I’m so bummed.

One of the first times I went to Universal Studios Orlando, back in 1991, I rode on the Back To The Future ride, and it was a favorite of mine. Years later, I went back with my kids and took them on it. You got to meet Doc Brown, fly through Hill Valley, home of Marty McFly, into the past, and then back to the Future. Visitors rode in their very own time machines, along with 7 other guests, to try and stop Biff from messing with the past. The time machine was actually a motion simulator, and you viewed the action on a 7 story high Omnimax movie screen. The combination was pure magic, and the ride was a bit hit.

I guess the problem with rides based on movies like that is that eventually, people don’t remember the movie it’s based on. Back To The Future was a great movie, in fact, I liked all 3 of the Marty McFly movies, but the ride has lost it’s relevancy. The ride will be closing soon, and March 30, 2007 is the last day to ride it before it closes for good. I’m bummed that I won’t get a chance to make it over to Orlando before then. It’s the end of an era!

Possible replacements for the ride include a new simulation ride based on the Transformers (bleah), a Fast And The Furious theme ride (boring) or a ride in Otto’s School bus, a la The Simpsons (fun, but Universal already has a cartoon ride - Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast. Remember when that was The Flintstones ride?)

Here’s a video someone made during their recent Back To The Future ride, so if you can’t get to Universal for a last ride, you can pretend:

I grew up in the small town of Tarpon Springs, FL. For that reason, I picked it to be the first city highlighted in a new feature here, called City Spotlight. I’m going to write a bit on as many of the cities in Florida that I can, as often as I can.

Tarpon Springs is a unique town located on the gulf coast of Florida, west of Tampa. Incorporated as a city in 1887, the city is named for a fish called a Tarpon that’s found in the waters of the gulf. Greek immigrants came to the town in the early 1900’s for sponge diving, and the town still has a huge Greek population today. Downtown you’ll find a mix of historic homes and antique shops, while to the north of the downtown area you’ll find the Sponge Docks. This sometimes tacky part of town is a must see for visitors, but once you’ve been there a million times like I have, you’ll probably avoid it. I only visit the docks for the bakeries and food.

One of the most unique things about Tarpon Springs are the bayous winding their way through the town. Water, water, everywhere! At the head of Spring Bayou is where the cross is thrown during the Epiphany celebration every year. Historic old Victorian homes line the bayou, and in the winter months, you’ll see manatees swimming in the warm waters. A few miles out, and you’ll find 2 beaches. Fred Howard Park is the larger of the two, and not only features a park, but a long causeway out to a beach. Sunset Park is a bit smaller, and not as nice, but can be quieter as well.

When I was a girl, there wasn’t much in Tarpon to do or see. Slowly but surely, that changed. Merchants came back to Main Street (or in this case, Tarpon Avenue) and bars and restaurants opened. Bigger chains came to town - we were thrilled when a Chili’s finally opened out on U.S. 19 - it was so nice to have a big place to eat in town. I remember when the only hotel was the Howard Johnsons on the corner of US 19 and Klosterman Road. Now it’s a Holiday Inn, and there are several more hotels in the area, as well as smaller inns.

One of the biggest events in Tarpon Springs occurs each April, and it’s the Fine Arts Festival. This year will be the 33rd annual festival, so it started 2 years before I was born. Held at Craig Park on Spring Bayou, you’ll find food, entertainment, and over 200 artists selling their wares.

Yes, Tarpon is an eclectic mix of people and personalities…and it will always be my hometown. You can take the girl out of Tarpon Springs, but you can’t take the Tarpon out of the girl.

A jury found sex offender John Evander Couey guilty this week of kidnapping and raping 9 year old Jessica Lunsford. The sentencing phase of the trial will start this Tuesday.