We have a snow globe collection at home. I’m not talking dumb plastic ones with bobbling cartoony figures inside, but nice ones with nice bases and artistically done scenes inside. When we travel we don’t normally get a lot of silly touristy things for the girls or for us – we usually just get one nice snow globe to commemorate the time and place, and the girls have grown accustomed to seeing these whenever we’ve gone anywhere (either with them or apart from them).
So my number one mission this afternoon was to locate the beloved snow globe for Florida. My preference is to find one with the city name on it, not the state, but after seeing scores of silly snow globes with dolphins, seashells, and no reference whatsoever to any part of this interesting state, I was delighted to find one that mostly met the qualifications in a little shop near the airport. We bought it, the lady wrapped it, and we proceeded to the airport.
Once here, I didn’t think twice about it. We checked our bags and waited in line for security, where I learned to my great dismay that snow globes are not on the list of approved substances to carry on-board an airplane. I was asked if I would like to check it, as in, go back through all the lines, and ask the people behind the counter to retrieve my bag so I could put my $9 snow globe in it.
I looked at the man and said, “I doubt there’s more than three ounces of liquid in that snow globe.” He just stared back at me. “Okay,” I said. “Just throw it away.”
Sad.
But the good news is that this is really the only (bad) story I have to tell from our trip (that and the fact that we were given a hybrid car with a “smart” key at one in the morning, and neither of us could figure out how to start the goofy thing; I had to track down a Hertz employee to teach us how to start the car).
But aside from these minor things, it has been very good. We had some great conversations with people (four separate groups) over the three days we were here. We began piecing together the report we need to turn in (we have an interim report due Wednesday and a final report at the end of November), ate at some great places, played in the ocean twice, collected a pretty impressive load of seashells for the girls (at least they will be impressed, and that is, after all, the point), and rested a lot. The purpose of the trip was business, but we were restored through the time as well.
It is a bit strange to consider that the pace of things is going to pick back up tomorrow at the same speed with which we left it on Friday, but such is the nature of life.
Maddie, Chloe, Katie, and Millie, we missed you very much. And we’re excited to come home tonight and be a family again.
Half-Pint House 
It’s unfortunate that you won’t have the snow globe to commemorate your trip. Do you have the receipt that shows the name and maybe contact info for the store and perhaps you can have an identical one shipped to you? It may not be worth the trouble & expense to you, but I thought I’d mention it.
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It’s unfortunate that you won’t have the snow globe to commemorate your trip. Do you have the receipt that shows the name and maybe contact info for the store and perhaps you can have an identical one shipped to you? It may not be worth the trouble & expense to you, but I thought I’d mention it.
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You know, I’m all for national security and everything—but snowglobes?
Wow. We’ve sunk to a new level in order to feel safe.
I’m sorry you had to ditch it. Lesson learned? Mail the snowglobe home next time. That is, unless snowglobes are on the do-not-mail list of hazardous materials? 🙂
Glad you’re having fun. We have smart cars in Chapel Hill, NC. I’ve never used one, but I’ve seen em.
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You know, I’m all for national security and everything—but snowglobes?
Wow. We’ve sunk to a new level in order to feel safe.
I’m sorry you had to ditch it. Lesson learned? Mail the snowglobe home next time. That is, unless snowglobes are on the do-not-mail list of hazardous materials? 🙂
Glad you’re having fun. We have smart cars in Chapel Hill, NC. I’ve never used one, but I’ve seen em.
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The whole “no more than 3 oz” thing for carry-ons is just nuts. And keeps Walgreen’s in business, of course.
When we were at the hotel in San Antonio, Clay came out of the bathroom and said, “Man, if I could just get my hands on one more ounce of Crest with baking soda, I could make myself a kick-a*@ bomb!”
(Some days, it’s just the comic relief of spontaneous one-liners that keeps us going.)
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The whole “no more than 3 oz” thing for carry-ons is just nuts. And keeps Walgreen’s in business, of course.
When we were at the hotel in San Antonio, Clay came out of the bathroom and said, “Man, if I could just get my hands on one more ounce of Crest with baking soda, I could make myself a kick-a*@ bomb!”
(Some days, it’s just the comic relief of spontaneous one-liners that keeps us going.)
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