when i looked up into the night sky sprinkled with stars, i saw them from the southern depths of florida. it was a warm night when we stepped out of the car, bodies stiff from too many hours and too many miles spread out between marco island and orland park. relaxing sits heavy in the air here, specifically where we stay. when you walk out your door at night you are surrounded by ease, by comfort, by enjoyment. you feel a large absence of "hussle and bussle," which pervades the working world near chicago. i felt this each time i have come here and longed not to return to the life put on hold for the holidays.

i re-read all four Harry Potter books the last few days. my mom read the first one today and my brother has made his way through the first three over the last few days. as a result, the majority of the conversations we have been having have involved some aspect of the wizards and muggles of Rowling's creation. once again i have fallen for her world and want to immerse myself in the next book but, alas, it has not been finished yet. with great struggle i must pull my brain from that and into the worlds of the creative writing i have long neglected and "To Kill A Mockingbird," which i soon will be teaching. it is a vacation filled with literature and sleeping.