Route via Paper and Pen (last night)

Things I did and saw while in Florida (really not much beyond the cream colored walls of Studio WEDU):

1) Well, I saw the Gulf... from the sky. I might not have let the sand fall around my fingers. but it was spectacular. Some coral reefs I would have loved to see close-up. I was pleased to see Mary Kaye removing plenty of sand from in between her toes. Thankful that some of us were able to go to the beach. I was on set in hair and make-up the entire last day and missed my beloved beach trip. I should have ventured out with Tamera the day before. Instead, we watched some taping and sat around FOREVER. Taping was quite entertaining and hilarious to watch. I was grateful for the distraction.

2) I viewed a beautiful sunset over the Gulf... at 10,000 ft. Granted, I had to envision the guy within my window view as a giant Sperm whale frolicking amid the waves. Nonetheless a sunset and very warming to see. I wish I could have felt it on my face while lying on the beach.

3) I happened to see wildlife. Only not native Floridian creatures as expected. Alligators- none. Flamingos, sandhill cranes or herons- none. I did catch a breath of fresh warm air under a Cypress tree and became entranced with two, I swear to you...flying squirrels. Now, I haven't done my research to define them as such, and they did not glide in my presence, but they had a serious wing span and neat tail. We held a conversation as I clicked back to them. It was such a peaceful moment on the tense forth day of infomercial life.

4) I giggled with Rosa and the other ladies more than I thought my bladder could handle. This was a blessing, as the days were long, tedious and absolutely sedentary. I could not have made it through this experience without them. Such wonderful, beautiful women to be surrounded by. Our vicious stylist Judy,would have been irate had I peed in my stage clothing!

5) Fresh Atlantic Grilled Salmon was the fish of the night at the Cheesecake Factory. It really was divine. The mashed potatoes- even better! If people would have asked us where we were from, we could have been mistaken for a polygamist clan. We were 9 lovely ladies of different ages and a cute older man (Hy, Ellen's husband), out for a bite to eat.. such a sight. A few days later as I was relating this thought to Hy, he said he had thought the exact same thing. So funny!

6) I ventured to the International Mall. It was the only place besides the airport that our hotel shuttle would take us. I saw Nordstroms and nearly every high-end retailer you could ever desire. I thought of Alice (my cute personal shopper and friend), and how I wished she were with me to help me pick out my "reveal outfit". Alice would have been so fun to shop with! Luckily Valarie was there to assist!

7) That's about it! I'm starting to think the existence of Florida and it's beaches may be a conspiracy theory to get me to film an infomercial. Does this lovely place really exist?