It's so good to be back in South Florida!

My quick trip to Maryland was wonderful, despite the 19 degree weather. My Mom had 130 people at her retirement party. It was a great honor for her, and one that she really deserves after working in the same place for 28 years. Glad I was only gone for two working days because I came back to 29 e-mails and 14 voicemail messages. I can't imagine what its going to be like if I ever try to take a "real" vacation.

The Las Olas Art Fair is coming up the first weekend in March. Looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces along Las Olas, and of course hoping to see some not so familiar ones as well.

I just hope that the folks that come to the Art Fair respect our neighborhoods and park their cars in public parking facilities, or at least don't block anyone's driveway/garage. We want Las Olas events to benefit our entire community.

Parking is one of the most contentious issues surrounding our area. Who can park where and who has the right to dictate where the public parks?

Residents don't want their neighborhoods bombarded with cars during our events. I totally respect that. Merchants don't want heavier restrictions on parking, because then consumers will go somewhere where businesses are more accessible. I totally respect that too! What's the sense in investing in a business/area that consumers cannot get to? What happens to property values if neighborhoods put so many restrictions on businesses that a thriving retail area in their neighborhood becomes a ghost town? Wouldn't you think that the resurgence of Las Olas in the 1980's had something to do with the rising value of property in the surrounding neighborhoods? Do you know which came first, the chicken or the egg? Parking is truly a tough issue and one that city officials and city planners need to be working on, for everyone's benefit.

Well, on to a more serious issue!

American Idol. Who's going to win? The big voiced, big boned gal from Tennessee? The shy country towhead gal from North Carolina? The tiny Minnie mouse voiced (only when she talks, cause when she sings...watch out!) from Georgia? Or maybe the pretty boy from Colorado or the not so pretty, but very soulful guy from North Carolina? That's the thing abut Idol, you never know what's going to happen. It's like Desperate Housewives for singers. Many different personalities and you never know which way the drama is going to go.

Thanks for checking in.

Come see me on Las Olas..............ya here!