I lived in the Sarasota/Bradenton area for 4 years while in school there...I couldnt wait to move back the the Clearwater area (Pinellas County, west of Tampa Bay on the Gulf Beaches) where I was born. I love this area & wouldnt live anywhere else :) I have visited everywhere from Key West to Miami (including south beach)/Ft. Lauderdale all the way up to Amelia Island/Jacksonville...Orlando, Ocala, Crystal River/Inverness...& on the Gulf Coast from Ft. Meyers/Venice up. The only part I have not been to is the far north panhandle area around Pensacola/Ft. Walton Beach...But I prefer the Clearwater area over anyplace in Floida I have been.

I saw a show on tv not long ago "we mean business" where they did a make over to restructure a small family business that was a 100% gluten free bakery. You might find some help/direction on their website. thesensitivebaker.com
best of luck :)

If anything this topic was meant as a simple nudge for those who dont have pictures to post one & get their just due profile views

I recently began exchanging emails with a very nice person (although a bit to far away & at the top of my age range) after he posted pics finally (& I read his great profile). The site I saw him on I only ever do searches for profiles with pictures posted.

I knew this would be a touchy subject that many will pass judgment on me for brining up (call me shallow or pass judgemnt without even really knowing me)....I guess I just live on the edge like that :) It was just on my mind again as it has come up many times lately in chatrooms (on other sites) & in conversations with friends I have made online...all who feel the same. We feel we are at a slight disadvantage when people view your profile & comment on your pictures yet they have none & in some cases they have no profile content either.

I spent 2 years in a realtionship with someone I met online who lived 3000 miles away. He didnt have a picture posted & the pics he sent to me were older pics. When we met I was not really attracted to him but I convinced myself that it was the person he was on the inside that mattered. I am sorry but a physical attraction IS important (& personality makes a person even more attractive to me....or less attractive). BUT, after he moved across the country & I discovered that he was NOT the person he portrayed himself to be (& then he layed his hands on my child), that was the end. This is just ONE of many experiences I have had.

But on the other side of the spectrum, I did go out with one who I felt was the best looking person I was ever asked out by....till I got to know him. Its about the entire package, not just looks... but when you are online scanning thru profiles, pics are an important part. Thats all I am saying.

everyone has a different idea of what they find attractive, you cant define ugly. I was mearly refering to my personal past expereinces & as I said, I was not trying to offend.

Why do people take the time to sign up for a singles website to meet people yet they will not post at least 1 picture of themselves?

I dont know about you all but that tells me they are either hiding something (already in a relationship or married) or they are butt ugly. no offense to anyone, this is just what I have gathered from my experiences with online dating over the past 5 years. Anymore I tend to totally ignore those who dont have pics & 1/2 of the time those who only post 1 pics as well. Also, those who will not smile in their pics come across as unhappy people (not my type)....but I have found most of the time they dont smile because they have very bad teeth . They always say, "well I can email you a pic"....sorry, I will not give my email (or yahoo IM) to just anyone (learned that lesson long ago).

No, its not to warm down here. OK enjoy it while you can but when you go back up north you cant take any of my sunshine with you :)

I am sorry but my native blood cant take this cold...brrrrrr!!!

I am hovering around the computer trying to mooch off the warmth of the tower. I have had the heat on all day & it says its 70 but I think it lies...my fingers are like ice. I even put on shoes & socks today (which I had to borrow from my daughter because I live in sandals).

Its 50 now & the low tonight on the Gulf Coast is 32! No, sorry this is unacceptable....anything under 70 is cold to me....& my blood freezes at 60. :(

Oh I have also been a few times to Gray Rocks Resort in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec to ski ... great resort, highly recommended. I have stayed at both the hotel/lodge & at one of their condos. I prefered staying at the lodge.

growing up I spend a lot of time visiting my grandparents at their motel/restarant in Trois-Rivieres, Canada on the St. Lawrence river. Fond memories.

Also went to Mexico many times w/ the family growing up to visit a friend of my mothers (a lady who did an exchange program w/ her family when they were kids). Visited them at their home in Mexico city as well as their plantation in the mountains (not sure where that was exactly).

Turnberry, Scottland at the start of the British open (fathers friend was a pro who worked at that corse). stayed a night at the Turnberry resort then down the road at a B&B, then at a place called the Bruce hotel (situated over a popular pub). The highlight was riding horses on the beach.

Staying at a B&B on loc ness (toured one of the little local loc ness monster museums)

London, England (loved the town but was deathly ill during my time there). Saw Starlight Express...that was a very unique musical.

3 weeks touring the Rhine river (Switzerland, France & Germany). touring castles, stying in B&B's ...loved it!

Geneva, Switzerland for the 500th anniversary celebration. 3 hours of the most amazing fireworks display. Amazing city!

3 weeks in a small town in France called La Cluse. During which I went to Paris for the weekend at the end of the Tour De France. Also went to Torrino, Italy for a couple of days & HATED it.

A cruise of the west indies ... it was ok but not something I would do again.

I totally agree :)

Well thank you, Y'all are very sweet.
& yes I agree that a smile IS very important.
Most of the time I skip over a guys profile if they don't have at least one picture with them smiling (showing teeth...not just a smirk). & also if they don't have more then one picture...I think posting a variety of pics is also important :) I mean I have nothing to hide so it makes one wonder if they do.

Thank you. I was not aware of that ability, great to know!

& it goes without saying that a parents child(ren) is/are their life...or at least one would hope :)

My parents took my daughter on an Alaskan cruise (on the Norwegian Pearl) last August & she loved it (she is still talking about it). She was 13, almost 14 at the time.

My 1st cruise was on the QE2 from NY to London back in the 80's (I think I was 15 at the time). In the 90's I did a cruise out of Miami to Key West & Mexico... & another one out of Aruba to the West Indies.

He retired ... he had to because or his neck injury. But I dont think his retiring made that much of a change.

Exactly...time for change. The firing of Gruden & general manager Bruce Allen are most likely just the start of the changes to come.

I do believe that was his 1st season as their coach.... So he took Dungy's team to the super bowl.

I think I heard the crack of a whip...lol

<- Clearwater area

um, quite ambiguous