We've Arrived!!! (And 200th post!)

We arrived in freezing Florida (though it was 60 degrees warmer here than it was at home when we left) and when we finally made our way to our hotel (which is very nice, but geographically in the middle of nowhere- and that's coming from someone who lives in Farmington, Maine), I thought I'd fallen into a David Bowie music video. Every time you turned around, there was another woman in white splayed out while a gaggle of photographers closed in on her: on the baby grand piano, on the lobby couches, even floating in the pool. And those without giant cameras were hugging as old friends caught up with one another. It was totally overwhelming and I was feeling like a fish out of water. Only one other photographer from Maine (the fabulous Michelle Turner) is here in Tampa for the Digital Wedding Forum convention, so I didn't know anyone, except her (actually, if you only know one person here- she is a good pick) and Kyle (who has been such a a champ).

You know how you felt at your first school dance, nervously standing against the wall while you watched in awe all those cool kids who seemed to have it all under control! Well, add a decade or two and much nicer shoes and that's pretty much what I felt and just when I thought I couldn't be further from home, we ran into our saving graces, and perhaps the two coolest chicks in Tampa (besides me of course): Kate Mefford and Maile Wilson. We overheard the Texas twosome asking one of the hotel staff where to catch the shuttle into town and we told them we were going to the same place. The rest, as is often said, is history. That was around 7 p.m. and when we finally parted ways after midnight, I had a smile on my face and was excited about the weekend ahead and all the people I'd meet and things I'd learn. Both cool moms, wives and businesswomen, I was inspired by their work and their stories, as well as their friendship with each other, which reminds me of the one I have with Clare (longtone e-buddies, they didn't actually meet until they got on the plane to come to the convention). What's best is that Kate actually bought us dinner. Something about us just being the cutest...

(More later, but in the meantime, enjoy the view from our room)