unRavel

Weekend internet outage a blessing in disguise

Carlos Munoz

Internet outages. (GETTY IMAGES)

4 p.m. March 1, 2016

Dear Journal,

The internet has been out in parts of Sarasota for almost 48 hours now. Food is scarce — I haven’t been shopping in two weeks because I was playing W.O.W. until I was rudely interrupted — and the faucets still work, so there is plenty of water. I am mustering the energy to get up and fill my army surplus canteen I used for extended game play weekends.

I am thinking of calling friends to go outside but the sun is warm in the cloudless sky, and I’m afraid the over-stimulation of real human contact might make me explode. Plus, I can’ DM them because my internet is out.

If I survive this, I will update.

I am opening the door …

3 p.m. March 3, 2016

Dear Journal,

I can’t believe I’m alive! I discovered so many things this weekend. They were running to save sea turtles on Seista Key. Apparently, this so called “Run for the Turtles” has been going on for the past 30 years, and I didn’t know about because I had to go outside. I met so many people!

The 30th annual Run for the Turtles raised funds for Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, which coordinates conservation of endangered sea turtles along 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches!

Thanks to partnerships, money made by Mote supporters ages 23 and under will be matched up to $40,000 in 2016.

PHOTO GALLERY: 30th annual Run for the Turtles

Not far from that, there was the DeSoto Seafood Festival in Palmetto. I thought shrimp-flavored Ramen noodles were amazing. This stuff was fantastic!

PHOTO GALLERY: De Soto Seafood Festival

At Lido Beach, they were holding the 2nd annual Swim Around Lido but the waves were a bit frightening and we all stayed close to shore.

People were bummed but they still had smiles on their faces! It is the beach after all. I’m glad I found it!

Since there was some rainy weather I grabbed some popcorn (mmmm) and took in a movie. The Sarasota Film Festival was in town!

One film even featured Sarasota:

I have to admit I was a little shocking.

There was a movie for everybody’s taste:

PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Film Festival

I have to admit, baseball isn’t my favorite sport, I’m more of a marathon button puncher myself, but spring training baseball was a great experience. The fans! The hot dogs! More hot dogs!

PHOTO GALLERIES: 

Overall, I think this internet outage was a blessing in disguise..