Silly mail
When I tell people what I do for a living, they're almost always envious - and that's without reading the e-mails I get!
This week's have been particularly entertaining, full of non-monumental statistics. "According to the Travel Industry Association, 59% of Americans planning vacations still expect to travel this summer, despite higher gas prices," began one press release. Then it announced the Peekaru, "the first stylish and environmentally responsible fleece vest in the world that zips over a soft baby carrier to keep BOTH parent and child warm ..."
Some releases are more vague, but just as heartening: "According to a recent survey, millions of RV owners will travel over the Memorial Day weekend ... Most RVers are so committed to the RV lifestyle that they're simply adjusting their travel plans ..." Now, in an age of forsaken loyalties, isn't it nice to know that some people remain committed - even if it's just to an RV lifestyle?
Another release arrived, alerting me to the fact that this Friday is World Turtle Day. (I had totally forgotten.) "More than ever," read the second sentence, "people are interested in seeing sea turtles on vacation."
Now here I could have done with a little more research. Exactly what percentage of people are interested in seeing sea turtles on vacation? How have higher gas prices affected the number of people who act on their interest and actually drive to see sea turtles on vacation? And how do we know sea turtles even TAKE vacation?
I do have a wonderful job.
Comments
I like turtles. If I took a road trip, and I drove past a town called Turtle Village with billboards advertising the largest turtle in existence, I would definitely stop, like I did when we saw ads for Prairie Dog Town. Unfortunately, Prairie Dog Town lacked a substantial number of living organisms. The entrance to the singular building of Prairie Dog Town had a sign that said "Closed" on it. The only movement was made by vast amounts of tumbleweeds, and the one jackrabbit we saw on the way out. I wish that when I say I deeply desired to see the world's largest prairie dog and was dishearted with the anticlimax of its non-existent, that I was lying...but alas.
Posted by: jen | May 21, 2008 4:32 PM
Jen,
I love turtles too. Saw a bunch of them last Thursday from my canoe on the Loxahatchee River. (Loxahatchee means "river of turtles.") Also saw a huge one come out of the ocean and onto the beach just north of Oakland Park a few years ago. She was fooled by a dark cloud into thinking it was night, I guess; crawled up to the concrete wall of a house and then made her way back into the ocean, without bothering to stop and lay her eggs. But then, maybe she was on vacation.
Best,
Tom
Posted by: Tom | May 21, 2008 4:56 PM