When you have kids you instantly feel that you do not want to do them wrong. Those dads that go off to Florida and start a new life I couldn't imagine that: seeing my kid once every Christmas every three years. If I'm gone for six days it feels like too much.

Since traveling is such a big part of my life when I am working I like to vacation relatively close to home. Florida is a great place for me to go and relax. It's so close which is perfect because it's the minimal travel time.

The travel and tourism industry is the lifeblood of many states around the country - including Florida California New York and Nevada to name a few.

I am big into water sports and just being out on the water. That is second nature to me being from Florida.

I'm so proud to represent the people of South Florida. I was so honored when President Obama asked me to serve as chair of the Democratic Party. But there's one job I'm even more proud of and that's being a mom to my three kids Rebecca Jake and Shelby.

I remember getting this scrapbook that this girl made that I actually gave to my mom to hold onto because she has a 'Twilight' shrine in their house in Florida. It was just this scrapbook of me starting with 'Twilight ' and the whole progression of me and my career throughout that and other stuff that I had done in between.

I'm a mom so I have to be comfortable. Jeans are a staple - I have way too many in my closet! It's warm in Florida so I wear jeans and a tank top every day. I love my True Religions my Rich and Skinny and Citizens of Humanity. But I also love getting dressed up!

Harvard Medical School the University of South Florida and the American Psychiatric Association have all conducted studies showing that the earlier one begins gambling the more likely it is he or she will become an addicted problem gambler.

The Florida Supreme Court wanted all the legal votes to be counted. The United States Supreme Court on the other hand did not want all the votes to be counted.

That's one of the reasons I moved to Florida. Of course the main reason is the weather and the training. But there's more jealousy in Switzerland because it's so little and they don't have so many athletes.

Major league baseball has asked its players to stop tossing baseballs into the stands during games because they say fans fight over them and they get hurt. In fact the Florida Marlins said that's why they never hit any home runs. It's a safety issue.

When I left my parents' home when I was 19 I went to the University of Florida and within 24 hours was in the mental health department. And within 20 minutes I was being told by the director there that they didn't have what I needed there.

Of course there are critics who believe that no matter what we do the Florida dream is over. They claim that we must accept the idea that inevitably our future is one of high taxes and big government.

I taped my first series for PBS in 1982 at WJCT-TV in Jacksonville Florida. The show called 'Everyday Cooking with Jacques Pepin ' was about saving time and money in the kitchen - and it was a celebration of simple and unpretentious food.

We are stronger because we recognize that government isn't the sole answer to the most important questions and we welcome community and faith based organizations as partners to serve the needs of Florida families.

My job is to make sure that if you're a family in Florida your children can get a good education and you have the opportunity for a job. That's my job and that's what I think about every day.

When I walk up on that shore in Florida I want millions of those AARP sisters and brothers to look at me and say 'I'm going to go write that novel I thought it was too late to do. I'm going to go work in Africa on that farm that those people need help at. I'm going to adopt a child. It's not too late I can still live my dreams.'

Through the harsh design of fate Florida was dealt the unfortunate circumstances of bearing the brunt of not one but two hurricanes and it appears more dark clouds are poised to visit the Sunshine State.

To be clear climate change is a true 800 pound gorilla in the room. The effects of global warming threaten global environmental upheaval over the coming century. But for South Florida and the Everglades it could be our death knell if urgent action is not taken.

Florida has been really cool to us. This is our first big club tour and Pennywise has been really nice.

A couple of months ago I was down in Florida for the Food and Wine Festival. And this journalist grabbed me and said 'How does it feel to be a TV guy? You're no longer in the restaurant business.' And I laughed. I asked him 'How long do you think it takes me to do a season?' He said 'Well 200 days.' And I was like '200 days? Try 20!'

I traveled the state of Florida for two years campaigning. I have never met a job creator who told me that they were waiting for the next tax increase before they started growing their business. I've never met a single job creator who's ever said to me I can't wait until government raises taxes again so I can go out and create a job.

I don't think we should be about the business of denying voters in Michigan and Florida the right to be heard.

The really amazing part to me was when Florida made it into the Final Four the Democrats didn't demand a recount.