Sunday, April 29, 2012

400. Outing

400. Outing
Definition: (n) a brief trip taken for pleasure
Location Placed: Starbucks, Largo, Florida
Date Placed: 4/28/12 at 8:20am





While my trip was more of a vacation than an outing, I thought it was a fitting last vacation crane to place. It definitely was a good trip where I got to see lots of fun things and go to places I hadn't visited  before. I got to spend time with my family and ate a bunch of yummy food. (I'm looking at you, Sweet Potato Beignets from Marlin Darlin!) That is what makes a good vacation to me. Food, outings, family, and great weather. What makes a good outing or vacation for you?

399. Enrich

399. Enrich
Definition: (v) improve or enhance the quality or value of
Location Placed: Gamble Plantation, Ellenton, Florida
Date Placed: 4/27/12 at 4:10pm





Sadly we reached the plantation too late to get an actual tour but the history behind the property was interesting. Gamble owned quite a bit of land in the area. I always enjoy poking around old houses and properties and definitely would've liked to have poked around a bit more.

398. Capable

398. Capable
Definition: (adj) competent; having the ability to achieve a specified thing
Location Placed: Ringling Art Museum, Sarasota, Florida
Date Placed: 4/27/12 at 3:00pm





I had no idea, but apparently the Ringling's had quite the fondness for acquiring art from many different areas and many different periods of time. It wasn't really like any other art gallery that I've seen before as it was sort of a mishmosh of different things. Some of them were interesting and good. Some of them, well... art is in the eye of the beholder. I appreciated being able to see all the different things that the Ringling's acquired.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

397. Popular

397. Popular
Definition: (adj) liked, admired, or enjoyed by a great number of people
Location Placed: Ca' d'Zan, Sarasota, Florida
Date Placed: 4/27/12 at 1:39pm





After walking around Ca' d'Zan, John and Mable Ringling's mansion, I got an idea as to just how lucrative the traveling circus business was. The mansion was just gorgeous. Only the 1st floor was included with admission, but those common area rooms were good enough to give me an idea at just how awesome it all was. I overheard one guide say that the chandelier in the main living area was saved from the Astor House Hotel in New York City because he knew an important historical piece when he saw it. The coolest thing I noticed was that the panels in the glass windows were all different, lightly tinted with red, yellow, blue, and green. Very impressive all around.

396. Superb

396. Superb
Definition: (adj) excellent, impressively splendid
Location Placed: Tibbals Circus Museum, Sarasota, Florida
Date Placed: 4/27/12 at 12:31pm





I think superb is really the best way to explain the Ringling Brothers Museum complex. Between the mansion, the art gallery, the circus museum, and the grounds, we were just blown away. And before this trip, I had never heard of it before! I can't believe we almost missed the best think on the trip because it was a little further away than other attractions. But really, I cannot say enough good things about this place. The Tibbal Circus Museum was especially superb as it shows a to scale wooden replica of everything that went into the traveling circus back in the day. And we're not talking about bare bones structures. We're talking full on, thousands of hand carved wooden people/animals/structures/train cars/shops/etc. You name it, it's there. If you are ever in the area, GO! Run there. It's absolutely worth the trip!

395. Skillful

395. Skillful
Definition: (adj) clever, adriot, deft
Location Placed: Derby Lane, St. Petersburg, Florida
Date Placed: 4/26/12 at 8:19pm





Since I'm a try-anything-once sort of girl, we headed to the local dog racing track where they raced Greyhounds. It was quite interesting. I knew a person that adopted a retired Greyhound before, so it was interesting to see what he had done prior to my meeting him. I'm not one to really gamble and it was so hard to figure out what numbers to bet on and all the different chances of things happening. All in all, I ended up winning $7 total so apparently dumb luck is sometimes enough! No skill needed. Although I bet being skillful would make winning a whole heck of a lot easier.

394. Coy

394. Coy
Definition: (adj) reluctant to give details about; shy, bashful
Location Placed: UPS Store, Bellaire Bluffs, Florida
Date Placed: 4/26/12 at 5:11pm





Conveniently I just happened to be passing the UPS store before heading to dinner at Cody's Roadhouse. Since it was open, I quickly darted in, placed a crane, and snapped a photo. On my way out, I saw that it wasn't there. Did someone take it home? Time will tell!

393. Polished

393. Polished
Definition: (adj) accomplished and skillful
Location Placed: Fort De Soto Park Museum, Tierra Verde, Florida
Date Placed: 4/26/12 at 12:06pm





When I heard about this park, I thought it seemed an awful lot like Fort Hancock in Sandy Hook, New Jersey. I figured it might be interesting to see the similarities between the two military stations on the coast and see how the ruins differed. I guess being in a hurricane zone didn't really help Fort Desoto's chances very much as nearly all of the buildings that were originally there are no longer standing. It was cool to see how they built the battery and how they tested all their artillery. Didn't hurt that it was a gorgeous day outside by the beach either! Catching dolphins, a small shark, and a manatee in real life certainly added to the experience.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

392. Vivacious

392. Vivacious
Definition: (adj) attractively lively and animated
Location Placed: The Butterfly House, Tampa, Florida
Date Placed: 4/25/12 at 1:43pm





There is something about butterflies that are just magical in a way. They flutter and flit in the air. They become beautiful after spending the first part of their lives being something less beautiful. (Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, of course!) But this place was really cool as you could see the differences between the variety of butterflies in all stages: caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly. Monarchs are my favorite and they even have similar coloring when they are caterpillars! And their pupa almost looks like a Christmas ornament of sorts. Definitely WAY cool.

