Paradise Re-found

It's 4:30am.  I'm at the Tampa airport waiting for my 6am flight to DFW then to my final destination of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Yesterday, I flew from St. Martin to Miami and then arrived in Tampa around 11pm. I had an overnight layover.  My first one ever.  I got to the Howard Johnson at 1am.  The front desk manager scoffed at me when I asked for a 3:30am wake up call.  That's fine Mr. Manager.  I scoffed at your quaffed up hair.  I got to sleep at 1:30.  Two hours later, I woke up, showered and checked out of the HoJo.  And no... I didn't sleep under the covers.  Mr. Manager again scoffed at me when I asked to check out.  Hey... If you don't want my 40 bucks, I could have easily spent that much being entertained across the street at either one of the nude bars that were available to me. 

I could have easily stayed on one of the airport's comfy benches (as I'm looking around this morning several people decided to do that).  But I was able to get a hot shower.  Was it worth $40 to get a 2-hour nap and a shower.  Absolutely.  The worst part about it is that I had my luggage checked all the way from St. Martin to Shreveport.  So due to my own stupidity I don't have toothpaste or deodorant... plus my hair is all poofy AND I haven't shaved in a week.  I feel bad for my Shreveport friends that are picking me up. 

If it weren't for Starfucks, I probably wouldn't be able to type this morning.