2010 March 6 Saturday
For lunch, we headed to the Festival Bay Mall in Orlando, because when we were there before, we noticed a restaurant called ‘Cricketers Arms English Pub & Eatery’. It was very unique, had several English & Irish beers on tap, and had live large-screen TV of soccer being played right then in England. Part of their décor above the bar was a long showcase full of ties from, I assume, various English schools. Or maybe soccer clubs. I’ll have to ask our English friends, David and Kate Vause, about it. Linda had fish and chips, and I had bangers and mash, with a pint of Guinness. After lunch we walked around the mall - many of its stores are gone, lots of empty places. One big store is the Bass Pro, but we are disappointed that they do not have an Islamorada Fish House restaurant. The store has more floor space than the one in Ft.Myers, but it is only on one floor instead of two. At 2:30, we went to see the movie “Crazy Heart” starring Jeff Bridges. He has received lots of acclaim and awards for his performance and is likely to win the Oscar for best actor. He was great and deserves the recognition, even though the movie was not outstanding overall. It was good, but not near the top in our opinion. Home for a light supper.

WEATHER: High 67, Low 41. I think we have finally turned the corner - forecasted highs for the next 5 days are: 70,72,76,80 [FINALLY], 83. The forecasted low for Thurs. is 62 - the first low in the 60’s for a long time. They have had freeze warnings inland lately. The trouble with getting to the 80’s is showers Wed. and rain likely Thurs. I knew the weather would get warm now that we only have 2 weeks left in FL!

FL NEWS: [Many years ago, I told my high school classes that in the future fresh water would be the reason for many fights between cities, states, and other governmental bodies. It has already happened out West, is beginning to happen in the Midwest, and is happening in the South also, including central Florida.]
“WILL RIVER’S WATER EVER FLOW FROM TAPS?”
The region’s drinking water comes from the Floridan Aquifer, essentially an underground rock sponge that stores rainwater. But starting in 2013, water providers across Central Florida won't be able to increase their aquifer withdrawals and will have to find new sources. The St. Johns River Water Management District says it set the deadline to keep water flowing in the region's springs and to keep wetlands healthy.
Work has begun on Central Florida's most controversial water project: drawing water from the St. Johns River for use in irrigation and, someday, for drinking. By 2012, county residents could be watering lawns with river water treated at the Yankee Lake Water Treatment Facility. But how far the project will go beyond that is unclear. It faces legal challenges and an uncertain economy. County officials who once envisioned a regional solution to water shortages don't know when drinking water from the St. Johns might start flowing from kitchen taps. So far, Seminole County has a permit to pump 5.5 million gallons a day, an amount the district says won't make a difference in the river, where 2 billion gallons flow daily. However, the St. Johns Riverkeeper group is leading a charge against the project. Neil Armingeon, whose title is Riverkeeper, says withdrawing water will cause an increase in algae blooms that can choke plant and animal life and will lead to an increase in salt content, which can harm creatures used to fresh water. "In our opinion, Seminole County has not explored conservation to the fullest extent," he said. "Yankee Lake will be the poster child of a failed thought process that somehow we can just continue to find water sources, regardless of the environmental impact or the financial impact."
Hal Wilkening, director of the resource management department at the water district, said, "There's still increased demand for water in the next 20 years. No question about it.” He said utilities shouldn't delay in finishing alternative water-supply projects. "We don't want to be living on the edge and not have enough water."
St. Johns Riverkeeper has challenged in state court the water district's approval of Seminole's permit. And the Putnam County Environmental Council is challenging the district's interpretation of a state law about using rivers for water supply. The case before the governor and Cabinet could affect several projects.