June 2010

[Sweder]

In Florida for Children with Diabetes Friends for Life conference. Jet lag had me wide awake at 05:30 so I hauled on the boots and head for the golf course that circumnavigates our hotel. You can't beat a firey red sunrise over a deathly still golf course, mist rising from the lakes, herons snoozing on the handrail of bridges and alligators lounging at the waters' edge.

Even before breakfast the humidity was tangible. Within 10 minutes I looked like I'd taken a shower with my clothes on. I managed 30 minutes of dutiful plodding before heading back in. I stood in the freezing (air conditioned) lobby, arms outstretched, sweat splashing on the freshly-polished marble, looking for all the world like an ice scuplture at Satan's wedding.

I'll try and get out a couple more times this week. The cheeseburgers here are the size of a small child's head (and delicious with it, draped in tequila lime onions, avacado, bacon and swiss) so running is essential if I'm to avoid sleeping 15 hours a day to digest my food, coiled up in the corner of the exhibit hall like a boa constrictor digesting my prey.