391. Serenity

391. Serenity
Definition: (n) state of being calm, peaceful, and untrouble
Location Placed: Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa, Florida
Date Placed: 4/25/12 at 12:08pm





In our haste to see the mummy exhibit, we didn't read the sign for the Museum of Science and Industry that mentioned said exhibit opened on Friday! We decided to go in anyway since we rode up all that way. Now, I am a proclaimed museum lover. I find history of areas to be interesting. Even though I dislike speaking ill of a place I've been, the MOSI left a lot to be desired. Perhaps the mummy exhibit would've been redeeming in its own right, or perhaps it was our disappointment with not being able to see the exhibit. I certainly won't let one bad museum experience change my desire to go see others!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

390. Selfless

390. Selfless
Definition: (adj) concerned more with the needs of others than ones own
Location Placed: S.S. American Victory, Tampa, Florida
Date Placed: 4/24/12 at 3:18pm





Who doesn't like visiting museums on ships?! Not I! The SS American Victory  is a ship museum that served in World War II, and the Vietnam and Korean Wars. I love these sorts of things as it leads me to think of all the people that served on it during its heyday. Imaging all the people that lived within it and called it home for however long they served on it. It's impressive really. And it wasn't busy at all!

389. Intimate

389. Intimate
Definition: (adj) closely acquainted or familiar with
Location Placed: Tampa Bay Visitor's Center, Tampa, Florida
Date Placed: 4/24/12 at 1:59pm





I must say, the ladies at the Tampa Bay Visitor's Center are not only helpful, but super nice to boot! I went in there asking for a suggestion about a quick and easy lunch place and they delivered with flying colors. They gave me lots of information about coupons for attractions in the area. Definitely the sort of people you should check in with if you're in the area and not sure exactly what to do.

388. Dainty

388. Dainty
Definition: (adj) delicately small and pretty
Location Placed: Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa, Florida
Date Placed: 4/24/12 at 11:19am





We popped over to the Tampa Bay History Center this morning to check and see what it was all about. I'm still surprised that after visiting the Tampa Bay area at least once a year for the last 8, that there are still so many interesting things that I've never done! This whole treating every area like a tourist destination is working out in my favor. I learned a lot about the Seminole Native American tribe and how the Spanish Conquistadors came to the area. It was really interesting and gave me lots of tidbits about the area that I didn't know before. Added bonus was the Spy Museum exhibit that they were displaying through the end of June! I really enjoyed the Spy Museum when I went to Washington, D.C., so this was a lovely added bonus.

Monday, April 23, 2012

387. Truthful

387. Truthful
Definition: (adj) telling or expressing honesty
Location Placed: Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg, Florida
Date Placed: 4/23/12 at 2:52pm





I can't turn up a pretty garden any time I see or hear about one. My Dad told me he had visited back in the 70s. It was a nice relaxing walk around seeing all sorts of gorgeous flowers and animals. I'm a sucker for pretty flowers. It was also super cool that we could hear a steel drum player as we walked through the park. Definitely a nice way to end the day.

386. Wholesome

386. Wholesome
Definition: (adj) conducive to or promoting health or well-being
Location Placed: The Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida
Date Placed: 4/23/12 at 1:38pm





I didn't really know much about Salvatore Dali prior to visiting the museum. But I certainly know a whole heck of a lot more about him. I really appreciated some of his earlier works that he did in childhood prior to his surrealist stuff. I guess I know where I stand in terms of my artistic leanings!

385. Professional

385. Professional
Definition: (n) a person engaged or qualified in a profession
Location Placed: Starbucks, New York City, New York
Date Placed: 4/17/12 at 6:35pm





I thought this was the absolutely coolest mug! I think, now, that I should've bought it. Sometimes you find the coolest little things in the most unexpected places. Maybe I'll pick it up next time I find myself in the City.

384. Nifty

384. Nifty
Definition: (adj) particularly good, skillful, or effective
Location Placed: Times Square Visitors Center, New York City, New York
Date Placed: 4/17/12 at 6:30pm





I can't see a Visitor's Center and not stop in it. This one had a few interesting outfits from Broadway shows and a wonderful 'Wall of Wishes' filled with little pieces of paper with wishes on them. And the a lovely ball similar to the one that drop at New Years Eve. It's a wonderful little pocket in Times Square and worth a pop in if you have a few moments.

383. Beloved

383. Beloved
Definition: (adj) dearly loved
Location Placed: Starbucks, New York City, New York
Date Placed: 4/17/12 at 5:36pm





Before the Broadway show, I had a little time to kill. So I did a bit of wandering around the Times Square area. Picked up a quick dinner and parked it on the stairs in Times Square watching all the tourists. It was sort of relaxing even though I was surrounded by so many people and on my own. It's interesting imaging what brings strangers to the same location you're in. Definitely a good pre-show dinner time.

382. Breezy

382. Breezy
Definition:
(adj) appearing informal, cheerful, and relaxed
Location Placed: Linden Train Station, Linden, New Jersey
Date Placed: 4/17/12 at 3:55pm




I will have to admit, I was not feeling very breezy when I placed this crane! I was on my way up to New York City to see a play on Broadway when our train stopped. Apparently there was some sort of signal problems slowing down trains in both directions. Now if you want to throw a bunch of people into a tizzy, slow down a train headed into the City. After commiserating with other passengers and exiting the train, I walked around with people trying to find alternative routes into the city. It was nice to see the camaraderie though between passengers though, sharing stories and information to people they wouldn't normally have been talking with. Long story short I ended up meeting several lovely people and waiting for the next train into New York to come around.